Because Brad could not go out in the sunlight at the moment, Anzide and I went to the grocery store with a long list. Getting in early, we went straight to the meat section and grabbed a lot of varied cuts. This was an alternative blood source that Anzide suggested that Brad used when getting close to feeding time. It wasn't the complete answer, and it wouldn't satisfy Brad at all, but it was enough to stave off hunger for a little while.

With the bottom of the cart loaded, we wandered through the aisles, picking off the things that Brad had suggested on the list and the things that we wanted. There might have been too many biscuits.

Turning into the medical aisle, we stopped and stared. Kannon was here. His hand reached out, and he was in the process of taking a packet of condoms from the shelf. His gaze turned to us and the eyes that I'd once dreamily stared into widened.

"Uh, hey. They're not for me."

Of course not. They're for Audrey.

"Jess gets embarrassed."

"Sure," I offered with a sweet smile.

Kannon looked at the cart full of groceries, awkwardly shifting on his feet.

"So, I guess that you're not leaving town."

"We talked about it for a while," I offered. "But Brad's having a few issues at the moment. The shifter in him is making a play for dominance, so it's kind of obvious that there's something wrong."

"Right," he nodded, giving a sympathetic smile. "Not a good look. I guess you guys can't be traveling then."

"Yeah. So, if you could tell that meathead leader of yours to back off, I'd appreciate it a whole lot."

Kannon rolled his eyes.

"Evie," he chided.

I shrugged and pushed the cart around him.

"Just saying it as I see it. Later."

We continued through the aisle. I stopped at the toothpaste and quickly tapped out a message to Brad, just in case he got visitors. If I was going to be making things up, he needed to be on board with the lie.

He responded quickly, which was interesting because I thought that he needed sleep. Brad said that he was feeling tired and told us to be quiet when we returned. When the next message followed, I understood why he was awake. Hannah had messaged him as well.

"Hannah wants to go on a date."

"He can't go."

"I'm sure Brad is aware of that. He's asking what to do."

Anzide sighed as he began to push the cart.

"It's hard to say. If he refuses, then she could turn up wanting to know what's going on. I'm assuming that at the beginning of all relationships, it's like ours?"

I looked up at him with a cheeky grin.

"Hot and heavy."

Anzide nodded with a knowing smile.

"So, she'd think that something was wrong if he refused to go on a date, right?"

"Yep."

"And she'd turn up to make sure that everything was okay. Alternatively, he could agree to the date and go on it, risking Harlwood's wrath."

"Screwed either way."

Anzide said nothing as we turned into the next aisle. Thankfully Kannon had fled the shop in haste, leaving us alone to do our shopping in peace.

"How about he agrees to go but then doesn't turn up?"

"She would wait, but then she'd wonder if everything was okay. The least she would do is call, which I don't think she would do. The risk is far too great because I believe she will want to check on him. Especially if she's cast this spell."

I sighed heavily, wishing for an easy answer when there was nothing.

"What if he ends it completely? Calls her out on being a demon and says that she can't be coming around to the property anymore."

"And if she's not the demon?"

I groaned a frustrated growl.

"You're not making this any easier. Brad wants an answer."

"And we have nothing. The scenario with the least amount of damage is that he refuses to go on the date, and if she turns up, then we'll just have to send her away. I will have to watch Brad closely, but it's a much better solution. We still risk Harlwood finding out, and that will happen, that's a definite but we can plead that there weren't a whole lot of choices available to us."

With that, I tapped out the message, adding that he should wait until we returned so that Anzide could be there to cut Hannah off at the driveway.

Brad didn't respond. I hoped that he was asleep but feared that he'd received visitors, or rather, one visitor.

Our return back to the caravan was quicker than it should have been. I think Anzide feared the outcome of any messages more than I did.

Warily, Anzide entered the caravan while I waited in the locked car. There was no chance of him getting in unless he had gained super strength that could rip through metal.

Seconds later, Anzide appeared at the door. He wasn't exactly over the moon with happiness, but he wasn't frowning either. I guess Brad was okay.

Opening the door, I got out as Anzide approached.

"Well?"

"Awake, tired, annoyed, hungry. He's going out to feed soon but has agreed to take me for protection. The dilemma is what to do with you."

"I'll go with you."

Anzide nodded and then moved to the back of the car. Unloading the groceries has never been a fun task, but I did it without complaint.

"It seems like the only logical solution but I don't like it."

"There's not a lot of alternatives available to us. Unless you want to collect Brad's meal for him."

Anzide stopped, looking at me with intrigue.

"You're not seriously considering it, are you? I was joking."

"It would solve the problems that I can see happening if you step over the fence line."

Lowering the lid, I sighed heavily.

"Last resort. I don't want victims brought to the property or dumped near it either."

"How about a victim brought to the area? Brad feeds, and I'll take the body away?"

"Not a whole lot better, but I guess there's not much choice."

Anzide nodded. We were in a difficult situation, and I knew that he wanted to keep me within the demon protection as much as possible. The sooner Drakkus was dead, the better.

Anzide was dumping the body when Harlwood turned up. I was not expecting him to arrive so soon after giving him the photos, more so when he said that it would take a few days.

I looked at Brad, who was much calmer now that he'd fed. He sighed and gave me an uneasy smile.

"We didn't know until it was too late. Remember that."

"Yeah. Let's hope that this goes well."

Harlwood smiled as he approached.

"I have news, good and bad."

"Us too."

He nodded, glancing around the makeshift campsite.

"Yes, I can sense the demon. It is unfortunate but not surprising that they made a play for you. I'm just glad that I got in first."

"You're not mad?"

"Absolutely not. I knew the demon would attempt to become your soul feeder."

He paused, looking at Brad.

"Though I would not expect that."

Harlwood turned to me, his eyes searching for a few seconds before he offered a curious smile.

"And yet, you survive. Perhaps thanks to your Nephilim, hmm?"

"You know that Brad attacked me?"

"I sense that there is a spell on Brad if that's what you mean. Yes, I am aware of what the demon has done to him. It is wearing off, if you're wondering. The more feeds he has that are not what the demon wants, the stronger his will against the demon grows."

He turned to face Brad with a stern frown.

"But understand that one forced feed will undo all your hard work. Maintain your strength and fight the spell. You have almost won the battle. Avoiding the demon would be a good idea too."

Harlwood gave me a questioning look.

"Hannah. She works in the real estate office."

His eyebrows raised in acknowledgment.

"There are better choices for you, Brad. Especially now that the immortal creatures within have dominated over the mortal form. I'd push towards vampirism if it were me. After all, you are a Corbin, and it would help your cause if you had at least one vampire in the family."

Harlwood stopped and looked at the forest with a smile.

"Or more," he whispered. "Good times are ahead of you, my dear. Be patient."

I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. Niko was growing stronger every day that we were apart.

"In the meantime, the good and the bad. The good news is that I have attended to the lower rank vampires as you requested. They are, in every sense of the word, dead. It will be some hours before Drakkus realizes, which is just as well because it leads me to the bad part of why I am here."

"Drakkus is not dead."

"No, he is not. I am fully capable of undertaking the task, more so if his precious demon is occupied, which thank you for that. I am sure that your interactions with her enabled the process to move easily and quickly. As for Drakkus, my issue is that I don't think that I should kill him. Trust me when I say that I'd dearly love to but correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a blood war?"

I sighed, nodding.

"Yes. I have to be the one that kills Drakkus. We're doomed."

Harlwood smiled, and out of all the ones he'd offered, I had to say it looked like the sincerest one I'd ever seen.

"You say that, but look at what you did to the house. Channel your powers correctly, and you could be a formidable foe. I can see with my own eyes how powerful you are. I hear tales of how you do not back down, even when your enemy appears stronger than you."

His eyes shifted to the forest, and I turned to see Anzide returning.

"Good afternoon, Anzide. We were just discussing a few things. I just mentioned that all four of the lower rank requests were attended to but not the leader because I was sure that this began with a blood war."

With pursed lips, Anzide nodded.

"And in light of the fact that I promised to attend to the leader's death on your behalf without remembering about that little piece of the equation, I came to alter the deal with you. In my inability to kill Drakkus, I am falling short on my side of the deal, which I dislike. You have already shown yourselves to be trustworthy by refusing the demon, so I believe it is imperative that I comply equally as fast. You may ask anything of me, and I will provide."

"Fix Niko." I blurted out.

Harlwood looked at me curiously, the smile stalling on his face as he glanced at Brad and Anzide.

"Are you sure about that? You wouldn't prefer that I fix the house or help you with your lacking skills?"

I shook my head.

"We need him."

Thinking about it, Harlwood was quiet for a few seconds and then nodded.

"Yes, I can see your point. Brad struggles with the changes, you should learn your skills naturally, and of course, the element of surprise with the original leader of Hades would blow Drakkus out of the water. However, just so that you're fully aware, you are still the one that needs to kill Drakkus. You opened the door, and now you need to walk through it. To do that efficiently, I can see that you need more than just your skills."

Harlwood raised his arm and pulled back the sleeve of his jacket. His gaze lowered to his watch. I frowned, wondering what was going on.

"And that should do it."

With happiness showing on his face, Harlwood looked at me.

"I have completed my side of the agreement, and I hope that you are pleased with my efforts, Evelyn. I strive for peace in this town, which we have not had in many years. If you will excuse me, I have a demon to find and watch."

I was a tad stunned as I watched Harlwood walk away. I should have asked what he was going on about, but Harlwood had a way about him that made me just a little lost.

With a frustrated huff, I turned and walked into the caravan. It was then that I realized that we were not alone anymore.

Niko smiled at me, holding open his arms. The few steps between us were a blur as I rushed to his welcoming embrace. Niko hugged me as I cried, apologizing for everything.

"Evelyn, my dear, do not apologize for the house. I understand it was an accident, and I'd much prefer my family was alive than an old house to remain standing."

Urging me out from his chest, Niko wiped away the tears.

"You have come so far without me. Why did you think that you needed me now?"

"I've always needed you. We're so lost."

Niko shook his head with a smile.

"My darling, you are not lost. You are exactly where you need to be."