"Hey there, Mrs Morgan." Jake laughed as we walked through the Forest towards the witch's coven surrounded by the king's army.

"Shut up." I blushed and smiled.

"Look at you all rosy-cheeked. Awww, it's adorable." He teased me pinching my cheek.

"Will you stop it?" I pushed him back.

"I'm sorry but I still can't believe you got married. You're so grown up now being married to the boss. Wait, does this mean you're now my boss?"

"Oh yes, it so does." I laughed. "You are totally my bitch now."

"Ummm, I am nobody's bitch thank you."

"You were my maid of honor.....Awww and we forgot the pink dress."

"I was the MAN of honor thank you." He said shocked. "THE MAN."

"Are you convincing me or you on this?"

"I don't need to...You know what this conversation is over." He started to walk a little faster in front of me in a huff.

"You know you have officially made him a woman right?" Callan said next to me. "He's going to get his period soon and no one has a tampon."

"Yeah, but he will always be the butch one in the relationship." I smiled.

"No he won't and that is the saddest part." Callan laughed. "So question, do I call you my mother now?"

"Try it and see what happens."

He laughed. "So that's a no?"

"That's a hard sharp no," I said in his face.

"Thank goodness for that." Callan put his arm around my shoulder. "I'll just call you my mommy then." He laughed and ran away as I tried to hit him. "Mommy...Mommy where are you?" He called back to me.

"This is not the end of this," I yelled after him as he ran into the crowd of vampires.

"Baby, there you are." Carter smiled as he ran toward me. "I've been looking for you everywhere." He wrapped his arms around me, nearly knocking me over.

"Carter, I can't breathe," I said muffled into his broad chest.

"Sorry." He smiled pulling himself back slightly and kissing me. "Unfortunately I have to join Leon and Henry at the front of the army so I won't see you for a while. Promise me you will stay with Jake until we get to the coven."

"I promise."

"JACOB." He bellowed loudly.

"Yeah, boss man."

"Look after her and if there is any sign of danger you are to run and get her safe. Understood?" He said sternly.

"Crystal clear boss."

"I mean it," Carter said still glaring at Jake.

"I got this. She is safe with me." Jake patted Carter on the back. "You can trust me on this."

Carter sighed and nodded as he looked back at me. "I'll see you when we reach the coven." He pushed the hair out of my face with his finger as he stared into my eyes. "I have to go."

"Be careful Carter," I said as he kissed me. "Just be careful up there."

"I'm always careful." He kissed my cheek. "I love my wife very much." He said softly in my ear.

"I love you too." I smiled softly as he kissed my neck.

"Stay with Jake and I will see you soon." He kissed the top of my head and ran towards Leon and Henry at the front of the army.

"Alright boss lady, hop on the Jake express and hold on tight," Jake said as I climbed onto his back. "I need to get you a baby harness so you can hang from my chest." He laughed.

"Shut it," I grumbled as he suddenly took off with the rest of the vampires.

The witch's coven was hidden in the darkest part of the vampire forest and rumor has it that it would magically move locations to keep the witches safe. The chances of us finding the coven were slim because if the witches didn't want us to find them, then we wouldn't.

It took us nearly all night to reach the dark forest and I had spent the whole time clinging to Jake and listening to the sound of the creatures who were waiting for an opportunity to attack us in the shadows. It was terrifying knowing at any moment I could end up something's dinner.

"Jake, are you sure you're okay? You've been carrying me for hours now."

"I'm fine Eb, stop asking me." He grumbled.

"It's just that Callan offered to take me and you refused."

"Yeah, because I'm fine. Chill out." He bounced me on his back. "I know you think I'm the weakest of this group but I'm actually not."

"I don't think you're weak." I protested.

"Yes, you do. Everyone assumes that because I joke around and do stupid shit I'm the weakest."

"Trust me Jake, not one of these vampires surrounding us right now thinks you are weak and if Carter thought for a second that you were the weakest link then I would not be on your back right now surrounded by flesh-eating creatures."

"I know it's just..." He sighed.

"Don't ever think that again do understand me. You gave your life to save me and if it wasn't for you I would be dead. That is why Carter trusts you the most and that is why you will always be the bravest vampire to all of us. I mean you swallowed that creature and lived."

"I massacred that creature and then swallowed it. If you ever tell that story to anyone make sure you start with ...Jake massacred that creature because otherwise it just sounds like I pleasured it and then swallowed."

I burst out laughing and then covered my mouth quickly.

"I never gave it a pleasure and please stress that part of the story." He said sternly.

"No pleasure. Got it." I nodded.

We suddenly came to a stop as I heard Carter's voice echo through the silent forest around us. My heart started to beat fast as panic set in.

"HALT." He bellowed again and the entire vampire army came to a stop.

I looked around at the soldiers who all formed a circle around Jake and myself.

"Okay, now I'm officially starting to freak out," I whispered.

Jake fell silent as he listened to the night air carefully.

"We are here but something is wrong. I can hear Carter talking to Leon, but I can't make out what they are saying." Jake tilted his head sideways trying to listen. The air fell silent as Jake strained to hear what they saying.

"Apparently, there is a protection spell around the dark forest. If a vampire crosses it we will burn for eternity. There is no way for us to continue without the permission of the elder." Jake said slowly.

"And let me guess, the elder is not making an appearance?" I sighed.

"You guessed it."

"Why is everything so hard?"

"That's what she said." He smiled.

"Stop it," I whispered. "So what do we do?"

"We wait for boss to tell us what to do." He shrugged.

"I don't like this. I can feel that something is wrong. I wish I could help...Wait.."

"Ebony, Whatever little scheme you are cooking up in that head of yours right now, I would kindly suggest you stop."

"I think I should talk to Carter..."

"Not a good idea." He shook his head.

"Just listen, the protection spell around the dark Forest, is it for humans as well?"

"What are you talking about? Where are we going to find a .....Oh! ....Yeah, nope Carter will never go for it." Jake shook his head. "Nope."

"He may not have a choice? If I can talk to the elder then maybe she will help us?"

"Ebony, there is no way in hell Carter will let you go in there by yourself. I would have more of a chance of that tree over there agreeing to marry me."

We watched closely as Carter, Leon, and Henry all discussed our next move. I could see the frustration in Carter's face as spoke to them, he was desperate for a solution here and I think I might be able to help.

"Yeah, probably not the best time to suggest that right now." He said putting me on the ground and stretching then stretching down to touch his toes. "That's better." He groaned cracking his back loudly.

"I knew you were sore."

"Not sore just stiff..." He pressed his lips together as he smiled at me.

"Don't."

"Oh come on, if I can't even tell you a stiff joke then I don't want to be friends anymore."

"Please refrain from using the word stiff around my wife in the future Jacob," Carter said walking past him with a thump.

"Sorry boss, no stiff talk and no pussy talk from now on."

"Jacob..."

"Yeah, boss man?"

"Get away from me," Carter grumbled back at him. "Go and annoy Leon for a change."

"On it." Jake smiled as he ran off.

"Is everything okay?" I said as Carter kissed my cheek.

"Unfortunately no and as much as I hate to ask you this Sunshine..." he sighed loudly before continuing. "We need your help."

"You need me to walk through the protection barrier?"

Carter looked at me with raised eyebrows. "I see you have already considered this?"

"Jake overheard what you were saying."

Carter rolled his eyes. "Of course he did."

"Honestly, I'm happy to help. If you think it's safe."

He pulled me close to his chest. "I would never ask you to do this if I was unsure of your safety. The witches only fear creatures from our world and not humans as some of them are humans themselves. If you at all feel that you are unsafe then just come straight back to me."

"Is your mother in there?" I said looking up at him.

"To be honest, I don't know. No one has seen or heard from her in many years. She went in hiding when both Leon and I disappeared." He looked away. "If she is inside then reach out to her and ask her to talk to us. Leon would love to see her once again." I could see the sorrow on his face as he looked back at his younger brother.

"How do I get through the barrier?"

He looked back at me and smiled softly. "Tony says all you have to do is walk through it. He has fully checked the barrier and is certain it will not harm humans." He kissed me softly. "You know I would never ask you to do this if we weren't so desperate."

"I know and I'm happy to help." I stood on my tippy toes and kissed him. "I'm always happy to help my family."

He smiled. "I love it when you're brave and shit."

"I know right." I laughed as he hugged me tightly.

"Just come back to me safely and if you feel like something isn't right then come straight back. I'm not allowing you to be in danger." He kissed me.

"It's alright Carter. I'm a big girl."

"Yes, you are." He smiled slightly. "Thank you, baby."

"Yeah, I get to be the hero for once." He just pulled me in close to him and kissed me.