A/N

Thanks to all who reviewed! Specifically…

-halfmoon

-houseofnightfan (x2)

-flowergirl

-inquiete

-BigSister

-MissRandomFreak

-almbookbuyer

-LingDing

Sorry for the long wait, but the next chapter is here! I'm not overly pleased with this chapter, but at least it's up. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I still do not own HON or its characters! And I probably never will.

~Smiley

Chapter 5

Rephaim

Stevie Rae grabbed his hand and stood up, taking him with her. She broke the stunned silence that had fallen over everyone and promptly excused them from the game. In all honesty, Rephaim hadn't really understood the game in the first place, and no one really had it in them to continue after that story. Rephaim could tell there was more to her history, but that was a conversation for another day.

Rephaim felt Stevie Rae's hand slide into his as they walked back to their tent. For some strange reason, Stevie Rae had wanted to put up one even though she would be sleeping underground. She had explained to him that it was a very important aspect of "the camping experience."

Although they all had met up at the one campsite to have the campfire, basically everyone had their own little campsite where their tent was set up. Of course, Zoey and Stark shared a tent and so did Aphrodite and Darius, but everyone else had their own. Even Thanatos and Kalona had separate tents, but they were on the same little campsite.

Stevie Rae and Rephaim walked on in silence for a little while, but Rephaim could tell that the silence was suffocating her. He let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders instead. He looked down at her and smiled, and she leaned into him and smiled right back up at him, wrapping an arm around his waist.

Without breaking stride, he bent down and kissed the top of her head. "So," he murmured into her curls, "what did you think of that?"

"I'm not even sure I've fully processed all of it yet. Why? What do you think?" Stevie Rae asked.

He sighed. "I think that there is something she isn't telling us."

"You think she's lyin'?"

"Oh, gods, no." Rephaim shook his head. "I just think there is more to the story. She told us all of that half of the story truthfully, but I believed it is continued."

Stevie Rae thought for a second, and with the hand that wasn't around Rephaim, she twirled a blond curl around, turning everything over in her mind. Finally, she said, "I think you're right, Rephaim."

"For once, I wish I was not."

Stevie Rae giggled, and Rephaim looked at her like she was crazy. "Sorry, I know you're bein' serious and all, but I just never, ever thought I'd hear a guy say that they wish not to be right."

Rephaim smiled at her, and, quite suddenly, he felt the undeniable impulse to kiss her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, bent down, and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened in shock, but her surprise was quickly replaced with pleasure and her eyes closed. Rephaim deepened the kiss as she leaned into his embrace, and his hands went under her shirt. Instead of reaching up though, he rubbed her back in small circles, which made her want to dissolve into him.

"Rephaim," she murmured against his lips. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer; her fingers were tangled in his long black hair. Her back was suddenly against a tree, and Rephaim's hands were gripping the bark as if his life depended on it. Stevie Rae loved the way his arms completely encased her, and her lips parted. His eagerly followed.

Rephaim had to put this moment down as one of his favorite. In his centuries-long life, he had never felt the way Stevie Rae made him feel: loved. Truly and undeniably loved.

Finally, they broke apart, both breathing heavily. Rephaim wrapped his arms around her tightly, and Stevie Rae hugged him back just as hard, her head resting on his chest.

Rephaim kissed the top of her head, thinking himself the luckiest man alive. Stevie Rae tilted her head up at him to meet his loving, brown-eyed gaze.

"We should probably get back to our campsite," Stevie Rae whispered, her head still against his chest. Rephaim grunted in agreement, but neither of them moved.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" someone asked. They sounded exhausted and exasperated and slightly amused.

It took Stevie Rae a little longer than Rephaim to put a name and face to the voice. "That's—" she started.

"Thanatos," Rephaim finished. "I know."

Rephaim didn't mean to spy on them. In actuality, he really didn't want to. He didn't want to see what he saw.

Rephaim took a couple steps to peer through the trees, and Stevie Rae stayed by his side. "Rephaim," she whispered, but he shushed her, unable to look away.

He couldn't hear what his father said, but he saw his father bend down and kiss the High Priestess's lips. He watched as his father wrapped an arm around her waist, while the other hand cupped her face. He watched Thanatos wrap her arms around his father's neck, just as Stevie Rae had wrapped her arms around his neck moments before. He watched until they both disappeared into the tent, even though that tent was not his father's.

And all he could think about was how his father hadn't told him.

Stevie Rae was speaking to him, but he only knew she was because her lips were moving. Her voice was drowned out by too many mixed emotions.

He was happy for his father. Really, he was. He was glad he had chosen the right path and was a Warrior to a High Priestess and was even getting along with his new friends. He was overjoyed that he would get to see his father every day at school and that Stevie Rae and some of the others had accepted him. And if he liked Thanatos, he was happy that she seemed to like him too.

But why didn't his father tell him?

That made him a little angry. And confused. And frustrated.

Somehow he and Stevie Rae ended up at their campsite. Rephaim had kind of zoned out; Stevie Rae must have led him there. Actually, their campsite wasn't too far away from Kalona's, which they had thought was a good idea at the time.

The haze surrounding Rephaim started to disappear as Stevie Rae led him into the tent. Stevie Rae told him to sit down, but it was kind of like she was talking to him under water. He only knew to do what she asked because she had gestured for him to sit as well. Rephaim sat down on his sleeping bag (which he wouldn't be using) while Stevie Rae switched on the lantern and then took a seat next to him.

At last, the haze completely vanished, and he could hear her clearly again. Naturally, that was when she decided to stay silent. She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Rephaim relaxed into her embrace, resting his head on hers.

"You okay?" she asked without moving to look at him.

"Yes. I believe I will just talk to him tomorrow," Rephaim replied. He sounded tired.

"I think that's a good idea," Stevie Rae said. She moved up onto her knees so she could get a good look at him. She cupped his face in her hands, squinting at him.

Rephaim chuckled. "What are you doing?"

"I'm tryin' to see if you're really okay," Stevie Rae said as if it should be obvious.

"And?" Rephaim asked.

"You look like ya need a nap," she answered.

Rephaim laughed. "I'm fine, Stevie Rae." He threw an arm around her and laid down, taking her with him so they were lying next to each other. He twirled a blonde curl around his finger. "You don't need to worry about me."

"Of course I do," Stevie Rae protested.

"Why?"

"Because you're mine," Stevie Rae answered. "And because I love you."

Rephaim kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Stevie Rae."

Stevie Rae leaned closer to him so she could kiss his lips. "Get some sleep," she told him.

"I really am fine, though, Stevie—"

"Please, Rephaim. If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for me. I'll wake you up a couple minutes before sunrise," she said hopefully.

Rephaim started to protest, but then thought better of it and sighed. He kissed her lips, then put his head on his arm and closed his eyes. "If it will make you feel better," he said.

"It does," Stevie Rae said, cuddling up next to him. Rephaim put his other arm around her. "Thanks, Rephaim. Sleep tight."

Rephaim smiled at her, and that smiled stayed on his face as he drifted off into the Realm of Dreams…

A/N

Pretty please review! I really appreciate any sort of feedback!

~Smiley