The last chapter was the most I've written in a long time. Now you guys have a double-update on top of it! (This one's pretty long, too!) You know the disclaimer.

Starr

We were swimming when I caught the scent. Darkness couldn't have found us here, not when we were all so happy. I looked toward the cliff a good distance away, my sharp eyes cutting through the night as easily as if it was day. "Erik," I growled, my teeth sharpening in my mouth as I fought off the urge to shape-shift.

He followed my gaze and grew rigid. "So that's where she disappeared to."

"Bitch," Stark commented angrily, noticing what we were talking about.

"Out of the water," I ordered. "Unless you're Erin, that is."

Stevie Rae hovered at the edges of the surf. Shaunee headed closer to the dying bonfire, which sparked and rose as she neared it. Damien and Zoey went between the ocean and the flames, Stark following closely behind them. I jerked my head at Aurox, who trailed after Z. No way was I letting Stark's nightmare come true. Not when everything was going so well for us. Not ever.

I was glad that the humans (besides Jet) had all left, leaving only vampyres and fledglings who skipped class on the beach. Thanatos and Kalona went to them, explaining what was happening. They all retreated to the nearby boardwalk and headed into the different shops and other buildings, even though I was pretty sure those same buildings had been locked seconds before.

Then Loren Blake appeared at my side, cracking his knuckles. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing yet," I answered, grateful for his presence as well as Anastasia and Dragon when they materialized. Jack headed over to Damien. "Got an army with you or what?"

"Unfortunately, it's just us." Loren pulled a sword from thin air.

Erik drew the Guardian Claymore. "Then you'll have to do," he muttered. The Marks on his face were the same, if a little more… golden.

My own hands had the same tattoos as his; the eclipses and the Runes all burned. I morphed and howled a challenge to the waiting Darkness and its Tsi Sgili. An answering cry echoed mine, changing from a wolf's howl to a hawk's screech to a bull's snort of rage. Moonlight reflected off the white bull's flanks.

"Goddess," Kalona muttered. "We can't fight the bull!"

"Except another bull," a familiar voice replied. Nyx and Erebus materialized from the night, along with the black bull of Light. I barked happily at the black bull, which had responded to Kalona, and it dipped its head to me. "We knew you cannot fight this force alone. Darkness is growing, and Light needs every one of its warriors."

I wagged my tail before holding it erect, muscles tense for battle. I wanted my extra wolf senses in this battle. I knew something wasn't right… but then, Darkness never really played fair.

To my surprise, Erik tossed the Guardian Claymore to Erebus. "Take good care of that sword!" he ordered before dropping to the ground beside me. A midnight-black wolf with his blue eyes lolled its tongue at me. Erik shook out his pelt. Much better.

You're crazy. I rasped my tongue over his ear, my dark silver fur bristling.

Erebus shook his head at us. "I'll never understand you two." He nodded to the black bull, his eyes watching the white bull charge at us. The black bull met it head-on.

The second battle today erupted. Erik and I never got separated; if we did, one of us found the other instantly. I knew we did not want a repeat of before to happen. The only difference was that, in this fight, I did not have my father beside me. My Runes appeared to dapple my pelt, and a few glinted here and there as they joined my friends, too. Erik had the most out of everyone but me, of course, and each of the others had varying degrees of power as well as Runes themselves.

I was proud to be the bearer of Light's greatest strength.

A scream ripped through my thoughts. Sticky Dark tendrils had a hold of Zoey. Stark whirled around. "No!" I bounded forward to run beside him, and he traded his bow for the claymore. Erebus was using a spear now. "I won't let this happen again!" His eyes were feverish as he recalled the nightmare. I snapped at any other Dark servant that dared get too close.

There was another bull's bellowing cry, and my eyes fell on Aurox, fully changed and slashing at his enemies – which happened to be his former allies. I growled as he charged another minion that faced me, leaving its throat exposed. I bit down into its neck, unforgiving. Go to Zoey! I ordered. When he raced toward the trapped High Priestess, the Darkness parted for him. He shifted inside the cage, and screamed at Stark to give him the sword. Reluctantly, Stark threw it against the wall of shadows; Aurox swiped expertly, freeing Zoey. Stark slipped through the shrieking tendrils, grabbed Z, and pulled her out. I bounded alongside them as he ushered her toward the rest of the circle, who were now crowded around the bonfire.

I shifted when we reached them. "Cast a circle! Now!" I yelled. They made it so that the ocean was in the west, another ridge of cliffs north, and the bonfire south. An empty space of land in the east was perfect for air. My mind was racing. I had an idea, but it was dangerous.

Erik cut through to my side. "What are you doing?" he asked when he was in normal form again.

Shoving him out of the circle, I glared at him. "What I have to do. I'm not dying this time, though." I jerked my head, and he whirled, slamming into a Dark fighter that tried a sneak attack. "None of us are if I have anything to say about it!" I snarled. "Call your elements now! We have no time for a ritualistic casting." I glared at each of them as they summoned their affinities.

Power surged through me, questioning. "Aeras, Piras, Hudor, Gaea, Pneuma!" I called. "Listen to me! Join with the Sacred Runes that I protect. Use my body as a vessel. Get rid of the Darkness that plagues us!"

"No!" four familiar voices shouted. I knew I should have recognized them, but my body and my mind were no longer my own. I belonged to the forces I'd called upon.

Light exploded on the beach in a crash of brilliance and sound. Because I was not technically there as myself, I didn't remember much of anything except lying on the beach afterward, panting for breath.

Damien, Shaunee, Erin, and Stevie Rae formed a protective circle around me and Zoey, who was exhausted from her encounter with the wraiths. They all stood in their circle positions but did not call the elements again. I slowly sat up, touching my hand to my forehead with a groan. Erik and Jet rushed over to me; Stark and Aurox went to Zoey.

"Don't do that again." Erik pulled me against him. "Next time you have a crazy idea, talk to one of us first."

Without replying, I turned in his grip and bit into his neck, taking blood I knew I needed. There was a vampyric instinct in me after all. Zoey was taking her share from Aurox, who would be more effective in healing her as her past Consort. They automatically Imprinted – I could smell it. Jet helped me to my feet as Erik drew the Healing Rune over my teeth's puncture marks.

Kalona's wings were pure white now. "You stopped Darkness from gaining the advantage… Zoey's death, Aurox's fixed-allegiance, my capture." He pecked my forehead, and the dull ache that warned of an oncoming migraine vanished.

Thanatos shook her head, staring at the bloodstained sand. I emitted a low growl; between Zoey and Erin, the beach was clean in no time. "What will happen in Tulsa?" she murmured.

I said goodbye to our Otherworld friends before answering. "More destruction," I stated grimly.