-Chapter 13-

(Catarina)

Shan and I rest in the tunnels in a little cave carved out in the wall. It is well hidden and I am sure no one has even seen it before. It is small so I curl up against him. "You shouldn't go with me Catarina," he says, one arm around me. "We'll both be killed. It's too dangerous."

"I am likely to be killed anyway Shan. And...you musn't forget that this was my friend too. He should see me confront him. Please..."

"Okay."

I sit up and face him. "Be careful, alright?"

He nods. "I'll try. You too."

I take a deep breath but some tears still fall. He wipes them away quickly.

"It's going to be okay."

I lean in and press my lips to his. This time he kisses me back without hesitation and in another moment we are making out passionately. This is very well most likely our last day together, our last day on earth. We will be dead after this and we both know it. His hands are on my waist. I undo the too big robe without breaking our kiss and let it slide off my arms. It gathers around my waist. We are both dirty and we both smell like wolves but neither one of us even cares.

His hands return to my waist, my bare one. I keep one arm around him and place my other hand on his. I slide it up until it's resting on my bra covered chest. He pushes me gently backwards so I am laying on my robe. He lies on top of me and we continue kissing for a very long time.

And then his hand tugs at the waistband of my pink (or used to be pink before they got covered in dirt) panties. I tilt my hips and let him slide them off. His breathing is heavy as he looks at me. Then he undoes my bra in one quick movement and leaves me naked beneath him. We look into each other's eyes. Then I kiss him again and tug the loose cloth from his waist.

We make love, trying to be as quiet as possible. Then we sleep in each other's arms.

We wake later to voices. The ceremony is beginning. We hurry to get dressed, me leaving the robe behind. I pull on my bra, panties, and the curtain skirt. He pulls on his cloth then we walk together. We wait until the time is right and he shouts, jumping into view. Some men try to attack but Seba's men stop them. The wolves are right behind us and they kill one who gets too close.

"Darren! Catarina! What's going on? I thought you were-" Mr. Crepsley is shocked.

"Not now," Shan tells him. We stand and face Kurda. Some of the other Princes try to take us away but Seba stops them and says we need to speak. Mika trusts Seba so he allows it. "Kurda killed Gavner Purl. At this very moment dozens of vampaneze lurk in the tunnels beneath us, waiting to attack. They were invited here by him! He's a traitor."

The vampires dispute about whether Shan is lying. "Look in the boy's eyes, there is nothing but truth in them," Paris speaks up.

"What do you have to say?" Mika asks Kurda.

"Nothing."

"You do not deny the charges?"

"I do not."

Everyone gasps.