KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Oh, ya, sure. Do you want to watch in the bigger room?” Avery didn’t fully care which room they were in, but the smaller bedrooms were much the size of normal bedrooms. The master bedroom on this side of the house was a lot bigger and might be more comfortable.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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”Lass mich dich reinbringen,” Caden whispered. Caden stood with Nero still curled in his arms. His wings folded back in, and his eyes shifted back to their normal blue-green colour.

The storm had completely subsided, and the trees that were on fire no longer burned. Caden walked up the stairs on the outside of the house to the second level. He opened the door and walked down the hallway into their room. Caden could smell bath salts, soap, and candles. Clearly, his staff had anticipated Caden’s needs. Undisturbed by the supernatural outburst earlier.

Caden walked right into the bathroom and set Nero on the edge of the bathtub. He held Nero’s face and brushed his thumbs along their cold cheeks. ”You didn’t know,” he whispered. ”You were following orders.” Caden leaned in and pressed a kiss to Nero’s forehead.

He shuddered, having missed that connection with Nero. All Caden had wanted earlier was Nero’s touch and their comfort because, despite what happened, and what they did, Nero was their safe space. Nero was their mate.

Tears started to fall down Caden’s cheeks again. ”I know you. I know who you are, Nero. I’ve seen what you’ve endured, and I still choose you. I love you.”

translations

Let me get you inside

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia holds the dry clothes in her hands while Nic runs around her house again. It would be comical if she could actually enjoy it. Instead, she is in the same position Nic left her in when he returns. She leans against him when NIc pulls her close. She closes her eyes, feeling tired, and shakes her head when Nic asks if she wants him to add anything to her bath.

”I can do that. I can go upstairs and do that,” she declares.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery pulled on a simple pair of Adidas lounge pants and a dark blue hoodie, and leaves the hood up on his head. He opts for bare feet and goes to turn on the TV in the room when he hears Kimiko. He tosses the remote onto the bed before opening the door and pokes his head out.

”Ya?” Avery’s eyes naturally drift over Kimiko’s body, taking in the outfit before meeting her eyes again.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden holds Nero tighter when they start to stammer while talking. He can’t stop crying, but he can try to calm Nero. Caden rubbed Nero’s back, using a bit of force to create pressure as well as friction.

”Atme, kleiner Kobold. Atmen. In eins, zwei, drei, vier. Halten Sie, eins, zwei, drei, vier. Raus, eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs.” Caden continues to count in German to help Nero calm their breath. It even helps to settle Caden.

”I’m glad I saw it. I’m glad I can understand you better and why you don’t remember a lot of your beginning as a demon or life as a human.”

translations

Breathe, little imp. Breathe. In one, two, three, four. Hold, one, two, three, four. Out, one, two, three, four, five, six.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia closes her eyes again when Nic cups her face. He asked her another question, and it still took her a moment to answer. ”Yes,” she breathed.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery pauses and looks at Kimiko. ”Seriously?” He started to laugh and shook his head. ”Of course. Well, your SOL, little fox.” Avery walked out of the closet and glanced back at Kimiko. ”I’ll just let you change,” he said, not sure what to say, and left.

Avery shut the bedroom door behind him before he pulled at his wet clothes. He sighed and glanced down the hall before walking into another bedroom. Sometimes he stayed in the house, but not very often. However, he did have a stash of clothes. Avery went into one of the smaller bedrooms and shut the door behind him to change and figure out if he should leave the house and Kimiko on her own or if he should just crash in Caden’s house to keep an eye and ear on everything.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden went to stand, but a memory flooded his head, and he couldn’t move. Caden managed to sit on the ground while he road the journey with Nero out. Caden seemed to alternate between watching through his mate’s eyes and watching as a bystander. The look on Nero’s face crushed Caden. He knew that look only because he had seen it in Cassi. Had seen it in himself. Disassociating from the pain of reality was the only way to keep living.

The memory of Mundus sending Nero after Cass’ family faded into the memory Caden had already seen. He pulled himself out, bringing Nero with him and buried his head into Nero’s neck. At some point, Caden had started crying again.

He didn’t speak to Nero. He just cried, holding his mate tightly.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia opened her eyes and blinked several times when Nic touched her. She looked down at him, coming back to reality. It took her a minute to register him and the questions he asked. She looked down at Max, who sat beside Nic, staring up at her. Cass stared back for a couple of minutes, leaving Nic’s question to hang in the air.

”No,” she finally said. Cass turned her head and looked at Nic. ”Can I have some tea?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery's eyes had wandered to look outside again. It was difficult not to be concerned for them, but Kimiko was right. There was nothing they could do. Avery cleared his throat and looked back at Kimiko.

"Sure," he said and led the way to the larger of the guest rooms. He walked into the closet and open up drawers and gestured to the clothes hanging up. "Everything is regularly washed and dry cleaned, or replaced. So, the clothes are basically new if not actually new," he assured her. "I'd offer you a towel, but they are all missing."

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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Caden's eyes bore into Nero's when they speak to him. He searches, looking for the lie or the fault, but all Caden can see is his mate. Is Nero looking terrified and destroyed. They collapsed in front of him and Caden's eyes follow their descent. He towers over Nero before he kneels and pulls Nero in.

"I believe you, mein kleiner Kobold," he said. Caden kissed the top of Nero's soaked head before scooping them into his arms.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving ---> Cassi's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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When Cassi had first lost her family, the pain had been nearly crippling. It isn't that bad this time, but as Nic carries Cassi into the house, arranges the cats around her, and brings all the bags in, she is reminded of when Caden looked after her. She continues to cry while Nic bustles around the house, going into full caregiver mode.

Being in her house calms Cassi. The spellwork she wove into the place serve to dampen and soothe her powers. The plants greet her and of course the cats flock to her. She shuts her eyes and pets Wayland and Calypso.

Maximilian stares at Cassiopeia in silence before Nic calls to them. He stares up at the human, flicking his tail back in forth before he walks down the hall and leads Nic up the stairs into Cassiopeia's room. He walks to the wardrobe and leans up to set paws on the third drawer where Cassi keeps her comfortable clothes.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery stared out the back door, torn between the need to be there for Caden, but to not disobey a direct order. Thankfully, Kimiko drew his attention back to the present moment. He squeezed her hand before he letting go.

"There are extra clothes in all of the guest rooms. Feel free to to change into something there." Caden gave a direct order and Avery could try to break it, but he didn't want to push Caden. It would be best to stay on the opposite end of the house tonight.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapeshifting
Fit

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Caden's eyes shift to look at Nero. He feels the tug to go towards them, but he remains rooted in place. "If she killed you, I would have to kill her. The mating bond requires retribution for murdered mates." Caden turned his head away from Nero and stared at the destruction of the forest.

"Just, tell me you blocked that day out...That you weren't secretly keeping it from me." Caden's voice is barely audible as he asks Nero.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House ---> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia tries to calm herself, but the memories of that day rip across her mind as if it were happening for the first time all over again. She weeped openly and loudly. Once she was in the vehicle, Cassi curled in on herself, trying to shrink her size. Everything hurt. Her body, her heart, and her very soul.

She was dimly aware of the heat that started to envelope her, but it did nothing to comfort Cassiopeia. Instead she started to shake from the adrenaline coming down.

Outside, the rain gradually disappeared and the storm clouds moved on while Nic drove. Cassiopeia slowly regained control of her powers, but she was by no means okay as she continued to cry in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Neon Noir (Cyberpunk Crime Thriller) - CLOSED to new players for now

Should have time tomorrow and Thursday to get working on a CS!

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery watches Cassiopeia more than Nic as they walk by. Part of him wanted to make sure she was okay for himself, but he kept Kimiko behind him instead. He nodded when Nic said he was taking the SUV again. Once they were gone, Avery turned and looked at Caden.

Avery hadn't seen Caden emotional much, aside from anger, but right now he could see his alpha crying despite the rain. Avery looked down, feeling he shouldn't be privy to this.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Shapshifting
Fit

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Cassiopeia walking away fully broke Caden. He wasn't sure when he was going to see his best friend again. Close to three hundred years they had been together. Inseparable. Until today.

The rain started to slow the further Cassiopeia got away from them, but the broken trees behind him reminded Caden that distance didn't matter when it came to Cassiopeia. When the storm had moved in, it reminded him of a time when Cassiopeia earned the nickname "Storm Witch".

Caden looked over to Avery and Kimiko, seeing them soaked through and frowned. "Go inside. Stay away from my side of the house." Avery quickly turned and grabbed Kimiko's hand, pulling her across the yard and into the house.

Once everyone was gone, Caden stepped away from Nero. He took five, long strides away from his mate before he turned around and faced them. They were in a ball on the ground, trying to shrink themselves even smaller. Caden wanted to hold them but he couldn't. His wings remained, smaller than they were in his true dragon form, but they were large and menacing all the same. Completely different from this vantage point than they had been when Caden was protecting Nero with them.

"I need you to tell me what I just saw. I need you to tell me why you were leading the army that killed Cass' family. My family by extension." Caden stared at the space just in front of Nero, unable to look at them fully.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The tears started to fall down Cassiopeia's face, mixing with the rain, as she was pulled along. Cass didn't register passing Avery and Kiki, or walking through the house and going past Henry. She only came back to herself when Nic pulled her into a hug. He asked if she was okay and she broke.

Cassiopeia sagged into Nic, gripping his shirt and cried from her heart shattering. She wailed, unable to control her tears, or her emotions. The wind whipped around Nic and Cassiopeia, the rain pelting them. The temperature gradually dropped, making the rain colder, and biting as it cut across any open skin.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery huffed, about to laugh when she asked if he was okay, but Kimiko's lips cut him off. Shock but also a deep need overtook him and kissed Kimiko back deeply. Rain starts to pour down, and Avery pulls himself away from her.

"I don't think now is the time," he whispered, his voice deep. He opened his eyes to look at her before he turned back around.

Avery extended one arm out beside him, keeping it loose encase he needed to grab Kimiko and run. His other hand rested on her hip again while Avery quickly assessed the situation before him.

Nic was trying to get Cass to leave, and did Caden just call Nero his mate? Fuck.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden says nothing. He knows there is nothing to say as he watches the pain flash across Cassiopeia's face. He made his decision, what choice did he have?

Cassiopeia takes another step back before she looks down. Nero is barely visible, but Cassiopeia's stare could burn through anything. She sneers at Caden.

"Have fun with your murderous mate," she spits before she turns.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia turned away from Caden, letting Nic pull her away. In the distance the sound of trees cracking and splitting fills the air. The smell of ozone takes over and the rain seems to pick up. Cassi left a parting message and shattered the first couple rows of trees in the forest behind Caden's house. The trees burned but were quickly extinguished from the rain.

Cassiopeia couldn't see straight, and she blindly followed Nic. She was lost for the first time since that night when she lost everything.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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One of Avery's hands rest on Kimiko's hip, and he squeezes it when she tries to peek around and see what's happening. Avery keeps backing the two of them up until they are off the patio. When the lighting strikes the concrete, Avery spins around and pulls Kimiko in to shelter her from the raining concrete. Shards and chunks of concrete hit Avery's back, but he doesn't move until he knows it's safe.

"Are you okay? Did anything hit you?" Avery takes Kimiko's face in his hands, and examines her thoroughly to make sure she's unharmed.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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The same images that plagued Nero and Cassiopeia filled Caden's head. It almost felt like he is there again but the images are wrong. These aren't his memories. They are Nero's. He could feel Nero's emotions ripple through his body, and when Cass releases him from the memory he stumbles back and nearly trips over Nero, who huddles on the ground.

Caden's eyes flash to encompass the dragon. He feels his heart being torn in two with wanting to protect his mate, and wanting to let his friend avenge her family after all these years.

The air crackles around Caden and he turns back to face his friend. Caden's wings splay out to block Nero. Cassi's eyes flash as they look up at Caden, a fire burning there.

"You can't be serious!?"

Caden looks at his friend, pain on his face. "They're my mate."

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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If Cassi's world hadn't already been turned upside down, those words certainly did it. My mate.

"What have you done?" The sky opens up, and everyone is drenched by the rain in a matter of seconds. Nic's hand is strong in Cassi's but she barely registers it. If she killed Nero. Caden would kill her.

Cassiopeia takes a few steps back, pushing Nic with her. "Cass..." Caden's voice breaks and Cassi looks at him. She can see that he is fighting, torn between what he should do, but as far as Cassi was concerned, he already made that decision.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery listened to Kimiko while she explained. He tracked her movements, staring at the bone when it started to smoke before catching on fire. He stared at it, having more questions now then he did before. Instead of searching for answers, he just watched the fire burn on the end of the bone.

”Interesting,” he commented. His attention wanders to the other end of the table to see Cass and Nero still locked in their vision quest. When Nic stands Avery frowns, and then Caden stands.

”Nic, don’t.” Caden may have been speaking to Nicholas, but the tone in his voice was unmistakable. Without hesitating, Avery stood and grabbed Kimiko by the waist, and hauled her away from the table. He set her on the ground, stood in front of her, and backed her away from the table.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden tapped the table nervously while he watched Nero and Cassi. He felt his bond with Nero tighten and the bond he shared with Cassi start to vibrate. It wasn’t until Nic moved, though, that Caden realized something was wrong.

Caden stood up and grabbed Nic’s arm. ”Nic, don’t. If you touch her you could break the connection or fall into the memory.” He went to pull Nic away when he heard thunder in the distance. Caden pulled his attention from Nero and Cassi to watch storm clouds roll in. ”Nic, maybe you, Avery, and Kimiko should head inside.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia wasn’t sure what she was expecting when Nero took her hand. She figured she'd see death to innocents, maybe some other torturous practices in hell, but she wasn’t expecting a war. Cassiopeia stood looking at the battlefield from Nero’s perspective, but her own memories were starting to come tumbling out.

Cassi tightened her hold on Nero’s hand, ensuring the connection wouldn’t end until she wanted it to end. Nero moved across the battlefield slaughtering her people and maiming Caden’s. She watched her sisters fall, her brothers fight until the last breath. Cousins, aunts, uncles, her mother. Nero drained the life from her mother, and in the distance Cassi swore she heard herself screaming.

Cassiopeia opened her eyes to the sound of thunder. The world looked very different to her now. Her attention snapped to the side when she saw movement. Caden was ushering Nic away from her. Cassiopeia ripped her hand from Nero’s and lighting struck the ground behind Caden.

The concrete exploded, pelting Caden and Nero, but it bounced harmlessly away from Nic and Cassiopeia.

”Don’t touch him.” Cassi’s voice rumbled like the thunder itself. Lightening flashed across the sky and in her eyes, and her attention refocused on Nero. ”You. You led them. You slaughtered them all. You hurt Caden’s people. You wiped mine off the face of this earth.”

Cassiopeia stalked forward but Caden was faster. He sheltered the murderer with his body, and Cassiopeia glared up at him. Lightening struck the ground in several places around Caden’s yard before the shattering sound of thunder filled the space.

She looked up at her best friend; the man she was once betrothed to. ”You defend them?” Cassi’s voice was dark, and she tilted her head to the side.

”Show me,” was all Caden said. Cassi’s hands twitched at her sides, and lightening snaked through the thunderheads in response.

”As you wish.” Cassiopeia grabbed Caden’s hand and squeezed as the memories she saw from Nero bled into Caden’s mind.