Zita was unusually quiet as she packed Soph's bag for her, but Soph, sitting on the bed, picking at the sleeve of her sweater, noted the slightly aggressive way her mother fitted the toiletry bag on the top of the tote.

"I know you don't like him..." she began. "But his place is the best place to be, I think."

"Oh Baby," Zita zipped up the bag and set it aside. "I love him - he's perfect for you. Don't mistake our arguments for dislike. We both want the best for you but just have different ideas on how that looks. As far as potential son-in-laws go, he's very respectful of boundaries, but knows when to be assertive. He's got a fire in his belly, that one."

Soph blinked. "Wow, Mum," she teased. "That's probably the most profound thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth."

Zita snorted. "Baby, you know I don't like projecting opinions; that's your Nona's job. And believe me, all the things I like about Eli are the things she's going to hate."

Soph stared down at her hands. So far she hadn't responded at all to statements about Nona. Secretly, she hoped to never see her grandmother again.

"I'm sorry she chased Dad away," she said softly. "I never knew how much you loved him."

Zita moved along the bed to cup Soph's cheek. "Don't be sorry, you did nothing wrong, Baby. I've never wanted to speak too ill of Ma to you. She loves you and raised you when I was in bad spaces."

Soph looked away and her phone buzzed, saving her from responding. She picked it up to read the message. "Eli's downstairs," she informed Zita. Her mother hefted their bags up.

"Come on, Baby, I'll walk you down."

Eli was waiting in the basement carpark and he got out as Soph and Zita approached.

"I'll clean up the apartment then restock Soph's prescriptions before I head over," Zita said as Eli helped Soph into the car.

"Call ahead," Eli informed her, "and security will get you through."

"Through what?" Soph asked. Eli closed her door and went back to the driver's seat before answering.

"The size of the media pack at my place this week has been astronomical."

"And you hired security?"

They drove up the driveway and into the paparazzi waiting outside Soph's building. They swarmed around, and Soph covered her face with her hands.

"We have a neighbourhood agreement with security. It will be easier to explain when we get there." they cleared the media mob, and the Audi shot off down the street. "I spoke to my lawyers this morning. They've issued initial cease and desists to the bullshit media companies. The first letters aren't usually enough to stop them, so we probably won't see a slowdown in coverage just yet, but they'll serve them by the end of the week."

"It sounds expensive," was all Soph could say. Eli gave her a sideways look.

"I've got more money than they do. If they don't relinquish, I'll tie them down in court costs until they're bankrupt."

Soph nodded and stared out the window. Eli's hand found her thigh and he squeezed gently. "Don't worry, Soph. I'm just giving you a heads up, that's all. Ninety-five percent of the time, the companies settle."

They reached the bay and followed the road that wound around it. Sunlight glistened off the water, and the huge yachts anchored there. Eli slowed as they rounded the last corner before his street and found the army of media trucks, journalists and paparazzi waiting for them. They saw Eli's car and raced forward, but the security was quicker, pushing them back to the sidewalks with riot shields. The Audi roared past, through the roadblock and into the quiet of his neighbourhood.

"How do you keep them all the way back there?" Soph looked through the back window to see the roadblock being closed off.

"Like I said, we have a neighbourhood agreement, whereby we all contribute to keep the media at the end of the street when need be." he pulled into his own driveway and the gate automatically opened.

When he stopped outside the garage and helped Soph out of the car, her ears were met with blessed silence. No family acting like everything was okay, no media demanding her life story. There wasn't even the sound of traffic that was a constant buzz in the city. She exhaled a long, low breath.

The front door opened before they reached it, and Cole stepped out. Soph hadn't seen Eli's companion since he'd assisted her through her withdrawals.

"Miss Sophia," he inclined his head to her. "It's wonderful to see you out of hospital."

"What are you doing here, Cole?" Eli asked, allowing Cole to take one of her bags. Soph didn't miss the edge in his voice. If Cole heard it, he didn't react. Rather, he smiled jovially.

"You haven't been returning my calls, Master Eli."

Eli's jaw worked, but neither of them said anything further as they went inside. In the entrance hall, Cole took charge of Soph's bags and Eli helped her up the stairs to his bedroom. She sank down on the bed, out of breath.

"I'll get you some water," he said, propping the pillows up so she could sit back against them. "Are you ready for more painkillers?"

She shook her head, and he smoothed her hair back from her face. "I hope you can relax here, Soph, and take time to heal."

She watched him go, noting that he closed the door behind him. He never did that. She gave him a minute or two, then eased herself off the bed, cringing at the pain that shot through her body. With each breath hissing through her teeth, she eased the door open and slipped along the hallway to the top of the stairs. Voices were coming from the kitchen. They weren't raised, but they were heated. Holding the railing with a white-knuckled grip, she descended the stairs and approached the kitchen door.

"- not a good time, Cole," Eli growled. He was standing beside the sink, something in his hand, though Cole, with his back to the doorway, blocked Soph's view of whatever it was.

"It's been too long," Cole replied calmly. "Your strength is waning and the witches are closing in. You cannot allow this to lapse any longer."

"But now? Her bloody family is on their way here. Can't it wait a few days?"

Cole shook his head. "Don't allow your feelings for Sophia to cloud your judgement. You're very close to finishing this. Remain focused on the task ahead and you won't have to drag this into another lifetime."

Eli glowered at his companion, but finally he raised his hand so Soph could finally see what he held. An icy chill settled in her stomach as she realised what it was. She stepped into the kitchen, her hand pressed against her shoulder.

"Is that blood?"

Eli started, and Cole turned his head to look at her. "Soph," Eli said, lowering the glass of crimson liquid back to the bench. "Are you okay? Do you need something?"

"Is that blood?" she repeated, closing the gap to the bench. She wanted to sit down - standing for too long made her dizzy - but she felt like this was a moment she shouldn't show weakness. She leaned onto the counter, though, allowing it to take some of her weight.

Eli stared down at the glass of blood, shoulders tight and jaw set. "Yes, it's blood."

"Why is it in a glass?" she pushed. When she'd first met him she'd assumed he drank blood, being a vampire. At his admission of being a witch with vampire powers, she somehow thought that blood wouldn't be necessary. A stupid conclusion, she realised now. Hadn't she needed blood to retain her vampire powers?

"How else would you propose I drink it?" he retorted dryly, gaze remaining down. Soph didn't take her eyes off him, though she was aware that Cole was watching her.

"From a person?"

Eli blanched and pushed the glass away. "I can't do this."

Cole carefully pushed the glass back. "You must. And quickly. The longer you delay, the less potent it is."

With a glance at Soph, Eli lifted the glass once more, this time taking a hard gulp. He slammed it back on the counter and whirled towards the sink, gagging.

Cole watched with a wry smile. "You've lost your tolerance."

"No shit," Eli gasped. He gagged again, but didn't vomit the blood back up. Soph watched with sick fascination and felt a strange jealousy rising within her. Whether he drank from a cup or person, it was still someone else's blood. He turned back to the bench, sweat on his brow, and raised the glass again.

"Why doesn't he drink from a person?" Soph asked Cole as, grimacing, Eli chugged the rest of the blood.

"Personal preference, Miss," Cole informed her.

"No," Eli set the now empty glass down, bracing himself against the bench, knuckles white. Cole shot him a warning look, but Eli continued. "It's fae blood. Easier to get a pint to the human realm than a whole fae."

"Eli!" Cole reprimanded, and Soph didn't fail to notice that he left out the title of 'Master'. Eli snarled at the other man, eyes flashing red.

"Fuck off, Cole. I'm not going to lie to her. If you want it to stay a secret, then you should have picked another god-damned day!"

The stone benchtop cracked under the pressure of his hands and Soph took a startled step back, belatedly remembering that the bench had been the only thing keeping her standing. A wave of fatigue hit her and she swayed, staggering another two steps as she tried to right herself. In a flash Eli had hold of her, then before she could reconcile what was happening, she was sitting in the living area on the plush leather couch. Eli crouched before her, grey eyes sad.

"Sorry, Soph," he whispered. "I never wanted you to see me like this. Cole is right, though. The black witches are getting bold, which means they're likely watching us. It will be better for me to be at full strength." he brushed her hair from her face. The gesture was tender, but she could see the tightness in his jaw, noting the way the tendons in his neck stood out. "I'll be back," he whispered. "I... just need a minute."

In a blur he vanished, the sliding door to the patio slamming shut behind him. Soph reclined into the lounge, pressing her palm to her forehead to stave off the dizziness. There was a shit tonne of information to process, but what demanded her attention most was his admission that the black witches were watching them.

He still thought they were after him, but Soph knew it was really she they sought. A dreadful chill settled over her and she couldn't escape it. Could they get to her here? Even at Eli's?

"Miss Sophia?" She started, craning her head back to find Cole standing behind the lounge. Wariness hit her, warring with the cold. Cole was another mystery. He was definitely more than just Eli's companion. He circled around the couch to stand in front of her, hands clasped behind his back.

"Is Eli okay?" she asked. He nodded, a small smile on his lips.

"He will be fine. He just needs to metabolise." he was quiet for a moment, assessing her. "I wonder, miss Sophia," he continued thoughtfully, "If you might allow me to help along the healing of your shoulder?"

"What? How?"

He didn't crouch to her eye level, and she found the way he remained so stoic rather imposing. But Eli wouldn't leave her if he didn't trust Cole, so she wouldn't raise the alarm just yet. One of his hands disappeared into the breast pocket of his jacket and he withdrew a small vial of blue liquid.

"Pixie wine," he explained. Soph's eyebrows rose.

"Pixie wine? Is this another fae thing?"

"Yes." Cole pulled the cork on the vial and tendrils of sparkling blue vapour rose towards the ceiling. If he could bottle a unicorn, this is what it would be like, Soph decided. Cole held out his hand and Soph took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. "You will need to show me the wound, miss."

Soph pulled the neck of her shirt down over her shoulder, exposing the dressing that covered the hole the stake had left in her. Cole helped her to peel it back.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked as he turned her towards a mirror that hung over a sideboard. The wound was gruesome; still fleshy and pink in the middle, while itchy red scabs and yellow antiseptic cream surrounded it.

"You think I shouldn't?" Cole peeled away the dressing from her back too - revealing a smaller wound where the stake had pierced right through. He withdrew a handkerchief from his breast pocket.

"You weren't impressed when Eli told me about the fae blood." she watched him dip the handkerchief into the pixie wine. Though it looked liquid in the vial, it came away on the cloth like a sparkling blob.

"It's something I believe he should have remained tight-lipped about, yes, but you've proven your trust in keeping his other secrets, so what's one more?" he smiled wryly and dabbed the pixie wine to her back. She couldn't see what was happening in the mirror, but she could feel a pleasant tingling sensation. "I would ask you to keep this secret too. Of course, if you drank the pixie wine, you would be healed instantly. But that would raise questions with your family and doctors that I'd rather we didn't have to blunder around. It would also have some rather... scintillating side effects. But a little applied to the wound..." he moved to her front and dabbed more on her shoulder. She watched, wide eyed, as the scabbing crawled magically over the wound, closing the gaping hole a little more. Blue lines veined faintly over her skin, leaving that delightful tingling in her wake. She rolled her shoulder slightly, amazing to feel only a tightness in it.

"The numbness won't last, unfortunately," Cole explained, recorking the vial and storing it back in his breast pocket. "But it should give you some reprieve, at least for tonight. I'll apply a little more each week and it will heal slowly enough to not arouse suspicion, but fast enough that you should have full mobility in half the time it would take to heal on its own."

"Thank you," Soph said, amazed. She pushed the dressings back over the wound and pulled her shirt back over her shoulder. Cole once more appraised her with a frank look.

"I apologise for my outburst in the kitchen, Miss Sophia. Master Eli has been distracted for some time now, and I felt I had to intervene to keep him focussed."

"Distracted because of me?"

Cole nodded, though he looked apologetic. "This is not a bad thing. It's nice for him to find moments of happiness, but he must also remember that he has a higher calling to protect the powers he holds."

The two of them stared at each other for a long moment. Soph could find no malice in his words, and her wariness of him receded with his amicable treatment of her. "I understand," she told him, and he once more nodded. She wondered if maybe she could ask more questions, but he gestured towards the door to the patio.

"Your mother is on her way. I'll let her in. Why don't you wait by the pool?"

Soph swallowed back her words and nodded. Cole opened the sliding door and she went outside, breathing in the fresh air. Eli wasn't there, but as she moved towards one of the deck chairs, someone else approached.

"Chase!" she gasped as the vampire appeared before her. She hadn't seen him since the building collapse.

"Hello, Soph."