A/N Hey guys!!!!!! Your response for that last chapter was overwhelming! And you guys are so kind!! And for all of you folks who review but don't have an account on it means I can't reply!! And I'd love to thank you guys for all your lovely comments!! And I can't!! It's free! And you get to pick a nerdy penname!! Lol what's not to love?

Chapter 10

Darien leaned against Serenity's door; he could hear her sobbing as acutely as if she were standing right next to him. That hadn't gone exactly as he'd planned, being the fool he was he'd lost his temper and said things he didn't mean. Had he really taken her job, her friends and her future from her? He'd never in all of the possible scenarios given thought to what would happen if she reacted badly to his news. He'd assumed she'd either not react at all and simply tell him what a lovely story he'd told and fall in love with him, or she'd remember everything, thank him and fall in love with him. Darien had assumed she'd be so grateful to him for helping her to remember that she'd marry him on the spot…

Clearly that hadn't happened, and worse still she'd been planning to run away from him! She'd planned to run from him and join up with the fae court, becoming Queen in the process…

She was only five. A logical part of his brain reminded in a scolding tone.

…Leaving him behind in the dust! Forgetting about him and all the fun they'd shared he'd loved her since she was born, why didn't she see that? Why wouldn't she return his devotion? Had he not shown her how he felt every time he'd shyly kissed her cheek when she'd cried after she'd fallen over or been teased in the market?

She was only FIVE. The voice said more forcefully.

Darien pouted softly and crossed his arms, this simply would not do, no mate of his would run from his waiting and welcoming arms.

The voice gave up and wandered off for tea with his conscience.

Darien grinned and pushed away from the wall, he'd make Serenity DeLune fall in love with him yet and he'd do it with a scowl on his handsome face too. Women always wanted what they couldn't have right? Well he would simply dangle himself just out of her reach…

Darien sauntered down the hallway his gait long and sophisticated, self assured and… and…

What happened if she truly wasn't interested in him? Darien stuttered in his step. He froze when that thought entered his mind, what happened when she rejected him? Both of their souls would perish once ones mate was found they were found and there was nothing else to it.

Damnation.

"So," Rei began cynically, "Your master plan, dear brother, is to make her fall in love with you?" She asked over her blue willow china teacup, her dainty hand curled about it with her pinky sticking straight out.

"Don't mock me little sister, I will seduce her with my charming disposition and dashing good looks." Darien said smugly, tossing his head arrogantly.

"… Uh…huh. Well brother I would like to remind you that not only is she angry at you, she's the next in line for the fae crown, a crown she had planned to leave you for anyway. The few fairies still living will see her as a godsend and the compact demands that if a preternatural line is in danger of extinction, you hand her over…"

"No."

"No?" Rei was bringing the cup to her mouth but after he'd interrupted her, ended up pouring the whole bleeding thing down her front, hissing, she dabbed at it.

"Absolutely not, Serenity is to be informed that she is the very last living fairy." Darien said so casually that Rei again sputtered.

"Darien! She'll be devastated! You're going to tell her her entire species is extinct? How can you possibly think that is a good, or even acceptable idea or even entertain the thought of hurting you supposed mate?" Rei scolded, her newly refreshed tea cup slammed back on it's saucer with little regard to it's fragility.

"Because Rei, in her grief who will be there to offer a shoulder to cry on? I! Then after I woo her with sweet words and sweeter gifts she'll cease being upset with me, fall in love with me and then we shall be bonded and she'll be happy." Darien said confidently.

Rei rolled her eyes and poured herself a new cup of tea.

Men!

Serenity sat bathed in moonlight, her hair glittered and her skin glowed. She sat upon the windowsill one leg bent to her chest and the other dangling off the sill swinging unconsciously. Her wide blue eyes were closed as she soaked up the gentle chirping of the night creatures. The stillness of the night called to her, how peaceful she could be if only she could achieve such silence and stillness. The wind tugged playfully at her and the urge to fly through the night and run away from all this had her in high spirits despite her predicament.

A wolf's sharp bark followed by answering howls jarred Serenity from her reverie, she sadly gazed down at the dainty silver anklet encircling her slim ankle. The anklet was attached to a fine, yet unbreakable chain (she knew this for certain as she had tried many and varied ways of breaking it, failing each time). The chain itself was attached to the oak bed where she had been previously trussed up like a common whore only the night before. Serenity had not returned to it since.

Since remembering all that she had lost eleven years ago Serenity had fallen into a dark place wherein she was trapped with nothing but the memory of her parent's last screams echoing in her head.

But late at night she had dreams, dreams of when she was a child and she'd loved a dark haired little boy, a ware that she'd simply adored, a boy who'd dried her tears and picked her up every time she'd fallen, the same boy who'd shown her where to hide from the housekeeper so that she could play outside with him instead of working. The very same boy who'd given her so many sweet kisses on her cheek, she'd been lost to him since, so in love with him she couldn't think straight but Darien was cold now. So distant he felt like he was a million miles away even when he stood but metres from her. He barely deigned to speak to her since he'd told his gruesome tale. Serenity scolded herself again, but she couldn't help but let one small breathy confession leak out, she needed him, his touch, his scent and his voice. She was so sad now and if she could just have him comfort her, if she could just steal a few precious moments in his arms… Here a tear slid down her cheek, he didn't care for her, not anymore, despite what he'd shouted at her. He hadn't been back to her room, and Lady Rei wouldn't talk about him when she came to visit, always changing topics immediately.

How could one person change so much from the loving and kind boy she'd fallen for?

And yet as Serenity tried harder and harder to push the newly cold, harsh Darien from her mind, the deeper he burrowed into her heart. She resented him so, and yet felt an odd tug towards him even though he was being so cold, her brain turned to mush when she was around him, her mind became foggy and her heart beat so quickly she'd expected she'd faint if he'd stayed a moment longer. He inspired dual emotions in her, she was so confused! She wanted to be in his arms, this was true, but at the same time wanted nothing more than to run for the hills. How could one person feel such smoldering lust and pure hatred and loathing at once? As he'd told the story of the night before she'd lost her memory she'd felt a tidal wave of tenderness coupled with irritation and annoyance…

She was so confused.

There was only one solution in Serenity's mind, she would have to escape and return to the fae, despite her mother's horror stories. After all these years had no one ever gone looking for her? Of course even if they had they wouldn't have recognized her… Serenity hoped they would be thrilled to have her back, she was the heiress to the crown after all, they needed her to rule. She'd be with those who could understand her, teach her the ways of the fae. Her mother had never taught her how to use any of the magic she'd been born with, she'd been too young to learn then but now here she was, sixteen and a fully fledged fae surely one of the priests or a Kirk would take her under him and teach her. And maybe after eleven years the fae had managed to re-build and procreate, maybe the fae had prospered after eleven years of peace, maybe…

"Serenity." Darien rumbled from the doorway, gracefully he slipped inside and closed the door behind him with a gentle click.

Serenity's train of thought ended abruptly, she stared out of the window, ignoring Darien completely, so he wanted to ignore her after she'd needed him? She could do the same. She dared not look back at him lest those treacherous duel emotion assault her senses again, confusing her to greater lengths this time, goading her to do something stupid. She'd lost enough of her dignity around him already, crying, screaming. Lady Elliot would be appalled!

"Serenity, come here." Darien said, a plaintive order.

That sadness in his voice set Serenity to wonder why the arrogant all mighty Darien Loup de la Forêt would be melancholy about (and damn it if she didn't feel like soothing him to make it better). But she refused to fall into what he, no doubt, had thought would be the perfect plan, someone had once told her the only weakness a woman had was not within herself but for the pain and suffering of others. Serenity kept her eyes resolutely trained on the moon.

"I know I must have frightened you the last time we spoke. Well we didn't really speak did we?" Darien said softly, letting his voice take on a tender quality, her beauty astounded him. Did she have no idea how beautiful she looked bathed in moonlight like that?

Serenity narrowed her eyes, she hadn't been upset! She'd been angry! She wasn't some weak, little, insignificant…

"But I'm afraid more bad news is to come,"

…Tiny, worthless little nothing who couldn't stand up for herself! She'd been angry damnit! And who does he think he is…

"They're all gone Serenity,"

…Some arrogant ware that does nothing but strut around his big stupid… huh?

"What?" Serenity gasped her gaze coming to land on Darien's commiserating face.

"Gone Serenity, the fae were wiped out. I thought I'd tell you that before your string of escape attempts began. Please come sit with me." Darien said in a low rumbling voice laced with sympathy as he patted the space of bed beside him.

Serenity numbly got to her feet, the little silver chain clinked in the near silent room, she sat down on the edge of the bed on the opposite side to Darien. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, cupping her jaw with both of her hands her mouth gaped like a fish and yet nothing came from her lips, not even one whisper of sound.

Warms hands glided to her shoulders, caressing them in a soothing manner, slowly they slid from her shoulders and wrapped around her waist, pulling her into Darien's chest, the warmth and solidarity gave Serenity something she thought she'd never feel again.

Comfort.

She turned in his embrace, her arms went around his neck and she clutched Darien to herself as tightly as he squeezed back, knowing in the morning she'd be embarrassed for her display of weakness, but right now she was in mourning for her race, her extinct species, how could an entire race get wiped out?

"They all died in the raid Bunny, every one of them was taken down by those humans. I'm so sorry dear, so, so sorry." Darien whispered into her ear, his fingers began to trace small circles on her back through her nightgown.

One tear slid down her cheek and before she knew it soft sobs were bouncing off her walls and a waterfall of tears were making tracks down her face. She clutched Darien to her as tightly as he held her. Grief hung on her shoulders like heavy weights and the corners of her lips seemed to tug themselves down, her lips trembled as the heart wrenching sobs and cries simpered out of her mouth.

Darien held tightly to the trembling Serenity, suddenly his plan didn't seem so brilliant. Her grief was his grief, her pain was his and as much as he tried to rationalize what he was doing the sobbing of the woman in his arms seemed to outweigh all the good this plan would produce…

Darien mentally shook himself, what were a few tears to a lifetime of happiness and love with him?

The little voice got back from his tea with Darien's conscience and was horrified to see his mate in tears and sobbing in his arms, quickly he read through his recent thought patterns…

And are you going to be able to keep every fae in the world away from her forever?

Darien hadn't thought of that (Well of course you didn't dummy! I was off having tea!)… What would happen then? Would she hate him? Abhor him and never speak to him again? No, she would understand and she would think him very clever, his ingenuity and intuition of her responses would show her just how well they fitted together. Yes she would understand.

Darien pulled her closer to him, kissing her forehead with such a light brushing of his lips that Serenity barely felt it. But as Serenity's sobs slowly started to fade she couldn't shake this warm blanket of comfort Darien gave her, she could feel something warm blossoming on the inside of her bosom…her heart was beating faster now, it was elated by this feeling…love?

Serenity looked up at Darien from her place, cuddled cozily to his chest. He looked down to catch her eye, with a small quirking of her lips Serenity smiled back, it was watery and barely reached her eyes, but it was enough. Darien wiped the tears from her cheeks tenderly, slowly he lowered his lips to hers. It was a light kiss, barely a brushing of lips, back and forth once, twice, thrice. Serenity's lips parted beneath his and Darien took up residence, drinking from her like a starved man from the desert, he tugged gently on her lower lip and Serenity was surprised to learn that the breathy moans were coming from her!

His tongue traced her lips before delving into her mouth, Serenity's tongue met his and they dueled sensually. She tasted of honey and rose and he tasted of coffee and cinnamon. Serenity moaned softly into their kiss and she pressed herself closer to him, tilting her head to deepen their kiss. Darien was delighted to feel her breasts pressed flush to his chest, her pearled nipples poking through her gown a sure sign he was slowly wriggling his way to her heart, seducing her one inch at a time (A/N no pun intended! Lol). He deepened their kiss as he felt her head tilt instinctively. Darien slid his hands more securely around her waist, he caressed her hips sensually, tracing his fingers in soft circles, the feel of his warm hands on her comforted and calmed her. Suddenly the extinction of her…entire…race…

Serenity pulled from their kiss, her tears starting anew and the blanket of grief which had lifted from her shoulders in Darien's arms came crashing back to her, knocking her physically from the bed completely. Darien looked dazed for a moment, then confused as to why he no longer held his dearest Serenity in his arms. His cobalt eyes drifted to the ground where Serenity was kneeling and crying, shocked Darien slid to the ground beside her.

Inside Serenity's head a battle raged, she'd been happy in his arms, but how dare she feel happiness when she should be in mourning for her race? Brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons! Every one of them slaughtered. She was selfish, how dare she feel any ounce of happiness when so many lives had been lost, men, women, children. All dead…murdered…

Serenity let a small grief ridden scream erupt from her puffy kiss flushed lips, she began to rock softly with her arms wrapped around her waist.

Darien hesitated for a moment before he slid from the bed and tried to envelope her in a hug…

"Get off me! Leave me be, leave me here to mourn them…all of them they deserve at least one person to remember them." Serenity hissed, her voice clogged with tears.

Darien nodded and left quickly, plan or not something had seemed to brake in his little Bunny and it was all his fault, but that was easily fixed, he'd simply go back in there and tell her it was all a joke.

Yes and then she can add liar to her list of sins against you Idiot. You can no longer remedy this situation, allow her time to grieve and when in the future she finally finds out you've deceived her you best hope she forgives you. Or at least doesn't maim you too badly.

Darien hung his head, he could feel her pain as his own, as long as she was in mourning he would also feel the weight of this guilt that seemed to hold her captive…

Now that got his attention, why on earth would she feel guilty? She hadn't had anything to do with the massacre. She'd only been five, barely even five…

Darien pushed off her doorframe and wandered down the hall to his study to ponder this new information. His neck was stiff he only hoped he'd soon get his room back, or rather be able to share it with the grief ridden woman now occupying it.