Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 12

Harry rolled over and smiled as he found the other half of the bed occupied. "Welcome back." He whispered and Ash opened his eyes, revealing swirling silver. "You okay?" Harry reached out to gently touch his arm, knowing how strong his aversion to touch had become over the centuries but also wanting him to know he was there for him.

"I'm not the one who took on Thanatos." He argued and Harry shrugged. "Harry?"

Harry sighed but pulled the sheet down and then his shirt up to reveal the new scar.

"Sword."

"Yeah, it's why I wasn't there for the final showdown. Was busy healing."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Harry leant up on an elbow.

"You wouldn't be hurt if I hadn't asked you to go."

Harry rolled his eyes, shifting closer to Ash. "This isn't your fault Ash, I grew up in a war, not my first scars. It was my choice to step between you and your brother, to go to Alaska. I knew the risks. And I did save at least one of your men in the process."

Ash nodded, understanding what he was saying but he still hated that Harry had gotten hurt again while helping him. He shifted slightly and Harry smiled, curling into him, sending a bit of healing magic into him, sensing he was still in pain. Ash felt the pain fade and smiled at Harry. He closed his eyes and relaxed, feeling Harry drift back to sleep before he fell asleep as well.

Neither sensed the presence watching them, anger growing. He would pay for daring to think he could be with someone else.

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Harry grabbed his laptop and books, putting them back in his bag as the room emptied, class finished. He headed into the halls and smiled as he spotted a familiar man. "Hey Julian." He greeted and the demigod smiled at him.

"Hello Harry, how's class?"

"Good. Drowning in assignments at the moment."

"Makes me glad I never actually attended." He whispered so no one else would hear and Harry laughed.

"Cheat." He teased.

Julian was relieved to find the young man was so much lighter and happier now than when he'd first started. He had really been worried for him, then again being involved in their world wasn't exactly safe. "How's Acheron, haven't seen him around in a while."

"He's good, he's been out of town, got back three days ago." Harry stumbled slightly as another students bag his side, wincing slightly.

"Are you alright?" Julian had seen the wince.

"Sword wounds hurt." He admitted softly and Julian's eyes widened before he pulled Harry into his office.

"What happened?"

Harry sighed and leant against the desk. "Asch was unavailable and Zarek was in trouble so I went to Alaska. It was not a fun trip but Zarek is fine, even has a girlfriend now and none of the good guys died."

"Zarek? Kyrian mentioned him once, not the first Dark Hunter I'd guess would go free."

"But one who really needed it." Harry smiled sadly. "I'm meeting Ash for lunch, see you later." Harry left the office and headed for his bike.

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Stunned, Bride McTierney stared at the letter in her hand and blinked. She blinked again. It couldn't really say what she thought it said. Could it? Was it a joke? But as she read it again for the fourth time, she knew it wasn't. The rotten, cowardly SOB had actually broken up with her via her own FedEx account.

Sorry, Bride,

But I need a woman more in keeping with my celebrity image. I'm going places and I need the kind of woman at my side who will help me, not hinder me.

I'll have your things delivered to your building. Here's some money for a hotel room tonight in case you don't have any vacant rooms.

Best,

Taylor

"You sorry, sycophantic, scum-sucking dog," she snarled as she read it again and pain engulfed her so profoundly that it was all she could do not to burst into tears. Her boyfriend of five years was breaking up with her through a letter that he'd charged to her business account? "Damn you to hell, you filthy snake!" she snarled. Normally Bride would sooner cut her own head off than cuss, but this this warranted serious language. And an axe to her ex-boyfriend's head. She fought the urge to scream. And the need she felt to get into her SUV, go over to his television station, and pound him into itty-bitty bloody pieces. Damn him! A tear rolled down her cheek. Bride wiped it away and sniffed. She wouldn't cry over this. He so wasn't worth it. Really, he wasn't, and deep inside she wasn't surprised. For the last six months, she'd known this was coming. Had felt it every time Taylor put her on another diet or signed her up for another exercise program.

"Sorry, is this a bad time?"

Bride jumped at the sound of a male voice, turning to find a young man in the doorway. She straightened up and shoved the letter in the desk draw. "Can I help you?" She was proud when her voice didn't waver, even as she tried to subtly wipe the tears away.

"I'm looking for a present but I can come back later. Is there someone I can call for you?"

"I…" She was not going to cry in front of a stranger in her own store!

"I'm Harry." He introduced himself before moving to pull the decorative chair around and gently push her down into it. "You need a good cup of hot chocolate." He spotted the kitchenette and went to work while Bride watched in shock. Soo she was drinking the hot drink and began feeling better. "Drink up and call a friend, okay?" She nodded. "I'll come by another day for that gift." He slipped from the shop, he hoped things worked out for her. He spotted the one of the wolves he and Ash had helped and nodded before slipping into an alley and apparating back home.

Vane paused as he neared one of those women's shops that were scattered throughout the French Quarter, nodding as he spotted the man who had helped save his sister before looking at the building he had just left. It was a large redbrick building trimmed in black and burgundy. The entire front of it was made of glass that showed inside where the store was littered with lacy women's things and delicate, feminine tchotchkes. But it wasn't the merchandise that made him pause. It was her. The woman he'd thought he would never see again. Bride.

He'd seen her only once and then only briefly as he guarded Sunshine Runningwolf in Jackson Square while the artist had sold her artwork to tourists. Oblivious to him, Bride had come up to Sunshine and the two of them had talked for a few minutes. Then Bride had walked out of his life completely. Even though he'd wanted to follow after her, Vane had known better. Humans and wolves didn't mix. And definitely not wolves who were as screwed up as he was. So he'd sat idly by even while every molecule of his body had screamed out for him to go after her. Bride had been the most beautiful woman Vane had ever seen. She still was.

Her long auburn hair was pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head that left curls of it to caress her porcelain face. She wore a long, black dress that flowed around her body as she sat on a chair near the window, drinking from a mug.

Every animal instinct in his body roared to life as he saw her again. The feeling was primal. Demanding. Needful. And it wouldn't listen to reason. Against his will, he found himself headed toward her. It wasn't until he had opened the burgundy door that he realized she was crying. Fierce anger tore through him. It was bad enough that his life sucked, the last thing he wanted was to see someone like her cry.

Bride paused her sipping and looked up as she heard someone entering her shop. Her breath caught in her throat. Never in her life had she seen a more handsome man. Never. At first glance his hair was dark brown, but in reality it was made up of all colours: ash, auburn, black, brown, mahogany, even some blond. She'd never seen hair like that on anyone. Long and wavy, it was pulled back into a sexy ponytail. Better yet, his white T-shirt was pulled tight over a body that most women only saw in the best magazine ads. It was a body that was meant for sex. Tall and lean, that body begged a woman to caress it just to see if it was as hard and perfect as it appeared. His handsome features were sharp, chiselled, and he had a day's growth of beard on his face. It was the face of a rebel who didn't cater to current fashions one who lived his life solely on his own terms. It was obvious that no one told this man how to do anything. He was gorgeous.

Bride couldn't see his eyes for the dark sunglasses he wore, but she sensed his gaze. Felt it like a smouldering touch. This man was tough. Fierce. And it sent a wave of panic through her. Why would someone Like this be in a shop that specialized in women's accessories? Surely he wasn't going to rob her? What was it with her and strange men today? Harry had been almost as handsome but he was smaller and younger, maybe that was what made him less intimidating? She doubted this one wanted to make her cocoa.

"Can I help you?" she asked as she quickly put the mug down and stood, trying to look calm and collected. She smiled lamely at the devastatingly hot god who stood so nonchalantly in her store. "Sorry about that."

Vane closed his eyes as he savoured the melodic Southern lilt of her voice. It reached deep inside him, making his whole body burn for her. He was swollen with need and desire. Swollen with a feral urge to take what he wanted, damn all consequences. But she was scared of him. His animal half sensed it. And that was the last thing his human half wanted. Reaching up, he pulled the sunglasses off and offered her a small smile. "Hi." It didn't help. If anything, the sight of his eyes made her even more nervous. Damn.

Bride was stunned. She wouldn't have thought he could ever become better looking, but with that devilish grin, he did. Worse, the intense, feral look of that languid hazel-green gaze made her shivery and hot. Never in her life had she seen a man even one-tenth as good-looking as this one. "Hi," she said back, feeling like nine kinds of stupid.

His gaze finally left her and went around the store to her various displays. "I'm looking for a present," he said in that deeply hypnotic voice. She could have listened to him speak for hours, and for some reason she couldn't explain, she wanted to hear him say her name.

Bride cleared her throat and put those moronic thoughts away as she came out from behind her counter. If her cute ex couldn't stomach her looks, why would a god like this one give a rat's bottom about her? And two guys looking for gifts within twenty minutes of each other? That never happened to her. So she decided to calm down before she embarrassed herself with him. "Who is it for?"

"Someone very special."

"Your girlfriend?"

His gaze came back to hers and made her tremble even more. He shook his head slightly. "I could never be so lucky," he said, his tone low, beguiling. What an odd thing for him to say. She couldn't imagine this guy having trouble getting any woman he wanted. Who on earth would say no to that?

On second thought, she hoped she never met a woman that attractive. If she did, she would be morally obligated to run her over in her car. "How much are you wanting to spend?"

He shrugged. "Money doesn't mean anything to me."

Bride blinked at that. Gorgeous and loaded. Man, some woman out there was lucky. "Okay. We have some necklaces. Those are always a nice gift."

Vane followed her over to an alcove against the far wall where she had a mirror set up, with a multitude of beaded chokers and earrings that were on cardboard stands around it. The scent of her made him hard and hot. It was all he could do not to dip his head down to her shoulder and just inhale her scent until he was drunk with it. He focused his gaze on the bare, pale skin of her neck He licked his lips as he imagined what she would taste like. What it would feel like to have her lush curves pressed up against his body. To have her lips swollen from his kisses, her eyes dark and dreamy from passion as she looked up at him while he took her. Even worse, he could sense her own desire and it whetted his appetites even more.

"Which is your favourite?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. There was a black Victorian choker that had her scent all over it. It was obvious she had tried it on recently.

"This one," she said, reaching for it.

He wanted nothing more than to run his hand down her extended arm, to skim his palm over her soft, pale skin until he reached her hand. A hand he would love to nibble. "Would you try it on for me?"

Bride trembled at the deep tone of his voice. What was it about him that made her so nervous? But then she knew. He was intensely masculine and being under his direct scrutiny was as excruciating as it was disconcerting. She tried to put the necklace on, but her hands shook so badly that she couldn't fasten it.

"May I help?" he asked.

She swallowed and nodded. His warm hands touched hers, making her even more jittery. She looked in the mirror, catching sight of those hazel-green eyes that stared at her with a heat that made her both shiver and burn. He was without a doubt the best-looking man to ever live and breathe and here he was touching her. It was enough to make her faint! He deftly fastened the necklace. His fingers lingered at her neck for a minute before he met her gaze in the mirror and stepped back.

"Beautiful," he murmured huskily, only he wasn't looking at the necklace. He was staring into the reflection of her eyes. "I'll take it."

Torn between relief and sadness, Bride looked away quickly as she reached to take it off. In truth, she loved this necklace and hated to see it go. She'd bought it for the store, but had wanted to keep it for herself. But why bother? It was a six-hundred-dollar handmade work of art. She didn't have anywhere to wear it. It would be a waste, and the pragmatic Irishwoman in her wouldn't allow her to be so foolish. Pulling it off, she swallowed the new lump in her throat and headed for the register.

Vane watched her intently. She was even sadder than before. Gods, how he wanted nothing more than to have her smile at him. What did a human male say to a human female to make her happy? She-wolves didn't really smile, not like humans did. Their smiles were more devious, seductive. Inviting. His people didn't smile when they were happy. They had sex when they were happy and that, to him, was the biggest benefit to being an animal rather than a human. Humans had rules about intimacy that he had never fully understood.

She placed the necklace in a large white box with a cotton pad in the bottom. "Would you like it gift-wrapped?" He nodded. Carefully, she removed the price tag, set it next to the register, then pulled out a small piece of paper that had been pre-cut to the size of the box. Without looking up at him, she quickly wrapped the box and rang up his sale. "Six hundred and twenty-three dollars and eighty-four cents, please." Still she didn't look at him. Instead her gaze was focused on the ground near his feet.

Vane felt a strange urge to dip down until his face was in her line of sight. He refrained as he pulled his wallet out and handed her his American Express card. It was laughable, really, that a wolf had a human credit card. But then, this was the twenty-first century and those who didn't blend quickly found themselves exterminated. Unlike many others of his kind, he had investments and property. Hell, he even had a personal banker. Bride took the card and ran it through her computer terminal. "You work here alone?" he asked, and quickly learned that was inappropriate since her fear returned with a scent so strong it almost made him curse out loud.

"No."

She was lying to him. He could smell it. Good going, jackass. Humans. He'd never understand them. But then, they were weak, especially their females. She handed him the receipt. Aggravated at himself for making her even more uncomfortable, he signed his name and handed it back to her.

She compared his signature to his card and frowned. "Katta"

"Kattalakis," he said. "It's Greek."

Her eyes lit up just a bit as she returned the card to him. "That's very different. You must have a hard time spelling it for people."

"Yeah."

She tucked the receipt into her drawer, then placed the wrapped box in a small bag with corded handles. "Thanks," she said quietly, setting it on the counter in front of him. "Have a nice day, Mr. Kattalakis." He nodded and headed for the door, his heart even heavier than before, because he had failed to make her happy. "Wait!" she said as he touched the knob. "You left your necklace."

Vane looked back at her one last time, knowing he would never see her again. She was so beautiful there with large, amber eyes set in the pale face of a goddess. There was something about her that reminded him of a Rubens angel. She was ethereal and lovely. And far too fragile for an animal. "No," he said quietly. "I left it with the woman I wanted to have it."

Bride felt her jaw go slack as his words hung in the air between them. "I can't take this." He opened the door and headed out into the street. Grabbing the bag from the counter, Bride ran after him. He was heading quickly down toward the centre of the Quarter and it took her some serious rushing to catch up to him. She took hold of his arm, amazed at the tautness of his biceps as she pulled him to a stop. Breathless, she looked up at him and those beguiling hazel-green eyes. "I can't take this," she said again, giving the bag to him. "It's way too much."

He refused to take it. "I want you to have it."

There was so much unfathomable sincerity in those words that she couldn't do anything more than gape at him. "Why?"

"Because beautiful women deserve beautiful things."

No one unrelated to her had ever said anything so kind. Today more than any other, she needed to hear it. She'd never thought any man would ever think of her that way. And to hear it from this gorgeous stranger meant the world to her. Those words reached so deep inside her that that She burst into tears.

Vane stood there feeling completely at a loss. What was this? Wolves didn't cry. A she-wolf might tear out a man's throat for pissing her off, but she never cried and especially not when someone had complimented her. "I'm sorry," he said, completely confused by what he'd done wrong. "I thought it would make you happy. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." She cried even more. What was he supposed to do now? He looked around him, but there was no one to ask. Screw the human in him. He didn't comprehend that part of himself, either. Instead, he listened to the animal part that only knew instinctively how to take care of someone when they were hurt. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her back toward her store.

Animals always did better in their native environment so it only stood to reason that a human might, as well. It was easier to cope with familiar things around. She latched on to his neck as he carried her and wept even harder. Her hot tears raised chills on his skin and he ached for her. How could he make this better?

Bride hated herself for breaking down like this. What the hell was wrong with her? Worse, he was carrying her! Carrying her! And he wasn't complaining that she was fat and heavy, or grunting from the strain of it. She'd jokingly asked Taylor to carry her over the threshold when they had moved in together and he had laughed, then asked her if she was trying to give him a hernia. Later that night, Taylor had agreed to do it only if she bought him a forklift for it. And yet here this total stranger carried her with ease down the street. For the first time in her life, she almost felt petite. But she wasn't that delusional. Bride McTierney hadn't been petite since she was six months old.

"Vane? Is everything okay?"

Bride tensed as she heard the voice of the man who had given her hot cocoa. More tears slipped free.

Harry moved to open the door to her shop, letting Vane carry her inside. He closed and locked the door, flipping the sign to closed. "Take her out back." Harry whispered, moving to make tea in the kitchenette. It was a good thing he'd decided to come back and check on the woman, obviously something had happened and the poor wolf had looked very lost.

Vane found the small apartment behind the store and set her down in a chair. He untucked his white T-shirt and used the end of it to blot her eyes.

"Ow!" she said as he almost poked her right eye out. It was a good thing she didn't wear contacts or she'd be blind.

He looked contrite. "Sorry."

"No," she said, looking up at him through her tears. "I'm the one who needs to apologize. I didn't mean to have a nervous breakdown on you."

"Is that what this is?"

Was he serious? He definitely appeared so. She drew in a ragged breath and wiped her eyes with her hands. "No, this is me being stupid. I'm so sorry."

He offered her a small, seductive grin. "It's okay. Really. I think."

Bride stared at him in disbelief. Why was this man in her store being so kind to her? It didn't make sense. Was this a dream? Trying to regain some of her dignity, she pulled his credit slip from her pocket. "Here," she said, handing it to him.

"Why are you giving me this?" he asked, looking at the slip.

"Oh, come on. No one buys a necklace this expensive for a complete stranger."

Again he didn't take it. Instead, he reached inside the bag and took out the box. She watched as he unwrapped it, then placed the choker around her neck again. The contrast between his hot hands and the cool beads made her shiver. He laced his fingers through the tendrils of her hair while gazing at her like she was some delectable dessert that he was dying to taste.

No one had ever given her such a hot look before. It wasn't natural for a man this handsome to look at her like that.

"It belongs on you. No other woman could do it justice."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back before he called the psycho ward on her. The heat of his hand against her neck was searing. "What? Did you lose a bet or something?"

"No."

"Then why are you being so nice to me?"

He cocked his head as if puzzled by her question. "Do I need a reason?"

"Yes."

Vane was completely baffled. Humans needed a reason to be nice to each other? No wonder his kind avoided them. "I don't know what to say," he admitted. "I didn't know there were rules for giving gifts or for trying to make someone feel better. You looked so sad as I walked by that I only wanted to make you smile." He took a deep breath and handed her the credit slip. "Keep the necklace, please. It looks good on you, and I have no one else to give it to. I'm sure my brother wouldn't want it. He'd probably shove it someplace real uncomfortable if I gave it to him. And if he didn't, that would scare me even more." Finally, she laughed. The sound lightened his heart instantly. "Is that a smile?" he asked.

She nodded and sniffed delicately before she laughed again. Returning her smile, Vane reached out and cupped her cool cheek. She was so beautiful when she laughed. Her dark amber eyes sparkled. Before he could stop himself, he leaned down and kissed the tears from her lashes.

Bride couldn't breathe as she felt the heat of his lips against her skin. No man had ever treated her like this. Not even Taylor, whom she had hoped to marry. She inhaled the warm scent of Vane's skin. It was tinged with some sort of aftershave and a rich, masculine scent. God, it felt so good to be held right now when her whole life was falling apart. Before she realized what she was doing, she had her arms wrapped around his lean waist and had laid her head against his strong chest. His heart pounded heavily under her ear. She felt strangely safe here. Warm. Most of all, she felt desirable. As if maybe she weren't a total loser, after all.

He didn't protest her hold. Instead, he held her there with his hand still on her face while his thumb gently stroked her cheekbone. He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on the top of her head. Heat flooded her. A deep-seated need tore through her body. It was one she didn't understand.

In all her life, Bride McTierney had never done anything other than what she was supposed to. She'd graduated high school and lived at home with her parents while she went to Tulane, where she had seldom dated and had spent more nights than not in the library. After graduation, she'd gotten a job as a manager at the mall until her grandmother had died and left her the building that now housed her shop. And here she had worked every day without fail. No matter how sick or tired she was. Bride had never taken a step on the wild side. Fear and responsibility had ruled her life from the moment of her birth.

Yet here she sat, holding a complete stranger in her arms. A gorgeous stranger who had been kinder to her than anyone else. And she wanted to taste him. To know just once what it was like to actually kiss a man who looked like this. Lifting her head, she looked up at him and trembled with a deep-seated desire she didn't comprehend. But she felt it all the way through her. 'Don't' She squelched the voice of reason, reached up and pulled the band from his hair. Freed, those long dark strands framed the face of heaven. The heat of his hazel-green eyes scorched her. He dipped his head down until his lips hovered dangerously close to hers, as if he were asking her permission. Breathless, she closed the distance and laid her lips against his. He growled deep in his throat like some animal before his kiss turned hungry, passionate. Bride was thrilled and amazed by his reaction. No man had ever seemed to enjoy kissing her as much as this one did. His strong hands cupped her head as he ravished her mouth as if he were starving for her and her alone.

Vane pulled her to him as the animal inside him roared to life. It wanted her with a desperation that bordered on madness. He could taste her own passion on his tongue. Hear her heart beating in rapid time to his. Most of all, he could smell her desire and he wanted more. The animal inside him wouldn't be satisfied until it tasted her fully. In his world, sex had no emotional meaning. It was a biological act between two creatures to ease a female's fertile time and a male's urges. If the two wolves weren't mates, then there was no chance of pregnancy, nor was there any form of sexually transmitted diseases between them. If Bride were one of his people, he'd already have her naked on the floor. But she wasn't a she-wolf. Human females were different. He'd never made love to one of them and he wasn't sure how she would react if he took her the way he would one of their females. Her kind was very frail in comparison. In all honesty, he didn't know why he was so hot for her now. It wasn't normal. Not once in all the centuries he had lived had he ever even contemplated taking a human lover. But this one. He couldn't stop himself. Every instinct he possessed demanded he take her. His wolf's soul wanted to taste her. It wanted to breathe her in and let her softness ease the loneliness that had filled his heart these past months while he grieved for his sister and brother. Just for one moment, he wanted to feel un-alone again.

Bride shivered as Vane left her lips and trailed his kisses to her throat where he nibbled the sensitive skin there. His whiskers gently scraped her skin, making her burn even more. Good grief, he was so innately masculine. So incredibly hot. And every lick he delivered to her skin made her stomach contract. This was so out of character for her. She didn't usually neck with men she knew like this. Never mind a perfect stranger. And yet she didn't want to push him away. Just once in her life, she wanted something out of the ordinary. Deep inside she knew Vane would be spectacular. Terrified of what she was about to do, she took a deep breath and braced herself for his rejection. "Would you make love to me?"

Instead of the laughter she expected, he pulled back from nibbling her throat to look at the open windows of her shop. "You don't mind?"

"And that's my cue." Harry put the mug down and grinned at them. "Have fun kids. I'll come by tomorrow for that present Ma'am." Bride blushed at his words but couldn't help wanting him to leave them alone. Harry looked at Vane, eyes meeting and then he nodded, accepting that Vane needed this just as much as she did, that he wouldn't hurt her. "Be gentle, she's human." He breathed, knowing the wolf would hear. Vane nodded and Harry left, making sure they'd have their privacy. He hoped they both got what they needed from the encounter. He headed home again, after all he had an essay due in a few days and he was going out with Ash that night to hunt.

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Harry looked over at the bar and saw a man sitting there drinking. "Is that Vane's brother?" Ash nodded so Harry got up. "Back in a sec." He walked over to the bar. "Fang right?"

"Who wants to know…. wait, you were there with Acheron."

"Yep. Just thought you should know Vane's…occupied at the moment."

"Occupied as in girl occupied?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks." Fang grinned and Harry went back to finish dinner with Ash before they headed out to hunt, Ash taking them to Paris since he needed to speak to one of the Hunters there.

"Vane is with a woman?" He asked as they walked the streets.

"I know something you don't? Harry teased. "Yeah, shop owner. She was having a bad day, he was trying to cheer her up and making a mess of it. I left when she asked for sex and he agreed."

"Catch her name?"

"No, shop was called Lilac and Lace Boutique." His answer made Ash smile. "Okay what do you know?"

"Her name is Bride."

"And…...?"

"She's Vane's mate."

"Oh…good for them." Harry smiled happily, that should cheer her up.

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Harry walked towards Sanctuary where he was meeting up with Nick, he liked the New Orleans native and he'd been a good friend to Ash since meeting him. he knew the other male was wary of him and his place in Ash's life and he didn't blame him. as far as Nick could see he'd come out of nowhere, so he was going to explain a few things to him, see if they could become friends too. He lifted a hand to wave at Dev and then saw the bears eyes widen even as he sensed a presence. He spun but then gasped as his world went black.

Dev ran towards the two but swore as they vanished, Harry's limp form in the redheads' grasp. He turned and ran into the bar, spotting Nick. "Call Ash!" he growled and Nick blinked but pulled his phone out.

"What is it?"

"Harry's been kidnapped." He answered even as Ash appeared.

"Who?" Acheron snarled and Dev swallowed nervously.

"A red haired woman. He was out cold when they vanished, didn't get a good look at here but she wasn't a were-hunter or Dark-hunter, I could tell that much."

"Red hair rules out Daimon." Nick commented, watching Ash closely. He could see the rage his friend was trying to control. "Ash it'll be okay, we'll find him." he offered before Ash vanished. "I'll start calling around the Squires, put everyone on alert." Nick finished as he called Kyrian before beginning to call around.

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"Julian?" Grace frowned at the look on her husband's face.

"Harry's been kidnapped and Acheron is on the warpath." He answered and Grace gasped, she hadn't met her husband's student but she knew he was different. "Only description was redhead female."

"That could be anyone."

"I think I know who… I need to speak with Mother."

"A goddess took him? Oh no." She whispered. Julian kissed her cheek and then went upstairs to call his Mother and see if she knew or could find anything out.

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"The time is coming." Freyja walked to stand beside the other goddess as they watched the humans go about their lives.

"Whether he is ready to know or not, it must be done." Hecate agreed.

"If she kills him it will cause chaos, who knows what will happen to us." Isis agreed softly.

"She will have hidden him within her Temple, she thinks the room within contains all power and hides the occupants but I can get in." Hecate told her fellow Goddesses.

"Then go quickly sister, before we all suffer from her jealousy."

TBC…