Author note: I realize I called Adelina the wrong thing before.... Sorry her fans!

Summary: Coral has been propositioned by a serpent! Oh, no's!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Kieshira characters...

Chapter 4

The next night I went before the Disa and Dio without my guards. Zane was alone as well. He smirked as I sat on my side if the room. The Disa smiled kindly at us both. She remarked with empty dryness.

"For two so different you seem to share similar thought processes. Well? Have you thought on my words?" In nodded and Zane shrugged his big shoulders.

"Well?" The Dio prompted when we both remained silent. Zane sent a silent petition to the Disa who nodded. He rose and I tensed. As he walked towards me I couldn't help my feathers rising against the nape of my neck. His smile was slow, sardonic humor glimmering in his garnet gaze. Serpents were all fluid grace, beauty, as though there whole life was a slow dance. You'd foolishly believe you had all the time in the world to retreat or fight but you never did. My mind flitted back to are late night chat that still made me blush.

I barely managed to keep my defeat to myself.

"What?" I demanded irritably. Zane cocked an eyebrow at me.

"I'm sorry was that sentence too hard for you?" I resisted the urge to jam a very unlady like phrase down his throat. Seeing I wasn't amused he sighed.

"You deserve honesty Coral so I'll give you it. I believe you as my mate is the most absurd idea." He began... I couldn't agree more, I silently echoed. "But peace is a valuable gem I want my people to hold."He paused and had gone down on bended knee before me. "With the knowledge in your mind that I will never love you and all will share is a desire for peace between our races, will you accept?" I thought of my dead friends and family, my sister's fear, my mother's coldness... My mouth opened to answer...

Zane stood in front of me now his hand outstretched to me. I shook off the memory of last night and looked up into his eyes.

"I can't say I'm satisfied with you as my Alistair but... I accept."

One month later

I'd intentionally missed my sister's coronation. She was Tuuli thea now. For a gift I'd sent a beautifully beaded necklace for Danica and, knowing how Vasili favored bows I sent him a new bow of mahogany. Had my mother heard my plans she'd have dragged me home and locked me in a cage. I'd also sent a note explaining that our negotiations were gaining ground. An answering note from my Tuuli thea told me they had arranged a new Alistair for me, to be made my mate when I returned. Oh, if only you knew who I was promised to! I cried in my head. In reality the negotiations were really me learning serpent etiquette.

Zane and his mother, Charise aided me in the teaching, getting me used to how they moved and the casual touches they favored. Zane and I also perfected the look of an infatuated couple. A week after my seventeenth birthday I faced a moment I dreaded in my class. Zane's kisses. His garnet gaze laughed at me as I was brought close to him, his cool body pressed against mine.

His lips were testing on my heated skin as he pressed both my cheeks, red faced as he maneuvered one hand in my hair, hesitating as he encountered the docile feathers laying there. My feathers had ceased rising in wary alarm when he moved near me. Finally I wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him down as blushed deeper. An avian female wasn't meant to lead! Ever! However my fear flew the coop when he laid a gossamer kiss upon my soft lips. The sensation I felt was, though unexpected, oddly not unwelcome. When I didn't tense he moved to kiss me again. I lifted my face eagerly, wanting to test this new sensation he'd aroused. I didn't even mind when Charis and The Disa chuckled. The sensation came again and I found I liked it a lot mote than I thought I should.

I reveled in it as he pulled me closer. When, after a few moments of our silent kissing, he tried to pull away I clung to him, unaware my dreamy eyes perfected our act. I also learned a few simple dances. Irene was thrilled with how my body instantly picked up on the rhythm of the music but I was unsure of how I would do when I actually had to stand in a crowd of serpents and dance. Soon another moment rose that I dreaded. Sending my guards away. Rei stood in my room, his brows furrowed together as he heard my order. I was banking on the fact that I was now heir meaning he couldn't simply ignore my orders. I could, he knew, cause trouble when I returned.

"What of the Serpents Zane?" He asked after a brief moment. I was unaware of the softening of my features at Zane's name. I was aware of Reis sudden suspicion.

"The Disa and Dio are quiet capable of watching over me. Besides now Danica is Tuuli thea... She needs you Rei, more than I do." I watched my flight depart soon after, hugging Rei tightly. This may have well been the last time I seen him with kind tenderness in his eyes towards me. I wanted to savor it. But all too soon Rei took off and I began packing. I was leaving to the Serpents land now. Charis had left early to start preparing for all the ceremonies they'd have in Zane's honor. My fear rose again and I shuddered. Again I was assailed with images of a beautiful hawk named Alasdair being run through when she had her back trustingly turned.

I wanted to scream. Terror, pure and unadulterated course through my veins as I heard the screaming Serpents, quiet only when Zane spoke. Zane was turning our reckless endeavor to seem like the very image of young love. Now the crowd was anxious to see who the lucky serpent was. Oh, wouldn't they be in for a shock? I laughed bitterly at the thought even as I prayed Zane could keep his people from ending my life. I heard my cue and, trembling, I went to stand by Zane who pulled me close to lay a gossamer kiss on my lips. Zane had told me not to sheath my emotions in the avian mist I used so well to protect myself from his kind. That, he said, would do nothing but antagonize his people. So I let myself be completely vulnerable, blushing at how Zane held me, at the dress I wore. Then the noise erupted.

"Zane she's a Hawk!"

"You can't be serious!"

"She'll be the end of you!" Zane ran a comforting hand through my hair as I buried my face into his shoulder. At the gesture some woman sighed appreciatively and some men nodded new approval at what they viewed as a man comforting his woman.

"Now..." Zane began. "We've let you have your rant. Any more complaints?" He kissed my head as he said this and I found my self unsatisfied by such a small touch. As a few remained standing amidst the kneeling crowd I pulled Zane's face to mine. Red as a tomato I kissed him and he held me tenderly as I clung. When we pulled back everyone but Adelina was kneeling. I recognized her immediately from the guards Zane had had in Ministari lands. A male mirror image of her pulled at her sleeve but she irritably shoved him away. I felt Zane stiffen and looked up at his tight smile. So, I concluded she was a jilted lover... I didn't know how to feel at the thought.

"Adelina please do not make a scene." He said with a thread of exasperation.

"But she's a HAWK!" The way her face screwed up and how she said it made me feel like a peace of trash. Instant dislike rose and I half withdrew into my shields. Zane must have sensed the change because he pulled me tighter. Startle I dropped the reserve again.

"I believe I mentioned she was a Hawk." He replied to Adelina calmly.

"You can't be serious Zane!" Suddenly Zane wasn't the happy go lucky guy calmly announcing he was marrying the Avians new heir. His eyes were blood filled, cold as ice despite the molten heat sparking out of them.

"Adelina did you swear yourself to my family and myself?"

"Zane I-"

"Yes or no?" Adelinas face was sullen as she glared at me.

"Yes." She said curtly. Zane's features softened as he turned to me.

"Please, keep in mind that Coral may well be tossed from the keep for this. She may even be executed if her people get hold of her now. And all because she decided to answer my dearest, most heart felt prayer; becoming my Naga." He lifted my hand to tenderly lay a kiss against the skin.

"Adelina, you have sworn to protect my life... Every guard here has. Well, she is my life now and I'd be lost without her." He folded me up and kissed me again. I felt more than heard the collective sigh of appreciation in the crowd. When Zane pulled back it was to see every serpent on their feet, clapping enthusiastically. "Now let's eat!" He shouted over the noise, earning a louder response. He pulled me down the Dias to his family. Irene embraced me first.

"Thank you..." She whispered. "Now perhaps my child will never have to ride onto a permanently bloody field." Tears choked her voice and I felt my own eyes moisten and wished I could retreat into my guard again. Gregory embraced me awkwardly due to his still healing wound. By now the tale of how I'd spared his life had spread and the serpents were all warm to me. The dinner was surprisingly good, Zane keeping poultry off the menu, perhaps out of respect to my other form. He convinced me to try a piece of roasted lamb that to my shock I took too instantly. Soon, despite protests, he was feeding me with his bare fingers. This incited more sighs as old couples crowded close to over see this new young flame. At around midnight he allowed me to plead exhaustion and I realized it was only after I'd tentatively danced with him a few times.

In his room I surveyed the surroundings. His whole bed set was black satin with gold tones, the bed designed for ultimate luxury. That was something I began to associate with his... My people. Now that was thought for the soul. How did I feel about being leader of these proud, colorful people? I was scared to death. Seeing and misreading my expression Zane sighed.

"Coral, there is another bed through the doors if you.."

"No." I turned suddenly. Taking quick steps I threw my trembling arms around him. He held me a moment and let me kiss him with reckless abandon I'd have been murdered for in the keep. I was burning with curiosity of how it would feel. Would it be as pleasant as I'd found his kisses? Also in the back of my mind was a conversation with Charis. She'd told me a serpent never slept alone.

"Coral, no... I won't take you because you fill obligated to." He said this even as his mouth worked on my throat.

"It's not that, its not... I... I don't know what to do but... I want to... I mean.... Yes, I'm scared but..." With utmost tenderness he lifted me up and lay me gently on the bed. My name is Coral Shardae Cobrianna, seventeen years old... And now I am Naga and true mate to Zane Cobrianna.

End chap 4

AUTHOR NOTE: Well what I ya'll think? Going to fast with my updates now or not? When I get into a story again it just takes over you know? Ha ha or maybe that just me and my craziness!