Hello, another chap for you. This is being co-written so if your wondering, there are two style's being used. The other author is Sinedra, so check her out, she's pretty hot.

To BunnyCuddleBuns: let's kick some ass.

To SugarBearPumpkinLove: Hecksie yeah!


Ulyesses sighed and groaned. "Are you kidding? You gave the position away?" He looked at Rei, Zane, Galine, and Ailbhe.

Ailbhe was a little apprehensive around Ulyesses. After his night with Araie, he had expected a little anger from Ulyesses; after all he understood she was his little sister and even after Ailbhe lost his own sister, he understood the protectiveness over his sister. That was why when Ulyesses flung open the door to the hall that the 4 men were conversing in, he thought he was staring at his death. Lucky for him Ulyesses only came to claim the offer for the lead of the future heir's guard; the offer had been passed to Aiden and he had taken it with pride, now Ulyesses stood there arms crossed over his chest.

"Now what the hell am I going to do?"

Zane sighed. "I told you you would get bored out in the real market, should of stayed in the palace guard." He stood up. "But there is one position you can take up." Rei looked at Zane and nodded. "The former Tuuli Thea wants a guard for her younger daughter as well, since she is always out in the market. More like a personal body guard."

Ulyesses sneered. That witch. Why would he want that nasty snot's life in his hands. He could still feel her heated touches on his face and he almost shivered. That moment was so intense that he almost threw her on the table and attacked her. He hadn't had a woman in a long time and the way she had touched him and said his name he almost lost and did so. But, he thought, if I had her life in my hands, she would be at my mercy. This thought made him smirk mentally. The little wench would be under his thumb.


Sadira was standing in the Flight's training yard, dagger in each hand. Normally she was very skilled in their use, swift and lithe as well, but today she just was using them like a fledgling would.

"Come on princess!" Erica cried as she landed yet another blow, "Slacking isn't quite like you."

With a huge sigh, she sat down. "I know, I just don't think I'm up for it today."

The girl knelt beside her, "You feeling alright?" Her voice held enough concern proper for avians.

"Yeah, just not into it." Truth was she was feeling almost sick. Why in the skies had done what she did the night before? What had been going through her hawk brain? Nothing! She had flirted... no, tempted a serpent! He could have taken advantage of her! ...If he hadn't left she might have kissed him. The adrenaline had make the whole experience exciting, but once it wore off the reality had set in. She would never in her life willingly talk to him again; if she could, she would avoid seeing him altogether. After all, she knew where his shop was in the market now, shouldn't be too hard.

"Alright, come back when you're a little more of a challenge," Erica teased endearingly.

Sadira shot her a smirk, "Very brave indeed, but it won't save you later." Standing, she slid her practice daggers back into their racks and shifted. Not having seen her sister yet today, she flew toward the upper floors, hoping to find her. Maybe she could talk to Aiden as well, it was a relief to know that someone she could trust was guarding her sister. The thought of the idiotic brute being near Danica made her skin crawl. But last night you had no problem touching him last night. In fact you liked touching him- No!

She faltered in her flight and landed in a clumsily onto the balcony, her heart racing. Sadira paced in front of the covered door, trying to collect her thoughts as rationally as she could. She savored the feeling of her fingers on him and she had liked that he treated her like an individual and not like a noble. Her best friend treated her like fragile glass! It drove her insane when people treated her like a snobbish royal, and truth was that what was she was. A insufferable royal. But, to Ulyesses, she was an equal that annoyingly yapped in his ear; just another girl. She had never felt so relieved when he didn't fumble over himself when he saw her, and how he refused to call her princess, the way he looked down at her. She secretly enjoyed his rude treatment. The Shardae rubbed her forehead and tried to keep calm. All the fuss about her sister's baby and her mother's constant nagging was causing her to have these strange conflicting feelings for an rude buffoon. That's it...

"Sadira?" She turned around quickly and saw her sister standing there with a worried look on her face.

She sighed and looked at the ground. "Sorry Dani...just was lost in a thought."

Her sister raised an elegant eyebrow. "Looked like a troublesome one."

Sadira walked slowly too the railing and put a hand on it. "It was, but I am alright." She stood next to Danica. "Where is Aiden?"

"He had a meeting to go to. I must warn you, mother has gotten you a personal body guard." She looked at her sister with a dry look. "She said to protect her youngest child." Sadira shook her head and let her mask fall to hide the new emotions and the anger.

"What does she take me for? A chick?" She sighed. "I swear that woman..."

Danica chuckled. "She loves you, though she'll never admit it. She went as far as hiring the best soldier from the palace guard, since an avian one wasn't available. I hear he's real handsome and very, very strong." Sadira frowned. A serpent? Her mother hired a serpent? It was unlike the former Tuuli Thea to even socialize with one, let alone hire her daughter a serpent body guard. She didn't know a palace guard member with such a reputation.

"Do you know his name by chance?"

Sadira watched her sister rub her swollen belly and shift uncomfortably, "Believe it is Opries... or something to that affect." Danica inhaled. Sadira froze. It had just felt like a thousand pounds had been dropped on her shoulders and the time had stopped. Ulyesses was to be her body guard? Was her mother insane? She didn't understand how this could happen to her. Ulyesses was to protect her life. She was going to die.


Araie walked lightly through the market, her heart singing and her skin tingling. Ailbhe chuckled next to her and took her hand. "Its only early after noon and your already squirming around like a new hatchling." He kissed the back of her hand.

She blushed and covered her face, "Hard to be upset when I'm around you." She clutched his hand tighter. He smiled and drop their hands to their sides. She continued to walk and smile. "By the way, do you know an Aiden Sorrell?" Araie glanced up at him.

Ailbhe raised his fine colored brows. "I do, infact, know him personally. He is quite the gentlemen."

"He hates my brother," she stated lightly.

"Araie, love who doesn't hate your brother?" He eyed her pink lush lips. She caught his gaze and shook her head teasingly.

"Not tonight."

"You'll be the end of me." He pulled her to the dancer's nest his own blood singing with excitement. Ulyesses was being tested for his duty and he had nothing to worry about. It was just him and his Araie.

"How are you doing though? With your sister and all." She asked quietly.

She could feel him tense but he was honest with her. "I feel more betrayed then sad," he glared at the path way, "We took an oath, one we swore our lives on...I was 100% behind anything the Diente said...seems like some type of farce." He was bitter, if not enraged. She was his sister yes, but it was a betrayal that tore him to the core. Araie stopped and pulled him in between two stalls.

She pulled his body taunt to hers, "I'm here Ailbhe..."

He rested his forehead to hers. "I thank Maeve for that," he ran his hands down her sides.

"You two. There in the cove, what are you doing?" The pair looked to see who it was and faced a tired looking Aiden. Araie smiled but it faded when he didn't return it. She looked down as if ashamed and played wit her hands hesitantly.

She coward towards Ailbhe and kept her eyes down. "Sorrell, you gave me a fright." Ailbhe raised a brow when he noticed he's college's dark gaze.

Aiden cleared his throat. "As a guard, I suspect you know the laws here at the Keep?" he tried to avoid looking at Araie. She was wearing dancer's clothes again, but this time, it was much more revealing, he could feel the man in him swell with excitement. The avian in him was scandalized. "And dress code." Araie felt more shame and bit her lip. The stare he was giving her was not kind. He was in a foul mood.

"We were on our way to the small dancer's guild they built on the edge of the market," Ailbhe became more serious. Sorrell must of heard about Ulyesses.

"At least cover the girl so she looks decent," he wanted to avoid using the words 'common whore', but the looks on their faces told him the he might as well have said it. Ailbhe looked almost angry.

"Its tradional dance wear, women in the serpiente court wear more racey things. We won't be out long," Ailbhe took Araie's hand and his thumb rubbed soothing circles on the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry," Araie whispered and kept her eyes on the ground. Aiden felt his chest weigh down. She looked real upset over what he said. Maybe he offend her and culture and now she was embrassed. He sighed.

"I apologize, I'll let you two be." He bowed his head slightly and turned away from the couple.

"I'm going home," Araie whispered and let go of Ailbhe's hand. She kept her head down and walked out of the little spot.

"Araie! Wait, what's wrong?" Ailbhe tried to catch up to her but she set off in to a run. Araie had never felt so embrassed or discriminated for just being who she was; she just wanted to dance, but when she had seen the disgust on Aiden's face, she had fallen apart. What a fool she was to think that she could finally find acceptance here. in the serpiente court she was too reserved and unattractive, here she was to outspoken. She ran to her home, bolting through the door past Mara and Ulyesses, into her room and slammed the door flinging herself onto her bed. Someone who she had considered a friend, to a certain extant, had just called her a whore. Not with words but with his eyes. Those eyes that held disgust and outrage. He looked like she had betrayed him.

"Araie..." A beam of light flew onto her back as her mother cracked open the door. "My sweet, why are you acting like you've been hurt."

"I will never be accepted anywhere, will I mama?" Araie murmured into her bed.

Mara blinked and then sighed. All of her children were outcasts of a sort, even Ulyesses and his status that he held, he was feared and people avoided him. But now after the war, Araie was more alone than before. Her father and most of her brothers were dead. Her older sister ran away after the war and Araie had fallen even more into loneliness. "Araie, you are a one-of-a-kind person, and some people just don't understand that."

"I went out with Ailbhe and Sorrell saw us...he was repulsed by what I was wearing," she sniffed, "I was embrassed."

Mara sat next to Araie, stroking the red hair that her late mate had himself. She smiled, "Your upset by what an avian thinks? Araie, a simple dress can be a scandal here. Your upset over nothing."

Araie knew her mother was right, but the look he had given her made her feel so disgusted with herself, "He was my friend..."

Mara stopped stroking her daughter's hair and looked down at her. "You will not tell your brother this, or he'll be put away for murdering the 2nd in command of the Royal Flight," she said in a low tone.

Araie turned her head, "It doesn't matter...he's just another avian."


Tada! Presto! Here ya go! Now review my pretties!