Author's Note: thank you to everyone who reviewed! You people encourage me to keep writing. I wasn't going to write this chapter this way, but after listenting to too many Muse albums my muse got inspired so here we are. The fourth chapter of Love & Death. Please read, review and tell me what I can do better and then I will try and do those things.
Iown nothing, I know nothing, I claim nothing.

For Hayleigh as ever.
Sian


Meanwhile
Below the Vampire fortress

"You heard what Dane thinks – "

"Yeah well, Dane's an idiot."

"Helene agrees with him, I'll have you know."

"That woman's overrated I tell you."

"And what would you know about it pray tell?"

"Shuttup … you sound just like a vampire y'know."

"Excuse me! You're gonna pay for that Hunter!"

Lucian was curled up in a ball next to Araiden listening to Serena and Kieron scrapping. Serena had called her mate by his family name – Hunter – which only happened when she got very angry indeed. He almost felt sorry for the sarcastic Lycan. Mind you, he had been very offensive. Comparing her to a vampire was about three steps too far. So it was understandable that the pair were fighting since it was also the way they flirted.

But must they do it so loudly?

"Keep it down, will you?" he hissed irritably.

"Shut up, Lucian, and stay out of it." Serena swiped at his ear.

"Only some of us are trying to sleep." The fighting stopped for a moment and two pairs of eyes glared at him.

"Go and try and sleep somewhere else then, stupid." Kieron snapped brusquely. Lucian didn't even bother gracing it with a reply. He tuned over and wished powerfully that Satura were still alive. His father's sister, who had raised him as one of her own from birth with Serena and Araiden, had always understood him exceptionally well, and wasted no time in telling her daughter to shut up of a night. But she was dead, along with her mate Nazir – Lucian's mother's brother – and his parents. He had a close-knit pack, with friends regarded as family and everyone closely bonded to each other, but no-one special. Serena had Kieron, Eva had Dean, Morgan had Chase … even Helene was sweet on Jian. He on the other hand seemed to be solitary by nature. It was unnatural – Lycans were not in any sense 'lone wolves'. They lived as a group and companionship was everything.

But there is no one for me.

Suddenly, unbidden a thought flew through his mind: Except for Sonja. As soon as he realized what he was thinking, his heart stopped. Then started up again twice as fast. That notion brought with it a deluge of terrifying images. The Edict, the Covenant, silver-edged whips, Viktor, the sign burnt into his arm, the execution chamber, his death, her death…

Absurd. Absurd and impossible. Lucian regained his calm with an effort of will. There was no way he could allow himself to fall in love with a vampire, for his safety, his family's safety – the safety of everyone involved. Viktor and the Council would not harbor any misgivings about killing his entire family if they thought they were in on it, and there was absolutely nothing that could make Lucian disregard any danger to his loved ones.

It was curious that it was just as he was thinking this that fate – in the form of Winona – came along to give Sonja and him a little nudge in the right direction.

Kieron and Serena fell instantly silent and still as they heard and smelt two vampires walking down the passages. One was female and the other was male. They recognized the scent of the male as a guard and Serena instinctively pulled herself and Araiden into a corner to hide. She wrapped her arms around her brother protectively and turned her face away, while Lucian and Kieron tensed up as if for a fight. Instinct took over and the slaves' reactions were just as fast as their primal ancestors'.

They need not have worried. Winona was not making trouble, she had simply decided to take things into her own hands and get her littlest sister a Lycan manservant. Sonja was never going to get organized and Winona was always organized, so she was going to help her sister out. The guard, Darius, was there to help the vampire princess find a suitable Lycan and because the slaves' quarters were hardly fit for a lady to be walking around on her own in.

"Wake up in there," Darius barked, and pushed through the strips of leather that served as doors for the Lycans. His lantern illuminated most of the tiny room, and he glanced around it swiftly, eyes settling on Lucian. "I'll get him out there for you, my Lady. No need for you to see this," he called over his shoulder. The two male Lycans exchanged wary glances. What were the vampires up to now? "You," the guard snapped at Lucian," Fitzhart, get out here now. The rest of you, stay there and stay shut up." Uneasily Lucian looked at his sister's mate, who frowned uncertainly.

"Better do what he says, brother," Kieron whispered.

"Well, what're you waiting for?" the guard said impatiently. Sighing, Lucian stood and stepped outside. Oh Goddess, what have I done now?

In the passageway he noticed that one of the wall torches had been lit, the fire casting a sinister light. A tall and willowy vampiress stood near it. Her shawl was gathered around her fine blonde hair and she lifted the hem of her dark blue dress slightly off the floor, as if afraid her less-than-luxurious surroundings would dirty her. She and her guard turned to look at him and Lucian swiftly bowed his head. He noticed she wore a gold pendant and surmised she was Lady Winona. "Milady," he murmured and studied the floor.

"Your name?" Winona asked archly.

"Lucian Fitzhart, Milady," he responded blankly. So this was the woman who broke Serena's jaw. She certainly acted like an aristocrat.

"Hm. He's a good worker?" This was directed at Darius, who said,

"Yes, he is, my Lady. He's a good one, this, as much as any of them are. Keeps his head down."

"Hm." Winona considered. The dog was sturdily built and seemed as polite as slaves ever were. No scars that she could see either. That meant no whippings, which meant a well-behaved individual. "Have you ever done any personal work? As a personal servant?"

"No Milady," Lucian replied. Where on earth was this going?

"You will serve my sister Sonja as a personal manservant. You are to wait on her, follow her orders exactly, and if she wishes, you will sleep in a slave's room attached to her chambers. Understand me?"

Oh my Goddess. "Yes Milady."

"You will begin as soon as you are sent for. Darius put out that torch and come with me." Without a backward glance Winona swept off.

The guard gave Lucian a cold glare. "You, get back in there now." He didn't need to be told twice. Lucian practically dived back into the family's room. His mind was reeling.

Serena looked confused and concerned. "Oh, what have you got yourself into now?" Obviously his family had not heard the developments outside.

He stared helplessly, breathlessly at his adoptive sister. How can I begin to describe the trouble I'm in?