Tess's p.o.v.

I had been running a lot of errands today for my uncle so I wasn't helping in any of the classes accept to deliver stuff. And the rest of the time I was in my uncle's office.

Except now. I had my wall up, Zero was busy with exams luckily so he might not notice. I received a bad missive. I got ready to head out. I was headed to a small village that had been attacked and turned. My truck down I had to shift to run to the location faster. I enjoyed the run but not the mission to come. I hated having to wipe out an entire town of vamps, let alone by myself.

I entered the town and pulled out my Mossburg loaded with anti-vampire rounds. I smell them everywhere, this is gonna be a long day.

Zero's p.o.v.

I wondered were Tess was, she wasn't near, and I couldn't find her to have lunch with. For some reason her walls up, we only use it sometimes but generally her mind is open If I'm trying to find her but I know if she's in trouble I sense that first. I went to the headmaster's noticing she still didn't show.

"Tess where are you.", I say using the connection, feeling a little concerned when she doesn't respond right away.

I walk to the headmaster's office and find him on the computer. "Oh Zero what brings you here when you have exams.", says Kaien.

"I can't find Tess.", I reply.

"I see.", well let me see if I can look up her mission information. ", he says. "Hmmm it seems her file is sealed.", he says as I walk behind him to look. The headmaster puts in a few newer passwords opening Tess's mission file showing her full mission history.

I read over it, no wonder she blocked me, she has a village to take out, and is trying to focus. That's when I feel it through the connection the pain of a bite to her shoulder and the ripping her flesh as she knocks him off. Then I pick it up and it's like a strong pull the need to go to her. I can now sense how much danger she's in.

Before the headmaster can say anything I'm out the door and out the building and as soon as I'm hidden I'm running full force. My instincts kick in overdrive as I run for what seems like forever I just wanna be there in time.

Tess's p.o.v.

I've got blood running down my shoulder as I fight the vampires and I've cleared a few but it's like for every 5 I kill another 10 replace them. I hope Zero isn't to worried I know he felt that one. I jump out a window after setting a house up to blow with its vampires in it and am thankful it works taking a few more out. I run up a ladder as a few chase me up to the roof of a building as I kick and stab a few up here.

I jump off the roof landing on my feet to another group in an alley, where I appear to have vamps on both sides. They run and claw from both sides of me as the smell of my blood makes them crazy. I drop in a roll stabbing one and getting claws from another up and down my back side.

He slings a fist at me and I catch it crushing it as I round kick the one behind me in the head. As another manages to knock me down as he tries to slash at me again wanting to get to the blood.

Another sinks his teeth in my arm as I'm busy with this one. I suddenly hear a growl as the one on top is suddenly knocked off with the Silver wolf form of Zero on top of it biting at his throat. I take my free hand and stab the vamp that's drinking from my other arm dusting him as I hand spring up.

I kick the next vamp to charge me hard across the face as the one Zero's on is dusted as soon as Zero's strong jaws separate his head from his body.

"Why are you hear alone.", he asks as before he re-shifts and shoots one coming behind me as we're back to back.

"I was told it was classified and there'd be severe consequences if I told anyone where I was going.", I say stabbing and kicking incoming as he shoots one.

"I don't care what they say I don't want you on these types of missions on your own anymore.", he shouts at me angrily. I can feel my adrenaline racing as we fight and it's the only reason I've ignored the pain from the bite wounds.

"What am I supposed to tell them, if I say no then I have to kick the snot out of the poor vampire hunter they sic on me thinking he's dealing with a level-e.", I say as I kick another "And I can't have you getting hurt."

"Just let your wall down and I can know that way then they can't say you told me, only that I stalked you.", And I don't like you getting hurt either.", he says as we exit the alley finally pursuing a pair that tried to escape, despite I can smell another trap because more are where we're going. The pair run into a house.

"You know that's a trap don't you.", he says.

"Yep that's why I'm sneaking in the back and gonna rig the place to blow.", I say smiling at him as he smirks back.

"Some times I love the way your mind works.", he says as I shift and run my body around the back while he watches the front door. I find the kitchen window when I shift back and congratulate myself on a gas stove. I open the oven breaking the gas line so that gas begins to fill the house then light the burner so when the gas reaches it it'll blow.

I head for the door when two hungry vampires as I reach the broken window I give an evil grin and jump out the window landing on the ground outside I run as the two hungry vamps chase me while there comrades are in another room. I keep running to where Zero is knowing this is gonna make a big crater when it blows.

I grab his hand and pull him with me as we run with the two vamps behind me.

"Run, run, run, fast.", I say as we run quickly hand in hand looking for cover ducking into a distant building as it blows and we hear screaming vampires while the two chasing us fall down. We hop up in sync as we stare at the last two I pull out my Mossberg while he pulls the Bloody Rose and we both fire dusting the vamps. I put my shotgun in its holster as I lean against the building heart racing, blood pumping and now just feeling the effects of the wounds as I sit down .

Zero kneels by me helping me pull my jacket off to look at the bites. They bites were both ripped pretty deep. He rips off some of his shirt to staunch the bleeding bites and by now his gaze is softened as I see the worry in his eyes.

"I know it's gross Zero but you need to lick it.", I say as I see his face redden. "It'll help them close faster.", I say calmly leaning my head on the wall, "

I watch as realization hits his eyes remembering the times I have licked him. He lifts my arm up as he licks around one of the bites but I know he can feel the tingle on his tongue as finally goes over it causing it to start closing faster and I can feel it mending. When he pulls away he's surprised to see that one has closed up but blushes at the neck shoulder one.

He licks along the wound and I can feel my self blushing as well as the pain from it starts to ease and the wound begins to knit. When he pulls away he searches my eyes as I lean forward into him as he wraps his arms around me.

"How do I stop them from sending you on these missions alone, I can't lose you.", he says.

"You or Uncle Kai would have to become the president to tone down my hunts and take the expendable title off my file.", I say sleepily as he sits on the ground next to me.

He puts an arm around me pulling me close. "Tess would you be willing to become my permanent hunting partner as my wife they couldn't send you on these alone anymore.", he says looking into my eyes." I can't stand being away from you for long and every time your away someone tries to hurt you or take you away.

I can feel his worry, concern, and fear of losing me. He was afraid because my life could be so complicated. And more importantly I felt his love.

I lean in answering him with my lips on his as he pulls me closer as the kiss deepens and we stop when we have to come up for air.

"Was that a yes?", he says with a smirk. "Yes.', I say smiling and kissing him back and I can feel the joy fill him pouring into me as he kisses me back as he touches my back gently and I wince a little remembering scratches.

Eventually we're headed back to the academy and my back's healing pretty well since Zero decided to take care of those too even though he was blushing hard when he did. I told him it could wait but he was concerned they may get infected or draw vampires.

Tell you the truth part of me where he can't read just thinks his mind may be in the gutter.

When we got back to the school we both went and changed and got cleaned up and in uniform for the changeover. I walked back and forth my glare keeping the girls at bay as the vamps came out.

Zero's p.o.v.

I keep looking over at Tess sneaking peaks catching her peaking at me through the change over. I still can't believe she said yes. I looked over again as she stood straight and took a moment to admire her legs in the uniform.

Later it was time for patrol so I patrolled with her, I didn't feel like splitting up with her not tonight.

She smelled good, looked good and she'd just agreed to be all mine. On patrol we were alone and tonight was quiet. So occasionally I'd sneak kisses from her and she obliged happily.

I could feel a joy radiating from her similar to my own, knowing we'd be together forever. The rest of the week at school before break I could feel her thoughts happily. What kind of wedding would we have, or wedding night, so many things running through my head. I'd look out the window and spot her in uniform running errands during the day until gym, when she showed up in gym clothes to assist the teacher. I couldn't help it with her around I felt like a guy showing off to win the popular girl and participated instead of skipping. Running the ball as she watched us play then later she showed again for equestrian as I had Lily doing the exercises.

Later I took Lily out with Tess along before the change over and I felt warm when I felt her happiness just being with me while her arms were wrapped secure around my waist.

I spent every second with her that I could, and that included wedding talk and hunts. She'd told her parents and the headmaster who were all happy about it . Her dad told me it was about time.

We'd finally agreed on break we'd go to Vegas and get married there so we'd be out of reach of getting our missives.