Angelz: Ack. It's been so long since I updated this but I've had college, been sick all of last week with a throat infection that left me only wanting to lie down and die. So I decided, at 1am, to start writing the next chapter. It soon struck me that I won't be able to keep up the previous length of the chapters without it taking months to do. So this is what's going to happen from now on: I'll write these short, 600 word plus chapters instead of 1700+ ones. This way you'll get a few shorter chapters every two weeks or so instead of one 1700+ one every few months. Sound good? Yeah? Good. (You guys really have no choice in the matter ;p)

But there shouldn't be many more chapters to go...I'm getting to the final big plot point. You're all going to hate me for it but, hey, it'll certainly be interesting thats for sure...

Enjoy!

Quiet descended upon the Dark Court as Niall and Irial took in the information.

"She can switch?" Irial murmured to himself. "That...could be a big problem." He glanced at Niall, who was staring at Leslie with a touch of fear in his eyes. With a soft intake of breath Irial reached out to brush his hand across Niall's. His eyes flickered away from Leslie to stare at him. Irial let his hand linger over Niall's unsure of his movements and whether or not he should offer comfort. He could easily tease Niall, tempt him into sharing the same bed, he had no problem doing that but the more tender emotions were still an uneasy topic for the two. Had he earned the right to have that closeness he'd yearned for?

Warmth closed around his hand. Irial looked at Niall's hand on his and then glanced at Niall. He was looking away but his hand tightened around Irial's in a firm grasp.

"Is that all that happened?" Leslie was staring intently out of a nearby window, avoiding anyone's eye.

"Yes." She tilted her head to the side, "Bananach is close. What should I do?" Her gaze turned slightly vacant as she faced Niall.

He floundered for words, opening his mouth and yet not sure what to say. How long could he hide her? She couldn't run forever, Bananach would find her and trouble wouldn't be a word strong enough to describe what they would be in.

"You have one week, a few days remain. It's your choice, Leslie." Irial saved Niall from having to answer. The king gave him a grateful look, still holding onto his hand. Leslie was silent for a few tense moments before she stood up and walked to the window. She turned to face her kings.

"I know what I want to do."

The door opened with a flourish. Stood there geared up in her usual clothing, feather-like hair shimmering down her body was Bananach. Niall didn't miss the look she cast about the room.

"You're Queen is gone." She stated. As if the news wasn't known to Niall already. She tilted her head at his silence. "You already knew?" She made a sound at the back of her throat which could almost be described as surprise if it weren't for the mocking wide eyed innocence she projected.

"I knew. Just as you know why I've called for you." A sigh left her lips.

"The mortal pet."

"Seth."Niall ground out beneath clenched teeth. "The mortal under my protection. You are part of this court, yet you attacked him anyway. Care to explain?"

"Are you giving me the opportunity?" He didn't like the sharpness in her eyes, the cunning that was usually clouded through a haze of visions of war and bloodshed was almost sparkling. He fought to control the rising frustration. In the back of his mind worry for Leslie raged. Had she gotten away fast enough? Thankfully Irial had gone with her and that thought alone comforted him in some ways. Worried him in another. If both of them were attacked...

"You are oddly distracted. Do I bore you?" He pulled his thoughts back to the present only to find Bananach lounging on the sofa only minutes ago occupied by Leslie. She twirled a small item, the bone of an animal perhaps, around her fingers as those might with a pencil when bored.

"No more than usual." He deadpanned. "Don't think I'll let you escape punishment for your actions." He began moving towards her, expecting her to eagerly leap forward and start a fight. When War had broken rules a punishment was difficult to issue, fighting and pain were her vices. She fed eagerly off of them so that route was almost never used as a means of reprimanding her actions. In fact Niall couldn't ever remember a suitable punishment being found for her. Sometimes he had to wonder if she knew just how slippery she could be in times like this, the wicked glint in her eyes told him that yes, she did realise how frustrating it was for him.

"I would never expect otherwise, my king." The distance between them shrank. It was only when he stood an arm's reach away that alarm rang through him. Dark shadows, deep abyss's all swayed within her eyes.

A feral grin splashed across her lips just as Niall realised what was happening. His queen, in that moment, was not Leslie. Bananach's gaze was too focused, too alert.

She had switched.

"My king." She spat. "But not for long."

Pain sliced through him only moments after her arms lashed out towards him. He barely even saw the blade that she held within her clenched fingers. He was a good fighter but the shock of the attack momentarily gave her an advantage which she didn't waste. She followed with several more blows, it was only after the third that he started to fight back. For a few tense moments there was nothing but the swift rustle of movement and the sickening sound of fighting.

"I'm surprised you are not concerned for your beloveds. It was harder than I thought to get to them," She licked the blood from her split lip. "but not impossible. Never that." Her distraction worked. She slammed into him whilst forcing another blade into his stomach. Pain once more blossomed inside him and he fell to his knees. Alarm for what had happened to Leslie and Irial briefly flittered through his mind but quickly one thought consumed all of his worries.

Bananach was, at the moment, a Regent. A ruler of the court fey. An equal to himself. One of the dwindling few who could kill him. He was at her mercy.