Cypher shook his head letting out a deliberate breath then looked back to Thalion.

“It seems you know who I am,” Cypher told him.

Thalion nodded once.

“We have come seeking your aid. A draheim has made its way into the human realm, whether by accident or on purpose, we do not know. What we do know is that you make the only weapon capable of killing it.”

Thalion’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you think it needs to be killed? Why not return the creature to his own land?”

“Whatever he once was he is no longer. All that is left in him is a raging beast. He tried to kill us, and from what I could see in his eyes there was no intelligence left in him. He has been trained to murder. More than likely, anything good in him has been beaten out of him.” Cypher answered.

Thalion seem to think about this for a moment. He looked over at Cyn. “What do you say Guardian?”

“I think it is very important to weigh the consequences before any life is taken. We all serve a purpose in this life and we must be careful not to throw off the balance lest we invite evil to fill the void. With that in mind, the only thing that can come from this beast’s continued existence is harm. More than likely, if we were able to get him back to his realm, his own kind would kill him. We have enough danger in the human realm as it is. We do not need another one.”

Thalion stared a few moments longer at Cyn before a slight smile curved his lips, only adding to his beauty.

“How have you been, Cyn?” He asked, and the formal elf that had been standing before them was suddenly relaxed and staring at Cyn with obvious endearment.

Cyn blushed slightly and Lilly’s eyes widened at the scene before her. Bloody hell, she thought. The elf has the hots for the fae. I so, did not see that one coming.

“I’ll be better once there is no longer a witch trying to destroy the werewolves and unleash a horde of demons into the human realm,” she answered, honestly.

Thalion’s eyes hardened and he took a step towards her. “What is this that you speak of?”

“We threw the balance off many years ago and now we are reaping the consequences of our actions.” Cyn dropped her eyes from Thalion’s as she continued to speak. “Desdemona, the last of the witches, has become very powerful. That power has only made her greedy for more. She discovered that gypsy healers have returned to the packs. She wants them. She has already attempted to kill the Romanian Alpha in an attempt to get to them. She was unsuccessful, but she will not be swayed.”

Thalion took another step towards Cyn and another until he stood less than a foot away.

“Why are you just now coming to me with this?” The look in his eyes burned with rage, but even stronger than that was the obvious care he felt towards Cyn.

Lilly took slow steps, not wanting to disturb the exchange between the elf and fae. She reached Cypher andlooked up at him. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” She whispered.

A small smile crept onto his face as he leaned down and placed his mouth next to her ear.

“I do believe Thalion has set his sights on our little fae.” Lilly shivered as his warm breath caressed her neck and she turned her head back to the couple in question in an effort to shake off Cypher’s effect on her.

“I know that you do not mingle in the human realm, nor burden yourselves with the problems of others,” she answered and her voice wasn’t accusatory. She was simply stating a fact, as she often did.

Thalion’s eyes narrowed even more. His jaw clenched as he tried to keep control of his emotions. Only Cyn affected him this way. It had been so long since he had laid eyes on her, and still the hold that she had on him was undeniable.

“You truly believe, I would not help if you asked?” Thalion’s question dripped with challenge.

Cyn shrugged. “Why would you?”

Thalion held her eyes as he reached up and ran his fingers down her jaw to her neck. Cyn couldn’t hide her reaction to him as the speed of her breathing increased. Thalion chuckled as a smirk flashed across his face and then was gone. He dropped his hand and turned to face Lilly and Cypher.

To their surprise, Thalion found a stump to sit on. “Tell me.”

“We don’t have much time,” Cypher told him.

Thalion nodded. “I understand, but I need to know details before I lead my army into the human realm.”

Cyn gasped and Lilly’s head swung around to look at the Fae. It was the first major emotion she had seen from her.

“You’re going to help?” She whispered. “Why?”

Thalion’s sea green eyes met hers. He didn’t bother to hide the emotions swirling behind them.

“Because it’s you.” Cyn stared at Thalion. She didn’t have a reply to his candid answer and for once, she wished that she had Lilly’s quick wit and smart retorts.

She continued to watch him as she began the tale of all that had taken place in the human realm. She started with what had happened to the Romanian and Serbian packs.

Thalion sat silently, watching her intently as she spoke. As soon as she had finished, Cypher smoothly transitioned into his part in the story. Lilly had taken a spot on the ground in front of a tree. She leaned back against it, her legs stretched out in front of her, her head leaned back, and her eyes closed as she listened to the rumble of Cypher’s deep voice. The cadence of it seemed to match her breathing and she felt herself beginning to doze off, and when his voice suddenly stopped, her eyes popped open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision and then looked at Thalion. He sat with a furrowed brow staring at the ground as if the answers would suddenly be written in the dirt.