Ilona Andrews own the Kate Daniels series.

A/N: Or is it...

Un-beta'd

Chapter 12: The End

Ascanio and Milo were seated together behind the boundary line drawn with magic. In fact, most of the shifters were seated around the field. It was late morning, after everyone had been fed. I decided to include at least half the group into the hunt. But before that, they needed to know exactly what they were up against. That, and I needed time to plan. Derek stared at me suspiciously, but I could feel the attraction between us. I didn't know why, or how.

Julie was completely covered with makeshift pads. She'd whined, at first, because the protection would make her slower. She wasn't whining now. Her footing was light – training from Kate? – but precise. No unnecessary movements. Julie lunged with a branch. I parried it, and smacked her over the head in the same move. Julie winced understandingly. If that had been a sword, or more likely claws and fangs, she'd be dead. The shifters tensed. I sighed. I dropped the branch. Julie started to drop hers. I stopped her.

"Seleyda?" She asked, confused.

"I'm going to get faster here," I explained. "I won't need the branch to hurt you." Hisses sounded in the clearing. "You need to see how dangerous it is to fight these monsters. Especially to our young." I almost dared them to argue. What better way to drive the point in, than to watch your own children fight for you? I crouched down. "Ready?" Julie nodded.

I ran. Ten seconds – I was in front of her. Three seconds. My hand was around her pale throat. Julie didn't notice. I gently held her chin and wrapped my right arm around her torso, restraining her. She suddenly gasped. Brown eyes stared up at me. "H-How d-did y-you-" she stuttered. Several shifters were shifting into half-crouch stances.

"That might've been a little fast, but it's the usual speed these shifters move at," I explained. "Most of you can see me, right?" There were many reluctant nods. "As you can see, humans can't, and you need to protect her." I released Julie. She ran away. A stab of pain ran through my chest. "Rule number one: keep your eyes peeled and ears wide open. Rule number two: It's healthy to be over-cautious. It's better to have false alarms than being dead in a ditch. False alarms can be practices; dead means dead." I got several approving nods. "Julie."

She flinched. I cleared the lump in the back of my throat.

"I'm not trying to intimidate you." I smiled a little. "I do more than enough of that." That got a few snickers. Her shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit. "I just need you, and also everyone present, to know one thing very well." I took a deep breath. "Do not, under any circumstance, engage an LVIP shifter alone. Julie, especially, must never fight one of them." I tried to phrase my words properly. "In fact, on the first day you arrived, I…wanted to send you back to Ms. Daniels, and I am astounded that no one tried their hardest to stop you from participating in the fight." Derek's lips twitched.

"They can't stop me," Julie insisted. "I am my own person."

"Even to keep you alive?" She swallowed. Are all teenagers as defiant as her? I thought about myself. Yep. To the point of being suicidal? Also, yes. I suppose it's the whole point of being a teenager. Be crazy; be wild and live for yourself. "Julie, you can keep jumping into fires to show you can take it. It's a way of life for many people, but one day you're going to jump in, and you're not going to come back right."

"Speak for yourself."

I ignored her snide comment. "You can either keep doing that, without the skill set you need, and die really fast. "And really young. "Or you can slow down, and live long." I stretched a little. I didn't need it, but they didn't know that. I'm a cat, for goodness sake. Or, at least, my dad's one. Has anyone heard of a cat needing to stretch before they pounce? "I can give you the hard and fast version. Ms. Daniels can teach you the details." If you can even survive this, was left unsaid. "I won't go easy, if you really want to know." Technically this was against orders. Fuck the orders.

Julie crouched down low. "I never asked for you to."

"Ready?"

"Bring it, bitch." I showed her my teeth. Nice big teeth, meet pale tender throat. Be nice. Julie showed me hers. "Niceness never won anyone a war."

Oh, she's so gonna get it.

I rolled my shoulders as I made my way to the patrol site. Julie was busy getting spoiled by the shifters, after I'd bruised every single inch of her. Hey, she should be glad I didn't break any bones. Of course, I was left to lick my own wounds. I didn't have much. Julie wasn't a bad shot, but I did have superhuman healing abilities. Though I'd swear Derek forgot several times in the training. He damned near got himself fried, when he got too close to the shields. I snickered at the memory.

The feeling of something moving brushed my senses. I ducked. The werewolf sailed over where my torso used to be. Fast. Very fast. I planted a hand in the earth and did an uppercut with my left leg. It hit him in the mid-section. He fell. I jumped upright. He pulled my leg. I let out a sudden shout and went down. Golden eyes bore down on me. Damn, he was good.

But not good enough.

I kneed him in the gut. Air rushed out of him in a sudden, violent gust. He fell back, stunned momentarily. I knocked his knees sideways, blocked his spine and slapped the back of his hand. Derek. I rose. Golden eyes stared at me accusingly. I couldn't help the smirk on my face. "Not bad. You might even beat me. In another forty years." I gave him my hand. He stared at the offending appendage. "Aww, come on. Kitty." His nostrils flared. A massive paw touched my hand. "See, that wasn't so h-" My vision of the world suddenly got yanked downwards.

Derek swiped his feet over mine. I fell like a ton of bricks. I gasped, stunned but concussion-free. The large head of a werewolf looked down at me. Derek panted, a happy, wolfy grin on his face. I stared at him. He licked me, temple to chin. I gasped. A deep, throaty sound reverberated through him, thundering through me. He was laughing. Derek was laughing at me.

I swung my fist back to land a punch on him. Derek caught my arm at the wrist. I glared at him. The throaty sound came back. I shuddered as the sound resounded through my body to my bones. Derek stilled. Slowly, his wolf form melted away. I stared at those stunning eyes, on a face thickened from extreme torture it went through, and couldn't seem to find enough air. Neither, it seemed, did Derek. I panted unsteadily, like a bitch in heat. Crude, but true. Adrenaline thrummed through my veins.

"Seleyda," he whispered roughly. His eyes were bright gold. I felt my body- and soul – react. Oh. This was getting turned on. Derek's gaze burned through me, leaving me a puddle of need. I licked my dry lips. His eyes did a remarkable rendition of a pointer sighting pheasant. Or a dog in a storeroom of big, fat juicy bones.

I managed to breathe, although shakily. "Y-Yes?"

Derek closed his eyes, as if the effort of talking pained him. For one long, crystal-clear moment, I realized he was completely, and utterly, as naked as the day he was born. I felt my color rise. Derek groaned, and bent down, capturing my lips.

Oh my god. The world just exploded around me.

I gasped, winding my fingers through his longish, dark hair. Derek gripped my head tightly in his head, pulling at my hair. I didn't care, and pressed myself closer to his blazing, inviting heat. His erection pressed up against me. I moaned, arching my head back. Derek pulled my face back down. He kissed me with all the savagery of a beast and a man, bruising my mouth. I made a soft sound. He groaned in the back of his throat, and forced my mouth open. I moaned, clamping my weak legs around his hips. He grounded himself against me. I whimpered. Our tongues clashed, heat and passion clawing between us. I sucked and stroked and moaned at the divine taste of him. I wanted more. So much more.

Derek's hands started getting a little naughty. He caressed my body, lingering in places that I didn't even know existed, making me shudder and arch. The heat was unbearable. I shifted uncomfortably, moaning wordlessly and trying to get him to understand. His eyes turned molten, and he gripped the corners of my shirt. With one swift move, he ripped the thing into shreds. I didn't think it was possible, but his gaze got hotter and lustier at the sight of my bare breasts. My nipples hardened into tiny buds. Derek moaned. "You'll be the death of me, Seleyda Farrer." I moaned, grinding myself against him. Derek gritted his teeth. Slowly, with excruciating tenderness, he bent down and pulled one nipple into his mouth. He sucked.

I almost screamed. The pleasure was so intense. I bit into the side of my wrist, but couldn't stop the moans coming out of me. Derek laved over the tiny pearl. I jerked. Suddenly, he stopped. Wait! I screamed. Don't stop! He gently pulled my wrist away from my mouth and kissed me. Our tongues lashed out at each other with all the savagery of two beasts about to mate. The taste of my blood between us only made it hotter. Derek's rough finger teased the nipple he'd been suckling. My eyes rolled to the back of my head. I panted hotly. His dominating mouth covered mine, and I was sent on another space trip. "Please," I moaned against his mouth. "Please please please!" I screamed as his finger stroked me through the jeans. I gasped. "Please."

His hands made short work of the rest of my clothes. Electric and flames zinged through us as we made head-to-toe, skin-to-skin contact. I cried out. Derek covered my mouth. I bucked, his scent driving me wild. He kissed me, and held me down as he kissed his way to my legs. I couldn't seem to get enough air into my lungs, but it wasn't a scary feeling. Well, not much. It was…exhilarating. And, frankly, hot as hell.

The man stopped for a moment. He pulled close and kissed me again. Sparks of white-hot passion burned between us. Derek held it back and strained, dragging out the kiss. Long, sweet and very, very hot. I managed to breathe again. He smirked at the look on my face. Derek ducked back down. Tenderly, he kissed the patch of hair at the apex of my legs. I tried to breathe steadily.

I lost it at the first touch of his tongue. I gasped as I climaxed, flying over the cliff into nothingness. Derek held me as I shuddered and bucked, and silenced my mouth when I screamed. When I came back, he started it again. I huffed, and arched my back with each wave of pleasure. I tried not to scream, until Derek shifted me close and thrust into me. I jerked and bit him on the shoulder, drawing blood. Derek stilled. A tender hand stroked through my hair. "Seleyda?" My name was just a rough gasp in his chest. I managed to let go of his shoulder. I licked it a few times. Derek shuddered. "Seleyda."

I kissed him. Pushing his lips open a little, I slipped in a bit of my tongue. Derek groaned and sucked. I flicked my tongue over his. His body vibrated violently beneath me. Derek thrusted. I moaned, breaking off the kiss. He pulled me close, so that I was not only impaled by his erection, but also straddling his thighs. I slipped down a little. My eyes rolled into the back of my head. Oh. This was – Derek thrusted again. I whimpered. So good.

"Ride me," he breathed. I managed to nod. I rose a little, and sat back down. Up. Down. Again. Derek buried his face in my breasts, lavishing them with his attention. He bit down hard on one nipple, then gently blew on it. I arched my back, crying out. The sensation fried my senses. I rode him hurriedly, impatient for the end. Derek stopped me and left me waiting as he ate my breasts. I panted, and gasped when he bit the soft side of my throat. "That's for the shoulder." I shuddered. Derek pulled me tight, and started pounding deep into me. I kissed him furiously, not about to let him have his own way.

We exploded in the same moment. Derek roared. I screamed out completion. We fell back onto the ground, naked, mussed-up and completely satisfied. He cuddled against me. I stilled for a moment, but relaxed against the hard planes of his body. I'd always thought I didn't have a single soft place on my body besides my breasts, but lying against an actual man…I finally did.

"Seleyda," Derek murmured. "What was that?"

"I didn't expect you to hold me like this," I answered truthfully. "I'd seen most guys simply roll over and fall asleep immediately."

"Do you know a lot of guys?" He asked in a quiet voice. Minefield: Tread With Caution.

"Well, I've only seen Drew do it," I explained. "The others…were acquaintances." Suddenly, Derek turned me around. There was a fierceness to his golden eyes that took my breath away and touched my soul. I couldn't seem to breathe properly.

"Did they rape you?" His voice was harsh and promised a million ways of torture. "The guys you…met." Derek spat out the word like it was an expletive. I nodded. His arms wrapped around me tightly. Derek hissed. The smell of his rage soaked through my senses. I stared at him in shock. He just got angrier. I stroked his back, confused. Derek caressed my darkened hair, and kissed me softly on the side of my throat. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done this."

I looked up into his suddenly brown eyes. "Why?" I snuggled close. "I don't mind. Besides," I added, smirking at him," at least I lost my first time to someone of my own free will." Derek stared at me. I kissed him. "I decided a long time ago that my first time shouldn't be defined by a simple thing as a hymen. I will choose the guy I want to give my first time to." I couldn't help the blush coloring my face. "If it helps, you're the first person to give me an orgasm." Derek's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Well, you're also the first person to give me my second orgasm." He nipped my ear at my teasing. I gasped a little. Derek's lips tipped into a smirk. He leaned down and nibbled on the tip of my ear. I moaned softly, writhing against him. "Maybe," I gasped. "Even my third?"

"Your wish is my command, my fair lady."

I laughed. "You and I both know I'm neither fair nor a lady."

Derek kissed me softly on the forehead. Mmm. "But you are beautiful, and you are a woman." I groaned as he sucked the soft side of my throat. Oh, wow. I didn't realize I could be sensitive there. "And that's what the people of the past meant when they say 'my fair lady." He kissed me long and deep. There was even tongue involved. We pulled apart. "Would you like a refresher course?"

"It'll," I gasped, "be my pleasure."

If this ends badly, I am so screwed.

We walked slowly back to our patrol area. Derek's hands were warm as he clasped my hand. He seemed completely out of it - staring in wonder at our entwined hands, nostrils flaring at our mingled scent and nuzzling me often. I was shocked by how much I loved it. The idea that I could be attached to someone as deeply as I already did scared the crap out of me. I had Ana. I didn't need anyone else.

Or did I?

Suddenly, a warm arm wrapped around my arm. Derek pulled me close. I gasped a little at the full-body-contact. He chuckled. The warmth in his eyes almost sent me to my knees. I didn't close my eyes against it. I clung tighter to him instead. Derek understood. I didn't know how, or why, but he did. His arms wrapped around me tight, and I breathed in his musky, male scent. I didn't cry, but I couldn't breathe properly. The wall of heat around me vibrated. I caressed his muscled back repeatedly.

Derek shuddered, and the vibrations stopped. He loosened his grip on me. I stood on tiptoes and kissed him full on the lips. His grip tightened as he clasped my shoulders. We broke apart. Brown eyes stared quietly down at me. I smiled. Derek hugged me again. I hugged him back, pressing myself as close to him as possible. I fit perfectly against him as Derek tucked me under his chin. It felt right.

He breathed in deeply. Derek exhaled in a slow gust. "I keep thinking," he admitted," that you're going to run from me any second. Or you're just another daydream that decided to make itself real."

I looked up at him. "Why would you think that?" I didn't mind the 'daydream that decided to make itself real part', though. "I'll admit you weren't much to look at when we first met, but that was because I was in the middle of assembling strategies for a massive hit-and-run battle. Besides," I added with a smirk," I've yet to run off screaming bloody murder, have I?" His face didn't change.

"You don't understa-"

"No, you don't understand," I cut him off. "I don't care how you think you look. What I care for is the man I saw protecting Julie as she fought, even though she should've never been there. The man who took care of the whining elders when I wasn't around and kept the cats, wolves, rats, jackals and boudas from ripping throats out. I've never been turned off by disfigured people. In fact, they are much better people to l-talk to than most people." I gripped his arms and pulled them off me. Only our hands came into contact. "But, when you cannot find it in yourself to stay by me, I'll let you go. I won't ever blame you for it."

Derek's nostrils flared. His eyes turned molten gold. "First of all, what the hell is wrong with you?" He gripped my forearms and started to violently shake me. "Do you not trust me enough to stay by you? You used 'when', not 'if', to state that I will leave you eventually." Derek shook me even harder. I couldn't believe my ears. "I will never leave you. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever. I don't know what this is between us. Magic, voodoo or whatever it is, I am glad we met." I stared at me. He looked angry and frustrated. "There are some wolves who don't give marriage as much respect as the rest of us. I don't."

"Marriage," I whispered through unmoving lips. I stared at him. "You do know that I'm only fourteen, right?" Technically, I was. With the experiments done on me, I'm physically closer to sixteen. "I-"

"Seleyda." Derek stopped shaking me. "What must I do to make you understand that I won't leave you?"

"You will." I didn't meet his eyes. "Everyone does in the end."

His eyes turned pure gold. Derek mashed his mouth with mine. I accepted it. Opened up to it, even. His tongue dominated mine, burning to the bone. I couldn't breathe properly as he lashed his fury out at me; I was used to it. People used me like that all the time. Derek's hand gripped my head tightly, his nails digging into my scalp. I swallowed the pain. Take the pain, you bitch. You're nothing but a worthless bastard.

This I can deal with.

Derek pulled my sweater up. His hands roughly grabbed my breasts and pinched them painfully. I didn't scream. I didn't cry. It didn't do any good to do either in this situation. The only thing I could do was ride it through to the end. I pulled his head up and kissed him softly. At least I had this.

Suddenly, Derek released me. I fell onto the soft earth. The homicidal rage in his eyes made me flinch. He stared at me. The rage dimmed. Derek turned and walked away. My hands reached out on their own accord. I pulled them back, and wrapped them around my body. See? They always leave.

I was on my feet and chasing after Derek before I knew what I was doing. He was halfway back to the camp. I could feel the anger oozing out from him and driving the monsters away. Derek was going to drag Ascanio from Milo's side and have him take over the patrol. He didn't care anymore.

The miles evaporated between us. I grabbed him from behind. Derek shifted into warrior form, and managed to throw me off him in my shock. His claws ran through my side before I realized what was happening. White-hot pain shot through me. The shock and horror on his wolfish face would've been comical in any other situation than this. I gripped my side as blood gushed out. The fluid was black. Jet black.

Derek stared at his claws, dripping black blood. The wolfish traits melted from his body, leaving him as naked as the day he was born. I watched him calmly as a tiny corner of my mind told me the wound wasn't clotting. Blood was flowing out of me at an accelerated speed. At this rate, I would bleed to death within minutes, if not seconds. I coughed. The taste of blood tinged the saliva. Shredded lung, perhaps? Not much, of course - my ribs deflected most of the damage.

I couldn't believe how calm I was about my impending death. Or how painless the process was. I died before; or at least, I stayed long enough to realize I was dead. I didn't remember it being this painless, or without fear. Derek dashed to my side, a look of utter panic on his face. I tried to smile.

Death by magically enhanced hemophilia. How ironic.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE!" Derek shouted at me. I looked at him. What was the point? The blood wasn't going to clot. Derek's background started to blur around him. Only he was clear. I squinted, trying to see better. His eyes widened. I tried to locate my hands. I wanted to hold Derek's hands.

Unnaturally warm hands gripped mine. I tried to look down. The effort of doing it made me even more tired. I stopped. My body felt heavy; that was familiar. I'll get lighter when I close my eyes. At the thought, my eyelids started to feel heavy. I was so tired. My eyes started to droop. What about Derek? Ana? Julie?

Who? I asked.

Warm lips touched mine tenderly. I struggled against them. One of the hands lightly held my head still. I tried to open my eyes. Brown hair fell into my field of vision. Derek. I closed my eyes and tried to open my mouth wider. I managed. A warm, silkily rough tongue pushed its way in. I weakly ran mine over it. I moaned. Derek nibbled on my lower lip. Aah.

Pain shocked my numbed senses. I tasted my blood. Derek bit me. Slowly, the scent of his blood came to me. I realized what he was doing.

He wanted to die with me.

I struggled. Derek, still strong, held me down. "Maybe this will prove it," he murmured softly.

Prove what, I wanted to scream. I remembered our conversation. What must I do to make you understand that I won't leave you? Oh my god.

"No," I protested weakly. "W-What a-a-about Julie?"

"She has Ascanio and the others," Derek replied. He stared at me with a tender look. "I love you."

No. This isn't how things should've ended. This shouldn't be it. Not for him. Not for my Derek. HELP!

Yes, Seleyda? The voice sounded smug. I knew you couldn't resist calling me after seeing your dear little werewolf kill himself to follow you.

You did this?! I screamed. How dare-

Now, now, Seleyda, it chided snidely. Are you sure you want to waste your time on a lecture? Your pet dog may not make it. The voice laughed chillingly. Tick tock tick tock, mutt. Make your choice.

Save him. Save him and I'll take the lives you wanted me to. Five lives. You can't-

Yes, yes, yes. I can't take anyone who'll endanger you or I'll lose my vessel. The voice sighed. Very well. You get your wish.

"Seleyda?" Derek said weakly. His face was ashy beneath his tan. The beat of his heart was chillingly unsteady. I could feel his lung work to bring enough air to his body. He wiped my face. It came away sparkling. Tears. I was crying.

"Goodbye," I whispered.

Derek gasped. I felt his heartbeat steady. A slow flush of health warmed his face. His features blurred away. I gasped as my heart thrummed desperately in my chest. "Seleyda?" His voice sounded like it went through a well of mud.

The end, I thought.

A/N: Sorry it took so long, guys. I'd hit a nag to the storyline and had to fix the thing. Thanks for waiting! As usual, R&R please!