I felt emotionally drained. My whole body trembled, but I had to force a smile as strangers came up to me to shake my hand. I was quickly thankful that the gloves had been dropped off to me. Familiar faces hung back, letting the strangers talk my ear off and make me even more insecure.

An hour later after the first wave of socialization dissipating, my seven friends approached. "You made my cry," Cora cursed, shaking her head.

Sure enough, her and Kalliope's eyes were both red and puffy. I did my best not to focus on it as Mylo stepped close enough for me to curl up against him for comfort. Maya raised a knowing-brow with a half smirk, but Mylo frowned as he looked down at me worried. "You're shaking like a leaf in a hurricane," he sighed, my public need to cling to him caused alarm bells to go off for him. "Want to get out of here?" He offered me.

"That was really beautiful, Mikael would have been proud, "Saleh spoke up, oblivious to our side conversation.

"You did really well, Leena, despite throwing me under the bus." Kane teased, his hand and Maya's laced together. "You do need to stop calling me by my last name though."

"Ya, what do you do that?" As Maya spoke, I started to notice how different she was. She stood taller, had her hair pulled back instead of hiding behind it. Confidence and grace radiated off of her; she had grown up a lot in the last year.

The more I inspected her, the only thing I noticed was her picking at the skin around her nails until they bled. If Kane noticed, he'd hold her hand instead. "Leena?" Mylo asked in a concerned tone, evidently, my staring hadn't gone unnoticed.

I shook my head and forced a smile. "Sorry, hasn't Kane told you? He's a cop."

"Cop?" Maya shook her head and I glanced around to see if anyone understood me.

"The fuzz, po-po, Five-O?" I offered.

Kane was nearly bent in half as he laughed, "Where on Earth did you learn your slang? Old movies?"

I blinked, cheeks going red, "Just what some people cursed under their breaths," I admitted.

"What is happening?" Saleh mumbled to Thalian as she glanced between us.

"They have history, speak a different language. Eventually, they move on or explain themselves."

"Okay so-" I began

"Here we go," Thalian smirked.

"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to answer Maya's question!" This wasn't helping my anxiety which continued to grow as soft music started to play from the stage. "Kane and I met when he was a very powerful man-"

Kane jumped in to start teasing me, "You saying I am not now?"

I glanced up to Mylo for help as I curled up more against him, he frowned, opening his mouth and closing it again. It was obvious he wanted to help but didn't know how. The others were having a good time at my expense and it seemed like Mylo and I were the only ones not laughing along. "Oi, stop. I want to hear this, Lee ain't never tell us about herself." Kalliope interjected and smiles faded.

You didn't have to know Kalliope to know better than cross her. She was the most terrifying nice person you'd ever meet. "His lifestyle demanded respect, then he helped me get here, purely out of the goodness of his heart and he left everything behind. He had the option to go home when I met Thalian, but he wanted to stay and help me, help all of us. I call him Kane because Ethan makes him human and he is so much more than that."

The group smiled again, this one a genuine one, Kane turned a bit red, "Well said." Thalian complimented me.

Mylo leaned in to kiss the top of my head and I felt a hand on my arm and I was jerked out of his. "Hey!" It was Kalliope, stepping away from Cora with a finger in the air. The woman was as short as me, twice as wide, but she demanded respect. "I don't know you so you keep your hands and eyes where we can all see them and off my Lee until you earn her."

"Kalli," Cora whined like an embarrassed child.

Mylo looked at me and I stared at the ground as I focused only on my breathing, my hands clenched into fists because of her tight grip. "...Yes Ma'am," he said slowly as I stared at the blades of grass moving in the night air.

"Ma'am?" Kalliope scoffed. "Ain't no need to try to butter me up, it won't work. Tell Lee how beautiful she is and treat her like the queen she is." Thalian, Kane, and Maya all laughed; Kalliope didn't know the accuracy behind her royalty comment. "Did I say something funny?"

Shaking his head, Thalian was grinning. "It is a long story," he started off. "But she is right, it is a gorgeous dress, where did you get it?"

I continued to force myself to be as social as possible, "K-Kane got it for me."

"No, I didn't."

I frowned and slowly nodded, "Yes, you did. The tag says "made in China", I assumed you snuck it back with you in your bag?"

Kane's expression changed from confusion to concern. "Why would I bring back a ladies dress and nothing else? I did not leave that for you." his eyes scanned the group. "Anyone feel her pull while she sang?" His question was met with an ensemble of confused no's.

"Hun, what's wrong?" Maya asked in a soothing tone as she ran a hand along Kane's arm.

Kane didn't reply as he glanced to Thalian, "Get 5 of your best men, an extra blade for Leena and escort her back to her tent with Mylo."

"Kane I-"

"Yes Sir," Thalian said, going into action and running off.

Kane ignored me, glancing to Cora. "Know anything to block demons or something?"

"Well..." Cora stopped to think about his question.

"Kane."

"I can do one around her tent."

"Ethan!" I shouted after Cora spoke over me and no one seemed to hear me. "I was going to tell you tomorrow... I saw the attack on Hollowview, through the sorcerer's eyes while I was sleeping. I don't know how much control I have..."

The mood of the group instantly changed, "You didn't-" Kane clenched his hands to a fist, at this point I couldn't feel worse. "Mylo, blindfold her and take her somewhere safe. Cora-"

She raised a hand, "I have a few books still, I'll check out your collection and by morning she'll have a new rune to stop it." Cora gave me a sideways glance as she took off quickly. Kalliope's grip tightened before she let me go and rushed off after Cora with Maya at her side.

"Kane..." I tried again.

"Don't." He snapped, "You just put us all in jeopardy. I can't deal with you until I know you aren't really a demon spy so just..." He didn't finish.

Mylo sighed and wrapped an arm around my waist, "Come on, I've got you." At least he didn't seem to hate me.