Bo

She stared into my eyes for what seemed like an eternity, but said nothing. I could see the fear so clearly, and I wished I knew how to take it away.

"It's okay if you're scared," I whispered, "I am, too."

Her eyelids fluttered shut and she exhaled shakily. "There's one more thing... something I need the truth about before I can answer that question."

"What is it?"

She pulled away and looked at me, "That day in the lab, when Dyson was in Limbo and on life support, you said that you loved him, but you had fallen for me... Are you in love with him? Just tell me the truth, I need to know."

I could tell this was a huge part of her fear; that I would go back to him because she thought she wasn't enough for me. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud at how ridiculous it seemed after everything that had happened this week. But I knew that I had never really explained my reasons for breaking up with him. She needed to hear my side.

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts before deciding how to begin. "Dyson was the first um, being, I guess, that I had ever fed from and didn't kill. He was the first Fae I ever met and actually got to know. He brought me into a world where there were others like me and helped me see that I wasn't abnormal or a freak. And at that time, everything was new and overwhelming and... scary as hell. I was vulnerable and I mistook my happiness, in finding someone like me, for falling in love. I mean, after what happened with Kyle, I thought I'd never be able to let myself fall for someone or have a relationship with someone. I had convinced myself I would be alone forever because I was a monster. I do love Dyson, and I care about him, but that love was born out of reliance and gratitude. He's my friend," I explained, noticing how she looked away when I said I loved him. "It's not like that with you, though. I'm in love with you. I can't even imagine being with anyone else, Lauren. Just the thought of not being with you for the rest of my life causes this horrible feeling in my chest, and it gets hard to breathe. I've never felt like this about Dyson or anyone, besides Kenzi, of course- she's my family. But my point is, I fell in love with you and I will be in love with you, forever. It doesn't matter whether you are human or Fae, you remember me or you don't, if I can feed from you or I can't; I love you, and nothing can change that. Even if you don't say yes, I will still love you. That is the truth," I finished, feeling like a thousand pounds had been lifted from my shoulders. I had laid my cards down and that was that.

As she looked at me now, tears shining in her eyes, it wasn't with fear, but unmistakable happiness. Suddenly, her arms were around my neck and her lips were on mine. I returned the fervent kiss, wrapping my own arms around her waist and pulling her body into me.

When she broke away, I asked, "So, was that a 'yes'?"

"That," she said with a smile before giving me another quick kiss, "was a 'hell, yes'."

I was sure that I was grinning like an idiot, but didn't care. "I think I like 'hell, yes's."

She laughed and shook her head. "As much as I want to celebrate this moment," she said, "Kenzi and Tamsin are waiting for us."

I kept my grip on her, "Fuck them."

"Well, I hope those aren't your intentions," she joked, but then said seriously, "We still have to deal with a lot of things. For instance, the car in the driveway needs to be taken care of, and we have to go see the Ash."

I pouted, "Can't that stuff wait for, like, ten or thirty minutes?"

"I wish it could," she said softly. "But I really need to see the Ash."

"Why?"

She bit her lip and ducked her head, "I might have a theory as to why you can't feed from me, and the Ash is the only one I can ask who might tell me the truth."

I furrowed my eyebrows, confused, "What's your theory?"

"I don't want to cause any tension, Bo. I think it's best I keep it to myself until I know whether I'm right or not."

"Cause tension? I don't understand."

"Please, trust me on this? I promise you, you will know soon enough."

I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, but relationships were about compromise. And I did trust her. "Okay. But I haven't been able to get a hold of Dyson," I told her. "I have a feeling something might have happened to him."

"What do you mean?"

I shrugged, "Well, the past few days he's practically been up my ass, checking in and asking questions, but now... he hasn't been to work in two days and no one's heard from him since before he came here yesterday morning. I know I might just be paranoid, but I have a really bad feeling about it."

"We'll look into it, okay?" she assured me, moving her hands to my neck and lightly tracing my jaw with her thumb.

I nodded and leaned in to kiss her again before letting her go and taking her hand.

When we got downstairs, Kenzi looked up from her spot on the couch. "Damn, that was quick. You losing your touch, Bo-Bo?"

Tamsin laughed and raised her hand to Kenzi, who gave her a high-five.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the comment as Lauren looked at the ground and tried not to join in on the laughter.

"Do any of your cousins want a car? It's not in the best shape, but it's free," I told Kenzi.

She smiled, "Well, since you said the magic word, I think we can figure something out."

While Kenzi made some phone calls, I sat down with Tamsin and Lauren as they told me about what had happened. Listening to Tamsin describe the accident, I surprised they were both alive. If she hadn't reacted so quickly, Lauren definitely wouldn't have survived. Even though, I still didn't really know what to make of the woman, I had to admit that I was grateful towards her. She'd saved my girlfriend's life.

Girlfriend, I repeated in my head. I still couldn't believe we were really together, that she was finally mine. After all the shit we'd gone through, even though it hadn't even been a week, I was beginning to think it'd never happen. I watched Lauren's lips as she spoke, not hearing a word she said as I imagined kissing her, and what those kisses would lead to. I licked my lips unconsciously, my hunger for her taking over my mind.

"Bo?" she said, snapping me back to the present.

"Yes," I muttered and brought my eyes to hers.

She raised her eyebrows with a smirk, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I got distracted. What were you saying?"

"I was saying that I was going to go take a shower and get changed so we can go to the compound. Tamsin is going to stay with Kenzi while we're gone."

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll find you some different clothes, then," I told her as we both stood up. "Thanks," I said to Tamsin.

"No problem," she replied.

"So, this shower," I said to Lauren once we were back upstairs.

She laughed as she undid her belt, "I'll be taking it alone, Bo."

"But..." I trailed off, forgetting what I was going to say because Lauren had just pulled her tank top off, and, even though her side was still covered in blood, I couldn't help the sudden dryness of my mouth.

Without a second thought, I walked over and pulled her in for a kiss. It was a great feeling, knowing that I could kiss her whenever. I ran my hands up her arms and then down her chest. I was about to undo her bra when she pulled away.

"You need to go," she said, softly. "The faster I get ready, the faster we'll get this over with. Then I'm all yours."

"This theory of yours... if you're right, will you be able to fix whatever is wrong?"

"Hypothetically, yes."

"Then I hope you're right."

She gave me a small smile, "Me, too. Now, go try calling Dyson again or something."

I dropped my hands to my sides and shook my head. "You really know how to kill a mood, don't you?"

She laughed again and started towards the bathroom. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

Lauren

It was weird, walking into the Light compound. I had only been gone for less than a week but it felt like months since I'd been here.

"Ugh, I hate this place," Bo groaned quietly as she walked beside me.

The guards recognized me and I had no trouble getting to the Ash's reception area. I wondered if they even knew I didn't work here, anymore.

"Dr. Lewis," Megan, one of the Ash's assistants, greeted me. "The Ash has been expecting you. Let me just tell him you're here," she said, looking from me to Bo, her expression turning wary.

"Thanks, Megan," I said before she went through the doors leading to the Ash's office.

"I'm going in with you," Bo told me, giving me a look that showed there was no use arguing with her.

I nodded and Megan came back in.

"He'll see you, now," she said and resumed her seat behind the desk.

I took a deep breath and started towards the door, Bo following me closely.

I was nervous as I walked into the office but tried my best not to show it. There were two guards by the doors and another assistant of the Ash, Marcus, standing a few feet behind the Ash, himself. The Ash stood up and I almost bowed my head but caught myself at the last second.

"Hello, Dr. Lewis," he said, then added, "Nice to see you, again, Bo."

I didn't have to look over at her to know she was biting back whatever sarcastic reply had gone through her head.

"I was told you wanted a meeting, Ash," I said, proud that my voice didn't waver.

He nodded, "Yes. It seems you're having trouble with bounty hunters. I was hoping I could be of service."

"In exchange for what?" Bo shot back before I could reply.

I turned to her and raised my eyebrows, wanting to convey the fact that I could handle this myself, then returned my attention to the Ash.

"I realize that you have chosen to be unaligned, Lauren, and though I would like you to join the Light, I respect that it is your decision."

"Thank you," I said with a nod that he returned

"I would like you to consider becoming a consultant for our lab. Your research has proved valuable over the past few years and though I cannot offer your job back, it would be advantageous to have you come in from time to time and help my medical staff."

"I'll take your offer into consideration."

"That's all I ask."

Reaching into my jacket pocket, I took hold of the Sejan before asking, "If you don't mind, I have something that I think you may be able to identify."

He tilted his head slightly with a look of curiosity and walked over to me. "What would that be?"

I pulled the bracelet out and handed it to him, feeling Bo's eyes on me but not daring to look over at her.

I watched as the Ash studied the Sejan for a minute and nodded, "This is a Sejan. It bestows a prescient ability on the wearer."

"Are you sure?" I was relieved and disappointed at the same time. It was good to know that Trick and Dyson hadn't lied, but it also meant it wasn't what was causing the problems with Bo's feeding.

He was about to hand it back when Marcus spoke up, timidly, "Excuse me, Ash. If I may have permission to speak?" He kept his head bowed and his eyes on the floor.

"Go on, Marcus," the Ash consented.

Marcus walked over slowly, "The object has been glamoured. I can see the altered auras. It's very intricate."

I knew that Marcus was a mage. And Earth Mage, to be specific. He had the ability to manipulate energy to cast spells. Basically, he was a witch.

"What does that mean?" Bo asked.

"It means the object only appears to be a Sejan. It's true form is masked," the Ash explained and then asked Marcus, "Are you able to undo it?"

"I can try. If you'll just hold it out for me, I'll see what I can do," Marcus requested and the Ash complied.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my palms sweating. If it wasn't a Sejan, then what was it? And had Dyson and Trick known? I knew Trick was a mage, but he was a Blood Mage, and as far as I knew, he didn't have the ability to glamour. Neither did Dyson.

I looked at Bo, immediately registering the anger and confusion on her face. I hoped, for her sake, that this was an unintentional mix-up.

Marcus moved his hands around the bracelet for several minutes, plucking thin air like there were invisible strings only he could see.

Finally, the bracelet shimmered and morphed. When the transformation was complete, an amulet rested in the Ash's open palm.

I saw his expression change to recognition and anger flashed in his eyes.

I was afraid to ask, but I had to know. "What is it?"

He looked at me and said, "It's a Koushang. It prevents one's life force from being taken. Where did you get this?"

I didn't know what to say. So many things went through my mind at once. Facing Bo, I could see she was as conflicted as I was. We had been fooled. Possibly by Dyson, who Trick had alluded the so-called Sejan belonged to. Or Trick, himself. Or maybe someone had fooled them and they had no idea about the glamouring, either.

"I'm not at liberty to say," I told the Ash.

"Dr. Lewis, it would be wise of you to rethink that answer," the Ash growled. "This amulet was stolen from my vaults. I have a right to know how you came to be in possession of it."

My whole body tensed as the gravity of this situation sank in. I quickly glanced at Bo, her eyes wide as they darted from me to the Ash with worry.

If Trick and Dyson were innocent, and even if they weren't, I couldn't just turn them in. Stealing from the Ash was a capital offence in the Fae world. They would be imprisoned. Maybe worse.

When I didn't say anything, the Ash looked past me and gave a subtle nod.

The guards grabbed me and Bo, holding our arms behind our backs.

"Get your fucking hands off of us!" Bo yelled, struggling against the burly guard's grip, her eyes instantly changed blue.

The Ash pocketed the Koushang before saying, "Until you tell me who's responsible for this, I have no choice but to detain you. I'll ask one more time. Who gave this to you?"