Graynin wasn't moving. Panic began to course through Ryder, but still she dare not move from the protective enclosure of his arms. She calmed herself so that she could seek the subtle signs of life that were getting washed away by her adrenaline intoxicated body. There it was, his heart beat, she could finally make it out by holding her breath. Surprisingly it was calm and steady, not pounding out of his chest the way hers was. Her body sagged with relief, he was alive.

She knew she should run for help or do something to get them away from this place. But she couldn't. She just lay there, feeling her dry dress and dry hair quickly become soaked by the rain and mud again.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed, it could have been seconds or hours, until Graynin finally moved. He let out a deep groan. She turned her face up to his, pulling it away from where it had been buried in his bare chest, his once perfectly tailored shirt was now shredded to ribbons. Her neck shot streams of pain with the effort of looking up at him, but she didn't care.

"Don't move too fast." She directed gently. But it was no use, as soon as his brain registered her voice he was in an upright position. His left hand reaching over his shoulder to where his sword usually rested, his right hand protectively rigid across her body.

His eyes whipped around, trying to make sense of where he was. His darting eyes found the rubble that was now the remains of the house. The aggression and confusion lifted as recognition took root.

Ryder cautiously wrapped her fingers around his bare forearm, his shirt sleeve had been ripped off at some point during this nightmare of a night. She was afraid that any movement more dramatic might spook him. He was like a wild animal, and even if an animal trusted a person, they still might bite them if taken by surprise.

Her heartbeat stuck in her throat as his cold, grey blue eyes shot to her with the contact of her fingers to his flesh. His left hand was around her upper wrist with his thumb planted in her pressure point, just as fast as his calculating eyes. Ready to rip her hand from his arm if she proved to be a threat.

Despite her terror she knew to stay perfectly still, wrenching her hand away would only cause his instincts to spike.

As he took in her face his eyes softened. She had never seen him like this, his expression turned so gentle. His striking features, which usually made him that much more intimidating, now accentuated the depth of his relief.

His left hand softened from her pressure point and slowly came up to caress the side of her cheek. She instantly relaxed at his touch, it was so warm and comforting. Somehow it chased away the chill that had resettled in her body.

"You're okay." His tone was so gentle that she wasn't sure if it was a statement or a question.

She simply gave a small tight smile in response. A lone tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Graynin reached for it and wiped it away.

"You're safe." He said softly, his brow creasing as a pained smile formed on his split lips. This she could tell was a statement, a declaration, a promise.

Ryder felt all her emotions get caught in her throat. She was on the verge of breaking down. She held her breath trying desperately to keep her feelings in check. "I-" Her voice broke.

"Shhh." He said, gently stroking her wet hair back off her forehead. "No need to talk about anything now. Let's get back to the house and warm up. Then we can talk."

All Ryder could do was nod her agreement. Any words would be too much at that moment, it would be the opening her emotions needed to get loose and run rampant.

Graynin rose to his feet. Groaning with the effort. Despite the rain washing the mud away from his tattered white shirt, the bright red stains on his shoulder and side would not leave, fresh blood was seeping out too fast.

Once solidly on his feet he reached out for her.

She was suddenly very worried for him and didn't want to put any more strain on his battered body, so she pushed herself up. She clenched her teeth at the pain that radiated through every molecule. She couldn't hold back a whimper.

Graynin let out an annoyed sound that made it clear he thought she was ridiculous for not accepting his hand. "I know I look worse than you, but your pain is much more profound than mine. These are just flesh wounds." He casually gestured at his bleeding body. "The power you expelled tonight takes a toll. It comes with a price. I honestly can't believe you can stand. Most creatures can't move after an exertion half as powerful as yours."

"Well I passed out, I think that's a bit more dramatic than being a little stiff." She said pointedly.

Graynin laughing at her took away the fragileness of the moment. "Yes, but you were only out for a few minutes, it can take some long-liveds days to recover. Only the very powerful can recover quickly."

Ryder looked up at him from the corner of her eye, she tried to make her expression sarcastic, but not sure if she was successful considering every muscle felt like it was being used for the first time. "What can I say, I can take a punch."

Maybe she failed at the smirk because Graynin looked her up and down, as if he were trying to see something that was beyond a normal person's vision. "Answer me honestly, why did you stay put next to the hearth the way I told you to?"

"What do you mean? You told me to stay, so I did?" She took her first step so she could face him, her legs threatened to give out.

"You've questioned every order I have given you since the day we met. What made you accept my instructions this time?"

Her brow furrowed as she thought about his question, he was right, she wasn't one to take instruction without weighing in. "I don't know." She casually shrugged, regretting her involutory response. "I just had this feeling that you had a plan and knew what you were doing. That the only way I could help you was by staying out of the way." The words felt vague, but it was the truth. She just had this deep-set feeling that she needed to listen to him. "It's silly isn't it?" She asked self-consciously.

Graynin's features began to settle in their traditional tight way, a look she usually thought of as disdainful, but now seemed more like he was holding something back. It almost looked painful.

"No Ryder, that's not silly at all." With that he turned from her, looking back to the ruins of the house. He lifted his hand, and several small fires started as his palm glided over the length of the demolished house.

Ryder hobbled up next to him. Watching the small fires dance on the wet wood, sizzling sporadically as the rain beat down on them.

"Will those be able to stay lit?" She asked, looking to the angry storm that still filled the sky.

"As long as I am conscious they will burn." His eyes didn't leave his flames as they began to grow, their dance becoming wilder as they consumed the rubble.

She knew he was making sure that what laid buried didn't rise to walk again. Leaving only her dreams of the red-haired man to haunt her now.

He turned to her, "Let's get you back to the house."

She let out a sigh of exhaustion, "Yes please." She turned and began to walk in the direction of the main house. She held back an involuntary whine at how far she had to walk on her needle-like feet. Graynin moved up beside her and gently slid his hand against her midback, and his other hand came up and grasped her forearm, both pressing into her, supporting her.

Her insecure, independent side wanted to tell him she was fine, but she stomped those feelings out with a vengeance. "Thank you, that's much better." She said, accepting his help.

He smiled down at her surprised. "You're welcome."

As they crested the hill, leaving the small valley that she now remembered all too vividly from her dream, they heard the yells of the rest of their group running towards them. Pierce was the first one to reach them.

"What the hell happened?" His eyes darting around looking at everything but the two of them, seeking the enemy.

"Sorry Pierce, like usual you missed the action. You get too caught up in beautiful women?" Graynin said antagonistically.

Seeming to decide that their surroundings were clear of any immediate threat Pierce's eyes settled onto Graynin and Ryder, "you two look like hell." One of his challenging smiles pulling at his lips. Neither of them commented.

Tairin was the next to arrive. He brushed past Pierce without a look and walked straight to Ryder. He pulled her free from Graynin's supporting arms, and into a deep embrace, clearly unaware of how much pain her body was in. She tried to hold back a cry, knowing that he was only showing his relief at finding her, but his arms were too strong, the squeak of pain escaped her lips.

He instantly released her, as if just realizing she was a fragile porcelain doll. "What's wrong Ryder? Are you ok?" The concern in his eyes grew as he took her in, seeing her matted wet hair and destroyed satin dress.

"I'm ok." She lied. She figured she could tell him everything once she was in the house and in a soft bed. The conversation didn't have to happen out here in the freezing rain.

Jade, Eva, Lane, and Siena came running up from their left. Clearly searching a different part of the grounds. All the women looked like precious gems come alive in their elegant ball gowns. They almost looked comical with the contrast of their beautiful femininity, and their dark foreboding expressions. Especially Siena with her ice cutting stare, and baby bump. Lane however looked perfect out in the elements.

They all began to speak at once. Graynin put up his hand to silence them. "We will talk about everything once we are back at Lane and Siena's house." He emphasized the word 'everything' making it clear that all their questions would be answered. Everyone's silence seemed to be their answer of acceptance.

"I'll run ahead and have the carriage pull around." Lane said, as he turned and began heading towards the house without waiting for approval.

"We'll walk around the outside of the house." Graynin said. "I don't want anyone to know what happened, and I don't want to have to answer any questions on why we look the way we do."

Ryder watched as everyone looked her and Graynin over.

"Eva, I want you and Pierce to go and make our excuses to the Reagens."

"What do you want me to say?" Eva asked. Her fairy-like face uncharacteristically serious.

"Tell them that Siena wasn't feeling well, and that we wanted to stay together as a group, so as not to be rude to our hosts." Graynin instructed. His eyes were clear and sharp, a stark contrast to his battered, filthy body.

Eva nodded her head sharply in understanding and turned to the house, pulling up her flowing dress so that her bare feet wouldn't get tangled as she ran. Pierce reached out to Graynin, squeezing his arm before giving Ryder a gentle smile, then turned to follow Eva.

Without being instructed, Tairin stepped to Ryder's side, taking her arm the same way Graynin had, and began leading her towards the side passage along the house. Siena moved up to her left side, taking Graynin's place. Ryder began to protest to Siena, that she was ok and didn't need her help. Feeling guilty at the prospect of having a very pregnant woman exert herself to help her. But Siena would have none of it, "Hush child. I am perfectly fine, whereas you, are not. The baby boy inside of me will have no problems with me helping you."

Ryder reluctantly accepted Siena's offer and resigned her weight into Siena's supporting arms. Not all her weight though. Ryder made sure she leaned more heavily against Tairin. She could at least control that much.

As Tairin and Siena slowly led her away, she decided to ignore the excruciating pain in her neck and looked back at Graynin. He stood there watching her, his silhouette illuminated by the large fire burning in the woods behind him, the old house's fire blazing now.

She was suddenly afraid he wouldn't stay with her, she felt the fear creep into her eyes, her heartbeat beginning to pick up again. His grey blue eyes did not change, but he gave her a subtle nod. Somehow she knew that he was telling her he would be right there, he wasn't going to let her out of his sight. She relaxed into Tairin and Siena's support once again. Unaware that Tairin was watching her.

Siena gently reached up and tucked Ryder's wet hair behind her ear. "You're ok now love, we've got you." Siena said warmly. She already had the mannerism of a loving mother, Ryder thought.

Tairin gently squeezed Ryder's forearm, clearly aware of not wanting to hurt her, but still wanting to show compassion. She looked up into his concerned face, his green flecked eyes were wrought with worry. She gave him a weak smile, trying to ease his concern. She didn't think she was very convincing though.

Jade stepped up next to Graynin, her heavy aqua dress dragging on the wet grass behind her. She watched the three slowly make their way to the garden that led to the front drive.

"Who was it?" She asked quietly. Not looking to Graynin.

"It was Dakawolves, and the people that attacked her back in Lavina. I have a feeling they were the ones that broke into Athos' house as well." Graynin answered.

"Well that explains why we couldn't feel you, the Dakawolves presence masked your power. This changes things doesn't it? Someone is actually seeking her out." Jade said bleakly.

Graynin didn't answer her.

"Are you really going to talk about everything?" She asked skeptically.

Graynin didn't take his eyes off Ryder. "Yes, I am."