Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've had school and work and haven't had time to write. With finals coming up, I've been writing to calm my nerves. Hope you like the Chapter 13.

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Akatsuki watched Boston sleep. With everything going on, she was tired and stressed out. When they were researching, she had stayed up nearly all night for a couple of weeks. Now it was taking its toll.

He wanted to help so badly but she wouldn't accept too much. His mind was clouded with all the new information. Her mother was a queen and her father a concubine. With the queen here, it was tugging hard on Boston's attention. She wanted to know whatever she could about why she was hidden.

Changing into his night clothes was the only thing he could do to give him time before he went to bed. He needed to remain calm when he crawled in bed. She was sensitive to his moods so him crawling in bed while angry wouldn't accomplish much.

When he did crawl in bed, his mind was somewhat calm. Instantly, Boston rolled to him, snuggling into his right side with her head on his shoulder. It was a comfort he had come to know. In the month she had been there, he had really fallen for her, but he was wondering what she felt about him. Obviously she liked him because she kissed and slept with him. He wasn't going to ask because she was going through something.

"Are you mad at me?" he heard her ask in the darkened room.

Akatsuki looked down. She hadn't moved an inch. "No. Should I be?"

"You're angry about something."

He sighed and turned on his side so he could look at her. Her big green eyes opened partially and were sleep ridden. The fire of her hair was a stark contrast to the white of the pillow. After staring at each other, she closed them again. He took her hand.

"I hate when people upset others. You're obviously upset by your mother being here. Your brother being here is completely different. He's not trying to change you of bring you back by force. He wants to know you but not at your unhappiness."

She opened her eyes briefly then nestled down further in the bed. "I'm not worried. Just stressed."

"It'd be better if you got more sleep."

"I'm trying."

He laughed then knocked his forehead against hers before resting it there. "Sorry."

After a few minutes of silence, they were asleep.

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Boston woke up and the first thing she saw was Akatsuki's sleeping face. He didn't usually sleep when she was the first one awake. He usually woke up with or before her. By not doing so it gave her time to watch him.

His hair fell across his face, which made him look like a sleeping child. He was calm and very vulnerable because he left his whole body unprotected. It wasn't something he usually did. This just showed he trusted her implicitly.

She looked over when the door opened. Thinking it was Kaname or Aido, she didn't think much about it. It wasn't until a zing went up her spine that she turned to put her body between whoever it was and Akatsuki's. She had her hands planted firmly on the mattress beside his body and was leaning over him.

"Have no fear, child. I'm only here to talk to you," Mab said. Boston didn't move. "I will not hurt the boy."

"Boston?" She didn't turn to look at him but her mind focused on him. Akatsuki tried to sit but couldn't so he rested his head on her back. "You're angry."

"We have an intruder," she replied.

Akatsuki looked up and around her arm that was holding her over him. Mab was watching them closely. In his position under Boston, he had a hard time getting up and defending her if need be. He could shove her off but it would possibly hurt her, something he didn't want to do so he stayed where he was.

"Care to explain what's going on?" he asked as he placed his hands on Boston's hips and tugged her back a bit.

"All I did was come in here to talk with my daughter. She thinks I'm going to harm you," Mab replied. She did the right thing by staying where she was. Boston was coiled ad ready to spring.

"Do you blame her? You came in here without knocking when we're sleeping. It could look very bad for you."

"All I want to do is get to know my daughter."

Akatsuki wiggled to get free. Boston sat up on her knees as he sat up. The covers fell to his lap showing a good deal of bare skin. Not being able to help herself, Boston leaned over and kissed his bare shoulder. He tangled his fingers in her curls and looked up at Mab.

"Give us a few moments and we will talk to you," he said. She nodded and left the room. Akatsuki turned his attention to the woman at his right. "Do you feel better?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Then what do you want?"

He watched as she crawled into his lap, knees on either side of his legs. Her fingers tangled into his hair as she lowered her mouth to his. The kiss was searing as he pushed back as hard as she was. This was the first time she had initiated anything and he was going to take it.

Then reality set in and he gently pulled away from her. She whined slightly and he smiled.

"Your mother and brother are downstairs. We shouldn't do this," he whispered.

"I really don't care anymore," she replied.

Akatsuki allowed one more excruciating kiss that made it hard for him to say stop. Finally, he did. He pushed her away gently and climbed from the bed. He watched the sudden rejection flash across her face momentarily before she also left her safe haven.

When they were dressed, he led the way to the foyer. Boston clung to his arm tightly. This wasn't normal. Usually she held her head high and walked with something akin to arrogance. Now it was as if she was a scared child. He felt her tighten her hand on his forearm. He wanted to pull her to him then lock her away but he couldn't. He had to make sure she understood what was going on with her family.

He walked into the receiving room and right over to the free couch. Chairs had been brought and Akatsuki took one as he made sure she was situated beside Kaname. It was obvious she was uncomfortable but she had to sit there because Kaname had given him a look and he had to listen to him.

"Now, that we're all here let's get started, he said.

Mab nodded. "Seventeen years ago, two children were born. Both were to the Summer Fae but one was to the Winter. How is that possible? One was born out of a union between a Winter Fae and a Summer Fae. The union of two enemies was somewhat unheard of, especially since the Winter Fae was the queen. The child had to be hidden and hidden well. So I, the Winter queen, had my child in the Human World and asked two of my people who were half-Fae to raise her. I knew she couldn't be raised in my kingdom with Summer Fae blood running through her veins. It was the best opportunity for all of us."

"All of us, or just you?" Boston asked suddenly. Akatsuki noticed her temper had flared. "If I was sent here to be protected, then why all of a sudden come after me?"

"You have to understand. I had to give you a better home. I had three sons from three different consorts. My heir to my throne Sage- your oldest brother- was killed during an infiltration of my palace set up by my middle son Rowan. Ash is the only son I have left and he has decided to take his place at the side of the Iron Queen, Oberon's daughter. You're the only one I have left."

Boston's lip curled. "You came after me because you wanted me to be the heir to your throne? What if I don't want to?"

"It's in your blood," Oberon said.

"It's in half my blood. I'm part Summer Fae remember?" Akatsuki snorted in laughter, earning him a look for Kaname who had been silent for the most part.

"Your father was a Summer consort. He has no royal blood in him."

"What makes you think that the Winter Fae will want a half-breed as their Queen?"

"Would you stop?" Mab asked exasperated. "You are my daughter."

"Your half-breed daughter. Don't forget that it was you who decided to have an affair with someone not of your court. Don't push something on me. I don't want to be your heir. I want to live here with my friends. I want to finish school. And most of all I want a life far away from the Fae."

"You don't mean that," Puck said.

"Actually I do. I don't want to live a life where everyone is going to be bowing before me or saying 'Yes, m'lady.' I don't want that. I want a normal life. This is my home and no one's going to take me away from it." Angry enough to burn the place down, she stood and skirted around Kaname's hand. She knew he could haul her back but he wasn't going to with Fae royalty in the room.

When she turned around, Akatsuki was behind her. She was slightly surprised that Kaname hadn't kept him from leaving. It just showed that he agreed with her.

She stalked out to their spot in the woods and stomped into the water. The cold spray cooled her temper only so much. She heard him come in behind her. His hands landed on her shoulders and he turned her around. She welcomed his scalding kiss. It took the heat from her anger and turned it into a different kind of energy. Her hands snaked up his shirt, her fingers caressing his muscles and digging into his skin. His mouth trailed from hers down her neck.

Boston gasped as his fangs pierced her skin and he began drinking her blood. She felt her essence slowly being drained but it was a relishing feeling. It meant she didn't have to use it anymore but she also knew it would kill her if she wasn't careful.

"That's enough," she whispered. With her command, he stopped. She leaned against him fully as fatigue overtook her. "Can we just stay here until everything disappears?"

Akatsuki laughed. "I guess but after a while we will have to go back." She shrugged. Gently he eased her down into the grass and lay beside her. As the wind blew over both of them, he could sense she was calming down, which was something she needed. So he intertwined his fingers with hers and watched the trees as the wind blew through them.