There was no good word to exist between lust and love. The spectrum was so large, yet barely had much of a vocabulary. That pin point, right before love, when the fire is burning at it's brightest, was where Ghost's heart laid. She'd never be as so foolish as to say she loved a man she just met. The four letter word was one she'd craved for years. Her mind would wonder off to thoughts at night of what it'd be like to love someone. Now, when faced with the reality of it, it had grown to be fearful.

Silence had never felt more serene. In the past, it usually meant something negative. When quiet can finally becoming comforting, it makes the heart grow fonder of whomever is able to give you safety; Another thing she's longed for. She's always felt safe around Kuza, but not that special kind of security you get from your mate.

Her head laid on Vinny's bare chest, the soft blankets wrapped around them. Ghost kept thinking how nice it was that his black comforter smelled of his cologne. Similarly, he appreciated the way her perfume was already settling into his room. He looked forward to coming to bed after a long day and being greeted with her rain and roses scent. All the little things, like her doll like skin and her bipolar shyness, were things he'd already become addicted to.

Ghost snapped her head up when she heard a howl outside. Her heart rate increased, knowing exactly what that sound was. Vinny got up, kissing her on the cheek as he did so. "Stay here. I'm gonna go check on the others." He said as he pulled on his jeans.

She pulled the sheets up to cover her chest as he sat up. "They seriously wouldn't go out there to fight it, would they?"

"When one comes, twenty will. We have ta'kill the strays when they show. I only heard one, but still, I'm gonna go see if the others need help." He explained, pulling on a long sleeve shirt.

Ghost decided, that despite his suggestion for her to stay put, that she wouldn't want to be alone. If he did go out there, or if anyone did, she wasn't interested in staying here by herself. She grabbed her underwear off the floor, slipping a large sweater over it. Vinny was already halfway down the stairs by the time she got dressed.

She only walked out to the top of the steps to listen in on the conversation downstairs. Chris happened to also walk out into the hall at that same moment. He sighed as he looked her up and down. It barely phased her. He leaned against the other side of the stairwell to listen as well.

"Ryan already went out there. Kuza went with him." Ricky said.

"That dumbass." Chris muttered. Ghost glanced back at him and he added a "Sorry."

"It's okay," She mumbled, "He is a dumbass. He knows he shouldn't be out in this cold."

"You should'a come and got me." Vinny responded, "Kuza's not very stable."

"I know, but Ryan was insistent on taking care of it himself and I didn't want him going out there alone. He sounded pretty positive that he could handle it himself. He's not one to ever be over confident in himself."

"He's not the one I'm worried about. Ryan knows his limits but I dunno if Kuza does." He said.

"He doesn't." Ghost spoke up as she finally descended the stairs, "Well, he does, when he's healthy. He still thinks in his head that he's at his full health."

"If it was just his life, and he was only making stupid ass decisions for himself, more power to 'im, but," Vinny sighed, "He's not just important to his own life now."

Ghost glanced back at Chris standing at the top of the stairs. She smiled at him sympathetically for a moment. Then she padded over to her new mate. He wrapped his hand around her waist as if it was second nature. Knowing Kuza's chances weren't what they once were in a fight with a Sullen was stressing her out. Vinny softly placed a kiss on her forehead, wishing there was more he could do to ease her mind.

| | |

"Go back inside," Ryan yelled over the storm, "You're too weak to stay out here."

"I'm fine." Kuza insisted.

Ryan could easily get this look when he was unhappy. It was the one that warned you not to fuck with him. He had patience but he wouldn't hesitate to put anyone in their place. Not that it intimidated Kuza much, but he wasn't shopping for more enemies in the house. "That wasn't a suggestion." He scorned.

"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" He asked.

"Yes, just go." Ryan sneered as he pointed to the house.

Kuza knew to listen to him. His stamina was spent in their short battle. Ryan still had to burn the Sullen's body, in order to prevent more from sniffing out their brethren's corpse. They hadn't seen another around but that doesn't mean there wasn't some lurking. He was one of the strongest of the group, reminding Kuza of how he once was, before his loneliness caught up with him. He could trust that he'd be alright on his own.

Once again, he barely got the door open without it getting away from him. Kuza struggled to push it shut again. Vinny rushed over and helped him force it closed. The snow that managed to drift in settled at his feet. It was dusted all long the feathers of his jacket and his long black hair. He turned to face the room, taking in several different expressions from each.

Ghost was the only one not afraid to speak up to him. As he walked into the room slowly, his boots clanking against the old floor, she started to frailly hit his chest in between words spoken through gritted teeth, "What. Is. Wrong. With. You?!" She looked up at him, aggravated, "You could've died!" Ghost punched his chest a few more times, trying to get her anger out, "You! Fucking! Dumbass!"

He gave her a few more seconds to express her frustration. Calmly, he replied, "Are you done?"

She heaved a huff, "You're an idiot. I'm glad you're okay but if you fucking do that again, I'm going to be the one to kill you!"

"Ryan and I are both fine," He glanced over at Ricky, "Despite you all worrying so damn much. We know what we're doing. He'll be back soon. He wanted to walk the body burn, to make sure it all gets destroyed."

Ghost reached up on her tip toes to hug him around his neck, "Don't do this again. You scared me. I don't want to lose you." She shivered, deciding to go sit on the couch to wrap herself in a blanket. "I don't understand why he thought it was a good idea to take you when the rest of the guys do this all the time."

"It's jus' 'cause it's Ryan." Vinny responded, "He can take a Sullen on his own, but he did it 'cause he was testin' 'im." He plopped down on the couch next to Ghost, lifting his arm to let her snuggle into his side.

"I thought I was past the point of having to prove myself." Kuza seethed.

"We are never past that point." Chris firmly spoke, keeping a tight grip on the banister as he came downstairs, "But Ghost is right. What you did was fucking foolish."

He began to walk past him, stopping in his face long enough to sneer, "You would've done the same thing." Kuza continued upstairs and left behind a thickness in the air.

Ricky observed his best friend carefully. He saw the way he held onto the rail desperately, how the light in his eyes was dimming. "Please," He rasped tearfully, "Try to get along with him. You're not well. I can tell."

"There's some things you can't fix overnight. It's going to take time-"

"You don't have time!" He snapped. His quiet, shelled nature quickly took over again. Ricky shied away, muttering, "I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you."

It was hard for him to see the blue eyed angel upset. That look Ricky got, it reminded him of someone else who once had a strong hold on his heart. Chris couldn't guess whether or not Ricky knew it would get to him, but it surely did. He took a considering glance to the top of the stairs, deciding it was in his best interest to try to talk to the creature that wasn't interested in another empty conversation.

"We're going to go back to bed," Vinny somberly spoke as he stood up, "If Ryan isn't back soon, come get me."

"Alright, thank you. Goodnight." Ricky replied.

Ghost smiled sympathetically at him, "Night."

The two headed upstairs, hopefully for good tonight. Ricky grabbed the nearly empty bottle on the counter, pouring the last trickle of whiskey in his glass. Nights like this, he wasn't sure how he'd survive them once the liquor ran out. They would eventually have to find a portal and move. Their resources were nearly depleted here, but fuck only knows how far the ravishers have gotten now.

After fifteen long minutes, the wind finally busted the door open. Ryan pushed it shut, pulling the boards down over it. He watched it for a second to make sure it'd hold. Ricky hurried around the bar to tackle him with a hug. Ryan embraced his mate, giving him a deep kiss. He'd only been gone maybe an hour in total, but they could never bear to be without one another. They were practically attached at the hip.

"I told you I'd be fine." Ryan reassured him, "Not a scratch, see." He pulled back his layer of coats to reveal his toned chest and stomach were free of slashes or bruises.

Ricky trailed his fingertips down his torso, smiling sinfully, "Well, I hope you saved some energy for me."

"Oh, Babe, I'll always have enough energy for you." He grabbed Ricky's ass, making him jump. Ryan laughed at his adorableness, "Give me a few minutes to clean the blood off of my blades, then I'll take you downstairs."

He smiled and allowed his lover out of his grip, "I'll meet you down there."

Ryan pecked him on the cheek, "Alright, Doll."

The smaller of the two headed down to the stone basement to wait on what would be their second encounter of the night. He could never get enough of his man, especially when he came home after being such a brave warrior. Ryan grabbed a silk rag from the top drawer of the china cabinet. He carefully cleaned the Sullen blood off of his double edged sword, then hung the polished beauty back on the wall.