It was clear by the way that Mona walked briskly through the airport that she already knew where she was going. Lilly nearly had to run to keep up with the long legs of the woman in front of her. And as they walked, she was amazed as she watched people move quickly out of Mona’s way. She walked straight, never having to walk around someone. People just moved, like the parting of the Red Sea before her. Lilly wanted to be impressed, but, frankly, it was a little more than creepy.

The pair finally made it to the entrance of the airport.  When they exited, Lilly saw that there was a black car waiting. Why is the car always black when you're being abducted? she thought grimly. How cliché.

A driver briskly walked around the car and opened the back door. Mona entered the car first and Lilly climbed in after. Before she knew it, they were off. The windows were tinted so darkly that Lilly could barely make out the landscape around her. She was pulled from her attempt to see where they were going when Mona spoke.

“How was your flight?”

“It was good. Long, but good.” Lilly smiled.

The smile Mona returned looked like it could double as the mask used in the Scream movies.

“So how are Jacque and the others?” Lilly asked, looking for any crack in the persona that Mona seemed to have adopted.

“They are doing well,” was the only answer Mona gave. The tight look on her face told Lilly that any further questions would be ignored.  They continued the drive in silence, with Mona looking out her passenger window and Lilly mirroring her on the other side.

Finally the car turned onto a dirt road, which soon began to wind up a mountain. Trees grew over the road, their branches stretching, reaching for each other across the expanse. Darkness had begun to descend as they continued higher into the mountains. Lilly was about to ask how much longer it was going to be when a large house came into view. The driver turned into the long driveway.

They stopped in the circle drive in front of what Lilly could now see wasn’t a large house, but rather a small mansion.  She climbed out of the car and looked up, and up, and up, to the very top of the house, which was at least three stories high, if not more.

She watched as Mona climbed out of the car. This time the smile on Lilly’s face was the wolfish one.

“Now would be a good time to cut the crap, don’t you think? We both know you aren’t a member of the Romanian pack. You didn’t bring me here to see my daughter and you could give a rat’s ass how my flight was. So who are you and what do you want?”

Mona threw her head back and let out a loud laugh.

“Oh, man, I can see where Jacque gets her spunk. You are definitely going to give him a run for his money.”

“Give who a run for his money?” Lilly asked, not hiding the impatience she was feeling.

“Personally, I don’t make it a habit to stand out in the fresh air. Call me what you will, but I like my air stale and stagnate.” Mona motioned to the steps that lead to the double door entry. “Why don’t we go in and I will explain everything to you.”

Lilly decided things would move along a little more quickly if she didn’t argue at this point.  There would be plenty of time for that later. She walked up the steps with Mona right behind her. The door opened before they reached it. Lilly stepped back and made it clear that she wanted Mona to enter first. She followed Mona over the threshold of the door and as she did she felt a shift in the air and a shift inside her. Her life had just changed and would never be the same.

The feeling was exacerbated by a tall figure that stepped out of the shadows. The first thing she noticed was his height; he was very tall and very built, and he had very pointed ears.

That’s a new one, Lilly thought. His eyes glowed yellow like a cat's and he had a sharp straight nose and thin lips. Even with his obviously inhuman qualities, he was more than handsome. Lilly felt herself drawn to the stranger, and something in her told her that her future had always had him in it.

“King Cypher.” Mona stepped out of the way and pulled Lilly forward. “I have brought her just as I said I would – your mate.”

Oh, snap, Lilly thought. Didn’t see that one coming.

~

Cypher watched the reaction of the human female who stood next to the witch. He was taken aback by her beauty. She was petite compared to his 6 foot 4 inch frame.  Her hair was a deep brown and looked so soft that he itched to run his fingers through it. When her eyes met his, he felt it in his soul. She had eyes the color of butterscotch and every emotion she was feeling was written in those rich, golden eyes. She licked her lips and he followed the motion like an addict would follow a drug held in the palm of a dealer. He took several steps toward them but stopped when he was an arm’s length away.

“What is your name?” he asked her in his deep voice. He smiled and had to give her credit when she didn’t flinch under his scrutiny.

“Lilly,” she answered confidently. “And you are a king? King of who, or should I say what?”

Cypher laughed. “You have spirit, little one,” he said. “Yes I am a king, King of the warlocks.”

Lilly coughed and sputtered, then swallowed. “I’m sorry,” she started, having to clear her throat again before she could go on. “Did you just say warlocks?”

Mona rolled her eyes at the human. “Please tell me you didn’t think the only thing not human in this world were werewolves.”

Lilly ignored Mona, continuing to watch Cypher.