The shower was one of the best things Cassie had felt in a long time. The water was as hot as she could stand it as it pounded against her aching, sore body. But even over the rushing spray of water, she could hear Devon, Luther, and Julian talking in the room. She'd intended to climb out of the shower earlier, but they would stop talking the minute the water turned off.

She couldn't get every word of the conversation, but what she did get reinforced her knowledge they were scared of what she was capable of, of what she would become if she chose the wrong path.

Cassie didn't strain to hear them; she simply tuned her ears and focused on their words. She was acutely aware of every separate drop of water as it hit her skin. As a Hunter she had been able to hear and see exceptionally well, always had, but now it was more acute and attuned. It had enhanced further after consuming Devon's blood. Cassie shuddered as she recalled the sweet, delicious taste of his blood and the power that had filled her from it.

Tired of the water, and their conversation, she stepped free of the shower. Just as she had known they would, they became silent. Cassie shook her head as she toweled and dressed quickly in a fresh set of clothes before brushing her hair out. Julian and Devon were leaning against the wall on either side of the door. Luther was sitting precariously on the edge of the bed.

Luther's graying brown hair stood on end from pulling at it. She kept her face impassive, trying not to reveal she'd heard what they'd said. "Have you come up with a plan?" she asked.

Julian and Devon exchanged a look; Luther was staring at his clasped hands. "The plan is to get you out of this town as soon as possible," Devon responded.

"To get all of us out of this town as soon as possible," Cassie insisted. Luther finally looked up at her. "We are not splitting up again." She glared at all of them before settling on Devon. He had promised her they wouldn't split up again, not after what had happened last time. "You promised."

"We won't be separated Cassie," he assured her.

"We won't be separated from anyone," she emphasized. "Not after last time. It is not going to happen Devon, not at all."

"Cassie..."

"If The Elders come back..."

"They won't," Julian interrupted.

"They could!" she retorted. "No, the only way I am leaving this town is if everybody goes. We are not splitting our numbers again."

"It would have been just you and me," Devon told her.

Cassie's mouth dropped. "What?" she sputtered in disbelief.

"Would have been," Devon emphasized. "Julian and I thought it was better for you not to be here. Luther disagreed."

Cassie turned toward Luther, astonished he was actually on her side in this. Luther sadly gazed back at her. "I think it's best if you stay around your friends."

Something inside of her ached, it couldn't be her heart because that had stopped beating. "You mean you think I should stay with people who might be able to pull me back if I snap, or they can help destroy me?" They were unmoving, mainly because she had just hit the nail on the head. "That makes sense."

Cassie glanced at the door separating this room from the one next door. They had taken the three end rooms; the ones farthest away from the devastation of the manager's office. "Do they know that?" she asked.

"No, there is no reason for them to. Not yet," Luther answered. "I would also like to see what you are capable of Cassie."

"Wouldn't we all?"

He managed a wry smile as he rose to his feet. "Do you know how you were able to shoot fire today?"

Cassie shrugged as she wrapped her arms around herself. "No, I don't. I knew I could absorb powers when touching someone, but I thought once I touched someone else, that other power was gone. I was wrong."

"We have to figure out how you are able to do it, and just how many you can use at once. It could really come in handy."

"Or it could be completely dangerous."

Luther cleared his throat as he pulled his glasses off. "Yes, that too, but we will need it against The Elders. What were you feeling when you were able to bring the fire back again?"

"Terrified," she answered honestly. "Frustrated. Angry."

He began to pace the small confines of the worn down hotel room. He moved past one of the double beds before spinning on his heel in front of the other and coming back at her. "We're going to have to find a way for you to be able to draw your power forth without your emotions ruling you, and a way for you to keep those abilities under control."

"Is that all?" she asked dryly.

Luther's shoulders slumped as he tugged at his hair and made his way back toward the other bed. "This is new to us all Cassie."

"I know," she assured him. "I also know you're scared of me. That you all are."

Luther bowed his head, while Julian and Devon met her gaze head on. "Not of you, Princess," Julian murmured.

"Don't lie to me Julian, please. We both know better than that."

He looked like he was going to protest, then he shut his mouth, and shook back his shock of platinum hair. The near white band around his pupils was dilated. "Fine Princess, you are a little freaky right now..."

"Julian..." A lock of midnight hair fell into one of Devon's emerald eyes as he took a quick step toward Julian.

"What with this seemingly unlimited ability to absorb powers and the strange eyes..."

"Why do people keep mentioning my eyes? They are perfectly normal," Cassie insisted.

Julian and Devon exchanged a look; Luther quickly removed his glasses again. "They're not normal when they change Cassie," Devon said kindly.

"I see," she mumbled.

"You look exhausted."

"I am." She wasn't so much tired as she just didn't feel like being studied like a bug anymore.

"We'll let you get some rest," Luther muttered.

Cassie opened her mouth to protest, there was still so much they had to discuss, but Luther and Julian were already moving out. She heard the rattle of the chain lock as she sat on one of the worn pink and yellow comforters and hard mattress. She didn't care how hard it was though, it was like heaven compared to her sleeping conditions of the past couple of weeks. It had been weeks since she'd slept in a real bed, with real pillows, and comforters.

Cassie frowned as Devon grabbed hold of the bureau and walked it over to the window and placed it beneath it. Seizing hold of both of the nightstands he placed them on top and almost completely blocked out the night beyond. It wouldn't be much of a barrier against something trying to get in the window, but it would block out most of the sun. Finally, he placed the armchair in the corner against the door.

He stood in front of her before she had a chance to register him moving. His fingers slid over her cheeks as his emerald eyes latched onto hers. Any tiredness, and fear, was forgotten as his mouth brushed over hers, and she opened her lips to the heady invasion of his tongue. His hands settled against her waist, lifting her up he moved her back in the bed and came down on top of her.

It was so easy to lose herself in him, to forget everything else when he touched her and loved her, so easy not to think about the possibility she could destroy them all. They had exchanged blood earlier, but she knew the bond between them as mates wasn't complete. Not until now when she was clinging to him in order to stay grounded in a world suffused in sensation, caresses, and kisses.

She could feel them joining together, not only their bodies but also their souls. She used him as an anchor to keep her grounded through the sensations flooding her as she bit into his vein, and he into hers. A scream almost tore from her as something seemed to cinch them together. They were bound together, bonded in a way they hadn't been before.

It was a bond she felt all the way to the center of her being and she knew nothing could ever tear them apart or sever their tie. It was deeper than marriage, deeper than any human connection she'd ever experienced as she felt their souls melding together and becoming one. She knew now what it was to be a vampire who was mated. He was a part of her for eternity, and she welcomed it more than she had ever welcomed anything in her life.

Devon's fingers entwined with hers as he collapsed beside her on the bed. His emerald eyes gleamed in the dark room; his tussled hair clung to the sweat dampening his forehead. She brushed her fingers over his lips as he kissed them. "I won't let anything happen to you," he vowed.

"I know," she whispered. "You're more stable now that I'm a vampire; you're frightened but more stable."

"You're mine, Cassie."

"I am. I always have been."

"It's different, you understand that now."

She did. She'd loved him as a human, she would have died for him as a human, but the bond was deeper now. The possession and driving urge to make sure he was safe was stronger than it ever had been before. Yes, she understood now what had been going on within Devon when he'd been so unstable around her before. She slid her fingers away from his mouth and kissed him again.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," she murmured against his lips.

"You won't."

"If I do..."

"We will cross that bridge then. For now, let's just get through every day, one day at a time."

He kissed her again. She found her concerns melting away as her fingers curled into the solid flesh of his chest and his hands slid over her skin.

* * *

The loud crash bolted Devon upright in bed. Cassie cried out as she shot up beside him. She continued to try and breathe as disorientation caused her to forget. He grabbed hold of her arms, moving her back as another loud crash rattled the building. "Easy Cassie, easy," he urged. "You aren't human anymore remember."

Her harsh wheezes eased somewhat as shouts erupted from the room next door. "Devon."

"Stay here!" he commanded as he flung back the blankets and leapt out of the bed. He grabbed his jeans off the floor and scrambled to pull them on as he ran toward the adjoining door. He thrust it open, but though the room wasn't in disarray, it was completely bare.

Devon bolted to the open door across the way in time to see Chris, Luther and Melissa running outside. Dani was on the floor beside her brother, but Patrick was nowhere to be seen. Devon couldn't see the damage that had been done to Joey, but the tantalizing scent of blood hung heavily in the air. Julian, Annabelle, and Liam were standing back from the doorway and the deadly rays filtering in.

"You have to go after them!" Annabelle cried. "It was the Halflings!"

Devon cursed as he bolted out the door after Chris's retreating back. From the depths of the woods, he could hear the frightened shrieks of Patrick as he was led further into the shadows of the forest. Drawing on Cassie's blood, Devon poured on the speed, catching up and surpassing the other three as he honed in on his prey.

He grabbed hold of the first Halfling and jerked it back. Picking it up, he heaved the miserable creature against a tree. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the trees, but the creature was still alive as it slumped to the ground and tried to stumble back to its feet. He ignored it though as he rushed forward to take down the other one. He knew, even before he saw it chewing on Patrick's flesh that the man wasn’t going to survive. He felt no remorse over it; he actually felt more remorse about pulling the Halfling off of him and ripping his heart out of his chest.

The creature's mouth parted in surprise, and then tears sprang forth in its eyes. "Thank you."

Devon dropped the heart, disgusted with himself and this hideous situation. "Look out!"

Devon jumped and nearly toppled over as Cassie's voice rang through the forest. He spun around as the other Halfling came at him with a hideous shriek and a severe limp. Over the creature's shoulder he spotted Cassie standing amongst the trees, but he didn't have time to ponder it as he grabbed the final Halfling and drove it into the ground. He twisted its head to the side and swiftly freed it from its neck.

He looked up as Chris and Melissa skidded to a halt behind Cassie. Luther caught up a few seconds later and took a startled step back. Devon could only sit there and gape at her as she took a small step forward. It wasn't till part of her arm disappeared within a tree that he realized it wasn't really her, but a mental version of herself.

"Zane," he whispered.

"Apparently it's not as strong now, or maybe it's because Zane's not near, but I can't touch anything," she said.

"Still freaky." Chris looked as if he'd just swallowed a mouthful of lemon juice as he took a step away from her. Cassie frowned and stuck her tongue out at him. "Just don't do that while I'm in the shower."

"You wish," she retorted.

Chris forced a smile. They both reluctantly turned to look back at Patrick's struggling form. Cassie's eyes burned their hideous red when she caught sight of the mutilation that had been done to the man. The ghostlike version of her crept closer as Devon turned back toward the man bleeding out on the ground. The Halfling had torn at his throat instead of simply sinking into it. Blood stained the ground, but there was a chance Devon could save him. He wasn't going to take that chance. It had only been a matter of time before Patrick would have to die, and he wouldn’t prolong the inevitable.

"Turn away," he ordered briskly.

Patrick began to thrash around on the ground. Strange sounds gurgled out of his throat as Devon knelt at his side. Though the smell of the blood was enticing, and the demon inside of him was excited by it, the last thing he desired was one drop of this man's blood in his system. Patrick strained against him as he placed his hand over his mouth and nose, Patrick's hands fumbled at his arm, but he was already weak and his efforts were futile.

When he was certain the man was dead, Devon removed his hand from his mouth and rose to his feet. He turned to find Cassie's apparition behind his shoulder; she stretched an arm out for him and disappeared from view. Devon didn't look at the others but fled back toward the motel. The last look in her eyes, one of need and hunger, drove him faster than he had ever thought possible.

He slipped into the room to find Dani crying in the corner as Annabelle worked over her brother. Julian was standing in the doorway of the other room, his arms wrapped around Cassie's waist to hold her back. Her eyes were still red as she lifted her head to meet his gaze.

Julian released her and stepped further into the shadows. Cassie let out a soft cry and ran into his arms. His hand entangled in her hair; he lifted her against him and walked her out of the room. He had to get her away from the blood before she snapped. Julian grabbed an armload of blood from a refrigerator in the middle room and followed them. Devon kicked the door shut on the others. He could sense an unraveling in Cassie she wouldn't wish for the others to see. She seized hold of the first bag of blood and downed it eagerly.