A/N – This is the last story I'm putting up. Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, favourite and followed! It's been fun. The Fiery Heart comes out tomorrow! (Unless of course you live in Australia in which case it's already out and I'm extremely jealous). When you finish the book message me so we can scream about it! Love, Abby.

I closed the door quietly, hoping it wouldn't draw the attention of the night time security guard. I was way past curfew. Time had just slipped away from me – I guess being with Adrian just did that to me. I would have to set an alarm for myself next time.

I giggled. Yes I, Sydney Sage actually let out a small giggle, over a boy no less. It was just such a happy feeling. A stupid, happy, I-can't-believe-this type feeling. I was in love. I never thought it'd be like this. I didn't feel like myself – but I still was.

Sighing, I entered the commons, hoping the security guard would be off doing something and not be able to see my "walk of shame" as I guess it was called.

The guard wasn't there - Eddie was. He was in the dorm commons, studying at a large table. I tried to sneak past and get to my room but of course he heard me. Damn those guardian senses.

"Sydney?" He asked, wide-eyed.

"Uh, hey." I said, cringing inwardly.

"What are you doing out so late?" He sounded incredulous. That stung a little – I had a social life. Sort of.

"Oh you know-" I started to say, not really sure what lie I was going to come up with.

"Let me guess. You were out seeing your secret boyfriend." Eddie guffawed.

To my chagrin I could feel my face starting to heat up. "No! I- I-"

Eddie's mouth dropped open. "You have a secret boyfriend?! I was joking."

"What are you doing here anyway?" I grumbled.

"Don't change the subject!" He demanded, but I could see my question had gotten to him. "Who is this guy?"

"I asked first." I responded, reverting to childishness.

"The security guard lets me stay here sometimes. I told him the lighting was better for studying. But really, uh, I like being closer to Jill. It makes me feel like I'm doing a better job."

"Eddie," I sat down in the chair next to him. "You need to sleep sometime."

"I sleep." He shrugged. I fiddled with my bag, wishing that Hopper was there. A miniature dragon would be easier to explain than my relationship with Adrian, but alas. "Who's this guy?"

"Just a guy." I said, looking at my fingers.

"And how long has this been going on?" He demanded.

"A couple months." I muttered.

Eddie let out a low whistle. "I am clearly not the guardian I thought I was."

"What are you keeping tabs on me too?"

Eddie shrugged. "I see you as someone to keep safe."

"You don't have to worry about me Eddie."

"Sure I do." His eyes narrowed. "Especially now that you have a boyfriend."

I laughed. "Thanks Eddie."

"So what's this guy like that he's got you sneaking out in the middle of the night?" Eddie nudged me.

I could feel myself go red again. "Well, he's funny and smart, but not necessarily in a brainiac kind of way – more smart in an artistic sense."

"Huh." Said Eddie.

"What?"

"You like him a lot."

"What makes you say that?"

"You were never like this with Brandon-"

"Brayden."

"Whatever. The point is, you're getting all flushed but you're also smiling as you talk about him. You like him a lot."

"I do." I admitted softly.

"Oh just wait until I tell Angeline. She's going to be so impressed with you."

"No Eddie you can't. You can't tell anyone."

'"Why Sydney? Afraid of a little ribbing?" Eddie grinned at me cheekily. I liked seeing him smile.

"No, that's not it. It's just that, who I'm dating… the alchemists wouldn't exactly approve."

Eddie's forehead scrunched up. "Oh I see. No worries Sydney, I won't tell."

I smiled at him. "Thanks Eddie."

I yawned, it really was rather late. "You should get to bed." Eddie told me.

I stood up. "So should you."

"I will soon."Eddie replied. I didn't believe him. I turned to go back to my room.

"Sydney?" Eddie called out behind me. I turned around. "I'm glad you're happy."

"Thank you." I murmured, thinking to myself that Eddie really was, a brother to me.

"How can I not kiss you?" Adrian's eyes were hypnotic. "When your aura is shining so brightly."

"Because we're in an empty classroom." I breathed out, my voice heavy. "And anyone could walk in at any moment."

"Details." Adrian smiled lazily at me, his other hand coming around to lean against the wall so that both his arms were around my head. I smiled back up at him as his lips came down to meet mine. My arms went around his waist and my lips responded hungrily, eagerly. It was so easy to get lost in him.

I heard a gasp from across the room. My eyes flew open and I could just glimpse a figure of a man standing in the doorway. I pulled back from Adrian getting a clear view of who it was currently charging into the room.

In a flash Eddie had Adrian pinned against the wall.

"What are you doing?" Eddie yelled. "Are you insane?"

"Technically yes-" Adrian responded, his voice muffled from being pressed into the wall. "Oof-"

Eddie shoved his knee into Adrian's back. He looked around at me. "Are you okay Sydney?"

"Yes, Eddie I'm fine just sto-" I was cut off by Eddie pulling Adrian back up, still holding his arms behind his back.

"How could you do that to Sydney? You know how she feels about us! She's human Adrian! I thought that was a line even you wouldn't cross." Eddie was yelling into Adrian's face, so mad that spit was flying from his mouth. I flinched, hoping no one would come running at the commotion.

"Eddie just listen-" I tried to say, but he shoved Adrian again.

"Just relax Castile." Adrian said in a calm, soothing voice, and for a second, just for a second, Eddie relaxed. Adrian tried to manoeuvre out of his hold but Eddie was too quick.

"Oh trying to use compulsion Adrian? Not going to work. Lissa taught me how to protect myself." Eddie slammed Adrian into the ground this time, causing him to grunt and me to let out a small scream.

"Eddie stop!" I shouted. He was really pissed off - I'd never seen him like this. In a weird way I was kind of touched. It was nice to know Eddie cared so much about me that he'd go into a blind rage if he thought I was being compromised.

"Is that what you did to her, huh? Use compulsion? You make me sick Adrian!" He punctuated each sentence by pushing Adrian's face into the ground.

"Eddie just stop!" I finally shouted. He looked up at me. "Nobody used compulsion on anyone ok?" I held up my hands and moved over to Adrian. "What we were doing – well I, I wanted him to."

"You… wanted him to?" Eddie looked at me like I was suddenly speaking Korean.

"Yes. I did." I said simply. I reached out and put my arm around Adrian and Eddie finally let go. He took a step back, a stunned expression on his face. Adrian got to his feet, grumbling. I reached up and brushed his hair out of his eyes. Eddie watched us with wide eyes.

"How long has this- what is – since when?" Eddie finally managed to get out.

Adrian put his arm around me as we stood there facing Eddie, facing anyone for the first time as a couple.

"Remember how you asked me where I always kept sneaking off to?" I asked him.

"Uh-huh." Said Eddie.

"Well, here's your answer." I shrugged.

Eddie was speechless. He gaped at us a moment. "Sydney?" He asked, still not quite understanding.

"It's true." I said simply.

"I can't believe you'd think I'd use compulsion on her!" Adrian said.

Eddie looked sheepish. "Sorry man, guess I overreacted." He stuck out his hand. "Friends?"

Adrian shook it. "Friends."

"Sydney, wow. I knew your views had changed and everything, but interracial dating? I mean even my side isn't ok with it." Eddie was handling this remarkably well. Apart from the violence, that is.

I cringed. "Don't remind me. Are you totally grossed out?"

Eddie thought for a second. "No… I'm not actually. Sydney we've spent so much time together, I don't really see you as a different species. And I guess, in a weird way… I could almost see you two together."

"You can?" A smile took over my face without my permission. I hadn't realised how much Eddie's opinion had meant to me. My heart swelled with the friendship I felt towards him.

"Sure." He shrugged. "You two are always teasing each other, and doing things together. I'm actually a little surprised I didn't see it before. What do the alchemists think?" He asked.

"Well obviously they don't know anything about it. Oh Eddie you can't tell anyone! If the alchemists found out, what they would do to me… well it would be worse than death." I shuddered. Adrian squeezed my shoulder, concern in his eyes.

"You have my word." He said. "Guardian's honour."

Just then Jill came tumbling in through the door, clearly having sensed Adrian's distress through the bond. "Oh no." her eyes went wide.

Adrian spoke. "It's OK jailbait. He's OK with it."

Eddie wheeled on Jill. "You knew?"

Jill tapped her head. "Psychic bond, remember?"

Eddie seemed to be shrinking. "Oh yeah, I guess."

Jill held out her hand for him. "Come on, let's go eat lunch."

"That's a great idea." Adrian said, following behind them. "I'm starving."

I rolled my eyes that Adrian was thinking about food after he had just been thoroughly beaten up. I was surprised by how… relieved I felt now that Eddie knew. It was just one more secret that I didn't have to keep.

Adrian POV

"Ooh look! There's brownies for desert." Jill squealed with delight after they had finished their meal in the school cafeteria. "Want one Sydney?"

"Oh, I don't know if I should." Sydney said quietly. She looked at me with wide eyes. God it hurt me when she did this. I nodded at her, exchanging thoughts as we looked at one another.

"Have a brownie Sydney." I said softly to her. She closed her eyes and nodded.

Jill and Eddie didn't seem to notice our silent communication. "Great." Jill chirped. "You guys want some?"

"Bring a bunch." I told her grinning.

"I'll come with you." Sydney said and they both got up, leaving me and Eddie alone.

I sipped my drink, steadfastly avoiding looking Eddie in the eye. He was quiet.

"Sorry about hitting you." Eddie said again.

"It's fine." I said coolly. That wasn't why I was upset.

Eddie sighed and shook his head. "You're angry with me."

I turned around to stare at him, feeling spirit darkness coming on. "Did you seriously think I would use compulsion on a girl? Do you think that low of me?" I lashed out.

Eddie flinched. "I'm sorry, I just overreacted. I know you wouldn't do that."

"Don't you?" I said darkly. "Everyone seems to think so highly of me and yet have you ever stopped to realize I've never actually done anything that everyone accuses me of. All I've ever done is help you Castile."

I could feel myself becoming more and more angry, which I knew was a side effect of spirit. I looked across the room to see Sydney standing in line behind Jill, I allowed myself to see auras for a moment. Sydney shone so much more brightly than those around her. The unique combination of purple and yellow calmed me. My flame in the dark. I took a breath to calm myself and then switched off my spirit abilities.

"You're right." Eddie said quietly. "I've never given you enough credit Ivashkov. I'm sorry."

"It's OK." I said. "No one really has. Except Sydney." My voice went soft as I said her name.

"How did you manage that anyway?" Eddie asked, his voice returning to normal.

"Manage what?" I asked, spearing a piece of lettuce from the salad I had earlier.

"Sydney." Eddie snorted. "She used to be afraid to shake hands with us. How'd you manage to date her?"

"Ah Castile, it's unfortunate that you do not have as much skill with the ladies as do I. But it would take far too long to teach you. So much for you to learn."

Eddie snorted. "I'm serious."

"Well apart from my obvious charm and good looks." Eddie rolled his eyes and I grinned. "It just sort of happened actually. We spent a lot of time together and she just got comfortable around me. Remember those self defense lessons we were taking?"

Eddie nodded.

"I ended up being the one not able to touch her."

Eddie laughed at that.

"It wasn't easy at first – she was very reluctant. I stayed away like I told her I would but she just kept coming back to me. Couldn't resist." I flashed Eddie my signature grin. "But really, we just compliment each other so well."

"I could see that." Eddie nodded. "But if you screw this up, if you hurt her in any way, I will kill you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Adrian replied looking Eddie in the eye.

The girls came back with a plateful of brownies.

"Yum." I said biting into one. I watched Sydney select the smallest one there, but at least she ate the whole thing.

"I'm so glad you know now Eddie!" Sydney said happily.

"Know what?" Angeline demanded, hands on her hips, suddenly appearing at our table. She scooted into the booth beside me and helped herself to a brownie.

"Nothing." Eddie and Sydney said at the same time.

Angeline rolled her eyes. "Yeah right."

We all exchanged uneasily looks and I squeezed Sydney's hand under the table.

"Did you finally find out the two of them are dating?" Angeline asked, her mouth full of gooey brownies. We all looked at her in shock.

"You knew?" Eddie demanded.

"Did you tell her?" Sydney asked Jill.

Angeline snorted (rather unattractive when combined with her chocolate covered teeth). "Oh please. Eddie you can be so clueless sometimes. They were so obvious. Why do you think when we could never find one of them the other was missing as well? If you didn't have these weird human-vampire hang-ups you'd have figured it out ages ago."

Eddie stared at her in shock, I guess surprised that with all his training she had noticed something he didn't. I had forgotten that Angeline grew up with the Keepers, so she would have no trouble imagining me and Sydney together. It almost gave me hope for our future. Almost.

"So can we please cut the secrets now? It was getting on my nerves." Angeline gulped down a glass of milk.

"No!" We all shouted at her.

"You can't tell anyone." Eddie said.

"Because of-" Jill started to say.

"Zoe!" Sydney exclaimed.

I looked up to see the younger Sage sister standing coolly by us. I don't think she had heard any of our conversation though.

"Sydney we have class." She said sulkily. "Let's go."

Sydney obediently got up to join her sister. "Of course."

"Hey younger Sage." I said, nonchalantly. I gestured to the brownies. "Fancy a bite?"

She scowled at me. "What are you even doing here Ivashkov?"

"Being the upstanding big brother that I am."

Zoe shook her head and walked away. Sydney followed after her but not before leaving us with a huge smile.

She, like me, was glad we could finally tell our friends about our relationship. It was almost like we had created our own little family. If only we didn't have to deal with our real families who wanted to disown us, crown us, keep us isolated, and break up our relationships. I sighed. At least the brownies were good.

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