(NOTE: Jasyn's story begins just before BMR and will likely end just after the book.)

Jasyn was at the bottom of the stairs, staring up them waiting for Emily to come into sight, he was seething with fury, his skin so hot he wouldn't be surprised if the air around him became blurred in the waves of heat or plaster and paint hadn't melted from the walls. It wasn't like his everyday anger that he felt with the other inhabitants of the house or with his enemies, this one was on a whole other level. His body geared so when she came down the stairs he would fly at her and …. Jasyn inhaled deeply, trying to unknot the muscles in his bulging neck.

So long had it been since he'd felt the feeling Jasyn couldn't distinguish his intense arousal from rage, except when he looked down at his jeans and saw himself straining against the front of his pants. He could hear her footsteps coming down the stairs from the above and with every light thump that brought her closer to him, heat and anticipation pumped hot through his groin. Jasyn scowled fiercely at the ceiling and drummed his fingers impatiently upon the banister. He could not believe what she'd just done - a water gun of all things!

Jasyn wiped his forehead which was a mixture of sweat and water he'd missed when trying to dry himself off. The way she'd just disregarded him, disregarded his anger - the fact that he was naked!

It was like she was totally unaffected by who he was. Though, the thought suddenly occurred, Emily was in theory human, she had no idea of the magnificence of his reputation in the were-hunter world. She had no real idea of anything. He'd explained to her about the war between Katagaria and Arcadians, he'd explained the importance of mates and of fate. But until she saw it, felt it, truly became a part of it and was affected by it, she would never truly see reason to fear him other then because he was stronger then she. She could not fathom what it was like to have your family slaughtered and your friends betray you to save their own filthy traitorous hides. And perhaps she never would.

Deep inside Jasyn wanted her to experience it, to know the pain purely on a sadistic level; an instant later he was sickened with himself. The pain Jasyn had felt as a young were was something he had always thought he wouldn't even wish on his worse enemy, over time that idea had changed and he'd wished worse on his enemies. But Emily did not need to feel that, for she was one person who could truly be called innocent in this callous bastard game they called life.

Jasyn heard a heavier creak on the floorboards above his head and thought that Colt had gotten to Emily first; Jasyn felt his incisors lengthen and bared them to the stairs. He took them two at a time as he raced to her, planning to cover his need to jealously interrupt their interlude by shouting at her for giving him a shower for an alarm clock. When Jasyn appeared on the second landing he smelt a potent cocktail of fear and anger, something that touched his predatory instincts and made him react the same way a red flag would antagonise a bull. His erection was still there, yet now it seemed to be fuelled by this intense emotion, by the need to aggravate the situation. It had little to do with Emily and was all about the fantastic rush of adrenaline he got when confronted with volatile people and places; it touched the sociopath in him. Jasyn stalked around the banister and froze, Emily was pinned to the wall, and she looked as if she were trying to crawl under the wallpaper to get away from the two tigers that closed her into her corner. His upper lip peeled back off his fangs and he watched as the tiger with the dark hair leaned in and sniffed sharply.

"Look at her cringe back from me, Corin," he said nastily, he brought his face closer as he sniffed her hair again, "I don't think she likes me."

"Arcadian whores like her think they are too good for us," his taller friend said with disgust in his voice. The first dickhead laughed and Emily's white face visibly got paler when he crowded slightly closer.

"I don't!" she said suddenly, her eyes flashing to and fro between them, "I don't think I'm too good for you. I - I don't even know you."

"Yes, you do!" barked dickhead number two, making Emily jump so violently her head hit the wall, "tell me, Arcadian. How many of us have you killed?"

"I haven't k-killed anyone," Emily protested vehemently, her eyes were wide with sincerity and shock. "I wouldn't do something like that."

"It's in your blood," tall dickhead sneered, "fucking humans, with their pitying human hearts -"

He growled ferociously and Emily tried to break through their ranks and make a run for it to the stairs. Jasyn saw what she was about to do before she did it and he suspected that the two tigers saw it too, she didn't even make it two inches from the wall until she was slammed back to it.

"If I were not in a Limani, do you know what I would do to you?" the first one said, his face up close to Emily's, his breath making her hair move. Emily simply stared at him, fear numbing her. "I would take you outside and give you what humans like you deserve!"

"But I'm a were-hunter too," Emily gasped desperately, immediately shutting her mouth when his hand came up close to her face but never touching her.

"You are an Arcadian whore that needs a real animal to show her what she's worth. Show you the same mercy that our mothers and sisters received when your men attacked them!"

Jasyn was shocked when he saw Emily's expression change to one of sympathy and pain, the fear was still there but now she stared into the tiger's eyes as if she wanted to reach out to him.

"I have no family," Emily said quietly, "my mother and father abandoned me and I didn't know I was a were-hunter until lately. It wasn't my men that did that to your women, I wouldn't hold with that kind of thing."

She was so sincere while she said it but neither seemed moved, the taller one slammed his hand flat against the wall a breath away from her head, Emily's spine snapped straight and she shut her eyes as she trembled.

"No, of course you wouldn't," he hissed sarcastically, "you've never hurt anyone in your life, have you, Arcadian?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?" Emily murmured quietly, her lips pressed so tightly together Jasyn was surprised that she got any sound out of them.

"Liar," the dark haired one breathed, "the day you walk out of here will be the day you sign your own death warrant."

"Why me?" Emily asked, under her fear there was a trace of indignation she tried to suppress.

"Because I see the way you walked in here like you were on fire … expecting us to step aside for you!" Dark hair snarled close to her ear, "I am going to make you beg for mercy …"

He held up his hand in front of her face and closed it slowly until it was a rock hard fist, clenched so tightly the knuckles were white.

They stepped away from her, backed up a few steps then turned and came down the landing towards Jasyn who was concealed still by the shadows of the ascending staircase. When he came into sight they acknowledged him with a nod of respect and made to move past him, he allowed his eyes to remain on Emily who had slid a little down the wall, her body hunched into itself. When they would have moved past him Jasyn shot his hand out and blocked their path with his forearm, he turned his head slowly to look at them.

"Don't go near that woman again," he warned them in his usual monotone, they blinked in surprise.

"We do not fear reprisals from her clan," the taller one said with a curl of his lip, flicking his gaze back to Emily, she hadn't changed position or moved from the wall; evidently she was in a bad state of shock.

"You misunderstand me," Jasyn said, meeting their eyes, "do not - ever! Touch her; speak to her, look at her again."

"You would protect an Arcadian?" the darker one said in disbelief.

"I am warning you!" Jasyn's voice barked at them, not willing to explain himself to them, or the situation with Emily. "If she comes to harm by your hand, either of your hands. I will come for you and I will not be quick about killing you."

The two said nothing and moved by him, obviously unnerved by being warned off killing an Arcadian by Jasyn Kallinos, Jasyn brought his arm down and allowed them to pass, he then turned his face to Emily. He approached at his usual unhurried, deadly pace and stopped before her, she didn't acknowledge him, one solitary tear was drying as it stopped in mid flow on the round top of her cheek. It looked pretty even if it was sad; something about it had Jasyn wanting to take it on to his tongue to taste it, to press his lips on the softness of the skin there. Instead he bent lower so he was at eye level with her and clicked his fingers four times quickly before her eyes, Emily blinked rapidly and her eyes focused on him and he saw recognition there, her lip trembled. Jasyn allowed a sneer to appear on his face, she was so weak …

Suddenly she stood up straight and came away from the wall throwing a slap at his arm and then his face, Jasyn held his arms up on instinct then angrily pushed her back so hard she bounced back to the wall and moaned as it hurt her back. He opened his mouth to say something, even he wasn't sure what but she was back for more.

She was quick, he'd give her that. She got one more slap to his face and punched him in the chest but brought her fist back shaking it with a hiss; evidently she knew shit about fighting.

"You bastard!" she snapped, her eyes blazing even if there were tears there, she looked fit to kill him. Lucky for him she couldn't, because Jasyn had no doubt by the look on her face it would be very, very painful.

"I saw you standing there!" she tried to hit him again but anger made her aim fail and he blocked her, "you just stood and watched! What? Did you get off on it?"

"It's not as if they could have hurt you!" Jasyn snapped back, unable to fathom why she was taking this so badly, as far as he was concerned she'd got off lightly. And he'd warned the assholes off, not that he was about to tell her that. If she thought she had protection she would swan about like she was the shit, flaunting her Arcadian self all over the place and pissing people off and thinking there was nothing they could do about it. Besides he was protector for no Arcadian.

"That's not the point! You stupid, ignorant prick!" she bit out between deep guttural sobs while her eyes streamed with tears. Jasyn resisted the urge to touch his face, his cheek was actually stinging and it felt unfamiliar. It had been a long time since he'd received any type of hurt that was softer then a hit that felt like you were having your face reformed with a wrench. And most of the time he was so gunned up on adrenaline that he didn't feel it until he had annihilated the aggressor out of all existence.

Emily wiped furiously at her tears and pinned him with a glare so furious that he cringed inwardly, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing it.

"What is the point then?" he sneered then mocked her, "little girl all frightened of the big, bad tigers? Grow up!"

He barked so loudly it made her jump, "You are in the were-hunter world now, baby, and you best learn that fact fast. You just got away without a scratch there, woman. Those two that just left? They are the least of your troubles, when the real hard-core Strati pass your way you'll wish you had never been born -" Jasyn gave a mirthless laugh, "or at least died very soon after."

"I haven't done anything to anyone!" Emily snapped back, still not understanding it but hating what she was all the same.

"But you're still Arcadian -"

"Bullshit!" Emily shouted at him, coming away from the wall and facing him off, "bullshit! I'm sick of people excusing their cruelty because I'm Arcadian. I won't be held accountable for everything my race has done, just as I wouldn't expect you to be so for what yours has done."

Jasyn's eyes flared and a silent but acknowledged truth passed between them, somehow Emily knew that Jasyn was the scourge of the Arcadian race. Emily shoved past him and instead of going down the stairs, she went up probably to lock herself in her room and break her heart over the reality she was now in. Jasyn fought violently within himself, a part of him wanted to go to her. He didn't think he could stomach apologising to an Arcadian but he wanted to make peace with her, ask her if he'd hurt her back when he threw her against the wall. He didn't, he flashed himself back to his room.

A door opened on the silent landing, it seemed strange for there to be quiet after such commotion, Nicolette leant elegantly against the door frame with her arms crossed under her breasts, she drummed her fingers lightly against her upper arm, she watched the door open across the way, and Aimee poked her head out.

"Is the coast clear?" Aimee asked, looking pointedly up both ends of the hallway and was giving a lot of what-was-that-all-about on her face.

"Apparently so," Nicolette looked thoughtfully at the ceiling then back at her daughter.

"Are we going to ban her?" Aimee asked, her face screwed up as if she knew she wouldn't like the answer.

"Who?"

"The new girl? She struck Jasyn," Aimee reminded her mother, not that she wanted to see the girl thrown out but rules were rules, and Sanctuary had only lasted so long because of them.

"Only if he acknowledges it," Nicolette said shaking her head.

"You think he will?" Aimee asked apprehensively, feeling sympathy towards Emily, her mother looked thoughtful for a moment and then shook her head slowly. "Did you hear what she said?"

"She only found out she was a were-hunter of late," Nicolette murmured, still looking thoughtful, Aimee frowned, it was like trying to see through a block of concrete with her mother, Nicolette's face was impassive.

"Dev said she arrived with Jasyn and then he left her at the door," Aimee informed her mother and she saw her mother's mouth tighten and Aimee fought not to smile. Her mother was a lot of things but she had an animal nature of a true bearswan and the human nature of one hell of a feminist. She hated to see young women so abused and alone.

"He should not be her only example of our race," Nicolette sneered lightly, she pierced Aimee with a gimlet stare, "be a friend to her, Aimee."

"I will, maman," Aimee said then noticed her mother's face, "maman?"

"Hmm?"

"Your mouth is very red, almost like -"

Aimee cringed when Aubert Peltier appeared behind her mother, it looked like they were making time in one of the spare rooms, Aimee quickly withdrew to her room, where she was secretly making time with Fang.

"Quite an argument," Aubert commented, kissing Nicolette lightly on the nape of her neck, Nicolette tilted her head giving him better access to her neck and Aubert took advantage.

"Yes, it was," she responded in a murmur, "reminds me of us when we were younger."

"But the making up is better," Aubert said, pulling Nicolette back by her waist and closing the door, there was a growl and a laugh from behind the wood.

Aimee balanced a tray in one hand and tapped on Emily's door with the other, there was no sound from within so Aimee took a chance and opened the door. It swung inwards to reveal Emily sitting on her bed staring at her suitcase at the end of the bed; it looked as if she were taking a break from packing. Emily looked up and gave Aimee a wan smile; she came in and deposited the tray of food on the chest of drawers.

"Going so soon?" Aimee asked, nodding to the case, Emily looked at it also and rubbed her shoulder, it had been aching since her run in with Jasyn.

"I'm debating with myself whether or not I should."

"Hmm," Aimee watched as Emily frowned then picked up a pair of pants and began to rub at a mark on them, "you have a lot of clothes."

"I'm a bit of a shopaholic," Emily confessed proudly, she folded the pants neatly and placed them in her case, "I guess that's why I'm such a city bird -" Emily laughed and looked up at Aimee, "no pun intended. But when I'm away on location I have to wear shit kickers and khaki." Emily shuddered as if those thoughts were offensive to her. "So not my style. So when I get to good ole New York I can wear my dresses and heels and Gucci and Armani and Jimmy Choos … and you don't look like you have any idea what I'm talking about."

Emily rolled her eyes at herself and felt terribly lonely; Aaron and Jay would have known to appreciate the name of Gucci and Jimmy Choo. Aimee laughed and perched on next to her on the bed.

"Can you honestly see me wearing this stuff in a biker bar?" Aimee asked and Emily gave her a grudging smile.

"I suppose it would spoil them," she sighed and threw another item at her case rather then in it.

"So I heard you had a little bit of a run in with the tigers on the stairs this afternoon, then a scuffle with Jasyn?"

Emily shrugged hoping to look casual but instead looking dejected, "Nope, nothing happened. We all just had a good, long heart to heart and I now whole heartedly wish all three of those charming men a torturous life resulting in a death of unrivalled agony."

Aimee cackled and shoved Emily's shoulder playfully, Emily gave her a reluctant smile, she sighed.

"You know, in my old life I always thought I was tough. Not like I'm-the-baddest-bitch-on-cell-block-eight or anything!" Emily added quickly and Aimee chuckled at her. "But, you know, tough enough for the streets that I lived on. But this -" Emily looked around the room with innocently lost eyes, "this is nothing I could ever imagine. I mean, I always gave people a solid, 24 carat gold reason to detest me before. Now all people have to do is sniff me and they think I'm lower then dog shit."

Aimee made a sympathetic noise and it spurred Emily's need to vent.

"I'm tough enough for the human world, Aimee, but I don't know about this one. I really don't. Like today, I knew those guys couldn't hurt whilst I was in this place … but I'd never actually felt someone's hatred for me just ooze from their skin, you know? That's why I think I freaked out so badly at that bastard!"

Emily's face grew dark as she thought about Jasyn, first chance she got, she was going to kill him - then resuscitate him and kill him again.

"You keep going on about new world and old world," Aimee said, "how can you not know that you were a Were?"

"I was brought up in orphanages and foster homes, now I realise I should have been in the local bird sanctuary."

"You're funny," Aimee commented as she chuckled, Emily smiled ruefully.

"I think that was due to my being dropped on my head as a child."

"You know, it's not as uncommon as you may think. Were's ending up in the human world, or at least with no where to go once there parents have died or abandoned them."

"Really?"

"Nope. If their lucky they get dropped off here or they find their way to a Limani, but on the whole if your parents are killed in the war or they choose to abandon you, you're screwed."

"Who would abandon their children?" Emily asked horrified.

"That's not uncommon either," Aimee said seriously, "we had a guy brought here when he was just out of puberty. He was a Tigard named Wren -"

"Tigard?"

"He was half tiger half leopard," Aimee said simply and Emily's professional side almost OD'd on information.

"Oh my God," Emily exclaimed, "you can cross breed the species of Were?"

"Yes."

"Holy shit!" Emily laughed then noticing Aimee face, checked her excitement, "please continue."

"Well, his mother tried to kill him when he was born. He is Katagaria, as were his parents, but they thought of him as defected because he was neither tiger nor leopard but a hybrid mix of both. The animal in them sensed the defect and reacted to it the way animals do."

"Bullshit!" Emily said and Aimee raised her brow, "I've got a PhD. in Zoology and a Masters in animal psychology, I've spent my whole life studying animals and being around them. They kill their young for food, physical access to food, more nest space … err, a disturbance in their environment perhaps. Even to bias the gender ratio of a litter or so they don't have to care for another female's young, but I've never heard of an animal killing their young because they dislike it, I mean come on!"

Aimee raised her hand and knocked sharply on Emily's forehead with her knuckles, "ow!"

"You're still thinking in human terms, Emily," Aimee said kindly, "these aren't just animals in the wild. These aren't lions running wild on the savannah, or bears in the forest. These are animals with the complexity of human emotion and cognitive thought."

Emily's eyes widened in awe and Aimee nodded "think about it a human's ability to logically decipher problems, to think and feel but coupled with the primal instincts of an animal. Pretty explosive is what I would call it."

"Pretty fucked up too," Emily whispered, she looked at Aimee with renewed determination, "I need to know everything about being a Were before I go back to New York. Jasyn said he would help me but … we don't get on," she said stiffly.

"Jasyn said he would help you?" Aimee said incredulous.

"It's a long story …" Emily said with an air that said she refused to explain the details.

"A long story of blackmail?" Aimee asked light heartedly.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

Outside her window Jasyn perched on the ledge and listened to Emily's voice as she spoke to Aimee, it still held a stuffy note to it that usually came with tears. Before the young bearswan had come in Jasyn was going to tap on the window and try in some way to make amends. He'd watched her have a furious tantrum in her room and throw her clothes around, perverse as it was it had made him hot, then she'd simmered down and paced the length of the room, driving him crazy as he ogled her hips and ass in her jeans. Then she sat quietly on the edge of the bed and that was when he'd felt her heart wrench in his chest, she looked so … alone. Jasyn kept forgetting that Emily had never known about his world before, that until now he was her only hope, her only guide in this whole crazy place. She needed him, even if she thought she didn't. And the honourable thing to do would be to help her in every way he could, but she was still Arcadian and he still couldn't help that malicious part of him that wished to abandon her to her own fate. It was wrong he knew, like Emily had said, she could not be held accountable for what her race had done, her least of all since she'd had no idea about what she was. He didn't want a dependant that would hold him back, whom he would have to help and reassure, he didn't have the patience or the kindness for it. Again it was wrong but he was a creature of the world's making, he'd been wounded, hurt and betrayed so many times he felt he had scars upon scars. Jasyn watched Aimee get up from the bed, she gave Emily a hug and left the room, Emily crawled up the bed and laid her head on the pillow, her eyes fluttering down. She looked serene and beautiful, she looked like she was calling to him to come to her, to warm her with his body as she shivered and to watch over her as her protector so nothing in the dark could harm her. Jasyn sighed inwardly, an old longing, an unfamiliar dream of family and love came back to him like a breeze whistling back to the mainland after it had travelled across the vast oceans. Jasyn took off into the night with a screech, sealing his heart in a box of ice before it could become too warm. Emily's eyes pooped open and she looked to the window, there was nothing there, but the call of the hawk echoed in her ears and she bit her tongue to stop herself muttering his name.