Quetz kept the cup down and started out in the garden. 'Soon…' He liked his human form, but he preferred being the dragon he was. And anyways this wasn't his plan either. Brantley had already given him the deadline for staying in this world.

'Sooner, the better,' Dawn said. She sensed Cole's attraction towards Quetz and it was something she didn't approve of. Quetz belonged to the enchanted forests, a magical world that wasn't known to humans, and the last thing that Dawn wanted was Cole getting heartbreaks. He was about to get in high school and she was sure that he would find his soulmate in a human.

​​

Quetz nodded. He got up from there and left with one hand in his pocket and the other holding the fresh cup of coffee. Her eyes traveled to the two men. They were still in deep conversation about rugby teams.

"Where is Ileus these days?" asked Gayle. "I haven't heard about him for a long time. Has he not been playing?"

"The last I heard was he was chasing demons. I heard that some have been let loose from the eighth realm of hell. He has gone after them hoping to seal them back in their place."

Dawn stared at Daryn. Hell existed? Demons existed? Damn! She was so new to this world. What was going around her? From the corner of her eyes, she saw Pia coming down and she winced. Daryn looked in the direction of Dawn's source of discomfort and a muscle feathered in his jaw.

"How are you doing Daryn?" asked Pia in a honeyed voice. She paced fast to go to him.

Daryn gave her a chilling look, which made her stop in her tracks. She pursed her lips and then sat opposite to Gayle on a plush sofa. Gayle didn't show interest in her arrival and picked up a business magazine from the table. Her disposition, the last time they were together was horrible. He just walked out from there.

Pia turned her neck delicately to look at the two of them. As her eyes darted between them, she raised her eyebrow and asked again, "Well, how is my brother-in-law doing?"

"I am well," he said.

"Who are the vampires in the Steelglades team?" She tried to dig the information.

"How would I know?" Daryn shrugged, totally uninterested in her. He started to leave.

"So what have you thought about the pregnancy, Daryn?" said Pia, stopping Daryn.

He glared at her. "What do you mean?"

"This pregnancy is not normal. Dawn is going to face some serious trouble in the clan. If the elders will come to know, they are going to protest."

"I think the elders are going to welcome it."

"This is a huge mistake. They will alienate you from our clan and never accept your child," Pia spewed venom.

With a hiss, Daryn closed his fists. He was ready to spring for her and gouge her throat.

"I can get you away from here if you want to continue with the pregnancy and childbirth. Else if you don���t want to continue, I can help you with an abortion," she said as she caressed her fingernails with her thumb.

The curtains in the window fluttered and a chilly breeze blew, trying to bring in more fog.

"If you say one more word about my child, I am going to forget that you are Caleb's wife," said Daryn with a voice laced with anger. He knew that he couldn't stay quiet if Pia continued with her poisonous words and he might end up injuring her. He turned to Dawn and said, "Let's go."

"I might be sounding harsh, but trust me all I am trying to do is save you from committing this mistake. You need to see past the drive to protect your pregnant mate and think of the whole clan. Will this be right for them?"

Dawn wore a pensive expression and then tapped her fingers on the table. "I don't know about the elders, but I feel it is you who is most upset. Maybe you should start with some fertility pills. Make your own baby and then we will discuss this thing further." Dawn sighed at the way she talked to Pia. She wasn't so bitchy and most people liked her, but she couldn't let this tramp step on her joy. This woman stirred so many negative emotions in her that she had this gnawing urge to scratch her eyes off her.

'Even I want to do that,' came Daryn's voice through their mind link. For a long time they had been practicing to communicate the thoughts between just the two of them. They weren't sure whether their formula worked on not but they did try doing it often.

Pia stifled a scowl. She gritted her teeth and her eyes narrowed. "Stop being so proud. You look foolish!" she spat.

Dawn scoffed. "Look Pia, I don't want to argue with you. You can do whatever you like, go to the elders, go to the council, or go to God himself, for all I care. Just stay away from me, or better would be, don't talk to me."

"You can't win here Dawn," she said. "A true Luna is the one who can walk proudly with her Alpha and give him proper heirs. Being you…" she shrugged, "being a neotide, you neither a proper Luna, nor are you going to give birth to a pureblooded Lykae." Her smile was never so pleasant.

Dawn laughed. She had to stop Daryn from lunging at her. "From what I see, it is you who had to prove yourself. If you can't accept what is happening, maybe go back to Caleb and discuss things with him, or simply leave the mansion – you know, for mental peace."

Daryn rose from his chair and crossed his hands across his chest. "You heard what my woman said, so get lost!" He looked at Dawn and pointed her to leave with his chin. She came to him, held his hand and they walked out to the gardens. There was so much tension in the atmosphere that both of them wanted to feel better.

Pia was left staring at them. She picked her phone and dialed a number.

The mist in the garden had increased, as the night fell. "Why is she so terrible?" Dawn asked as she walked with her head leaning on her husband's arm.

"Forget about her." He pressed her hand. "If you like we can go back to the Silver Arcade. We are going to be away from this antagonism."

She shook her head. "If someone has to leave, then it would be Pia, not me."

Daryn grinned. "That's like my girl." He stopped and cupped his hand around her petite face. "You are lovely and brave," he said staring in her eyes.

She smiled and before she could smile fully, he pressed a kiss on her plump lips. She gave into that kiss of assurance.

They walked further into the mist. It was chilly. "I was thinking of spending the rest of the vacation at home, but now I would like to resume work," said Dawn.

"But I want you to take rest baby," said Daryn as he inhaled the fresh scent of river breeze.

"I will rest better in the office. There's a lot of pending work left. The Starfish Refineries…"

"Oh! I forgot to mention," Daryn cut in.

"What?"

"I bought a large number of its shares while we were on our honeymoon!"