Ashur It is getting increasingly frustrating to see Merna yet not be able to touch her. We are only told bits and pieces of what Merna has said. As much as I understood my father’s reasoning for secrecy it was starting to become borderline paranoia. The next part that bothered me was seeing her glare out over the water. She appeared so sombre. She might have physically been there but her mind was elsewhere! Watching how Sadragon's mate comforted Merna pissed me off. That should have been my right, not his! Yet there was not a thing that I could do. Zefer appeared next to me as I again watched Merna, "I take it that is the hybrid?" This was the first time she was able to see Merna. I understood what Zefer was implying. "That would be her!" Zefer huffed out loud, "I do not see anything special about this human born!" She tried to take one step toward the property, Raising a brow, "Why can I not move forward?" Zefer took a step back. Merna turned her head briefly to see who it was that stepped into her protection bubble. For the briefest of seconds, I thought my mate gave me a grin. Who would think that a punisher like myself would display softness? In all of the centuries that had gone by, I did not believe I would meet my mate. And here I stand acting like a school boy wet behind the ears … I used to make fun of those fools that would follow the tail of a female. Displaying their emotions openly. I started to chuckle, "That would be the working of a not-so-special hybrid!" I crossed my arms in front of me. Proud of my little mate's abilities. “Sadragon says that she is even stronger … though she refuses to display it for the realms to see!” Zefer annoyed, "HER?" She sniffed the air around us. "I do not smell anything special!" Rapidly Zefer shot her eyes at my mate and then to me, “I can tell she is a hybrid … but nothing out of the ordinary! Even Alma has more power in her smallest finger versus this … your fascination!” Again I laughed, "That would be her doing as well! She does not like others to know who she is? What she can do? And where she going?" I stopped all the humour. “I think we need to call a private sibling meeting and … bring Sadragon along!” “Why?” “Father has been acting differently! Ever since she came here. More so than normal. I am positive that Sadragon knows more than what he says!” I kept my eyes on my mate. “That might be very possible … but Sadragon is deadly loyal to father! If father orders him not to speak … He will not utter a word to you!”“Then what do you suggest I do dear sister? This … not knowing why is driving me to question my sanity!” I dead pinned my eyes on Zefer. Zefer sneered, “the moment the hybrid stepped on this land … both father and you have lost all sense of sanity! I suggest you either get over the human born female … or take her as your wife and be done with this foolishness!” She napped in a low tone. The energy in the atmosphere began to shift! Both Zefer and I watched as Merna's head snapped to the side. Rapidly she jumped up from the garden bed. Merna motioned her feet to the front of the house. With one glance at the other, we knew what was going on. What was interesting is that my mate figured it out before myself or my sister did. Creeping towards the road! Both of us followed silently. I had my dagger ready for any sign of danger. Zefer extended her claws. At the end of the driveway, two spies were strolling by the entrance. Frowning, ‘Clever enough!’ I linked my sister. Both of the spies were in human born bodies! These must have been the couple that Sadragon had once spoken of. My sister wore a grin on her face. One that would make anyone wet behind the ear fall to their knees begging for forgiveness. ‘Sadragon was not lying!’ Zefer said with her sight set on the two imposters. Motioning her hands to get the dirt off her hands, Merna's sight landed on the two passersby! The spies tried to enter the property. From my perspective, it looked like their bodies had bounced back off the shield. Pushing them back a couple of inches. Abruptly their feet stopped as they could not make passage. ‘Still think she is nothing?’ We remained in the trees hidden from their view. ‘The spies are not that good!’ Zefer pointed out, ‘a well trained hunter would have noticed us a long time ago. Parppavar must be desperate if she is sending weaklings like them to go after your prospect.’ Merna’s feet did not stop at the edge of her car, she continued to move forward. It was as if Merna was going to meet them head on. I knew Sadragon had told me that the treo had been sparing, increasing my mate's ability to protect herself physically, yet I could feel an emotion that I had never felt, fear! "Stop!" I whispered. My sister shot me a nasty glare, “hatchling!” She hissed at me. ‘The day you meet your mate I will look forward to you becoming emotional and desiring nothing but their safety!’ I hissed at her. Zefer’s eyes glowed yellow, ‘if that unfortunate day should come … I will slit their throat and spare the both of us a lifetime of emotions that are not welcomed!’“Hello!” The male smiled, "If it is not our new neighbour!" He sang. “I do not see your husband around …” The male glanced around the location. Merna's smile increased as she hummed. “He is in the woods!” Zefer and I glared at one another not knowing how to react to what Merna had said. ‘Did she just say what I think she said!’ My sisters chimed in my mind. ‘I think she was implying …’ ‘She knows!’ Zefer raised a brow as she slowly motioned her head to my mate. ‘What is going on?’ The female giggled, “How nice! And how are you doing this fine evening?" The female asked with a large smile. "Fine!" Merna kept her same expression. “You know it is only polite to invite your guests in for a cup of coffee! How about you invite us in for coffee?" The male piped up. Keeping his robotic creepy smile on his face. From the main entrance, Pierre came out with a cup in his hand, "Any troubles?" He shouted his eyes also on the couple. “Hey sweetheart … I did not know you came home!’ Twisting her head to the side to Pierre, "And there is no trouble! They are leaving now!" Placing her hands on her hip, "Well! That was kind of rude!" Merna took one step towards the couple, her sight was deadlock on them. "They do not call me a bitch for nothing!" Merna continued to stroll towards them, "I am not biased… I hate everyone equally! I do not like drama! Keep on spying on me and we are going to have many issues! I do not start shit but I do end it!" ‘I want to kill them so badly!’ I motioned my body closer to the spies when my sister warned me. ‘As long as they are in a meat sack, they are off limits!’ We had to stand there like morons! It was against our laws to attack intruders while they were in the body of a human born. The chances of both dying were possible. Without concrete evidence to prove that the human born was a willing host … we had to sit and do nothing. Hissing, "They know this! That is why they are doing this. We will have to get them later!" I told my sister. Zefer glanced one more time at Merna, "I am liking this hybrid more ... not by much but more!"The couple continued down the road, “Does this mean you are giving your approval?” While Merna and Pierre went inside. “Not yet dear brother! I will have to see more proof that she is worthy of our bloodline!” Zefer opened a portal, “We need to go and talk to father!”