Note: Dorian, Atlantis, and Atlantis' inhabitants do not belong to me. Selene, Aidan, Kendrick, and Anise are mine; everyone else is not even sort of mine. Sexual situations. You've been warned. R/R, please!

Dorian spotted her in the glassblower's shop, after following her scent through town. It was times like these that he was glad for his sense of smell. He could track a dragon across the skies, he could know if a demon was stalking him through a forest. He could pick of the sweet scent of a certain siren in the Outer City, and follow it through the streets.

She was behind the table reserved for the seller. She was sitting with her chin resting in her hand, looking dejected. With the vases and other glassware framing her on all sides, she looked positively idyllic. Her eyes gazed down, and her soft mouth was unsmiling. Light seemed to shine from every corner of the room, converging on the central spot that was her.

He stepped into the shop, and she lifted her gaze to his. It was almost as though she sensed him. Promising, to say the least.

Her mouth fell open, and she sat up straighter. "Dorian –"

"If you left with me," he started, his voice a low rumble, "I could banish that look from your face forever."

Her eyes followed him as he loped inside, and he was glad to hear her breath quicken. "What are you doing here?"

"I came for you."

Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. "Why?" Her eyes narrowed in what looked like frustration. "You'd like to by a vase?"

Her hostility stung. It was almost as if she didn't want him, but judging from her actions the night before, that wasn't so. "I want you to come with me. I want to finish what we started."

"We finished," she said, looking at him with agitation gleaming in her eyes.

"Hardly." He stepped up to the table, and laid both hands on it. "I had further plans for you." He knew his eyes were narrowed in response, and his voice was just as caustic as hers was. "I've never been thrust from someone's bed before, and I don't intend to begin now."

Her eyes widened, then narrowed, and her jaw clenched. He'd said something wrong. She jumped to her feet, and stalked around the table to glare up at him. "That's your reason, is it?" she asked. "You want to preserve some kind of record? You want every woman who's ever encountered you to beg for your touch?" She slammed a tiny hand down on the table. "I won't be used by some nymph –"

"If anyone was being used, it was me. You wanted to get over your lover –"

She erupted, and, godsdamnit, it was glorious. "You think I would have given you my virginity just because –" She cut off, not because he'd interrupted her, but because his mouth had fallen open. Blood rushed to her face, and a strangled sound escaped her throat before she turned and ran out the back door of the shop.

He was too stunned to move. He should have known. There was no hint of a man's scent on her, and he'd felt the barrier inside her. He'd been confused for a moment, unsure of what he was feeling, but knowing that she was wonderfully tight. He'd wondered at that briefly, but she hadn't reacted, and so he'd let it go. He'd never taken a virgin before, but had he ever done so, he would have expected the woman to groan or cry, or at least flinch when he broke her barrier. She'd done none of those things, and he hadn't been gentle with her.

Guilt flooded him. That explained her anger. Perhaps he had been too rough with her. If he'd hurt her…

He was about to follow her out the door, when a woman entered the room through the same door Selene had just exited. She paused mid-step when she saw Dorian.

"Yes?" she started, staring unsurely at him. "May I help you?"

He wanted to ask her to tell Selene he was sorry. He wanted to demand to know where she'd run off to. He settled on leaving, staying silent as he exited the shop and walked back toward the palace. He encountered many flirtatious women and some hostile men, but the look on his face must've put them all off.

Before he knew it, he was in the practice ring. Some noticed him, and he acknowledged each person that spoke to him, but otherwise he remained silent. His thoughts were elsewhere.

"Dorian," a voice said nearby. He turned and saw Broderick walking toward him. "Feeling lucky today, my friend? Care for a little competition?" Broderick swung a sword, a wicked grin on his face.

Dorian didn't respond immediately, as he watched his friend approach him. Broderick was tall as Dorian, with skin tanned slightly darker than Dorian's was, dark blonde hair and dark eyes. The man was roughly the same size as Dorian, though it could be argued that Broderick was a better warrior. He was, after all, second-in-command to Valerian himself, and leader of the elite.

Dorian found himself wondering if Selene would prefer someone like Broderick, or even Broderick himself. If this man had been her lover, would she have reacted the same way she had with Dorian, shunning him the following day?

Perhaps, since her anger seemed to stem from a desire not to be used. The only difference is that Broderick mightn't have returned to her today like Dorian had.

"Dorian?" Broderick asked, still awaiting an answer.

"Yes." He hefted his own sword. "I accept your challenge."

The smile widened on his friend's face. "Excellent."

They entered a ring apart from the others and began. By the end, both warriors were bloody, but Dorian more so. Normally, he would've accepted this loss with humility. Yet this defeat, coming on the heels of the draw between himself and Shivawn, was upsetting. No matter that Broderick was a superior warrior. Dorian wasn't in a mood to be proven inferior after the night – or rather, the morning – he'd had.

"Again," he demanded, drawing a surprised look from Broderick's face.

"I've already defeated you," Broderick reminded. As though Dorian needed reminding. "I was clearly in a position to strike the deathblow. Are you sure you want to try me again?" Contrary to his words, he raised his sword. "You seem distracted."

He refused to be cowed into backing down. "A different weapon, then? If you need variety."

Broderick nodded, seeming to accept Dorian's brush-off of his question. Then motioned to some of the onlookers to provide spears. The weapons were tossed to them, and Broderick caught his with a flourish, twirling the length.

Calm, Dorian told himself. Remain calm, and you can win this. Let him come to you.

Broderick twirled his spear again, ending with the point aimed at Dorian. Dorian blocked easily enough, and was able to push his opponent back with enough force to make him stumble. The amusement left Broderick's eyes as Dorian's blade sliced through the air, as a look of determination erupted on Dorian's face.

Broderick leapt back, narrowly escaping Dorian's blade. While Broderick was off balance, Dorian lifted his spear and lunged. Broderick's leg shot into the air, kicking the tip of the spear into the sand and nearly taking Dorian with it. While Dorian was disoriented, Broderick caught him square in the temple with his fist.

Dorian jumped back, waiting for the pinpricks of light to clear from his vision. By the time he could see again, Broderick was preparing to punch him a second time. He pivoted, knocking Broderick away. He dodged the spear, and used his momentum to roll, grabbing up his own weapon in the process.

They continued their game of parry and retreat for what seemed like hours, each gaining new injuries and aggravating their earlier ones. Dorian was even slightly happy with the results until he lost his footing, and Broderick's blade caught the side of his neck. The skin sliced open, and Dorian felt the spurt of warm liquid, followed by the steady trickle onto his chest.

Broderick's eyes widened in surprise, and he stilled his spear. "No more," he said, reaching for Dorian.

He smacked Broderick's hand away. "I'm fine." Just then the world shifted, and he lost his footing. Broderick caught him before he hit the ground.

Broderick's palm was against the wound the next instant, stanching the flow. Dorian felt the sting as his vanquisher's sweat seeped into his bloodstream.

Broderick called for help as the world lost focus and everything went black.

xXx

Dorian woke to Joachim's woman standing over him, mopping his brow with a worried expression. "How do you feel?" she asked. Her voice made him cringe, but by this point she was used to the reaction.

Brenna's voice was rough, as if a thousand tiny knives were slicing their way down her vocal cords. Dorian didn't know what had happened to her, but, whatever it was, Dorian was sure it wasn't recent.

In the months after she first arrived, she'd looked affronted whenever someone showed reaction to her husky voice, but now, she hardly seemed to notice. Her lover, Joachim, must have expelled any shyness or embarrassment she felt because of her voice. She had even stopped talking in fragmented sentences.

Dorian tried to sit up, but Brenna put a hand on his shoulder to gently push him back down. He went willingly. "Don't try to sit up. You need to rest. You've lost a lot of blood." She looked down at him, frowning. "Is there someone I can call for you? Do you have a woman?"

"No," he almost replied, but then Selene's face materialized in his mind. Would she come if he summoned her? Would she accept him?

Brenna's dark eyebrows arched high on her creamy brow. "Dorian?"

He looked up, his gaze colliding with eyes a lighter brown than Selene's. "There's a siren."

xXx

Selene jumped at a knock on her door. She wasn't expecting anyone, and it was after dark. Instinct made her sit perfectly still. There were some species that could sense the heat of one's body, but not many. She was hoping that it wasn't one of those waiting for her.

There was another knock, this time louder. Hopefully it wasn't a prelude to her door being broken down. She lived on a relatively peaceful part of the island, but that didn't mean that demons and other violent species didn't make their way over from time to time. They knew which parts were protected by warriors and which villages lived quietly apart from the others, expecting that their peaceful natures would prevent others from wanting to harm them. Either way, people knew better than to show up at someone's door unannounced, especially at night.

"Selene?" an unfamiliar voice said from the other side of the door. "My name is Broderick. I'm second in command of the nymph army. I was sent by Dorian. He needs you."

Needed her? What had happened? She decided she didn't care. She remained stock still. Perhaps he would give up and go.

"I know you're there. I can hear your heart beating." He was silent for a moment. "You don't have to open the door, but can you at least say something so that I know I'm at the right house?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but then though better of it. She shook her head to clear it.

"I know you're listening, so I'll just tell you. Dorian's been injured. He lost a lot of blood, and his body is reacting aversely. Our healer says that the only chance he'll have is if we find someone for him."

"A woman." It was the first time she'd spoken, and she hated that her voice came out sounding so feeble. "A lover."

There was a slight hesitation. "Yes."

"You could find no one else?" She'd heard rumors of people hiding so as not to be tempted when a nymph showed his face, but not every woman was mated, and many sought the men out instead of running from them. Surely, he could find somebody.

"He asked for you specifically."

She felt her eyes widen at the shock of it. "What happened to him?"

"He was injured," he repeated gruffly.

Yes. He'd said that. "How?"

Another hesitation. Then a frustrated sigh. "Will you come? He needs you. The healer says the damage may be irreparable unless he gets you right now."

Selene found herself opening the door and peeking out. A man was standing there, dressed all in black leather, the uniform all nymph warriors wore, she knew. He had dark blond hair tied back, and some of it hung down into his eyes. He was tall, and he looked as strong as Dorian. His expression was exasperated, and when he realized she was standing in the doorway, he began to look anxious.

"Everything you say is true?" she asked, unable to mask her suspicion.

"Every word."

Selene cracked the door open a bit more and took a deep breath. "Alright." She quickly stepped outside and locked the door behind her, walking away. Before she could change her mind. "Where are we going?"

"Our palace."

The nymph palace, where there would be men roaming the halls, looking for whatever female they could get their hands on. Dear gods, would she be to stand it? This one warrior made her infinitely nervous. Not to mention Dorian, who at once awed and terrified her. How much worse would an entire building of them be?

Her step faltered for a moment when she saw the massive centaur Broderick must've ridden to her home. She usually walked anyplace she needed to go – she didn't like the loss of control she felt when her feet weren't touching the ground.

He mounted the centaur and held out a hand to her, intending to help her mount behind him. She hesitated once more, knowing that once she was on the centaur's back, this nymph could take her wherever he pleased, and she wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop him. He was after all, a stranger. And no knew she was with him. And she had nothing to go on except his word that Dorian was hurt.

And that was if she chose to believe that Dorian even remembered her well enough to ask for her in his time of need.

After a moment of waiting for her to take his hand, the man called Broderick's brow furrowed and her looked at her with obvious worry. "Are you unwell?"

She imagined how she must appear to him. A cowering, tense female nearly in a state of panic over mounting a centaur. She forced out a breath and tried to compose her expression. "I'm fine," she murmured, grasping his hand without looking into his face.

"Hold on, miss," the centaur said, and started off at a near gallop.

She didn't speak as they rode, lost to her own thoughts. There were so many questions she had, and she intended to ask Dorian each and every one of them.

They rode swiftly, and she contemplated asking him to stop so she could just walk. They could probably still move quickly on foot. His long legs could probably travel much faster than her slow pace would force him to walk. She sighed, and attempted to hold on tight to him without creating too much contact.

Before she knew it, they were at the palace. Broderick dismounted, and helped her down, grasping her by the waist.

"Thank you," Broderick said to the centaur, and Selene echoed the statement more softly.

"It was an honor, sir." He looked at Selene and smiled. "If I may say, I've heard you sing. You have a lovely voice."

She felt the blood rush to her face. It never occurred to her that people would recognize her. "Thank you, sir."

She stood there as the centaur trotted toward the stables.

Broderick gestured toward the palace entrance. Selene walked past a curious-looking guard. She stepped away from him, toward Broderick, before she realized that wasn't much safer.

She followed Broderick, trying to resist looking when people looked at her. She had to remind herself that the staring probably had nothing to do with her, but her unusual hair style. Most nodded to Broderick, and some smiled at her.

She followed him to the sickroom, then stepped inside alone.

Dorian was lying flat on his back on the mattress. He didn't move as she walked in, not even opening his eyes. His skin looked bloodless, as if he were already dead. His hair was stuck to his scalp with sweat. She could hear his breathing, shallow and labored.

Just seeing him like that made her feel sick to her stomach.

She stepped over to the bed, and started to reach for him, but pulled away when someone spoke behind her.

"Selene?" said a raspy voice. Selene whipped around to find a pretty woman with dark hair tied back in a scarf.

"Yes?" she answered, stepping protectively in front of Dorian's bed before she could stop herself. She clasped her hands in front of her and stepped away self-consciously.

The woman's eyes went to Dorian's prone body. "He asked for you."

Selene flicked another glance at Dorian. "What happened? I hadn't heard of the nymphs warring with anyone lately." That didn't mean anything, of course. How many wars had been almost over by the time she'd heard of them? She'd had no vested interest, and so hadn't cared to hear the news.

The woman sighed, moving closer, but not touching Dorian. "They said he was in the practice ring with Broderick, and they both got a bit too aggressive."

That explained why the man had looked so guilty, and had refused to answer her when she asked about the events leading up to Dorian's injury.

"The blade cut his carotid –" When Selene looked over at the healer in confusion, the woman corrected herself "– the main blood supply to his brain." She pointed to the bandage covering Dorian's neck. "It was a clean slice. I was able to mend it, but a lot of blood was lost."

Selene looked back at Dorian. "Broderick said the damage was irreparable."

"Yes," the healer replied with a sigh. "It looks as if the blood flow to his brain is too little. With such a loss, all of his organs –" she paused to revise her answer once more " – his whole body is working harder than it should to circulate his thinned blood. Not to mention that his brain may be permanently damaged."

"So he won't get better?" she whispered. Unable to help herself, he stroked a hand along his brow. "Shouldn't he be able to regenerate blood?"

"He might," the healer replied. "I have to say, though, that all depends on you."

Her eyes were ripped from Dorian in shock. "Me? I just met him yesterday."

The woman shrugged. "The heart wants what the heart wants. They tried to bring him others, but he only reacted when he spoke your name."

Selene looked down at him in shock, seeing him with new eyes. "The other women they brought him got no reaction from him?"

What could that mean? It only added to the questions that had already been raised.

The healer looked Selene over with a knowing look. "It looks like the choice has been made."

That made no sense. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It looks like you're his mate," the healer said, smiling slightly. She looked over at Dorian once more. "I'll leave you two alone."