I am so disappointed :'( Only one person reviewed my last chapter! It discouraged me, and if I hadn't pre-written these last few chapters, then you all may have never gotten an update. But I did. And I love you all, so I'm gonna spoil everyone for Martin Luther King Jr. Day tomorrow! But...please review?

~Danica~

It wasn't the easiest escaping from Rei's house, but I managed it. I was quickly lost in the crowds of families moving out, and my heart throbbed in the pain I was putting my people through. I rushed through them and refused to think about it, because every time I thought of my people and what they were sacrificing to have me my step will falter and I couldn't move forward. And I needed to move forward, to the future – still uncertain and scary – and towards Zane.

I didn't have a transport to the Serpiente town, and for the first time I silently thanked that there were mortals between the two warring towns of shifters (former shifters) and a taxi service. I patted the pockets of my jeans to ensure I had the money I swiped from Rei's wallet (sorry, Rei. Had to be done.) Satisfied that it was there, I gave myself a mental pat on the back as I hailed a yellow taxi and jumped in.

The trip to the Serpiente town was longer than I remember it being. Though, that might have been my anxiety speaking. The taxi couldn't move fast enough and I swear we got red lights the whole way there. When the man finally pulled up in front of the Serpiente mansion, I hopped out, not even waiting for my change. There will be no returning by taxi for me. I sprinted up the stairs and dashed into the mansion, startling a few people. Turning a corner that I vaguely remember I crashed head first into someone. I fell back on my rump with a grunt.

"Owww." I drawled out as I stood, rubbing my backside. I looked up to see a beautiful woman standing above me, a haughty and pissed off look on her face. She was taller than I with long, blonde hair and very slim. However, even though she was slim, I still saw the definition of muscle in her bared arms and her eyes were cold – like a killers'. I shivered involuntary when I saw her. Yes, I had spent a bit of time with the Serpiente, but I didn't imagine fangs on any of them (except maybe Zane when I first saw him). However, I was sure when she opened her mouth I will see a pair of razor sharp fangs where her incisors should have been.

"Hawk." To my surprise, I saw no fangs.

"Um, hi." I stuttered out when I finally straightened. "Is Zane here?"

The blonde gave me a disdainful look and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "He isn't here."

My heart fell a little, but I refused to show it on my face. "Thanks." I spun around and tried to control my breathing, forcing my heart to stop falling, to hide it away so it won't hurt ever again. I couldn't handle it anymore. Why does such a short sentence cause such pain? Maybe it's just hopeless, maybe I should just give up with this. Obviously it wasn't meant to be. What was that saying again? If it was meant to be, it will come back to you?

I guess I should have taken my change from the taxi driver.

"Adelina?" A man's voice said behind me, but I didn't look back. His voice wasn't familiar to me, and there was nothing left for me here.

"Danica?"

At the sound of my name I froze. I would recognise his voice anywhere. My heart did a little pitter patter, growing in size and rate as I turned around. The first thing I saw was the blonde looking furious, her hands clenching into fist as she stormed away from us. A guy who looked like her – with the pale blonde hair and light eyes – gave her an exasperated look and then bowed his head at me in respect, but I had already looked away from him. My eyes were trained on the man in front of me, an incredulous look on his face. "Zane." My voice came out in a slight whoosh and I felt my knees crumple. Faster than I thought he could move, he closed the distance between us and caught me before I fell on my face. I buried my face into his shirt and cried. All of the emotional overload in the past two days was enough for me and I finally cracked in his arms. All I wanted was him, but then I remembered why I wasn't with him last night.

I punched his chest a few times in the midst of my crying but he never released his hold on me. He rocked me back and forth, shushing me. "It's ok baby, I'm here. I'm here."

I nodded into his chest, but still hit him again for good measure.

"Why?"

"It was a chance at peace."

"Not good enough."

"I wanted you to be happy."

"And you thought I could be happy without you?"

"I hoped. I knew you weren't going to be happy with us, and we would have still been at war."

I pulled my face from his chest and glared at him. "Don't you dare make a decision like that again without me."

He chuckled, and I saw that he had tear tracks down his cheeks. I wiped them away and gave him a smile. "Zane, my place is at your side. You and I both know this."

"Yeah. Now all we have to do is convince everyone else that this war is stupid and to give it up."

A small frown crossed my face. "It's not going to be easy."

"I know."

"My people hate your people."

"Not all." He replied, touching my nose.

"If only there was a place where we could bring the two together…" An idea started to form, and I pulled away from Zane.

"Danica?"

I raised a finger to stop him from talking as my idea blossomed. "It's perfect."

"What is?"

"My idea! Oh my gosh!" Galvanised, I sprang up and started to pace in a circle, not even registering Zane's bewildered expression. "We just need to get a place, but I'm sure people will want to come. We can start all over…" My voice trailed off and my pacing was suddenly stopped when Zane firmly placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Danica. What's on your mind?"

"A new court. It's a perfect solution, a perfect place where we can blend Serpiente and Avians on neutral ground. No war. Just the two races living side by side in relative peace."

"And how do we know that people will even come?"

"We don't."

"And how do we know that at this neutral place bloodshed won't occur?"

"We don't." Even with his doubts, I felt confident in my decision. "We need to plan."

"We can't plan here. You're not even supposed to be here."

I looked up at him, totally forgetting that my people were currently upstaging their whole lives for a princess who was currently…not packing to leave. Crap.

I looked up to Zane with my puppy dog eyes. "Take me to Rei's? Please?"

He ran a hand through his dark hair. "Danica, you know we can't go on Avian land."

"So? This is an emergency. Please?"

He ruffled his hair again and dragged his hand down his face. "Sure." I squealed and jumped on him, which was extremely out of character of me. Startled, he staggered backward at the added weight but smiled under the barrage of kisses I rained on his face.

"If I get a thanks like this every time I drive you, then I'm officially becoming your chauffeur."

Zane speeds, but that didn't bother me. Ok, maybe a little, but I hid it pretty well…I think. He pulled up at Rei's and I jumped out before he even put it in park. I slowed down when I reached the door to his one storey house and forced myself to calm down. Without knocking, I walked in to see Rei pacing, his face past furious. When he saw me, he rushed to my side and looked me over, looking for injuries or any other sign that I was hurt.

"Where were you? I saw the flowers at the window so I now you weren't kidnapped, but that didn't stop me from wondering." His voice was barely controlled, which showed how worried he was. I placed my hand on his arm and he took a few deep breaths. When he opened his eyes, I still saw his worry but nothing else gave away his previous distress.

"I went to the Serpiente."

"I thought you might've." He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for an explanation.

"I have an idea." As I said this, Zane walked in. Immediately Rei pushed me behind him and growled. Zane growled back, and the pair of them crouched as if ready to spring at the other. I stepped in front of Rei and fixed him with an icy stare. "No mauling of anyone in my presence." I said, looking at both of them. Zane relaxed first, and casually draped an arm around my shoulders. Rei's face looked murderous so I shook his arm off. "Stop it." I whispered to him, but he just gave me a cocky grin.

"Anyways, my plan." Rei nodded at me, but his eyes kept flicking over to Zane at my side. "I want to have this neutral place where both Avians and Serpiente can live together, in peace."

"Are you serious?"

"That's what I said." Replied Zane, his tone flat.

I sighed. "I think it's worth a shot."

"And who will support this?" That was Rei.

I paused. "I don't know."

"Then why bother?" I glared at Zane.

"Do you want us to be together?"

"Of course! Danica, you've got to admit this is crazy."

"If neither of you will support me, then I will just do this alone." I crossed my arms over my chest obstinately.

Both men sighed at the same time, then glared at each other.

"Danica, you know you have my support in this, right?" Zane enveloped me into his arms.

"Didn't seem like it two minutes ago." I grumbled.

"It's worth a shot. I think I know a few who are loyal to you still and will follow this crazy plan of yours." Rei admitted, sounding weary. Without further ado, he left us alone. I felt kind of guilty because I backed him into a corner about it he wasn't too happy, but I knew it will work. It had to.

"What now?"

I looked up at him, and a tingle of fear ran up my spine. "Our mothers."

To say that the meeting with my mother went well is an outright lie. She looked through me, not even acknowledging my presence, and kept shooting Zane nasty looks. Well, at least he got a reaction. I was as good as a wall in her eyes.

"Mother, please listen to us." I followed her around the building, but still no response. Finally exasperated, I grabbed her shoulder and forced her to look at me. When she looked away from me, I gripped her chin and made her look me in the eyes.

She flicked her eyes to Zane. "You're not supposed to be here. This is a violation of the treaty."

"Your daughter has a better solution." He snapped back. "A crazy one." He added in an undertone. I think I was the only one who heard him.

"I have no daughter." That sentence punched me in the gut and I doubled over at he sudden pain. I know my mom disowned me and all that, but to say she doesn't have a daughter when I was standing right in front of her? That was just cruel. I never pegged my mother as a cruel woman, but I guess I was wrong. I saw a flicker of something in her eyes – regret? sadness? - but it was gone just as quickly. She stalked out of the room.

"She'll come around." Zane's voice was gentle and he wrapped an arm around my waist.

I chuckled, a low, humourless laugh. "No she won't. She's stubborn that way."

He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair again. "Wait right here." I nodded, and sat on the floor.

It hurt almost as much as when I realised I wasn't going to see Zane anymore. Almost. But I had gone through worse, so I know I can get through this. Right?