"That's the place. That orphanage right there. I'm telling you Tyr, I felt something in there." The hazy image of the brick orphanage filled the entire monitor.

"A vague 'feeling' isn't near enough, Jocelyn." The figure standing behind the chair shook his head in disappointment. "It's too close to where we hung the bodies to go, unless you're sure that it's worth the attention."
"We haven't ever worried about attention before," Jocelyn muttered, yellow irises glowing brightly in the dim light of her screen.

"That woman… she is very, very skilled. And we can't afford to be caught before we ensnare her, for believe me, she will join us, and then we will exact our retribution." He leaned over his companion, tracing the screenshot of a window of the orphanage. "Careless. They left it open."

"It would be easy to get in and out of." A few taps of keys brought up another image, the website. Then a page full of images of children, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. "I sense magics, Tyrrell. That's what I do, and we both know I am very good at what I do. And I know that someone in that orphanage has power. Not just a little, but a lot. Either part fae, or a very rare gifted, powerful, and dangerous human." The woman's fingers danced over the keyboard, the screen shifting to hazy video-footage of two figures, one climbing a lightpost. "And I'll bet you she's guarding whoever it is. She's never gotten there so fast before, so she must have been in the area, which means it's likely she lives close by. And if she's as powerful as you say, then she must have been able to sense it too."

A slow grin spread across the man's face, though it stopped short of his cold, empty eyes. "Then we have some plans to make," he murmured. "Ere the year closes, you will know where you belong, Queen's Bane."

"Tell me about this Elryn," Nuada demanded, blocking Raid's chop to the neck and responding with a strike towards her chin. It was a slower kind of sparring, focused more on technique than power, much to the prince's surprise. With Raid's mood, he had been anticipating a session like their earlier one, quick and potentially deadly.

Raid gritted her teeth, glaring at Nuada as she leaned away from his strike, taking a small step back and lashing a side-kick towards his torso. "You know, you ask one hell of a lot of questions," she spat out, dancing around him as he struck at her. The majority of their blows were only half-hearted, and for all that she was the one who had suggested sparring, Nuada could see that she really wasn't into it.

"And you are very skilled at giving half-truths, or avoiding answering at all," he replied, throwing a series of crescent kicks towards the hybrid. Blocking one and ducking beneath the other, Raid danced away from him, her eyes darkening.

"We used to work together. And, at one point, we were…" her words faltered, and her distraction cost her as she only partially avoided Nuada's straight chop, catching it on the edge of her shoulder, rather than directly on the collar bone. "Well, it doesn't matter now." There was an edge to her voice, one that Nuada now recognized as warning. But his dislike for Elryn was only increasing with every word she spoke about him, and he felt a strange anger in him at what her last statement left unsaid.

Startled out of her brooding by the sudden ferocity of Nuada's blows, Raid responded by quickening her own strikes and blocks. The tension between the pair of combatants was almost palpable as they continued to meet each other, blow for blow, block for block, and duck for duck. After a few minutes, Raid could taste the saltiness of sweat on her upper lip, even as she landed an elbow to Nuada's solar plexus. At some point, they had discarded kicks, instead moving in closer and using their full bodies against each other. Grappling became increasingly difficult as sweat made their skin slick.

Raid made a two-handed strike towards Nuada, leaving her upper body open. Nuada tried to lean away from her punches, going low to strike the area she had left vulnerable, but then he was falling forward, and too late he realized Raid had used her seemingly foolish attack to distract him from his feet. Unfortunately for Raid, he stumbled towards her, and since her feet were tangled with his, they both fell down onto the mat.

"You two were lovers." It wasn't a question, and there was a hint of anger in his voice that distracted the hybrid, allowing the elf to pin Raid's arms away from her sides. She started to bring her knee up, but his question stalled her.

"Sort of. Not that it's any of your damn business. And I didn't exactly leave him on the best of terms," she told him acidly, irritated at the prodding of old wounds, and at Nuada for his frivolous questions. About to hiss back a retort, the words died as she met his eyes.

There was a light in them, and as she started to become aware of her surroundings again, Raid realized that his grip on her arms was tight enough to bruise. "It's really none of your concern though," she baited, trying to get some sort of response from him. "Seeing as you still seem bent on ending our deal on less than cordial terms." It was a dangerous game she was playing, worse than playing with fire—with fire you could just get burned, but there was so much more that she could lose here.
A sharp breath escaped her as Nuada moved, and she started to raise her arms over her face, wondering if she had pushed him too far. Instead she was forced to look into Nuada's eyes a scant few breaths from her own. A silent curse ran through her mind, as she tried to think, her traitorous heart pounding in her chest. Oddly enough, she could hear Nuada's heart rate increasing with hers.

His calloused hands framed her face, ensuring that she couldn't look away from him. Nuada wasn't sure why he had reacted the way he had; he was tired of Raid's suspicions, and, though he would never admit it, feeling a little jealous, though he passed it off to himself as possessiveness. Raid was his; she had forged a bond between them, and now she belonged to him.

"It's simple, really," he whispered, his lips just hovering over Raid's. Both their hearts were pounding rapidly, and he was pleased at Raid's vulnerability. "I don't care to share," he finished, and then his lips were on hers, tasting the saltiness of sweat mixed with her own flavor of honey and mint as his hands held her face in an iron grip.

Raid's rational thoughts were trying to collect themselves, after she had decided, in an impulsive, obviously human idea, that she could kiss him. Even as her arms started to come up to hold onto Nuada, her rational thoughts picked themselves up from where they had fallen in shock and overthrew her emotions. Banging her head on the ground as she pulled back from Nuada, Raid's hands found purchase on his marbled chest and pushed, nails digging in, leaving little red crescents behind.

Nuada's eyes widened in surprise, and a little indignation, at Raid's reaction. One moment he could feel her desire, her hunger meeting his own in that kiss, and the next she was pushing him away, eyes bright with fury.

"You—how dare you—" she started, her anger rendering her incapable of finishing a sentence. Secretly she wasn't sure who she was more furious with; herself or Nuada. Nuada's own hackles rose in response to her tone.

"How dare I what, hybrid?" he growled. Irritation coursed through him as well. He had almost had her there, completely vulnerable, and she had even been willing.

Raid snarled at him, but before either of them could get out anymore words a voice came from near the door.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," came a smooth, lilting voice. Startled, Raid's arms went limp as she tried to look towards the door behind her head.

Nuada stood up quickly, as if Raid had burned him, turning his gaze towards the door. His golden eyes narrowed as he examined the new arrival. The man, who he assumed was Elryn, had a very slight, willowy build, and a face that was just short of being effeminate.

A pale, almost light-green complexion was visible through the unbuttoned neck of his dress shirt and on his sharp, angular face. The most striking feature of the other man were his vivid green eyes, which, upon closer examination, were actually four rings of different shades of green. Pale blond hair, with just the slightest green tint, was pulled back into a ponytail.

The two men's gaze locked as Raid picked herself up, dusting off her clothes as she glanced between Nuada and Elryn, a scowl slipping over her face.

"Elryn, Nuada. Nuada, Elryn," she said by way of introduction, though it wasn't really necessary.

"Yes, there was the danger I could have mistaken him for some other psychopath elven prince," Elryn replied scathingly, shifting his gaze to Raid. The disappointment visible in his eyes caused the hybrid to cross her arms over her chest, glaring at him in return.

"Elryn," she warned, dropping her arms after she realized she had crossed them, and stepped carefully between him and Nuada, much to Nuada's annoyance. He didn't need her to stand up for him, especially not to some forest spirit who looked like a single push would break him.

"Don't, Raid. Please, just not now." The green man suddenly rubbed a hand over his face, his shoulders slumping. His whole appearance spoke to exhaustion: the rumpled, untucked, and half-buttoned dress shirt; the black slacks spattered with dirt at the hem; and the stray strands of hair falling around his face.

"At least the hybrid has better manners than you, green man," Nuada taunted, causing Raid's shoulders to tighten in irritation. The newcomer might be a pure-blood fae, but for some reason the green man's presence irked him more than Raid's.

Elryn's head jerked up, and his mouth opened for a retort but Raid cut across him. "Would it kill you to pretend to be pleasant for once?" she asked the elf without looking at him. The exasperation barely concealed the note of relief he could hear underneath it all. She was relieved… about what? That the green man had interrupted them? Nuada gnashed his teeth together at the unpleasant thought.

It was quickly escalating out of control for Raid—it had been since she had brought Nuada back to life, and now things were getting worse. She had to get the situation back under some pretense of control.

"Elryn, how did you get here so fast?" she asked, both trying to change the subject and avoid picking a fight with either of the men.

"Willowlark. That was her body that you found earlier tonight," he said, eyes darkening with sadness.

Raid's features softened, and she stepped forward, placing a hand on the green man's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I swear to you, I will find these culprits and kill them." The edge in her voice at the end of her declaration sent a shiver down Nuada's spine; they were more alike, he and her, than either of them wanted to admit.

Elryn shook his head, covering Raid's hand with his own. "No. Not alone you won't be. Willowlark was a grove protector, and a very old one at that. It took considerable power to kill her, especially without alerting any of the other fae in the area that something was wrong." His green eyes met Nuada's briefly, and the elf could swear there was an accusation in that look. The green man couldn't possibly be blaming him for the dryad's death, could he? But the more egregious insult was the implication that Raid wasn't capable enough on her own.

The tension in the room was like the calm before the storm. The hybrid stiffened, and though he couldn't see her face, Nuada knew her eyes would be narrowed and carefully blank. Stepping backwards, Raid tucked a strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail during sparring behind one slightly pointed ear. "Perhaps we should go into the living room to continue this discussion," she prompted, though it was apparent that she wasn't going to listen to any arguments. Nuada could have sworn he saw the anger rolling through the hybrid, lighting her up from the inside. He barely knew her, yet she was becoming so easy for him to read. This set to her shoulders indicated that while furious, she wasn't going to openly admit it.

Walking past Elryn she grabbed a towel, mopping the sweat off of her face, before proceeding through the door. Hesitating, Elryn cast a wary glance at Nuada before following, obviously uneasy about having the elf behind him and subsequently out of sight. Glowering at the other man's back, Nuada slipped on his shirt from where he had discarded it while sparring.

He didn't like Elryn, and the feeling was mutual. And if it had been anywhere else, Nuada would have challenged him for the insult that Elryn had tossed at him, but he knew Raid would not forgive him if he did. For some reason, Raid's condemnation was enough to prevent him from fighting, and it irked him.

There was no reason he should let her affect him this way, the elven prince thought as the group twined their way throw the maze of bookshelves. That kiss back there—involuntarily his hand clenched, again his thoughts returning to how much he hated Elryn.

For a moment, albeit a short one, he had had Raid under his control. Now he knew that she had a weakness for him, one that he would exploit. Yet he couldn't decide why she would give him such an opening, when she had made it clear to him that she wasn't afraid to kill him if he broke their deal.

It was baffling— how Raid could want him—and it made him a little, well, it made him feel like perhaps he was wrong. The prince had insulted her, been rude, fought with her on just about everything, yet she still had managed to develop feelings for him.

In the end it would result in heartbreak, and pain. There simply was no other way that he saw it ending. They were just too different. Nuada was brought out of his brooding thoughts by the soft plop of Raid sinking onto a couch, arms crossed over her chest. Another habit of hers—she crossed her arms when she was upset but wasn't allowed to punch anything.

Elryn once more cast a cautious glance at Nuada, before perching on an overstuffed chair, relaxing only when Nuada took a seat on the couch beside Raid. The green man reminded him of a song-bird, flighty and slight. A smirk tilted up the corner of his mouth as he sized the other man up and found him lacking.

Scowling, the hybrid scooted away from Nuada, though he hadn't left much room. For good measure, she added a 'humph' to let Nuada know how displeased she was with him. She didn't care how childish or hard-headed she was being right now; this was just not her week.

The silence built between the three, Nuada content to simply observe, Raid glowering in refusal to speak, and Elryn hesitant to broach the subject that was the reason he was there. The audible sound of the clock ticking away was the only reminder that time was actually passing, and that they weren't all frozen in a silent stand-off.

"Tea anyone?" came a forcibly cheerful voice. In swept Bryn, carrying a tray with three cups of steaming tea, a small bowl with sugar and a spoon, and a half-filled plastic bear with honey. Her entrance seemed to shatter the odd pressure of the room, and it was suddenly easier for all of them to breathe again. Setting the tray on the table, she smiled sweetly at Elryn, carefully avoiding meeting either Raid or Nuada's gaze.

"Thank you Bryn," Elryn replied with a smile for the young teenager, causing a real, brilliant smile to spread across her face in return. Reaching out he took one of the cups of tea, before leaning back in his seat, taking a small sip. He made a small nod of approval that added a smug edge to Bryn's smile. The other two ignored the tea, but Bryn was not deterred in the least. Nuada, in her mind, was not a factor worthy of consideration, and Raid was in one of her moods, which meant nothing would earn her approval.

"It's nice to see you," Bryn continued, speaking to the earth spirit as she perched on the edge of one of the empty chairs. The bubbly tone of her voice clashed harshly with the aura of gloom and doom emanating from Raid.

"It is good seeing you too. You have grown up since last I saw you," Elryn responded. His eyes flicked to Raid briefly, before returning to the human girl. Raid shifted uncomfortably, her gaze suddenly roving around the room, resting anywhere that wasn't one of the other breathing occupants of the room. "Would you mind giving us a few minutes?" he asked.

Bryn's eyes darkened, and she stood up, her smile vanishing as quick as a cloud passing over the sun. The girl turned to the hybrid, focusing her large eyes on her. "Please Raid. Just… listen." Then the girl left, walking back down the hallway from whence she came.

Setting his tea down, Elryn locked gazes with Raid. His soft demeanor had hardened, and now a frown pulled at his mouth. "What were you thinking Raid?" There was anger mixed with the disapproval, and Nuada could barely conceal his anticipation of a fight between the green man and his hybrid. That was it, he realized. That was why he didn't like the man; because Raid was his. They had a deal, and there was no way Nuada was about to let Elryn come between them. Satisfied with the explanation for all the strange feeling he had been having, he sat back, anticipating the argument between Elryn and Raid with barely concealed pleasure.

Raid sat up in response to Elryn's question, mouth tightening in displeasure. Nuada was suddenly glad that, for the moment, he was not the cause of her anger.

"What I was thinking was that someone has to do something before all the fae roll over and die," she snarled, eyes flashing with heat. She held up a hand to forestall any more questions or scolding. "And since when did you become the human go-to person?" she demanded.

"I spent quite some time running around with you, before you decided it was too dangerous for me." Elryn tried to keep his tone level, but there was an edge of frustration and hurt behind his words. His hands ran through his hair, further messing up the once neat ponytail.

"And frankly, I'm the best suited for consorting with humans. The dryads have problems with males, usually, and I know how to fight, thanks to you. I do what they need done in the human world, because no one else can. This time, it was finding Willowlark, or, in this case, her body." His voice was more controlled now as he spoke the words, trying to keep as much emotion out of them as possible. The hands were once more clasping the tea cup.

"You—!" Raid started, and then lowered her voice. "You aren't… you aren't deceitful, nor ruthlessness enough. Or you weren't when I knew you, and that's why I left you. I didn't want you becoming like me. I didn't want you to become someone who has no scruples or morals or even a conscience most of the time," the hybrid started, voice tinged with bitterness and a quiet sadness. There was pain in there too, yet rather than exploit that pain, Nuada wanted to bury it so deep that it would never trouble her again. No… no. I need to use it, he desperately tried to reason with himself. He was suddenly eager for Elryn to be gone, or at least for the green man to change subjects.

The elf shifted, trying not to interfere in the conversation, but at the same time wanting to argue with Raid. Her portrayal of herself was vastly different from what he saw; he saw a woman who cared too much, who was too concerned for others and not enough for herself. Her reasons for bringing him back more than proved that.

"Saraid, listen to me!" The use of her full name silenced Raid, and Elryn was able to continue without her interrupting. "You do what needs to be done, but you aren't that black-hearted like you paint yourself. Those who you've killed deserved it, for one reason or another.

And it's your damned sense of honor and duty that is why I'm here," he told her, exasperated. "He's a killer, Raid, and not like you. He murders just because someone is in his way—you avoid innocents." As he continued, Elryn's voice became filled with a cold anger, and the green of his irises started to glow. There was a new undercurrent of earth to the air, a moist scent that brought to mind hidden groves. "You shouldn't have brought him back Raid. He won't change, and he will hurt you! Damn it, muirnín—"

"Don't. Call. Me. That," Raid spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. Her hands had clenched, and she was now at the edge of the couch. She wasn't sure when the conversation had shifted strands, but she wasn't happy with its current direction. Once again the situation was spiraling beyond her control, taking on a life of its own.

Nuada stiffened slightly at the nickname the other male had used, eyes narrowing. It became clear to him that while Raid might insist that whatever had been between her and the other fae was over, he could see that Elryn still cared for her. This was not acceptable.

Moving closer to Raid, he carefully pressed his side against hers his left hand just barely brushing against her thigh. It was not unnoticed by the other two, nor did he want it to be. The green man had to understand he had no place here.

Elryn's lips curled in disgust as he looked over Nuada. "I can understand why you are doing what you are doing. I don't agree with your methods. But what price did you have to pay to bring this murderer back to life? What is it going to cost you? What bargain did you strike this time?" he asked the hybrid. There was a new note to his voice, and with surprise, he realized it was fear. Fear for his hybrid.

Nuada's brow furrowed. Again, this talk of bargains. What was he missing? There was something Raid was keeping from him, and he wanted to know—no, he needed to know.

"None of anyone's damn business!" Raid exclaimed, pushing away Nuada's hand and standing up, pacing on her side of the room. "I know why the kids called you, but you can't change my mind. And you are no better than the rest of them! I know what Nuada did! I was there! I saw him kill those people in the auction house, unleash the forest god in the city, and die!"

Her voice lowered, and there was an intensity in it that riveted her audience and made them pay attention to her every word. "But if I don't do something, then the fae will fade. They need a leader, and frankly, the elves are the most powerful race, in force and in politics. And Nuada isn't afraid to make changes. I can't do it alone. The humans would never respect or listen to me alone, and no fae will stand beside an abomination like me," she said.

"You're not an abomination!" Elryn cried, standing and crossing to Raid, but stopping short of touching her. "Raid, please, I don't want to see you get hurt. There are others, there are other ways to do this, you don't need him—" he gestured to Nuada, motions almost frantic.

Nuada decided it was time to interject. Standing up, he stood next to Raid, one hand gripping her arm in a possessive hold that told the other man that Raid was no longer his. "She has made her decision, green man," he said, voice cold. "I suggest you accept it, because we have a bargain, and I am not going anyplace until its terms are met."

Elryn's eyes widened, and he took a step back, recoiling from Nuada's words as if they were a viper. "Dealing with the Fates isn't dangerous enough? You had to strike a deal with this devil? Raid… this is going to cost you too much."

"The Fates' price I agreed to, and the terms of our bargain are simple. I am not going to stand by for more centuries just to see the fae disappear." Raid briefly considered brushing off Nuada's arm, but she was still in shock from the fact that he was touching her on his own accord.

Actually, she wasn't sure what to expect from the elven prince now. That kiss had come out of nowhere, and damn it all, now she couldn't stop thinking about it. If his goal had been to get in her head, he had succeeded.

Her gaze flicked to Nuada, and he met her gaze with his yellow eyes. "What is this bargain?" he asked Raid, voice still cold.

"In order to restore you and your sister, I struck a deal with the Fates. Part of that deal though is that I don't discuss the price." Raid sounded tired, and she rubbed a hand over her face, returning her gaze to Elryn.

"Elryn… I'm sorry, but I'm not going to change my mind. However, I could really use your help. Whoever murdered Willowlark is still out there, and they will kill again. Soon. They have a pattern, and I'm sure it's a group of individuals. I don't understand their motive, though. They hunt and kill fae and humans. It's strange, to say in the least." She waited expectantly for a reply, trying to ignore Nuada's grip tightening on her arm. Apparently he didn't like her inviting Elryn to join them.

Elryn knew it was a bad idea, that it would only end up hurting him however it turned out, because if Raid got hurt, he would ache for her, and if she didn't, than he would have lost her to Nuada. "I have to find Willowlark's killer, and we were a pretty good team," he said, adding a small smile, ignoring his better judgment.

Nuada's scowl seemed intent on summoning a storm in the room. "Nuada—" Raid gritted out, gaze flicking sideways to look at him. Her patience was wearing thin with his possessive attitude. It had thrown her at first, but it was getting old, and quickly.

Releasing her arm, the elven prince stepped back, hands falling to his sides in a position that almost looked relaxed, but was given away by the tensed shoulders.

"Then it's settled." A look passed between them, a private exchange that Nuada was not a part of.

"Raid!" There came a panicked scream down the hallway, and all of the at least part fae heard the sound of shattering glass. The hybrid hesitated for a split moment, before she ran down the hallway, weaponless. Nuada was close on her heels, followed closely by Elryn.

Bryn was holding the house phone as far away from her body as she could, as if it had suddenly become poisonous. "What?" Raid gasped, eyes flicking around the room, looking for the enemy. Her next steps took her to the rack of knives where she drew forth a chef's knife and a longer filleting knife.

"It's—" Rather than finishing the sentence Bryn shoved the phone into Raid's face. Her face was white, and her eyes were wide with worry and fear. Her gaze darted outside, and Raid followed Bryn's glance, letting out a low hiss. A huge blackbird perched on the windowsill, watching her with its bright yellow eyes. Unable to take the phone with the knives in her hands, and unwilling to set down her weapons while the creature looked at her, Raid stepped in front of Bryn, jerking her head towards the back door as a signal to the two men.

Bryn looked back over her shoulder, stepping farther away from the window as she did so. "Andrea—" Bryn started to finish, but Raid cut her off with a shake of her head. Nuada and Elryn were both moving towards the back door, but slowly, trying not to alert the bird to their presence. It was a pointless exercise though, as the beady yellow eyes fixed on the two men. Unfortunately for the creature, Nuada and Elryn were not the threat to it.

Raid took a single step forward, throwing her hip around and channeling all of her momentum into the long triangular blade in her left hand. The kitchen window exploded, and the bird shrieked in pain as slivers of glass sliced through its feathers. It fell backwards, wings beating madly to get away from the advancing hybrid. Her blade had only nicked it, the force necessary to break the window altering the path of her weapon.

She threw the second knife, but the balance was off from her normal throwing knives and it fell short of the blackbird as it cawed in anger, before laboriously flying away, leaving behind a few stray feathers and a pool of dark, sticky blood.

"Damn it," Raid hissed, eyes tracking the slowly diminishing dot. She stepped forward, retrieving the second knife from the windowsill.

"What the hell?" The startled voice came from behind her, and Raid whirled, knife in hand, which caused Darron to take a step back, eyes darting to the knife.

"Darron! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Letting out a sigh Raid placed the knife on the counter, shoulders relaxing.

"You broke the window?" he asked, looking towards the shattered kitchen window. "Mom's gonna be pissed."

That made Elryn look around as he walked forward, intent on trying to comfort Bryn. "Where is your mother?" he asked, suddenly realizing he had not seen Amanda at all. He knew that the Bryn's scream would have brought her running.

"Mom's at work," Bryn answered, hugging herself tightly. "Raid… what was that thing?" she asked, eyes bright with unshed tears.

"It was a scout." Nuada answered, voice edged with anger. "It was being possessed by a magic-user to spy. Usually those creatures are not so forward, though. Have you no protections around this house?" he demanded of Raid.

"Of course I have protections about the house," Raid snapped, squeezing Bryn's shoulder in reassurance as she glared at Nuada. "They aren't meant to stop spies though. Just threats."

"And a spy isn't a threat?" Nuada and Elryn both asked at the same time.

Raid stiffened, eyes narrowing. "Need I remind you both that I have been taking care of myself without either of you for a long time?" she gritted out between clenched teeth.

Before either men could respond, Bryn gasped. "Andrea! Raid, she said that she felt like she was being followed. And in danger. Then the line went dead."

The blood drained from Raid's face, and for a moment it looked like she might collapse. "Darron, call your mother. Tell her to meet us at the orphanage and to bring backup. Nuada, Elryn, arm up and be out in the car in two minutes, or I'm leaving you behind."

Bryn clutched at Raid's arm. "You're going to leave us alone?" she asked, the fear returning to her eyes.

Closing her eyes, Raid tried to slow down and think. Leaving the kids behind could be dangerous… but taking them could be even more so. "Stay in the library," she finally said. "That room, as long as you lock the doors, will not let in anything with ill intentions. Don't open the door. I will when I return." Gently prying off Bryn's fingers, Raid quickly left the room.

She grabbed her keys from the hall table, slipping on her boots without any socks. Comfort was a luxury that was at the bottom of her priority list at the moment. She had weapons in her car; all she needed were for Elryn and Nuada to hurry up.

A curse escaped her as she fumbled the key in the ignition. Taking a deep breath, Raid closed her eyes, trying to slow down. The car door opened, and she heard a body slide into the passenger seat beside her. A touch brought her eyes open, and Raid froze in shock, eyes caught by Nuada's yellow gaze.

Nuada watched the flash of astonishment flash across her face, and realized that he was getting better at reading her. Either that, or Raid was getting worse at hiding her emotions. "You know what is happening." His voice was edged with irritation, but it was subtle.

"Yes," she whispered, still captivated by Nuada's closeness. The elven prince was leaning over the middle console, and Raid became aware of the fact that she hadn't let out her breath.

When no more words were forthcoming, Nuada's eyebrows drew together and he pulled back a little. "And what is happening?" he asked, looking away.

Raid was saved by the side door slamming as Elryn slipped in the vehicle. "Buckle up," Raid snapped, remembering to breathe before starting the car and slamming it into gear. The tires squealed as she pulled out of the driveway, and the SUV just barely avoided hitting the gates that were still opening as they pulled through.

"Raid, slow down. We can't get a ticket—" In response Raid reached up and flicked a silver button on the dashboard. Instantly the dashboard lit up with alternating blue and red flashes, and a loud wail emanated from the front of the car.

"Those are new," Elryn muttered as he looked at the lights, disapproval radiating from him.

The speedometer climbed, surpassing sixty, then seventy, then eighty as Raid's path started to clear as cars heard the siren.

"Raid—" Elryn started with an exasperated sigh. "This is breaking human laws," he continued, but was cut off with a low hiss of anger.

"I don't give a damn, right now. It's better this way; fewer idiots get in my way," she growled, eyes fixed on the road. The speedometer was now hovering above 100 m.p.h. and holding.

Nuada closed his eyes as Raid swerved through traffic, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to try and look strong. He refused to hold on to anything because Elryn seemed so at ease, and the elven prince did not want to look weak.

A cry and the squealing of brakes brought his eyes open though, and he fixed his gaze on Raid. Then he followed her look through the dashboard and frowned. The horizon was tinged with grey and glowing red.

"They lit the orphanage on fire!"