The ground shook, and windows rattled as the once-sparkling city started to crumble. Deak held onto the side of the building as he waited for the quaking to stop. He was tormented by the thoughts that occupied his mind. The quivering stopped, and Deak continued to move, distancing himself from the hotel and Vita. He cursed the skies above him. Why? Why was this all happening to him?

Deak needed to think with a clear head. He decided he needed to unleash his Lycan wolf and go for a run. It had been too long since he shifted and allowed his wolf to take control.

A part of him was worried his wolf would give in to the darkness and push Vita away or cause her pain, except his wolf wasn't the one that hurt her. His greatest fear came to life when he woke up to his hands wrapped around Vita's neck and hurting her. Deak knew he would never be able to forgive himself for doing the one thing he promised never to do. No matter what the circumstances were, it should have never happened.

Once on the city's edge, he discarded his clothing and shifted into his wolf. His wolf Malakai howled in agony as he took off running, not knowing where he was going or what he was running toward; he just needed to get away.

"See, we tried to warn you," the wolf heard an echo in their head.

Malakai snarled as he ran faster to rid their mind of the voices that taunted them.

"You're no good for that witch. It's best to rid us of her so you can move on and focus on better things like being King."

Deak refused to listen to their enticements. He loved Vita and would rather die than live a day without her if he rejected her.

"Imagine what you can do once you've taken the throne as the mighty King. You don't need her; you will have all control over the lands your uncle once owned. Everything will be yours and no one else's. The world could be your oyster for the taking."

Malakai closed his mind to escape their taunts. He was a fierce Lycan wolf who wouldn't give in to the allure they painted him. Malakai knew he was stronger than his human and would do anything to keep their mate; nothing would break their bond.

***

Rita searched through the torn pages she had ripped out of the book; there had to be something there to help her rid Emil of the girl he thought he was in love with. Rita wanted the title of Emil's queen after everything she had done for him, everything she had given up to make him happy. She knew what Emil liked and what he needed. He was clouded by the stupid spell that compelled him to think he was mated to her. There had to be something to break the magic. Rita's eyes enlarged with excitement and hope as she read the spell about the curse. All she needed was the name of the girl. Rita's brows furrowed; everyone around here only called her by the name of Merga. Rita didn't know her by any other. How was she going to make this work? Rita huffed as she reviewed the items she needed to complete the spell. There was hope in Rita's chest; she would finally have what she always wanted.

"Oh, little Rita, you poor, poor thing," Reece said as he leaned against the wall, watching her.

Rita looked up at the Vampire like a lost rabbit. Her heart was beating fast. How did he find her? She thought she put up a barrier spell blocking herself from anyone in the city.

"I bet you're wondering how I found you. It's funny being a coven witch from this place; you would think you'd remember that you draw your power from the city. And right now, it's broken," Reece outlined. He pulled away from the wall, strolled toward her, and pointed at the pages, "From the looks of it, it looks like you had a hand in destroying our home."

Rita looked down at the pages and back up at Reece. "I, I didn't do anything you are accusing me of," she said defensively.

Rita backed away from the pages as Reece proceeded to move toward her. She hit the wall, and in a flash, he was there with his hand pressed against her neck. Rita was ready to throw this Vampire across the room with her magic when she made the mistake of looking him in the eye.

"Then what are you doing, Rita?" Reece asked her intently. Reece had used his compulsion to calm her and get her to open up to him.

Rita wanted to look away, but Reece refused to let her escape his hold. He could feel her pulse beating against his hand. It took him everything he had not to give in to her smell and taste her, but he was on a mission. His Royal Majesty wanted to know what Rita was up to and felt she was the best candidate to make her talk.

"I want Emil to be rid of the girl in the coffin," Rita admitted.

Reece lifted his eyebrow as he looked at the girl curiously, "What girl?"

Rita sighed. "The girl that Emil is connected to, Merga."

Reece was surprised to hear this tidbit of information. It never occurred to him that Emil knew the which on a more intimate level. Reece's brows furrowed as he tried to put all the pieces together. Why would Emil give her up to the council and banish her if she's his supposed lost love? Did she do something to make him angry? A wicked grin crept across Reece's face as a plan started to form in his head. "Rita, I want you to show me where this coffin for the girl is being stored at."

Rita nodded and held onto Reece as he cloaked them in his fog and disappeared.

***

Hudson stopped in the middle of some square when the scent of his mate had gone dead. He couldn't understand how she could have disappeared into thin air. Hudson sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. He knew his mate was power, but he had yet to learn all her abilities. It seemed his little witch was picking up things rather quickly.

"Hudson, get back," Pemberly warned as he pulled on the back of Hudson's shirt to get him to hide in the shadows.

Hudson did what the pixie asked of him and stepped back into the shadows of the building. They both watched as an older man stepped out of the building.

"Who is that?" Hudson asked.

"That's the Vampire King; he runs most of Silver City," Pemberly answered.

They waited quietly and watched the said King walk in a particular direction.

"What are you doing?" Pemberly cried out when he saw Hudson come out of the shadows.

"He looks like he's up to something, and I aim to find out what it is."

Pemberly shook his head as he followed the young wolf. "This is not how I wanted to die."