A/N hey guys…..we need to chat…..It's about reviews, and I know! I know…..You guys have lives, but honestly when I get so few for a new chapter I start to think that you guys are losing interest, and if that's the case I'd sure like to know why. Have I turned the story in an unfavorable light? Or are you guys no longer liking where it's going? Let me know, I am more than capable of editing/re-writing new chapters, that's what's so great about because we have the opportunity to DO that. So let me know. Also those of you who only add this story in your favorites or alerts without actually leaving a review, that's sort of nasty as well, like it's nice enough to read but not enough to comment. I think we can have a nice mutual respect here in and as cliché as it sounds, the reviews and ideas and comments really do give us inspiration and really does make us write faster, we call it motivation.

(I'd like to thank those who did review, your ongoing support is really appreciated!)

Chapter 21

Serenity surveyed the room before her and for the first time in days a real smile lifted her lips and with it her spirits. She was standing on the slightly raised platform where her throne sat, it gave her a vantage point to oversee the entire ballroom. The women's gowns were brilliant candy colours, they stood out against the bland white marble and pastel silver-leafed wallpaper, a beautiful contrast after so many weeks of bland and boring. Serenity looked down at her own dress of ivory satin and sighed.

The men wore vivid cravats and waistcoats in the dandiest of colours. As they danced they looked like pieces of wrapping paper blowing in the wind, sparkling and free. The guests of the party were wonderful and lively. Serenity laughed and danced among their brightly lit faces and boisterous conversations and within the whirlwind of revelry forgot, if even only for a moment how ugly, dark and desolate her life had become.

Even Seiya was in good form tonight. He'd kindly led her around the Ballroom only moments before, introducing her to everyone there with such a bright and welcoming smile on his face and a plutonic hand on the small of her back. Serenity relaxed while she laughed and spiraled around the dance floor.

Serenity bid her dance partner goodbye while he bowed and went off in search of another. Seiya greeted her with a kind smile.

"I'm so very glad to see you smiling. Are you feeling better?"

Serenity grinned. "Much, this is the best birthday ever!" She hugged him, throwing her arms about his waist, betraying her young age with such an act. Seiya grinned evilly where she could not see it, it was one more step into her heart, finally he had a single foot into her boudoir.

"Shall we?" he offered her his hand.

Serenity nodded and waited for the next song to start. Seiya had his hand on her waist and the other out holding her hand in his. Together they waltzed while Seiya regaled her with amusing stories and court gossip about the men and women she'd just met, pointing them out in turn. Feeling happy for the first time in a month Serenity found she could simply ignore the stoic, dead-faced fae and concentrate on the humans and creatures that had come for her party instead. Everyone was so kind and lovely, they accepted her as Queen (or an exceptionally rich heiress in the case of the humans.) and were easy to talk too. Serenity even thought she'd been able to make new friends tonight, more than a few of the ladies there were around her age and Serenity was so very tired of having to talk with adults all the time. All in all it was turning out to be a spectacularly splendid night. She didn't even notice as Seiya pulled her closer, his hand brushing her cheek and how close he was whispering into her ear.

Darien did, However.

He stood in the shadows of the gardens that surrounded the ballroom. The glass doors were thrown open to cool the party-goers and allowed him an excellent view of his wife in the arms of another man.

Darien narrowed his eyes as Seiya's hand slipped from her waist caressing her as they slid lower. He watched him bring her hand to his lips and kiss it before bowing slightly and walking away, leaving Serenity to a sea of creatures, all of them male and all of then ogling his damn wife! She didn't have an escort, and no one seemed to be remembering that she was only sixteen! Darien itched to do something, but kept his cool, keeping his face trained into a mask of indifference.

His Pack had not been invited…on purpose he was sure, and more than that he was doubly sure that Seiya had engineered it that way. Had Rei not been such a fan of good gossip he wouldn't have heard a thing about it. But more importantly he wouldn't have come to the decision that had him skulking in Serenity's garden with a little pup that had come, given him a damn heart attack, taken one look at him and come to sit on his foot. Not near nor next to but on. If the damn thing hadn't started yapping when he'd tried to dislodge it he would have…gladly. Buthe was here tonight and he was determined.

He intended to try again and he intended to remind her exactly who she belonged to.

Serenity was his wife and would therefore stay, sleep…live in his castle, whether she objected or not. She could run her realm from his home, she married him and therefore she was his, all his. Her place was by his side, in his arms and in his bed.

He'd let her sulk, although admittedly he'd done his fair share as well. He'd had enough of this, this aching need to feel her in his arms again, to feel her sweet lips beneath his and to taste her skin once more.

Oh yes, she'd be home with him before the night was over.

Darien was brought back to reality from his reverie by very familiar tinkling laughter floating through the open French doors.

Good lord is that vampire?!

The pup growled at his feet, Darien could only agree, he fisted his hands to stop himself from making a scene and ripping Serenity from that thing's grip. He was obviously flirting with her and by the looks of it she was flirting right back, smiling up at him and touching his arm. Darien was shaking with suppressed fury, finally he flung himself into the ballroom anyway the moment the vampire brushed his fingers down her neck, licking his lips as he did so.

Marching angrily across the room he drew curious stares and more than a few admiring glances from the younger ladies. Darien tapped on the vampire's shoulder roughly.

"May I cut in?" He said in a mild tone, undermined by the fire in his eyes. Darien didn't wait for a reply, sweeping Serenity from his grip and dancing away.

Serenity stiffened when she heard his voice, Dear god…please no! However despite her mental protest, she was in his arms so quickly that she didn't even try to pull away immediately , slightly in shock, attempting to not make a scene in front of the people she'd just met and not to mention the tiny tingles that his body was causing were just so pleasant she didn't dare pull away from him at least she didn't, not until…

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" He hissed into her ear.

"Me?! You bastard! What in god's name are you doing here?" She hissed right back, trying to jerk subtly from his arms. She was so conscious of the guests watching her and the dark giant of a man twirling gracefully around the floor. She didn't dare try calling out for help. Serenity tugged her hands in tiny vicious movements…it was not unlike trying to tug one's leg from the gears of a tractor. She tried shoving him away in stead, only to be brought in closer to his body. His scent seemed to wrap around her, making her drowsy and content. She was pulling away…why?

Darien ignored her question and her shoves and tugs, tightening his grip over her hands. He glared down at her with barely concealed rage. Oh that's why…

"Where the hell is your escort? Without me here you'd be dead Serenity! You were flirting with a damn vampire! Their animals, you'd have been sucked dry and dead in his arms before the dance was even over!" Darien growled into her ear. Serenity scoffed, throwing back her head and bringing it back to scowl at him darkly.

"Dead?! You're so full of it you reprobate! Better dead than humiliated, now let me go and after that you can get yourself the hell out of my home!" She said fiercely, sneering up into his face, baring her teeth like an angry kitten.

"I completely agree."

Serenity drew her brows together in confusion.

"I beg your…? What are you doing?!" Serenity cried as Darien dragged her through one of the big glass doors. Leading her away into the garden, the little pup loped up to them, trailing behind the struggling woman and the big man.

"Except for the part where I let you go."

This wasn't exactly how Darien had planned this. He had intended to wait until Serenity came out to the gardens by herself, whereupon he was going to whisk her away to his awaiting carriage, no muss, no fuss, clean and precise.

"I'll scream Darien! Don't you dare think I won't! Let me go you barbarian! I was damn well right you addled half-wit, you and your entire family are complete lunatics! Get your hands off me!" Serenity lamented, tugging frantically for her wrist, attempting to dig in her heels, only to be jerked from the ground time and time again.

"Do be quiet Bunny, you won't like what I'll do to make you." Darien said, thanking his lucky stars that they'd exited near the musicians, no one could hear them nor see them behind the large band.

"Don't you dare order me around! You have no right to be doing this to me!" She shouted, digging her nails into the hand that was wrapped securely around her wrist.

"Any man had the right to order his wife around when she is being unreasonable. One last chance Serenity to be quiet." He growled dangerously.

"You still think I'll play wife? Like hell I will you bastard!" Serenity said venomously, curling her lip and starting a new wave of frustrated punchs and kicks to free herself.

"I warned you." Darien said ominously.

He suddenly turned, catching her waist between his big hands he pressed her up against the wall of the outer bailey. Serenity gasped at the heated contact of him and the cool of the bricks behind her back, a delicious contrast that had her arching into him. He pressed his body into hers, pushing her back against the cool bricks, demanding her to feel him, to touch him, to feel what she did to him. Her hands flew to his shoulders of their own volition. Darien held her against the wall easily with his body, grinding his arousal against her hips. Hot and demanding he nibbled her lower lip, goading tempting and teasing until her lips parted on a sigh. His tongue traced her mouth, reveling in the taste of her, caressing her. Her scent washed over him, wrapping around him, pulling him closer despite what the conscious Serenity wanted. Beneath his hands, in his mouth, she was perfect, perfect for him and only him.

Serenity let her tongue dual with his, rubbing and swirling with his in a sort of dance. Her hands, starved for the feel of him trailed her nails down his rock hard stomach and chest, tracing the muscles through his silken shirt.

The thread that connected them grew stronger, emitting a low light that neither of them noticed in the midnight moonlight, strengthening their bond and becoming thicker. The emotions and sensations of having Serenity once again in his arms, his to have and kiss and hold, clouded his mind. She was yielding to him, arching her sweet body into his. (The pup, sat down next to them, seeming to sigh while he waited for his owner to stop licking the big dog.)

Darien nibbled on her lips, moving along her jaw and down her neck, placing butterfly kisses over her low bodice, using his teeth to gently tease the velvet skin. Serenity delved her little hands into his hair, feeling her breasts become heavy and aching for his touch. Serenity had her eyes closed and Darien slowly pulled his black cravat from his pocket…

And gagged her.

Serenity gasped in outrage, yanking her hands from his hair, her eyes spitting fire at him. She pulled her body back into the wall, trying to get away from him, embarrassed now by how wantonly she'd pressed against him, how easily he's goaded her into kissing his lying lips.

"I told you you wouldn't like it. It's time dear wife that you remembered who you married. Your mine, all mine, now and forever." Darien kissed her forehead tenderly, pulling back before she could head-butt him.

He leaned back from her, catching the knee she threw up at him easily, blocking it, he used the excuse to caress her knee and leg.

Darien tucked her under his arm like a sack of grain and, despite her struggles and attempts to free her hands to untie his gag, fled into the night. The little pup following them closely.

Seiya looked around the grand ballroom, expecting to see the elated Serenity dancing with someone.

He looked more closely, actually walking the perimeter of the room now…

"Bloody hell she's up and disappeared!"