I broke eye contact with Marcus just in time, looking over his shoulder. My other beloved had his fire engulfed arm raised, ready to burn Marcus to a crisp.

I bet he could sear up some really good steaks. No, now is not the time.

"Stop," I yelled, my voice cracking in desperation. Marcus was on his feet in an instant, using his body- his very muscled, mouth watering body- to shield me.

"You heard her Clent, stand down. You don't want to challenge me. She's mine," Clent growled, but didn't say anything, "and she's yours too apparently. Just calm down." It seemed as if the roles had reversed. Before I thought Marcus was the hothead, but now that he was in control of his beast, he seemed to be the level headed one. Clent, as Marcus called him, was the literal hothead.

It took a tense moment of silence, but Clent's flames eventually died down, the temperature plummeting. I blew out a breath, my head slightly pounding from Confusion Syndrome; it had to be a real thing.

"I'm sorry," Clent said, running a hand through his unruly locks. I looked to Marcus, gauging if he would forgive his....I was unsure of their relation. When the silence stretched on again, I figured Marcus was holding a grudge until a throat clear, drawing my attention.

"I know you might still fear me, but I-I forget myself sometimes, loose myself to the flames. Please forgive me, My Flamour."

I was startled. He was talking to me?

"Oh-I...I thought you were talking to him. I forgive you," I said without hesitation. He smiled and I stared for as long as I could go undetected, my brain taking a mental picture.

"So I don't get an apology?" Marcus joked, draining the remaining tension. He plopped down heavily on the leather couch.

"Hell no. You're a tough bastard," Clent scoffed.

"More like a bear," another man commented, strolling into what I assumed was the living room. He entered from a dark grey door in the back of the room near a steel book shelf. It blended in with the wall and when closed, the handle was the only indication there was a door there.

It was the Questria from before.

If my vampire wasn't dormant, my eyes would be red and my fangs elongated. I still growled at him with all the venom I could muster. "Where. Is. Alaric?"

The white haired male blinked at me. Once. Twice. Then grinned. "Oh you mean your innocent Beloved?" he asked, his tone amused. "The little rat is getting what he deserves for running away. Surely he had to know that house rats don't survive on the streets."

I lunged at him, a possessiveness overpowering me. I could feel my monster finally peak open an eye. Aggression was definitely it's thing. I, however, usually am laid back, just writting or reading my heart out.

Marcus caught me around the waist, his touch slightly calming me. "He doesn't mean it," he told me lowly, then spoke loud enough for that Mr. Snow White to hear. "You don't mean that right, Casbian?"

Casbian opened his mouth to no doubt talk more shit about Alaric, but Clent stopped him, the heat rising. "Don't you fucking dare. You would have done the same thing."

"No I-"

"Just go get them. We need to have a family meeting," Marcus said calmly, cutting off his objections. Casbian gave me a glare that said "this isn't over," then stomped away to go get whoever he was supposed to get. One of them better had be Alaric or I swear. I didn't know their history with him, but whatever it was it didn't sound good. I just hopped that Alaric wasn't at fault.

"I know you're confused, but don't worry. We'll explain it all soon," Marcus told me, his lips brushing my ear as he still held me from behind. I reveled in the press of his body against mine, but it was background music to the wild roaming in my head.

I inspected the room were in. The wall opposite of the couch was a rough, rocky texture, different shades of blacking making it look real. There was a sleek, flatscreen tv resting in the wall, but it remained off. The floor was a light grey wooden pattern, not quite like marble, that stretched up to the ceiling in some areas. The rest of the celings was a basic grey so light it looked almost white with discreet panel lights built in. Everying was so smooth and slick. So manly. A wall of glass closed off another section of the room, appearing to be a dinning room. There were so many different shades of grey and black and white, but they all complimented each other.

I prayed to the stars that this was real and not just a figment of my imagination. I was so very tired of being alone.

〰〰〰〰〰〰〰

I had began nodding off, curled into the warmth of Clent when a door banged open. I was suddenly wide awake as I scanned the room. There he was, lip busted and left eye black. I got up and ran to Alaric, throwing my arms around his neck and almost sobbing. I don't know why, but I had been so drawn to his purity, like a moth to a flame. So when it was gone, I felt...empty.

"J-June," he stuttered, his voice weak. He was happy to see me no doubt, but the way he said my name was sad. I pulled back so I could look into his eyes.

"You're hurt," I stated. Alaric shook his head.

"A-ashamed." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he stopped meeting my eyes.

"What do you mean-"

"He outta' to ashamed," the asshole sneered. That was it, I had enough. Marching up to the prick, I shoved at his chest.

"What is your problem?!" I yelled incredulously, my anger spiraling out of control.

"What's my problem?!" He asked in disbelief, some of his own anger showing. "Oh I'll tell you my problem," he said menacingly taking a step towards me with every word while I took one back. "My problem is that my brother and I took care of that spoiled rat and treated him like a younger brother, taught him everything he needed to know and more. I fought off bullies and fed him, but that wasn't enough. No, he just had to run away for 10 years, leaving me to think he was dead in a ditch somewhere. I spent 10 years of my life hating myself because I thought I was to blame. Look at him, he can barely talk." My back hit the wall, Casbian's pain practically squeezing my heart.

"I sorry. I didn't-" I tried but he cut me off.

"Maybe I was too harsh. Maybe I wasn't a good enough big brother. Maybe he wanted the freedom I didn't grant him. Maybe the monsters under his bed became more than just a folktale." I shook my head. It was too much.

"Stop. Please stop," I whispered, my voice cracking.

Ignoring me, Casbian went on, pushing his emotions at me in waves. "Maybe he missed the mom he never knew or better yet, the step dad that beat him until he swam in his own blood. Maybe-"

"ENOUGH!" Clent boomed, his voice making the ringing in my ear pause. I didn't realize tears were steaming down my face until Casbian wiped them away gently.

Leaning towards my ear, his mint breath brushing my cheek, he whispered just low enough for only me to hear...

"It's the closest ones to you that cause you the most pain, My Star."