The two girls walked into their first class, noting that there was yet another new face. The handsome blonde haired man looked up at the two women with a gorgeous grin. Olive stared at him, his blue eyes were as odd as Brody's.

'Finn, what the hell are you doing here?' Danika snapped.

'Investigating someone as requested by a friend.'

He looked to the pretty young woman beside Danika and smiled at her. Olive flushed and wanted to hide behind Danika.

'It might be wise if you refrain from acknowledging me.'

'Are you here because of the new guy?'

'Yes Phabel was worried about him and I have to say I agree, his surname is not common.'

'What?' Olive frowned 'Connors, not common?'

Danika turned to her realising that a little explanation was in order.

'To a human it is not uncommon but to a werewolf, which Brody and Finn are, it is.'

Olive looked at Finn now understanding why their eyes were so odd, they were a different dark being. Finn stood from his seat as Phabel entered.

'Danika, stand by the door and ensure no one enters, I want to try something.'

He waited until she was by the door, Phabel had joined them.

'Olive, I was wondering if you would like to get coffee with me later?'

Finn did his damnedest to break through the bond. Olive looked at him with curiosity, frowning at the man. She could see he was incredibly handsome, he smiled at her as something tingled in her mind. Olive glazed over him, his body was toned, it was obvious through the thin shirt and jeans. She thought that he it would be nice to explore his body but she just could not will herself to accept his offer.

'I can't, sorry. I have plans.'

Finn was pleased with her response even though it just asked more questions than it answered. He looked to Phabel who was happy with her response but as they looked at each other it became clear that there was something wrong with the whole scenario. How could Brody break through the bond when Finn couldn't? Finn was werewolf royalty, their abilities were far greater than any other werewolf.

He decided to try another tactic. After entering her mind, finding the particular memory of the phone number being passed to her, Finn decided to re-enact the scene, varying it only slightly. He grabbed a note book and ripped a piece of paper, writing a short note and a group of numbers on it to represent a phone number. Not his number, that was an unlisted number and he definitely didn't want that floating around. He knew that no one in this room would ever use it for a negative purpose but he knew it wasn't worth the risk.

'Olive, I have not been in this town before, I would like to do a tour of the sites, maybe you and your friend could show me around?'

He held out the phone number on the folded piece of paper, waiting. She took it and frowned at him, muttering her hesitant but accepting response.

'How?' Phabel glared at Finn.

'Simple. In her mind she accepts the piece of paper with the knowledge that when I am out of sight she will put it in the bin. I can assure you that she won't even look at what I wrote.'

He looked at her with a grin.

'Read it.'

Olive hesitantly opened the piece of paper and gasped, her eyes darted to Finn with fury.

'You pervert.' she hissed and then slapped him.

'Whoa Olive.' Phabel pulled her back.

Finn chuckled and returned to his seat, the slap to his cheek did little to him. Nothing more than a tingle of pain that was barely there. Danika joined them, picking up the note that had been cast away in the minor scuffle.

'I can see through your clothes?' she said dryly as she looked at Finn 'That's a little childish Finn.'

Danika turned to Olive who was shooting looks of sheer contempt at Finn.

'He can't see through anything Olive. He is just teasing, which once you get to know Finn, you will understand this is what he does, this is who he is.'

Olive thumped her way to her seat, muttering that she'd rather not get to know him.

'Smooth move, idiot.'

'I did it for a reason, just by the way. In her mind now I am no longer desirable to her because she sees me as a pervert. It's a way of mending the crack that I made but it's not permanent.'

Danika rolled her eyes and dumped the note onto his note book, following after Olive.

'So you're saying that he hasn't broken through the bond?'

'It's a flaw, Phabe. One little crack in the almost perfect bond. Her mind sees no issue with it because she dumps his phone number almost instantly. Problem is, she accepted it which if he persists the crack will get bigger and it's unlikely that he would do anything to repair it like I did. Like I said, you need to get your freaky on with her, mend that little crack and seal your bond forever.'

'I did, can't you see the damned stone embedded in her skin?'

'Yeah I saw it and I also managed to get past it. You know why Phabe?'

He shook his head.

'Because bonding stones still take time. Even though you two have bonded, it will take a couple of days before it sticks permanently. Keep the freaky going, keep telling her how much you love and adore her, ensure that she knows there is no one other than her and you expect the same from her.'

The door swung open and a couple of students wandered in, eyeing off the new student. Girls fluttered their eyes at him which was of no use, Finn was very much a one woman man and he had his woman. He adored his Aaliyah and in his opinion there would never be anyone as divine as her.

'Like I said professor, mend that crack with your freaky.' he grinned 'Smooth sailing.'

Phabel returned to the front of the room, more students pouring into through the doors. Brody walked in, taking his seat beside Olive. Even though Finn didn't need the confirmation, he still entered Phabel's mind and confirmed he had the right person. Phabel gave a subtle nod, Finn turned his attention to the young man beside Olive. 

'Did you have a good weekend Olive?' Brody grinned at her.

'Uh yeah.'

He could see Danika giving him one hell of a death stare.

'And what about you... Danika was it?'

'Give up the act wolf boy, she ain't an idiot. Turn around and face the front and stop talking to either of us.'

'Of course.. my lady. As you command.'

His smirk was dark and malevolent as he turned on his seat, looking to the professor who was watching them. Brody turned to Olive and whispered in her ear.

'You might think that you can hide but they will find out. There are wolves on the board of directors, one sniff of misbehaviour and they will be in your mind. Tread carefully.'

Olive paled as she listened to his dark whisper, the underlying threat was there. She quivered as she stared at Phabel, he was trying to look but not be obvious about it. A shadow loomed over them, Olive turned to see that the man she thought was a joker was looking down at them with doom on his face.

'Outside now.' Finn said quietly.

'And why would I do that? I am here for a class.' Brody turned smugly to the front.

Finn leaned over to his ear, keeping low to not be heard but there was little reason to be discreet, he already held the attention of everyone in the room.

'Your reason is because your prince commands you so. Get up before I drag you out by your tail.'

Finn stood upright, elongating his dominating stature. Brody gathered his books and bag and stepped past Finn, leaving the room. Finn wasn't far behind, there was a group of his guards waiting in the empty corridor for them. As requested by the king, the university had cleared a room for an interview. Lucian was waiting with his own guards in the room, wanting to know why this young man was so interested in Olive. Or maybe it was Danika he was after. Finn's guards led him to the interview room, or rather the interrogation room. Guards stood on either side of the door, there were no windows and there was no other ways to exit the room. He was stuck and would have to answer their questions.

'Are you prepared to answer the questions truthfully?'

Brody decided almost instantly it wasn't worth his life to lie to Finn. He knew he could break him without a second thought. Though what could happen to him if he betrayed his client wouldn't be pretty either. Maybe he could embellish the truth, keep certain facts from him.

'Yes.'

'You understand that I can enter your mind at any point to confirm your answers?'

'Yes.'

'What is your name?'

'Brody Cartolik.'

'Clan?'

'Fylastree.'

Finn nodded happy with the answers. Surname and clan were in keeping with the realm. He dipped in quickly and confirmed the answers as correct.

'Why are you here?'

'A mission of secrecy, your highness, one so secret that I'll bet your father doesn't even know about it.'

Anger swelled in Finn, the thoughts of underhanded behaviour in his realm was troubling and he worried for it's future. He knew that this wasn't a threat against his own world but the fact that whatever was going on was clearly being started in his realm was concerning. 

'Continue before I enter your mind, retrieve it for myself and then end your life as punishment.'

'I was requested to search out the shifter prince in this realm and find a way of ending their rule in Loach Issralk.'

'The Deltrith's?'

'No, the shifters entirely. The person paying me wants the entire realm for themselves.'

'Who and what are they?'

'A witch, her name was not revealed to me. All I know is that she had tried to gain rule through their family by trying to entice Eris but was unable to. Now she is trying an alternate route.'

'And how were you planning on that? Did this witch tell you what to do?'

'Yes, as a matter of fact she did. She suggested starting with the abduction of any partner Phabel might have. Her reasoning would be that Phabel would surely seek her out and find himself captive as well. If there was no partner, I was to go straight to the man himself and once I had the prince of the realm, the king would hand the realm over to my very happy customer.'

Finn and Lucian looked at each other with very concerned faces. A realm for the witches was already under construction by their maker, it was always going to happen but this was a real worry. Whoever this woman was, she was prepared to abduct people to get what she wanted.

'And if the king refuses to give in to her demands?'

'Then she will marry Phabel herself, once their union is official I would imagine she would kill him. She would go onto be queen.'

'No she wouldn't, if he's dead it passes on to his sister.'

Brody shrugged. 'Maybe she will keep him locked in a dungeon, what do I care?'

'You should care because you had the intention to abduct people. A crime punishable no matter what realm you are in.'

Finn stepped closer, squaring his shoulders off and staring down into the man. He took a long walk through his mind, searching out every single memory and thought, every interaction and dark deed. His mind was steely but not impenetrable. Finn found all that he needed plus a whole lot more.

'Take him into custody.'

Finn's guards hauled Brody to his feet, marching him out of the room.

'We need to talk to Phabel, order your men to take him and the girls to his office, I'll return with more men when I've dealt with our friend.'

*******************************

Phabel had been in the middle of the lesson when Lucian walked in the door with his men standing behind him. Every head in the room turned and looked upon their vampire king who had for some unknown reason decided to give their lesson a personal visit. It so happened that they were still learning about him and the timing was good for the students but very badly timed for Lucian. They were still talking about Ariella. He hated the thought that Danika had to sit through the lesson, yet again, and listen to the fact that he repeatedly cheated on Ariella. Lucian had learned his lesson, thousands of lonely nights had taught him one soul crushing lesson. That was why he had vowed that there was not another woman on this planet that could lure him away from Danika. They could stand before him naked as they day they were born and it would mean nothing to him. She gave him a reassuring smile but his face was determined as ever. There was a lot of lives on the line here, his uncles kingdom and realm were at risk of a coup, his favourite family member was in serious danger and his new love was too. When Phabel looked up to him, he could see the concern, he knew there was immediate danger.

'Your highness, welcome to our class.'

'Thank you professor, may I have a word with you in private?'

You will want to excuse the class completely Phabe.

Phabel nodded.

'Of course, class dismissed.'

Lucian and his men stepped aside to let the students pass, watching each and every one of them look at him like he was a rare specimen. Even the vampires that were in this class looked at him differently. Danika and Olive were slow as they packed their books, knowing they weren't expected to leave but still had to maintain the appearance that they were. Phabel passed through the door at the bottom of the room after it had been emptied. He thought it was odd that the main door to his office was open but remembered that Finn was using the rock face to pass into this world with ease. Phabel assumed that one of the guards must have left it open, he thought that Finn would not be that careless. As he stepped into his office, he smiled seeing one sweet woman leaning on his cabinets with the look of lust in her eyes.

'Aui leabu you are fast on your feet today.'

She smiled a little deeper as Phabel closed the door. He couldn't help but wonder why Finn's guards were so careless, again there was a door open. The door that led to the rock was always locked, he could understand why it wouldn't be for today but he thought at the very least it should be shut. Phabel drew closer to Olive, her need for him had seemed to increase dramatically. 

'Not at the university, we agreed, remember?'

His fingers caressed her neck, pulling aside the soft cotton material. Phabel kissed her neck, searching out his favourite item, the remnants of necklace. His fingers traced over where it should be, finding nothing.

'Where is the stone?' he whispered.

She said nothing and Phabel looked at her, her glossed lips smiled at him. He frowned, Olive didn't usually wear make up. The gloss was subtle but he couldn't get past it.

'Olive?'

The door swung open as Danika and Olive walked in chatting. They stopped and stared at the scene before them. The woman that Phabel had in his arms was a mirror image of Olive, except there was no stone. Phabel's eyes caught sight of the stone on the woman that stood beside Danika, anger ripped through him as he turned back to the woman who had tricked him. She pressed her lips together as she slicked the gloss over them, readying to kiss him. Phabel tried to resist but the woman had an iron grip on him as she pressed her lips to his. When she was done, she let him squirm and fight his way free, dropping him to the floor. Patiently she waited as a bewildered Phabel looked around.

'Who the hell are you?' he snarled.

'Damn it.' the woman hissed.

At that moment, Finn returned, opening the rock face. The woman turned into a tiny bird and darted through the door into mid jump.

'What's going on?' Finn frowned.

'I'd say a shape shifter with a bit of magic from a determined witch.' Lucian stepped past his wife and Olive.

He held his hand out and helped Phabel to his feet. Phabel pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his lips, the gloss had transferred to it. It sparkled like glitter with puffs of pink rising into the air.

'How did you manage to resist a love curse?'

Phabel grinned as he rummaged through his pocket, pulling out a little tube of chap stick.

'I am so buying you a case of that.' Danika said wide eyed and then turned to her husband 'You too.'

He laughed a little but it died away when he saw the look on Olive's face. It was confusion and sadness, he knew what she would be thinking.

'Would you mind giving us a moment?'

Everyone left the room to wait in the corridor, leaving Phabel and Olive alone. He engulfed her in a hug as she cried quietly.

'I thought she was going to hurt you.'

Phabel grinned as he gripped her below her jaw, looking into her eyes.

'You are so wonderful, you do not fret for my faithfulness instead you worry for my safety.'

'I could see the darkness in her eyes, I knew she did not truly want you for that purpose.'

'But it is concerning, is it not? She impersonated you and fooled me. All that I had was this.'

His finger trailed over the stone lump.

'Then this will be your reminder of me, look for this first before you bestow a kiss.'

'Always.' he whispered against her lips.