Updated! Quicker again and this ones longer =D Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed and to my beta reader who does an awesome job! I love getting your feedback so pretty please keep it up!

Hope you enjoy it!

I don't own Beka Cooper, sadly.

When I slipped back into the dinning room twirling my dagger casual like around my fingers with a smirk on my face, it didn't take my commanders or anyone long to figure out I had heard sommat good.

"Did the birdie sing Mistress?" Tryon asked, an almost cruel smile on his face.

Slipping my dagger into the sleeve of my dress I smiled at him and rested my hands on Kurt's shoulders. "That he did."

They itched anxiously to hear the words to the tune and my friends also looked interested.

I laughed softly. "You'll taste it soon enough, Kurt bring the watchers in and give them the information Curtis has for you." I couldn't very well say too much with our guests here, it was instinct that they hear little from me. I gave them an apologetic look. "I'm going to have to ask you guys to leave, we're about to go out see."

Goodwin raised an eyebrow at me and narrowed her eyes at the same time. "Cooper…"

I gave her an innocent look. "I can't allow you to come." Goddess, protect me from her anger…

She narrowed her eyes some more, to think I had missed her, she was going to kill me. "When are you leaving?"

"As soon as our…target's, whereabouts are confirmed."

The second eyebrow joined the first and I fought not to wince.

'She's not pleased with you.' Pounce said with a cat's grin.

"Shh!" I hissed at him. Cursed cat, go torture Dom or sommat…

As if he'd heard my thoughts, which I think he probably can, my cat trotted back under the table and the next thing Dom shrieked and leapt, unsteadily, onto his chair, dagger out ready to throw it should he lay eyes on his enemy.

I snickered. It never gets old.

Myra shook her head as a smug look crossed Goodwin's face while we all watched my second in command with different levels of disbelief, amusement and pity.

"You're as mad as a scatter brained pigeon you are." Myra muttered. "And you're a sissy scut to."

Dom cursed violently. "I'm going to skin that damned cat!"

I rolled my eyes and grinned as Pounce's laugh reached my ears.

To say that my people responded well to Gavlen's findings would have been an understatement. Myra wore a very unnerving smile as she swaggered out of the house and disappeared down into the tunnels to prepare weapons. Tyron looked equally as dangerous as he and Kurt, who couldn't stop grinning like a looby and rubbing his hands together, went to gather and prepare the fighters.

And Dom looked positively gleeful, after we had convinced him that Pounce was gone and he could come down from his chair. My brother also took to humming happily and I wondered if maybe Goodwin had tipped him over the edge.

We had finally ushered my friends out of the house and sent them off home. I think the only reason Goodwin gave in was because she had to go and train the new puppies before watch started. The look she sent me afore she left was enough to send shivers down my spine.

I'd be in for trouble later I knew.

It took a healing session, a weapons training session, a hand-to-hand training session and another healing session to convince Giles that I was fit to go with the others. I was not going to stay behind.

The blood of my sister's killer was mine to spill and I wanted to be there to see his face when he realised that.

I paced back and forth across Mary's study room floor as she, Dom and Giles sat back in the chairs and watched me. I just couldn't stay still. It had been hours since the watchers had been briefed and sent in the right direction yet we had heard naught. It was dark out now, the sun had long gone and given way to the stars.

"Beka child, if you do not cease that you will wear a hole in the carpet." Mary scolded me as she stroked Pounce's ears while he slept peacefully in her lap. How he could possibly manage to sleep at a time like this I did not know.

"It takes time Beks, they will find him." Dom added lazily as he took another sip of ale. "Trust your people, we haven't failed you yet have we?"

I growled at him. The fires in me were making it nearly impossible to think straight. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and couldn't remain still. The waiting would turn me as crackbrained as him!

"Patience." Giles grunted. "I don't want to have to get another carpet."

"How long will it take?"

"As long as it needs to my girl." My Godfather replied noncommittally, not even looking up from his book. "I know the feeling is strong but you must control its desires."

I sighed and sat down on the floor facing the fire and flames that I could actually see. I could almost picture what it looked like inside my belly, bright orange and red flames dancing up, slowly consuming everything until I was ready to breathe it.

"Let them do their jobs sis, they'll find the sarden scut and when they do you'll be the first to know."

Leaning my head against the wall I gave Dom a small smile as Achoo rested her head in my lap. "I know, I just want it to be sooner."

He chuckled. "Don't we all."

I did not remember falling asleep yet when I woke it was well and truly daylight again and the embers had long gotten cold. The healing must have finally caught up to me.

Achoo's furry body was still curled up to mine, her head resting on my thigh. A large embroidered blanket had been spread over us. The study was empty and quiet. They would have come for me if the watchers had returned with news. Dom would not be stupid enough to vex me by leaving me behind.

I hoped so anyway.

Elsewise I'd have to kill them all.

Achoo stirred and stuck her head out from under the blanket and looked at me, lulling her tongue out the corner of her mouth.

I smiled and patted her. "I missed you Achoo, lets go find the others hm?" The thought of hunting rats with her again made me smile some more.

As soon as I put a hand on the door handle it turned and swung open. Whipping to the side out of the heavy woods way I glared at my second menacingly. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Course not, are you trying to get yourself killed?" He asked and muttered something about standing behind doors.

Rolling my eyes I resisted the urge to mortally wound him. "Domain, what did Goodwin do to you?"

He shuddered at her name. "Evil female, never mind. Now Beks, don't you want to know why I've come for you?"

"Not unless it's interesting, no."

"You really should be nicer to me, after all I have done for you, and you should have taken my side when Goodwin attacked."

"I will be when you stop going out of your way to annoy me." I smiled sweetly.

"I'm not going to tell you then."

"Suit yourself brother."

"I will."

"Good."

"…You really don't want to know?" He'd tell me whether I wanted to hear it or not, that I knew.

I sighed. "Domain…"

"You'll like it." He promised and took my forearm, leading me out and down the hall with Achoo trotting happily along behind. "Verten just returned, they found him."

I matched his steps and doubled them, switching our positions and dragged him towards the closest tunnel entrance. "Why didn't you say so? Where?" I demanded.

Dom coughed. "Some where very familiar."

I raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

He held my hand and helped me into the tunnel entrance even though I was perfectly capable myself. "Looks like we'll be paying your Rogue visit."

"He's not my Rogue!" I insisted again as he dropped through the hole after me lifting a whining Achoo down as well. It seemed I was the only one to use the ladders. "What's Rosto got to do with my prey anyway?"

"Of course he isn't." Dom replied sarcastically. "That's why I've made plans to crack his nob open should he touch you again. And Rosto, first name basis are we? Sarden white haired scut going after my sister…"

"Domain, for the love of Mithros, stop your ranting and tell me what's going on!" I could slap him! Sometimes I wonder if his mother dropped him on his head or sommat, he wasn't normal afore Goodwin got to him.

"Right, well His Majesty." He said it with distaste. I wasn't used to this reaction from my family to coves. True Rosto had not been exactly fond of Dale but protectiveness from someone not interested in me like that was not sommat I was exposed to often.

And Dom was clearly not pleased with Rosto, and virtually nothing had happened! Though…he was a good kisser…

"…not long back, some sickness got him and Ulsa recently filled the position with…what did you call him? Prey?" He gave me an amused looked.

Curse Rosto and his kisses! I'd missed the first part of Dom's report. I realised then that we'd barely uttered Isaac's name since we'd arrived back here. He was the betrayer, the enemy, the prey, a name did not deserve to be spoken among us.

"Who died of a sickness?" I asked as we strode into the armoury. It was like an ants nest afore rain or a beehive, alive and thriving with organised chaos.

Dom looked at me concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Just fine, I was thinking and didn't hear the first part." I smiled sheepishly.

"Ulsa's right hand man, died of a sickness. She filled the job not two nights ago." He repeated.

"With him." I finished.

Dom nodded as Myra and Tyron approached us.

"Mistress." Tryon greeted with a bow of his head. "How do you want to proceed?"

I looked around at the walls lined with weapons, watchers that had been out all night were just arriving back and their replacements were leaving, the kitchen maids were ducking through with serving trays, trainees were watching and being shown how to clean and polish the steel, care for and attach weapons as the party going with me suited up.

"Where is he exactly?" I asked, almost laughing out loud as a young girl dropped the axe she was holding, it was too heavy obviously, onto her instructors foot by accident.

"At the Dancing Dove, we hadn't expected him to hide in plain sight. Ulsa has been there most of the day and will be staying there for court." Myra replied, flexing her fingers around the hilt of a short sword strapped onto her belt.

I nodded, the court could last hours and if I remember right, tonight was the night that the dogs collected their bribes. So the options were, wait until he was out or get him now while there was a crowd. The burning feeling rooted in my veins told me there was only one option.

Looking over my commanders as they watched me closely I raised my eyebrows thoughtfully. "How do you feel about possibly making a small scene?"

They grinned, there were no objections then. "I'm sure hoods and cloth around our faces will leave 'em guessing." Tyron smirked. "They'll think he just crossed someone."

I laughed but it was humourless. "He has."

"Yes but no one knows about us, apart from your friends but they won't be likely to shout your name will they?"

I shook my head, they wouldn't give us away. We could leave now and we would have him back afore the day was done.

Lifting a curved sword off the wall and testing it's sharpness with my thumb I nodded. "It's decided, give me five minutes and we'll leave."

Tightening up the strings on my black leather arm guards I half heartedly listened to Giles as he stood before me giving me yet another lecture. The dress code was black, as always, head to toe of it.

My swords were tied to either hip with my dagger tucked into my belt. Others were hidden on my person.

My commanders and accompanying party stood behind me, making double checks of their own attire and weapons. I could hear them shuffling anxiously from foot to foot. Now who was the one who couldn't stay still?

"Giles, as much as I enjoy your knowledge, by the time we get down to the lower city it'll be dark and I'd like to be back here afore midnight." I said, fixing the cloak's ties around my neck and fiddling with the black cloth I'd have tied around my nose and mouth. "I'd like to go now."

The great mage sighed and nodded his approval wearily. "Very well, just don't exert yourself and try not to make to much fuss."

Nodding I kissed his old cheek and smiled. "I'll make it clean."

He sighed again and waved me away.

Grinning I tied the cloth over my face and pulled up the hood and lead the way out of the tunnels to up under the neighbour's shed. It never ceased to amaze me how twenty or so people could slip away unnoticed. And how someone has large as Adrian could be so quite yet someone as lightly built as Philies, another veteran, could almost manage to stand on every leaf and stick in a foot radius.

We were going on foot since I wanted the pleasure of having the prey dragged back, gagged of course. I had thought about tying him to my horse but the blood trail would be too noticeable.

I hadn't decided what I'd do with him yet. Kill him immediately, let the others play with him first then kill him, give him to Gavlen to torture and then kill him, break every bone in his body then kill him, torture him myself then kill him, or use him as a training tool for the next generation, and then kill him.
The rest would want a piece of him no doubt, maybe if I tried to incorporate all of the above…

I shuddered at the thoughts in my head and cursed myself. Mayhap I was like my father, maybe I should distance myself afore I turn into what he wished.

'Nonsense.' Pounce scoffed and I nearly jumped out of my skin as he appeared at my feet, having no troubles keeping up with us. 'It's simply your instinct for revenge, you could never turn into your father and I shall hear no more on it. This cove deserves none of your mercy, he deceived you, betrayed you, killed your people and killed your sister. You would still think like that even if you were not who you are.'

I smiled down at him, silently thanking him for his private words. His purple eyes shone in the fading light like he was smiling back at me.
We slipped from shadow to shadow, around people's houses and skirting around the larger crowds unnoticed.

Finally we reached the Dove, light shinning out of the windows and voices and laughter flowing from the inside. It wasn't like Kayfer's court, this was happy and bright. I smiled slightly and was glad none of the others could see least Dom get anymore bright ideas and start his tiresome rant again.

Rosto had done well for this city, even if he was a rat, he would take care of these people. His people, my people…I thought for a moment. Where did I belong now? I had so many ways to turn, so many lives that I could live yet there is only one of me and only one life time.

Dom touched my arm and brought me out of my thoughts. I pulled down the cloth and assumed the life I was living now.

"Adrian, come in from the back, Kurt, the kitchens and Curtis, the stairs to the upper rooms. Wait until you hear him run to make yourselves known. Dom, Myra, Tyron with me."

The three I'd placed in charge nodded and slipped away with their small groups following them, they'd simply dissolved into thin air. The four of us remaining waited until I was sure the others would be in position. Replacing the cloth we came out of our hiding place and strode straight towards the front door.

Our hands stayed away from our weapon so the court's guards would not attack us immediately. I saw several rushers duck around the back, probably going to report to Rosto.

He wouldn't get the message of our arrival from them.

Myra and Dom dealt with the door guards silently, a quick hit to a pressure point in the stomach and both coves fell unconscious and were lowered gently to the ground.

I held my breath as Tryon put his hand on the handle and looked at me for my permission. I nodded sharply, I couldn't very well back out now, and released the breath as he turned the knob and pushed it open.

Ta dar! Another cliffy, I don't do many of them…

Well? What did you think? Good, bad, otherwise? I'm happier with this one, still not much of the main characters I know but I promise most will be in the next chapter and it'll be more centred (or that's the plan so far).

Don't forget to review! =)

Til next time,

xXAngelStormXx

P.S. Review, review, review, review, review! Pretty please? *Hopeful face* =)