Devon stepped around the back of the tree and folded his arms over his chest as he watched Cassie safely disappear inside her house. The door closed behind her, the click of the lock drifted to him even at his distance of two hundred feet. Crossing his legs, he leaned against the tree, prepared to stay there for the entire night.

He wasn't going to leave her unprotected until he knew who it was that had been in the woods tonight. He knew what it was, as he had recognized one of his kind immediately. He also knew they were hungry, powerful, and bloodthirsty. He'd felt the intense desire the creature had directed at Cassie which led him to believe it was a male.

Anger bristled through him as he shifted uncomfortably. He didn't care for anyone else looking at her, or desiring her in such a way, let alone someone who wanted to destroy her. As soon as he found who was out there, he was going to destroy them. They couldn't be allowed to roam free, not in this town, and not with Cassie present. They would go for her, and he could not have that. No one was going to touch her, and absolutely no one was going to taste her blood, or turn her.

She was his, and as long as he was alive he would keep her safe from any harm, including himself.

His canines pricked, they felt heavy and razor-sharp as his thoughts turned to feeding. He'd had no time to hunt tonight, not food anyway, as he'd been too busy trying to find the creature stalking the town. Now, with thoughts of Cassie on his mind, the hunger sparked to life with a vengeance. He ran his tongue over his teeth, surprised to find they had lengthened on their own. He usually had control over such a thing, unless he was extremely hungry, or primed for the kill.

He ran his hand absently through his hair and tugged at the ends of it. It was going to be a tiring night, as he didn't intend to leave in order to satiate his thirst. The light in her room flicked on. Anticipation clutched at him as she moved in front of the window, and her lithe body was outlined by the curtains. She leaned into the open window and rested her arms on the window as she peered outside. He knew she couldn't see him but he slid into the shadows behind the large oak once more.

When he came back around, she'd disappeared from view. He leaned against the tree, trying not to think about what he was doing at the moment. In all his seven hundred and fifty-two years, he'd never thought he would be standing outside of a girl's room, watching her, keeping her safe. Humans were only good to feed off of, to hunt, to stalk, and he hadn't done that in over a hundred years so he'd simply taken to avoiding temptation.

His gaze drifted back to the window. She wasn't in view anymore, but the knowledge she was there was enough. His thoughts wandered to Luther as he tried to find a comfortable position. It was the first time he'd seen the strange man Cassie had spoken of in her dream. Confusion twisted through him as he recalled the peculiar, thin man, standing in the shadows of the restaurant. Why did Luther have such influence over her, such an effect on her, on all of them?

Devon's hands clenched on his arms as he recalled the confusion and disquiet that had eclipsed her in their dream, recalled her hesitance when she'd spoken of Melissa's father. Tonight, the minute the man had appeared they'd all followed him back to his house. A house they spent a fair amount of time at, a strange amount of time at.

What the hell was going on with them?

He dropped his head into his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he thought over all of the odd things circling around the three, no four, of them. A strange niggling began to take hold of him. It was all irritatingly confusing. Frustration filled him; he was so close to putting a finger on it, yet the answer continued to elude him.

Lifting his head, he frowned as the light in her room went out, though the flicker of the TV could still be seen. Glancing over at Chris's house, he was surprised to find he appeared to be staying home tonight. After a few minutes the light in his room went out also.

Devon shoved aside all his doubts and questions as he slid from the shadows of the trees and moved amongst the shadows across her open yard. Not fully understanding what drove him, and unwilling to think about how she would react, he grasped hold of the tree he'd watched Chris climb before. He made his way quickly up the branches with the agility and grace that only one of his kind could possess. He paused outside her window, unsure of what he'd been thinking, or what to do. He just knew he had to see her again.

There was something out there thirsting for her. Something that desired to take her away from him, and he couldn't have that. That knowledge spurred him into action; he couldn't be separated from her any longer. Not pausing to think about it, he rapped on the window.

His breath caught when she appeared before him, a golden angel silhouetted against the dark night. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders in thick waves that framed her exquisite face. The blue t-shirt she wore fell to mid thigh, and bared the creamy skin of her legs. His baser instincts leapt to life, his mouth watered as his hands clenched the tree branch. This was quite possibly the biggest mistake he'd ever made, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when he got to look at her like this.

Her astonishing eyes widened on him, her rosebud mouth parted as she stared at him. Then she was unlocking the window and sliding it up as she leaned toward him. Her sweet scent of strawberries and spices assailed him, the beat of her heart pounded in his ears, instantly arousing his ever present hunger whenever she was near.

"Devon." Her husky voice caused a small shiver to run down his spine.

He'd felt her desire for him before, but it was stronger tonight, deeper and more urgent. He didn't know where it had come from, what had caused it, but he wasn't sure he could resist it. His hand clenched around the branch, he had to stop himself from tearing it from the tree as he fought the urge to seize hold of her and ease the burning hunger raging through him.

This had been a mistake; he never should have come here, not as tumultuous and unsettled as he was. He could hurt her; he would hurt her if he lost control. He knew he should go but he didn't move. He couldn't leave her.

She took a small step back and turned to allow him access to her room. He hesitated, knowing that if he went through the window there would be no turning back. If he entered her room, he knew he would never be able to separate from her again. And he didn't care. He didn't care about anything but being with her.

He moved swiftly through the window and rose slowly to his full height before her. The glow from the television played over her perfect features, robbing him of all reason as he simply gazed at her, unable to move. He sensed a strange vulnerability about her tonight, a wealth of sadness he'd never felt before. He didn't know what had happened with Luther, but it had troubled her greatly.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, slightly breathless.

He didn't know what he was doing here; he just knew this was where he was supposed to be. Where he was always supposed to be. "I had to see you," he said honestly.

He smoothly wrapped his hand around the back of her head. The feel of her instantly pacified the raging beast clamoring loudly inside him. Relief filled him as he pulled her against him and her body melded against his, fitting perfectly, completing him.

Relief filled him as his fingers slid through her silken hair and he caressed the back of her head. He had to remember to be careful around her, remember to pretend to breathe, and to keep her away from his nonexistent heartbeat. He had to remember to be gentle, to keep his strength restrained so as not to harm her. But he found it difficult to concentrate on such things whenever he was around her.

"Cassie." He dropped his head into her hair and nuzzled her.

A fiery ache for her spread through his whole body. His grip on her tightened as his body hardened against hers. Her arms wrapped around him, clinging to him as her fingers dug into his back. He didn't know how long he held her, simply taking pleasure in the feel of her. The rightness of her body against his robbed him of all sense and reason. Time had no meaning in heaven, and he knew this was as close to heaven as he was ever going to get in his world of death and destruction.

The flow of the moonbeam made him realize it was getting late. He didn't wish to leave her, but he couldn't keep her up all night. She needed her rest, needed her sleep. She was far more fragile than he was. She was a breakable, mortal human. The thought seized hold of him and sent a bolt of bloodlust surging through him.

His fangs sprang free. Shaking, unnerved, he struggled to keep the demon inside of him caged. It was bursting to sink its teeth into her, to drain the sweet blood pounding deliciously through her veins. It clamored to deplete her, to make her immortal and strong, his forever.

A tremor wracked through him. "Devon," she murmured.

He realized his hold upon her had become painful. She didn't strain against him though, and didn't complain. He fought to regain control and not to think about the appealing blood he could hear pumping through her veins. He knew she would be astonishing, a powerful rush unlike any he'd ever known.

The temptation was so overwhelming he dropped his head to the side of her neck. The enchanting smell of her blood assailed him. The bloodlust shook him, the beast screamed to be appeased by her. His lips pulled back. His teeth were throbbing with their compulsion to pierce her.

"Devon?"

A tremor tore through him again, shaking him. He could not be denied, he would not be denied, and then she caressed him. Her delicate fingers stroked over his back as they calmed the beast inside of him. He shuddered and buried his head in the side of her neck as he grappled to regain control of himself. Reason began to return as her soothing touch gradually returned the monster to its cage.

What had he been thinking? He'd been about to condemn her to his world. He'd been about to take the radiance from her, rob her of her purity and goodness. He had to get away from her and stay away from her. She rocked his self restraint, his control, and in his world those were two things he had to keep under wraps, or he would kill someone.

Shuddering, he slid his fingers through her hair once more. He would watch over her until the threat was gone, but he couldn't be near her anymore, couldn't hold her again. The thought tore through him with a burning rage that seared the inside of him and left ashes in its wake. He felt the loss acutely, even though he still held her against him.

She tilted her head up, her beautiful face shook him completely and left him lost to her forever. He knew he could leave her, he could go to the opposite side of the world, but she would be with him for eternity. She would remain burned into his heart, his thoughts, and every fiber of his being.

"I should go." His voice was strained, but he'd regained most of his control.

The longing in her eyes was almost more than he could stand. "Don't."

He blinked in surprise, not sure what to say or do. Her dark lashes lowered over her eyes as heat flared through her creamy cheeks. A low groan issued from him. Her eyes were hesitant and shy as they came back to his. Her sweet simplicity was heart wrenching. She was far too good for him and everything he was.

When he didn't speak, her face flushed redder, and fire climbed high into her cheekbones. "I uh… I didn't mean…"

Her voice trailed off, she ducked her face, hiding it from him. Brushing back her silken hair, he felt the heat of her skin against his palms as he cupped her face tenderly. Her eyes flitted up to his. "I know," he said, hoping to ease some of her embarrassment. "I know what you meant."

He traced his thumb over her lip, relishing in the supple fullness of it. He could stay with her, lie beside her, and keep her safe as he held her through the night. He could control himself for that. He could give himself this, and then he would leave tomorrow. Even as he thought it, he knew he was lying to himself.

He was not going to leave her. It would never happen. His feelings for her were too strong, too powerful, and he was acutely aware he knew what they meant. That he knew what she was to him now, what she would always be, and how this would all end. He just didn't like to think about it, because the ending was something he didn't want for her. The ending was something she wouldn't want for herself, and he hated he may end up forcing his life on her. For now, he simply needed to hold her and protect her and keep her safe.

He would just have to learn to control himself around her, and he would have to make sure he was well sated whenever she was near. But he couldn't leave her; he didn't think he could survive if he was unable to touch her, to know she was safe and with him.

"Beautiful," he whispered. Her lashes swept the delicate curve of her cheek as she ducked her face once more. He nudged her chin up again. When her eyes met his, he bent slowly in order to give her time to come to her senses and flee while she still could.

She didn't move, didn't breathe as his lips brushed over hers in a butterfly caress that nearly shattered him. The touch of her lips healed every broken bit of him. It soothed the loneliness of his life and helped him to forget the ruin his existence had created. Though she didn't make right the many deaths that stained his soul, she greatly eased the suffering residing permanently inside him.

He deepened the kiss, needing more of her as warmth suffused him. Whiteness embraced his essence, pushing out the black as his tongue explored the heady recesses of her mouth. He was trying not to rush, trying not to scare her, but he hungered for more. He hungered for all of her.

Pulling away, he fought to regain control as he met her bewildered gaze. She lifted her fingers to her mouth and touched them to her lips in awe. "Are you ok?" he asked worriedly, frightened he’d gone to fast and scared her.

She smiled tremulously. "Yes."

He clutched her to him again as he struggled to maintain restraint. "It's late, you should lie down," he ground out. She gave a small nod, but didn't look at him again. "Come on."

He led her over to the bed. The blankets were pulled back from where she had lain before he arrived. He fought the urge to crawl into the bed beside her and hold her close. Sliding her legs onto the bed, the t-shirt she wore pulled back to reveal a mouth watering view of her creamy thigh. Devon stiffened as more than just bloodlust tore through him. Then she looked at him again, her face was beet red, and her innocence was almost intolerable.

Lifting her hand to him, she moved over. "Lie with me for a little bit."

For a moment he could almost feel his heart trip hammering, almost feel it turning over in his chest with a violent slam that shook the place where it had once beat. She was testing the very limits of his control, nearly destroying the small thread he still had upon his self restraint. Then her gaze darted to the window, and her forehead creased as she gazed at the dark night.

He searched for any hint of a threat with his far superior eyes, and with every ounce of his vast power. He knew the monster was still out there, but he couldn't sense it now. It was either far away, or it was strong enough to mask itself at a distance. His stomach turned. Though he was more powerful than most vampires in existence, Cassie was not. The idea of something that strong out there pursuing her, made the decision for him.

Turning from the window, he kicked his sneakers off. She slipped further over as he climbed onto the bed beside her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her down. She curled up like a sweet kitten against his side, nuzzling him as her hand rested upon his chest. He grasped hold of her hand, keeping it away from the empty hollowness of where his heart should beat and pressed it against his abdomen.

Devon was unable to relax due to the fire burning through him. He stared unseeingly at the pictures flickering across the TV, soon her breathing evened out, and her hand relaxed against his. Her trust in him was absolute as she gave herself over to him in her most vulnerable stage. He didn't deserve her trust, if she knew what she was curled up beside she would probably run screaming into the night.

It was something he would have to make sure never happened. He couldn't lose her, nor could he shatter her innocence by being the one to tell her the world was truly cold, heartless, and filled with real monsters.

Maybe he could just tell her…

He instantly squashed the thought. How could he shatter her innocence? He couldn't, and even if he did, what guarantee did he have she would stay with him? He was a monster. Why would anyone stay with a beast?

He wasn't strong enough to leave her, and he was too much of a coward to risk losing her. He had done many awful things in his life, but this was by far the worst.