Kevin made himself comfortable on Adie's bed, perfectly happy to watch her hang several new outfits Devon had bought her in the wardrobe.

Adie paused over the diamante-studded, black dress, caressing the silk as it ran through her fingers.

"We can't hide this from him for much longer," Kevin chastised. "I understand your reluctance to have him know that we're mated, but you're a Shaman and there's no way you can withhold that kind of information. Too many people know already. The kid's mother has already told several of her friends, who have probably told other friends. You know how fast these things spread."

"Nicolas actually has very good taste in women's clothing." Adie purposely changed the subject. "I'm surprised he knew what size to get. Although," she continued, giving it a second thought, "given the way he studied me when I opened the door wearing nothing but a towel last night, I guess I'm not too surprised really."

Kevin tensed and growled low in his throat. "He had better keep his eyes to himself," he threatened, making Adie giggle happily, because her diversion tactic worked.

She held the dress against her and studied her reflection in the mirror. "I like this one. What do you think?"

"Hmm?" he asked distractedly, plotting in his mind how he was going to dispose of Nicolas. "Oh yeah, nice, but you'd look good in a bin bag. Why did he see you in a towel?"

She hung the dress and rummaged through the remaining bags. "When he brought my dinner tray," she said from the depths of the last bag, withdrawing a one-piece, strapless, black body edged with delicate lace, and a pair of shear stockings.

Seeing the garment dangling from her fingertips, Kevin's voice dropped several octaves lower; his words sounding more like a growl. "Why the hell did he buy you that?" He stood up, his chest heaving with his deepened breathing as he fought to control his rising temper. "If he thinks he's going to get the chance to see you in that..."

"Kevin!" Adie yelled, finally snagging his attention after several attempts. "It's standard underwear for a dress like that. Relax, okay? The only person who's going to see me in this is me."

He had the grace to look sheepish when his temper cooled enough for him to see reason. "It'd better be. I mean, if I don't get to see you in that scrap of fabric, no-one else can either."

"Good save." After looking around the floor for another bag she may have missed, she sighed. "I have a problem. There aren't any shoes and I can't very well wear a dress like that with these." She pointed to her feet, wiggling her old, off-white sneakers. "And I've no make-up. Is there somewhere I can get some? Do you think Bonnie would have shoes I could borrow?"

"Why don't you ask her?" He tossed her his phone after looking up the number. "Just hit the green button."

Bonnie answered after several rings, "Hey Kev, what up?"

"Hi bonnie, It's Adie. I'm in a bit of a jam and I was hoping you could help me out. Devon is insisting I go with him to some fundraising thing for the Governor tonight and I've no shoes or make-up. He had someone get me a gorgeous, black dress and sexy as sin underwear, but no suitable shoes." She chuckled at Kevin's growl when she mentioned the underwear.

"Can you come over? Bring the dress and you can get ready here. Becca is a genius with a hairdryer and make-up brush, and I'm sure one of us will have a pair of heels in your size."

She relayed to Kevin who shrugged. "I'll just let the others know where we're headed. We'll need to be back for six."

Bonnie heard him and suggested, "Tell him to drop you off. He can pick you up at quarter to."

Kevin waved her off as she opened her mouth to repeat Bonnie's instruction. "I heard. I'll wait outside if I must."

By 5:30pm, Adie twirled in a circle, her arms raised to allow the silk to billow up from the floor and flare around her thighs, showing off the top of the stockings. Kevin's pained groan emanating from the doorway brought her to a standstill. She smiled and patted her freshly trimmed and styled hair. Her make-up was subtle enough that at first it appeared she wasn't wearing any.

"Beautiful." The only word that came to his mind, yet somehow felt inadequate to describe how he saw her. "Your chariot awaits ma'am."

She smiled, whispering, "Thank you."

Suddenly shy, she took his offered arm and lifted the hem of her dress so she wouldn't step on it when she walked out to the waiting car.

Devon's appreciative stare from the opposite side of the gleaming, black limousine left her feeling cold inside.

Kevin felt her shiver when he got in beside her and, believing it was the temperature difference making her tremble, removed his tux jacket to drape it around her shoulders. It was surprisingly warm, given the fact that a cold-blooded vampire had been wearing it. Adie snuggled deeper into the comfort it offered, trying to keep as much distance between her and Devon as the confined space would allow.

On their arrival, twin, ornate, electric gates swung slowly open to allow them entrance to the long concrete driveway, lined on either side by perfectly trimmed, cone-shaped, individual hedges lit from beneath by pale yellow spotlights.

An elegantly dressed usher held the car door open for Devon, who reached back to offer her a hand out. She shrugged out of Kevin's jacket , thanking him for the loan. Accepting Devon's hand, she slid from the seat with as much grace as she could muster.

She stood a moment to take in the lavish mansion before her. Through the windows, she could see copious amounts of food piled onto several tables in the centre of a long room. To the other side of the double-door, entrance porch she could see several dozen elegantly dressed men and women standing in groups.

"Wow," she mumbled, feeling a little overwhelmed and somewhat out of place when they entered the main hall.

People gravitated toward them - upper class socialites seemed to flock to her group. As the Governors main sponsor, Devon proved a popular attraction. She spent most of the evening navigating her way through mundane questions with answers Devon had supplied on the drive over.

His supposed family had invested well over the years, accumulating wealth through valuable stocks and shares. According to Devon, Adie was his new personal assistant. She didn't like the way he'd intimated personal, as if she were his latest floozy, and did everything in her power to avoid any physical contact he tried to initiate. Bile rose in her throat when he placed a cold hand on her bare back as he guided her through the throng of people in the direction of their host.

Bill Hooper greeted them with a nod as they approached, quickly excusing himself from his present company, and directed them to his office in a side room.

"Devon, I'm so glad you could make it," Bill gushed, clasping Devon's hand in an iron grip.

Devon smiled and withdrew his hand, wiping it on a handkerchief he pulled from his breast pocket. "Let us cut to the chase, Bill. How much are we talking?"

"Alexander is a powerful man, Devon. He has influence in all the right places and I don't know if you can match the price he's already paid to the senator." Bill walked to a cabinet behind the desk and removed a manila folder. "He keeps his affairs in order so blackballing him will be out of the question."

"Then I want you to set up a meeting with him," Devon demanded. "It is time to lay our cards on the table."

"Are you insane? If it comes to a show of power, he'll annihilate you. It'll get messy, the kind of messy that can't be covered up." Bill sunk into his chair, vehemently shaking his head.

"Trust me when I say there have been a few developments. I am more than a match for him these days." He turned and indicated for Kevin to open the door and added, "Just set up the meeting Bill. I expect you to have a time and date by the end of the week."

They mingled for several hours, Devon creepily charming everyone who approached him. He continued with the innuendos, touching his personal assistant at every opportunity. Kevin remained close to Adie's side the entire time, stepping between her and Devon on several occasions to break any intrusive contact Devon made with her.

The constant smiling was draining and by the time they arrived back at the house Adie was exhausted, fit only for her bed and a good night's sleep. Try as she might however, sleep would not come to her. She lay awake staring at the ceiling.

Two faint pinpricks of ultra-violet light caught her attention, seeming to hover at ceiling height. When she focused on them, they seemed to grow, coming closer. As they approached, they took on shape. Glowing purple eyes that stared into the depths of hers, holding her gaze captive with their penetrating stare. Ghostly eyes enveloped her, drowning her in their intensity.

Darkness claimed her.