“And how exactly did you know that while we were sitting in History class?”

Cassie shook her head. “I just knew. Somehow, I don’t know how to explain it, but I just know when he is close by.”

Elora stared at her questioningly. “Are you in pain this time?”

“No, I just feel like something is missing.”

“Duh, it’s your ass, I mean assassin.”

Cassie grinned weakly at her friend’s purposely slip of the tongue. “That was weak.”

“I’ll work on my material. So what are we going to do?”

Cassie shrugged. “What can I do? It’s not like I have a cell phone number for him.”

“Have you said his name? Isn’t that what brought him back the last time?” Elora reminded her.

“Trik?” Cassie said his name and it came out as a question. They both waited, their breaths seemed to freeze in their lungs as the anticipation for a response grew. The halls were beginning to empty as people made their way into their respective classrooms. Cassie hardly noticed. After several minutes, still nothing.

“O-o-okay,” Elora said drawing out the word. “So apparently you have to be in unbearable pain for that little trick to work. No pun intended, although that was a pretty good one.”

Cassie heard the bell ring and still she didn’t move. She knew she needed to get to her next class but she couldn’t get her feet to obey her.

“Cassie, you are going to have to suck it up and deal. We need to get to class. Your life does not stop simply because you find yourself painfully and ridiculously attached to Mr. Tall, Dark , and Delicious,” Elora said firmly as she took Cassie by the arm and tugged.

Cassie let out a deep breath and looked at her friend. With a single nod of her head, she finally began moving. “You’re right, this is silly.”

“I didn’t say silly. Bizarre, freaky, and quite possibly turning into an unhealthy attachment? Yes, but not silly.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Cassie growled.

“I don’t sugarcoat things Cass, not for anyone, especially you.”

“I know and I usually appreciate it. But could you maybe soften it a little this time?”

“No.”

“It was worth a try,” Cassie muttered.

~

Trik glared at his King. The indignation rolled off of him in waves that were palpable.

“You have never forced a summons on me.” His words were a knife slicing through the anger that radiated from both of them.

Lorsan met his warrior’s fierce stare. “You have never ignored one.”

“I have never had a Chosen before. She is human; she needs protection, especially since she has seen Tamsin and his closest men in their natural form. You know the laws they will hold her to.”

“You are my spy and assassin first, not her Sh'mai ,” Lorsan snapped.

Trik shook with rage as his fists opened and closed at his sides.

“Is that how you feel of your Chosen?” He asked. “Does your Kingship come before her?”

“That’s different and you know it.”

“Different how?” Trik challenged.

Lorsan’s hand slashed through the air disregarding Trik’s words. “Ilyrana and I have been united for more than a millennia. She has held my heart far longer than the existence of the humans, let alone you’re little human.”

“And that makes your relationship more important than the one between me and Cassandra?”

“I am in the middle of one of the largest endeavors our kind has ever had in the human realm. An endeavor that will bring the humans to their knees before us. Need I remind you of the part you are to play in this?” Lorsan paced restlessly as he struggled with his next words. “I would hate to have to replace you, Triktapic. You have served me longer than most. But do not make the mistake of believing you are irreplaceable.”

Laughter that would have caused tremors in a lesser man erupted from Trik. “You honestly think that you have someone amongst your warriors that is even comparable to me? Tell me, Liege,” Trik’s words dripped with contempt, “do you honestly believe you have a warrior with a tenth of my ability?”

Lorsan’s eyes glowed as he held the stare of his assassin. Both refused to admit defeat.

“I have always done what you asked. I have served you faithfully, but in this, I will not bend. She is the most important thing. You know as well as I do that I do not deserve her. I am being entrusted with something pure and good. Do you honestly believe that I would walk away from that?”

Lorsan crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised one hand to stroke his chin. His eyes narrowed as he considered Trik’s words. “I admit that I have to wonder why you, of all the dark ones, would be given someone like her. Do you believe that she can honestly care for you? Does she know what you are? What you do?”

Trik growled in frustration. “I have shown her.”

Lorsan’s hand dropped from his face abruptly. “You connected with her?” His eyes widened as he watched Trik nod.

“I won’t keep anything from her.”

“And what if she doesn’t want you? What if she says that she can’t deal with it and won’t accept that this is your life ? You will not walk away from who and what you are.”

Trik chuckled darkly. “Only moments ago you were threatening to replace me. So which is it, Dark King? Are you going to keep me and accept my terms for continuing to be your killer, or are you going to toss me out?”