---Thorn's POV---

As soon as my eyes opened, I knew I was sleeping and somehow 'woke up' inside my dream. Only, I didn't recognize my surroundings. Normally, it would be the warped trees from earth, where werewolves would snap at my ankles as I ran for my life, or the occasional warlock and witch, whom wanted to capture me alive to test new potions on.

I glanced around warily, observing the room I was in closely. Although I was still sleeping, I somewhat feared that someone might have been able to remove my body from Bidziil's realm.

A fire snapped quietly in the fireplace, casting a warm light over the darker tones of the living room. The black leather couch beside the grey walls contrasted sharply with several purple ornaments on the brown bookcase.

Curiosity sparked to life when I noticed a single, white feather lying in one of the shelves, making me inch closer while I glanced through the room. Before I even made it to the feather, I heard a low sigh behind me, causing every muscle in my body to tense up.

Spinning around quickly, my eyes were instantly pinned by a pair of golden ones. I froze to the floor, numb by the realization that his eyes were just like mine; the bright irises floating in a sea of darkness.

Those golden eyes raked me from head to toe while I stared at the muscular man standing in the middle of the room. He had his arms crossed, revealing the heavily tattooed skin of one arm while the other only held a single name.

He moved before I could read it though, stepping forwards and reaching out hesitantly. I backed away until my shoulders brushed against the bookcase behind me, the ornaments tinkling slightly when I bumped against the solid wood.

"I can't...understand- why haven't I sensed you before?" the man's broken whisper fluttered through the room while I eyed him warily, slowly moving to the side when I noticed I was nearly in a corner.

He stepped closer again before coming to a halt when the room instantly filled with whispers and growled muttering, the lights mounted against the walls flickering before they shut down.

The man looked around, muscles flexing with each movement before his eyes rested on the shadow that hovered in a corner of the room. As if knowing I was responsible, he darted around and pinned me with an astonished glare before his expression softened.

An amused chuckle slipped from him and unintentionally, I started to relax when I felt no hostility coming from him or his house. He smiled, though the motion was sad while he inclined his head in my direction.

I blinked and frowned when everything was growing blurry, feeling shocked when the man simply held his hand out for me to touch, which I reluctantly did before he gave me a gentle squeeze.

"Wake up...We'll meet again soon." He stated, sounding very sure of himself. His golden eyes twinkled briefly before they changed, the black fading into white and his features suddenly changing into a familiar face, who looked down worriedly at me.

"Finally!" Bidziil breathed worriedly as I shook my head slightly, blinking the last remnants of my dream away. Was it really a dream though? It had felt so real, the room, the man, the emotions that waved from him.

A hand brushed gently over my face, the knuckles skimming over my jawbone as I slowly blinked my eyes open again. Bidziil was staring down at me with worry in his eyes, the warmth coming from his body relaxing me completely. Alduin coiled his tail a bit, reminding me where I was again before I blinked back at the man who was still stroking my face.

"You were extremely quiet in your sleep." He started to explain at my confused stare as to why he was being so touchy-feely. "After a moment, you took a deep breath and then you were...gone." His hand stopped on my brows, checking my temperature before I glanced at the topaz eyes of Alduin as he tasted the air, his forked tongue flicking sharply in my direction.

I went to stand but was stopped instantly as Alduin simply flexed his tail over my stomach, holding me down with a gentle force while Bidziil shook his head slightly. "Don't move, not just yet. Your soul needs time to resettle in your body."

A frown spread over my face and I tilted my head in Bidziil's direction.  "Resettle?" I croaked, swallowing painfully at the strain of simply speaking while Bidziil nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on me.

"Your soul has disconnected with your body for the first time in what we call Astral Projection. The first time is extremely exhausting so I doubt Bidziil is gonna let you out of his sight for one moment."

The words weren't even cold yet before I felt a pair of warm hands curve under my back and then I was lifted up against his chest. He smirked slightly, obviously trying to break the tension in the room. "Well, at least it gives me a reason to have my hands on your body."

It worked.

"If you think-" I started but was interrupted by him pulling me closer, a gasp slipping from my throat when we were just a breath away from each other. His breaths were brushing over my lips, which were slightly parted before he chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Every time you open that mouth to protest, I'll only be getting more into your private bubble until it bursts Thorn." He winked as I glared at him before I tried to get out of his hold.

Alduin chuckled behind us, ducking his head slightly to lay it down on the floor, keeping an eye on us while Bidziil walked us down to the living room and back to his room. All the while I grumbled under my breath, protesting and trying to walk on my own.

"I'm not a damned weak infant that can't take care of himself! Let me go!" I tried to jab my elbow in Bidziil's stomach but he simply wrapped his arms closer, squishing me against his chest and restricting my movements until I was laid down on a bed with him hovering over me instantly.

My protesting grew quiet as we both shared the same breath, his eyes burning with the intensity of his feelings while a small smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. My skin felt heated, shivers coursing over my body at his lightest touch as he slowly leaned down, nestling his body against mine with caution.

Before I could consider why my body reacted in this unknown way or why Bidziil was doing this, his lips had claimed mine in a hungry and devouring kiss. His tongue slid over my closed lips, prying inside with little effort which caused a small noise to slip from my lips, earning a rumbling growl from Bidziil.

I knew enough from life on earth that people kissed each other, sometimes made out or went even further when we were safe and secluded enough. But I would never have guessed the sensations, urges and utter pleasure that came from that.

The soft pressure of Bidziil's hips when he moved himself even closer set my blood on fire and the way he nipped at my lips before soothing the sting with his tongue was maddening.

"Ah...fuck!" I breathed when Bidziil latched onto my throat, sucking quite harshly and pinned my hands down when I went to reach up. He entangled his own fingers with mine and pressed them besides my head while he continued working on the sensitive skin of my bared and vulnerable throat.

It wasn't until I unconsciously shoved my hips up that he took a deep and shivering breath against the wet skin of my throat and pulled back slightly. The way the gold of his irises swirled and pulsed along with the hunger that settled deep in the black pupils was enough to make the muscles of my stomach clench.

Why am I feeling this way?

Bidziil smirked and leaned down, resting his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes and took calming breaths, feeling my body slowly wind down again, though the feelings were still there; pulsing and twisting under my skin, opening doors to new and unexplored worlds and honestly?

This frightened me. Not how Bidziil made me feel or that we just kissed, but the way I could place my trust in him so easily. After all my years on earth, where I only survived if I fought and crawled for it, Bidziil was able to subdue my mind with just a simple kiss.

Even now, after our small make out session, I was still thinking of it, could still feel his tongue rushing through my mouth and savoring every spot it could reach. I shivered slightly and sighed when Bidziil's warmth rushed through me.

Should I let him do this? Break down my defenses with ease? Last time I placed my trust in another being, they broke my defenses down only to slap me in the face as soon as they could reach me.

I don't know what to do anymore...I want this but I don't want to be rejected by those I trust.

Not again.

---Bidziil's POV---

Thorn's eyes were pooling over with emotion that he was trying to suppress, emotions that he had learned to distrust and push away during his time on earth. I pecked his lips again and nuzzled the skin below his ear, enjoying the shivering sigh that escaped him before I raised my head.

"Stop doubting yourself and your feelings Thorn." I stated after a few more minutes. His eyes flashed open in shock before narrowing slightly, those gorgeous depths of blue hardening slightly before I continued.

"You're not on earth anymore; no one is out to harm you or betray you in any way. I would never use you or trick you." My lips twitched slightly and he scowled as I couldn't help but add, "Never said anything about teasing the hell out of you though."

Thorn pushed his hands against my hold and I relented, letting them loose before they slapped against the skin of my chest, pushing me back. I looked down at his hands before teasingly looking up, smirking widely.

"Calm down tiger, I like it a bit rougher but hey..." his eyes flared slightly before he shoved me on my back, the bite of his nails slightly burning on my skin while I watched him push himself off of me with a scowl.

"You-You...ugh, you're just-" He stuttered in annoyance while I looked at him upside down, laying my hands under my head. "Handsome? Smoking hot?" I offered, winking when he threw his hands up in the air. Before he could turn around though, I had him in my arms again and crowded him back to the bed.

"Now now kitty, I'm in charge and you're gonna listen to me now. You overcharged yourself by using several of your powers at once so you're gonna feel drained for a few days. I want you to put that gorgeous ass of yours back down on the bed while I make you something to eat."

He wanted to protest but I used my newly discovered way to sway him and claimed his lips again. Thorn surprised me though by clutching the back of my head in his hands, his fingers digging through my hair and fisting it.

The gentle scrape of his nails over my skull created shivers all over my body while blood started to migrate south. I knew that would be pushing him, so I went to pull away, not before receiving a nip on my own lips though.

Thorn was watching me with hooded yet burning eyes, a mix of lust, confusion and irritation boiling in his gaze before he blinked and scowled. "I'm not a damned cat!" he huffed before stalking over to the bed and throwing himself down on it.

I simply chuckled and went to the kitchen, pulling my lower lip in my mouth and traced the swollen flesh. "Maybe so but he sure has some claws on him." I chortled to myself in amusement before shaking my head. Either way, I had successfully pulled him put of his darker thoughts and hopefully, he was thinking of me right now.

Warmth gushed over me while a rumble filled the air, making me glance over my shoulders in Alduin's direction. His head was straight behind me, eyes flitting over my form while his tongue fluttered out to taste the air.

"The children are with Thorn now, probably distracting him. I don't even need to ask what you're up to Bidziil because I can smell it all over you. Or rather Thorn." His tongue flickered out again before he let out another rumble, pulling his head slightly out of the room.

"What can I say? The man caught my eye and I'm not going to let him go." Alduin chuckled at my response while I lowered myself to get the large skillet out of the cabinet. Flicking my wrist slightly, I ignited the wood in the stove and let it heat up quickly so Thorn would have something in his stomach, fast.

"You don't need to explain anything Bidziil but don't expect me to stick my head inside when both of you smell like breweries of lust and desire." Alduin chortled, retreating slightly when I spun around and stared at him.

His eyes glistened with amusement before he twisted his head to leave the room, his claws releasing the stones outside the kitchen. I knew he was headed to the open living room, not too far of the kitchen and my bedroom, where the others would probably be.

The kitchen was slowly filling itself with scents of the fried chicken and herbs while I was cutting some vegetables to create a heavy yet nutritious broth. Yeah, I knew how to cook and quite frankly, I enjoyed it too. It helped me relax and think.

My ears perched slightly at the soft pitter-patter of little feet coming my way and I smiled warmly when Lyra poked her head around the corner, sniffing gently. Surprisingly, Karma was following her and Kieran was not too far behind, protecting his pregnant mate at any time.

"What are you cooking?" Lyra asked, padding closer on her bare feet while sniffing again. I glanced at her and noticed the slightly flushed cheeks and glaze over her eyes, making me frown slightly as I wiped my hands clean and crouched down so I could look her straight in the eye.

"Are you feeling all right little one?" I asked, slowly reaching out to place my wrist against my forehead, my frown only deepening when I felt her fevered skin. She shook her head slightly and sighed, "I'm feeling dizzy and my stomach feels weird." She pouted, rubbing over her belly slightly.

Karma nudged against her side and growled softly, sniffing the air before hissing. I sighed before searching my mind for the connection between me and my family, finding the familiar trail back to my mom before I tugged on the connection.

I knew she was going to come over in a few and I would need her help right now. It seemed like the children were affected by the serum and would probably feint in the coming days.

Clicking the stove off, I felt the tingle in the back of my mind that alerted me that mother was on her way before I smiled down at the changing child and gently picked her up. It seemed like Thorn wasn't going to be the only one confined to his bed.

-----

A few hours later, mom stepped in my bathroom where I was filling a bowl with some chilled water and a cloth; my instincts were true and now both Lyra and Blake were in and out of consciousness, their bodies altering slightly.

Mom sighed deeply and patted me on the cheek before looking over her shoulder where Thorn was lying between the two; although he was weaker now and probably exhausted, he refused to let those two out of his sight.

"You picked a fine man out Bidziil. I'm proud." I smiled and handed the bowl to her before motioning with my head to Thorn. "He's a handful but I love it. They're all scarred though, not able to cope with the simple day to day basics like having enough food whenever they want or something simple like a bath."

She watched me with green, teary eyes before she blinked them away, scoffing under her breath. "Ashkii should've told us sooner that he had forgotten all about Earth." I nodded but chuckled nonetheless.

"You know he'd do anything to avoid you when he knows he's in trouble." I laughed, gaining a playful nudge against my ribs before mom walked out to her patients with a motherly smile on her face.

Thorn blinked sleepily when I walked in the room and sat down beside him, smiling slowly as he thanked me when I handed him a glass of cool water. I would wait until he had regained his full strength and didn't have to fret over his changing friends but after that, I was going to pursue him and make him realize that whatever this was between us, was going to grow into something serious and exclusive.

I was going to make Thorn my man and he was going to accept it. A smirk slipped on my lips as I thought on his reaction after our second kiss. He'd probably protest against my teasing but I knew he loved it and maybe, just maybe we'd both grow to love each other as well.