Silently she followed the two through a local corn field and felt them stop. She looked up ahead and saw the old mansion set back in the woods. She glanced at the guys and they smirked, pulling her along. A low twisted feeling settled in her stomach and she could taste her uneasiness. Doran stopped at the bottom of the long walk and stared through the iron gates. She ran her hand through her hair and Aedan caught her shoulder. He sent her a carefree glance and she frowned. Doran looked back at them and swung a gate open. Silently he stepped inside and Aedan pulled her with him. They approached an enormous wooden door and Doran gave a low whistle. "Think it'll be easy getting in now?" Aedan stepped past him and tested the handle. He knelt down and picked the lock with Doran laughing. "This is how you never got caught stealing from the butcher, eh?" Aedan smirked and she shook her head. The uneasiness was making her cold and she watched the door swing open. Aedan brushed his pants off and Doran shoved her to the door. Knowing she had to be the first in, she took a deep breath and stepped into the mansion. A warm draft nipped at her face and she glanced down the hall to her right. Her eyes narrowed and she felt the danger unnerving her. Doran walked past her and began climbing a giant staircase. Aedan glanced at her and she shook her head. He shrugged and followed his friend up to the second story. Sighing, she followed behind them and they moved down the hall. Splitting up, they checked different rooms and she found a library. Standing by an enormous fireplace, she looked around the room and her gaze rested on a painting. Crossing the room, she studied the woman staring back at her and felt the knot in her stomach tighten. Movement caught her eye and she spun around. Finding herself still alone, she left the library and moved down the hall. Coming to the stairwell, she stopped at the top and looked back down the hall. The two hadn't met her in the hall and she hated the dread slipping through her. She felt the warmth leave her as a chill slid through her and she descended the stairs slowly. Approaching the door, she glanced to her side and saw a set of doors to the basement. Silently she opened one door and descended the stairs. Stepping off the stairs, she felt the body tackling her and she flipped the person onto the floor. "Damn it, Aine. That hurt!" She let her eyes adjust and she frowned. Doran rested sprawled out on the floor and she pulled him up. Aedan laughed as he appeared to her right and Doran frowned. "You need to relax a little. There's nothing here but us." Hearing her pulse jump, she glanced around the dark basement and Aedan caught her shoulder. "What?" She shook her head and climbed the stairs to the hall. The two followed quickly and they walked back to the door. Pulling it open, she felt the cold surrounding her and she stopped. Aedan shoved Doran outside and looked at her. "Let's go." She glanced back up the stairwell and he caught her shoulder. Doran grabbed her other shoulder and they pulled her outside. Quietly the door shut behind them and they walked down the walk. Approaching the gates, a growl caught her ear and she stopped in her tracks. The two looked back at her and she looked back at the mansion. She looked up at the second story and saw the shadow in one of the windows. A gaze met hers and she held it. Warmth slipped out of her body, leaving her cold and she heard Doran whisper something. Aedan caught her shoulder and she knocked his hand away. The shadow disappeared and she felt her body warm once more. "Aine, you okay?" She glanced at the two and nodded. Quietly she led them out of the gates and back to the town. The walk home was quiet and Doran stared at her. "Just say it already." He smirked and said, "You were spooked back there." She stopped walking and looked back at him. The fool was completely ignorant of the danger lying inside that mansion and she wanted to knock sense into him. Aedan caught her shoulder and she looked at him. "Let's just go before you two kill each other." She grunted and Doran laughed. They continued to walk and stepped into the town. Aedan left them as they reached his place and Doran walked her further through town. The evening was unsafe for anyone but everyone felt she needed extra protection. He rested his arm around her shoulder and steered her into an alley. She shoved him into the wall and he snapped, "Someone's following us." Her eyes narrowed and she growled, "An alley won't stop them." Glancing back to the street, she saw the couple talking outside a nearby tavern. The man caught her gaze and her pulse jumped. She felt her skin grow cold and she looked back at Doran. He shared her gaze and she looked down the alley. The voices drew closer and she moved to a fence. Doran frowned and said, "I can't hop that." She indicated a crate and he shook his head. Quietly he jumped to the opposite side and she approached the fence. The couple stood at the opposite end of the alley and she caught their attention. A flash of white caught her eye and she stepped up to the fence. Climbing the fence, she landed on her feet next to Doran and caught his wrist. Quickly she ran down the alley and reached a main street. A couple people lingered at the butcher shop and she glanced down the alley. The couple were gone and she felt her pulse pounding in her head. "What is going on?" She looked at Doran and said, "Get inside quickly." He shook his head and said, "You first." Knocking him upside the head, she said, "This isn't a game, Doran. Do as I say and you may just live." He eyed her coolly and caught her shoulders. She met his gaze and he shook his head with a smirk. "Aedan would have my head if you didn't show your pretty face around town tomorrow." She frowned and said, "I can take care of myself." "Then what is it we're up against?" Glancing down the street, she saw some of the people watching them and she led him down the street. Quickly they reached Doran's home and she turned back to him. "You wouldn't believe me." He caught her shoulders again and said, "Aine, everything around you is strange but we still believe you." She met his gaze and felt him push her back into his house. He stared down into her eyes and his mouth met hers. Feeling the kiss, she froze and he stepped back. She held his gaze and heard the quiet footstep approaching. Doran looked down the street and met the man's gaze burning back at them. Quietly he released her shoulders and approached the man. She felt the blood slowly moving through her again and she slid her hand into her pocket. "Doran get back here!" He ignored her and approached the man. The man sneered at him and glanced at her. Holding his gaze, she met the burning gaze and she jumped off the wall. The man caught Doran's neck and tugged him to him. He jerked the head back and stared down at his throat. She jumped onto his back and shoved the stake into his chest. Hearing his scream, she fell onto the ground and caught Doran. He collapsed into her and she found him out cold. Seeing the small trail of blood running down his throat, she shook her head clear and looked around the street. Everyone had disappeared and she forced herself to her knees. Pulling him to his feet, she slid his arm over her and slowly began walking back to her stay. Finding the lights off, she pushed the door open and found the place empty. Quietly she lowered him onto the couch and walked into the kitchen. Wetting a cloth, she grabbed the first-aid kit and returned to the couch. Kneeling on the floor, she cleaned the wound and began wrapping it. "What the hell just happened?" She smirked as he came around and said, "You should've listened to me." He looked at her and said, "That wasn't a man." She finished closing the wound and said, "No. It wasn't." He got to his feet and stared down at her. Silently she got to her feet and walked into the kitchen. He followed her and watched her put the first-aid kit away. "It was your dumb wolves." Her eyes narrowed and she spun around. He looked sane but his mind was twisted. He yanked the door open and looked back at her. "Those wolves aren't pets, Aine. They attacked me and now I'll make sure they're dead." She watched him leave and growled. Knowing he was delusional, she let him go and ran up to her room. Gathering a thick coat, she returned to the kitchen and grabbed some clean game. Wrapping it in a bundle, she closed the fridge and left the house.