By the afternoon Terrance has called the council members for an update on the Melody situation. Again the ballroom is prepared for every single member of the three councils and again we sit and wait for the member of Rostonin to show. But of course, they do not, and now I know why. They are guilty of their crimes and are too scared to turn up. Everyone is relieved that Melody is dead, she is no longer a threat. One person even said that Godfrey should have killed her long ago and the normally quiet Miranda spoke and said that Godfrey would do no such thing.

After the meeting, everyone stayed for light refreshments, the maids and the butlers scurrying around, feeding the masses. I had managed to lose Alex somewhere in the crowd, I searched for him, feeling uneasy around so many hungry vampires and Finn. He had watched me throughout the entire meeting, but never spoke to me, which I found odd.

"Who you looking for girlfriend?"

I spin around and see Miranda.

"Alex."

"He left a few minutes ago." she says taking my hand, pulling me out of the ballroom.

In the quiet of the entry, she pauses and frowns, pulling my hand up the stairs towards his bedroom. She moves quicker, almost making me run, panic begins to set in as I think that he might be in danger. The main doors to his room fly open with one movement of her hand and when we get into the central room, I sink to my knees unable to cope with what I see.

"You are unbelievable; you know that?" Miranda hisses at him. "You just can't control yourself, can you?"

He quickly does up his pants, pushing aside the vampire kneeling at his feet. Miranda lifts me to my feet, I have no tears, I have no words. His promises of fidelity mean nothing. She drags me out of his room and before I know it we are passing through the entry. In the blur of people, I make one face out, Finn. His expression sad, almost like he knows. Baby, I am so sorry he whispers to me.

When the blur settles, I am surrounded by trees. She takes my hand, interlocking my fingers with hers, pulling me down a path.

"I am going to give you some time away, peace and quiet, away from him. I think you need it."

The path stops at a rock face, towering high above the canopy. She holds out her hand and a gold fire appears on her palm, receding into a key. Facing the rock wall, a little fire outlines a rectangle shape and she puts the key into the wall, a key hole appears. A section of the wall opens; a door has been created. More trees are beyond the rock face, the path continues.

"This is Loach Issralk, the new realm that Godfrey has been creating for the shape shifters. There is no one here yet, you will be alone, there are animals here, but they are all placid creatures, nothing to fear. At the end of the path there is a cabin, you can stay there, the fridge is full of food, there are clothes, anything you may need."

As she hugs me, pulling me tight against her body, I feel a gust of cool wind pass us. I close my eyes, trying so hard to feel something, feeling like I should be upset, angry at him, but I have nothing.

"Maybe a week?"

I nod.

"If you want to come back earlier you can call me."

"How, in your mind?"

"No, we cannot speak in our minds from realm to realm." she pulls my wrist turning it over exposing my mark.

"Your other hand, two fingers, press down on it like this until the colour appears, you will need to be in the elements like I was that day in the lake, ok?"

I nod.

"You will then be able to speak with me in your mind. If I do not hear from you, I will be back in a week."

"What about Alex?"

She frowns.

"I am going to have words with him."

She gestures to the door.

"Go, have a holiday. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the Loach Issralk realm."

I step through the doorway, watching as the rock face closes, wondering if this is such a good idea.

"It is always a good idea, to get away from those who hurt you."

I spin around, instantly recognising the voice. He leans on a tree, watching me. Finn.

"What are you doing here?"

He shrugs, getting off the tree, moving closer to me.

"I saw Miranda pulling you through the entry, the look on your face, Alex at the top of the stairs, followed by the blonde vampire. Wasn't hard to figure out. I followed you. Once I saw her open the door, I knew this was the entry to the new realm."

"But why did you come in here? This was supposed to be about peace and quiet."

"A week alone with just your thoughts? To think about your cheating boyfriend? Sounds rather dull to me, why not spend a week with someone that wants to be with you?"

I look at my wrist, wondering if I could call her standing here.

"Don't call her, seriously Stephanie, just spend the week here, you will enjoy it, I promise."

He takes my hand and entwines his fingers in mine. Give him permission the wind whispers.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make the wind talk to me."

"I can't do that." he grins, frowning slightly. "Wind whispering to you, is it?"

I nod.

"What's it saying?"

"To give you permission."

He pulls my hand, moving me into his body.

"Do you know who the wind is?" he whispers in my ear.

"No." my voice breathy, unable to cope with his proximity.

"Godfrey."

"You lie; this is all a trick."

"No, Stephanie it is not a trick, yes I can speak in your mind, yes I can block others out and yes I can give you erotic dreams and make you orgasm without touch but I cannot make the wind speak for me."

"So Godfrey wants me to spend the week having sex with you?"

He laughs.

"I would think that he wants you to have some time away, relax and enjoy yourself. He knows that you have needs, that you lust for a bit of wolfy." he smirks. "What have you got to lose? No one knows I am here and I do remember that you said to Alex last night eye for an eye."

"But he will read my mind, he will know. I'm surprised he hasn't found out about the night of the meeting."

Finn grins, obviously remembering that night, and just like me, he did truly crave another moment in my arms.

"Before this week is out, you will know how to lock your thoughts."

He pulls me down the path, a bird flitters past in the gentle breeze. I feel calm already, this place is so serene and perfect.

"When I have something that I do not want anyone to know, I put them in boxes. Not ordinary boxes, special boxes. You should remember that all groups of the dark beings can enter minds."

He wraps my arm behind him, around his waist, his arm then moves to my shoulder.

"Now you know that vampires can be killed by a stake to the heart, right?"

I nod.

"The yew tree in fact, so to stop all groups from finding out what it is, I make boxes, wood from the yew tree, silver and iridium. Placing them within each other, the final fourth box, thick steel with a massive lock on it, that stops the witches." he scoffed.

"Witches?" I gasp.

"Yeah." he frowned with squinted eyes. "You've never come across a witch?"

I shake my head.

"Strange. Although... you probably have and didn't know it, it isn't obvious like us wolves and our eyes."

We stop at the end of the path, the little wooden cabin at its end just as Miranda said.

"So, the boxes. In your case, hiding this from Alex, I would bury the box under a yew tree."

He pulls my hair behind my ear.

"I know this is a rebound thing, that you shouldn't be even considering it, but I ask you to give me permission."

His lips hover just above mine, waiting for me to give my answer. I stare at those blue eyes, so full, the pupil a tiny sliver of black.

"Yes."

His lips press on mine as he pulls me against his body, deeply kissing me. Before I know it I am being pushed up a tree, his body heavy on mine.