Vivan held the knife out in front of herself. Her only defense between the half lie, half dream in front of her. "Stay the hell away from me!" She yelled when River kept moving towards her. She brandished the knife in the air and backed into the counter behind her. "I mean it, I'll kill you if I have to!"<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Lilly's brow furrowed in concern when she felt Mab's power strike Astar. The woman she had called Queen all her life clearly hated her mate.<br/><br/>"My queen, I have come to request the aid of your court in the upcoming battle against the Black King Aldric Fontaine and his armies."<br/><br/>Mab almost smiled when Lilly spoke. She had taught the young woman well. "I'm afraid I'm not going to be telling you what you want to hear dear Lillianna." She said, waving the members of her court away. "As much as I would love to slit his throat myself, I will not allow the Unseelie armies to fight in a war that isn't of our own making."<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Jade accepted the liquid that Damon offered her, swallowing with some difficulty. Every bone in her body was screaming, every muscle was on fire. Damon sat behind her, holding her close and stroking her hair.