Protection of the sea mermaid...

She was alone in bed when she woke up. Again.

Those dreams were… The woman opened her eyes, sighing to clear her confused thoughts with shaky, panting breaths. The images and sensations she was experiencing at that moment unsettled her. It was as if she could feel all the satisfaction of those hands touching her. He never dreamed of him. He never allowed himself to think about it. Why was the slightest movement causing her body to experience painful twinges on the right side of her hip?

It took her a while to realize that there was someone else there too. A hand gripped her shoulder tightly and she screamed. The air around her smelled of jasmine, lavender, and cinnamon. It was steeped in magic and it wasn't good.

Instinct made adrenaline rush through his blood energetically. Desperately Cassie reached for any weapon within reach. She saw only the bottle of liquor by the bedside table.

Where she was?

God, where were her clothes?

And the weapons, good God?

That man hurt her. Frightened, she picked up the object and hurled it mercilessly at the figure next to her and gathered the strength to get up.

Her eyes took in the usual white robe he wore with a groan of frustration on his face.

Did they ever give up?

The man rubbed the spot where he'd been hit and her gaze gleamed with an animal hatred so intense it made her freeze. It was an emblem of the Crescent Moon clan. She was in trouble. And lots and no weapons. She didn't know this man and didn't need to. Since she had discovered that she was his daughter, her life had never been the same. It was a horror. She had successfully evaded him so far, but they had managed to find her.

-What are you doing here? she asked tensely.

He did not answer. Usually, they didn't speak much, but the man tried to grab her once more. A low moan escaped her mouth as she dodged and struggled to her feet.

The door. She needed to get out of there. Lord, it was impossible that there wasn't a single gun in that place! Her hand shakily touched the stone of light without any energy. While she was deciding what to do, the man held her.

-Where are you? - the question was low.

-Where is what? – she managed to ask

-Don't play with me, your highness. Where are? The Pieces of Four? - the man was now squeezing his shoulder so tightly that it would inevitably leave marks. - Hecate's key changes the paths...

His voice was almost a growl.

- Pieces of 4? But which Pieces of 4?

- The man again advanced on her without any patience. She even tried to scream before being silenced by being slapped harshly.

-The sentry guard in the hallway died very quickly. – He took something out of his tunic. – You can, of course, choose.

Cassie swallowed hard. The weapon he held was very sharp. Perhaps a not very curved wooden sickle. Concentration. She desperately needed concentration. Magic didn't work under pressure like that. At least not voluntarily. She wasn't making it. The pain in her body was agony.

-Where are you?

He lowered the scythe until he reached the strings of the shirt she wore. She wore nothing but that. Where the hell were her clothes? The fabric of his shirt ripped at the shoulder with the sharp scythe blade.

-Why aren't you wearing the locket?

He played with the gun, rubbing it back and forth before bringing it to the woman's face. The only time she'd ever met Philip, she'd thrown the wretched wolf the damned medallion in revolt. It didn't belong to those people. She was never, ever going to marry Philip Morgan. She preferred death.

-My lord will be disappointed, my lady. You are a princess of your lineage and you deny your heritage.

She could laugh. Only she was struggling to stifle sudden panic. Concentration failed miserably. Were there more of them there? A cold sweat bathed his face. It was the fault of absurd weakness. That sickening smell of clams and sea urchins permeated the air, making her nauseous.

God! He was going to kill her for sure. He didn't play with that man. She had defied him in every possible way.

She had the feeling that her insides were suddenly melting. Her head was about to explode. He strained… The damn strained her mind. The cabin seemed to have disappeared around her. The succession of images blended like a whirlpool.

She was seven. She watched her mother. Lilandra was urgently sorting clothes, explaining that they would leave as soon as Will arrived at the castle… She was alone. And the flames spread with alarming speed. The castle was on fire. But that was not what frightened the child.

She listened. Anyone could hear the heavy breathing in dry gasps as they felt the paralyzing cold that consumed all the heat around them. Several ICHICHOS advanced.

She also knew by an instinct of her own that what little magic she had begun to awaken in her childhood was enough to attract these creatures. Only William was close. He was going to look for her.

"No!" A voice exploded in Cassie's head and she screamed. "This isn't real. It's just a damn memory. Is not real!"

Stunned, the girl struggled to free herself and saw the trembling figure of a woman there.

Hecate?!