Kosek woke with a start. He sat up on the bed, his skin drenched with sweat. He heard Stephia's voice running through his mind. His hand shook when he raked his fingers through his hair before he stood. He cocked his head to the side and noticed the storm had abated. With bare feet, he crossed the room to gaze out the window, the air around them was calm, and the storm passed over the small town leaving a gentle breeze in its wake.

"Something happened to make her call out to me," Kosek spoke. He couldn't shake the feeling something must have frightened her to cause her to call out to him. His closed his eyes as he sought her out with his mind. His eyes blinked open.

Nothing. It bothered him when he couldn't see what was in her mind.

"I should go and check on her, just to be sure," he tried to convince himself. He opened the window then closed his eyes again and felt his body changing. A bright light filled the room and was gone with a flash. Instead of a man, a bird flapped its wings then flew out of the window.

Wings fluttered in the quiet motel room as Kosek flew through the open window. Moisture still filled the air even though it was no longer raining. Thick clouds covered the full moon and Kosek took himself higher and higher into the air. The black crow couldn't be easily seen in the darkness as it flew through the air toward Leeza's house. He flew to a branch that was next to her room.

Small feet landed on a wet branch outside of Leeza's window. The house was pitch black since the storm had knocked out the power in Moonstone. A drop fell onto a wing, Kosek shook it free from the feathers, but it seeped into his skin causing him to shiver. He hopped on the branch so he could face the street. There weren't any strange vehicles on the street. He peered into the window, watched her pacing for several seconds, and took note she wasn't in any danger.

So why did she call out to me then? Kosek couldn't help but wonder. He could feel the pull of his mate deep inside of his mind and into his soul. The bond was already there years before when he went through the Mate Search Trance and Phania thought the woman in his dreams was herself; instead, it was Stephia who was destined to be his mate. It still angered him at the trick that Phania had played. She played him for a fool for many years until he caught on to her act. What hurt the most was he found out too late to stop her.

The sound of a car's engine brought Kosek out of the past. He swung his head around toward the street in time to see a car stopping at the curb in front of Leeza's house. A lone figure stepped out of the car, and Kosek saw that it was a woman. She stepped around the car and crossed the lawn to the house next door. Kosek watched as the woman knocked on the door and it opened. He heard the soft laughter when the woman stepped into the house and the door closed. Kosek turned away from those unwanted memories of his time spent with Phania. It pained him too much of what he'd gone through with her and the lies she'd told. Never once was she faithful to him. It was too late when he'd found out how unfaithful she was.

Still, the sense of danger wouldn't leave him. He glanced around the house from branch and from air. He didn't see anything that would cause him to feel the way he did. He landed and turned back to Leeza's dark window then ruffled his feathers before he flew up into the air. Knowing Leeza was going to be safe for the rest of the evening, he didn't need to watch over her.

Morning came too soon. Leeza rose from the bed and took a quick shower. She braided her hair as she walked down the hallway and tied it with a pink elastic band. She was relieved the electricity was turned back on. Not bothering with breakfast, Leeza pulled on her jacket and stepped outside. She wasn't surprised there was no fog lingering in the air after the storm that had passed through. Clouds lingered in the sky, so full, thick and gray. A cool breeze washed over her, causing her to shiver and pull the jacket closer to her body. Her breath appeared as little puffs of white as she breathed the cold air.

"Another day in Moonstone," she said, hopefully with a cheerful voice but knowing she'd failed. She opened the car door to her cruiser. She started the engine and let the car warm up.

"At least I have tomorrow off, and I can get some housecleaning done--what there is to be done." Leeza backed the car out of the driveway and took it down the street toward the highway patrol station. She hoped that the Captain was in a better mood than he had been all week. She didn't need to be put on probation or a leave without pay.

Being swamped in fog day in and out began to grate on everyone's nerves and it showed in their driving skills. People were weaving in and out of the single bound, rain soaked lanes nearly causing head-on collisions with the oncoming traffic. Leeza turned her red and blue lights on to warn the other vehicles on the road then turned them off.

She was glad the roll call and meeting didn't last long at the station and she found herself back on the rain soaked highway. "Maybe I should move closer to Hanford," she muttered. "At least the drive wouldn't be so long to make it on time for roll call."

The morning rush hour flow was running smoothly along Highway 198, until she spotted two cars weaving in and out of traffic. The red, small, compact car hit the black car and sped away. The black car pulled out of the lane and sped toward the red car.

"What the hell is going on?" Leeza asked herself and turned on the lights. She knew what was going on ... teenagers were playing highway tag. It was a dangerous game to play, especially on a busy highway in the middle of rush hour with the wet weather.

Further down, she watched as the black car hit the rear bumper of the red car almost causing it to spin out of control and into a nearby field. She reached for the mic on the dashboard and informed dispatch of the accident. Traffic on the highway came to a screeching halt nearly causing Leeza to hit the car in front of her. Leeza took her cruiser off the roadway and passed the line of cars and trucks on the shoulder.

The cruiser came to a halt as a group of teenagers stood around their cars, laughing. Leeza palmed the butt of her gun as she made her way toward the small group of boys and girls. They grew quiet as she neared them. In the distance, she heard the sirens of her back up. She was mad as hell at what could have happened because of such recklessness.

"I want the driver's license and registration of the vehicles." She held her hand out and waited. One boy reached into his back pocket to withdraw his license while the one girl with long, green hair reached into her purse. Leeza watched as the youngster's hand shook when she pulled out a slim, leather wallet.

"My mom is so going to kill me," the girl with green-streaked haired said tightly.

"Oops," she muttered when her driver's license fell from numb fingers. She bent to scoop it up then handed it to the highway patrolwoman.

"You're not the only one." The boy handed his license to Leeza then went to his black car. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the car. He didn't look too happy at being caught playing a dangerous game.

Leeza pointed the driver's license at them then spoke harshly, "You should have thought about that before doing something so harsh and reckless that could have cost someone their life, or your own." She hated giving this lecture to teens, but she needed to make them see reason and what could happen by performing stupid actions. Leeza spun on her heel and started for her patrol car when she met a fellow officer.

"What do you have here?" Sgt. Dickerson asked Leeza when he made his way to her. He placed a hand on the butt of his nine-millimeter.

"I caught them playing highway tag with their cars," Leeza explained. She turned back to the teenagers. "Do you have any idea what could happen playing such a dangerous game on the highway? In the middle of rush hour?" The vehicles started to flow smoothly again on the highway while she waited for the teens to answer her question.

The teens looked guilty. "Yes," they answered quietly.

"You're damn lucky that no one was hurt. The accident could have been a lot worse than this," she harshly informed them. "Right now, all I'm going to do is write both of you tickets for playing a dangerous game. I hope this will teach you both a lesson. Once your parents find out about this..." Leeza waved a hand at the vehicles in question and knew their parents would give both teens harsher punishment than doing time in juvenile hall.

Four

Her day finally ended without any more accidents or dangerous games of car tag on the highway. Tomorrow was her day off. A deep sigh escaped her lips when she closed the door to the outside world, leaving her alone on her own. After a quick shower, Leeza sat down on the couch staring at the bookcase. She couldn't understand why she was staring at one particular book. A voice inside of her head told her to take that book, to read it. I can't. I don't want to. She tried to fight against the voice inside of her mind. She pressed a hand to the side of her head and scrunched her hair. Her fingers dug into her temples to ease the headache that was slowly building.

Within minutes, the headache began to ease.

Leeza stood, her legs wobbled so much that she had to place a hand on the wall to keep steady. She felt a surge of energy flowing through her as soon as her fingers brushed against the leather bound book. Her back against the wall, Leeza slid down until she was sitting with her legs bent, the book resting against them. Fingers shook when she opened the book. Another wave of energy swept through her when her eyes landed on the yellow, brittle pages.

The words on the pages were written in a foreign language but there was something inside of her knew that knew what they meant. Leeza bit her lower lip, a crease forming in the center of her forehead as she read the first page.

This book of spells and incantations was handed down from mother to daughter on the eve of her sixteenth birthday.

Leeza remembered the day when the social worker came to the house she was staying in and the book was given to her. It was her sixteenth birthday; at least that was what she'd guessed. Instead of reading the book at the time, she wasn't interested what it was about since it was old, Leeza tucked it into a chest and forgot about it until she moved into her current residence. She tucked the book in with a few chosen books and went on with her life.

She turned a page; spells were written across the top of it.

The book of Shadows, a voice whispered through her.

Her heart constricted and she slammed the book shut. Her forehead rested against the book.

"What's happening to me?"

Her heart began to beat wildly when she glanced down at the words on the cover of the book. They began to blur. Thoughts began to swirl through her mind and the voices she heard became clearer and stronger.

It's time to learn the truth about your heritage. It's beyond time. And it's time for you to return home, where you belong.

A soft whimper escaped her lips and she lifted her head.

"They didn't want me there. I can't go back." She pressed her hands to her face and closed her eyes. Remembering how she was treated on Wiccan constricted her heart.

"I can't go back," she whispered thinly into her hands. "I can never go back."

Leeza remembered the one and last time she was on Wiccan, how the people there shunned her because of her twin sister. She tried to shut out the memories of the one time she was on Wiccan with Megan. The people there were surprised at first to see her then they began to frighten her.

They weren't ready for you then but they are now. You know that you belong there. They're calling for you as we speak.

Leeza lifted her head and spoke softly, "I can't. I don't belong there."

You do belong there, you always have. It's your home.

Leeza's throat closed tightly, she shook her head.

"It's not my home, it never was. I belong here, on Earth." She stood and tears slipped down her face as she blocked out the voice inside of her mind, nearly jumping out her skin at the sound of the doorbell. A soft cry escaped her lips.

Get a grip Leeza. With the book clutched to her chest, she took a hesitated step toward the door. She didn't need to ask, she knew who was at the door. Kosek stood on the other side. She didn't want to see him at that moment yet wanted his comfort. No, needed his comfort. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked the door. He looked up at her with concerned eyes that tore at her heart.

"Kosek," Leeza murmured his name then closed her eyes. Seeing the hot look in his eyes had constricted her head. She didn't want to see the desire deep within those eyes. She had too much to deal with at that moment, and he wasn't making it easier on her.

Kosek wanted to help her, but she refused any help he offered. She closed her eyes and shuddered. At the moment, she wanted to be alone and he wasn't leaving.

"It was a rough day at work." She spun on her heels and let him inside. Leeza went straight to the bookcase and slid the book into an empty slot. She felt Kosek's eyes on her and it made her heart spin out of control. Her palms grew damp and her body felt hot and tingly. Her arms wrapped around her waist as she slowly turned to face him. "Is there a particular reason why you're here?"

With one hand on his hip, Kosek reached up with his free hand to scratch the back of his head. He didn't have an answer as to why he was here, it more like a feeling that she needed him.

"I really don't know." Kosek's hand fell from his head and landed on his hip. He glanced around the small living room without really seeing anything at all. His mind kept replaying the feeling that she needed him.

Leeza stared at him for several minutes; she made her way slowly toward him. His eyes watching every move she made and it caused her heart to beat even faster.

"Hold me," she whispered. She entwined her hands around his neck then leaned her face into his chest. His body went stiff against hers, and then he began to relax.

Kosek lowered his face into the space between her shoulder and neck and inhaled her scent deep into his lungs. His arms grew tighter around her slim body. A certain part of his body grew hard instantly, that made him groan.

"Damn it, why did he have to show up?" Rieser mumbled in the darkness of the car. "Now he's put a kink in my plans to kidnap Leeza."

Jamison didn't reply. He shrugged his shoulders and continued to stare up at the stars that glowed brightly in the black blanket of sky. He was getting tired of these late nights watching the woman inside the house. Hell, he was getting damn tired of Rieser.

"Are you even paying attention?" Rieser reached out to jab Jamison in the shoulder. He let his hand fall down to his thigh and glared at the other man.

"What?" Jamison grumbled and rubbed his hand against the sore spot. Not only was he getting tired of watching Leeza who happened to be a highway patrolwoman, he was getting damn tired of Rieser. Ever since the incident in Nebraska several years ago, Rieser was even more convinced that there were aliens walking among us on Earth.

"He's here. Inside there with Leeza," Rieser spoke a little too harsh. He jerked his head toward Leeza's house.

"So?" Jamison shrugged his shoulders again then moved his attention back to the stars. He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

"He can ruin everything. I was hoping to take her tonight," Rieser spoke through clenched teeth. He slammed a hand on the steering wheel and the sound echoed in the quiet vehicle.

Jamison swung his eyes to the man sitting in the driver's seat.

"Why do you keep persisting with these people? Leeza, Darr and Shannon? They are ordinary people."

"They aren't. I know they aren't. It's a gut feeling that I have and it's telling me that they aren't from Earth." He didn't know why his partner was against him now after what they'd been through these past six years. There might be some glitches in his memory. Well, he knew who'd caused it--Daemon. The man appeared on Earth as quickly as he disappeared and it was around the time he'd lost certain parts of his memory.

Rieser hoped the man would make another appearance at Shannon and Darr's but he showed up in California then disappeared with Megan, Leeza, and Kosek. Leeza and Kosek were the only two who came back but Megan and Daemon didn't, and no one knew why. Only Leeza and Kosek held all of the answers to the questions that had been plaguing Rieser.

"Whatever," Jamison quipped. His chin rested on his knuckles as he turned his gaze back to the stars. No wonder the Air Force gave Rieser a medical discharge with all of those accusations he gave his superiors ... and he had the balls to take me down with him. I knew I shouldn't have followed him out here but I had to know myself what happened that day.

Kosek closed his eyes briefly; he started down the hallway until he came to her bedroom. He moved to Leeza, laced his hands around hers and pulled them up over her head and stared down into her eyes.

"Kosek?" Leeza's soft voice called out to him.

Kosek stopped then turned to glance down at Leeza and saw she was shivering. He knelt down beside her to pull her into his arms. He noticed how cold her body had grown. His hands started to rub her arms, trying to warm the chilled limbs. Her body was racked with chills and he couldn't seem to warm her up fast enough. His hands reached down to the hem of her shirt and pulled it off. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her small, perky breasts and the hard tips of her nipples. He pulled his glance away from those firm breasts and tossed the shirt over his shoulder.

He laid her down on her side so he could pull off his own shirt. Kosek pulled Leeza back into his arms, pressing her chest against his. His eyes closed at the feel of her body against his while he held her close to him. She wasn't making it easy for him when all he wanted was to make love to her.

Kosek trembled slightly at the feel of her hot breaths caressing his skin. His arms tightened around her waist, pressing her closer to him. He moved his face down the side and along her neck. He paused to press his lips against the soft skin under her ear. He heard her gasp as he pressed another soft kiss along the side of her neck. His hands swept along her back to cup her shoulders.

Leeza didn't know what he was asking with his eyes as he stared down at her. His hands cupped her buttocks, he pulled her up into his body and then he dropped to his knees. She wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling. "Kosek?" She gasped; her eyes watching his grow darker.

Kosek shifted her on his lap, the moon highlighted her face, her lips parting as if waiting for his. His hand shook when he caressed her back. Kosek's fingers slid along her spine stopping at her nape. Leeza trembled at the feel of electrical currents spreading throughout her body.