"Has Sonja returned?"

Kraven turned from the lazy study of his book to look at the face of the man standing before him. "She was outside, last I heard." he noted, putting a finger in his book to keep the page. "Why? What time is it?"

"The sun is up."

He was on his feet immediately, turning to the door, searching. "I... I... I did not see her come in, but that does not mean she did not..." The man standing before him was covered in sweat, his chest rising and falling. There were two of them, for a man stood behind him, in a similar state of exhaustion. Clotaire and Ademar..

"Come." Ademar said to Clotaire, stepping forward and grabbing his shoulder. "We will search all the rooms..."

The two of them turned and left quickly, hurrying out of the entry hall without another word, and deeper into the castle. Kraven remained standing, fear rising inside of him as he guessed at what had happened. Sonja was still outside?

Viktor must know.

He set his book down and hurried down the hall after them, taking a different turn.


Lucian shifted his weight, his legs tiring of their supporting him in their huddling, protective stance. Beneath him Sonja moaned, grimacing in her sleep. The experience had obviously been too much, and he did not blame her for loosing consciousness like she had. He only envied her.

Every muscle in his body was tight and stiff, and sweat was building up on his forehead from his continuous strained effort. He could feel the sun resting down on his back through the walls of the barn, and knew he could not move from his position. It must be nearly midday.

And she had been hunting him down so earnestly. She probably had conceived notions of her own correctness in the act, and the consequence of her failed reasoning seemed only too obvious, now, hiding in this barn. He only wondered if she would see her misfortune as her own doing, and not try to place the blame on his head, once more...

If only he could change into his Lycan form! Those legs were stronger, and the muscles he used now were screaming for relief! But he did not trust the Lycan size to cover Sonja sufficiently from the sun, and his transforming would likely wake her, and frighten her. He would have to stay as he was, for now.

He held for as long as he could before he had to shift his weight again, and Sonja stirred once more, this time, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment she paused, gathering her senses, then she groaned and buried her face deeper into the bales of hay, her body jolting as he heard her begin to cry, in fear, again.

"It's alright." he assured quickly, trying to make his voice soothing. "It's alright, now. Just wait." Her tears became silent, but he knew she was still listening. "Just a few more hours." he continued, breathing quietly, trying to break through his own pain, which was jolting through his legs and back, burning and threatening to give way. "Just awhile longer."

She turned her head and looked at him, her eyes still wide with fear, and yet a sudden trusting buried deeply there, which he had never seen in any Vampire's eyes before. She was trusting him.

And he could not tear his eyes from those wide ones, so dark against her pale skin, her fragile form, which he protected with the strength of his own body, shivering beside him. And those eyes, trusting him, openly giving him all her fears and pleading for continued strength.

She turned her eyes from his, first, and buried them back within the hay, sniffing softly, still crying, though more controlled now. Lucian could only stay, holding fast in his position as the day slowly slipped by.


She could feel it when the sun finally passed beyond the horizon. While it had remained in the sky she had felt as if a hand resided in her chest, gripping her heart, constraining its quick beats in a relentless grasp. And now the sun was gone and her heart could finally beat free.

The Lycan fell from her side and moved to the side wall, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, breathing slowly, with difficulty. Sweat ran down the sides of his face as he stretched his legs out, gritting his teeth slightly at the pain of sore muscles. He had crouched there the whole time.

She sat up, herself, leaning against the hay bales as the Lycan leaned against the wall, both of them facing each other. She closed her eyes also, breathing in the cooling night air, feeling it fill her lungs with blessed relief. She was alive. She was still alive. And she owed all her thanks to him...

"I am a Vampire." he muttered, and she opened her eyes to look at him, confused. His eyes were still closed, his face to the ceiling. "I am a Vampire, and cannot go out into the light." he continued. "Repeat after me..."

Sonja laughed, breaking the silence with the sound. "I know." she cried in relief. "And I shall not forget it again!"

The Lycan opened his eyes to look back at her, chuckling as well, his mouth spread in a tired grin. He sighed and shook his head to himself, still laughing along with her. "And you chose the worst time of year, for your adventure, also." he continued. "If you had done this five months ago there would have been eight hours of sunlight instead of the sixteen you chose, in staying out last night. Very bad timing. You would trust a Vampire to have these things sorted out."

"I am so sorry." Sonja sighed, shaking her head in awe.

He only chuckled again, still smiling. "No harm done." he murmured. "I am better now, regardless. And you? You are feeling well?"

"Perfectly." she responded, nodding quickly. "Not a scar."

"That's good." he muttered, raising his face once more to the ceiling, continuing to breathe with closed eyes.

And there he sat. Her Lycan warrior, who had found her in the trees and directed her where she must go. She had found no safety, but he had confined the danger from her with his own sheer will. And she had done nothing for him.

"I owe you my life, Lycan." she said finally, swallowing back her pride.

"Lucian." he muttered, face still to the ceiling.

"Pardon?"

"Lucian. My name is Lucian." he repeated, looking back at her, his eyes intent.

She blinked, taken aback. "Oh...yes..." She had never thought to ask his name. But he had one...

"You owe me nothing." he continued, shaking his head and pursing his lips. He sighed, then slowly raised himself to his feet, stepping towards her and offering a hand of help. "We must get you back." he stated. "They will be worried."

She allowed him to help her to her feet, and, once she was standing, she followed him out of the barn and forward.


The castle was still more then twenty miles away, so Lucian had transformed into his Lycan form to run along beside her, and she had slowed from her full speed so that she could lope along beside him. Vampire and Lycan, together. They covered the miles in silence, the one unable to speak in his current form, and the other choosing not to speak.

Sonja was having the strangest feeling she had ever yet experienced. Doubt was creeping into her mind. The order she had known all her life seemed somehow wrong, and that impression upon her mind filled her with a wavering hesitation. The system seemed out of order, unjust, and biased, which thing she had never supposed. But what could she do?

Her father meant all the world to her, and to say the things she was feeling would certainly heap upon her the scorn of her people. Her father would be more then disappointed.

Could she continue living the life she had known before, now that she had found this, though? This Lycan... Lucian... She felt he was of no less worth than she was. She couldn't quite describe it. Lucian was a slave, and yet he was more. He was wise. He had strength and presence and power. And he responded to subjection far better then she could ever imagine herself doing! To think of a life of slavery...

She felt so indecisive. It was surely wrong. Lucian was different, and yet he was the same... But her people...

A phantom of a shape flew through the trees, nearly invisible, and collided with the Lycan, Lucian, sending his form slamming into a nearby tree. The shape flew back a few steps, and came into focus as Magen, his body lowered and spread out, arms ready at his sides, snarling at the Lycan before him.

Lucian shook his head, tossing dizzy stars from his eyes, no doubt, then returned the stance to Magen, thundering a horrific roar, his eyes flashing with fury as he revealed a long row of fangs.

More Vampires closed in, surrounding Lucian on all sides, all of them snarling in their return. Ten against one...

Before she knew what she was doing, Sonja's feet had thrown her in front of Magen, standing at the ready, defending her Lycan. Her arms readied at her sides, and she felt a deep hiss released from her throat, her eyes burning.

And Magen relaxed, taking a step back, lowering his eyes, but quickly looking back up, confusion apparent. "Lady Sonja?" he questioned quietly, turning his head with lowered brows.

"The Lycan saved my life." she stated, still defending. "You will do him no harm."

"As you say." Magen agreed, his eyes lowered as he quickly nodded. "Of course."

Slowly she took a breath and straightened her shoulders back out, her eyes not leaving Magen's face. When she was certain he would not fight, she turned her gaze back to Lucian, a wild anxiety screaming through her pounding heart...

But he stood there, as a man, meeting her eye for eye, calm and sure.

He belonged to her. And she had no doubt that she belonged to him.