“So you all were really going to kill me? Even though you are supposed to be the good guys?” Cassie asked as another jolt of pain erupted. She gasped and tried to steady her breathing.

“We have laws, just as you do. We must protect ourselves. But times have changed in the human realm, and maybe it’s time for us to change as well. I will tell you , though , people who have lived for centuries and millennia don’t typically take change very well.” Syndra watched her closely as Cassie tried to hold herself together.

“You must call him, Cassie. This won’t get any better.” Syndra told her.

“How did you know?”

“Word travels fast when one of the strongest elves out of dark or light, looks like he has been beaten within an inch of his life. Trik showed up in Sanctuary. I’ll let him explain what that is, and word of his appearance spread like wild fire.”

“Why did you come?”

Syndra smiled and Cassie could see the genuine concern in her eyes.

“Honestly, I was curious. I sought Trik out and all it took was a light brush against his arm as I walked by to get the information I needed. Normally he would have never allowed such contact, but he’s even worse off than you are.”

“So you can do the whole touch thing and read minds too?” Cassie asked.

Syndra began to answer, but stopped herself. She turned to look at Lisa.

“You know that nothing said here can leave this room right?”

Lisa nodded. “Of course. I would never share what you say, nor would Elora.”

Elora nodded her agreement when the Light Elf Queen turned to look at her. Seemingly satisfied with Lisa’s answer, she continued.

“Typically it is something that only occurs between two Chosen, but sometimes we elves gain special gifts as we age. One of my abilities is the power to see into the mind of someone with which I come into physical contact.

The room was quiet after Syndra’s response. Lisa continued to stare at the she-elf whom she had called friend for so long, amazed that she was a Queen and Lisa had never known.

Elora watched her best friend struggle to breathe through the pain that she was enduring. Sometimes she didn’t understand why Cassie was so stubborn.

“Just say his name already,” she whispered fiercely. “There’s no reason for you to go through this.”

Cassie shook her head. “My mom will be home any minute; he can’t be here.”

Syndra waved off Cassie’s worry. “He can veil himself from humans. You don’t need to worry about that. What you need to worry about is your mother seeing you like this. She’s going to hall your pathetic looking self to see one of those healers you humans use.”

“A doctor,” Lisa offered up. She narrowed her eyes at Syndra. “You sure don’t sound like a Queen most of the time.”

Syndra laughed. “I’ve had a lot of practice blending in, primarily from hanging out with you and Elora.”

“Oh yes, the purple hair totally blends,” Elora rolled her eyes.

Syndra smiled at her. “It’s less disturbing than the pointy ears I assure you.”

Cassie listened to the women around her talk but they were beginning to sound far away, like they were speaking through a tunnel. It was after she nearly passed out that she gave in.

“Trik,” she whispered.

She had barely spoken his name when she heard gasps around her and felt strong arms picking her up.

“Leave us.” Trik’s voice was tight and anger and pain radiated through his words.

“We will talk soon, Triktapic.” Syndra narrowed her eyes at the dark elf assassin.

Trik ignored her and the other two humans in the room. He held Cassie tight against his chest as he sat on her bed. He felt the pain subsiding from him and could finally breathe again. He rubbed his face into her hair literally breathing her in.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. “I’m so sorry. I should have warned you that this m ight happen. I shouldn’t have left.”

“I asked you to,” Cassie’s voice wavered, but continued to grow stronger as her pain too began to fade. Her face was buried in his chest and once again she felt something inside her reaching for him.

“Do you feel that?” She whispered.

Trik placed a finger under her chin, lifting it so that he could look into her eyes.

“What you feel is our souls reaching for each other.”

“I don’t understand; how can I feel it? It shouldn’t be possible.”

“Maybe not, but it is. I won’t ever let you go, Cassie. I won’t ever let you endure such pain again.”

“I’m scared, Trik.” Cassie held his gaze as she spoke. She needed him to understand what she was feeling.

“I see inside you, A'maelamin. I feel your fear,” Trik told her as he brushed her hair back from her face. “I’m afraid as well.”

Cassie’s eyes widened in surprise. “You? What could you possibly be afraid of?”

Trik leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. He closed his eyes. Suddenly images flooded Cassie’s mind and emotions pulsed through her like a wild storm. Her breath caught as she realized Trik was sharing his mind with her. Once she realized what was happening, she began to pay closer attention. Her arms wrapped around him and she pressed herself closer as she watched the most dangerous assassin of his kind reveal his deepest fears.

What she saw broke her heart. He was afraid that she couldn’t love him knowing what and who he was. He was afraid of losing her and the joy she had brought him, joy that he never imagined could exist. She felt rage unfurl as he pictured her with another guy, felt the pain that quickly followed on the heels of that rage. She saw his existence and the emptiness of it through his eyes and it broke her heart. He also showed her the darkest part of himself. She could tell he didn’t want to, but he refused to be less than honest with her. Cassie felt a tear slide down her cheek as she saw the hopelessness in him because he would not stop being what he was, couldn’t stop. He was a dark elf; he was an assassin, and that would never change.