Cassie dimly realized that they were not actually trying to kill each other. If that was the case this fight would be a lot more brutal. However, they were hurting each other. “Calm down,” Devon growled, placing his hand firmly against Julian’s chest.

“He’s mine!” Julian spat, his face twisted with fury as his gaze briefly landed upon Derek.

Cassie froze; her limbs went numb as Devon’s gaze came slowly toward her. She could see the hesitation in his face, the fierce want for something more, the fierce battle he waged with himself between making her happy, and satisfying the monster within himself. Those red eyes burned into her. For some strange reason, the unexplainable urge to cry seized hold of her. A lump formed in her throat, her eyes burned as she blinked rapidly. There was something in his gaze, something so lost and wounded, yet loving and protective that it left her breathless.

Devon turned slowly away from her, focusing upon Julian once more. “Yes, he’s yours,” Devon relented. “But you can’t kill him until we know what he knows.”

Cassie cried out in horror, she took another step forward but Liam blocked her again. She glared fiercely up at him, her hands fisting at her sides. He was really starting to get on her nerves. “Fine,” Julian relented.

“Wait!” Cassie cried, her eyes darting frantically to her father. Liam moved to block her again. “Get out of my way!” she snapped, frustration boiling rapidly through her as she fought the urge to punch him in the face.

Liam hesitated for a moment, but finally relented and stepped slowly aside. Cassie bolted past him as Devon released Julian, letting him slide slowly back to the floor. Though his reddened neck had to be killing him, Julian did not raise a hand to it. He took a step toward her father, but Cassie instantly thrust herself in between them. “No!” she shouted, throwing her arms wide to block him.

Derek was still making strange noises, his chair pounded up and down on the floor as he tried to hop it further away from them. Though it was strangely out of place in the pulsing tension of the room, the sudden thought of Chunk tied to his chair trying to get away from Sloth in The Goonies popped into her mind. She shook it instantly away, her father’s life was at stake here she had to keep her mind focused on the present.

“Cassie…”

“No,” she interrupted Devon sharply. “This is not going to happen. I know that you both hate him, but I will not let you kill him in cold blood. I know what a monster he is, but he is still my father!”

“Cassie…”

“No!” she screamed again, sick and tired of all the crap. Sick and tired of all the fighting and anger. Why can’t we all just get along flashed through her head, but she knew that it was impossible. And she also knew that she would not allow anyone to be murdered in cold blood. Not while she was around. “No!”

The chair stopped clattering across the floor as Derek came up against a shelf. Merchandise rattled against the metal shelves, but nothing fell to the floor. A strange whimper escaped the man. Cassie winced, hating his terror, even if he had done worse to her, even if he did deserve it. Devon and Julian took a step toward her. They would never hurt her, but she was acutely reminded of the fact that they were larger, and far more powerful than she was. No matter how much of a fight she put up, they could forcefully move her out of the way if they chose to do so. Though she didn’t think Devon would do that to her, Julian seemed determined to get at Derek.

Narrowing her eyes, Cassie braced herself for the battle. They would have to go through her to get to him. She glanced back at the sounds of shuffling behind her. Dani and Luther had taken up residence in front of her father. Chris glanced rapidly between Cassie and Derek before sighing softly and moving reluctantly over to stand behind her. He glanced briefly at her before dropping his head down. Melissa eventually moved to stand beside Chris, but Liam and Annabelle hung back, seemingly torn, and looking more than a little confused.

Devon took another step closer. Panic descended upon her, he was going to force her to move, and if he did so, things would never be the same between them again. She could never forgive him for standing back and allowing her father to be viciously murdered. Her heart lumbered painfully in her chest. His beloved emerald eyes were caring and intent as he stopped before her.

“Cassie.” Her arms trembled, she braced herself for him to grab hold of her and move her, but he did not. “Cassie, that man is not your father.”

The breath whooshed out of her in an explosive exhale. Her chest constricted tightly, disbelief and confusion swirled through her. “What?” she gasped, shaking her head forcefully in denial. “That can’t be… What!?”

Devon’s eyes were caring, warm, so unbelievably loving. “He’s not your father Cassie.”

Her arms fell limply to her sides, shock stuttered through her. She shook her head, unable to believe what he was saying. Just what the hell was he saying? “How could you possibly know that?” she whispered.

“His blood.”

Cassie frowned in confusion. “Like knows like, blood knows blood,” Julian growled. “That blood is nothing like yours. It smells nothing like yours, and it certainly doesn’t belong to a Hunter. He is not your father.”

Cassie couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think. She tried hard to process this information, but it would not slip into place when her world was tilting so precariously at the moment. “He lied,” Devon said gently.

Cassie shook her head. She wondered where her anger was, but it completely escaped her as she could find none when there should be lots of it. There was only a sad acceptance, and a joyful relief that left her shaken and weak. “He’s not my father?” she breathed.

“No.”

Cassie heaved a soft sigh, inhaling shakily as she turned slowly around. “Ok, ok good.”

The man, this stranger that she didn’t know, was watching her with wide, terrified eyes. The others had moved out of the way, apparently having decided that he was now fair game for Julian and Devon. A strangled cry escaped him; he fought desperately against the bonds that held him to the chair. Though she knew he was not her father, she still could not stop the rush of sympathy that swamped her. Because of this man she knew what it was like to feel trapped, helpless, at the absolute mercy of other people. But where he had shown her no compassion, she would show him some.

“Why did you lie?”

His eyes zinged rapidly around the room, apparently looking for something that he would not find. Wild, stuttering noises escaped him, but he formed no coherent words. Cassie’s heart wrenched. She could not do this to him, it was not fair. Devon grasped hold of her arm as she took a step toward the strange man.

“Cassie.”

She touched his hand gently, needing him to understand this, even if she didn’t. “It’s ok.”

He hesitated, his jaw clenching. Devon gave her arm a brief squeeze before slowly releasing her. “Devon!” Julian hissed softly.

Devon held up his hand, holding Julian back when he came forward. “Wait,” he ordered gruffly.

“Are you out of your freaking mind?” At Devon’s head shake, Julian continued. “Is she!?”

Cassie knelt before the stranger. He cowered away from her, but she made no move toward him. Though she did not like his terror, she did feel he deserved at least a little of it. “Who are you?” The man simply stared at her, his breathing rapid, his eyes still bulging wildly.

Cassie rested her hand lightly on his leg, seeking to offer him some reassurance, but he instantly jerked away. For the first time, something other than terror, shone from him. He stared hard at her, his lip curled in revulsion. Cassie sighed as she leaned back. It didn’t matter what she offered him, he was still repulsed and disgusted by her. She found the fact didn’t bother her as much now.

“Fine, you hate me, I don’t care. But we need to know what you know.” She glanced toward where Julian and Devon stood side by side. She was briefly amused by the fact that they probably didn’t realize they were standing identically, with their arms folded over their chests, their legs braced, as they watched her with nearly identical expressions of disbelief. They may not know exactly how they felt about each other right now, but it was apparent that they were still very in tune with one another. “If you don’t talk to me than Julian will be the one to find that out.”

Julian’s full lips curled into a small smile as he gave her a sharp, approving nod. The man sputtered more disbelieving noises that drew Cassie’s attention back to him. “He won’t hurt you…”

“Like hell!” Julian snapped, his pleasure vanishing instantly. Devon placed his hand firmly against Julian’s chest as he held him back. Julian glared fiercely back at him, his eyes flaring red, and his temper heating at the thought of being denied his revenge.

Cassie ignored him as she continued on. “But this is going to happen.”

***

Devon stood silently; watching intently as Cassie leaned forward again, instinctively going to comfort the monster before her before she thought twice of it. She sighed softly; her hands fell helplessly back to her thighs again. He wanted to go to her, to pull her away from that man, to get her as far from the monster as possible. But she would fight him and for some reason, that he couldn’t even begin to fathom, she was bent on comforting the man that had held her captive and tortured her endlessly.

She had always been a bit of a puzzle to him, but right now she was a downright enigma.

She sat for a moment longer, the deep sadness in her eyes almost more than he could bear. But, eventually, she stood slowly away from him. Though Devon wanted to go to her, he remained where he was, waiting for her to come to him. Whatever was going on inside her, she had to sort it out for herself.

Finally, she turned and hurried toward him. Devon opened his arms to her, relief filling him as he enveloped her tightly. Bringing her close to him, he buried his face in her hair, savoring in the delicious scent of her. He would never understand her completely, and she would never cease to amaze him, but he loved her more than he had ever thought possible.

Pushing her thick hair gently back, he kissed her silken skin lightly. She shivered as she pressed closer to him. Her bright eyes met his, a soft smile spread across her full mouth as he kissed her. A tightness began to build in him, he clung to her as he fought the rising desire and lust that built rapidly within him. He pressed his forehead against hers as he pulled away, lightly stroking her face with his fingers.

“I need you to go out back with everyone while I talk to Julian.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly cut her off. “It will just be for a minute, and there is something that we need to discuss. And we need to get those windows boarded back up.”

She frowned for a moment before nodding swiftly. “Ok.” Devon did not want to release her; he did not want her out of his eyesight for even a minute, especially with those things running around. But this had to be done, and it would not be long. She stepped out of his arms, frowning at Julian as she gave him a fierce, determined look. “Don’t hurt him,” she ordered briskly.

Julian quirked an eyebrow as surprise, disbelief, and something akin to amazement flitted across his features. “If he fights it, it will hurt.”

Cassie hesitated for a moment, her gaze darted toward the man watching them intently. “Try your best not to.”

Julian’s mouth dropped as he shot Devon a look that clearly asked if she was out of her mind. Devon shook his head at him, trying to silence him before he could say anymore. Julian’s mouth snapped shut, his arms folded over his chest as he studied Cassie. It was obvious that he was trying to figure her out, but Devon knew that was impossible.

She moved slowly toward everyone else. Chris wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tight against his side as his head dropped against hers. Melissa and Luther enveloped her sides, pressing tight to her in an effort to comfort her. Annabelle and Liam held back for a moment before turning and disappearing into the back of the store with Dani.

“Is she serious?” Julian asked softly.

A bewildered expression was on Julian’s face, his ice colored eyes were wide with disbelief and uncertainty. “Yes.”

Julian blinked in surprise before turning toward the stranger in the chair. “After what they, what he did to us in there?”

Julian thrust an accusatory finger at the panicked man in the chair. Devon could not bring himself to look at the man again. If he did, he was greatly afraid that he just might kill the bastard himself. Though he knew Cassie’s wishes, even if he didn’t understand them, he also knew what he wanted to do to the man. What should be done to the man. And if it meant keeping her safe, he was going to do whatever it took to make sure this man never hurt her again, even if she didn’t like it. He was not going to lose her again, and this man was the biggest threat to that happening.