"You have got to be kidding me?" I groaned, looking at Carter with absolute disgust. "I'm not doing that." I shook my head.

"What do you mean you're not doing that?" Carter looked shocked at my reaction. "After everything we have done together, this is your line?"

"I'm pretty sure this would be everyone's line." My hands were on my hips in protest.

"Not mine." Jake smiled proudly, rubbing his hands together.

"You have no line, so you don't get an option." I snapped at him.

"I do too." Jake dramatically took a step back and gasped. "I just haven't found it yet. Don't line shame me."

"Oh, for goodness sake." Callan groaned, shaking his head. "Look, none of us want to do this, but we have to. So get on your knees, Ebony, and stop complaining."

"Excuse me? You get on your knees and do it first, then." I glared at Callan.

"I don't like to go first. It's rude. I learned that a long time ago, and anyway, ladies first, as they say." Callan grinned in my face proudly. "I believe in equality, so why don't you get on your knees and go first? Stepmother dearest."

"Nice." Jake smiled, trying not to laugh. "I'd watch that."

"Fine, I'll go first," I said in Callan's face and then got on my knees. "Ew, it smells down here."

"Not the first time he's heard that." Jake got on his knees next to me. "Oh god, it does smell. Callan, where have you been, man?"

"Ha ha! So fucking funny. Asshole." Callan swung at Jake's head, narrowly missing it as Jake hit the ground. "You're so annoying."

"You're so annoying," Jake yelled at him from the ground.

"You're both so annoying." I glared at them both.

"Enough!" Carter yelled in frustration. "Everyone, just get on your goddamn knees and pretend you like it or so help me, god..."

"Stop! This is ridiculous." I cut off Carter. "None of us want to do this, but we have no other option. We need to stop attacking each other and focus."

"I'm so tired and sore. I can't keep doing this with you guys." Jake whined. "Carter hurt me back there." He rubbed his back. "You need to be more gentle."

"You need to toughen up." Carter snapped. "You can't keep up with me. That's not my problem."

"No wonder the ladies complain about their knees hurting. This sucks." Callan rubbed his legs. "How do you do this?"

"Look, we have to go through the sewer to get to the vampire council undetected. No one wants to do it, but we have no choice." Carter said, getting on his knees. "At least this way, we might have a chance."

"Yeah, but the sewer sinks." Jake held his hand to his mouth.

"Vinnie, Leon, and Henry are already in the drain on the other side of the forest, and we all agreed that we would take this path. It leads us to the council chambers, and if we don't do this, we are leaving them to die, so get on your knees and enter the drain." Carter climbed into the open sewer grate on the ground.

"On a scale of one to that night, we woke up in a grave with a stake in our chest. How bad is it?" Jake yelled down to Carter on his hands and knees.

"It's fine. It's actually not that bad." Carter called back, completely calm.

"Really?" Jake stuck his head into the drain. "Wait a minute.." Jake suddenly disappeared into the drain as Carter pulled him down, head first.

"You son of a bitch!" Jake almost squealed. "It's disgusting down here...I mean, no, it's delightful down here. Mmmm, smells great."

Callan rolled his eyes. "Seriously?"

"Let's just get this over with so we go home." I sighed, still listening to Jake carry on about how lovely it was down there.

"You go first. Just to be safe." Callan said, looking around the forest cautiously.

"I can't believe we are doing this." I quickly sat on the edge of the grate with my feet hanging in and felt Carter's hands on my leg.

"I got you," Carter said gently as he caught me in his arms. "Hey, beautiful." He smiled softly at me.

"Favouritism." Jake groaned, looking away in disgust.

"It is disgusting down here." I covered my nose with my fingers. "I can't believe this is the best plan."

"Try being a vampire who is sensitive to smell," Callan said, suddenly standing beside me. "Oh, good god." He pulled his black T-Shirt up over his mouth and nose. "There has to be a better plan than this?"

"Look, I know this is not ideal, but it gives us the best advantage on the council," Carter said, looking down the dark passageway of the drain system. "I also have to inform you that these drains may contain boobie traps.."

"Boss said boobie." Jake snickered to himself.

"Stop being such a tit." Callan punched Jacob really hard in the arm.

"Ouch, that hurt you ta-ta." Jake punched Callan in the back, causing him to fall forward.

"Can you stop? It's becoming offensive to boobs now." I stood in between them. "No more hitting each other."

"Like I was saying before." Carter grabbed Callan and Jake by the back of their necks and moved them away from each other like they were children. "Can I continue?" They both nodded their heads. "Right, according to the resistance, there are multiple traps along this path to stop intruders. The many traps are set up to stop or even kill anyone who dares enter these drains. We all need to be focused and ready for anything. I will go first, and Jacob, you go last. Callan, I need you to stay close because I don't want the darkness to attack you. The others will meet us at the chambers with the troops. If you sense anything, and I mean anything, you need to let me know. We need to communicate with each other, or we are dead. Boys, you know what to do."

I watched as their eyes turned blood red, and they bared their fangs. "This is actually terrifying." I looked around at them all and shuddered. "I don't like this at all."

"Ebony, sweetheart, you might need to let the creature take control at some point if you can. She is stronger and will be able to sense danger quicker than you." I felt something inside me start to rumble as Carter continued. "We need the creature from this point. She has been training with Callan and will be able to assist us in the attack."

"So, I just hide away?" I shrugged, feeling my body start to shake.  "I don't want to hide away. I survived this long."

"Baby, I need the creature. I'm not sure how this all works, but I need to protect you, and the creature has been training day and night for this fight." Carter touched my arm gently. "You knew this moment was going to happen."

"What if I can't find my way back? What if she won't let me back?"

"The creature has no intention of hurting you. You need to believe that. She needs you as much as you need her. You need to work together like we do with our vampire. You are one." Carter kissed my cheek and felt electricity flow through my veins.

"Carter, I'm scared. I don't want to be lost again." I was starting to have a panic attack.

"When this is over, you will come back to me." He kissed me softly.

"How do you know that? What if I can't find my way back to you? What if I never see our son again?" I felt the tears on my cheek. "Carter, she wants you, and I'm not sure she will let me back if she has you again."

"Ebony, what are you talking about?" He kissed my hand, almost laughing at me. "The creature doesn't want me."

"Yes, she does."

"Baby, listen to me. I need you to calm down and breathe. Nothing is going to happen to you. You need to trust me on this. The creature is a part of you. She is not the enemy here. I've spent time with her, and we have discussed this subject a lot. She fought to find you just like we did because she wanted you to come home. You need to believe me when I say she doesn't want to hurt you. Besides, if she did hurt you, I would destroy her." He kissed me again and ran his fingers through my hair softly. "Believe in my words, sunshine. You will come home with us."

"I can feel her," I said, closing my eyes. "She wants to fight."

"Then work with her. She needs you to fight. The creature is strong, but she needs your heart. Be strong for her." Carter whispered in my ear.

"I can hear her voice in my head," I said, almost breathless. "She is telling me to fight with her."

"Listen to her. Listen to your body. I love you." He whispered onto my lips as everything around me went black and I collapsed into Carters arms.

"Ebony?"

"Vampire Carter, I am here to assist you." The creature said smiling.

—————-

A/N
Thank you for your support through these stories. I appreciate every single one of you. Make sure you are following me for updates on the story and leave a like. Let me know what you think as well. I'd love to hear from you. I value your opinion.

PS- Very excited to be starting book 3 - Midnight Bachelors very very soon! I think you will like it!!

Stay tuned x

💜