With the second ball of light the bear took off. A feeling of relief flooded me having averted Kat being eaten alive by such a monstrous beast. As I turn back to her to see what she actually saw, I find that her eyes are still closed. Suddenly she starts to collapse on herself, I race to her and lift her lifeless body into my arms. Her breaths are shallow and even, so I know she's fine just fainted, probably because of the amount of energy that I expelled scaring the bear away.

Overhead lightning flashes across the sky and thunder booms sending vibrations across the mountains. A storm was brewing - a common consequence of too much charged power. Something to do with the electrical fields affecting the weather and blah blah blah. Matthew has tried to explain how our powers affect the weather and atmospheric conditions, but I just don't care enough to pay attention. What I know is, the skies are going to open up and send a torrential downpour on top of us.

Gathering Kat into my arms, I take in the intoxicating smell of peaches and vanilla that are uniquely her. The serene look on her face, her thick lashes fanned out across her cheeks, her perfectly parted rosy lips, everything about her is pure and perfect. I take all of her in before dashing off toward our houses, back toward safety. Moments later I stand before her porch, getting soaked in the early evening shower trying to decide what I should do. I could lie her on her porch swing and leave her there and head home, but then I'll have to worry about her falling off the swing and getting hurt. If I hurt her, Dee would never forgive me. I could open the front door and place her on her couch and leave, but the door is probably locked so that would require that I search her pockets for a key. Looking down at her short shorts and her insanely long legs… no, I can't go there. Or I could just sit with her until she wakes.

Ascending the steps, I move toward the swing and have the internal battle between setting her there and leaving and sitting here with her until she wakes. My unacknowledged desires winning out, I set her down next to me with my arm draped around her waist, her thigh molded against mine, and her head on my chest. I try to relax but relaxation is impossible as she snuggles her head further into my chest and her hand rests on my hip. This all feels too right to ignore. But the soft glow of power that her body is emitting is what makes it impossible for me to relax. How am I going to explain the trace that is attached to her? The others are going to have a fit when they see how she's lit up. And how am I going to be able to protect her without telling her our dirty little secret? She's too independent to just sit back and stay in her house when Dee or I can't be with her. She's going to end up getting into some kind of trouble, and it's all my fault. If I could have just stayed away from her, if I could have convinced Dee this never would have happened. But here I am, even now I can't force myself to leave her. What is it about this girl that I can't seem to stay away from?

The hum of energy that passes across my body where her head and hand make contact with my body are undeniably intoxicating and unnerving at the same time. It's like I'm soaking in her energy just as she's soaked in mine. I've never felt this with anyone. I'd have thought I would have felt something like this with another Luxen, Ash or someone else, but I never have. Their power was never something I felt to my very soul like I do with Kat. Sometimes I wonder if she's really human.

Sitting here in silence, the rain pounding off the roof of the porch I can admit for the first time that there is something more about this girl than meets the eye. She's nothing like any other human that I've ever met. She's independent, stubborn, brave, and loyal. Even after only knowing my sister for days she was loyal to her and the friendship that they created. Most of all she's powerful in her own way, those attributes combined with her seemingly unwavering courage and strength make her almost as powerful as any Luxen that I've encountered.

Gently rocking the swing back and forth, my mind racing with these thoughts I can't deny the feel of her pressed against me, pinned to my side. Murmuring something in her sleep, Kat snuggles her cheek against my chest and wiggled closer to me. If she moves any closer, she'll be on my lap, not that I'd complain. Without realizing it, I find myself staring down at her perfectly peaceful face, her parted lips, and her fluttering eyelids. Figuring she must be dreaming, I start making idle circles with my thumb at her waist to calm her. The constant motion and the gentle contact seems to calm her. I continue to trace circles on her waist, inching the material of her shirt up until my skin was against hers. The skin on skin contact, even such a tiny bit, is just as unnerving and exciting as it was when I had her body pressed against mine at the lake. It's almost as though her body is recharging mine, like her power is being shared with me recharging me after my little light show. But that's not possible.

There is something calming about just sitting here and holding her, but it is also the exact opposite because every inch of my body was aware of how she fit to my side, of where her hand was, the rise and fall of her chest. This was peaceful and torturous and all so perfect in a way that I've never known.

Suddenly I feel her body flinch and her skin shiver under my touch. I still my hand knowing that she's awake and probably confused about what happened. Pushing up, she looked into my eyes with confusion and fear in her eyes.

"What... what happened?"

"You passed out," I explain sliding my hand from her waist and across her back.

"I did?" she asks sliding away from me and adjusting her hair and clothes.

"I guess the bear scared you. I had to carry you back."

"All the way?" A look of disappointment and something else passing across her face. The look immediately peaks my curiosity. "What… what happened to the bear?"

"The storm scared it. Lightning, I think." Yeah, my lightning, but she doesn't need to know that. "Are you feeling okay?" I ask, worried about the look that is stretched across her face. She looks terrified and sick.

Overhead lightning flashes across the sky, illuminating the gloomy sky. Boy when I bring in a storm, I really bring in a storm.

"The bear was scared of a storm?" she asks. I hope she isn't going to question this too much. I know that bears wouldn't be overly scared of a storm, but it's the only excuse that I have that explains why we are still in one piece and not chew toys for a four hundred pound bear.

"I guess so."

"We got lucky then," she says, but skepticism crosses her face. She glances down, brows knitting and when those lashes lift I have to remind myself to keep breathing normally. There is a quality to her gray eyes- a glimmer that sucks me right in. She seems like she's questioning something with her eyes, like thing are just not adding up in her head, I wish I could read her mind. I wonder if there has been anything else that has made her question things about Dee and me. Then I think back to the lake and my aquatic stupidity and the storm that I brought when Matthew showed up after and the fact that I've used my speed in front of her a couple times. Dammit, I was worried about Dee letting the cat out of the bag, it's going to end up being me. Shit…

"It rains here like it does in Florida," she says after several moments of silence.

I nudge her knee with mine, enjoying the slightest contact and rush of power transferred between us. "I think you may be stuck with me for a few more minutes." I don't think of it as being stuck, but I know I don't give her any reason to want to be anywhere near me most days.

"I'm sure I look like a drowned cat."

She really has no idea how beautiful she truly is. This thought takes me back to our earlier conversation. I thought that maybe she was just being modest, but now I don't think she is. She is not aware of her beauty or the effect she has on others, especially males, especially me. "You look fine. The wet look works for you." And it really does.

She scowls, "Now I know you're lying."

Before I even think, even realize what I'm doing, I turn to her. Placing my hand under her chin and gently lifting it toward me, forcing her to look at me I smile a little. "I wouldn't lie about what I thought."

She looked at me like she wanted to say something or do something but she didn't. I could feel the confusion and desire building in me from the contact. I'm beginning to see what Dawson saw in Bethany. If he felt any of the things I feel when I'm with Kat, It's no wonder he was willing to give up everything for her. Glancing down at her lips, I feel the pull of desire rising in my chest and I suddenly understand everything. "I think I understand now."

"Understand what?" she whispers.

The unnatural draw I have toward her- I think I understand it. She doesn't put up with any of my shit and she isn't afraid to tell me when I'm being a dick or stand up to me, I like that... a lot. More than I ever realized. A pink flush staining her cheeks, she looks into my eyes. "I like to watch you blush," I tell her quietly as I move my thumb across her cheek. Moving my head down to hers, feelings warring inside of me. I know this is wrong, I know that I need to get away from her and keep Dee away from her. Nothing good can come from being with a human, but everything else in me tells me that only good things can come from being with her.

Her eyes unwavering, she sucks an tiny breath and that completely undid me. I press my forehead to hers, taking in her scent and the feel of her soft skin and the hum of power in her skin reacting with the contact of mine. I stare into her eyes, desperate for some kind of sign or something to tell me what I was doing was right. Her eyes, a bright gray almost silver color, stare back at mine, desire and confusion flowing across her face. She inhales deeply and seems to hold her breath for a moment as we take one another in, sharing each other's air and energy.

Her skin is soft, and her lips look even softer. I found myself so caught up in her, there really is no escaping. A web she had no idea she was weaving. A naïve beauty and I've been around enough girls to know that is a rarity. Something to be cherished.

Lighting struck again and Kat didn't jump at the thunder this time. She's focused on my eyes and that pleased me, pulled at my control and teased me with what I can never have. Shouldn't even want to have, but I want it, I want her, god did I ever want her. And I know that if we continue where we are heading it's going to get messy, but I don't know if I care. I know what happens when Luxen and humans mix, and it's usually spells disaster for everyone involved. I already have too much responsibility and too much riding on me. Too much going on. But I want her, more than I've ever wanted anyone. My fingers slip along the curve of her cheek as my head tilts closer to hers. I know I'm going to regret this- but that isn't stopping me.

Something in her eyes told me what was in the deepest depths of her soul, her truest desires and those desires seemed to match my own. A need for one another, one that neither of us could deny nor could we attempt to enjoy, for very different reasons. Taking in a deep breath, I make up my mind. Having this with her, this feeling that I've never felt before is worth it to me.

Moving slowly toward her, taking in every part of her face, I move to kiss her. I want to feel her lips against mine, her breath on me. Our lips were only a breath away.

"Hey guys," my sister announces from just off the porch. Quickly sliding away from her before Dee got onto the porch, putting space between Kat and myself. What the hell was I about to do? Shit… I've got to stay away from this girl, but I don't want to. I really, really don't want to.

Dee looked at me like she could read my mind. She knew something and she could clearly see the trace that has Kat glowing like star. Narrowing her eyes at me, she wouldn't take her eyes from me. So I did the only thing I could, I grinned at her. What else could I do? She's not naïve.

"Hey there, sis. What's up?"

"Nothing. What are you doing?" she asks. I know she wants to know what the hell happened that left a trace on Kat, but that's a conversation for later.

"Nothing." I smile at her then look over at Kat. I've got to stop this before it goes too far. I'm going to hate myself for this. "Just earning bonus points."

I stand and walk across the porch and toward my house. But just as I'm leaving Kat's property, I hear her ask if my almost kissing her was part of Dee's deal with my keys. Damn, I was hoping she wouldn't say anything to Dee about that. Now she's going to have more questions other than she would have had about the trace.

I walk into my house dazed and kind of out of it. What was I thinking? I know I'm attracted to her. I know how I feel when I'm around her, but she's human. There can never be anything with her, no matter how much I want her. I flop down on my bed and close my eyes, but all I see is her eyes, the color of silver and her desire in my mind's eye. Even when I open my eyes I can still feel her breath on me and smell the peaches and vanilla all over my clothes.

I quickly get up and change into running shorts and sneakers. I should change my shirt and rid myself of her smell all together, but I don't, I can't for some reason. I sprint out the back door and into the woods where we just were. Moving as fast as light I race toward Smoke Hole Canyon and away from Kat and my desires. I can't keep running, every time I get confused about things with her I run. Eventually things are going to catch up with me, I can only hope I don't crash because of it.

By the time I return it's getting late and Dee is sitting in the living room watching television. I try to get up the stairs without her hearing me, but of course it doesn't happen.

"Care to tell me what happened?" she calls from the couch.

Walking into the living room I contemplate telling her nothing and ignoring her accusing looks and tone. But I know I can't. I have to at least explain the trace, the rest, well that remains to be seen.

"A bear attacked us in the woods. I had to stop it. I didn't mean…"

"I'm not talking about the trace, Daemon. I'm talking about why you were with her in the first place and why you almost kissed her."

"I was… trying to be nice, like you asked. And I didn't almost kiss her."

"Daemon, I saw you. You were like a centimeter away from kissing her. You like her, and I mean like-like her, don't you."

Scowling I turn away from her and start up the stairs, Dee following close behind. "What are we going to do about the trace? She's lit up like a star, Daemon."

I growl deep in my throat, "I know. Dammit, this is why I said this wouldn't work out Dee. Don't you see, I've put her and us in danger. This is why we can't be friends with humans. This is exactly what I was afraid of."

"Well, it's a little late now. We have to protect her. Besides, I'm not willing to give up her friendship. She's awesome, Daemon. I think you see that for yourself," she says, a look of amusement and knowing in her eyes.

"I don't know anything, other than the fact that you are going to have to stick with her as much as possible until it fades. The others are going to have a total shit-fit when they see how she's glowing."

"You mean Ash?"

"I could give two shits less about what Ash thinks. But the others in town, Matthew, they are going to be pissed."

"What about you, Daemon?"

"What about me? I still stand by my original reaction. You don't need a human friend, Dee. You have friends. She's too much trouble."

"The only trouble she is, is to you. I'm not going to stop being friends with her, and that's final." Dee stomps out of my room and before going down the steps she call out. "I'm going to Katy's to watch a movie. I'll be back later." And with that she zips down the steps and out the door.

I flop down on my bed, frustration and annoyance bubbling inside me. But something else comes up when I get a whiff of the peaches and vanilla scent that is still on my shirt and skin. It's like her smell has embedded itself into my skin and just like the memory of her lips so close to mine, it won't let me go.

I find myself sitting with Andrew, Ash, and Matthew trying to decide what I'm going to eat when Jocelyn comes up and smiles at us. Her curly red hair twisted into a knot on her head and her sparkling eyes smiling at all of us.

"Hey Jocelyn, how are the babies?" Ash asks. With the word babies I see her glance at me and smirk. She still thinks she and I will be together. But now more than ever before, the thought of settling for Ash makes me want to run for the hills and hide away where no one will ever find me.

"They are great, Ash, thanks. They are quite the handful though."

Ash smiles, her blue eyes glancing at me again. "I can't wait to settle down and start a family."

With that comment I immediately go rigid. How can she be so willing to lie down and basically be bitch for the Luxen? She may be willing to settle for what's expected, but I'm not.

Matthew must notice my reaction because he immediately changes the subject. "Jocelyn, do you guys have meatloaf and mashed potatoes today?"

"Yes we do. Is that what you would like?"

"Yeah, that will be perfect."

"How about the rest of you?"

"I'll take a burger and fries," I tell her.

Andrew and Ash both give her their order and Jocelyn is off in a flurry of curls and pink.

"What is your problem?" Ash asks, looking at me like I'm out of my mind.

"Nothing," I scowl.

"Well, something's up with you. You're different or something."

Scowling even more I look out the window to the people outside, "I don't have a problem. Now stop it."

She scowls herself but looks more upset than angry. I know she's expecting that I'll do my duty and that we will eventually be together like the elders plan, but that's not what I've ever wanted. Especially now.

"So," Matthew says after a few minutes of silence. "What is happening with that… neighbor of yours?"

I look up at him and see the annoyance and challenge in his gaze. "Nothing is happening."

"So is it safe to assume that you've convinced Dee that having a friend like that isn't worth it?"

"If you think that I would be able to convince Dee of any such thing, then you don't know Dee as well as you think. She made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that she will not end her friendship with that girl and that there was nothing I could do to stop her."

"We could call in the DOD," Andrew says while playing with the cuticles on his fingers. "If the girl disappears then there is nothing that Dee can do about it."

I look at him like he's crazy. "And why would we call in the DOD? She doesn't know anything about us, there's no reason for…"

"Now wait a minute, Daemon. She's obviously a threat. It's only a matter of time…"

I growl at them, "No one will be calling anyone about anything. I'll take care of it." Standing I slide out of the booth and scowl at them both. I walk up to Jocelyn and she smiles, "What can I do for you Daemon?"

"I would like my food to go. Can you double it? If I go home without something for Dee she'll have my head."

Smiling, she turns and calls out to the cook. "No problem."

I turn to go back to the booth to wait for the food and find Ash standing right behind me. "What is your problem? Why are you defending that… girl?"

"I'm not defending anyone, Ash. Now go sit back down."

"Don't do that. Don't talk to me like you own me, Daemon." She scowls, the look on her still beautiful. She stares intently at me, her vibrant blue eyes boring into me. Glowering at her, I meet her gaze with my own. Immediately she cowers from my glare. There's only one person that I've met that isn't afraid to meet my stare, and Ash isn't that person, Luxen, whatever.

"Oh my god, you have a thing for that girl," she whispers. "You do, admit it."

"I have nothing to admit to. Don't be ridiculous."

Her eyes widen as she looks at me in disbelief. Tears pooling in her eyes, "You listen to me, Daemon. You belong to me, understand?"

Growling, "I don't belong to anyone, Ash. You need to remember that."

Just then Jocelyn steps toward us with a huge bag of food. "Here you go Daemon, there should be enough to tide you and Dee over for a couple hours." She smiles.

"Thank you," I say, flashing a smile toward Jocelyn. Then turning back to Ash, "Go back to Matthew and your brother. I'm going home to bring dinner to Dee."

Ash nods slightly. She knows how I feel about being told what I will do and who I'll do it with. Eventually I'll probably relent and settle down with Ash, but her making plans and talking the way she was just pisses me off. I won't be forced into doing what the elders want when they want it.

Pulling into the driveway I see Dee leaving Katy's house, a look of worry and sadness on her face. What the hell did that human do to her to make her look like that?

She walks up to my car and gives me a sad, pained smile.

"Hey Sis, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing. Did you bring home something to eat?"

"Yeah, I just didn't feel like sitting at the diner. What are you up to?" I ask, trying to get her to tell me why she seemed so upset.

"Nothing, I'm supposed to be meeting with the DOD. I had to lie to Katy and tell her that I was meeting with friends. I'm sure I upset her, not being able to invite her and all."

"Well, you can't very well tell her the truth about that, now can you?"

"No. But I could see the hurt in her eyes, Daemon."

We move into the living room where I hand her the container of food and place mine in front of me. That doesn't seem to be the only thing bothering her right now. There seems to be more. "Is that all that's wrong?"

"I'm worried about her." Dee says without looking at me. Her eyes trained on the food in front of her, she continues. "She's got that trace on her and she was insisting on going to the library tonight. I tried to convince her to wait until tomorrow and we could go together, but I don't think she's going to. I think she's going to go tonight, by herself."

I sit back, now seeing what Dee's problem is. The trace is my fault and if something were to happen to her, then that would also be my fault.

"I can't cancel this, they'll come get me if I don't show. I have to at least appear to be cooperating."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Dee. Look, if it makes you feel any better I'll keep an eye on her."

She looks surprised, but I don't know why. I may act like I don't like the girl, but I would never wish anyone dead and I would never subject them to a possible Aurum attack. She smiles a little and takes a bite of her burger. "Thank you, Daemon."