Finally, it was time to raid Lake Geneva. It's been a week since the meeting with the Vampires.

"Demi you can not wear a dress."

Demi was ready to rip her head out. Onyx was unbearably tense because she would be on the mission with them.

He'd been snapping at her since yesterday, and overbearing in the smallest things she did.

And Demi could wear a dress wherever she wanted, damn it! She had made it a ritual to wear something nice for the people she killed.

She was perfectly efficient in them, even more so than in pants! Pants never fit her right and it made her so uncomfortable!

"I will cry right now." She pointed a finger at him as she threatened.

Onyx's eyes widened in surprise, he then glowered down at his mate.

His Beast was prowling in his mind, his nostrils flared at the idea of his mate in danger. His heart was beating fast in anxiety, and it was pissing him off.

"No crying," he growled lowly.

"No telling me what to do!"

Her foot stomped as she stood in one of his t-shirts.

"Stop being a brat, do as I say Demi." His Alpha voice threaded into words and Demi gaped. She was unaffected but began hitting him with the dress she held in her hands.

"Don't. Use. Your. Stupid. Voice. On me!"

Onyx swatted her hands and they both wrestled for a moment.

He snatched the dress away and held it up to her body, "This barely covers anything! What happens when your clothes offer no protection, you'll get fuckin' hurt!"

Demi screeched in annoyance, tugging at the ends of her hair. She began shoving him, right out of her room.

"Go away!"

Onyx snarled but didn't stop her, even if the only thing that soothed him at the moment was her in his line of sight.

He knew he was being difficult and allowed her to shut the door loudly.

"That was kind of funny," a feminine voice sounded. He saw Lacey leaning against a doorway watching.

He sneered and turned to walk away.

"You seem agitated," the hell hound fell into step with him.

"If it makes you feel better, their mother taught them to be able to fight in whatever they wore. Elora's been fighting all of her life in a dress. And I've seen her throw down before... Actually I don't think I've ever seen her wear pants."

Onyx didn't respond.

"The point is, pants are like... a bad omen to them. Keko has a different style and I'm lucky I don't have to worry about her flashing anyone. Unfortunately for you and Demetri," she shrugged. "You're not so lucky."

"I'll live," he grunted.

"Every time I've seen you the past couple days, you look about ready to shit yourself."

They stopped in the entrance of the living room, Onyx leaned against the wall.

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Been stressed."

Lacey nodded in understanding.

"One time, when Keko and I first met, she was attacked by a warlock. Took the sucker down in less than a minute- cut his head off with a shield. But I went a little bat shit on her, but I shouldn't have. I got scared and took it out on her. This is the life we live, and I had to accept that."

Onyx nodded but her words echoed in his head, this was their life. She continued,

"You've got a good group of friends with you. The four of them seem nice, and you're apart of the family here now. Don't be afraid to talk to us is what I'm getting at," she nudged her knuckle against his shoulder before walking away.

Onyx nodded in appreciation, rubbing his face tiredly.

He heard familiar footsteps approaching. An addictive smell filled his senses and he glanced up at Demi.

She clasped her hands behind her nervously as she looked up at him. Her long locks were in high pigtails.

"I'm sorry I was mean," she jutted her lip out. She suddenly flipped her skirt up, "I put on shorts under!"

He pushed her hands down and sighed while tugging her close. She blinked up at him nervously, he kissed her temple.

"No, I'm sorry for being an ass."

"For just today or the other days too?" she asked.

He grunted and gave her the stink eye, choosing not to answer that.

"I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt Demi," he rumbled.

"I get hurt all the time, it happens Onyx."

He shook his head vehemently. "No. Not to you."

"I almost twisted my ankle getting out of bed today."

He ran his hand through his hair sharply, annoyed his point wasn't getting across. Demi frowned as she realized how serious he was.

She reached and kissed his fist.

"I'll listen to everything you say. I promise. My fighting style isn't head to head, stop worrying yourself sick."

Onyx leaned down to kiss her hard, she hummed and pecked him multiple times, holding his cheeks tightly.

He felt his shoulders slump, not realizing just how tense he was.

They found themselves trailing outside to the cars ready for them. Teleporting was nixed as it'd leave a magic trace, they didn't know how well the humans could track it.

Demi hopped next to Onyx's fast paced walking, due to his long legs. They saw Elora badgering her sons.

"I can go!"

"Dad says no."

"Fuck your dad!"

"That's you're job, mama," Demi piped up.

Elora waved her hands wildly in anger, frustrated she couldn't help her children in this mission. Demetri theorized her magic signature would be too strong, her being there would put everyone in danger.

"Yeah baby," Demetri glanced down at her.

She hit him before walking to kiss each of her kids goodbye. Kekoa would be staying with her to help send out messages warning other witches and warlocks.

Onyx saw Bear and Cash approach them and their truck. Everyone was assigned different quadrants, Onyx had divided up. Elora kissed Demi's cheek. Before looking at Onyx expectantly.

He stared right back in confusion.

Elora reached up to the tall man and kissed his forehead for good luck.

Everyone laughed quietly at the shocked look on Onyx's face. Demi squeezed his hand with a smile, making sure he was okay.

He squeezed back before guiding her to the passenger side of the car. He opened it for her and watched her climb in, Cash and Bear following suit into the back.

Demi hummed a thank you before Onyx himself started the car.

"How far?" She glanced over at him while looking through the glove compartment nosily.

"Hour."

She nodded as she sniffed one of the air fresheners left in the car. She scrunched her nose and tossed it back in, gripping a rubber band she found.

Demi turned around and shot it at Cash immediately.

"Ow!"

"No fighting," Onyx growled.

Demi gripped another rubber band and shot it at him again. The hound hissed and swatted at her.

Bear pushed at Cash for swatting at Demi.

Then they both began bickering, albeit playfully.

Demi sat back with a satisfied smile, she loved starting fights.

Onyx side eyed her before rolling her eyes, knowing that was intentional. Sometimes there was a method to Demi's madness.

Both Bear and Cash stopped eventually and were gossiping to one another. Onyx had tuned them out and Demi was listening to the noise from the Void, her eyes flickering through the forrest they passed.

"So," Cash rest his elbows on the console with his face resting on his hands.

"How are the new mates?"

Bear popped up and took his spot, "Are things going smoothly? Now that Alpha isn't being a moron? Any pups coming soon?"

Demi blinked in surprise and Onyx gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"Georgie says yes but I didn't really think you had it in your Alpha."

Cash popped in, "Demi as your best friend I have a right to all details. I don't actually want that but curiosity killed the cat."

Demi's eyes darted between the two, then to her mate who's eyes were narrowed at the empty road.

"Alpha has been isolated from everyone most of his adolescents, who knows what goes on in their relationship."

Demi frowned, "You're being weird."

"The Pack made a bet on it, I'm just trying to collect my cash."

Cassius sounded, "I didn't make a bet but I just like to know what's going on."

"Well, stop asking." She turned away stubbornly, "Onyx and I are good, he makes me feel good and that's all you have to know."

Onyx reached and gripped her thigh, rubbing it gently as he kept his eyes on the road.

Both men in the back piped down, the last thing they want is an upset Demi.

The witch reached and turned on the radio. Toying with the rings in Onyx's fingers.

"Do you think we'll find the Witches or Warlocks they kidnapped?"

Onyx swallowed hard, he knew this was something important to Demi. He thinks she feels guilty she wasn't the one taken. A type of survivors guilt.

"I hope so," he replied quietly. She nodded and was mostly quiet for the rest of the ride. Onyx occasionally speaking up to review game plans for when they arrive.