Author's note: It's been awhile since I updated this, but now that Hybrid War has been finished, I should update this story a bit more often. Hopefully. Thanks to all those who have reviewed, the feedback means so much to me, so much. Not all that much happens in this chapter, but we are getting closer to some big events. Death, destruction, devious intentions, Death Dealers attacking Death Dealers!! Not. Though some of that is true, but what is and what isn't you'll have to wait and find out. Anyway, hope ya'll enjoy, and please, please review. I'm dying for more feedback on this story. Yes, I am an addict.

Disclaimer: I only own those characters not mentioned in Underworld the movie, novel, comics, or script. Those characters belong to Danny McBride, Kevin Grevioux, Len Wiseman, Sony, etc. This is just my attempt at the prequel. Please do not sue. Savvy?

*************************

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: RELATIONS

MOON PHASE - WAXING CRESCENT

"Lucian, we must talk," Rendor said to his brother as they neared their quarters. "You must be more careful. We do not know how closely the Death Dealers watch you, and they watch the princess almost as much as they do the Elders and the council. And while Viktor may be gone, the council still remains and are even harsher judges."

Lucian remained silent, his head bowed slightly. He wanted to sigh, but he knew Rendor was wearing thin on patience already. He would see a sigh as a form of exasperation, not tiredness or as a sign of guilt. He felt like a pup again, receiving a scolding from his father. But he also knew that he and Sonja would never be careful enough for Rendor.

His brother was just worried, and rightfully so. But he also knew that Rendor was there for him. Even if it meant not being around at all.

"Come, you should sleep. You have barely let your eyes close the past few months," Rendor admonished softly. "It is time you gave your mind and body a break." The older lycan led Lucian back into the slave quarters, leaving Lucian to go on to his room alone.

Finally letting out that sigh, Lucian walked towards his room when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, seeing Meela standing behind him with a sleeping Ali in her arms. He smiled at her, waiting for her to speak.

"She is very kind. Warm even," the female said softly. "She is a good mate to you." Meela turned then, her few words serving their purpose.

Lucian remembered when he and the others had come back from their watch, his eyes immediately falling on Sonja. He had known she was there, her smell had reached him long before they neared the final corridor that led to their quarters. He recalled Ali, the small lycan pup smiling and comfortable in Sonja's arms.

She would have made a wonderful mother, had she married one of her own, he mused. She would make a good mate for a leader as well. A mate of her own kind, of mine even.

Entering his small room, Lucian closed his eyes as Sonja's scent, still lingering in the room from earlier, overwhelmed his senses. It was the closest he would come to her for the rest of the night. He collapsed onto the bed, giving in to the weariness in his limbs and the heavy eyelids burning to shut for more than a few minutes.

He would dream of her. He always did, if he dreamed. With her scent surrounding him, her body etched into his memory, her voice still ringing in his ears, her heartbeat still in synch with his, her touch still burning his skin, how could he not dream of her?

***

"One is tense and worried, the other weary and tired, and both want to lighten the others' load," Adewale observed as he watched Rendor enter his quarters finally. Meela sat beside him, leaning against his shoulder while Ali slept peacefully in his mother's arms. "If only Rendor would relax, he would make everything easier and more natural."

"Is it not the way to be blind to the solution for a taxing problem?" Meela asked in response. "Often we do not see that which is right in front of us, especially when we are to busy glancing over our shoulders and peering at our sides."

Adewale smiled ruefully. "True, my love." He kissed her forehead, then rubbed his cheek against it. "So very true."

"Besides, Rendor only has Lucian now. He has no one else to worry about, to take care of, and the pack does not truly need a leader, we have no reason for one. And so, Rendor has nothing to think over or ponder and worry about other than his brother." Meela sighed, her eyes twinkling. "Though I think that may change soon."

Adewale looked down at his mate, her brown eyes tired but shining with mirth. She smiled at him, a female's smile; secretive and knowing. He kissed her, his lips forcing the smile away as she responded. He would find out her private amusement.

Meela broke away, staring up at him. "You will have to work harder for this knowledge than that. But not right now. Someone needs to be laid in his own bed now that he no longer awake to protest," she told him. Careful not to wake Ali, she stood and slowly walked to their own room.

Adewale shook his head. Something was going on, something he doubted Rendor had any clue of. The large male looked around, his eyes landing on a familiar female. He smiled. If Rendor had any luck, it had something to do with her, Lydia. Perhaps she had not given up on him after he slowly stopped his efforts at courting her.

"Adewale," Meela called to him, beckoning him to come to their room, "come, only a few more hours until sunrise."

***

Sonja sighed silently, trying to decide which was worse, being stuck at a party with a resentful bodyguard and not being able to even see Lucian, or the fact that Soren was just as eager for everything to end as she was. It was slightly disconcerting, the fact that she and the high ranking Death Dealer could agree on anything.

Well, anything other than warfare. She did find most of his views to be good, wise views, smart and well thought out. He was not fond of the lycans, but he saw their importance and the danger treating them poorly could present. Though his disdain for them did annoy her, it was less passionate than the sheer loathing from Anmy or the condescending hatred her father himself bore.

Sonja had to wonder if she was the only one who did not see the lycans are more than slaves, dogs. Hellhounds to guard she and her kind. That term still infuriated her. The other vampires had not even glimpsed what power the lycans had really. Most had forgotten the battle several years ago.

When Lucian and his kind had fought and killed the small band of Turks that were responsible for her mother's death. And the death of Lucian's father. But her mate had avenged them both, and she remembered the battle well. She had felt that power herself, restrained, kept in a humanoid body, but it was there, just beneath the surface.

It comforted her, but she could imagine being at the receiving end of the fury of such power's wrath. And her kind fancied themselves masters over it. Little did they know that loyalty and devotion were really the only things that kept the lycans there. They could break free. They could escape and run, or ravage the castle and rule themselves.

But they did not. They stayed and served the vampires with utter, unwavering loyalty.

And she would do all she could to return that service. They were her people now, just as much as the pompous, vain, so-called noble vampires surrounding her as their reveled in their decadence.

Sonja glanced at Soren when she heard him let out a sigh of his own. Well, at least there was one other vampire she knew that found such gatherings to be ludicrous and absurd and positively meaningless. Or at least that's what the tired, annoyed expression on his face was saying.

"You wish to leave?" Sonja asked him quietly.

Soren looked at her briefly, then shook his head. "I will stay here until you are ready to leave, Milady," he replied, careful of his wording. Soren's family had, before coming over to Hungary to join the main coven, been of noble class. Hence why Soren had been taught to word sentences more like a politician than a warrior, though he preferred the latter path.

"I wanted to leave before we even arrived," she told him. "So since it appears to be quite all right with you, I am going to head back for my chambers. I do not need an escort," she added, firmly. She did not wait for Soren's reply, before walking out, but she did hear his footsteps following her briskly.

"I am afraid that your father's orders override yours," he replied curtly. "I will escort you back to your quarters, and you should be thankful I must not see you to every destination in this castle at all times, Princess," he added.

Sonja glared at him. "You can be certain that I am thankful." She suddenly slowed her pace, forcing him to stop after a moment when he saw she was not keeping up. She sighed, falling back into stride with him.

It was unfair to be treat the warrior with such contempt, after all it was not his fault that she was trapped in this situation.

"Soren, I am sorry I keep treating you so horridly. I just wish my father had not felt the need to appoint a watcher for me," she apologized softly.

The Death Dealer nodded. "I know, Milady. I myself have not been the politest of escorts, for similar reasons. But you are all your father has left now, so of course he will be more protective."

"Yes, in truth, he has been much more lax than I thought he would be, which is quite a relief," she confided. I was afraid he would want guards outside my door at all times, at least two escorts whenever I left, and a maidservant to see to my dressing and bathing and other such tasks."

Soren laughed softly. "I think even he is wise enough to know how disastrous that would turn out to be, for we all would suffer your wrath and irritation for it."

"Are you teasing me?" Sonja asked, shocked more that the stoic Death Dealer had shown that he did possess a sense of humor more than she was annoyed by the comment. "Why I never thought I would see the day."

"It is not yet day, Milady," he reminded, pointing towards a small window in the hallway. "The sun has not yet risen over the horizon."

"Another tease, I think I shall faint from the shock of it all," she bit back before smiling. Come to think of it, smiling for the first time around anyone other than her father and Lucian since her mother's death. "Well, how about we try to make an effort to be less hostile towards each other," she offered.

Soren nodded. "A truce then."

"A truce." Sonja laughed as she and Soren inclined their heads towards one another, sealing it in the traditional way. Finally reaching her chambers, she bid Soren farewell and swiftly went to her bedchamber. She was ready to sleep away the day until she could be with Lucian yet again.

***

Rendor rose from his small bed, dressing and preparing for another day of guarding the castle from Turks, Goths, and whatever warriors came to claim the land and control the country. He was thankful the Mongols no longer posed a threat.

He sighed. It seemed war was everywhere. Perhaps it would delay Lord Viktor's return. He knew he was committing treason simply thinking that, but he only wanted Lucian and Sonja to have a little bit longer to be together without the fear of Viktor's scrutiny.

"Rendor," came a soft, feminine voice from his door. He looked up to see Lydia, one of the younger females.

She was beautiful, and Rendor had long desired to be her mate. He had courted her for a time, but as Lucian began to spend more and more time with Sonja, and the lycans needed someone to make certain all was well and they had plenty of supplies ready at all times, he had been forced to end his attempts for her attention.

Brown hair and dark eyes in a elegant yet kind face, she was delicate in appearance and voice, but fiercely strong when put to the test. She had helped many of the older females with washing clothes or other such tasks, including a few meant for the males. But when there were none around, she did not seek one out, instead doing the task herself, and proving herself a worthy mate to any male in the clan.

"Lydia, is there something wrong?" he asked, watching as she slowly entered, coming over towards him. "Can I help with something?" he added, swallowing as she stood right before him.

"I was wondering if you could come and see me, tonight after your watch," she replied, her voice still a whisper. "I have missed your company, and I desired it greatly as of late." She smiled up at him shyly, her eyes warm, her scent intoxicating, and her mouth inviting.

Rendor nodded. "Of course, I would be delighted," he replied, voice as quiet as hers. Restrained. "I have missed you as well, though I have shown it poorly," he told her.

She shook her head. "You are busy, seeing to the needs of the pack, and keeping your brother and his mate safe. I can understand why you have not been to see me for so long. But you will visit me tonight," she asked again, seeking a final confirmation.

"Yes, you most certainly shall," he promised. He smiled back down at her, watching her turn and walk out of his room. Once the door was closed and he was confident she had gone out of earshot, he repeated the statement. This time his voice was not so restrained.

***

Lucian, Rendor, Adewale, and several other lycan males strode briskly to their posts, all of them fairly close to each other. Silently, they settled in for another day's watch, making themselves as comfortable as possible. Some of them started up conversations, while others kept their silence for the time being.

Lucian smiled in a amusement as Adewale told Rendor and himself of Ali's latest adventure, trying to run out of the lycan quarters completely naked. He had almost made it to the door, waving his arms in the air, but Adewale had caught the would be renegade before he could escape and get into serious trouble.

What would it be like, having a child? Having to worry and care and love for another being, your own flesh and blood, a child you had helped to create. It was something Lucian and Sonja could not have. Perhaps something would change, something would happen one day and they could. But for now, he would settle for listening to Adewale's tales and playing with Ali and the other young ones when he had the chance.

Maybe Rendor would have a child someday, since it seemed that there may be something between his brother and Lydia. The stars above only knew how long Rendor had secretly pined for her before he had even began to subtly court her. Now it appeared she was taking the aggressive approach, and hopefully his brother would respond in kind.

The sun's first rays were bright as Lucian turned to watch it rise. He wondered if Sonja had enjoyed herself at all at the gathering. He wondered if his mate was asleep in her bed yet, or if she was still restless, perhaps reading until her eyes could no longer stay open. Maybe she would take a walk sometime today, or perhaps she would find an adventure in her dreams, something to keep her spirit free, let it roam in the only way it could.

His dreams often took him back to the woods, to that night he had been allowed to sleep outside the castle's walls. He remembered everything, the scents, the sounds, the sights, the rush of adrenaline as he ran through the forest, around trees and over logs or small creeks. The sounds of the nightlife, of wolves howling in the distance, a sound calming and welcome to him and his kind. The smell of pine and of oak, of the mist and animal scents filling the air.

He wanted to take her there, to show her what it was like to be free of stone walls and the confines of guards and position. He wanted to see her run free with him between the trees, to watch her sleep bathed in moonlight filtering through the leaves and branches.

One day. One day, we will share that. One day, sometime in the future, we will run, we will be free and wild and without care, Lucian vowed to himself. And to her. One day.

***

The doors to the Death Dealers' main headquarters opened and Soren strode in, swiftly heading for Obi once he spotted the fierce African warrior. His eyes were tired, and it was obvious that the times were starting to effect him.

"Obi," he called out, and the Death Dealer immediately stood at attention. "I want you to do something for me," he said as he neared him, voice lowering. "Watch Anmy. Make certain he stays away from any of the slaves. I do not trust him around their kind right now."

"Do you think he would attack one of them?" Obi asked, his deep voice void of any sign of emotion. One of the reasons he was one of the few men Soren truly trusted and made such an excellent Dealer was because emotion never clouded his mind. Many of the nobles fancied he had no emotions, but Soren knew it was only that Obi was trained to keep them from overriding his judgment at any time.

Soren shook his head. "He is not that careless. If he were to do anything, it would be to provoke them. Do not let him have the chance," Soren instructed.

"Of course, Sir," Obi replied, bowing his head slightly. "I will keep him in my watch."

"Good. The last thing we need is internal problems of that sort," Soren stated. "I am retiring for the night, but alert me of any disturbance," he told the other Dealer before heading out of the room, the other Dealers bowing their heads as he left.

***

Lydia walked down the hallways, a few other females following her as they headed to gather up the clothes to be washed. The sun was high enough for its light to enter the hall, bringing a bit of life to the dark, damp corridors of the castle.

A small smile was still planted firmly on Lydia's face, her spirits high and eager for the night to return. It had taken her a long time to gather up the courage to approach Rendor, but it had paid off it seemed. She was nervous about the night, when he would come to see her, but she desired it even more.

Several Death Dealers walked by, and the female lycans stood against one of the walls, bowing their heads in submission. Not until the clang of the warriors' boots hitting the floor was nothing more than a mere echo did they continue on to gather the clothes for the wash.

"At least it is no longer pouring like a waterfall outside," Serena whispered. "The clouds were so dark, it seemed as though it was still night, never day."

"Yes, that it did," Lydia replied, keeping her voice as low. The vampires allowed them to speak outside their quarters, but they were to keep it quiet, especially during the day so as not to wake anyone. "Though
I will admit, it was nice to see rainfall after so long a period of them without it. It has a comforting sound. But 'tis good to see the sun again."

The others nodded, and talked quietly amongst themselves, while Lydia let her mind drift to the morning, before dawn. Back to Rendor's room and the look in his eyes. She had missed it, the longing in them, the way they met hers and pierced her soul. She wondered what it would be like to wake and for those eyes to be the first thing she saw. To fall asleep under the possessive gaze of them.

She and the others went about their work, her mind still wandering and wondering.

***

It was day, and yet, she was outside, standing, basking in the sunlight. Its burning gaze only warmed her body, making her cold blood boil in her veins in a way only Lucian had ever been able to do. She could feel the heat of it, but her body remained living and organic.

She was dreaming. That much Sonja knew.

She could hear the bubbling sound of a stream and she walked in the direction the sound came from, entering the wood. She stuck out a hand, fascinated out how the sunlight filtered through the branches and left shadows and patches of light on her skin. Slowly she resumed her walk, the sound growing louder the farther she walked.

As she come to a clearing, she saw several familiar shapes. The wolf pack Lucian had shown her, sneaking her from the Castle and leading her into the heart of the forest to watch. She kneeled, watching the elegant, lovely creatures as they interacted with each other.

Some playfully bit and nipped and clawed, some rested, some were watching the smallest members of the pack, and there closest to the stream was the alpha and his mate. The male was nuzzling his female, whimpering softly as he rested a paw over hers. The female laid beside him, relaxed and enjoying the attention.

Sonja smiled and leaned against a tree, settling down to sit and watch them as they went about their lives. She longed to see them in reality yet again, so make certain they were safe from hunters, free to live as they pleased.

A part of her wanted to take them in, keep them safe from the hunters that would seek their fur or their meat or whatever else it was the humans wanted from the magnificent animals before her, but she had not the heart. They thrived in freedom and though she ached at the thought that they could be killed, she could not tame them.

"Sonja," Lucian's voice, soft and wonderful, filled her senses and she felt the picture around her fade as hands on her skin caressed her back towards consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and she focused them on Lucian's face, hovering over hers.

"I was dreaming," she whispered as she sat up, her hands reaching to stroke her lover's face. "I was even in the sunlight," she added before kissing him.

Lucian nuzzled her neck when they broke apart, his hands moving to hold her slim waist. "Perhaps I should have left you as you were, so that you could enjoy it longer," he whispered back, his lips teasing her skin as he spoke.

"Oh no, this is still preferable, trust me," she assured him, kissing his shoulder. "I would rather have you than any dream in the world," she told him, her mouth moving to kiss his cheek, then his chin, then his neck before he finally cupped her face with both hands and turned it up so that he could kiss her wandering lips.

"I am honored, my love," he replied, then kissed her again, pulling her flat against him. His arms held her tightly, possessively, protectively. "I have missed this feeling," he sighed. "Such a glorious feeling." Hands stroked her back, making her shiver against him.

"I know, my love. It is the same for me as well," she told him, kissing his hair. "I love your hair, have I told you that before?" she asked abruptly.

Lucian laughed at that, shaking his head. "No, my dear, you have never told me that you love my hair."

"Well I do. I never want you to cut it, at least not cut it any shorter than it is now," she instructed. "It is perfect how it is now, and it would be a shame for it to ever be cut and shortened. So soft," she told him, kissing his cheek again.

Lucian moved away, standing up beside her bed. He took both her hands in his and pulled her off, helping her to stand as well. "Come, the library is deserted and I promised I would read to you as soon as we had a chance after your bleeding time," he explained as he led her out of the room, glancing around to make certain they were safe to leave.

***

Rendor quietly exited his room, dressed now in more comfortable clothes that his chain mail. He nodded at a few males that noticed him, then made his way towards Lydia's room. He struggled to keep his breathing regular. He was on edge from nerves, but he kept his control, making himself appear calm.

Gently tapping on the door to her room, Rendor stood, waiting for her to open it. To let him in.

He didn't have to wait long.

Lydia opened it almost immediately, moving aside to allow him space to enter the room. She smiled up at him, eyes warm as ever. "I am pleased you came," she told him as she closed the door. "I was afraid you would be too tired come."

"Of course not," Rendor replied, shaking his head. "The days are not that tiring, and I promised I would come. And I have." He watched as she smiled, motioning for him to sit in a small chair.

"I have been meaning to talk to you for some time but, I never had the courage before." She paused, her eyes closing briefly before she came over to kneel beside him. "Rendor, you came to me before, seeking to court me. Do you no longer wish for me as your mate?"

Rendor stared down at her, taken aback. He opened his mouth to speak, looking down at her questioning eyes, the hazel in them thin rings around large pupils in the dark light. "I would be delighted to court you again, Lydia," he finally whispered. "I was just, I let myself be caught up in everything with my brother and taking care of the pack. But I still would love to have you as my mate."

The female lycan beamed up at him, her full lips forming a wide, pleased grin. The desire to kiss her was strong, but Rendor held back. "Court me again then, court me again, and we will see," she told him.

Rendor moved to kneel on the floor as well, smirking cockily. "How about I start now?"