One of Chouli's guards intercepts the small contingent as they're exiting the hospital. "Your Majesty and Your Grace, there's a demonstration bordering on rioting out there. We need to evacuate quickly."

Chouli demands more details, "Is it about the renewal?"

"Your Grace, it's a lynch mob out there. Shouting matches between the entitled and the lower caste will turn violent soon. They have the supposed assassin - a splice. She won't reach trial - she'll be drawn and quartered. And the authorities have their hands full city-wide. They're doing their best to get here."

Caine guides Jupiter's wheelchair the other direction toward the underground pods, and speaks to the guard, "Time to get these two to safety."

"What about the unconscious donors? Will they be safe? I don't think they can be moved." Jupiter's unwilling to go on until she knows.

Looking back in the direction where Stinger and the others that sacrificed for him are recovering, Caine mutters a string of curses. Frustration is chiseled on his face, then turns to a pleading - don't do this look. "Tell me Your Majesty is not thinking, what I think she's thinking."

She turns her chair around to face him. "My aunt said the night I was born, the stars were in alignment with the planet Jupiter over head as we floated on the sea. It meant I was destined for great things. I don't think that meant being an entitled. That's just the piece of the puzzle that got me to here and now - for choices like this. Will you still go to hell and back with me?"

The conflict clouds his face, but he sets his jaw. "Yes. I just wish it meant you'd be safe."

"Jupiter, please reconsider. There is so much you're risking," Chouli pleads.

"You'll take care of Earth, if something goes wrong, right?" Jupiter makes sure her one major responsibility is covered.

"Yes, dear. But what about your future?" Chouli counters.

"I won't make a good apprentice to you, if I don't have some guts and stand up for those who can't. Chouli, you taught me that." Jupiter draws herself up and meets her gaze.

Chouli's eyes drop and close, then reopen with a touch of mischief. "I'm going to have to teach you chess, so I can wager on you when you beat the pants off Titus."

Very unlady-like, Jupiter snorts loudly and cracks up. "Ooooowwww! Chouli!" she pants. "Don't make me laugh."

Chouli gives her a gentle hug before going with the guard, "See you back at the palace, Jupiter Jones."

Caine wheels her toward the elevator that leads to the lobby.

"Now Lieutenant Wise, we have some things to discuss," Jupiter goes into her banter mode and baits him.

"It will be difficult to plan for dealing with a crowd, Your Majesty. We'll have to play it by ear." Caine is solidly in protector state.

"I had a different topic in mind, actually..." There's a wily tone in her voice.

Caine's guard is up.

"The way I see it, there's something that needs resolved before we head out there... If you're heading to hell and back with me and enduring all the hardship, shouldn't there be some happiness for you along the way?"

"I exist for Your Majesty's whim. Is that not enough?" He tests the waters.

"That's not entirely true. There's still a part of you that holds back. Is it because you've been my "consort" in name only? If you exist for me, should I not for you?" Her parry and repost are quick and she hopes it hits the heart.

He circles around to see her expression, before crouching in front of her. With deep wariness in his eyes, he pleads. "Don't toy with me Your Majesty."

"I had to say it, in case I don't get the chance again."

"I'm here, as long as you want me to be. But, I'm just a runt of the litter splice that was sold at a bargain..."

She cuts him off by putting a fingertip on his protesting mouth, "And I'm just a back world broke illegal immigrant girl who cleans houses. You are one of a kind and amazing. But you don't feel like you belong. Like you have to live up to something more. You weren't that way when we first met or when we dated in Chicago when I was plain old Jupiter again. Would permanence help bring back your confidence?"

He takes her trembling hand and nuzzles his cheek into her palm.

"Take your time. I'm patient. And I'll be quiet now, before I say anything stupid like how I love dogs," the adrenaline is really rushing through her and the jitters are getting worse. She doesn't trust herself to speak more.

Her last line brings a chuckle from him. "I wasn't sure exactly how to take that, you know. But I was sure that when you found you were royalty, I'd lost my chance."

"But you stayed by my side..." she adds.

"When we were escaping Chicago and you told me you were nobody, I was going to prove you wrong. But..."

She pulls his forehead to hers and plays with his hair. "You did."

"I can't shake you. I've tried," Caine whispers.

"Then stop trying. I'm not going to change my mind. I'm yours Caine. Heart and soul and I can't do without you." Her voice matches his quiet intensity.

"Promise?" There's a hopeful light in his face as he kisses her finger tips.

She takes his hand and intertwines her pinky finger with his. "Pinky promise. It's unbreakable."

Leaving their hands interlocked, he drops forward to his knees, "Then I need you to do something."

"Anything. Name it."

"Your mark as my pack's alpha and my mate. There's usually a little more to this. But we'll improvise. I'm going to expose my neck for you to leave a bite. It needs to be enough to be seen clearly until I can get it tattooed." His expression is intense as he leans back into a kneel, then gently pulls her from the chair to straddle his lap, and turns his head away.

Her shaking was nothing compared to now. Fighting to control her hands as she traces below his jaw where the legion mark was, she places her lips on his neck there before sinking her teeth in.

It causes him to shudder, until she lets go. Then he moves her hair aside and kisses a trail down her neck. His tiny nip causes her to jump and let out a little yelp. As he wraps himself around her protectively, Jupiter can feel the tension drain from him.

"I am yours, all that I am and ever will be." Putting her hand over his heart, he holds her hand there so she can feel the racing beat under her touch. "And you, Jupiter Jones, are mine."

The crash of glass halts their sweet reverie. Jupiter butts her head into his shoulder, "We always have such impeccable timing."

He lifts her chin, to show his wide grin as he quips. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

...

Exiting the elevator, he's sprinting as he pushes her. They can hear the chanting outside rise in pitch and another window breaking. So, he puts his shield up to cover her as they enter the hot zone. Guards in riot gear file in around them and help them out the doors.

"Glad the boys in blue could see fit to join Her Majesty and I", Caine jests the riot police.

Two definite sides have formed. It takes Jupiter a minute to decipher their chants. The splices are practically foaming at the mouth for equality. Entitleds are going into conniption fits for justice. When the couple can go no further and are completely surrounded, Caine moves protectively to her side and puts a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "Your Majesty, there's no turning back now."

"Caine, help me stand. What little I had for reserves is about drained," she speaks quietly to conserve energy. He helps her up leaving an arm under hers for support just in case. Her knees start to buckle and he pulls her up against his side and gives her a questioning look.

"I'll manage," her voice is rough.

The crowd working itself into a fervor, parts and a lithe but very battered lycantant is kicked forward. Her wings have been picked almost clean, and her hands are bound behind her back, so she has no way to keep herself from landing face first on the pavement.

"QUIET!" Jupiter tries to shout but it's not effective.

Caine takes out his pistol and shoots into the air twice, then barks, "HER MAJESTY COMMANDED QUIET! She's exhausted and will not repeat herself."

She rasps, "Guards, help her to her feet."

The feral young woman spits in front of Jupiter and ignores Caine's deep menacing growl. "Think taking a defective splice as your lover will solve anything? You entitleds are all the same," her words mimic the hate in her last action, forcing the guards to tighten their grip on her.

"What you see as defective, I see how it made him stronger, braver and more cunning than anyone else. He's so much more than a set of DNA."

That brings a gasp from the crowd. Jupiter closes her eyes for a moment, did she just mess up royally? These people worship DNA, duh. Watch your words now, Jones.

"You don't mean any of it. You're an entitled, and your DNA gives you privilege. It makes you think you're better than us." Murmurs in the crowd rise to a crescendo again.

"Caine, would you please? I won't last long at this rate."

His hand with the pistol raises and the crowd quiets before he has to let off a shot.

"Help me forward, now, please." Caine warily brings Jupiter within striking distance of the she lycantant.

"What's your name?" Jupiter queries - short on words.

"Hunter 4-3-5-7-8. Those who know me call me Veyla."

"I can't process numbers righ...t now, so Veyla it is." Jupiter's words start to slur. "I wasn't born into privvvilege. Even after I became an entitled to save my world...from harvessst, I went back to cleaning hou-ses for the priv-ileg-ed. Ha-ve y..you ever cleaned a toi-let?"

Veyla shakes her head and turns her bruised face away. The words are hard to believe. Finally, she says to Caine, "Put your queen down, she's going to faint otherwise. I'll kneel to hear her judgment against me."

Jupiter whispers into Caine's ear as he picks her up and lovingly places her into the floating chair. Veyla makes her way unsteadily to her knees.

"Her Majesty would like to know if it was you or if you are covering for someone or being manipulated," Caine relays.

"Me alone, to pay the ransom for my pack. The Legion, as you are aware, does not pay ransoms."

Caine goes rigid. "Who gave you the bounty?"

"The same entitled who captured my pack and sold them to auction," Veyla looks truly tortured at having to answer.

"And you can't say who it is?" Caine pushes.

Veyla shakes her head as she bites her lip.

"There's no mark on your neck," Caine observes.

"I'm their unmated alpha." Her head hangs in defeat at the admittance. "I'd do anything for them." Raising her head to Jupiter she pleads, "Anything, Your Majesty," before exposing her neck.

Caine leans down to hear Jupiter's question, then decodes the gesture for her. "She's offering you her life, Your Majesty and expects death for her actions. But hopes you will take mercy and free her pack who were not part of the attempt on your life."

Leaning again to hear Jupiter's words, he nods as he answers, "Yes, that makes me Alpha too." ... "It can't be helped. But that's very appropriate. And no, it's not necessary to sell Your Majesty's wardrobe. We're not without means or connections. And we can't have Your Majesty parading around naked in public - in private is another matter." His teasing causes her a fit of giggles and she puts her hand up. He continues unperturbed, "Is Your Majesty sure? Because we'll inherit the pack." Her exhausted look with a raised eyebrow says he'd better not ask again. "Consider it done," he concedes.

Jupiter smiles as her eyes close and she drifts blissfully into unconsciousness and her head bobs to her chest.

Caine moves into Veyla's space. "Hunter 4-3-5-7-8, stand and receive the sentence of Her Majesty Jupiter Jones of Earth."

The entitled part of the crowd is chanting "Justice!" over and over. The slice part of the crowd is booing and growling.

Veyla closes her eyes and turns her head in submission as Caine bares his fangs. When she feels them sinking deep into her neck and then releasing, she winces but remains still, expecting more. But there isn't more pain, just Caine cutting her bonds. She touches the bite mark with her hand as the realization sinks in, and collapses to her knees with wide eyed astonishment. The crowd is stunned into silence.

"Veyla, I deeply drew blood on you because you endangered my mate, and she had to make an extremely painful sacrifice to save me. I would have had no problem ripping your throat out. But Her Majesty is a Queen with a heart of gold. She'd been put through a similar situation, having to choose between her family and her planet. She knows you were forced into the attempt on her life. You will serve alongside your pack. As beta, you will be able to help them transition to new leadership. And Her Majesty's first order to you is to clean all the toilets in Her Grace Chouli's palace, then report back to her."

"But..." Veyla is still processing the event.

Caine towers over her. "Are you questioning your Alpha's judgment?"

"N... no." Veyla stammers. When she sees he's expecting something, she adds, "Sir."

"Then help me with this crowd. Her Majesty should be recovering comfortably, instead of passed out in a wheelchair."

Gathering Jupiter into his arms, Caine's ears twitch and his teeth grind when behind him, he hears the crowd's protests over a lack of justice and alternating ones over fairness for splices. He asks his beta, "Veyla do you feel your sentence is unfair?"

He receives a hearty, "Not at all, Sir!"

Dropping the tone of his voice, he addresses the entitleds, "It was an entitled who caused this mayhem in the first place. Rest assured, our pack will hunt this perpetrator. There will be justice - issued by an entitled."

Veyla checks with Caine as she starts clearing the way, "Sir, what is my new pack called?"

"That's yet to be determined, Veyla."

Her head tilts in confusion, then she sees the fresh mark on his neck and raises her eyes to the sky. "It was a close one for me wasn't it, Sir?"

"Very. Had Her Majesty not insisted on making me choose whether to be her consort or not before we came outside, she and I could have done little for you. It's a crazy ride with her - but it's worth every second." He pulls Jupiter in a little tighter to him and kisses the top of her head, making his way back into the building.

"Understood, Sir." Veyla shuts the broken door behind them and lets the guards close the gap so the trio can take shelter in the building.