“Your mate, Lilly, I’m your mate.”

“Okay chill out. Geeze, if you are my mate, then you are bound, at some point, to meet him,” she paused before she added, “and if they called the packs, he is probably going to be at the Romanian mansion.”

Cypher’s breath froze in his lungs. He hadn’t expected to have to meet his mate’s former lover in a matter of hours.

“Cypher?” Lilly turned to look at him. “You okay?”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently at first, but then his lips pressed harder and he pulled her tighter. After several minutes, they were both breathing heavily. Lilly blushed as she thought about the others sitting nearby. It felt like any time Cypher’s lips met hers she forgot about everything else.

“You are mine,” he told her firmly.

“Cypher, Dillon has a mate. He isn’t going to try to take me.”

“I need to know that I am not competing with a memory Lilly. I need to know that your heart is yours to give and not in the hands of a man who gave you up.”

Lilly smiled up at him as she ran a finger across his lips.

“You have nothing to worry about, Warlock King. I got my heart back a long time ago and for the first time I’m ready to give it to someone who wants to keep it.”

Cypher pressed his forehead to hers. “Forever?”

“That’s all I’m asking for,” Lilly smiled. “But, I swear if we do this, and then some time down the line some chick comes out of the woodwork claiming to be your woman, I will castrate you. I just need you to know that upfront.”

Cypher cringed. “Then lucky for me there is no woman lurking in my past, or waiting in my future.”

“Good answer,” Lilly kissed him quickly on the lips, and then snuggled into him.

“Sleep little one,” Cypher’s chest rumbled with his words. “Tomorrow is going to be interesting.”

Cyn crept up slowly on the sleeping group. The warlock warriors at her back moved just as silently as she, which surprised her because of their size. She paused when she felt a hand on her arm. She looked over to see Gerick, Cypher’s head warrior, put his finger to his lips. He motioned for the others to surround the sleeping group and Cyn smiled when she saw the mischief in the warrior’s eyes.

“How is it that I have come across so fair a maiden in the woods all alone?” Cyn closed her eyes as she admonished herself. She hadn’t bothered to check if the forms that appeared to be sleeping were really all people.

Thalion wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against his chest.

“I’m glad you made it back safely,” he whispered against her neck.

For just a moment, Cyn relaxed into his hold. For just a moment, she let herself think of what it would be like to be his,but just as quickly, she let it go. She pulled away from him and turned to face him.

“I should have known that someone would be keeping watch.” She had made a rookie mistake and it irked her that Thalion had witnessed it.

“You were just eager to get back to me,” he teased.

“It’s not long until daylight,” she told him, ignoring his jesting. “Have you all come up with a plan?”

“We’re going to the Romanian mansion,” he said, nonchalantly .

Cyn rolled her eyes. “They are on the verge of war with a witch, have twelve packs gathered under one roof and you think you can just march up and ask to break bread with them?”

Thalion thought about it for several minutes. He hadn’t dealt with the wolves much, and the few occasions that he had were a long time ago.

“What should we do?” He asked.

“I’ll go first.”

“No,” Thalion shook his head.

Cyn shrugged. “Too late.” Then she was gone.

Thalion growled in frustration. “Females,” he muttered.

Cypher had heard the sound of his warriors approach, though he kept the pretense of being asleep. His arms were wrapped securely around Lilly, who, to his amusement, was snoring loudly. He waited until finally Gerick stepped in close enough. He moved swiftly grabbing the warrior’s ankle and tossing him back. Gerick landed on the ground with a loud thud and a gasp as the wind was knocked out of him.

Cypher smiled at his general. “Gerick,” he nodded.

“My King,” Gerick coughed as he climbed to his feet. Gerick made a motion with his hand. Silently, Cypher’s warriors stepped forward from the trees.

“Nice work,” Thalion said, as he walked back into the circle. He made a series of clicking noises and suddenly the sky was raining elves as they fell from the tree tops.

Cypher looked up at the Elf Prince, who shrugged. “You never know who might be lurking in the woods.”

Cypher laughed. “True enough.”

The morning light began to break through the heavy covering of the trees and Lilly finally began to stir. She yawned and blinked a few times. Her eyes widened as she saw eyes, lots of them, staring at her.

“Cypher?” She sat up and pushed away from his chest.

“Lilly, these are my warriors,” he motioned to the large men staring at her.

“Why are they staring at me?” She asked, as she tried to smile and look friendly.

“They’re curious about you. I’ve just told them that you are my mate and human.”

“Hi,” Lilly said, weakly as she waved.

A few gave her smiles. Others continued to stare at her as if she were a bug they were trying to visually dissect.