Present-Trick's POV

Trick sat with papers spread out on his desk, his eyes scanning over the evidence. The Morrigan would be arriving soon. He needed to get everything prepared for her, and the other dark Fae clan members.

He hated dealing with the Morrigan, one of the worst things about this entire situation was having to see her regularly. He couldn't wait for everything to be done and over, for her to go back to her territory.

When she first came to him about Henry, they had decided together how to deal with that situation, but now she was being unreasonable.

How she found out about the plan, Trick had no idea, but the evidence was damning. Henry's had plans to expose the Fae to the world. He had to be stopped. They couldn't allow that to happen. Henry was careless and greedy. They couldn't allow someone like that to stay around. He needed to be stopped, at all costs.

Trick knew, now, that he should have taken care of Henry's children, like Evony and Aife and the others wanted him to. He had thought they were harmless, blameless for what their father had planned. But, in the end, no humans were ever really innocent.

For thousands of years, he had watched as humans destroyed this planet. They breed nonstop, swarming the earth like locusts. They were a plague. Destroying everything in their path.

But this situation had opened his eyes that the Fae needed to do something new. That's where Ysabeau came in. She was young, untainted by the old ways. She could have led them into a new era, shown them a new way. The others were too stuck in the old ways. Something had to change for the Fae to survive another thousand years.

All that was ruined now, but he still needed to save his granddaughter. She was still his legacy, and that needed to be protected.

XXXX

Bo was leaning against the kitchen island when her grandfather walked in. He looked exhausted still dressed in his clothes from the day before. Bo glanced at the clock it was six o'clock in the morning.

"I made coffee if you want some Trick." Bo kept her voice low. She had been avoiding her mother and didn't want her voice to carry and bring Aife into the room.

Trick ignored the offer and sat beside her. "Why are you up so early, Ysabeau? Couldn't sleep?" He stared at her, his expression somber.

Lauren. Bo thought. "I wanted to go for a swim before school," is what she actually said.

"Why are you still here?" Bo asked while she finished pouring some coffee for herself.

"There's been another murder. The light Fae in our community are starting to get paranoid. I've been up talking to various clans all night. War might be coming with Dark."

Bo gritted her teeth. She hated hearing about these murders. Now a war with the Dark was looming, it was too much. "Any closer to figuring out who is behind it?"

"We have some ideas, but we're not moving forward until we know for certain."

Although, she tried to avoid her mother as much as possible these days, she did manage to learn that there had been two more Fae bodies discovered since the first.

Her grandfather was spending a lot of time at their house lately, as well. Things seemed to change with him, though; he was treating Bo as an adult telling her the truth about what was happening.

XXXX

Over the next week, everyone in town was talking about the murdered woman. The Fae were trying to keep it under wraps, but the number of bodies was making it difficult.

Three young women murdered, all with conflicts with Dark Fae, body parts removed and then their bodies dumped in various locations throughout the small town. People could see that these weren't random acts, that there was a pattern. Trick was beyond furious that the news had reached the humans. It was difficult to cover up with the number of bodies climbing.

Bo felt tense over these murders, and she had never seen her grandfather get so shaken by anything.

And then there was Lauren. Her girlfriend. The pressure and stress of having a secret girlfriend was starting to take its toll on her. It was the happiest and most anxious she'd ever been in her life.

Turns out that having a secret girlfriend was one of the most difficult things, ever. Bo had to be aware of herself around Lauren, always. She had to stop herself, nonstop, from reaching out taking her hand, touching her at all times when they were in public. It was torture.

They were friends like they always were in public, but when they were alone everything changed. They couldn't keep their hands off each other. But Bo was working on gaining control, so they only kissed, passionately and a lot, but it didn't go further. Bo had to be sure she was in full control before anything else could happen.

If Bo was honest, it was starting to drive her crazy, the blonde beauty was all she thought and dreamed about. She wanted her every second and all of her, not just part.

They shared one class together, and Bo couldn't focus, she would just stare at Lauren the whole time, almost in a trance. Feeling that unmistakable tugging in her stomach, her body burning all over.

Recently, Lauren had developed an infuriating habit of biting her lip when she was concentrating on the lesson, and occasionally bringing her fingers to her mouth and playing with her bottom lip. Of course, this made Bo unable to keep her attention away from Lauren's mouth, teeth, tongue…yes, waiting was starting to become unbearable for the succubus. Bo would have to dig her nails into her palm to distract herself.

After another painfully unbearable class, Bo and Lauren walked down the hallway together, Bo wanted to reach out and hold Lauren's hand but she knew she couldn't.

"I thought we could go to a movie this weekend. Maybe if we go sepa-"

But before Lauren could even finish her sentence, Bo pulled her into the janitor's closet they had been walking by.

Bo quickly slammed the door and gathered Lauren up into her arms, almost lifting Lauren off the ground as she did. She covered Lauren's mouth possessively with hers.

The kiss was ravenous and passionate, and they lost themselves in it immediately, wanting more, demanding and needing more. Bo pushed Lauren against the door. She pressed herself hard against her, trying to make as much contact as possible. Lauren strained to get closer tugging the back of Bo's shirt toward her, pulling Bo deeper into her.

Lauren's hands moved eagerly to Bo's jawline, where her fingers grasped tightly to draw her closer.

Bo pulled back, slightly; Lauren looked back at her, her lips paired, her breath escaping in sharp gasps.

That violent frustration began churning within, overwhelming Bo.

Bo shuddered as Lauren's fingers slipped down her face, and her thumb traced slowly over her bottom lip.

Bo's fragile resolve disappeared; she pulled Lauren back into to her, she almost growled from deep in her throat when their tongues met again.

And then, like every time before, Bo stopped, her mind cleared, she abruptly drew back from Lauren.

She straightened out her shirt as she put some much-needed distance between them. Bo wondered how long they'd be able to keep up this up without going too far.

Neither said a word. They didn't have to, both understood completely. They were playing with fire. Pushing things too far before Bo was ready.

"So about that movie?" Lauren was trying to redirect the potent tension between them, but her voice trembled, slightly, at the end. Bo knew that Lauren was as worked up as she was.

Bo pulled her arms into herself to calm her shaking body, trying again to quell the thoughts of going over to Lauren pulling her shirt off, unbuttoning her jeans and pressing her back against the door.

She couldn't, they couldn't, not yet. It needed to safe. Bo needed to be safe.

Bo needed to be sure. One hundred percent sure, that she wouldn't lose control. There was no turning back for Bo. She had some of Lauren. Now she needed everything.

But they couldn't rush.

Bo licked her lips and decided help Lauren ease the tension until she calmed down, "Anything you want, babe." Bo smiled and kissed Lauren's nose lightly.

XXXX

Bo walked into the Dal through the back door. It was early on Saturday morning, and she was working first shift.

Tamsin, her boss at the Dal, confronted her as soon as she entered. "It's about time." She hissed.

Bo rolled her eyes. "Maybe be happy I'm here at all. I was supposed to be off today."

Tamsin gave her a stony expression and said, "Fine, but you're on the floor today." She threw an apron at Bo.

Bo opened her mouth to argue, but Tamsin hastily darted off before Bo could refuse.

Bitch. Bo said quietly under her breath.

Within minutes of opening, the Dal quickly filled up. Being on the floor, meant she had to serve people, which she hated. They always thought they could put their hands on her, and she almost punched at least four different people.

In the middle of her shift, Dyson, walked over to the bar. He stared at Bo, momentarily dazed. He seemed unsure about whether or not to talk to her. "Hey Bo, I haven't seen you around in a while," Dyson said after he had decided to talk to her.

"Been busy, you know."

"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I never really got the chance to apologize for what happened after prom."

"Don't worry about it."

He smiled back winningly, "Ok, um, yeah that's great." He moved closer to her. "I thought you were mad at me or something. Maybe we could go out tomorrow night?"

Bo patted his hand, his face brightened, "Dyson, I think we should just be friends, ok?"

Bo caught a flash of the sad expression on Dyson's face. He shifted his weight nervously.

"Hey, Dyson we were always better as friends, anyways."

"Bo, that's enough flirting with the eye candy," Tamsin shouted across the bar, "Back to work."

"I should really get back to work. See you on Monday."

He nodded and walked away.

"Thanks a lot, Tammy. I was handling it, and I wasn't flirting." Bo glanced down at the counter, cleaning up some water.

"No problem, Bo. I just wanted you to remember you're here to work not flirt with boys."

Bo rolled her eyes again. She seemed to be in a perpetual state of eye rolling around Tamsin.

After her shift, Bo decided to walk home. She had taken to walking home as another way to clear her mind.

Bo shoved the earbuds into her ears and turned on her music. She tried to lose herself in the music as she walked. She wanted to forget about the irritating night. She didn't want to think at the moment; too many things were stressing her out.

After she walked a few blocks, she suddenly sensed something strange, just sensed it. It was just a feeling like someone was watching her. She turned her music off so she could hear. There were definitely footsteps behind her.

Her chest tightened slightly, thinking of those murdered Fae women, as she glanced quickly over her shoulder. She didn't see anything.

Something or someone was lurking behind her.

But quickly adrenaline kicked in, and her mind cleared and she stopped. She would not be chased like an animal.

"Hey, creep. I know you're back there!" She shouted into the alley. "Come out of the shadows and show your face, don't be a coward! Come on."

Bo squinted into the darkness but nothing. There was no doubt in her mind that someone was back there, following her, she felt it. "Hello? Do you need something?" She shouted into the shadows.

She stood her ground. She would not be the first to move. She wouldn't run, not her.

The dark figure started advancing, slowly. They studied each other from a distance. Bo couldn't see it's face, but she was sure it was a man with something pulled over his face and head.

Without thinking, she yelled at the figure, as loud as she could manage, "Can I help you? Seriously, why are you following me?" She started walking toward the figure as she yelled. "You really shouldn't be following women at night. You might scare them."

As she got closer to the figure, it disappeared into the shadows.

XXXX

Bo awoke in her bed. She was stunned and confused to find Lauren hovering over her. She was a little disoriented from sleep.

"Are you ok?" the blonde asked as she kissed Bo softly on the forehead.

Bo tried to sit up, but Lauren eased her back down.

"What are you doing here?" Bo finally asked, giving up on the idea of Lauren letting her get up.

"My girlfriend texts me that some guy was following her down a dark alley, and you don't think I would come right over?"

Bo tucked a piece of hair behind Lauren's ear. It was sweet that Lauren was worried about her. "Nothing happened. I'm fine." Bo leaned up to kiss her. Lauren put a finger over Bo's lips.

Lauren's tone was serious, "Bo, what about all those young Fae being killed? It's a dangerous time." Lauren closed her eyes. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

Bo captured her hand and touched her fingertips to her lips, kissing each finger individually. "I'm okay. I promise." She felt guilty for causing Lauren so much discomfort.

Lauren's chin dipped down, her tone solemn. "I'm going to lay here with you for a while if that's ok?"

Bo nodded and pulled Lauren close.

XXXX

"Geez, Bo, I can't believe you were chasing after that stalker," Kenzi said after Bo finished telling her the story what happened the night before.

Bo shrugged.

"What did your family say?"

"Nothing really. But Trick gave me this to carry." Bo showed Kenzi a small knife.

Kenzi shook her head, "Do you think it was the guy. You know the one killing all those girls."

"Possibly. I wish I had seen his face though."

"Well damn." Kenzi whispered. "So Lauren and her brother are coming over for a meeting with Trick tomorrow?" Kenzi asked changing the subject to something lighter.

Bo had been waiting for the right time to tell Kenzi about her and Lauren. She wasn't sure how to start that conversation, and she didn't want to put Kenzi in danger for knowing their secret. But it was Kenzi. She knew everything about her. She had to tell her.

"I'm not sure what it's about." Bo paused briefly, "Kenzi, I need to talk to you about Lauren and I..."

"Did you two crazy kids get married or something?"

Bo sat up straight in her chair. "We're sort of…kind of secretly girlfriends…"

"So the ice queen has stopped running from her feelings?"

"Kenzi…"

"What?" Kenzi did her best to look indignant, her eyes widening pretending to be outraged, "Bo, I'm kidding. I'm happy that you finally got what you wanted." Kenzi shrugged, "I knew it was just a matter of time. No one can resist you."

XXXX

Lauren was reaching for a book above her head. Bo danced her fingertips over her exposed stomach.

"Bo, stop, I'm trying to find this volume of a book I need."

Bo glided her fingertips down to the hem of Lauren's jeans, moving her fingers back and forth. "We graduate in a week, not sure why you're still studying."

Lauren slapped Bo's hand away, playfully. "The quest for knowledge doesn't stop, just because school is over."

Bo chuckled, resting her hand on Lauren's hip.

"I'm in the mood for ice-cream," Lauren suddenly said, interrupting Bo's teasing.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you want to get some ice cream?"

"Oh, yeah sure. I guess."

Within a few minutes, they sat in the park, hidden in the trees, eating their ice cream. They sat in silence.

Finally, Lauren said, "You're pretty quiet."

"Yeah, sorry…I have a lot on my mind." Bo played with her ice cream.

"It's ok. Anything you want to talk about?"

They looked at each other for a moment, and Bo felt warmth rushing through her body, not the blood boiling, take her right there warmth, but just a comfortable warmth. Like being wrapped in a blanket, a Lauren blanket.

"Vanilla? Lauren, really?" Bo said, changing the subject, pointing at Lauren's bowl.

"Vanilla is classic for a reason, Bo."

Bo looked doubtful. "It's so plain, bland."

Lauren slid closer Bo, "Close your eyes."

"What?"

Lauren smiled, "Trust me. Close your eyes."

Bo closed her eyes, and Lauren offered her a bite, letting Bo smell the vanilla scent first. Bo inhaled deeply the vanilla scent filling up her senses before taking the bite.

A piece of ice cream fell off onto Bo's lip. Lauren reached out, automatically, to stop it, sliding it back to Bo's mouth with her finger. At the same time, Bo slipped out her tongue, licking it off Lauren's fingers.

Bo eyes flew open as a blast of sensations coursed through her. She looked deeply into Lauren's eyes.

Lauren bit her lip, "Here," she said hastily, reaching for a napkin. Bo tried to ignore the desire to return her fingers to Lauren's mouth.

"I definitely see the appeal of vanilla now." Bo said staying where she was, leaning close to Lauren, licking her lips.

They sat there, tension burning between them, neither of them acting on it. They couldn't. They sat together content simply looking at each other.

"I think the creep that was following me is connected to the Fae murders," Bo blurted out, desperate to crack the sexual tension building between them.

"Holy shit, Bo, really?"

Bo shrugged, "Just a feeling, I have." She decided to leave out the details about the phone calls and creepy notes. She didn't want to worry Lauren more than was necessary.

Lauren rested her head on Bo's shoulder and grabbed her hand, "Promise me, you'll be careful, ok?"

Bo ran her fingers through Lauren's hair. "I promise."

XXXX

Lauren arrived at the dinner meeting without her brother. He had to work late at the lab, she informed everyone. She was dressed in a white dress and Bo held her breath upon seeing her.

"Why would you show up here looking so beautiful?" Bo whispered in Lauren's ear while they were momentarily alone in the kitchen. "How can I keep my hands off you when you're looking like that?"

Lauren arched her eyebrow and smiled. "Sorry." She whispered.

Trick entered the kitchen looking tired. "Bo will you excuse Lauren and I? I need to speak with her in private."

Bo frowned but nodded when Lauren gave her a look.

Bo sat at the kitchen table with Aife, not speaking. Bo was uneasy about Trick talking with Lauren, alone. What could he be talking to her about? Did he know about them?

Bruce entered the room and began chatting with her mother. Bo ignored their conversation, her eyes glued to the kitchen door waiting for Lauren to walk through.

Trick and Lauren entered the room as the first course was being served. Bo couldn't help it, she grinned, just for a second.

Lauren took her seat next to Bo and Bo squeezed her hand underneath the table.

Aife fixed Bo with a narrow-eyed look.

"So, Lauren, dear what did you think of the news?" Her question was for Lauren, but her eyes never left Bo.

"Oh…um it was very unexpected…"

"Are you not pleased?"

Bo had an anxious feeling growing inside her.

"What news?" Bo interrupted, looking nervously between Trick and Lauren.

"The elders have agreed to let Ms. Lewis attend college, next year."

"Yeah?" She looked apologetically at Lauren, "But at what cost?"

"Ysabeau!"

"Trick, what is the catch?" Bo stared at her grandfather, avoiding Lauren's eyes.

"Bo-" Lauren started.

"Ms. Lewis will wear a special mark, to track her. Something one of our clan members designed." Trick answered disinterestedly, pouring himself a drink.

"What! To keep track of her? You mean brand her, like cattle?"

Lauren shifted her weight nervously. Bo knew she was uncomfortable, but she needed answers.

"This isn't really your concern, now is it. It's a very ingenious device really; it will make it so much easier to keep track of the humans we need to." Aife said, her tone harsh.

Bo crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. Her mind was spinning. They planned on putting something on Lauren, onto to her body to forever keep track of her. Bo knew right then that she would never let that happen. They were never going to mark Lauren's body. To brand her, she wasn't cattle.

They had been careless, her family knew about their relationship. But how? They knew about her and Lauren, and this was their plan to keep them apart. Now they planned on doing something to Lauren, to brand her.

That was never going to happen. Bo wouldn't let it.

The remainder of the dinner was tense, as no one said another word.

XXXX

Nick stood there, hidden among in the darkness, watching Bo's house, waiting for her to emerge. He was dressed in black to help remain invisible. He was simply there to watch, not act.

But Lauren surprised him by coming outside with Bo. He stood rooted in place, unable to move…or even to think clearly.

He was afraid Lauren might see him there, so he moved behind a large tree. He watched as they stood talking…close, too close. That succubus was always standing so close to his sister. It was sickening. They were almost hugging, now. Seeing them together like that incensed him beyond explanation…beyond coherent thought.

He followed them with his eyes as they began heading toward his house. Now he would need to withdrawal further in the darkness. He could not have Lauren see him there.

Before they were out of sight, he watched as Bo's hand was so close to his sister's, she was almost holding it. He paused for a moment, frozen-trapped by his frenzy.

He hated this succubus for moving in on his sister-for trying to take her away from him. And she had succeeded. Lauren barely said two words to him anymore. It was her fault-no it was their fault-all the Fae.

He thought about walking right up to them and choking the succubus with his bare hands. The idea was so appealing. But he had to wait.

Things were moving along nicely, with the war on the horizon. It was brilliant really. He was a genius. All he had to do was light the spark, lay the groundwork, and they'd end up killing each other. Yes, he didn't have to do much, just enough to nudge them into a war.

Yes, let them kill themselves.