Disclaimer: The Night World is the property of L

Disclaimer: The Night World is the property of L.J. Smith as are any

of the characters you recognise like Thierry, Hannah, Keller, Lupe

etc.

Spoilers: All of the Night World books especially Witchlight as this

story occurs at the same time as Witchlight.

Author's Notes: I was going to send each of these parts separately so there would be some suspense but considering the week it's been I'm going to send them all together, I hope you like them. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed,

leilani: Thank you so much for reviewing, I'm glad you like the story.

Mandy: I hope the suspense wasn't too bad seeing as you had to wait an extra few days but now no more suspense I'm sending the last parts today so I hope you like them. Thanks for reviewing.

Werepanther: Thank you so much for reviewing, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. All will be revealed about the blond vampire soon.

Magelet: Like I said to werepanther all will be revealed about the blond vampire soon including his name. Thank you so much for reviewing I am amazed and extremely happy that you liked it so much.

Adelaide: Icarus is a name in a Greek myth but I chose the name Icarus because it means 'dedicated to the moon' or something similar and I thought that would be a good name for a werewolf. Thank you so much for reviewing.

And last but definitely not least thanks to Carina, I hope you like the rest of the story.

Part 15.

Des leaned into Gwern letting him enclose her in his arms. She felt so safe, a feeling she hadn't had in a long, long time, a feeling she never thought she'd feel with a vampire.

"Let's do something," Winema said from where she was curled on an armchair.

"Like what?" Icarus asked.

"I don't know, it's Winter Solstice we should do something even if we just go have dinner in town or something."

"Oh yeah, why don't we just paint a huge, flashing sign over our heads for the Black Ninjas," Gwern said.

"Come on don't be so mean," Winema said, "it will only be for an hour. We took them before, we can do it again."

"We were lucky before, don't be under any illusions that the four of us could take a properly organised, unimpeded, first class group of ninjas. As big headed as I am," he said giving Des a light squeeze, "even I know that."

Des laughed and just snuggled into him, he smiled at her. "See the soulmate connection did teach me something."

Winema made a gagging sound, "you guys are making me sick, get a room would you."

Icarus laughed, "they have a room, two of them to be exact."

Gwern grinned at Des, "Think if I agree to go to dinner they'll leave us alone?"

"Maybe," Des replied.

"Let's try it," Gwern said with a smile.

Elissa turned to Ambrose, "How do you expect me to get them out here?"

"Use your ingenuity, your feminine wiles, whatever just do it," he said in a lazy drawl.

Elissa glared at the blond young man. The boy had an attitude that was for sure. She didn't like that she was stuck working with this guy but it seemed like the only way to get payback on Gwern. She was being spiteful and bitchy she knew but being nice never got you anywhere in this world. She'd learned that a long time ago, being nice only got you stood on, used and discarded. People mightn't like you when you were a bitch but they respected you and they feared you which was a hell of a lot better in Elissa's opinion.

Des stepped out of the car and into the crisp December evening. She had a jacket on but she still felt a shiver run through her. Gwern's arm came around her shoulder; she reached up and stroked the hand he had resting on her shoulder. He drew her closer to him and held onto her hand. She found herself lost in the pink haze that was their connection and she never ever wanted to leave it.

"Good because I'm never letting you go."

"Don't be so cocky," she said, "maybe I don't need you to let me go."

Des felt Gwern stiffen beside her, "Don't say that Des."

"Hey don't worry I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not."

"I like it," Gwern replied with a smile, "I like it a lot."

"I like when you're like this," Des said suddenly.

"Like what?" he asked.

"Open," she replied, "Nice, honest, not hating me."

"I never hated you Des. I tried, boy did I try but it didn't work."

"You know what," Des said, "You make me happy, not an easy thing to do but you manage it."

"I'm glad, you know you can tell me anything right? Even what makes you so sad."

"I know, I will when I'm ready, okay?"

"Okay," Gwern replied. "So what you having for dinner seeing you're the only one who really needs to eat?"

"Don't know yet."

"Looks like we won't be needing your meagre skills after all," Ambrose said.

Elissa turned in the direction he was looking and saw Winema and Icarus enter the cafe followed by Gwern and Des with their arms around each other. She couldn't believe it; Gwern had rejected her for Des, Des.

"I guess I don't need you anymore," Ambrose said.

Elissa didn't like the way he said that, like she was expendable and he wanted rid of her. She got the feeling that his idea of getting rid of someone would not be anything pleasant.

Des chatted happily with the others revelling in the normalcy of it, the simple pleasure she derived from having friends, real friends. It had been a long time since she'd laughed and joked with people like this, since she'd just hung out with people.

"So the promise ceremony's tonight isn't it?" Winema asked.

"Yeah but from what I hear the Witch Child's giving Keller and her team a hard time, wants to go to a party before hand or something. She's supposed to be a right handful, she sounds almost as bad as Winema," Icarus said.

"Hey," Winema exclaimed.

"I said almost," Icarus replied smirking.

Winema threw a napkin at him and Des laughed.

"Where's your werewolf solidarity?" Winema asked.

Icarus shrugged, "Took the night off."

Elissa was getting really, really tired of waiting, she was freezing, how the hell could Ambrose stand there with nothing but a T-shirt on and not look the slightest bit cold, not so much as a shiver, a goosebump.

"You may as well leave," Ambrose said to her, "I no longer have a need for you, you may go."

"Really 'cos up to two minutes ago I was an essential part of this plan. Do you really think you can get whatever it is Gwern has of yours without me? I don't."

"Of course you don't, girls like you always believe they're invaluable when in reality they're nothing, not even a blip on the radar. You are a tiny part of the plan, you don't even know what's really going on here, and you tried to make something that doesn't involve you in any way your business. You know nothing of what is happening, you know nothing of the people involved but you tried to involve yourself in this anyway you could because you're desperate. A desperate little girl so scared that she'll be stuck forever in this town, in this boring little town, in your boring little life. Well guess what sweetheart your life's about to get a hell of a lot more interesting as little of it as you have left."

Ambrose was about to show the little twerp in front of him exactly how exciting life could be, nothing like discovering vampires are real and one's about to kill you to liven things up, when Des and her new Daybreak friends came out of the restaurant.

"Well, well," he said to Elissa, "Looks like its show time, guess you will be part of this after all."