Author note: Hello, dear readers! I hope you are enjoying this humble work, because I know I am enjoying writing it. I find myself thinking about it at the most… inopportune moments, thinking up scenes, watching Hannah and Gregory interact in my head. It is so bad~!

Disclaimer: I own this story, but make no profit. And I own the OC's. However, I don't own Kiesha'ra series.

Chapter start

It was strange how used she had gotten to not having guards trailing like shadows. Hannah surmised it was a horrible thought, to wish them gone. After all, they were all Royal Flight, and therefore her safety was their number one priority. Especially when so close to the 'enemy'.

She admitted to some happiness at the arrival of Cole. He had been in the same training group as Varik, and so she knew him better than she knew some of the others. He had been Varik's closest confidant, and they were similar in attitude. Talking with him almost brought him back to her, a small and guilt-ridden joy.

Cole had been chosen as her closest personal guard until Andreios arrived with her sister and brother-in-law. She was not dumb, however. She was aware that he had been one of the Avians Nacola considered for her new Alistair. Since he wasn't making any overtures or hinting it however, she imagined her mother must have passed him over.

A good thing too, seeing as she had found her own. It wasn't as if she could announce that, though. Her eyes shifted to him, seeing him standing at ever-ready attention. It caused a frown to grace her lips. She had been around Zane and Gregory, knew from their words they were trained soldiers, and most probably could, handle a duel between the Royal Flight. Yet they never were so outwardly prepared to leap into the fray.

It wasn't to say they were unobservant. Hannah knew that was far from the case. She wondered briefly if it was because of the difference in secondary forms. A snake never seemed to look like it was about to strike, after all.

"Cole, you can relax a little," Hannah said suddenly. She wasn't sure why she did it. The silence was just so… stifling, somehow. His eyes shifted to her and she breathed in. "We are in Mistari lands still. Nothing will happen."

His eyes were heavy on her, enough to cause her pulse to quicken. She shoved the reaction away.

"I would rather not take the chance, my lady. This lake is far enough away that anything could happen."

"Such as?" Hannah cocked a brow.

Cole hummed. "You could suddenly feel faint and fall in the lake, or suffer heatstroke. If a sudden storm came in, you could be trapped out here, unable to shift and fly to safety. Many things."

"I've only heard of an avian woman fainting when she is indisposed." She couldn't help the chuckle that slipped from her lips. "And, while we are in a desert canyon, the sun is pleasant enough, and the only clouds to be seen are white and fluffy."

Cole grimaced at her, though the corner of his lips twitched. "I am being overbearing, aren't I?"

"Only a little. I fear you've been spending far too much time with Andreios."

"I shall take that as compliments."

Hannah hummed, moving away to sit on the fallen log. It was in this position that Gregory came to find the two in. Hannah sat with her back straight as an arrow, hands clasped gently in her lap, eyes fixed on the placid water before her.

The guard stood closely behind her. It was annoying to compare them together. Hannah seemed so fragile when looking at her, as though any pressure would crack her irreparably. Moreover, the guard, Cole, seemed so put together and prepared for it, as though his only service in life was to put her together again should she fall.

He hummed lowly, making the move to dismount from his horse. "You two seem awfully cozy."

Hannah turned her head to look at him, whereas Cole merely closed his eyes.

"Gregory." The hawk's voice was cool and even. "I haven't seen much of you the past few days."

Oh, he wanted badly to retort that it was her own fault. She had been the one to withdraw from him and his family at the arrival of her guards. Like a deck of cards, she had folded back into the neat and tidy little Avian who didn't associate willingly with his kind.

Her gold eyes studied him briefly. He had to imagine the brief flicker of undefined emotion that passed. Then she was blinking and it was gone.

"Cole, leave us."

"My lady, with all due respect-"

"Cole! I am not asking you." She held her gaze locked steadily with his and the crow took a breath.

"You have changed, My Lady." It seemed to have a resigned tone to it, and his eyes held pain. "You aren't the same little hawkling who trailed Varik and I like shadows, or sought out our company for peace."

"I'm sorry," she murmured. Gregory knew now she wasn't faking the pained grimace on her face. He filed it away, noting the questions to ask.

Nevertheless, Cole merely smiled; suddenly dropping the avian cloak around him, and Gregory nearly recoiled. Love pooled from the crow, it leaked from his eyes almost. Yet there he was, so accepting and even willing.

"I'm not complaining. I merely pray for your happiness." Then Cole turned away, stepping forward to Gregory who watched with caution.

The crow reached out a hand, meeting Gregory's mount. The black gelding whickered softly, pressing into the warm hand as it rubbed its forehead.

"A fine beast," he commented.

"Thank you. Do you know horses well?" Gregory was polite, if nothing else.

Cole shook his head. "Not particularly. Avians have no need for them. Not for riding at least."

"For what, then?"

Cole fixed him with a stern look. "You are truly curious, aren't you, about our cultures and actions… why?"

Gregory raised a brow, languidly shrugging and crossing his arms. His eyes shifted to Hannah. She had turned back to the lake, perhaps a bit too trusting of the idea they wouldn't kill each other.

"It is part of her." He answered after a moment. "The least I can do is learn the woman who will be my Naga."

"Huh. At the least, you both seem vested in this. I confess, I cannot quite picture it. You and My Lady. However, she is stubborn, so… I suppose she shall have her way."

The crow left finally, shifting before arcing into the skies, his wings beating fast as they found a wind current.

Gregory rustled into his pack a moment, coming up with the box he had purchased earlier. Once he had it, secure he went to stand behind the Hawk; pleased she didn't tense or react negatively. Progress, at last.

"So, here you are. I was starting to think you hated us all."

Hannah felt his legs press into her back, knew her head was near his stomach. She had gotten used to his nearness knowing it would be constant when they were in the serpiente courts. Her initial reaction was to tense, but she quickly suppressed it. It wasn't until Hannah felt a foreign object drop around her neck did she shift. As she felt deft fingers at her neck, she glanced down.

Nestled against her bosom lay a single pure white crystal, the chain a thick black material that felt supple between her fingers.

"Do you like it?" the serpiente asked casually, moving to drop beside her.

Hannah lifted the crystal, moving it side to side. Her head tilted and she regarded him. "It is lovely. But why?"

Gregory hummed. "Well, I don't claim to know you well. But I have noticed you prefer simpler things. This one screamed your name."

Hannah blinked at him owlishly. "That isn't what I meant."

"Women, be it avian or serpiente, seem obsessed with knowing everything."

"Gregory," Hannah sighed his name. The frustration in her voice nearly made him smirk but he controlled it.

"I'm merely giving my Naga a gift, is that a crime?" He held his hands out before him, blinking innocently.

"Coming from you? It most certainly could be."

He pressed a hand to his chest. "Ah, I'm offended you would think such a thing!"

"Has anyone ever told you they'd like to slap you?"

"Would that be appropriate behavior for an avian woman?" Gregory widened his eyes.

Hannah narrowed hers. "You are simply impossible."

"But I'm irresistible as well, so it evens out."

The hawk merely scoffed, but Gregory caught the faint amusement in the golden orbs blinking at him.

It was only three short days later that the call went out through the Mistari lands. The Avian Tuuli-Thea and her guards had been spotted.

Hannah had paled briefly. Nerves clutched like icy tendrils down her spine, confusion hitting her. She was nervous to meet her own sister and liege.

Despite her misgivings, she quickly prepared.

The three serpientes had been playfully speaking and laughing when the news reached them. As one, they exchanged grim looks. Zane took a deep, fortifying breath.

"Well, I suppose we should go meet them, no?"

Charis plucked nervously at the many bracelets clinking together on her wrists. By now, they had all migrated to the Mistari Disa and Dio's meeting room, once again seated on the opulent cushions.

The two tigers were languidly sitting upon their dais. Gregory cast a glance over to Hannah, seated between her guards, looking prim and proper. Then the curtains were pushed aside and in entered even more soulless beings.

Danica Shardae had not the looks of Hannah Shardae. The only way they would be connected as blood was the obvious golden coloring to their hair and eyes. Hannah had a more delicate bone structure, her face a little less rounded. Danica was also a few inches taller, her hair kept back in a strict looking bun, whereas Hannah often wore hers partially down or braided.

Even the walks were different. Danica walked like a soldier.

Behind her was a man of chestnut hair and lean muscle. His gaze swept the hall, making note of every single nuance there was, from the serpiente and how far they were from his mate, to the myriad cracks along the mostly smoothed walls.

Danica looked once at her sister before she paused before the Disa and Dio. She did not bow.

Zane recognized the position she stood in, as it was shared in the two males and female with her, and he had seen the guards Hannah had assuming it. It was a soldier's stance, an odd thing for a leader to assume. He wondered briefly if this was the reason, she was more suited to rule than Hannah, this drilling that she was a soldier as well as a diplomat.

She did nod respectfully. "I must thank you for watching out for my younger sister."

The Disa leaned back, rolling her shoulders. "It was hardly a trouble. Welcome to the Mistari lands, Danica Shardae."

The hawk nodded sharply before she turned on her heel. Hannah and the guards at her side had risen to their feet. The two locked eyes and the hall watched as the sisters stood before each other.

"You are truly unharmed?" Danica reached out her hand and Hannah automatically moved to take it, the guards on either side bowing stiffly to the noble hawks.

Zane and Gregory exchanged looks, faint amusement and derision in how stiff and formal the Avians truly were, reflected in their eyes.

Hannah reached up to take Danica's other hand, nodding once. "I am well, sister."

It was then they all saw it. Relief pooled onto the avian leaders face and she released a huff of a breath. Without warning, she tugged Hannah closer, ensconcing the younger and shorter girl into a tight hug.

"Thank goodness. I have been wrestling with myself for these weeks, wondering if I had done the correct thing, leaving you here with so few guards."

Hannah had stiffened at the frontal assault, obviously unsure what to do with her hands. Gregory could have snorted with laughter, had Charis not smacked the back of his head, so he turned it into a cough instead.

Finally, the hawk pulled away, smiling slightly. "Varik, it's good to see you."

The male nodded. "I'm glad you are unharmed, Hannah."

It took a few moments but finally the Avians resettled, Danica taking a spot next to Hannah, and Andreios reclaiming the spot next to her, pushing Cole down farther.

Danica cleared her throat. "To business, then. I ask to be told which serpiente I am expected to give my blood to."

Gregory sighed, shifting so his arm rested outstretched on his propped leg. "That would be me."

Danica studied him against his counterpart. They looked very similar as blood brothers went, but the one who had spoken seemed far more eye-catching, if only for his accessories and clothing.

He had emeralds glistening from his ears and an amulet hung low down his chest. He obviously favored the colors black and white, with an emerald colored scarf wound around his waist.

In normal circumstance, she would have never let him anywhere near her sister. He was not anything like what she would approve of. Danica flickered her gaze to Hannah however, and admitted they would make a decent pair standing together, side by side. At the least, he looked as though he could handle himself well, and intelligence was in the crimson orbs.

"And you are…?"

"Gregory Cobriana. Pleasure to meet you, I'm sure." His voice was confident and lilting, the kind that would make many women swoon. It did nothing for Danica.

Danica merely hummed, her gaze flicking to the other cobra, who must surely be Zane.

"And so, by marriage this war will be over." Her voice was firm. "But what reassurance do I have you won't sink your fangs into her the moment she is in your lands? Or allow another serpiente to do it?"

Gregory felt Zane tense up, though his face remained pleasant. "The whole point in this is to end the war. Killing Hannah wouldn't do much for that cause."

Danica scoffed. "Wouldn't it, though? I would be the only remaining hawk, besides our mother."

"A hawk who would remain safe in her keep, therefore untouchable by us." Gregory shrugged his shoulders.

Zane cleared his throat. "The pros to this marriage working are far greater than the ones gained by such an unhanded manner. Hannah will be safe with us, I assure you."

"You would choose to protect her over your people, should they try and harm her?" Danica pushed the points she found important.

Zane hesitated briefly, his eyes flickering to Hannah, who sat tall beside her sister. Gregory, however, did not.

"I would."

All eyes turned to him. He shifted, his head tilting to the side. A small smirk was on his face as he regarded her. Then he looked at Hannah, glancing between them.

"Serpientes are showy creatures, as I'm sure you aren't aware. We are passionate and raw, but we are also protective. Hannah would be my responsibility first, as my Naga. It wouldn't be in my nature, to let the woman with that title be harmed."

Hannah was regarding him steadily. He winked at her and she blinked, exchanging a glance with Danica. They both knew, neither hawk would mean much if the Avians went after Gregory. Yet here he was, claiming before all he would keep her safe.

Danica sighed. She did not want to do this. Every fiber of her instinct, sisterly and as a leader, were rebelling against this. There were too many loopholes, far too much risk. Yet… yet…

Peace was worth everything to her. The idea of her children never having to fight. The dream that the avian people could flourish again without battles a constant loom in their day-to-day lives.

Her eyes shifted to look at Hannah, who had resumed her study of her pair bond to be. The serpiente who would be her Alistair. Danica inwardly winced at the thought. The two terms were not pleasant sounding in her ear. A serpiente Alistair. And an Avian hawk as a Naga.

She took a deep breath. "I have conditions."

"Of course you do," Zane muttered, not without courtesy in his tone.

"I assume you don't want Gregory living in the keep, with us."

Zane narrowed his eyes. "It hadn't crossed my mind. The serpiente palace is a lovely place to live-"

"For serpientes." Danica cut clean across. "Why should Hannah make all the sacrifices?"

"I would say they are both making sacrifices, Danica," Zane returned smoothly.

"Indeed. All I ask is a trade-off. We shall start with every two weeks, until I am surer of Hannah not being in the keep."

"You really don't trust us to keep her safe," Zane said amusedly.

Danica merely cocked a brow at him. "And she would, of course, take members of the Royal Flight with her. Varik has already decided which members would be more appropriate to not cause any… unwanted skirmishes."

The male beside her nodded his head. "And of course, we would make provisions for any guard you'd like to send with your brother, while he resides in the keep."

Charis snorted. "How very kind of you."

"And would he be one of the "trusted guards" meant to protect Hannah from us big, bad serpiente?" Gregory nodded to Cole who scowled at the implied insult he read there. Danica, however, saw the dislike on the serpientes face and filed it away for later.

"Perhaps."

"Anything else?" Zane asked.

"… Hannah, is this truly alright with you?" Danica turned to her sister. The younger hawk returned the look steadily enough, her brows furrowed.

"We've come this far. I… trust them, Danica." The words weren't easy to say, that much was clear to all present. "If I didn't I would tell you."

Quietly, so the serpiente and tigers wouldn't hear, Danica asked a question that worried her. "Would you really?

Hannah swallowed, and then she nodded. "Yes, of course. Our people need this, Danica. Both of our peoples." Her voice was just as quiet. "I don't want us to turn into mother. And I do not want to see my nieces and nephew die, or my own children… If I have any."

That brought up another unpleasant thought. "Has the serpiente been cordial to you?"

Hannah blinked, thinking that, by avian standards no, he had not. He had tapped her beak, had used her lap as a pillow, and had poked fun at her enough times to have her nearly spitting behind a calm yet cracking mask. He had made it clear in a speech he hated her, yet then had went out of his way to see to her comfort and had provided her with trinkets meant to make her happy.

She knew from Charis that things were very different in the serpiente world. Children were not betrothed from birth and stifled; they didn't learn to compartmentalize their emotions.

They were allowed to court who they wanted, and if it fell apart, it didn't shame them, or their families. She also knew a serpiente never bonded unless they were deeply and irrevocably in love with one another. She and Gregory were abnormal, but they couldn't let that be known. Before the serpiente people, they had to seem in love, or else the whole plan could go to rot.

Still, Hannah smiled. "Yes, he's been far better than I anticipated. Not at all a savage. Trust me, Danica."

Danica nodded, and then she turned to the Disa and Dio. "You've been watching them the whole time. Has this a chance of truly working?"

The Disa smiled kindly. "You don't want to put your blood in any danger. We understand that well. If, for any second, we doubted this union, we would caution you."

Danica shifted her eyes to the floor then. "If this is truly the only way… so long as my terms are met then… I will name you my sisters Alistair."

End chapter

Author note: Another one done! Woo-hoo!