Author's Note: I know, I know. You are all wondering, "WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG!?" Well...life...and writer's block happened *laughs nervously* But finally chapter 29 and I'm sure some of you have been wondering, "What about Zhin?" Oh just read. Hope you guys like it.


Chapter 29

Grunts echoed down the alleyway, bouncing off the brick walls as Zhin swung her leg and knocked a lesser down onto his ass. She kicked him hard in the face as he tried to get back onto his feet, but like hell would she give him a chance. He grunted and fell back, eyes shutting closed as he fell into unconciousness. Butch would take care of him. Turning around, she ran down and jumped, landing with her knee hard on another lessers back, forcing him face down to the ground. Looking up, she heard grunting and watched as Blay swung his fist fast and hard at a lessers face, sending him flying back against the brick wall. He looked so amazing. So fierce. Watching him fight always gave Zhin some sort of high. When she first started fighting with him, Zhin thought that nothing bad would happen. That her mind would always be focused on the fight in front of her and not focus on what Blay was doing. She had been wrong. She slowly started being wrong a month after Lhust's house bound.

Zhin had been working hard to keep herself in the game.

She watched as he grabbed the lesser and threw him a few ways. Her eyes were focused on him that she didn't sense another coming towards her, until it was too late. She managed to get a glimpse in the corner of her eye, but Zhin reacted too slowly. She turned her head and felt pain shooting all along her jaw and up to her brain. Her back hit the wall hard, head ricocheting as it snapped backwards, the back of her skull meeting with the wall. Her vision twinkled as she coughed. Looking up, she saw the lesser she had kneed in front of her.

"You're fucking dead you little bitch." He hissed. Whipping out a switch knife, the lesser moved fast and rushed forward. Arm raised, he was ready to swing, but was unable to complete the action. From her side, Blay let out a fierce battle cry, rushing down and tackled the lesser to the ground.

His fist flew as he pounded at the enemy's face, black blood oozing and flying. The lessers face was unidentifiable. Getting up, Blay was breathing hard, fangs elongated, eyes dilated, the black almost taking over the whites of his eyes. When he looked up too see how Zhin was doing, the last thing he expected was to see her taking a blow to that beautiful face of her's. His blood heated with rage, his fangs elongated, ready to tear at that fuckers throat. His body moved before his mind had set. All he had thought about was protecting her and his body reacted.

Looking over to Zhin, he watched as she smoothed delicate fingers along her jaw. He was right in front of her in an instant. "Are you okay?" He asked, his hand reaching up, fingers lightly touching at her jaw.

"I'll live. Hurt like a bitch, but I'll live." She chuckled, trying to play it off. His hands caressed at the sensitive spot. She shivered and blushed. "I should have payed more attention. He wouldn't have gotten me if I hadn't lost my focus."

"I don't think it's right for you to keep fighting." Blay murmured, his eyes going from where she had been hit to her eyes. He saw her lips turn down into a frown. "I don't like seeing you get hurt."

"Look. It's sweet that you care, but I can handle it. If I couldn't then I wouldn't be out here at all. Me and Lhust aren't fragile."

It was Blay's turn to frown. "I know you aren't fragile, but still-"

"-Still nothing, okay. I know you mean well Blay, I really do, but I can take care of myself." She smiled. Looking over to her right, she saw Rhage appear. "Hey, Rhage!" Moving away from Blay, she walked over to the Brother and raised her hand, high fiving him, well tried to. He held his hand up too high, making Zhin jump up in order to reach, but she couldn't. "You're an ass."

"Yeah I know, but it's always fun seeing you try." He chuckled and finally gave her the high five. "So, what do we got?"

"Three unconscious and waiting for Butch." Dhe pointed to the three lessers that were on the floor, motionless.

"Niiice. No issues I presume." Rhage asked as he knelt down to check on one of the lessers.

"No. No issu-"

"She got punched in the jaw." Blay put in. He stood beside Zhin.

Rhage whistled. "Ouch. Is it bad?" He asked as he gestured for her to show him.

"Nah. It might bruise, but a little feeding will make it go away."

"You need to be more careful." Rhage touched at the sore spot seeing her wince a bit.

"Yes, she should be more careful." Blay repeated with a tense, strained voice.

Frowning, Zhin looked over at Blay, eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I was." Pursing her lips, she turned away from him and looked at Rhage. "I'm heading back home, if that's cool?"

Rhage nodded. " Yeah. Sure. Go ahead and relax, we'll clean up here." Watching her dematerialize, Rhage looked to Blay and quirked a brow. "Over protective much?"

Curling his hands into tight fists, Blay turned away from the Brother. "I don't know why I am. I freaking snapped when I saw her get knocked back." He dragged a hand over his face. "I've been fighting with her for the past few months. She can handle herself. I know she can. I've seen her. But to see her get hit. To see the pain on her face." He shook his head. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

Rhage placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Uhh, it's called being shot by cupid and now you're having a thing for her." That made Blay whip his head around. " And don't try to deny it. I can see it all over your face. You over reacted when she got punched."

"Wouldn't you?" Blay countered.

"Not to your level my man. Yeah, I would have been upset, but the way you were around her and the way you mentioned about her being touched," Rhage shrugged, "You like her, a lot. And don't deny that shit either."

Blay simply stared at the Brother for a few good minutes before he cursed. "I like her." He murmured. "I fucking like her, yes. But now she fucking hates me all because I said that I don't want her fighting anymore. Hell, I don't want her fighting ever."

"As if that's going to happen." Rhage scoffed. "Look, tomorrow you both are off, right? Take her out to dinner or something. Set the mood and let her know how you feel, ya?"

"Dinner? Take her on a date? I've never...that is...umm...I've never been on a date..or taken anyone out on a date."

"Oh boy. Maybe you should just skip the date and just pounce her. She might like that." Rhage grinned and waggled his brows.

"Are you serious? Tell me you're not serious."

"Whaaaaat? It'll work. I think she's that type of female."

"Why am I listening to you? You should be arrested for giving out bad dating advice."

"What!? Hey, I'm great at giving dating advice."

"Oh yeah? Did your own advice help when it came to your shellan?"

"Hey, that's different. We're talking about you, not me."

Blay rolled his eyes. "I'm not listening to you." He turned away and at that moment a black Escalade appeared from down the alley. Butch killed the engine and slipped out. "Yo." Blay raised his hand in greeting.

"Zhin sent me a text and let me know about you babysitting some lessers." Butch nodded to Rhage in greeting. "All good here?"

"Yes" Blay said at the same time Rhage said, "No."

"Oookay. What's doin'?"

"Nothing."Blay emphasized, but Rhage wasn't having it.

"I was giving Blay here some dating tips."

That made Butch laugh. "Hah! A monkey is better off giving advice."

"Dude! The fuck! My advice is good." Rhage protested as he reached down and grabbed a lesser by the ankle and dragged him over towards the other two.

"Oh yeah. You're own advice helped you to win Mary." Butch scoffed. He looked to Blay. "Who you trying to charm?"

"Zhin" Rhage answered helpfully, though Blay didn't see it as helpful.

"Zhin huh? Sweet little thing, though I wouldn't want to get into a fist fight with her. Girl can throw punches like a cage fighter." Crossing his arms, Butch gave Blay a pondering look. "Why don't you write her a poem or something."

"A poem? Are you serious? We're not in the 1800s anymore my man." Rhage crossed his arms.

"Marissa loves when I write her poems." Butch defended.

"Yeah, that's her. I don't think Zhin is a poem type of female."

"How would you know? Maybe she secretly loves sweet poems and love letters."

Rhage and Butch went back and forth when it came to how Marissa and Mary were.

After a few moments, Blay threw his hands up. "Okay. Enough. Can we just deal with these guys and just head home?"

Both stopped, looked at Blay then down at the lessers then nodded. Butch did his thing and was helped into the Escalade. Rhage got behind the wheel and Blay settled himself in the back. They were in silence as Rhage maneuvered the SUV out of the alleyway and onto the street, making his way towards the highway that took them back home.

Rhage wasn't able to keep quiet for long though. "I still think you should just grab her and just make out with her."

"You really need to stop with the advice. You're not helpful." Blay put in as he shook his head.

"What? Females love that."

"Please stop talking. You're giving me and no doubt Butch a head ache."

"Amen to that." Butch coughed a bit as he tried to keep his head against the head rest.

" Look, just-"

"-No."

"All I'm saying is-"

"-Just stop it will ya?"

Back and forth they went until they finally made it back home, poor Butch unable to say much.


Zhin and Wrath stepped out of his study with Beth right behind. "Thanks Wrath. I hope it doesn't cause any problems or anything."

"Nah. It'll be good. I thank you for letting me know. The last thing I would want is for you two to get distracted thanks to the other."

She nodded and blushed. When she got back home, she had gone and taken a quick shower and dressed and had hoped to speak with Wrath about tonight and when it came to her feelings about Blay. She more or less revealed that being around him wasn't helping her state of mind, especially when she was fighting. Beth had instantly guessed that she liked Blay and that had made Zhin blush red. Wrath had only smiled, as if happy to know that someone had an eye out for Blay.

From now on, she and Blay wouldn't be together when it came to fighting. They're nights were going to be switched around. She would fight while he had the night off and vice versa. With that settled, it was time to head down for Last Meal.

Beth leaned up and gave her hellren a kiss on the cheek and asked for him to go on first. Wrath could only smile, as if he knew what his shellan was going to do.

"So. You like Blay? Are you gonna let him know?" Beth asked, looping her arm with Zhin's and slowly walked over towards the stairs.

"I...don't know. He got me so pissed tonight. Saying he didn't want me to fight ever. I've been fighting for all I know, way longer than him."

"It's understandable. He likes you."

"He does? Why would you say that?"

"Why would he say that he doesn't want you to fight anymore? And when you mentioned what he did to that lesser that punched you. I can tell that he likes you a lot."

Zhin blushed and wasn't able to help, but let her lips curve into a smile. "What should I do?"

"Nothing." Beth simply said as she walked down the steps with Zhin.

"Nothing? Why nothing?"

"It's more charming and sexy when a male does so many things when he's trying to woo a female."

"Is that how it was when it came to the King?"

"Kind of." Beth chuckled. "Just trust me, okay. Pretend you're sort of not interested, yet give him a bit of attention here and there. You'll soon see how hard he'll work to win you."

Zhin could only smile. "I get the feeling mahmen would have said almost the same thing as you, Beth. Thanks. I'll make him work." She laughed a bit.

"Make him work really hard." Beth squeezed her arm and giggled.

When they reached the bottom, the front door opened and Blay stepped in. He stopped mid step when he saw Zhin.

Saying nothing, Zhin simply looked away, walking still. Beth said her hello and continued to walk as well until they were in the dining room.

Sighing, Blay closed the door and dragged a hand through his hair. "She fucking hates me." He murmured and made his way upstairs to his room in order to freshen up. Maybe he ought to ask Z or perhaps V for some dating advice. Rhage was no help and Butch..well...the poor male was practically comatose by the time they settled him in The Pit.

By the time he came down, everyone was already settled at the table. Blay took his seat across from Zhin. He gave her a smile and she simply gave him a glance and looked away to talk to Mary again. He was in deep water. He shouldn't have said anything. He wanted to hug her and tell her that he was stupid for saying anything. Sighing, he took a sip of his water and almost spilled some when V nudged his shoulder.

"What's doin'?" He whispered over to him.

Shaking his head, Blay wiped his lip with his table cloth. "Nothing. Just rough night."

V stared at him for a moment, sensing the lie, but said nothing. "Well if you need to talk about anything, you're welcome to talk to me. Cool?"

Blay stared at the Brother. He wondered if V had any good dating advice. Chances were it would be better than Rhage's. "Yeah. Thanks."

"No prob. Now eat before Fritz gets an apoplexy." He smirked.

After a few good hours filled with laughter and conversation, Last Meal ended, everyone happy thanks to full stomachs. All the girls decided to enjoy a movie before turning in, Lassiter inserting himself within the female group and started listing names. "Babe is a good movie. I love that little piggy." He said and was smacked playfully in the arms. With the girls heading up to the entertainment/theater room, all the males decided to hang about either in the billiards room or in the TV/living room.

Blay leaned against his pool cue, staring at the table as balls rolled this way and that. His thoughts were filled on how to apologize to Zhin while trying to charm her. If his mahmen was around, she would have given him an earful for having hurt her feelings, then she would push as much mahmenly advice as she could. That made him smile for a moment, before he was startled by John.

"Yo. Blay? You good? It's your turn." He sighed. Concerned showed on his face.

"Oh. Sorry." He positioned himself, the tip of his cue pointed at the number ten ball and he hit it, though it was a lousy hit. He didn't seem to care though. "Your go."

John could only stare at him. He settled his cue on the table edge and stared at Blay. "Okay, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's cool."

Quinn and V were both in the room and they both stopped playing their game of poker for a moment to stare at Blay.

"Don't bullshit me Blay. You're better at pool than me. Now what's doin'?"

V and Quinn put their cards down and stood. They walked over to the pool table.

Blay at this moment was a bit greatful that it was only these three here. "I...," He dragged a hand through his hair, "I got into a fight with Zhin."

John let out a whistle, V and Quinn winced.

"Yeah." He explained what had happened and what he said and the others winced again and shook their heads."I don't know what fucking came over me. I shouldn't have said that to her. I insulted her. Now she's mad and chances are she'll never talk to me ever again." Man did he sound like an emo boyfriend.

"It's not the end of the world. You can fix this." V reassured as he pulled out a hand roll and lit up.

"How? She won't look at me let alone talk." He scrubbed a hand down his face. "I want her to like me...like how I like her." He blushed.

That got all three grinning. "Oh you like her. As in like-like or just like." Quinn asked as if they were middle schoolers.

Blay actually blushed. "Very funny. Look, how do I get her to talk to talk to me."

"Well first off, you should just kiss her and-" at that moment Rhage walked in, a fat grin on his lips. "And do a bit of hip movement like, uh, uh, uh."He thrusted his hips. "And then, you-"

"-Please stop. I told you to stop. Why won't you stop?" Blay groaned a bit, but he couldn't help, but smile still.

"My advice is good" He protested.

"Your advice is shit. Now shut it Brad Pitt." V turned back to Blay. "Just apologize. Plain and simple. Nothing fancy. If she accepts it, cool. You're one step closer to having her."

"Just apologize?" Blay thought about it. "Yeah. Simple. Easy."

"And then you ki-" Rhage was cut off.

"-I'm gonna tell Mary to tape your mouth up."

"No good, We've tried. Though Jane has some sturdy stitching thread." V laughed.

"Whatever. I'm telling ya Blay, just grab her and plant a good one on her." He winked. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna get ready for bed." Meaning, he was gonna get nice and naked and ready so Mary could walk in on him.

"Suggest dinner." Quinn put in after Rhage left.

"Dinner?" Blay questioned.

"Yeah. Dinner. Somewhere nice. Like Sal's. I'm sure iAm can hook you up. Charm her or something." Quinn wasn't much of a dater, since he really didn't date Lhust and they both ended up together either way.

Blay wasn't like that. He wasn't raised like that. He was raised to treat a female with respect and his father had strongly suggested that in order to have the female he wanted, he had to woo and seduce her as well. His mahmen had strongly agreed, since that's how she ended up with his dad. "Yeah. Okay. Dinner. Start slow."

"Yup." V clapped Blay on the shoulder. "You'll be fine. Go slow. You'll have her before you know it." Smiling, he patted his shoulder and headed for the door. "Have a goodnight you guys."

The trio said good night back, watching V head for the not so secret door. Setting his cue on the table, Blay sighed. "I'm gonna turn in as well. Think this over."

"Hey, if you ever need anything, you let us know. If you like, I can ask Lhust what sort of things Zhin likes. What she looks for in a male and what not."

Blay bit his lip for a moment. It wouldn't hurt to get a bit of info. "Yeah. Please. If you both could. It would help a lot."

Quinn nodded. "For sure. Well, good night you guys, may the eve be pleasant to you." Quinn waved them a see ya and bounded for the stairs, taking them two at a time since Lhust was no doubt waiting for him.

Smiling, JM clapped a hand on Blay's shoulder and led him out of the billiards room. Pulling his hand away, he signed as he walked. " You'll do fine. Get some sleep and everything will be good." Clapping Blay on the shoulder once more, he nodded a good night and bounded up the steps as well, taking them quickly since Lacey was waiting for him.

How nice it must feel to have a female waiting. Would Zhin wait for him in his room? The thought had him blushing, the front of his pants tightening. As he took the stairs, taking his time, he imagined her waiting for him on his bed. She would be sitting on the soft duvet wearing nothing more than one of his button downs and nothing else. Picturing her in his clothes had him releasing a hiss as his cock pressed against the zipper of his pants. He two timed it to his room and stepped in, being careful as he shut the door. He looked a this bed. How neatly made it was. Yes. She would be there, sitting up right on her knees, her hands unbuttoning each little button of his shirt, exposing that soft flesh. Blay growled. He needed to have her, badly. He will apologize and ask her out to dinner. He will have her, no matter what.