“Ruby?” Eli’s voice echoes through the darkness.

I choke out a help and Lucian’s steel grip tightens.

“Ruby?”

I jolted with a gasp and strong arms seized mine, keeping me in place.

“Ruby?” Eli’s husky, concerned voice filtered in through my ears and my blurry vision began to clear.

His was the first face I saw. His brows were furrowed in a worried frown and his eyes were hard and stern. Then I recognized everyone else. They all watched me, concerned with the way I was acting. I knew I shouldn’t have fallen asleep and I guess having Eli beside me didn’t help soothe me, either. Faith and Tate were the only ones who looked at me like I was an idiot…and maybe I was. I mean, nightmares? Really? What am I, twelve?

“Awkward…” I mumbled. “You’d think no one here has had a nightmare before.”

Hunter snickered, earning a glare from Eli.

“Are you all right?” he asked, when he looked back to me. “You were gasping for air…”

I noticed Eli was in my personal space, practically leaning his whole body onto me, but nobody else seemed to bat an eyelid at his position and I had to be careful not to seem affected by his close proximity.

“I’m fine.” I emphasized the words.

“Hunter told Eli to wake you up…” Mila wondered aloud. “It was almost like he knew you were going to freak out.”

“I saw her shifting in her seat.” He shrugged. “I figured she’d want to be woken up, and besides, we’ve landed, anyway.”

It was then I realized the plane had stopped and the quiet hum of the engine had disappeared.

“We’re here?” A new wave of fear washed over me. What was the city going to look like? Was the council mean? Was I going to make it out of here alive? Questions formed in my head by the dozen and I had no answers. I was going in blind and I could only hope everything would turn out okay.

***

Straight from the plane, we were ushered into a dull white room. Only four people maximum could fit in each room, so we were split up and thankfully, I was put with Eli, Hunter and Lyric, which did anything but ease my tension.

“I don’t suppose either of you know why we’re sitting in a tiny, empty room?” Hunter asked Lyric.

Next to me, Lyric shifted on the bench, dropping the foot he rested on it to the floor. “Your guess is as good as mine, pal.”

Hunter and Eli sat across from Lyric and I. The room was so small, our knees almost touched. It was funny seeing Eli and Hunter so close together. Both had their arms folded over their chests and both had very obvious ‘less-than-pleased’ looks on their faces. I choked on a laugh and shot my hand up to cover my mouth.

“I guess this would be pretty amusing to you.” Hunter deadpanned as he shook his head at me.

“What? It’s kind of funny.”

Lyric chuckled his agreement as the door jarred and eventually opened. Whatever I found funny about this situation was sucked out the open door and was replaced with legitimate fear. Why were we being treated like prisoners?

“Treat all of your guests this way?”

I kicked Hunter in the shin and he responded with a flinch, mouthing the word ‘what?’ with his lips. I didn’t want this to be any harder than it has to be.

“We don’t usually have guests, so yes, we treat all of our guests this way,” the tall man responded. He was an elite guard, I could tell by his uniform. Although it was exactly like Lyric’s and Eli’s, it was white, tight, and miraculously clean. He turned his jade eyes on me and I stared back. I didn’t want him to know that I was intimidated by his strong jaw and intense face.

“We all have rules to follow here.” He looked at Eli. “And we make sure people follow them.”

I guessed everyone knew who we were…and what we’d done over the past few years. This trip was going to be oh so fun. Not.

The elite guard checked over his clipboard, flipping pages and scribbling notes. “The other half of your group is in the city waiting for you to join them—”

I jumped to my feet, ready to go.

“They’ve all passed their examinations.” A coy smile curled his lips. “And since you so nicely volunteered, you’re up first.”

I heard Eli shift in his seat, inching closer to me and I inwardly cringed. This was definitely not the time to have him hit protective mode. I began to stutter, taking a tiny step back.

“What kind of examinations?” Lyric asked, rising to his feet as I sheepishly slipped back to my seat.

“We pat you down, take your clothes, and examine the fabric for any dangerous items that can be used to cause harm to our officials.”

“You want us to get naked?” Hunter clarified and I felt my cheeks heat up.

“Don’t you have a metal detector thing-o or any other method that doesn’t require us to take off our clothes?” I wondered aloud.

“No.”Oh.

“I’ll go first,” Lyric volunteered, stepping toward the guy. “While I’m gone, you three should decide who’s going next. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”

And just like that Lyric was gone and the door was sealed shut again.

“I’ll go next.” Hunter sighed and those three words were the only ones said until the man came back and took Hunter, leaving only Eli and I in the room.

“I don’t want to do it,” I muttered, sliding forward on my seat.

“I know, but it’s necessary.”

And it was. I wasn’t getting into the city without getting naked, and if I didn’t get naked, they’d think I was hiding something.

“It’ll be quick, I’m sure of it,” he added for extra comfort. It didn’t really do much.

Shortly after it was my turn and Eli was right, it was quick. The examiners didn’t make me feel dirty as two sets of gloved hands ran over my bare skin, and when they put my clothes into a small microwave-looking machine, they didn’t watch me standing naked in the corner, instead, they watched the three minutes count down without a glance over their shoulder. When they handed me my clothes back and I slipped into them, I could finally breathe again.

I hoped I was blowing this whole trip out of proportion, just like the examination, and I hoped the next few days went as easy as that examination did. When I leave here, I want to feel like I stressed over nothing.

Chapter Six

I lay in bed, tapping my fingers on my arm, waiting for my alarm to sound off. After the examination yesterday, we were shown to our rooms and forced to stay. On the way there, I tried hard not to gape at the beautiful stonework on all of the buildings. They were tall and wide, and made of a smooth, tan stone I had no knowledge of. Whatever it was, I wanted my house to be made from it.

The city wasn’t big and the set up was simple. As we stepped through the large stone gates and into the city, we were greeted by a lavish garden. The garden was in the center of the entire city—like Central Zoo—only without the animals. Directly in front of the entrance and the garden was the court house. It was intimidating and it loomed over us, casting a shadow on everything. Surrounding the garden were large hotel-like buildings. One was for Gods and Goddesses, and the one across from it was for guardian angels. The council’s city did not give off a homey vibe and the stiff atmosphere was strong. This place wasn’t meant for long term visitors and I couldn’t wait to get out of here.

Beep! Beep!

I kicked off my blankets and rolled off the bed. My head was foggy, having only slept for three hours. I was too consumed in thoughts of the first hearing today. Thankfully, it was Hunter who had to go first, but that still didn’t ease my trepidation and I felt bad for him. He’d been locked in an underground cell for a while now and the last thing he should do is defend himself in front of a bunch of judgmental councilmen.

I threw off my sweatpants and slipped into a nice black pencil skirt. It felt weird dressing so formal…I couldn’t remember the last time I had. I threw on a nice light pink blouse and brushed my hair, deciding to wear it down. When I was finished, I almost didn’t recognize myself. I felt so…normal. Funny, given the circumstances.

Inhale. Exhale, I told myself.

I reminded myself how to breathe a lot lately. If I didn’t, I was sure I’d stop and pass out. The nerves were definitely eating at me today. I could feel them, swirling in nauseating rhythms, threatening to turn up last night’s meal of lamb and steamed vegetables.

A knock on the door suddenly jolted me back to attention and all thoughts of vomiting disappeared. I turned from my distressed appearance in the mirror. I wonder if I’m the only one so stressed out?

I opened the door and was met by Eli’s handsome face. He didn’t look tired—not like I was certain I did, anyway. His eyes were alert, his skin fresh and clean, and his hair was slightly damp from a recent shower. Of course he looked good. He always did.

“Morning,” he smiled. “How’d you sleep?”

“How’d I sleep?” I shifted my weight onto my left leg and he slipped past me and into the room. I shut the door and leaned against it, facing him. “Look at the size of the rings under my eyes. I look—”

“Beautiful,” he cut in. “As always.”

I smiled, despite my urge to lean in his face and make a show of my dark circles. “You’re sweet. As always.”

I sauntered over to him, unable to stop my own legs. He saw my intent clearly, but didn’t back away a step. He looked so good in his crisp, black uniform, seeming all serious and professional.

“Ruby,” he warned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Yes?” I let my fingers trail his firm stomach, over the dark fabric.

“We have to talk…”

I pushed myself up onto my toes, and feeling rather daring, I kissed his full lips. Without hesitation, he kissed me back, and it was invigorating. It sent tingles through my body, setting fire to my blood. It was unquenchable…or at least it was until his hands gripped my shoulders and he pushed me away, keeping me at arm’s length.

“This is serious.”

I searched his face and it betrayed no hint of playfulness. I sagged back, flattening my feet on the ground. “Fine.” I tried to hide the disappointment from my voice and failed. “What is it?”

I turned from Eli and strolled barefoot over to a red velvet couch. I wasn’t a fan of velvet, it seemed too ‘fake’ for my tastes, if that made any sense at all.

Eli hadn’t moved from his spot, but his face had taken on a more thoughtful expression. I studied him while he thought about what he was going to say. I knew it couldn’t be too bad. Nobody kicked my door down while I was sleeping or trapped me in handcuffs, so what Eli had to say to me couldn’t possibly that bad…then again, worse things have happened.

“We can’t do this here.”

My brows furrowed momentarily before straightening out again. Oh. He means us.

“Right,” I muttered, remembering the reason why we’re here.

“I think it’s best we limit interactions and conversations also.”

I edged forward on the couch, panic slowly bubbling in my chest. “I get the whole ‘no being intimate’ thing, but I can’t even talk to you now?”

He nodded. “You can talk to me as long as it’s about something goddess/angel related.”

I felt my chest tighten as dread burrowed through my stomach. “But I need to talk to you.”

Sensing my unease, Eli crossed the room with large strides and knelt in front of me, taking my face in his large, warm hands. “I promise you, it’s only for a little while.”

I shook my head, suddenly blinking back tears. What is wrong with me? Had I become so dependent on Eli’s comfort? I loved him. That I knew for a fact, and the mere thought of being without him is painful. I needed him now.

“I can’t,” I whispered. “I can’t do any of this without you.”

Heat radiated into my flesh from his thumbs as they glided over my cheeks. “I’ll be here for you every step of the way, but I can’t be here for you…not in the way that I want to be. Not here.”

I inched closer to him. “And once we’re out of here?”

His bright, beautiful gaze dropped to my lips as he moistened his own. The minute movement caused my chest to rise and fall rapidly.

“I’m all yours.”

His words echoed through me… all mine.

***

I sat in my chair, nervously tapping the tips of my fingers against my thigh. I tried hard not to be intimidated by the extravagant court house, but I was. Its size exceeded any normal court house I’d ever seen by forty feet. Above us, sculptures of people emerged from the stone ceiling, like they were trying to grab at us.

“For the third time…” Hunter exhaled, slinging an arm over the back of his chair. He grimaced as another pang of anxiousness rolled though me. I was making his hearing harder for him, but there was nothing I could do.

“I was turned into a vampire by Lucian and I was saved by Ruby’s freak heelian/goddess blood.”

“So, the serum we created worked?” Cesare spoke.

He sat behind the classy oak table, in the center of the row of six council members. The strange gold and white hat he wore was bigger than the others and he was the only one that asked questions and disputed Hunter’s story. His assertiveness and obvious aggression placed him in the leadership role. He knew what he was doing and saying, every question seemed strategically placed to find holes in Hunter’s story. He found none…because what Hunter said was the truth.