I am so SO sorry for the late update. To make up for it, I've done a longer update. Ooh and, before I forget, which is likely because I have the memory of a goldfish;

*THANK YOU FOR 600 REVIEWS! :D YOU ARE AWESOME!*

Ahem.

(Shout out to LegitMarshmallow for getting me to update ;))

Right, without further ado...


Skulduggery and Valkyrie made their way back into the room, after being unsuccessful in finding the source of the noise. Valkyrie went in first, and froze.

Skulduggery came up behind her, and instantly spotted Saracen's motionless and bloody body. He rushed to his side, closely followed by Valkyrie.

He felt for a pulse, and visibly relaxed when he found one, as faint as it was. He lifted Saracen up so he rested over his shoulder, and adjusted him slightly so he was easier to carry. He turned to Valkyrie.

"Stay in front of me. Whoever did this could still be in the warehouse," he said urgently. Valkyrie nodded, and hurried out of the room. Skulduggery followed, but paused suddenly in the doorway. He observed the doorframe.

Valkyrie stood next to him. "What-"

"Symbols," Skulduggery said. "They're designed to bind the powers of the occupants of the room. That's why Saracen was caught off-guard."

Valkyrie suddenly had a thought. "Do you think..."

Skulduggery nodded grimly. "This certainly does suggest China's involvement."

Valkyrie ran down to the bedrooms on the first floor, Skulduggery right behind her with Saracen.

They reached the double bedroom where Saracen had been sleeping, and Skulduggery gently laid him on the bed. He disappeared out of the room, returning half a minute later with various medical supplies from the bathroom.

He began to clean and dress Saracen's wounds, while Valkyrie checked for vital signs. "See if you can wake the others," Skulduggery said. "Try dissolving a magic leaf in some cold water, and throw that onto them. But be careful- stay alert at all times."

Valkyrie nodded, and left the room, taking some leaves with her. She ran into the bathroom, and filled a large bowl with cold water. She threw the leaves in, and waited a few moments until they had completely dissolved. Luckily, their magical properties meant that this happened swiftly.

She carried the mixture into the next bedroom along. It was Erskine and Dexter's. She chose to wake Dexter first, for obvious reasons. She debated how much of the liquid to pour over him, then decided that she would only get this opportunity once, so poured the majority of the water onto Dexter.

He opened his eyes and spluttered slightly, and then sat up, rubbing his head. His t-shirt, now wet, stuck to his skin, outlining his muscled torso. "What happened?" he groaned.

"You were drugged," Valkyrie told him calmly. "A sleeping gas of some sort knocked you and the others out."

"My head hurts," Dexter mumbled.

"Oh, grow up," Valkyrie muttered. "Come on- help me wake everyone else."

She went to move to Erskine's bed, but Dexter put a hand on her arm. He looked at her. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. "You're very pale."

Valkyrie forced a smile onto her face. "A lot's been happening. I'll fill you in later, with the others," she said. Dexter studied her for a moment, then nodded.

Together, they woke up Ghastly and Anton, and told them to go to the double bedroom. They went back to wake Erskine last. Dexter poured the remaining quantity of water onto Erskine's head. He didn't wake up.

Valkyrie sighed. "Has he always been a heavy sleeper?"

Dexter grinned. "Nope, just lazy."

Valkyrie leaned over Erskine, and slapped his cheek repeatedly until he began to stir. "Come on, Erskine, snap out of it," she muttered.

Erskine slowly opened his eyes. "Hmm? Oh, hey Val. You look hot from this angle," he said sleepily, a grin on his face.

"There's no time for this, Erskine," Valkyrie said, and she yanked him up into a sitting position.

"You look even hotter like this," Erskine murmured, still half-asleep. Dexter laughed.

Valkyrie slapped Erskine again. "Okay, okay, I'm awake now!" he exclaimed.

"You were knocked out, Erskine. Come on, we're under attack," Valkyrie said, trying to get Erskine out of his damn bed.

Instantly, Erskine was alert. Meanwhile, something had finally clicked in Dexter's brain. "Where's Saracen?"

Valkyrie hesitated. "He's been badly injured."

"Where?" Dexter asked quickly.

"Double bedroom," said Valkyrie. Dexter ran out of the room, and Valkyrie and Erskine followed close behind.

Skulduggery, Anton and Ghastly were tending to Saracen's wounds. The blood flow had stopped, and Saracen was not looking as pale. But Valkyrie remembered what he had looked like when they'd found him. She didn't know if he'd be the same again.

After a few tense minutes, the three men stood back, indicating that they had done all they could. They could only wait and see how Saracen would turn out. Skulduggery informed them all of what had been happening, and by the end of it, they were all on high alert.

Erskine sat heavily in the only chair in the room. "Now what?" he asked quietly.

"We need to secure the building," Skulduggery said. "The attacker could still be here. We also need to check the perimeter, in case they're waiting outside."

"No," Ghastly said.

Skulduggery tilted his head at him. "What do you mean?"

"We don't go outside. We stay in this warehouse, where we have the advantage. Outside, too many other factors come into play. It's too dangerous. We stay here."

Skulduggery hesitated. "I know that it's dangerous, but-"

"Skul, he's right," Valkyrie said softly. "We can't take any risks."

Skulduggery was quiet for a moment. "Very well," he said at last. "Ghastly, Dexter and Anton, you're with me. We will-"

"I'm staying with Saracen," Dexter said quietly, breaking the silent demeanour he had been in.

Skulduggery looked at him. "Of course. Anton and Ghastly, we will secure the building. Whatever you do, do not step foot into the front office on the second floor. The sigils are still there. It could be a trap. Until one of us has figured out how to reverse the effects of the sigils on the doorframe, no one enters that office."

Anton and Ghastly nodded, and left the room with Skulduggery. Valkyrie sat down on the floor, and leaned her back against the wall. She watched as Dexter sat down on the bed next to Saracen, and took his hand in his. Dexter looked down at Saracen's face, at his slacken expression and lifeless body. He held a hand above Saracen's mouth, feeling for a breath. He withdrew it after feeling a slight exhale. But it was still only slight.

Valkyrie hoped, for Dexter's sake, that Saracen would emerge okay.


Dexter opened his eyes. He looked across at Erskine on the chair, resting his head on his hand as he slept. Valkyrie was in the same position as before, barely awake. Dexter realised that she had stayed up to watch over him and Erskine, as the others were still absent. He himself had fallen asleep whilst sitting next to Saracen, his head leant uncomfortably on the headboard. But his position wasn't what had awoken him.

There it was again. A pinch on his finger. Dexter looked at his right hand, which was lying on Saracen's chest. And being pinched by a very awake Saracen.

Dexter leapt up, and whirled to face Saracen. "You're okay," he breathed.

Saracen grinned, and slowly sat up. "Sorry to wake you," he apologised, his voice slightly hoarse. "You looked so sweet while you were sleeping, Dex, but I had pins and needles."

"You idiot," Dexter said. "You complete idiot. You're okay."

Saracen nodded. "I think we've established that fact, Dexter."

"When I saw you lying here," Dexter continued. "All the blood... I thought you were gonna die, you idiot."

Saracen frowned. "Why do you keep calling me an idiot?"

"Because you are one," Dexter said happily.

Valkyrie looked up from her position on the floor. "Hi, Saracen," she said sleepily.

"Hi, Val," Saracen smiled. "Did you stay up just for me?"

"Pretty much," Valkyrie murmured, her eyes slowly closing as sleep overcame her. Dexter walked over to her, and gently lifted her, and carried her bridal style next door to Ghastly and Anton's bedroom. He placed her on Anton's bed, and pulled the covers over her.

He turned to go, but paused as he heard a small, tired voice say, "Thanks, Dex."

Dexter smiled into the darkness. "Get some sleep, Val," he said. He wasn't met with an answer.

He left the room, leaving the door open just in case. He strode back into the double bedroom, where Erskine was still sleeping, and Saracen was still sitting up in bed, but this time with a ridiculous grin on his face.

Dexter went over, and sat on the side of the bed, facing Saracen. "What's up with you?"

"The muscular hero carries the beautiful damsel in distress away to bed," Saracen smirked. Dexter whacked his arm.

"Shut up," he said, blushing. "I'm not interested in Valkyrie."

"Oh?" Saracen said, raising an eyebrow.

"Not any more. Someone else has caught my eye," Dexter said quietly. He leaned forward suddenly, and hugged Saracen fiercely. He breathed in the remnants of his aftershave, which had mixed with the mild traces of blood radiating off Saracen's body. Dexter's strong arms wrapped around Saracen, tightly yet gently, as he knew that he was still suffering from his previous assault, no matter how hard he was trying to hide it.

Dexter felt Saracen's own arms wrap around his muscular frame, hugging him back with as much strength as he could muster. After a few moments, Dexter pulled back, but Saracen cupped his face with a gentle hand, stopping him from moving away.

Dexter stared into Saracen's brown eyes, and slowly moved closer. Saracen did the same, and their lips locked. They moved as one, their tongues in a battle of dominance and passion. Saracen's left hand stroked Dexter's cheek, while his right became tangled in his blonde hair. Dexter's right hand was on the headboard, supporting him as he kissed Saracen with more ferocity. His left hand was cupping the back of Saracen's head.

Years of desire flooded into the kiss, and it was only when a smirking Erskine said from behind them, "Well, it's about time," that they pulled away from each other. Dexter sat back down on the side of the bed, blushing furiously. A quick glance told him that Saracen was just as red-faced. Neither could bring themselves to face the smug ex-Grand Mage and recently-turned vet.

"That was long overdue, boys," Erskine laughed. He was quiet for a moment, apparently deciding something. "I'm not saying anything unless you want me to."

Dexter looked up at Erskine. "Thank you."

"You know, the others will accept your decision," Erskine said gently.

Saracen hesitated. "We know, but... let's wait for a more convenient time."

Erskine nodded, understanding. Dexter straightened his collar, and sat calmly on the side of the bed again, almost as if nothing had happened.

"Everyone's getting in a relationship and I can't even find my other sock," Erskine muttered to himself. Dexter laughed, and Saracen cracked a smile.

Just then, Skulduggery, Ghastly and Anton came into the room.

"Where's Valkyrie?" Skulduggery asked immediately.

"Asleep in Anton's bed," Dexter said. Skulduggery nodded, and headed to get her, but not before looking back at Dexter and Saracen, tilting his head in a knowing gesture. Curse that detective who's too good at his job, Dexter thought.

"The entire warehouse has been searched," Ghastly said, rubbing his eyes. "There are no signs of interference or intruders. We've reinforced a couple of the defences as best as we can, but we're just sitting ducks now."

He walked over to Saracen, and sat heavily on the side of the bed. He yawned.

"Good to have you back, Rue," he said sleepily.

Saracen laughed. "Ghastly, get some sleep."

Ghastly shook his head, but before he could answer, Skulduggery came back into the room, followed by a tired Valkyrie.

"Sorry, Ghastly, but no one's getting any sleep until the light of dawn," Skulduggery said. Valkyrie glared at him.

Skulduggery stood at the foot of Saracen's bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," Saracen replied. "A little sore. But good. Whoever patched me up did it pretty damn well."

"That was Ghastly, Anton and I," Skulduggery said proudly. He handed Saracen a magic leaf, and he took it gratefully and started chewing.

"What happened, Saracen?" Anton asked.

"I was sitting at the window," Saracen recalled. "The banging had stopped. The door opened, and someone came in. I thought it was one of you guys. My powers didn't work, so I had no way of telling who it was."

"Yeah, the person put sigils up outside the door," Valkyrie murmured sleepily.

"That explains it, then," Saracen continued. "I turned, and then they punched me. And beat me up while I was unconscious." Saracen saw Dexter's fists clench out of the corner of his eye.

"Did you see who it was?" Anton asked urgently, coming forward.

Saracen nodded. His lips struggled to form his next words.

"It was China. She's here."