Samuel runs at full speed until he reaches Alfrigg’s cottage. He bursts in the door, “I found him!”

Alfrigg sits stoically, holding on to Rook. He shakes his head as though all hope is lost.

“Come on! We have to let him in!” Samuel waves his hand for Alfrigg to follow.

“Who did you find?” Alfrigg queries.

Samuel’s eyes widen. “Her mate.” He can’t recall the term.

Alfrigg shakes his head, “Rooks don’t have a mate. She’s just a fragile human and it’s too late.” Alfrigg’s head hangs low. “She’s gone.”

“No,” Samuel says, rushing to the couch. He leans down close to Rook, “She’s still breathing. Let him in!”

“What do you mean her ‘mate’?” Alfrigg demands in a cranky tone.

Rook stirs, sniffing at the air. She reaches up, grabbing Samuel by the collar and taking in his scent. “Him,” she gasps before falling back on the couch.

“Her…” Samuel searches the air for the answer, “He has blood for her. He can save her.”

Alfrigg’s eyes widen with hope, “Her bloodmate?”

“Yes,” Samuel says insistently.

“That’s it!” Alfrigg waves his hands, “Go get him, I’ll drop the protection.” He stops him, “Samuel, no others in, though, it’s too dangerous.”

Samuel disregards his words and rushes back toward the entrance of the realm. He passes through the tree portal in time to see Hunter rush to Warren still embattled with Henry.

Hunter grabs him, lifting him off the ground with ease. “Where’s Calder?” he bellows.

Warren shakes his head, trembling in fear, “I-I-I don’t know.”

Hunter grinds his teeth and draws the vampire closer. He speaks low and deadly, “Where’s Calder?”

“I don’t know who that is.” Warren’s voice quivers.

“Hunter!” Samuel comes to his side, “Let him go, you need to get to Rook.”

Hunter snaps the vampire’s neck and turns to Camille, “Finish him.”

Samuel and Camille exchange a glance and Samuel shakes his head no slowly.

Hunter is already at the tree and demands with a gravelly voice, “Get me in.”

Samuel opens the portal by placing his hand on the tree and they both enter.

“Follow me, I’ll take you–” Before Samuel can finish, Hunter is already gone. He works to keep up and isn’t far behind.

Using his instincts and vampire speed, he arrives at the cottage. He breaks through the door and comes to a stop.

He can see nothing but Rook, a calm he hasn’t felt in thousands of years flows through him and he can feel his lips transition from a snarl to smile. He takes three tentative steps to her and kneels beside the couch. He studies her before reaching out to touch her, hardly believing she’s real. He takes one of her dark curls around his finger and leans down to smell her, filling his whole being with her scent as he whispers in her ear, “Óst min, kyss mik.”

Rook’s eyes open and she turns her head toward him, threading her fingers behind his neck, pulling him into a deep, loving kiss.

The entire cabin fills with warm light as their spirits visibly dance with one another. Hunter is gentle and kisses her softly, running his tongue along her lips, drinking down her flavor.

Rook’s strength is returning, and she becomes more aggressive, digging her fingernails into the skin on his neck.

Samuel and Alfrigg stand watching as Rook recovers, both satisfied that they will both survive. Samuel leans down to Alfrigg and says in a low tone, “What did he say to her?”

Alfrigg releases a breath and says in a sentimental tone, “He said, ‘My love, kiss me.’”

Hunter pulls her closer to his body to feel every inch of her skin against him. She pulls back, biting her bottom lip. “Hi,” she says with red cheeks, “I’m…”

Hunter presses her head to his chest, tears welling in his eyes, “I know who you are.”

Alfrigg clears his throat, “But the question is, do either of you remember me? The owner of this fine dwelling.”

Hunter turns to Alfrigg, never releasing his hold on Rook, “Alfrigg, old friend. Well met.”

Alfrigg tips his head to Hunter, “Well met, friend.”

Rook pulls back slightly from Hunter, eyeing Samuel with a furrowed brow, “What the hell are you wearing?”

Samuel rolls his eyes, “Don’t ask, it’s all your boyfriend had.” He turns to Alfrigg, “I don’t suppose the flicks could whip me something up a little more comfortable?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Alfrigg nods.

Rook glances between Hunter and Samuel. Confusion crosses her features, “Wait, what happened?”

Alfrigg startles, “Oh, yes, well…” He smiles and clears his throat, “As it would happen, you were ill due to being away from your bloodmate.”

Rook looks at Hunter with curious eyes, struggling with him being a stranger, but feeling as though he’s part of her, “I don’t...I’ve never met you, how could I suddenly be going through withdrawals?”

Camille comes through the doorway putting Alfrigg on edge, “Camille?”

“Hello, Alfrigg.” She smiles, watching Hunter holding Rook.

“Good to see you,” Alfrigg says then turns to Samuel. “I said only one, through.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to...lock it?” he says, wrinkling his features with confusion.

“Hunter,” Alfrigg says with warning, “We are not protected now.”

“Augustus is dead.” Camille lets him in on the secret.

“Dead?” Alfrigg questions.

“Yes, Hunter–”

“Took care of it,” Hunter says, standing up and offering his hand to Rook. “It’s okay, we’re leaving.”

“Where are we going?” Rook asks.

“Wherever you want, my love.” He smiles down at her.

Henry reaches the cottage out of breath, “What did I miss?”

“The reunion.” Alfrigg eyes him, “Witch?”

Henry nods, “Yes.” He steps further in and introduces himself to Rook, “I’m Henry Grimes.”

Hunter puts himself between them.

Rook peeks around Hunter, offering her hand, “I’m Rook.”

Hunter looks down at Henry, “We’re together now. Everything is going to be okay.”

“I wouldn't say that,” Henry says with warning.

“Have you performed the blood exchange ritual?”

“What’s that?” Rook asks, wrinkling her nose.

“That’s when you both exchange blood,” Henry explains.

Rook steps away from Hunter and feels cold immediately, “We can’t.”

Hunter turns to her, “Why?”

“My blood will kill you,” she says, wrapping her arms around herself.

“No, I’ve already had your blood. It does make me very weak, but I’ll be fine.” Hunter tries to put her at ease.

“That’s what initiated the bond to begin with,” Camille says. “He drank your blood.”

“How?” Rook says, searching her memory.

“Weren’t you selling blood through some medical testing facility?” Samuel asks.

“Seriously?” She eyes Hunter, “That was supposed to be for research.”

“It was, I was desperate,” Hunter defends.

“And that started all of this, and why I was sick?” Rook asks, trying wrap her brain around the whole situation.

Alfrigg nods, “Yes, bloodmates are very rare and the bond is very powerful, all it took was a few drops.”

“But the bond isn’t complete, is it?” Hunter asks, moving closer to her. He can’t stand not touching her.

“No, it isn’t complete,” Henry answers. “What happened when you had her blood at first?”

“I became ill but recovered quickly.” Hunter nods, “I can withstand a lot.”

“I don’t know if I’m willing to take the chance.” She pulls away from him again in a near panic, “You don’t know what happens when a vampire drinks my blood.”

Hunter turns to her and puts his hands on her arms, “Look into my eyes.”

She falls into his gaze, nearly in a trance of peace and ecstasy.

“Do you trust me?” he asks.

She struggles with what her reality was and what she’s feeling now, “I do.”

“It’s going to be okay,” he says. “I would like to take you home.” He leans down close to her ear and says as softly as he can, “I want you, the scent of your arousal is driving me insane and it’s all I can do to maintain control.”

The heat that was already careening through her body intensifies and she bites her bottom lip, “I want you, too.” She throws her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a deep kiss.

His cock presses against the inside of his pants. He pulls up from her, “But not here.” He flicks his glance over his shoulder, “Not with an audience.”

Rook smiles, rising to her tiptoes to look over his shoulder, “Agreed.” She hesitates, “But…”

His lips cut a deep smile into his cheek, “I know, I can feel you.” He pulls her close to him for her to feel his arousal, “And I’m with you. We just have to hold on. I have a private jet, it will be fueled and ready by the time we arrive at the airport.” He glances over his shoulder, “We’ll be flying alone.”

Henry clears his throat, “I really think that the blood ritual should be monitored.”

Hunter takes Rook into his arms and moves toward the door, “And I think you can get fucked.”

Alfrigg steps out of the way, “As always, a pleasure.”

Hunter stops, “I’m forever in your debt. I’ll be sending the jet back for Camille, I’d love for you to join me in Toronto for a visit.”

“I’ll see if I can clear my schedule,” Alfrigg says, tipping his head. “But we will meet again.”

“You’re leaving me behind?” Camille says, trying not to be outraged.

Hunter eyes her knowingly, “Would you really like to join us on the plane?”

Camille takes a second to think about it, “Um, actually, I’ll wait for the next one.” She laughs.

“I need to get back to Toronto,” Henry says.

Camille puts her hand on Henry’s arm to still him and leans close to his ear, “He hasn’t been with a woman in thousands of years.”

Henry’s expression lightens, “I see. I will also wait.”

“Rook, wait!” Samuel calls out, running after them holding her backpack. “You forgot this.”

The realization hits her that she’s leaving. She slides down out of Hunter’s arms and throws her arms around Samuel, “Thank you for everything!”

“You’re very welcome.” Samuel hugs her tight. “Will I see you again?”

“Count on it.” She pushes the words past the lump in her throat.

“I will.” He nods and releases her back to Hunter’s care.

She looks back at Alfrigg, “Please come visit.”

“We’ll see.” He waves them off, “Go, live your life, be happy.”

“I will,” she says with confidence for the first time ever.