Noah blinked open his eyes, struggling against the weight of exhaustion. Every muscle in his body ached, protesting movement, as he slowly, carefully propped himself against the rough wooden wall. Memories of the night flooded to the forefront of his mind; Noah rubbed both eyes with his palms as he tried to make sense of the flashes. The tempest that had whirled violently within him settled; a cold chill glazed over his skin as residual sparks surged under the surface, like ominous whispers of an endless storm. Noah groaned as his brain swelled and throbbed, feeling two sizes too big for his skull, like a prison closing in on him from all sides.

The forest.

He'd ventured into the forest countless times during his year at Eldarion, finding solace in the clearing home to the ancient oak. It had become his sanctuary, a place where he conducted his rituals, some with success and others with humiliating failure. Last night had been a disastrous failure, one he nearly paid the price for with his own life.

Noah raked his brain; he'd done everything correctly. He paid the imp in way of a citrine earring. He carved Deimos sacred symbol and felt the pull of the Abyss through his veins as he offered the tempest of chaos within him to the Dark Prince. A ritual that was never without strain but had been successful in the past. He'd felt the steady flow of the wild magic within him, like a trickle of rain. The little imp had acted as a tether between Noah and the Abyss; he'd felt Deimos' lissome embrace. Then, all at once, devastation. The energy ripped through him, like torrential rains that turned roads into lakes and moved the Earth.

That graceful, tender touch that Deimos had so often extended turned voracious as he demanded more. His appetites had been ignited as he threatened to consume all of Noah and allow those energies to run rampant until the forest had been turned into an Abaddon. An abode for the lost and vile souls of the abyss to dwell within on the mortal plane. The forest would have been forever altered, it would have become a place of nightmares, void of kindness and light. Noah it's lord, trapped within the bounds for an enternity, ensnaring all who would wander within the Abaddon and care for the dwelling legions.

What happened next?

Noah racked through the disjointed memories. An animal, or a beast, had appeared. That alone should have been impossible as the influx of abyss energies ravished the immediate area, all animals should have fled and any that had been trapped within the currents would have been shredded until nothing was left but a mangled soul. Fear pulsed through Noah as he stared down at his palms, he'd attacked the beast. He remembered the sensations of his magic connecting with flesh. Noah dropped his face into his palms, guilt flooded through him. The beast. He forced his mind to focus as images of the magnificent wolf lunged at him and pinned him against the ground. He'd been certain the wolf was there to end the gale of Hell.

To end him.

Had he even been relieved by the prospect?

The rest blurred together in a series of snippets. The storm withered away as he felt a foreign heartbeat against his chest. Hot breath, comforting like the warmth of a roaring hearth, against his cold skin. It'd grounded him. Grounded him in a way he'd never known. The feeling of soft fur gliding under his fingers, marred by tacky blood matted around gaping ridges. Guilt overwhelmed Noah as pain pierced through him.

A muffled cry jolted Noah from his spiraling emotions. His eyes darted to the cot beside his own, where a familiar stranger lay entangled in the torment of a nightmare. The man's hair glistened with sweat, plastered to his anguished face as his furrowed brows bore the weight of unseen horrors. His sinewy neck contorted, pulsing veins strained against the skin, as guttural growls emanated from parched lips.

Noah hesitated as he watched the man squirm in the cot.

With a slow, deep breath Noah reached out to gently shake the man's shoulder. "Hey," he murmured, his voice a trembling whisper. "Wake up." The man's body jerked, but he remained trapped within the torment of his dream world. Noah nudged at his shoulder, with a notch more force "wake up!" The man muttered resistant cries; his words too jumbled to understand what nightmare plagued his subconscious. Noah nibbled on the soft tissue of his cheek, he'd been no stranger to nightmares, often he sought solace in his mom's gentle touch. But now, as he shook the sleeping stranger, he realized he could barely recall the tenderness of his mom's nurturing embrace. Faint whispers of her voice echoed in his mind, a distant lullaby, but they were too far gone to offer any comfort. A single, shallow tear escaped from the corner of his eye as he questioned when the memory of his mom's warmth became so distant.

Noah shook the thoughts aside, his hand caressed down the man's arm, he leaned in closer, his lips hovered over the man's ear. "Dulce somnii," he whispered, a fragile plea for the man to find sweetness in his nightmarish dreams.

Callum's body jerked; his arm snatched through the air quicker than Noah could register what had happened. Pain errupted through Noah as a strangled scream rasped through his hung mouth. Pins and needles pricked behind his eyes; black dots danced across his vision as the edges began to blur. With both hands, he clawed at the massive hand that held his throat in a vice grip. His sharp, coffin shaped nails sliced through the man's flesh fruitlessly as the grip tightened. In a twister of desperation and panic Noah pooled the tiniest bit of energy left within his body to the tip of his finger. Unable to determine where his arm had landed, he released the energy in a series of electric shocks, equivalent to static shock after rubbing one's feet across a shag carpet.

The suffocating grip released, Noah fell on top of the man and gasped for air as if he'd swallowed a cup of glass. His lungs burned with every ragged breath, working in overdrive to supply oxygen to his oxygen-starved body. Through the haze of pain and dizziness, Noah's mind sputtered in and out of consciousness.

"Oh, fuck."

Noah's bloodshot eyes widened, the red veins standing out starkly against the whites. "Oh fuck?" he mimicked, his hoarse voice strained with the weight of his disbelief and fear. "Oh fuck!" The echo reverberated through the shabby mismatched cabin. If Noah had any strength left in his arm, he would have clenched his fist and lashed out at this man.

"Are you okay?"

On wobbly arms, Noah attempted to push himself up off the man's lap. "Okay?" Noah croaked, irritation piercing his voice. "Okay?!" He strained to raise the pitch of his voice but ended up sounding like he'd just hit puberty. "You almost killed me!" Noah's arms gave out, he let out a squawk as he fell, his stomach bounced against the man's knees.

Callum wrapped an arm around Noah and lifted him up gently, so he leaned against him for support. "I didn't mean to... it was reflex."

"Reflex!" Noah squeaked, now kneeling on his knees, his smaller body leaned against the man's larger frame for support. "Well, in that case, I forgive you," Noah said with sarcasm evident in his hoarse voice. "I get it, it's totally normal to choke people when they wake you up from a nightmare!"

"I'm used to sleeping alone," Callum added defensively.

Noah glared at him; remnants of the nightmare reflected at him through a weary golden gaze. He recognized the man now; he was the one that burnt himself outside the coffee shop. Sunshine was a small town, but crossing paths multiple times in one day, and under such circumstances made the town seem to shrink even more. "It's not like I was in bed with you," Noah grumbled. "Just get off me," he slammed his palm against the man's chest and leaned backwards. The sudden shift in weight sent him tumbling backwards. Noah yelped out and threw his hands behind his head. Callum tightened his arm around Noah's waist, preventing the fall midair. 

"You were on me," Callum teased with a grin.

"I'll let you suffer your nightmares, next time," Noah rolled his eyes. Carefully he readjusted his weight and stood up from the cot.

"Oh?" Callum's wiggled his brows, "there's gonna be a next time?"

Noah's brows crinkled; his mouth tightened into a straight line "No. There won't." He stomped across the small room, to the even smaller kitchenette. He pulled a bag of coffee from the cabinet and hastily got to work brewing a pot.

"What time is it?"

"A little after three in the morning."

Callum stood up and stretched out the knots in his back. The cot had clearly been made to accommodate the size and weight of a werewolf, but it was incredibly uncomfortable and if Callum dared move too much he would have fallen off. "Why are you making coffee?"

"To drink it," Noah responded matter-of-factly.

"You're not going back to sleep?"

"No."

The coffee machine clicked on, the water bubbled as it heated and poured through the machine, catching the dark brew grounds. Within seconds the small cabin filled with the warmth and inviting fragrance of freshly brewing coffee.

"When did you wake up," Callum asked. Unable to keep his eyes from scanning over Noah's lean body. Aside from the tattoos that covered his arms he also had a series of runes inked the length of his spine, and an intricate snowflake tattooed on his shoulder blade, the dainty pale blue ink wasn't nearly as bold as his other tattoos and easy to miss. But as Callum's eyes lingers on it, he decided it was a fitting piece.

Noah glanced over his shoulder, "A minute or two before you tried to kill me."

Callum scratched the back of his head, an awkward smile sprawled across his lips "How long are you going to gripe about that?"

"Depends," Noah finished adding the ground to the filter and filled the tank with water. "What is a suitable amount of time to be upset about almost being strangled to death?" He clicked the on button, the machine spurred to life and began the brewing process. Noah turned to face the other, his weight leaned against the counter.

The awkwardness of Callum's smile smoothed into a suave, confident grin. Noah watched as the towering man sauntered towards him, the fabric of the sweats he wore clung tightly to his muscular frame. Callum closed the distance between them, forcing Noah to tilt his head backwards to maintain his glare. "Consider us even," he stood directly in front of Noah, "you tried to kill me first."

"That... That was... you're the beast?"

"Beast?"  hearty laughter engulfed Noah's ears "It's been a long time since anyone's called me that." To his face at least. Noah's eyes widened in disbelief; his anger momentarily forgotten. Guilt lanced through him, subconsciously his hand rested against his stomach, his fingers nimbly moved over the bandage placed to the side of his bellybutton. "You don't remember?"

"I do," Noah nodded weakly. "Then. You're the one that brought me here?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Is kindness a foreign concept to you fae?" The sullen emotions that flashed through Noah's eyes shot a pang of hurt through Callum "Make me a cup of coffee."

The defiance returned to Noah at the sudden demand "Make it yourself." He whipped himself around, his shoulder bumped into Callum in the process. "I don't even know who you are. Is it common practice to you fae to not introduce yourself."

Callum smirked; he watched as Noah lifted on his tip toes to reach into the cabinet. Despite the sass embedded in his words, he pulled out two mugs. "Callum. Guess you're the rude one now." Noah shot a daggered glare over his shoulder before he returned focus to the task at hand. He poured coffee into each mug, leaving just enough space for additives. "So? Are you going to introduce yourself?" Callum already knew the warlock's name; he'd overheard it a couple months back when Noah had been spellcasting with another witch. A witch he now assumed to was Aylin.

"Noah," he finally said, "do you want anything in your coffee?"

"I thought you said to make it myself," Callum tried to bite back some of his amusement. Noah's movements stuttered as he reached for the sugar container. He stared down at the mugs with disdain. "Just a little bit of sugar."

"Fine," Noah grabbed the container and mixed a dash of sugar into one mug. He turned towards the fridge but bumped into Callum "Do you mind?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I have some space," Noah's jaw twitched, a mix of irritation and embarrassment flashed across his face.

"Sure," Callum swung to the side, he rested his hip against the counter and tentatively took a sip of the coffee Noah made. "Mmm, I can taste the love."

Noah grabbed a small carton of cream out of the fridge, "I believe that's vexation you're tasting." He poured a splash into his mug before placing it back into the fridge. "There's a sandwich in there for you."

Callum's mouth watered as he remembered his request for a Philly cheese with extra peppers and onions. "Want to split it?"

"I don't have much of an appetite," Noah sipped his coffee.

"In general, or because of last night?"

"Does it matter?"

"Are you always so prickly?"

Noah smiled around his mug as he took another sip. "Let me guess, you're used to people opening up to you without second thoughts," he remarked, his tone filled with playful skepticism.

Callum shrugged nonchalantly and flashed a dazzling smile "What can I say, I'm a crowd pleasure," he responded confidently.

"I'm not a crowd," Noah sassily retorted.

Callum's eyes twinkled with mischief as he stepped closer, closing the distance between them until his chest brushed against Noah's shoulder. "I'm even more pleasing one on one," he purred.

Noah tilted his head back to match Callum's gaze, "I'm a little underwhelmed."

Callum chuckled, the sound low and deep, "Underwhelmed, huh? Then I'll just have to work harder to impress you."

"Oh, I bet you're full of surprises," Noah teased with a dramatic eyeroll "but you'd be wasting your time." Noah dropped his gaze into the half-empty mug, the liquid shifted as Noah wobbled on his feet. Despite the chill in the air, heat licked over his skin boiling his blood as his stomach somersaulted violently. Noah's knees buckled; the cup splattered against the floor as he flailed out to steady himself on the counter.

His hand missed plunging him forward, Callum caught him in his arms. "What just happened?" Concern prickled his voice, the taunting wiggle of his brows and playful tilt of his lips no longer visible.

"F-fine...Fine. I'm fine," Noah's voice waivered, tinged with exhaustion. Sweat matted his already grungy hair as the heat continued to raise his body temperature. Noah rested his forehead against Callum's chest and squeezed his eyes shut, "Just a fever."

"Do you want to lay back down?" Callum held Noah tight against his body; the support had been the only thing that kept Noah on his feet. Dangerous levels of heat emit from Noah's body, seeping through the layer of clothes between them. Even by a werewolf's standards. Werewolves ran hot, hotter than most other fae, aside from elementals, but this heat felt as if Noah had been lounging in a pit of lava. "Aylin said you'd stay asleep while your body healed. Is this part of it?" Noah groaned in response. Callum rubbed one had along Noah's back while the other remained tightly wrapped around his waist. "Noah," his voice was low, filled with concern but a hint of chiding "I need you to tell me how to help you."

"Outside," Noah said weakly.

"What?"

Noah shifted so his head tilted backwards, his chin rested on Callum's chest. "I need to lower my body temperature, it's cold outside."

"Okay," Callum nodded. "Okay, I got you." He shifted their bodies so Noah was pinned between himself and the counter, once he was confident Noah wouldn't turn into a puddle once he let go, Callum bent down and scooped him up in his arms.

"My legs still work," Noah protested with a strained voice. Callum's stomach plummeted as his eyes fell on the handprint bruising around his neck.

Callum clicked his tongue "Accept the help I give or figure it out on your own."

"I'll figure it out."

"That's the wrong answer," Callum walked them towards the large sliding doors that led out to the balcony that overlooked the inside of the enclosure. "The correct answer was, 'thank you Callum, for carrying me in your big strong arms.'"

"Satan's halo, you're full of yo-" Noah's throat constricted as he erupted into a coughing fit. Every cough scrapped at his throat and shot pins and needles through his lungs.

Callum quickened his strides; at the door he propped Noah on his knee and reached out to slide the door open. A rush of icy air slammed against them, the beads of sweat crystalized against Noah's skin. Not bothering to close the door behind him, Callum stepped out onto the balcony. The moon had a sliver of darkness, hardly distinguishable to the eye. Powdery snow twinkled across the ground, mimicking the stars in the sky. Noah gasped as icy air pulled into his lungs, his body trembled as the biting cold seeped through his exposed skin.

Callum wrapped his arms tightly around Noah as they slid down into an ice-glazed wooden chair. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"It shocks the system, it's the quickest way to subdue the fever," Noah chattered through his teeth. Callum pulled at Noah's legs until he held the smaller male in a fetal position on his lap. "This isn't necessary."

"Sssh."

Mindlessly Callum's fingers traced over the bold outlines inked into Noah's arm. Whether it was because of the fever, exhaustion, or the biting cold, Noah fell quiet and rested his head against Callum's chest. He'd expected the warlock to put up more of a fight but wasn't about to complain about the silent concession. The heat emitted from Noah's body could have melted a glacier but as flakes caught along the wind currents, Callum could feel the temperature declining. Callum's eyes fell on the glowing blue stone with soft rainbow hues that hung from Noah's neck. He hadn't noticed it before, the little tear drop wrapped in metal had been the least eye-catching aspect of Noah, but now it was all Callum could look at. He recognized it as a moonstone, a sacred stone to werewolves, but not uncommon to be used in spellcaster practices or as pretty ornaments. The hand that rested on Noah's hip glided upwards until his fingertips brushed against the wire wrapped pendant. "Argh! Fuck!" Callum snatched his hand away, thin wire shaped burns imprinted into pads of his fingers.

"It's silver," Noah murmured in a sleepy voice.

"How is that possible?"  Werewolves didn't have very many weaknesses, but silver was among the most fatal of weaknesses. Through centuries of evolution the eyes of werewolves adapted to perceive silver as if it glowed brighter than the sun.

Noah didn't budge "It's been spelled by an illusionist."

"Powerful fucking illusionist," Callum frowned unable to mask the worry in his voice. Being a werewolf wasn't particularly easy to begin with when trying to co-exist with the human world. But if word got out about a spell that could conceal the glow of silver, it could give enemies a major uphand.

"Don't worry, my uncle is the only one that knows the formula."

"Why would he need to know something that could fuck over werewolves?"

Noah shifted his head, so he looked up at Callum. Callum had to tighten his jaw and bite down on his cheek tissue to stop himself from melting into Noah's soft gaze. "It's not what you think. He's married to a female werewolf and has two hybrid pups; he wouldn't ever do anything to hurt your kind."

"What about you? Why are you hiding the fact that you're wearing silver? Wrapped around a fucking moonstone no less. That's pretty damn sacrilegious," the seriousness in Callum's tone dwindled as he wiggled his brows during the last bit.

Noah took the bait and grinned, it was full of wickedness and if Callum wasn't convinced that he'd already been damned, he found certainty in that moment. "My entire existence is sacrilegious, if you're so bothered then do something about it."

Callum simpered as a low, playful growl formed in his chest at the challenge. He wrapped his hand around the pendant, the smell of singed flesh filled the air. The burn had shocked him initially, but this had been nothing compared to the pains he'd endured during his upbringing. "I could rip this stone from your neck and release Selene's grace before you could finish that thought."

"I'm shaking," Noah quipped. "Please Mr. Wolf, show some mercy."

Callum had been joking around, but as he held the pendent in his fist a peculiar urge tightened within his heart. He wanted to release this moonstone from its silver prison. He didn't understand where that urge came from, sterling silver was a staple among humans, and they didn't care which precious stones were sacred to which group of fae. This wasn't something that should have bothered him, not on such a primal level. It wasn't as if pulling the necklace from Noah's neck would have resulted in anything other than Callum stealing and destroying the other's property. Callum released the pendant, "I am nothing if not merciful."

"Or a terrible bluffer," exhaled sharply, his relief palpable. Callum had caught on to the significance of the inconspicuous note. The necklace had clearly meant something to him. Did the douchebag red head give it to him? The mere thought left a bitter taste in the back of Callum's throat.

"I guess you already know that I don't have the best control of my magic. Other spellcasters call it wild magic, I'm not so sure though."

"What do you mean?"

Noah shifted uncomfortably as if he needed to put some space between their bodies. "Since I was young, I get these sort of panic attacks," he chuckled scornfully at himself. "I don't really know if that's the right way to describe it, but I go through these episodes where I feel like," his hand hovered over his chest in a gripping motion "I feel like I can't breathe. I can feel my lungs inflating and deflating and my heart racing, but that's the only indication I have that I'm alive. That I'm real. But then I am overwhelmed by this entity inside of me, it's like this sinister storm brewing just under my skin. But underneath even that is this warmth, a warmth unlike anything else," another scornful laugh. "I sound insane. I don't even know what I'm trying to say. But whenever I get like that, I use this stone to ground myself until I can find an opportunity to safely expel the build of energies inside of me. My mom traded with a werewolf shaman for it, she said that it'd been infused with the blood of a hundred generations of alphas. I don't really know; I was young and didn't really understand what that meant. But when she gave it to me, I could feel the soul inside of it. At first keeping it in my pocket was enough, but as I got older my magic got more crazed. I'd lose control more often and destroy everything in the area. My mom had it woven in this enchanted silver, she said it was the soul within seeking dominance and if that happened, I could lose myself to my magic completely."

"Why are you telling me this?" Callum asked, his voice soft yet probing.

Noah shrugged; a melancholic smile played on his lips. "I don't know. Maybe, I feel like I owe you an explanation. Or maybe I'm just too tired to care that I'm oversharing."

"I don't mind," Callum mused. "If you wanted to keep oversharing."

"I think I should go back to sleep" Noah murmured, his breath forming wisps of mist in the frosty night air. He slowly disentangled himself from Callum's embrace, his bare feet brushed against the icy wooden deck, sending shivers through his body. "I... uh, thank you. For saving me..." he said softly, keeping his gaze averted.

Callum's lips quirked into a wry smile as he rose from the chair. "It's okay to call me your knight in shining armor," he quipped. 

"I'm not the damsel," Noah shot back, "I'm the wicked villain that torments the damsel and knight."

Callum leaned in closer, his intense golden eyes reflected the silvery glow of the moon. A devilish smirk played on his lips as he gazed at Noah, who found himself drawn to the sculpted angles of Callum's face. Their eyes locked, Callum brushed a lock of Noah's wild hair behind his ear. The roughness of his fingertips against the supple skin sent jolts through Noah. "Then I'll be something darker," Callum whispered in a low husk.

Noah couldn't help the bitterness that seeped into his voice. "Is this how you please the crowds?" He pressed his hand against Callum's chest and gave him a slight push away, "You think if you flash that cocky smile and flirt shamelessly every fae will turn to putty in your hands. I already told you; you're wasting your time. I won't sleep with you." Noah brushed past Callum to head back inside "If your fascination is simply to screw a warlock, there are plenty of others on campus. Find one, then move on." A strange hurt tugged at Noah's heart, but he'd been less than willing to find the cause as he retreated inside. "Goodnight, Callum."

It was a strange feeling to be at a loss of words, or to put it more accurately to have so many words buzzing around in your head that none of them managed to travel to your lips. But as Callum stood, alone, in the frigid night that was how he had felt. He could feel the words swarming around within him, some were snarky comebacks while others were denials of just wanting to get laid. None of them managed to form into any sort of coherent thought and even less trickled to the tip of his tongue. His heart stammered as he felt tingles of heat sweep across his skin. He shouldn't have been upset; Noah must have been right. His interest had only been piqued because he'd never witnessed such a display of magic before, not from a witch and especially not a warlock. He could admit that he liked the way Noah's ears twitched and flushed red, those ears had been a focal point in one too many dreams Callum had had in the last four months. Maybe this interest wasn't with Noah, himself, but warlocks in general.

Even as Callum convinced himself of this images from his dreams both sweet and terrible invaded his vision. Now those dreams were accompanied by the tactile sensation of Noah's skin under his hands, his feathery weight in his arms, and the rhythmic drumming of his heart in Callum's ears. "Fucking shit," Callum groaned as his cock swelled with images that only ever occurred in his dreams. Images that, according to Noah, would only ever appear in his dreams. "Am I fucking fourteen again?"

Callum stood outside long enough to watch the first streaks of daylight peek over the horizon. He scrubbed a hand over his face, his muscles ached, and mind played on a loop between the crazed magic that nearly killed them, the dream that turned into a nightmare and then to Noah's words. Find another warlock to screw, then move on. Those words shouldn't have annoyed him as much as they did, he'd been told worse in the past. He'd been screamed at by jilted partners that expected more from him, even Thayer, in his own cautious way had been dropping hints about wanting more. But Noah's words hadn't been laced with disappointment or anger, they'd been matter of fact and definite.

The heavy, glass door slid shut behind Callum, the little gas-powered heating unit struggled to combat the chill that seeped in during the time the door remained opened. Callum's gaze swept across the dimly lit room, where the remnants of a broken coffee mug had been cleared away and the scent of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air. Across the room Noah lay on a cot, his back towards Callum and the blanket pulled up over his head. It was clear that Noah feigned slumber, Callum could hear the heavy breaths and the twitching of restlessness. He remained silent as he crossed the room to the cots. Quietly, he retrieved the blanket from his own cot and draped it over Noah's huddled form. "One blanket isn't enough to keep you warm," he murmured softly. His hand hovered over Noah's arm, observing the subtle rise and fall of the blanket before he withdrew abruptly and absently rubbed his hand against his thigh. "Goodnight, Noah," he whispered before he retreated towards the front door.

The soft, almost imperceptible click of the front door opening and then closing resonated like thunder in Noah's ears as he found himself enveloped in silence once again. He lay still under the blankets, reveling in the added warmth of the second blanket, the layers wrapped around him like a protective shield. An earthy musk of pine and dewy moss seeped through the layers and filled Noah's sinuses. It seemed that Aylin hadn't been overly concerned about Calum's presence, if she had been he would have already been forcibly removed and reprimanded before Noah even woke up. He'd glanced outside before retreating to his cot, Noah hadn't spotted any patrols nearby. It seemed Callum was free to depart- even encouraged to do so. With no reason for Callum to linger, Noah couldn't shake the dejection that settled over him. He'd expressed his gratitude and then drew a clear line between them and yet as Noah laid there, alone, he grappled with the unease. Callum's presence had given him a sense of grounding, a cruel trick caused by his unstable state of being.

Nothing more than silly nonsense. Noah clutched the blankets and breathed in the deep earthy musk and slowly drifted to sleep.

**

Callum arrived at his campsite, his belongings were crisp with a layer of frost, the wind whistled through the trees and taunted him in his unease. Since he left the shabby cabin and Noah behind, he could feel the hostilities of his wolf lurking just under his human senses. The wolf growled with a voracious wrath, Callum was certain that if the two souls split and formed separate units the wolf would shred the human until there was nothing left. Then offer the best bone as a gift at Noah's feet. Traitorous bastard. The wolf had been silent for years, utterly disinterested in anything that Callum did. Never once even feigning an interest in the plethora of compatible female wolves that Gideon La'Vey, his father, crammed down his throat. So why this warlock? This snarky, chaotic, stupidly beautiful warlock.

"Uhg," Callum rubbed his face in his palms "I need to get out of here." He fished a pack of cigarettes out of his bag, plopped one in his mouth and lit it. The smoke flooded his lungs, offering a sense of ease to his jittery nerves.

"So, you decided to leave after all," Callum flinched at the sudden voice. He whipped his head in time to see Aylin emerge from a narrow path. Her ocean blue eyes swirled with a poisonous green glow, long waves of strawberry red cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. "Do you need me to tell you, you're making a mistake."

"Are you following me?" Callum leaned back against a fallen log, his knees bent, and arm rested casually on top as he took another drag of his cigarette. "I don't see how it's any of your business what I do."

Aylin smirked, that knowing glint in her eye that gave Callum both the chills and irritated him. "I didn't need to follow you; I knew you'd end up here. I hoped I was wrong, but" she chuckled "I rarely am."

"You're pretty full of yourself."

"No more than you."

"What are you doing here."

"To see if I could change your mind." The glowing swirl of green in her eyes threatened to drag ships to the depths of the ocean.

Despite himself Callum grinned. "Okay, I'll hear you out. But I make no promises."

Aylin let out another honeyed laugh "Maybe I should be clearer. You will stay. You'll stay because fate has already deemed it so."

"Fuck fate."

"You're not the only one that feels that way. Achilles and Patroclus, Tristan, and Isolde, and more all share the same sentiment."

"Yeah," Callum exhaled another grey cloud "tragedy. Get to your point."

"Star-crossed whimsy, you feel it. Don't you?"

"I'm losing interest."

"Don't be a brat," Aylin sat down beside Callum. Yesterday she had given off the air of an ordinary witch, well as ordinary as a spellcaster fae could be. But now, even as she smiled with merlot painted lips and eyes that suspended in a serene rage, she seemed centuries older. "You're missing something. You don't know what it is, but you feel like you could find it here."

"I'm not missing anything. I have everything I could possibly want."

"Hmm. Stubborn, but no matter." She stood up and began to walk away "As I said, fate has already dictated a singular path. You can travel to the furthest corners of the world; you could even traverse the barriers between realms but every month when Selene touches the night sky and calls upon her beasts you won't be able to fight the pull. The pull that you feel right now, like a whisper in the back of your mind. Telling you that there is only one place you'll ever truly belong. That nagging will grow until it's a scream that can't be ignored." Aylin chuckled to herself, those swirling green irises illuminated with bliss. "Fate can be such a fickle thing, but so very relentless." She waved her arm in the air, the flick of her long, elegant fingers seemed to spark with the promise, or threat, that this so-called fate would not be silently ignored. "See you around Callum. Sooner or later."

As Callum watched Aylin vanish from sight, the cigarette hung between Callum's lips continued to burn to ash. The woman was every bit the same woman he had met the previous day. Same hair, albeit neatly brushed opposed to the frazzled mess piled on top of her head. Same face, voice, mannerisms. But those eyes. Those hypnotic swirling eyes that engulfed the dark depths of the ocean and those words that pierced through him. "Bullshit," Callum muttered, the movement of his lips jostled the growing stick of ash causing it to snow over his lap. He removed the cigarette and snuffed it out before jamming it into a mesh pocket sewn into his bag. "It's all bullshit. I'm leaving."

**

"Noah!"

Noah squeezed his eyes shut at the wild explosion of activity that rocked the cabin. The door slammed open, "Yo, rise and shine buddy!" Riley bellowed as he blitzed through the room and leapt onto the lump bundled under the covers. He planted his face on Noah's back and let out a muffled "Good morning!" It was like an overly enthusiastic wake up call from a hyperactive alarm clock- no snooze button here!

"Get off of me," Noah grumbled from under the blankets. "Go entertain yourself!"

Riley nuzzled into Noah's back "I neeeeeeed attention. Get up!" He whined persistently.

Noah flipped the blanket off his head and emerged from the cocoon of warmth. He turned his head to look at Riley, ready to teasingly scold him for the obscene amount of golden retriever energy so early in the day but as their eyes met all the joy vanished from Riley's face.

"Riley?"

Riley sat up; his fingers nimbly traced the bruises wrapped around Noah's neck. "Did he do this to you?"

"It was a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Riley gritted his teeth "I'm going to kill him. Where is he?" Riley stood up from the cot and glanced around the room.

Noah sat up "He left already. Really Riles it was an accident."

"Fine, but if he comes around again, I'm not going to let this go." Riley walked towards the front door where he had dropped a backpack. "I brought you some clothes to change into." He grabbed the bag and tossed it into Noah's lap. "I didn't want to run into Bellamy, so I just brought some of my clothes."

"Bellamy went home this weekend," Noah added as he riffled through the backpack. He pulled out a thick dark grey hoodie that he knew he'd drown in like a snuggie. "He had a ceremony with his grotto." Riley muttered under his breath, Noah stood up and started to undress from his dirt covered and torn jeans. "Don't be like that."

"I didn't say anything." Riley mindlessly fiddled with an antique lamp on the desk. "But now that you mention it-"

"I didn't."

"I just think it's convenient that he's never around when you have these episodes."

"Neither are you," Noah interjected. His tone hadn't been accusatory or even upset but it had sought understanding. Noah peeled off his jeans and pulled on a pair of baggy sweatpants. "Don't blame Bellamy for not being around when I'm the one not asking him for help."

"Why don't you? I get why you don't ask me. But you're both warlocks, shouldn't he have a higher resistance?"

Noah pulled the hoodie over his head; he was sure he looked even smaller dressed in clothing that were three times his size. "Bellamy thinks I should bind myself to a patron. By enabling my stubbornness he'd only anger his own patron." Noah sat down and pulled on a pair of fuzzy slipper socks.

"He'd cut out your still beating heart if it appeased his stupid patron."

"And what wouldn't you do to feel the grace of Selene?"

"That's not fair."

"You judging Bellamy isn't fair," Noah bit back.

"Goodness, it's a bit early to be bickering." The front door closed as silently as it had opened, Aylin walked across the room with a warm smile on her face. "Riley, I told you not to upset Noah. He may be awake, but he still needs his rest."

Riley dramatically threw his hands in the air "Why are you blaming me?"

"Because you're a troublemaker," Noah added. Aylin nodded and hummed her agreement.

Aylin gently touched at the bruises around Noah's neck "I have a cream that will heal these bruises quickly."

"I told you not to leave Noah alone with that rogue," Riley griped.

"Who the fuck are you calling a rogue?" All eyes turned to look at the towering figure in the doorframe. Callum locked eyes with Riley, their expressions mirrored one another. Tight jaws and narrowed eyes.

"It'll be quicker to just whip your dicks out and compare sizes," Aylin rolled her eyes. Her hands fell from Noah's neck "Lift your shirt." Noah did, his eyes flickered from Callum to the floor on loop. He hadn't expected to see him again, honestly, he'd assumed he was already far away from Sunshine. Callum had changed into better fitted clothes; he wore a pair of grey washed jeans that hugged every muscular curve of his long legs and slim waist perfectly, a black hoodie with a band that Noah didn't recognize, and a thick black Carhart jacket over it. "As long as you keep up on applying the ointment the scaring won't be too bad," Aylin's words fell on deaf ears as Noah tottered his gaze.

"I should fuck you up for putting your hands on Noah," Riley growled.

Callum raised his arms in an open manner "Go on, give it your best shot."

"I'd keep this one bandaged for another week," Aylin ran her finger down the ridged seam that extended Noah's torso.

"You think you're some badass? Oh yeah, takes a big werewolf to put his hands on a smaller fae," Riley continued to close the distance between himself and Callum.

"Just to keep the scar tissue from becoming irritated," Aylin continued, "But you should let it breathe whenever you can."

Callum scoffed "Smaller fae? Do you even know the magic Noah is capable of?"

"And that gives you the right to nearly choke him to death?"

Noah's head throbbed as the raise in voices blended into a gargled mess.

"It was an accident you dipshit!"

"How do you accidently wrap your hand around someone's neck!" Riley's nose crinkled as his nostrils flared.

Aylin applied a fresh layer of cream to Noah's wounds "I'll make a new batch with rosemary and give it to you tomorrow."

Noah's eyes swirled around the room faster than his brain could handle.

Callum and Riley were on top of each other, their statures nearly matched as they squared one another up. Aylin hummed softly to herself as she applied fresh gauze to Noah's scar.

"I don't have to explain myself to some lowly wolf that is all bark no bite," Callum's upper lip curled, revealing his sharp canines.

Riley's hands balled into white-knuckled fists. "You think I'm intimidated by a rogue like you?"

The world screeched and blurred; a maddening cacophony assaulted Noah's senses. Lips moved, but the words were swallowed by a piercing, relentless screech that threatened to unravel his sanity. His brain pounded against his skull. A searing pain surged through him, igniting his nerves like wildfire. Fists clashed through the air; the male wolves locked in a savage struggle. Aylin shot up from her seat, fury etched on her face as she approached the brawl.

"Stop it," Noah's lips moved but he hadn't been certain if any sound came out. The wind howled outside, rattling the feeble structure. The buzz of electricity lingered heavily in the background. "Stop it," he repeated with a shaky voice that went unheard. Aylin tugged frantically at Riley; her own lips moved in silent pleas to quell the battle between the two werewolves.

"STOP!" Noah hadn't realized he'd shot to his feet. His voice lancing through the shrieking in his ears. Glass bulbs shattered as electricity surged rampantly through the wiring. Static filled the air. Then silence, sweet, blissful silence.

"Noah..." Riley released a fist full of Callum's shirt, his other fist poised in the air to strike.

Black dots flickered in Noah's vision, distorting his surroundings as he struggled to maintain balance on unsteady legs. With a forceful shove, Callum pushed Riley aside, sending him stumbling backwards. He raced across the room towards Noah. In a daze, Noah's unfocused gaze locked onto Callum, his body on the verge of collapse. As his strength waned, Callum enveloped Noah in a firm embrace, he held him close against his chest in a protective grip. The earthy scent emitted from Callum soothed Noah's senses, seeking solace Noah buried his face into Callum's chest. The rhythmic drum of Callum's heart was loud but comforting, like the pattering of rain against glass. Weakly, Noah clutched at the hem of Callum's hoodie. Callum exhaled gently and whispered as if his words were only meant for Noah. "What was that about not being a damsel?"

"Noah," Riley materialized beside them, his hand flat against the center of Noah's back. "What happened? Are you okay?" Noah didn't move or make a sound as he buried himself deeper in the comfort Callum offered. "Aylin, what happened?"

"He got overstimulated," Aylin offered. "We should get back to campus. He's going to need more rest and time to let his magic simmer."

Riley thrusted his arm between Noah and Callum, determined to intervene. "I've got him," he insisted, but Callum's grip only tightened. "Dude," Riley grumbled, exasperated. "Haven't you caused enough trouble already?" A soft, barely concealed snicker emanated from near the front door. Riley looked over at Aylin, amusement plastered on her face. "Noah," his tone softened, "Let me help you."

The sensation of being enveloped in Callum's embrace had filled Noah with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The flurries of chaotic energies within him settled until a warmth lingered in its wake, like the first breaths of spring after a harsh winter. As Callum's heartbeat resonated in his ear, it felt like a tender whisper of affection. The protective hold around his waist, grounded him better than his pendant ever could. Yet, when Riley's words interrupted this peaceful moment, Noah reluctantly pulled away. For a moment, Callum's arm tightened around him in a silent plea for him to stay.

"Alright," Aylin clapped her hands together, "shall we?"

Riley swung his arm around Noah's shoulders, his touch familiar and protective as he guided Noah towards the door. Callum's heart ached as he watched them leave, his thoughts lingered on the empty space that Noah had just filled moments ago. It hadn't been the first time he'd held Noah in his arms, but this time felt different. As Noah gripped onto him and peacefully melted into the embrace, Callum had felt a sense of intimacy he didn't realize he'd been yearning for. A feeling that eluded him during his years of fleeting connections and shallow romances. Callum lifted his gaze from the empty space in front of him and met Aylin's smiling eyes. He scowled and pushed the warmth rising in his chest back down.

Slowly, Callum walked towards the door. The three had already made their way down the rickety stairs, towards the little Subaru parked at the bottom. Riley opened the door for Noah and waited for him to slide in before closing it. He spared another daggered glance up at Callum before he walked around the other side and slid in beside Noah. The brisk air filled Callum's lungs as irritation prickled against his skin. Callum couldn't find fault in Riley's protectiveness of Noah. In the last twenty-four hours he'd seen Noah be brought here unconscious and bloodied then found fresh bruises wrapped around the warlock's neck. Any werewolf's instincts would kick into protective overdrive. However, Callum couldn't shake the frustrating feeling that he was watching another wolf encroach on what was his. Each foot slammed against the rickety wooden stairs with enough force that the planks bent and quaked. He rounded the car with long strides, in his mind he'd meant to slide into the passenger seat beside Aylin but as his hands reached out with blind eyes, his resolve faltered.

"What are you doing?" Noah asked with knitted brows.

Callum stared down at Noah. "Push over."

"No. Sit up front."

"Come on. Just scoot over," Callum insisted, trying to sound serious. A mischievous smile crept onto his face, and a playful twinkle danced in his eyes. "Or you could always sit in my lap, if you'd rather." Noah squinted his eyes as various emotions crossed his face. Callum leaned in closer, the sweet scent of lotus blossoms surrounded him. "So, what's it gonna be, darlin'?"

"Neither" the mix of emotions within Noah hardened. "You should just walk." Noah reached out of the car and grabbed the door to yank it shut.

Callum puckered out his bottom lip as he held the door open. "You're so mean."

Riley rolled his eyes "Just sit up front." Callum kept his eyes on Noah as he slid into the backseat. Noah made a sound of protest but slid to the middle as Callum settled and closed the door. "You're a pup," Riley groaned. Callum smiled triumphantly.

"Callum and I have a meeting with Madam Montgomery this afternoon," Aylin announced as she set the car into drive and peeled out of the makeshift parking spot.

"No need," Callum crossed his arms and made himself comfortable. His knee pressed against Noah's. "I'm not staying."

"So, you keep saying," Aylin hummed.

"Why'd you come back then" Noah fidgeted in his seat. His fingers interlocked as he picked at his nailbeds. Callum had to force his hands to restrain themselves from reaching for Noah's restless hands. "You already left." Callum thought he caught a tinge of hurt in Noah's voice. It must have been his imagination. "You don't want to be here. So why did you come back? None of us are going to report you."

"Speak for yourself," Rilley grumbled. "This rogue wolf keeps sniffing around you, my hand could be forced."

"I'm not a fucking rogue. And since you seem behind on the details, I'm the one that saved Noah while you were prancing around in a cage like some zoo animal."

"Humans are hostile towards our kind enough, without breaking the laws. Dipshit."

"Sure, and that means we should stomp out any bit of self-respect we have and be good little doggies. Right? Maybe they should be the ones caged up and forced to live on the reservations they love so much."

"It's not about self-respect, it's about co-existing as peacefully as possible. To keep them from hunting us down."

Callum laughed; the husky sound reverberated through the small vehicle. "Keep sipping the cool-aid, man. They never stopped and never will stop hunting us down. We're just making it easier for them. Crack open a history book; they have no issues destroying their own kind. They don't need a reason to come after us."

"This is a great debate and all, but I already turned Callum in," Aylin interjected.

"What?" Noah piped. "Why would you do that? You know fae communities are stricter than human cities."

Aylin glanced through the rearview mirror, Noah's eyes were wide, and his mouth hung slightly open as worry etched his features. Callum on the other hand hadn't seemed surprised by the information as he stared at Noah with both awe and unease.

"Callum showed up outside the enclosure first thing in the morning, bloody and naked with an unconscious student in his arms. Dozens of werewolves saw him, if I hadn't reported it then it would have gotten back to Madam Montgomery anyways and we'd both be in the deep shit," Aylin calmly explained. "This way I am able to control the information and find an outcome where Callum is not only accepted, but also a hero."

"Heroes slay the demon. Not save them," Noah corrected. The way Noah casually spoke when it came to the persecutions of his kind void of sadness or anger was enough to boil Callum's blood.

Riley pulled Noah into a tight side hug. Callum couldn't help the slither of jealousy through his stomach and into his heart at the act of casual intimacy. It should have been him comforting Noah.

No. Callum forced his attention out the window. He had no right to comfort Noah.

"Callum won't suffer any legal consequences," Aylin's words brought Callum's attention back to the front. He met her gaze in the mirror, the blue of her eyes began to swirl with that unsettling poisonous green. She smirked but said nothing else.

The rest of the drive lapsed into silence. Riley kept his arm around Noah, pulling him as far away from Callum as they could get in the tight space. Callum tottered between ignoring it and feeling irrationally angry by the act. Aylin hummed along with the radio, whether she was unwilling or uninterested in sharing further information about what to expect when they arrived on campus, she seemed content in the newfound silence. Noah continued to pick at his nailbeds, his head down but eyes darted all over the car. Every couple glances Callum would sense those eyes fall on to him. Part of him never wanted those eyes to fall away but another part begged for those eyes to never look at him again.

Aylin pulled into a small parking lot just to the side of a three-story brick building. "Callum can you get Noah back to his room, then meet me back here before two."

"I'll walk him," Riley chimed.

"But Riley you have that training session with coach Lorilis," Aylin corrected.

Riley scrunched his brows "No I don't. That's tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Aylin's eyes swirled green. "I'm certain it was this morning. In fact, you're already running late."

If Callum hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed Riley's dark eyes cloud behind a luminous green haze before a newfound clarity snaped within them. "Shit!" He exclaimed; his hand gripped the doorknob "I have to go! Coach is going to kick my ass." He pushed the door open and stepped out. "Noah, I'll bring by some food later." The door slammed shut and Riley was a blur as he dashed down the slushy pathways towards the physical center.

"Aylin," Noah rubbed his forehead with two fingers. She hummed in response. "How can you be so reckless?"

"Pot, meet kettle."

"That's different and you know it."

Aylin shrugged "Anyways, I have a few things I need to do. Oh, I know. On the way back to the dorms you should get something to eat." She turned her attention back to Callum. "Make sure he eats before he takes his medicine. And be back here before two. Madam hates tardiness and you'll need all the goodwill you can get."

Both Noah and Callum, opened their mouths but Aylin lifted her hand to silence them. "Bye now. See you later." With that she exited her car and sauntered towards the brick building, unconcerned by the two still sitting stupidly in her car.

"She's..." Callum started, "she's something else." Noah hummed in response as he rubbed his temples. "Do you have a headache still?" Noah nodded. Callum opened his door "How far is your place from here?" He stepped out and turned around to offer his hand to Noah. "I can carry you." Noah looked at the hand extended to him, then up at Callum.

He'd half expected to see that stupid half-smirk sprawled across Callum's lips. That damned smirk that set fireworks across his skin and made his heart stutter with promises of devilish delight. Thankfully, Callum wasn't smirking. That stupid smirk. Instead, he flaunted a genuine expression. Somehow that was much worse. Noah turned his head and slid over the seats to the side Riley sat on and exited the opposite door.

"Brat," Callum muttered under his breath with a light-hearted chuckle. He closed the door and rounded to where Noah had already started walking. "Where's your place?"

"I can walk on my own."

"Sure, I can walk on my own too. Beside you." Noah shot his head upwards to look at Callum who kept his gaze straight ahead. "So, what exactly did Aylin do? I've noticed that green in her eyes a few times now." When Noah didn't respond he finally turned his head and looked down to meet Noah's gaze. "Am I distracting you?" he asked with that stupid devilish smirk.

Noah froze for a split-second before averting his gaze forward "Don't be ridiculous." He forced his shorter legs to pick up pace, a fruitless feat when Callum's much longer legs were already slowed to match Noah's strides. "She's an echo."

"I thought those were myth?"

"Weren't all fae considered myth at one point in time?"

"I guess," Callum shoved his hand in his pocket and fished out a pack of cigarettes. "Do you mind?"

Noah looked over at the pack, "Who am I to sway you against your vices."

Callum chuckled, plopped the butt end in his mouth and sparked it. As he exhaled the drag, he said, "So an echo. I thought they acted as the voices for the Pantheon. Convincing Riley that he's late for a made-up training session doesn't seem very Godly."

"Depends on the God," Noah chuckled. "Aylin inherited compulsion from her dad, he's a siren. She could probably render the entire school into anarchy with a few words. You can imagine how troubled the Pantheon must have been when she came into her powers. But she serves and is protected by Morgana."

"Who do you serve?"

As far as the Pantheon went, Callum worshipped the Moon Court's wolfen mother, Selene. But when they'd learned about the other deities, he'd been intrigued by Morgana the Blood Queen. She was a blood mage in the early years when humans and fae were caught in an endless war. Her prowess for strategies and combat, as well as her thirst for blood had been something many werewolves admired. Callum wasn't immune to that admiration, along with the illustrations of this otherworldly beauty drenched in the blood of her enemies, she'd been Callum's first crush. After centuries of building her fae kingdom and slaughtering thousands of humans, she'd fallen victim to poison. On her death bed she'd been gifted a throne among the Dark Pantheon. 

"Deimos, of course," Noah's tone indicated that it had been a dumb question, but the sorrow in his eyes didn't escape Callum.

Callum inhaled another drag as silence fell over them. There was so much more that he wanted to ask. Like what exactly was Noah's magical attributes. How he survived this long without a patron. Even simple things, like what was his favorite season and the kind of music he listened to.

They walked a little ways before Noah came to a stop "The food center is down that way," he pointed. "There is a mess hall, the food isn't great but its free. The cafeteria is better and cheaper. Then there are a few cafes and restaurants. Avoid anything with a red cross if you're uncomfortable with sanguine options."

"Where do you want to eat?"

"I'll just make a cup of noodles in my room."

"Sounds great, let's go."

A frown wrinkled between Noah's white eyebrows. "You can't just invite yourself to my room."

"Aylin charged me with your safe return and to make sure you eat."

"Aylin has trouble keeping her nose out of others' business. I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"You'd rather eat cup noodles alone? Am I that bad of company?" Callum questioned as he stepped in closer.

Noah took a step back "Yeah, you are. How do I know you won't try to strangle me with a piece of pasta?"

"How do I know you'll take your medicine?" Callum took another step closer.

"You caught that, huh." Noah took another step back. "It's none of your business."

Callum stepped in closer, his black doc martens sloshed through a puddle that he knew soaked through Noah's canvas shoes. Noah took another step back; he yelped as he stumbled backwards off the sidewalk. Callum swung his arm out and caught Noah around the waist. "Another dizzy spell?"

"You know damn well it's not," Noah sniped as he pushed himself out of Callum's embrace.

"How would I know? I'm just worried about your safety."

"You're ridiculous."

Callum laughed, "how about that cup of noodles. A nice peaceful meal after the last couple of days."

"I get the feeling nothing is peaceful with you around."

"Funny," Callum smirked, "I was thinking the same about you."

Despite himself, Noah faltered and found himself inviting Callum back to his room for cup of noodles. Seemed like a silly meal choice, if Callum's appetite was anything like Riley's, he'd eat everything Noah had stashed in his room and still be hungry. But there they were, walking towards the residential district of Eldarion. Eldarion could have been considered a city of its own with its size. The residential district was made up of three large dormitories, staff apartments, privet housings, and small shrines scattered throughout to accommodate every residence deity. All except for the Dark Patheon which included Deimos, Lilith, and Morgana. Worship of the Dark Patheon wasn't banned but had been considered a more privet affair. A nicer way than saying, the peace of mind of the other students and faculty outweighed the religious rights of dark fae.

Callum took in the snow-covered grounds. He'd seen light dustings in Denver, but mostly the weather had tottered between chilly and lukewarm. Eldarion even felt worlds away from the little town of Sunshine, considering the campus was barely a half hour away from town. Snow piled high on dead shrubs, gardens that were once full of luscious life were now barren as the seedlings hid under ground and awaited the warm rays of spring. There weren't any lights strung up, nor holly and vines. Antique street posts were lit with flickering flames despite being morning, the small flames provided a miniscule amount of warmth. Not enough for Callum to understand the purpose but the flames provided a haven for the fae that went undetected by the naked eye.

"Holy shit," Callum exclaimed as they approached a twenty-story monstrosity. The face of the building stayed true to the stonework of the other buildings; large icicles glittered in the dull sun as they dripped from every windowsill. The sides, from what he could see curved into towers that shot higher into the sky than the primary twenty-stories. Students darted in and out of the entrance, some lingered along the benches unphased by the northern winds while others dawned puffy jackets, hats pulled low on their heads and scarves that shielded up to their noses.

"You have a way with words," Noah mused a faint hint of a smile on his lips.

Callum pulled himself out of the daze that Eldarion cast over newcomers and smirked. That stupid smirk that caused butterflies to rampage in Noah's stomach. Callum leaned in; his hot breath brushed over Noah's chilled skin as Callum's low-husky voice filled his ear. "What can I say? This tongue is a magic of its own."

The tips of Noah's ears burned pink as he whipped his head to look at Callum. Their faces close enough that their noses touched, "You truly have no shame."

"Should I prove it?"

"I'm sure there is another warlock you can harass."

The smirk sprawled across Callum's lips dipped downwards. Noah felt the cluster of butterflies in his stomach burn away one by one. Noah shifted away from Callum. The oversized sweats that Riley loaned to Noah had felt like being wrapped in a brand-new blanket. Thick with fleece and comfortable but now every lick of the breeze crept through the loose clothes. The chill brushed over his skin and seeped deep into his bones. Noah shivered and rubbed his arms as he quickened his pace towards the entrance of the building. The butterflies all burnt to ash, agitating his empty stomach. Callum walked behind him, with enough space to be considered respectful but close enough to make Noah fidget with awareness.

Once inside the heaters in front of the door blared down on them. Callum growled at the sudden discomfort, he understood the need to warm up after being out in the cold, but the sudden bursts of heat was uncomfortable and a killer on the immune system. Callum's eyes darted to Noah, werewolves had impeccable immune systems, their ability to heal killed off any harmful infections and bacteria before they could so much as sniffle. However, he knew nothing about warlocks' immune systems, and he could already guess that Noah's wasn't in prime shape.

"What kind of medicine do you take?"

"You're on that again?" Callum nodded stupidly despite Noah being faced away from him. "It's a poison brewed from the essence of poppies. It keeps me balanced."

"Haven't you ever heard of yoga? I feel like that'd be a safer option than drinking poison and performing fatal rituals."

Noah looked at Callum, but before he could respond he snapped his mouth shut.

"Uhg, I thought that freak finally died," a hushed voice pricked Callum's ears, by Noah's sullen face he suspected it also reached him. 

"I heard he tried to make a sacrifice to Deimos but even he was so disgusted that he cursed the freak," another voice chimed. Callum scanned the room and spotted two female witches huddled together, their eyes following Noah as they spoke in loud whispers.

"Imagine," the first girl giggled, "being such a loser that even the Evil God rejects your sacrifices." Both girls began to giggle. Noah cowered within himself as he made his way towards the elevators.

Callum growled as their irritating voices continued to spew utter bullshit. He stepped away from Noah's fleeing side, "Hey assholes," Callum hollered as he approached the girls. Both girls were startled as their attention shifted to Callum.

"Callum," Noah squeaked as he turned away from the elevator. "Don't."

"Don't what? I'd like to hear what these two have to say?"

"We were just chatting," the first girl answered as steadily as she could. The second nodded but remained silent.

"Oh? You're done now? 'Cuz it seemed like you had a WHOLE lot to say when Noah's back was turned."

"It's a privet conversation," the first girl defended.

Callum nodded; his upper lip twitched into a sneer. "One that everyone could hear because your voice carries like nails on a chalkboard. So, maybe not so privet."

"Who the hell are you?" The girl stood up, she barely stood taller than Noah as she crossed her arms and huffed out her chest. "Am I not allowed to be concerned for my safety with that demon walking around freely? He's a vile creature that even the vilest of Gods won't touch."

"Then maybe you should learn to keep your mouth shut," Callum wrinkled his nose, "Yah know. Don't want to incite his wrath."

"Callum, that's enough," Noah grabbed Callum's arm.

The girl snickered "Listen to your master little doggie."

Callum laughed, the sound deep and filled with scorn, he leaned in closer to the girl "You don't know what fear is little witch. But you will."

Both girls paled. Noah yanked at Callum's arm "Let's go!"

Callum grinned broadly as he straightened himself and turned to face Noah "Okay, Master." The venom in his voice dissipated, leaving behind a touch of playfulness.

Noah dragged him towards the elevator and smashed his finger into the button until the elevator door opened. As the doors closed Noah breathed out an aggravated huff. "What is wrong with you? Why would you do that?"

"They were talking shit."

"So what? They were talking about me. That has nothing to do with you."

"I didn't like it. And you shouldn't have to put up with it."

Noah laughed apathetically, "They're not wrong. I mean, I don't partake in sacrifices, but Deimos has scorned me. My father won't acknowledge me, my magic is unpredictable. It'll kill me one day and if I'm not careful it'll take dozens with me. They have every right to fear and mock me."

"Noah..."

"It's okay, really." Noah shared a sad smile, "I've made my peace. I'm just trying to experience as much as I can before seclusion."

"Seclusion?"

Noah shook his head in response, he had no intention of elaborating on the matter, nor did he know why he let that piece of information slip. Neither Riley nor Bellamy knew that he intended to turn himself over to the Monks of Amate after graduation. If Aylin knew, and Noah was sure she did, she hadn't mentioned anything. Within Amate he will live in seclusion, void of life, light, and love, until the day he breathes his last breath.

The elevator doors slid open, "How about that cup of noodles?"

Callum sighed "I think I need something stronger."

"I have tears of Lady's Mantle," Noah grinned.

"Maybe not that strong."

Tears of Lady's Mantle was banned in human territories in the late 1800s for its high metallic contents and addictive qualities. It didn't help that a group of trickster fae spread rumors that tears of Lady's Mantle were a cure to all diseases and secret of lasting life. In modern times it had been adapted into a clear liquor with gold flecks that only fae could safely consume. Relatively speaking of course.