I jerked awake out of a nightmare that I started to forget as soon as I woke up. It felt important, but it was like wisps in the wind - gone before I could really think about it too much. I laid there and stared at the ceiling and tried to calm my racing heart. I looked over and came face to face with a sleeping Barrett. He was so handsome and gruff. I turned on my side towards him and scooted in as close as I could into his chest. Smelling his outdoorsy scent made me instantly calmer. I know I needed to get up, but I was so warm and calm in his arms that had just shifted around me. I must have fallen asleep in the bathtub and since Ethane got me the night before last, Barrett must have gotten me last night. I was cool with it though. I wanted to try and get alone time with each of the guys as well.

“Mmmm…I could get used to this.” Barrett said as he opened his eyes, kissing my forehead. He looked content. Happy to just lay here with me.

“We should probably get up but I am just so comfy. Tell me about yourself. I feel so drawn to all of y’all, but I feel like I really don’t know you very well.” I replied closing my eyes and snuggling in even closer to him. If he was going to hold me, I might as well use him as a blanket.

“I was born out in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia. I stayed to myself most of my life. It's just a bear shifter thing. I love my family, but I always wanted to roam. I ended up in Tennessee working at a lumber yard when the supernaturals all came out. I stayed there for a while, but I caught a wolf shifter attacking one of my coworkers one day. I had him subdued by the time Paraoffice got there and they offered me a job on the spot. I bounced around a bit before I found the guys and knew where I belonged. I haven’t looked back since. What time is it anyway?” He suddenly asked, as if to change the subject from something he didn’t like to talk about. I could understand that though. I was just glad that he had opened up even if it was only a little bit.

Looking over at the clock, I groaned, “It’s 8:27. We need to get everything ready for tomorrow. Ugh. I just wanna lay here.” I left the with you part unspoken but implied.

“I do too. I haven't been this relaxed in a really long time, but duty calls. So you better get that sweet ass moving. We got lots of shit to do.” He said removing his arms from me and getting off the bed. Damn. I was one lucky woman. He had slept in some very form fitting boxer-briefs that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. “Hey now. We don't have time for funny business. So your gonna have to rein in those looks your giving me because I can smell how hot you are and it's way too tempting to climb back in there with you.” That statement made me squirm, in a good way, but it would have to wait.

“Fine. Keep your cum gun over there. Like you said, no time for funny business,” I sassed back as I threw a pillow at him, which he caught and sat down on the edge of the bed. I got up and stretched, noticing Barrett’s eyes following the movement. I really hated waking up this early. I was going to have to work on it. Even though I really don't think there was gonna be anything that I could do about it. Chuckling to myself, I made my way over to my room. I was kind of nervous that Canio would still be in there, but I sure as hell couldn't go out in my oversized T-shirt. Walking in, I could see that he was, in fact, still tied to the chair. He was asleep with his head lolled to one side. I really hated how attractive he was.

Walking into the closet, I pulled out a pair of black shorts and a cami. Going into the bathroom, I changed and brushed my blonde hair. I could get used to it. I guess it would just take time. I put it up in a bun and brushed my teeth. Heading back to where the bed and captive were, I noticed that Draven, Donovan, and Ethane were all laid in the king sized bed together. They were all wrapped around each other. It was super sexy to see. I took my phone and captured a picture of them in this position, for future purposes of course. Shaking my head at how easily distracted I was by that image- but really, who wouldn’t be! - I got back on task. Pulling my weapons case out from under the bed, I loaded up and was now prepared for the day. Since the guys were still sleeping, I started mentally going over the plans for today.

“Do you think I can be untied sometime today to use the bathroom? Even prisoners in jail get that much.” Canio’s voice shocked me out of my thoughts. Turning towards him, I noticed he had a sexy smirk on his face. I wanted to knock it off. How dare him look like that! UGH...Why is it that the bad guys were never bald, ugly and creepy? I could deal with that, but no he had to be sexy as hell. That fact right there did nothing more than piss me off, because I could feel the attraction to him and there was no way in hell that was happening. I feel like this question has been stuck on repeat in my head, but what the fuck is wrong with me?

“Yeah one of the guys will take care of it. I don’t want to be in the same room as you let alone touch you.” Canio just gave me the Who are you trying to lie to look. I ignored him and the look, opting to go over and shake Draven. “Hey. Y’all need to wake up. Canio needs a potty break and I refuse to do that.” I was firm on that idea. No matter how much pull I could feel, I didn’t want to touch the bastard.

“I got it.” Draven said stretching and getting out of the bed. “I will hurt you if you try anything.” Unlocking Canio from the chair, Draven headed towards the bathroom. Draven’s voice held a hard edge that, I do not think anyone would want to mess with him. Canio looked properly intimidated, at least for now.

Barrett walked in just as I jumped on the bed to wake up the other two sleeping beauties. “Wake up!” I yelled as I bounced on the bed, startling both Donovan and Ethane. I am thinking I need to make this a morning ritual for whoever slept in. Look at me, making future plans again.

“Damn it Gwen! I told you not to do that.” Ethan squealed while getting out of the bed and getting dressed. I started giggling because the look of irritation on his face was just too funny. I really loved it. He looked so adorable.

“If y’all are done, we need to go scout out the apartment place.” Barrett commanded from across the room. Barrett did not look amused at my antics. Well, he better get used to them if he was sticking around after the case.

Focusing, I told the guys my theory. “I need a picture of one of the missing kids. I wanna see if I can teleport to them using it.” I was really not looking forward to it because I was afraid that it would bring me face to face with a male demon that I would have to take down.

“Sounds like a good idea, but you don’t need to go alone. Take Draven and Ethane with you.” Barrett locked me into a stare. I could sense that he wanted to say more, but for some reason he held back. After this morning, I had hoped that maybe he would be more open about things.

“Here is Tania. She is one of the girls that went missing.” Donovan handed me his phone, touching my hand longer than necessary before pulling back. So I leaned forward and gave him a quick peck.

I examined the photo. She was a beautiful little girl with bright blue eyes and long blond hair. Her nose was a little upturned and she had a beauty mark on the left side of her mouth. I was so terrified by what state she would be in when I found her.

I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “Okay. I am ready so if your coming with me, you better grab on.” Concentrating, I felt hands grab my legs, so I started to envision Tania in my mind. I could feel the tugging sensation in my stomach. Afraid to open my eyes, I did it anyway, not prepared for what I saw.

We had arrived in an underground dungeon. The walls were lined with single cells and from what I could see had children in them. Looking to my left, I saw that the bars of the cell was made of bone and inside the cell was a tiny girl with blonde hair. Blood splatter covered the floors and with every move we made rats ran across the floor. It had a very musty smell and sounded like there may be some water close by, because I could hear the steady drips hitting the stone floor.

Walking over to the bars, I whispered, “Tania, is that you?” The young girl moved towards the bars and looked terrified when she saw me.

“Yes miss, that is what my mother called me. I am not called that here. We are known as slave.” The girl said in a small shaky voice that went straight to my heart and crushed it.

“Are you ready to go home?” I asked. I was gonna get her out. I was going to get all of the children out, even if it was the last thing I did. All of the cells that I could see held children, some looking like they were barely hanging on. My heart was aching so bad that I could feel the emotional pain as if it was physical.

“Yes miss, please take me to Momma.” She whispered as she moved closer to the bars.

“Watch my back, I am gonna get all the kids out of here.” I said looking back and forth between Draven and Ethane who had been silent since we got here. Their faces gave away how pissed they were about the situation. Draven’s markings had flared to life and looked even darker than I had ever seen them. Okay, it was time for me to embrace my badass demon powers. I only hoped that they would work the way that I needed them to.