Author's Chapter Notes:
Hi Guys and Gals,
I know this is a little late but I my poor old computer needed more work than I thought, but its back and so am I with a new chapter.
First, I would like to thank everyone who expressed their concern for me and my computer, it really means a lot, so thankyou. Let me assure you that the both of us are now fine.
So here's Chapter 8, enjoy!
Chapter 8 - Repercussions
It had been a long time since Darien had felt such self-loathing for himself, but in the silent darkness just before dawn it was hard not to feel anything else. The Moon had set hours ago leaving darkness and a sky of twinkling stars behind, even to his Immortal eyes that almost saw just as well as in daylight it seemed darker than usual.
Or maybe it was just himself that was darker, after what he had done in the last twelve hours it would not surprise him if a dark stain had been left on his soul.
Darien stood where he had stood countless times before on the edge of his bed chamber's balcony, but never had he felt this conflicted. How could he feel so happy and so wretched at the same time?
He had killed his closest brother. The same brother he had mourned centuries ago had been alive all this time, trapped in the soul-destroying torment that was Damnation and allied with his greatest enemy. He should be in mourning again, but he wasn't. In truth Malachite really had died long ago, the moment he had fallen into Damnation and the thing he had killed had worn Malachite's face but it had not been him.
Or so Darien kept telling himself.
How could he think himself any better after what he had done to his own mate this night? No matter what truths to morning brought when he mate woke what had happened had happened because he had been too weak to face what he had been forced to do and had allowed his raging fresh-from-battle Beast to maintain control.
What in the Goddess's name had he been thinking? With the battle-rage still fresh in his Beast, he had allowed the coerced mating with his reluctant mate.
Darien looked over his shoulder, into the shadows of his bed chamber, at his mate who slept soundly in his bed. She appeared even smaller, even more delicate, in his large bed. To make matters even worse, she had been untouched.
Oh Goddess forgive him.
Darien bowed his head and closed his eyes, unable to look at her after what he had done to her. He hated himself and his Beast for everything Serena had endured since meeting him, but regardless of his self-loathing he still wanted her; he still hungered for his mate.
How was he going to face her? And what was she going to think of him when she woke?
The first thing Serena became aware of as she reluctantly returned to the land of the conscious was that even though her body was warm and resting in a soft comfortable place, her entire body was aching, even throbbing in some places. Two places more predominant than the rest; between her legs running to the place deep inside her belly and the spot between the right side of her neck and her shoulder where Darien's Beast had bitten her. She felt battered, bruised and sore.
What the hell had she done last night? She couldn't remember; she knew she'd have to wake up more to remember, but she didn't want too. The more she woke, the more aware she was of her throbs and aches. She wanted to go back to sleep where there was no discomfort or soreness; she wanted to go back to the peace of her dreams.
Whatever her dreams had been. Oh drat, she was awake enough now that her dreams had faded enough that she couldn't reach them again. She had to wake and face the day and her aching body.
Not to mention the demanding needs of her body. She was really hungry; she was craving a yummy greasy breakfast as she usually did the day after an exhausting day – or a night out dancing and drinking with the girls. Only she couldn't remember ever being this drained or in need of replenishing. On top of her hunger, her body was telling her that she was in need of a really hot shower or a nice long soak in a bathtub.
What had she done last night?
And then it hit her with all the force of a meteor the size of the moon.
Serena's eyes snapped open as she bolted upright in the bed into a sitting position, only realising at the very last moment that any form of movement – especially the hasty kind – was a very bad idea. One her battered body in no way appreciated.
Serena remembered why she was feeling so achy and uncomfortable. Last night she'd fallen asleep on the floor. Naked. Beneath an equally naked Darien. After they'd -.
Nope. Nuh-uh, she was NOT going there.
Serena felt a slight chill across the upper half of her body and she looked down. She was completely and utterly naked. Serena gasped softly and hastily reached for the sheet to cover her bare – and still so extremely sensitive that it bordered on pain – breasts as she looked around the room.
The sun was up – although she had absolutely no idea what time of day it was – and the room was flooded with the bright warm light of the sun. On the floor on the rug between the bed and the door were shredded and torn pieces of the clothing she'd worn yesterday and the room now had a very distinctive and unmistakeable aroma to it.
Inexperienced she may be, but naïve she wasn't. She'd lived in a campus dorm for crying out loud, such things as the smell of sex weren't uncommon in the world of the young and the reckless.
And finally sensing that she wasn't alone, Serena finally turned and looked down at the sleeping man in . . . well his bed. He was lying on his side facing her and still had his arm draped over her waist as he continued to sleep soundly.
At least while he was sleeping Serena could like him. He wasn't a dominant overprotective – not to mention way over-possessive – jerk when his eyes were closed.
As much as Serena didn't want to admit it, Darien looked so handsomely sexy lying there with those thick black locks of his hair caressing his face, the ends resting on the very top of his closed eyelids. His tanned well muscled – not overly muscled, just that perfect right amount that kept his body hard and toned – body had been graced by someone above who obviously favoured him.
In more ways than one. In fact Serena was sorely tempted to raise the sheet to see if he really was as well endowed as she remembered, but she fought the temptation. The last thing she needed was for Darien to wake up and catch her looking at his manhood and get the idea that she was in the mood for a morning repeat of last night.
Not that the idea was completely repulsive to her but her body just wasn't up to it and by the feel of it, wouldn't be for some time.
If she did decided that it could happen again. She wasn't even close to making that decision yet. First she had to decide how she felt about last night and that was not something someone thought about so early in her day, but the fact that she had some decisions to make was obvious and pressing. She had to work through everything and see where it left her.
Where it left them.
Serena's eyes narrowed as she continued to watch him; something was off with this picture, but she couldn't place it . . .
And then Serena realised just what was off.
Serena glared down at Darien's still sleeping form accusingly. "You're awake pretending to be asleep, aren't you?"
"Yes." Came the prompt alert reply.
There was no way Serena was ready to face him, to talk with him about last night and where it left them, despite how clear it was to the both of them that things between them had changed and they needed to figure it all out.
Darien sighed and opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of his wolfmate glaring down at him with the sheet pressed tightly against her front while leaving her back and backside bare for his eyes to feast on.
She was so beautiful, so perfect, which only made the situation all the more awkward. He'd been awake for the last hour, watching her sleep, and trying to think of a way to deal with the consequences that the morning had brought with it.
Darien's greatest fear was that Serena would hate him because last night hadn't exactly been mutually agreed upon. She hadn't protested in the end but she hadn't had the chance too. He distinctly remembered every moment of last night regardless of his Beast being in the driver's seat. He could not even truthfully tell her that it hadn't been him last night, because it had been. The Beast was a part of him and if he had really wanted to regain control, his Beast wouldn't have been able to stop him.
The truth was, now that he'd had time to reflect, that his Beast had just been an excuse to do what he hadn't had the courage to do; to force Serena into facing the fact that there was something between them that would not just go away.
And now that he had, Darien had what he wanted. Serena wouldn't try to run from him now as she had before last night.
Although if Serena did accuse him of forcing her; she wouldn't be entirely wrong.
Darien would make no excuses for what he had done – not even to himself – even though he could have truthfully argued that it was the way of his world, an accepted way so long as harm wasn't inflicted.
But what mattered was that it wasn't the way of her world, the Mortal World. Women in the modern age had the right to say no even to their bonded mate. A right he had not respected.
Serena hadn't asked him to stop. Did that make any difference at all? Would he have stopped if she had asked? He honestly didn't know, but it hadn't come to pass; she hadn't said the words. She'd tried to run from him, she'd called for Rei, but she hadn't told him to stop.
For the first time in his long life, Darien was entirely uncertain; the decision of how last night's events had transpired lay completely in her hands. Had he forced his mate to mate with him? Had he taken her against her will?
What was worse than that possibility was that he knew he'd hurt her.
His mate had been untouched until last night, and at the mercy of his greater strength and size. He had been far too rough and forceful with her.
And Darien had no idea what to do now, or how his mate was going to react now that it was over and everything was calm. It would be her just right to hate him, to scream and throw things at him and tell him that she never wanted to see him again.
Darien glanced at his bite mark – the bonding brand – high on her collar bone with sad eyes. The mark was an angry red and swollen with only a few drops of smeared blood; he'd punctured the skin in a few places enough to draw blood. She would carry the mark – visible only to superior Immortal eyes – and his scent on her flesh for the rest of her life.
There was no other mark or bruise on her skin that he could see but Darien wasn't foolish enough to believe that she wasn't without discomfort or pain. He had hammered himself into her virgin body too ruthlessly; she had to be in pain within, a pain that he could not take away with his healing saliva as he could – and would – with the bite mark.
Darien couldn't look at her anymore, not after her expression changed beneath his gaze from an accusing glare to awkward and uneasy.
There wasn't anything Darien could do to undo the previous day, but there were things he could do, small things, that would at least be a move towards making amends.
Serena didn't say anything when Darien rolled away from her with his sad regretful eyes with which he'd been staring at the bite mark on her neck, and jumped out of the bed – completely and gloriously naked.
Last night Serena hadn't been able to catch anything but a peek at his naked beauty but now in the full light of day she was gifted with a clear unadulterated eyeful and she had to say – W.O.W! He really was all toned hard muscle without an ounce of fat anywhere! He was, from head to toe, exquisite perfectly shaped male that had her all but drooling.
Fortunately before Serena completely lost her senses and demand loudly that he turn around to give her the frontal view, Darien disappeared into the bathroom and moments later the sound of running water filled the bedroom, but it wasn't the shower.
He was running the tap in the bathtub that was large enough for three people.
Serena listened as the water continued to flow and tried to decide what she should do; she hadn't exactly been in this situation before. Should she quickly throw on a rob and bolt from the room to find Rei who would keep her safe from her brother if she asked it, or should she wait where she was and see what Darien intended to do?
Serena was afraid that if she stayed in bed Darien would take it as an invitation to go around, which she just wasn't up too, but on the other hand what would he do if he heard her trying to run from him again? Would he lose it like he had last night? Would he stop her before she could even reach the door or in light of everything that had happened last night, would he let her go?
Damn! She hated this! She hated that her life wasn't her own anymore, that she had absolutely no control over her own life! What she did was only because Darien allowed it, and what she didn't want to do he forced her to do! She had no freedom but what he allowed and she couldn't do anything about it!
Ever since her parents had died, Serena had made certain that she was always in control of her own life! It was why she didn't drink or party to excess, why she never took much of a risk. She had a quiet – okay, some would call it dull – life and she'd liked it that way! She'd eaten when she'd felt like it, studied when she chose and she went out when she wanted too!
And she slept with who she wanted too when she wanted too!
Darien stepped out of the bathroom and Serena opened her mouth to blast him into next week, but before she could say a word, he swiftly raised his arm in a halting gesture and said beseechingly, "Don't, please. Whatever you have to say to me you can say after your bath. You have to be uncomfortable."
Serena felt her jaw drop as she stared wordlessly at him. He'd sounded down right repentant! He walked up to her, gently lifted her naked body from the bed as if she was made of the most delicate fragile crystal that would break if he so much as jolted her and carried her into the bathroom. All the while keeping her just that little bit separated from his body, as if he expected her to not want to touch him or be anywhere near him.
In the bathroom, the bathtub was filled almost to the brim with steaming water covered with a thick layer of fluffy white foamy bubbles.
He'd drawn her a bubble bath – Serena had no idea what to think about that!
Cradling her in his arms like a small child, Darien lowered her slowly into the steaming – perfectly temperatured – water.
Serena winced as her sensitive tender flesh came into contact with the hot water but didn't ask Darien to lift her out; she knew she'd adjust to the temperature of the water and her sore aching body would soon succumb to the therapeutic effects of the hot steamy bath water.
Now sitting comfortably in the bathtub, Serena expected Darien to lift his arms out of the water and leave.
But he didn't.
Instead, very deliberately Darien lowered his mouth to her shoulder and licked the bite mark he'd left on her the night before. He licked her just as he had that night they had first met – that night seemed like it had happened an eternity ago.
He gently licked her neck half a dozen times, covering the entire bite with his healing saliva, before he pulled his arms from around her under the water and stood up, pulling away from her.
With Serena lying in the large bathtub – in which she could easily spread out in – Darien placed two large fluffy towels and the robe that had been brought for her beside the bathtub.
And then he left the bathroom and the bedroom like the hounds of hell were on his heels.
But Serena barely even noticed as she closed her eyes and settled into the bath that was heaven to her aching well-used body and peace fell over her conflicted mind as she shut everything out but the relaxing cleansing warm water.
Darien stepped out of his bedroom to discover Rei waiting for him with her arms crossed across her chest glaring darkly at him through narrowed fiery eyes.
Behind his fuming sister, his three Beta's stood still and silent, all three refusing to look directly at him.
Their inability to look at him spoke volumes as shyness was rarely a common quality found in Immortal kind. More likely, it was Rei that made them hesitant to look him in the eye; no doubt his sister had once again put them in their place.
One look at his sister told Darien that if Serena wanted him harmed for what he had done last night then she would gleefully volunteer for the task.
And Darien just might let her if it was Serena's wish.
"Your mate called for me last night, brother." Rei growled at him through her teeth in a chilling tone that spoke volumes of just how pissed off she was – and how she was struggling to restrain her fury. "It was only through the "will" of another that I did not heed her call for aid."
Behind her Jadeite winced.
Ah, Darien understood instantly. Jadeite was in the dog house for preventing Rei from interfering last night. No doubt the argument between them last night had been epic.
"Tell me, brother." Rei said, from between her clinched teeth, "Tell me that you did not take advantage of your mortal mate's inability to defend herself against your UNWANTED ADVANCES!" By the end Rei was screaming at him with sheer feminine fury.
Darien didn't answer. What could he say when he did not even know the answer himself?
Rei's hands curled into fists at her sides as she glared murderously at him, taking his silence as confirmation.
"Rei, darling-."
Rei whirled on her mate, her eyes blazing with fiery murderous fury beyond any Darien had ever seen her show. She was the Lycaon Princess, doted upon by everyone around her, from her loving parents to her protective loving brother to her completely loving and doting mate; it was a rare occurrence that she was denied anything.
"SILENCE!" Rei thundered at her mate before she returned her fury to her brother. "Am I the only one here who seems to care enough about Serena to be concerned with her well being?!"
Not one of the four males were brave enough to speak.
With a feminine enraged screech, Rei stalked passed Darien and jerked open the bedroom door before whirling on the four of them once again, focusing her fiery gaze on Darien. She lowered her voice to a feral hiss, "If she tells me anything other than that last night was by her will, I swear on our ancient bloodline that in her name I will tear you to pieces! You will bleed for every hurt you've caused her!"
And with that Rei slammed the door behind her with a thunderous boom that echoed through the manor.
Rei ignored the overpowering aroma of sex and sweat that hung around her brother's bedroom, even as she took a deep breath to calm herself after dealing with her infuriating clueless crass idiot of a brother before she walked calmly into the bathroom where she knew Serena was bathing. She could hear the young woman's calm heartbeat and the faint sound of sloshing water caused each time she drew a breath.
The young mortal woman, who was far more precious to the Immortal World than she could ever understand, lay in the bathtub with her eyes closed. The bathtub was large enough to fit three men of their kind – not that it ever had, if Darien had had company in the tub it was not of the male variety – and made her appear so small in size, like a child, but a child she was not. This strong young woman was the key to saving the Immortal races from extinction.
Rei knew that the entire situation was not fair to the young mortal. Serena had asked for none of this, but it was what she had been born for; to be her brother's mate and just possibly bring new hope to a dwindling people.
Which was why Serena needed all the protection she could get, even protection from the one who was, now and forever more, her mate. She was a powerless mortal trapped in the world of Immortals; last night was testament to that fact.
Rei had been completely serious in her threat to her brother. She knew well that in the Lycaon World the males were dominant, competitive, and more often than not, assholes. But before now the females of their world – over the age of consent at least – were able to defend themselves, even though the males were so much stronger. The females were still Immortal beings with superhuman strength and reflexes, not defenceless mortals unable to put up even a hand in their own defence.
It was a hard fact that yes, ninety-nine percent of the time the males would eventually overpower the female, but at least the male had a fight on his hands first! At least the females of the Lycaon race had a chance of escaping or even turning the tide.
What her brother had done – no matter how it had gone down – was inexcusable and if Serena gave any indication that she'd been unwilling in last night's festivities, Rei was going to ripe Darien's balls off and shove them so far down his throat that he'd be pissing through his bellybutton!
Serena was in blissful serene heaven as she soaked with her eyes closed and a small content smile on her lips. She wasn't in a state to care about anything other than lying in the hot water that was gently soothing away her aches and pains in the peace and solitude of the bathroom.
A few moments ago Serena had thought she'd heard a female screaming high heaven, but it had been far away and she was so relaxed that she hadn't paid any attention. She didn't want anything to wreck her peace and quiet.
But like all good things, they always came to an end way too soon.
Sensing movement in the bathroom, Serena reluctantly opened her eyes expecting to see Darien, but she was surprised to see Rei settling onto the side of the bathtub, looking down at her with a gentle caring smile on her lips and soft concern in her crystalline eyes.
Serena was thankful for the thick layer of bubbles on the surface of the water; it was one thing for Darien to see her naked, but having two members of the same family see her naked on the same day – one of them being a female not withstanding – would've been way too creepy.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Rei observed with faint amusement.
"I'm in heaven, this bath is a dream come true." Serena answered, mainly because she didn't want talk to Rei about what she'd been doing with her brother last night.
Rei held out her hand which held a small dark brown bottle that didn't have a label. Serena watched as Rei unwound the tiny black cap and poured the clear tinted pink contents into the bubbly water.
A potent floral scent filled her nose.
"A healing oil. It's a special blend I make myself," Rei explained as she emptied the entire bottle into the bathwater and then disposed of the bottle in the small wastebasket beside the basin with a single effortless toss. "It will help."
Without wanting too, Serena looked up into Rei's face and noted the telling smile that told her that the Lycaon Princess knew everything they'd done last night.
Overcome with great embarrassment, Serena groaned inwardly as she felt her cheeks flush with heat as she blushed, which only furthered her embarrassment. With no where else to run, Serena inhaled a deep breath, relaxed her body and submerged her head beneath the surface of the water, needing to hide her face for a few seconds.
Serena couldn't believe this! If Rei knew then others had to know as well, more likely than not that included the Betas! Wasn't there any privacy in this damn manor?! Everything she did everyone seemed to know about!
If she hadn't had the stupid need for air, Serena would've stayed beneath the sheltering surface of the bath water that now smelled of a variety of flowers, and maybe even a few herbs.
If Rei knew what her brother and her had done then it was either because Darien had told her, or more likely the entire manor had heard them last night; damn the Lycaon super-hearing!
Unable to deny her body's need for air a moment longer Serena resurfaced, wiping the water from her face. Then reluctantly, she turned her gaze awkwardly back to Rei.
"You know, don't you? What Darien and I did last night."
Rei shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly as if knowing what Serena had been doing with her brother was no big deal.
Rei waited until Serena – her face glowing bright red from both the heat of the bathwater and her embarrassment caused by her mortal modesty – settled against the back of the bathtub once more, before she said in a gentle sympathetic tone. "It is part of pack life, especially one with beings blessed with exceptional hearing. Don't be embarrassed, it's part of living the life we do, it's as common as eating here."
"What?" Serena gaped in horror, "Hearing everyone doing it?"
Rei giggled softly, "Ah, the modesty and naivety of the young. It's refreshing."
It took Serena a long moment to remember that Rei was immortal; she wasn't the twenty year old she appeared to be.
Silent moments passed almost comfortably between them and Rei's expression gradually became more solemn, until her entire demeanour was serious and she was looking down at Serena with sad eyes that even in their grim state sparkled with love and affection for the brother she was thinking of.
"Darien never meant this, being so rough and forceful. It's the way of the Beast and his has waited longer than most for you and the peace you bring to them both."
Serena had had the suspicion – that until now she'd been refusing to acknowledge – that this was coming, and she was horrified that she was having this conversation – with Darien's sister for crying out loud! Weren't most sisters repulsed when it came to hearing anything about their brother's sex life?
On the other hand, who else could she have this conversation with? Who else could possibly understand what she was going through or help her to understand how it was to be a female surrounded by dominant Lycaon males?
"I've never known anything even close to that before." Serena admitted honestly, deciding that she might as well take the chance to confide in someone while she had it; she was missing her friends more and more every day, but maybe she could find a real friend in Rei.
"And you never will again." Rei sighed like one who had long ago come to turns with what her brother was. "Darien is a force greater than that of nature. He is accustomed to answering to no one, to not having to wait or hesitate to take what he wants. But he will answer to you, and he will learn to wait. He will learn to listen, something he's never had to do."
Rei nodded her head towards her, indicating at the bite mark on her neck. "He has marked you his mate now. You're flesh will always carry his scent. He will always be able to find you wherever you go. In our world, it is the mark of a claimed wolfmate. Between immortal couples the first mating and the mark together create a bond that cannot be broken. It is a bond so strong that thoughts and emotions are shared through the Link of Mates. Because you are mortal, it is most likely that the bond will not go so deep as to create a mental or emotional link, but the two of you are still bonded in such a way that it is for life."
Serena raised her hand to the mark – it still throbbed, although the water had helped ease the pain a little – as silence fell between them. Serena did understand what Rei was telling her, and she knew that Rei wasn't making excuses for what Darien did when she referred to 'our world'; she was only telling her how it was.
And Serena did see Rei's point, Darien had been born into this world and he'd never known any different. And to top it off, he was a prince and an Alpha; he was accustomed to getting his way without being questioned. He was a future king; self-doubt was a luxury he could not afford.
But if there was going to be any kind of future for them together, then Darien would have to learn that his way was not the only way. They would either be equals in their relationship or there would be no relationship at all. She wouldn't be the submissive timid little woman. She absolutely refused to be that; her mother had taught her better than that. Her mother had been the woman Serena herself wanted to one day be – strong, confident, stubborn and loved and respected by her husband and family.
Yeah, teaching Darien that was going to be a cakewalk – NOT! It would be like trying to teach a mountain to bend to the will of the wind!
Knowing that that train of thought would only frustrate her, Serena asked the question she really wanted to ask Rei. She knew the Lycaon princess would give her a truthful answer.
"Is it always like that?"
"Honestly?" Rei shrugged one shoulder, "with the Beast, yes. The Beast is all fierce passion and instinct. The man, however, you'll find he's much more considerate. It's the best of both fierce and gentle passions in one lover."
"I wouldn't know." Serena whispered as she looked straight ahead over the tiny white foamy mountains of bubbles that covered the surface of the water.
Rei had been mated since she'd come of age, she'd never been without Jadeite, even before they'd realised they were Wolfmates. Jadeite had always been there as a big brother or anything she had needed him to be, so she couldn't empathize with the young mortal woman who was going through so much, but she could sympathise. It had to be hard being pulled into a strange violent supernatural world.
One thing was clear to Rei even though it wasn't so clear to Serena or her brother; their mating had been consensual, even though Serena hadn't known at the time what she was committing herself to.
"Darien never meant to hurt you; he would do anything to protect you, anything to keep from hurting you again." Now that Rei knew for certain that the mating between Serena and Darien had been consensual Rei felt the need to stick up for her brother. Unlike Serena Rei knew exactly what Darien had gone through over the last half of the millennium. "Before he found you, Darien suffered so much worse than any other of our kind. He has lived his entire life, long lonely hollow centuries in darkness and suddenly he has seen the light of day in you. I know it's hard to see it, but Darien is trying to be considerate of you, and in doing so he pushed his Beast too far."
Rei drew in a deep breath and rose to her feet. She had done everything she could do for now; now Serena needed time to think and decide what it was that she wanted. "I'm not saying what Darien did last night wasn't wrong, I'm just asking you to try to see things through his eyes. He has lived an age with no hope or light in his life, please forgive him if he's holding you too tightly."
Serena didn't answer or even look up at her.
Knowing there was nothing more she could say in her brother's defence, Rei went to the door, where she paused and looked back, her hand resting on the open door. "Last night I heard you call you for me. I'm so sorry I didn't-."
"No need to apologise." Serena said softly from the bathtub without turning to look at her. "I understand. No hard feelings."
Rei had no idea whether or not the young mortal meant her forgiving words but Rei sensed that Serena needed to be alone, so she didn't press. She would apologise again later, what Serena needed now was to be alone with her thoughts.
Silently, Rei closed both the bathroom and the bedroom doors behind her, stepping out into the corridor to find the four men standing right where she'd left them.
Rei still wasn't happy with her mate or her brother, but she would forgive her mate. Maybe. She understood why Jadeite had stopped her from going to Serena's aid; he'd believed that what Darien had done needed to be done for the sake of them both. But that didn't mean that Rei was going to easily forgive him for getting in her way when she hadn't agreed with her mate and husband.
And as for Darien . . .
Well, there was nothing she could do to her brother that was as bad as what he was doing to himself judging by the distressed look in her brother's eyes.
Darien was staring at her with somewhat anxious and pleading eyes and Rei instantly knew that her brother was hopeful – timidly – that she had good news for him.
Just because she did didn't mean that Darien deserved it though.
It was a plus in their favour, however, that they'd obviously intentionally not listened in on her conversation with Serena.
"She's fine." Rei assured them all in an icy tone. "She needs some time alone though," She narrowed her eyes on her brother, "I suggest you give it to her."
Darien nodded once, showing that he understood and would do as she suggested. "Did she seem . . . distraught about last night?"
Rei rolled her eyes and released her breath in a huff. Her brother was a complete and utter moron, but she would never say that he did not deserve his mate. "That's for her to decide."
So she was a little cryptic; Darien deserved worse right now.
"Rei!" Darien snapped frustrated. "Does she or doesn't she?!"
One thing Rei could say about her brother was that he was as persistent and as impatient as a small child.
"Did I force her?"
Rei snorted at the very notion. "If that woman hadn't wanted to mate with you, she would've fed you your balls for breakfast."
Darien slumped in sheer relief which made Rei see red. She had wanted to comfort her brother, not let him off the hook on Serena's behalf.
Stepping forward Rei jabbed her finger into Darien's hard chest, glaring hotly at him. "That doesn't mean you didn't screw up last night big time! Now you will give that young woman every minute she needs to work everything out and whatever she decides you will abide by! And if I ever again hear of you forcing her to do anything against her will-," Darien opened his mouth to protest but Rei cut him off before he could utter a single syllable, "-except for life and death situations, I'll mutilate you for her, got it?!"
And with that Rei spun on her heel and stalked down the corridor. The first thing she was going to do was round up the two most loyal warriors in the pack to her – which in other words meant the Lycaon warriors who feared her more than her brother – and place them on guard outside Serena's door.
Her brother WOULD NOT be bothering Serena until she was ready. It was the least Rei could do for her – if she hadn't been so busy Rei would've stood guard herself, but she couldn't. Rei knew she was more on Serena's side because felt guilty about not going to Serena when she had called for her and also because she did care for Serena.
Rei knew that if Serena did stay in the pack the two of them would become very close. It was easy to like Serena, she was kind and generous and stubborn. A perfect match for Darien.
But first, they had to deal with the coming war mounting beyond the walls, but it would not be easy when they all seemed to be fighting several inside the manor walls.
Serena had soaked in the bath until the water had grown cold and her body had shrivelled up like an old woman's, but when she rose from the water she'd felt so much better than when she'd gone in. A lot of her body's aches and pains had subsided to an ignorable level and all that remained was the tender soreness between her legs and the hot throbbing of the bite mark that only Darien's saliva had offered any relief to.
Her skin now smelt strongly of Rei's oil, which was pleasant and soothing; she liked it. If she decided to stay, she was going to have to ask Rei for more or the recipe to make more herself.
Serena had then dressed in a loose fitting white long baggy sleeved blouse that was made of material so light it seemed to float around her and a long medium green flowing thin skirt; she needed loose fitting airy and comfortable clothes today. Her body would've protested strongly if she'd tried to squeeze into a pair of jeans. She didn't even put on a bra, but fortunately the shirt hid the fact well – to her eyes anyway, she had no clue whether or not the superior eyes of the Immortals would notice.
For the last hour, Serena had been sitting leisurely – and very carefully – on one of the cushioned deck chairs on the balcony, content with just laying back and stretching out to watch the world go by.
Birds flew overhead, hunting or singing, the wind rustled through the tress and danced with her hair and loose fitting clothes. It was a pleasantly warm day, which was unusual for the time of year but very welcome.
With it so quiet and peaceful that Serena actually heard the occasional sound of life in the manor. Half an hour ago Serena had heard someone laughing and what had sounded like playful combat had been going on somewhere below on the grounds; she'd been to relaxed and comfortable to get up to look out over the railing that overlooked half the grounds.
It seemed that when they weren't fighting their enemies or chasing after her through the city, the manor was a pleasant place to be. The Lycaon pack seemed to live in comfort but unlike the Anami mansion they did not lavish themselves in the best and finest of everything just for the sake of it. They seemed content with living together in the manor with less than every available comfort there was available from the modern world.
Serena was thankful for the last two hours. She'd been left completely alone except for when Summer had brought her a brunch platter, which Serena had picked off until she'd been pleasantly full. There had been various kinds of cheeses, crackers, fruit and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Serena had had a strange craving for some wine to sip on but she didn't bother asking; for one thing she was sure that everyone in the manor had better things to do than wait on her hand and foot and second, she wasn't completely sure that Darien would allow it.
Alcohol was bad for you after all.
It hadn't been worth the debate that might have ensued if it had in fact been the case that Darien objected to her consuming alcohol.
After eating, Serena had settled on the balcony, content to just be and watch, but in truth, not once in the last two hours had she done any thinking on those complicated matters that she was meant to be deliberating on.
Serena supposed that she'd put it off long enough. Even though she was still sore from last night, there was this strange sense of tranquillity and satisfaction that had come down over her. She was tired, but not exhausted. She was achy but not in pain. She was conflicted but she wasn't cross with Darien.
And the truth of the matter was that she wasn't mad at Darien because of the detail that she'd been trying to avoid thinking about at all; she was falling in love with him. She might already be in love with him, but that wasn't what was disconcerting her.
What was troubling her was the doubt that he capable or even willing to love her in return. Admitting that they are mates was different – even though she hadn't actually verbally admitted that they were yet. What she needed to hear, to know without question, was whether or not he loved her as she was coming to love him.
And before Serena could let herself fall that little bit more in love with him that would cement things between them in her mind, she needed to be given her freedom. She absolutely refused to be his lover while she was his prisoner.
It had to be one way or the other. She was either his prisoner – one he never touched again as they would have the proper captor/captive relationship – or she would be his lover who had the freedom to leave when she wished and to do as she wished – within reason of course. She wasn't completely unreasonable, she knew she was in grave danger and that Darien was the only one – that she knew of – who was capable of protecting her.
But still the freedom, the choice, had to be there. Darien had to take the risk that she would leave just as she had to take the risk with her heart by giving it to him.
Serena did love him with as much of her heart as she could give while she was still his prisoner, and she wanted to stay, but he had earn that last piece of her heart. He had to trust her to want to stay. Love was all good and fine but in a relationship love just wasn't enough.
Maybe in fairy tales and movies love was enough, but what happened when the movie ended after all the fights and rescues, what was involved in the happily ever after? It was good and all that the hero and the heroine had fallen deeply madly passionately in love, but how did the ever after part go after all the excitement was over? How did they go living together or choosing the couch for their first apartment?
That was the hard truth about real life, there was an after, the story went on, and more than love was needed; trust and mutual respect were just as important in a relationship as love was.
Darien needed to prove to her that there could be more than love between them. Last night had proven that they were hot between the sheets – not that she'd any real life experience to compare it against – but Serena knew she wouldn't grow tired of Darien and his lovemaking anytime soon.
But she needed more. Was it too much to ask for more?
Serena wasn't blind; she refused to be. She'd seen Darien fight and kill for her – several times, even against one who'd been a brother to him once – he'd protected her against Damned Immortals and even herself, he'd kept her safe and cared for her while she'd fought against him every step of the way and he continued to do so, but this wasn't some romance novel.
If their relationship was going to work, she needed – they needed – more.
Now the only question was could Darien give her more, and if he could was he willing to give her more before she gave him her entire heart?
Half an hour later, Serena didn't know exactly what had brought her back here but without realising where she had been heading after she had left Darien's bedroom, she found herself in the ballroom staring at the two golden thrones.
Before leaving the room Serena had resolved that she and Darien needed to talk, but instead of seeking him out, she had intentionally stalled by finding her way to the ballroom – from the inside. She felt so conflicted, so uncertain, as if she were stuck in limbo and her only means of escape was Darien, but only if he was willing to give her the compromises she needed to stay – at least for the time being. She was safe here, safe from harm, but whether or not she was safe from Darien after last night was another story.
So much had changed after she'd watched him fight and kill that pure white Damned Lycaon wolf, who had turned out to be his own brother not by blood but by bonds that had gone so much deeper than blood, all to save her. He had fought so savagely, so doggedly, that it left no question in Serena's mind that Darien had been fighting with the desperation of a man who would lose everything if he lost that battle.
And she had been that everything. How could she question such obvious devotion for her? It had been said to her several times before that Darien would die to protect her, but being told it and witnessing it were two very different things.
"Ostentatious, aren't they?" A soft low voice asked from behind her.
Serena gave a startled cry and whirled around as she brought her hand up to cover her pounding heart, her cry echoing in the large cavernous room.
Only a few feet from her stood Zoicite, who wore a gentle amused expression on his face and had genuine kindness in his always playful dark eyes.
"Zoicite! You startled me." Serena stated as she worked to calm her pounding heart and ease away the icy touch of panic from her stomach that came with a bad fright.
"My apologies, Miss Serena." Zoicite promptly apologised with a graceful bow of his head.
At the out-dated term, Serena found herself glaring at him, half playfully, making Zoicite laugh lightheartedly as he straightened.
"Forgive me, Serena." He corrected with a kind grin.
Serena couldn't help but smile back at him. It was impossible not to like Zoicite, who always had the spark of mirth in his dark eyes. In a way, he reminded her of her brother before the accident when he'd been the typical mischievous annoying little brother.
Zoicite nodded towards the two thrones, repeating his original question that had startled her. "Ostentatious, aren't they?"
Serena turned and followed his gaze, realising what he meant after a long moment. He was talking about the two thrones; they were so out of place in her world but here in the Immortal world they carried so much weight, so much meaning and importance.
"Oh, yes." Serena said awkwardly after a long silent moment. "They are."
"Darien also thinks so and as a result he only uses his when he absolutely has too. Rei also." Zoicite stated casually.
So the second throne was Rei's. She felt like an idiot; she should have guessed that.
Serena felt her curiosity stir and she couldn't help but become distracted from what had really brought her here, which no doubt had obviously been Zoicite's intention. "Such as?"
Zoicite was looking at her, not the thrones; Serena could feel his gaze on her even though she still had her back to him.
"Ceremony mostly." Zoicite answered. "When his parents come to visit or we have a formal ball. Only a few times has Darien been forced to sit upon his throne for the sake of conducting a trial. As Crown Prince of our kind and the highest ranking Lycaon on the continent, Darien has a lot of responsibilities, Rei too."
From his tone, Serena understood that in no way did Darien relish the responsibilities and burdens that came with his crown, but she knew his well enough to know that regardless Darien took each and every one seriously.
Zoicite could in no way misinterpret the enraptured way the young mortal woman was staring at the two thrones. It was what had brought him from outside where he had watched her enter the Ballroom and stand the middle of the room just staring at the two thrones.
Zoicite felt for her. After everything that had happened, not just to her but between her and Darien especially in the last twenty-four hours, made him believe that she needed someone to talk too, even if the end result was just for a momentary distraction.
With a silent sigh, Zoicite walked passed her to the thrones and laid his hand on the arm of Rei's slightly smaller throne. "Ever since coming to this new world, leaving our homeland behind, Darien and Rei have shared their responsibilities. Without a mate, the throne to Darien's left fell to his sister. But the throne at Darien's left hand now falls to his mate, to you." He looked up into her eyes with soft understanding. "Should you choose it." He looked back down at the gold throne. "It's not an easy place to sit, but it is your place should you choose to stay with our prince."
Serena swallowed even though her mouth was dry. They wanted her to sit in that throne at Darien's side and rule with him? Her?!
"Should you choose to become our Princess, our Queen-to-be, then Rei would take up her place at Darien's right hand." Zoicite couldn't help but picture it in his mind, the picture his words created, his prince sitting tall and proud with his two princesses beside him. One princess his beloved sister and the other his Queen-to-be, his consort.
Zoicite opened his eyes to find Serena silent, contemplative and just a little pale. He knew it was a lot to ask of a mortal who had only just been introduced to the Immortal world. "With how doting and devoted a mate must be, there has never been a mated Queen upon the throne who has taken her place reluctantly. Eternal love and devotion is the greatest gift given to the Immortal races. It may be the King sitting upon the first throne, but it is truly the Queen who holds the over-all power for there is nothing a mated King would not give his Queen. Should you desire it, you could be Queen in title only. For her brother's happiness, Rei would gladly tend to the Queen's duties. So you see this crown is not a shackle."
Serena closed her eyes for a brief moment against Zoicite's reassuring words, and when she opened her eyes again she found herself alone in the ballroom once again.
Darien sat at his desk, completely and utterly frustrated and unable to focus on the paperwork he had spread across the desk in front of him that he had gotten out in a vain effort to distract himself. There was a war coming, the Damned army was gathering to unprecedented numbers based on the number of Damned flowing into the city; he didn't need any other Intel to know that Diamond was gathering his army for an attack and Darien had to be ready for it.
He had to protect Serena and his pack; already as the number of Damned in the area rose, as did the number of Anami and Lycaon kind at the call of their princes. It seemed that all Immortal kind knew that something big was coming and it all surrounded Serena, the first mortal mate in recorded history.
And even with the blade in the form of the inevitable approaching attack hanging above his head, Darien couldn't concentrate on anything but Serena and what had happened between them in the last twenty-four hours.
Darien did feel immensely guilty that his first time with his mate had been so rough, and with his Beast and not with him, the man, but he had already resolved that the next time they came together in the flesh would be with him, the man.
If there was a next time; unlike their first time, their second time would be by Serena's will, not his. Or his Beast's.
Regardless though of how it had transpired, Darien was perversely delighted that he had finally claimed and marked Serena as his wolfmate for all time. The bite mark would heal and be invisible to mortal eyes but to the eyes of the Immortals it would always be noticeable on her flesh.
Not to mention that Darien could not help but be delighted that he had finally become intimate with his mate, with Serena. Never, in all his long life – in which there had been a reasonable number of lovers – had a woman responded to him so readily, so heatedly, which in turn had turned him on all the more. She was so beautiful and passionate; he had the suspicion that their passion wouldn't cool even after decades of being together.
Which delighted him to no end.
"Nineteen!"
Huh? Darien looked up, snapped abruptly from his line of thought, to find two of his three Beta's glaring irritably at him.
"What?"
"Nineteen," Nephlite repeated. "That goofy grin has appeared on your face nineteen times in the last hour."
"Maybe we should take a break." Jadeite supplied in an attempt to keep the peace between them as they all knew that Darien did not like being challenged, even when they were alone.
He was their Alpha; respect was expected.
Darien opened his mouth to tell them just that when he heard footsteps, those he recognised as belonging to his mate. She had left the Ballroom and was calmly walking down the corridor toward his office.
"A break sounds like a good idea," Darien agreed, as he rose to his feet, dreading what his mate was coming to tell him.
Serena approached the office doors and they all fell silent near a full minute before there was a knock at the door.
In the blink of an eye, Darien moved from where he was behind his desk to the door, where he opened it wide and was greeted by the startled wide eyes of his mate.
Darien silently cursed himself, he had to be more careful with his mate; he had startled her by opening the door too quickly without warning her by making a single sound.
It took Serena moment to recover but when she did she gave him a gentle smile that made Darien think of innocent angels on high.
"Take a walk with me?"
"Of course." Darien replied without hesitation. If Serena had finally decided to speak with him, then he would allow her to say what she wanted said.
No matter how anxious Darien was about what his mate had to say, he would hear it and listen. He would try his hardest to be understanding and take in what she told him. If she was angry at him for forcing her into lovemaking last night then he would do all in his power to atone and set things right between them.
Since Serena had yet to be outside with any time to explore, Darien decided to take her on a walk of the simple but colourful gardens that contained a variety of flowers, including many varieties of his favourite flower – the rose. There were roses of all colours in his garden, but more than any other was the red rose, his favoured flower above all others.
The sun felt warm on Serena face, the gentle breeze felt cool against her skin and the flowers – those that bloomed in the cooler months anyway, which by the look of it was about half – gave the breeze a sweet floral scent.
And for a manor Serena knew to be full of Lycaons, the grounds were surprisingly deserted and silent. Serena had to wonder if it was because of Darien's will and command over his pack or because enough of his pack had heard her request of him to walk with her and had cleared out to give them the illusion of privacy.
Either was possible; Darien was commanding and his pack loved and respected their Alpha – as far as she could tell from what little interaction she'd witnessed between Darien and his pack.
"It's so peaceful here." Serena remarked casually, breaking the silence between them.
Surprisingly the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable silence; Serena was with Darien she felt so safe and when they weren't fighting, at peace.
Darien could not help but smile down at the enchanting beauty that was his mate. "It can be. In the past it was not so much peaceful as homey. In the very beginning this house knew life and laughter."
Serena didn't need him to explain why it wasn't anymore because she knew why; his race was dying.
Serena closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath for courage. She wouldn't be able to look at him while she spoke but the fortunate thing about the garden was that she didn't have too; she had the option of looking around at the beautiful scenery.
"Darien, I need to say what I have to say and I need you to let me without interruption." Serena explained. For his sake. Rei had asked her to try to be more understanding and be more tolerant of Darien and she would. She'd tell Darien what it was that she needed from him, even though she knew it would go against his nature as an Alpha prince to grant her wish.
"As you wish. Speak what you must without fear of interruption from me." Darien promised with polite formal seriousness.
Serena knew it was Darien's way of showing respect to her request, but still she didn't look at him, even though deep inside of her she felt a prang of hope that just maybe there could be more between them than love and sex.
"That night we first met, the night you saved my life and everything changed," Serena began as they continued their way around the thriving garden and lush green grounds. "I realise now. You let me go home and you watched over me, keeping me safe. I think I knew it even then, I could somehow feel you watching me. From that first night you left your mark on me and I'm not taking about the vampire bite. I felt something come alive inside of me and for the life of me I couldn't get you out of my head or my dreams."
Serena swallowed, her mouth bone dry in her nervousness, but she forced herself to go on. "Ever since I can remember, I've had this feeling that I was meant for more, that something was waiting for me. I know now that I was waiting for you; I can't deny that and I don't want too anymore. Even after everything that's happened since that night, all the fighting and killing, I feel more alive, more complete in this world than I ever did in mine."
Silence fell between them for a long moment and Serena drew in a deep breath and went on. "That night at the club, when that vampire was about to kill me-."
Darien suppressed a fierce growl as the memory of that moment flashed before his eyes. He saw Sapphire leaning over his terrified Serena, preparing to take her life. It was something he would carry with him until his dying day. He had come so close to losing her forever.
"-all I could think about was you. And my family and my friends, but mostly you." Serena added as an afterthought. "And then I woke up here, and deep down I think I knew that I was where I was meant to be, even though I hadn't wanted to accept it then. When I ran that night, and every other moment I was fighting against you and what's happening between us, has been fuelled by my fear. Not my fear of you, or of the pack or anything like that, but my fear of what I would become if I said yes to you, if I submitted to you."
Serena looked down at her feet, silent for a long moment. They'd come to a stop where the garden met the wall. She drew in another deep breath for courage, but she was finally able to look up into his intense eyes as he stared down at her with an unreadable expression on his serious handsome face.
"Ever since my parents died years ago, I have strived to be strong, focusing on my studies and not much else. I endeavoured to become the woman my parents had wanted me to be. To be strong and take pride in myself and what I have achieved. The truth is, I value my freedom and my way of things; it isn't in my nature to surrender my freedom completely over to someone else. What I'm trying to say here is that I don't want to lose myself in your shadow. You are a force of nature, Darien. Can't you understand that it would be so easy for me to get lost in all that you are?" Serena was pleading with him to understand, and she knew it. "If you want me to be part of your life Darien, you need to accept that I cannot live in your shadow, I cannot completely submit to you because that would mean risking losing myself."
Serena swallowed even though there was nothing in her mouth to swallow and she resolved to just spit it out, to say what she really was avoiding but needed to say. "What I need from you Darien, if you want me to be your mate, is for you to accept that we need to be equals in this relationship. I need to have my say and have it heard. I need you to treat me like your other, your equal, not a delicate crystal doll that needs protecting by being placed on the top shelf to be admired but never handled."
Darien opened his mouth to speak but Serena shot up her hand in a stopping gesture and gave him a telling look that told him that she wasn't finished.
"Not yet. There's still more you need to hear, more that needs to be said." Serena lowered her hand and gentled her expression; she didn't want to be perceived as being unreasonable. "And about last night, I'm not angry. Yes, you pressured me, but you didn't force me. If I really hadn't wanted to do it, I would've called for Jadeite and the others, I would've screamed for help. You are their Alpha, but I know because they care about you they would've helped me by protecting me from you."
Darien was relieved to hear that Serena wasn't unsure about the mutualness of their tryst last night, and he was not displeased – or in doubt – that his own Beta's would have interfered; if it had been what Serena had really needed.
Serena saw Darien's relief on his face and in the gentling of his eyes and she was secretly relieved; it had been the truth after all. It was time to say the final thing that she needed to say, the issue Serena knew Darien would have the most trouble with.
"There's only one thing left for me to say, Darien." Serena told him, hesitating only a moment before going on. "One thing left that you need to understand. I know – and I understand – why you brought me here and kept me here until now against my will, but the time that I needed to be a prisoner has passed. I need to be free. If I'm going to be your mate, then I can't be your prisoner. I need to be free to come and go as I please, to be a guest in your home instead of a prisoner."
A bolt of ice cold fear and dread shot straight through Darien's heart like an ice bullet. He knew she was right; he could not keep her prisoner here if he wanted her to accept her place as his mate.
But the risk of giving her what she asked was too high.
What if he gave her what she asked and she left? What was there keeping her with him? He could give her diamonds and mansions and protection, but he could not give her the normal life she had been living before him. Even if she did stay at first, sooner or later she would see the real him and she'd leave, flee from him like the wounded rabbit did the starving desperate wolf.
Darien was no fool, even though he knew he was considered good looking to her eyes, there was not much about him that could keep someone like her, someone so loving and gentle – when she wasn't overrun with homicidal rage – and good. How could he ever be deserving of someone like her? He had known from the beginning that he was not enough for her.
Unable to look upon her beautiful face and into her glorious eyes a moment longer, Darien turned his back to her so she would not witness his pain. He wanted her to stay because she wanted too – really wanted too – not because she felt obligated.
"Do whatever the hell you want." Darien snapped acidly and he lunged himself high into the air, all the way up until he landed on the third floor balcony and with a blurred flash of his black coat disappeared into the manor, leaving Serena staring after him shaking her head at him.
A moment later Rei landed beside her with silent grace after leaping soothly and effortlessly over the high wall that surrounded the manor. "He really must love you." Rei whispered emotionally with an underlying tone of sadness as she too stared after him.
Serena couldn't decide whether or not she wanted to bang her head against the wall at her back or his. The moron had misinterpreted what she'd said about needing the freedom to leave; he'd assumed that she'd meant that she wanted and would leave the moment he gave her her freedom.
"He's a complete moron." Serena muttered under her breath, but of course Rei heard her with her Immortal Lycaon ears.
"No argument here." Rei agreed, "he really doesn't get what you were asking, does he? He doesn't understand that only when you're free can you choose to stay."
Serena nodded in agreement as she stared continued to stare after Darien even though he was well and truly out of her sight. "Why is it that no matter how old men are, they still act like a temperamental little boy?"
"Amen sister."
Serena couldn't help but smile at Rei's tone; it spoke volumes that she knew exactly what Serena was saying.
The spy watched from high above with growing anticipation and dark glee as the two bitches – the Lycaon Princess and the mortal female the pathetic Lycaon Prince had just this passing night left his mark upon – walked along the inside perimeter by the wall heading towards the high double black iron gates, talking in true female fashion – meaningless inconsequential dribble.
They were completely alone, the two most important and guarded females on the continent. But he was only interested in one; the one mortal female who was worth a hundred Immortal Queens and a thousand Immortal Princesses. The one who brought this mortal woman to the Prince of the Damned – the future King of the Damned – would be rewarded unlike any before.
That was a prize any Damned would risk dying for; for the Damned who handed the mortal female to Diamond would not only gain significant rank in the new court, but he would forever have a river of blood to feast upon, others to serve him and a never-ending parade of women to do his bidding.
The spy had watched all Lycaon and Anami guards, and the residents of the manor vacate this entire half of the inner grounds of the Lycaon manner to give the Prince and his mortal bitch some privacy.
It had taken a great deal of effort for the spy to get so deep into the Lycaon territory without being caught but at last he had been able to take post high in a tree overlooking the Lycaon manor completely undetected. He was the best at infiltrating enemy territory undetected and he was well rewarded for his exploits by the Damned Prince. He had been watching the grounds for two days and he had yet to make a sound; he was completely inanimate and undetectable. He had even learned long ago how to mask his Damned scent.
And now it had all paid off. The Lycaon prince had left his sister and mate alone; this was his chance and he wasn't going to let it pass.
The spy tensed watching attentively as the two unsuspecting bitches approached the gates where he intended to finally strike. With only the immediate area vacated he would have only seconds, only one chance to do this so it would have to be perfect. He would deal swiftly with the Lycaon Princess, grab the mortal bitch and be out of there before anyone could stop him.
He would be rewarded beyond his wildest dark dreams for bringing Diamond the mortal female.
Serena had known that she and Rei would be great friends and they were already well on their way.
Rather than let Darien's little temper tantrum – that seemed abnormal for someone as old and experienced as he was – ruin her good mood, Serena resolved to let Darien settle down – and realise that he was acting like a childish idiot – while she got to know Rei better.
The beautiful long black haired – hair that had fiery red highlights that came alive in the sunlight – woman was a lot more down to earth than Serena had expected. For instance, even though the Princess was Immortal and hundreds of years old, she kept up-to-date with today's culture; she even watched television and had a few favourite shows, one or two Serena herself even liked.
Serena, however, bit her tongue about Rei's wardrobe; her fashion sense was behind by a couple of centuries. She was always wearing long gowns made of thick and dark materials that looked like they belonged in the Dark Ages.
That didn't go to say that Rei didn't look stunning in the outdated attire. The look really suited her, but if she did stay then after the dangerous times had passed Serena was going to take Rei shopping. She wanted to show her just how fabulous she'd look in modern fashions; Rei would be a complete knock out in a short skirt and tank top, or a killer red party dress.
"Is it always so peaceful here?" Serena asked Rei as they strolled along the wall, heading towards the cast iron gates that stood two stories high.
Rei gave her an amused look. "Not even close. Things have been a lot more serious in the past century, but normally this house is alive with noise and activity. Unlike the Anami, we're normally a rowdy bunch that finds it hard to sit still most of the time. We weren't made to stay still, but to run wild and free-."
Rei stopped mid-sentence and whirled on her toes, scanning the area beyond the gates they now stood before, her body tense, half crouched and coiled as if to spring.
Rei could see nothing but the sudden unexpected shift in the winds had brought the unmistakable faint scent of death and blood that her heightened sense of smell hadn't missed. She knew the scent well; it was the scent of the Damned and it was way too close and far too fresh to be anything else other than a Damned that was currently close-by.
"Serena," Rei said seriously in an urgent voice as she remained coiled to spring while her eyes danced rapidly over the trees beyond the gate, searching each shadow for sign of movement. "Go inside. Now!"
But before Serena could obey – she wouldn't argue with Rei, it was obvious from her tense stance that the princess sensed danger – Rei let out a furious snarling growl and without looking back, she pushed Serena backwards, sending her flying through the air several feet before Serena painfully hit the soft damp grass-covered earth.
"Serena! Run!" Rei screamed to her right before she transformed – exploded was a more accurate description – into an enormous black wolf with fiery red streaks – simular to the crimson shade of blood – through her pelt. The Lycaon she-wolf was two sizes smaller than any of the male Lycaon wolf's Serena had yet seen. In her wolf form Rei was mighty but still smaller and had much less muscle than Darien did in his wolf form.
Serena could do nothing but stare with impossibly wide eyes and fear in her heart for the Lycaon Princess as the Damned Anami – dressed completely in camouflage clothing and covered in black, brown and green war paint – leapt from the trees and landed lithely on the top of the gate. Serena had only a brief glimpse of him before he disappeared the split second before the fiery red wolf was sent rolling across the ground at least twenty feet before she managed to sink her claws – that were longer than Serena's hand – into the earth to eventually bring herself to a stop.
The ground had actually shook beneath the huge crimson red wolf.
And then Rei disappeared, only to appear a split heartbeat later directly in front of her. With the Damned's arms around her fury neck.
It took a moment for Serena's shocked mind to catch up; Rei must've seen the Damned heading for her and had leapt into the Damned's path, only to end up trapped in the Damned's crushing hold.
Rei whimpered and whined in pain as she struggled to breathe as Serena watched the Damned tighten his hold – that took both arms – around her furry neck.
A bone-chilling booming roar shook the world around them and Rei fell to the ground less than a foot from Serena's feet, the Damned no where in sight for a long moment before Serena spotted him a good thirty feet from where she and Rei lay.
A second wolf had appeared on the battlefield, this wolf was truly fire red with patches of ginger in his coat.
It took Serena a long moment to realise that the huge wolf must have been Jadeite in his wolf form; the shade of his coat matched his human hair.
The Damned snarled at Jadeite's wolf form as Jadeite growled savagely back at him in return, salvia dripping from his muzzle as if he couldn't wait to taste the blood of the one who had dared to lay a hand upon his wolfmate. The Damned was crouching low again with his hands outspread from his body and his extended razor claws extended defensively.
In another blink of an eye, Serena saw that the Damned was now surrounded by a good dozen Immortals in a tight circle. Serena recognised half as Anami – the Anami Andrew had sent them to help guard the manor, Darien had mentioned it at some point – the remaining two Betas in human form and two other Lycaon wolves. One was a cloudy grey and white underneath while the other was a pale creamy brown all over.
And the last was Darien, who stood solidly in place beside Jadeite in front of both Rei and herself, standing solidly and protectively between them and the danger with a long silver sword clinched tightly in his right hand.
The Damned, who was clearly outnumbered, displayed no sign of defeat. Instead he narrowed his black eyes on Darien and furiously half snarled, half hissed.
"Our numbers are greater than you can possibly comprehend, Lycaon Prince!" The Damned proclaimed boisterously. "We'll overrun you before this week is out unless you deliver the mortal bitch to our king. Only then will Diamond spare your pathetic meaningless lives!"
Without taking his eyes from the Damned, Darien made a subtle motion with his sword in Zoicite's direction and without saying a word Zoicite walked over to where Serena still lay on the ground and gently – with as little contact as possible – pulled her to her feet.
By the time Serena was upright Rei had shifted back to her human form but remained on the ground, holding her hand to her chest as she struggled to breath. Her naked form was curled into the foetal position, her body convulsing from the pain.
Once sure that Serena was steady on her feet, Zoicite left her side and moved quickly to Rei, unbuttoning his navy blue loose-fitting dress shirt as he moved between them. Once at Rei's side, Zoicite sunk to his knees as he slid his shirt from him shoulders and then carefully draped it his over Rei's naked form, covering her naked body.
Then Zoicite just as carefully scooped her up into his arms and, holding her effortlessly against his chest, he turned his back to the threat and he motioned with his head for Serena to precede him. With Serena leading the way Zoicite effortlessly carried Rei into the manor.
Serena knew that the Damned had not yet been deal with because Darien didn't want her to watch as the Damned was torn limb for limb for daring to harm his sister and attempting to abduct his mate.
In the back of her mind, Serena numbly wondered just who was going to have the pleasure of the kill, Darien or Jadeite, because they were both just as pissed and murderous as the other.
It was only twenty minutes before Rei was able to breathe unhindered again to Serena's overwhelming relief.
After escorting them from the battlefield Zoicite had lead them into a library – that was two stories high with walls shelved tightly with more books than Serena had ever seen in her entire life – and had gently lain Rei down on the velvet forest green polished wood couch by the massive hearth where he'd fallen to his knees beside her and had begin licking her neck like a lioness would lick her injured cub's wounds.
By the time Rei was once again able to breathe normally the emerging bruises had faded into sickly yellow marks that made them look at least a week old; by the hours end Serena suspected that all evidence of the inflicted injury would no longer be noticeable.
Not a single word had been spoken between them since Rei had screamed at her to run, which she hadn't done and because of that Rei had been hurt because of her. Rei had been defending her; there was no question about it in Serena's mind, the Damned had been after her.
Why was this happening? Why did Rei have to get hurt defending her? Why was she so special to the enemy of the Lycaon kind? She wasn't worth dying for, damn it! She especially wasn't worth Reis life, no matter what any of them said to the contrary!
It was all her fault; there was no doubt about that in her mind. Serena was overcome by so much gut-wrenching guilt that she felt sick to her stomach and hadn't yet been able to even look in Rei's direction.
If Jadeite hadn't interfered when he had, then Rei very possibly would be dead right now, and it would've been in the vain attempt of saving her. She wasn't worth this; she wasn't worth the life of the Lycaon Princess who was someone's mate, somebody's wife and soulmate!
What would've happened to Jadeite if Rei had died? Would Jadeite have killed her himself in revenge as she would've been the one responsible for his mate's death, or would he have died himself without hesitation rather than live without his mate whom he loved so deeply?
Jadeite had been beyond enraged when he'd stared down the Damned – who was no doubt dead by now – who had attempted to kill his mate, and Darien hadn't been any different. She hadn't been able to see his face but she'd seen it in his rigid stance and the clenched grasp in which he'd held his sword.
This had to end; she just wasn't worth anyone's life. Maybe if she went to the Damned willingly, they'd leave Darien and his pack alone and everyone would be safe-.
"Hey!"
Serena blinked and looked up, pulled from her guilt ridden thoughts by Rei's single barked word that had been utterly and completely reprimanding. Serena turned to find Rei glaring at her with knowing in her warning eyes. "This isn't your fault!" She spoke without any difficulty at all and there was no pain in her eyes as there had been minutes before. She had even taken the time and effort to slide her arms into the sleeves and fasten all but the top two buttons of Zoicite's dress shirt.
Rei extended her hand out towards her, silently demanding that Serena come to her. Serena obeyed; taking Rei's outstretched hand in her own as she knelt beside the couch Rei still rested upon. Now that Rei was well on her way to complete recovery, Zoicite had retreated away from them as if afraid to be caught too close to them by their mates, although he hovered protectively not too far from them.
Serena said nothing as tears filled her eyes even as she willed them not too and Rei's eyes softened, filling with soft emotion as a gentle smile spread across her naturally deep red lips.
"What happened isn't your fault." Rei repeated in a calm reassuring tone. "Nor did I do anything I wasn't willing to do. What happened was no one's fault and was my choice, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You're already as a sister to me, and even if I didn't like you – which I don't by the way-."
Serena couldn't help but grin ineptly at Rei's joking tone just as the Lycaon Princess had intended before Serena became sombre and serious once again.
"-I still would've done it because you mean so much to my brother." Rei concluded as she gently reassuringly squeezed Serena's hand that she held in her own.
"I'm so sorry, Rei." Serena whispered sobbingly anyway, needing to apologise at least once.
Rei smiled at her again, a genuine caring smile. "I'm not."
"It's best not to argue with her." Zoicite advised from the behind the couch where he stood standing watchfully over them both with genuine amusement in his kind eyes. "She's more stubborn than you are, young mis-Serena," he quickly corrected at Serena's warning glare as he'd been about to call her 'young miss' again.
Rei's smile widened at Zoicite's hasty correction and Serena couldn't help but smile herself.
Rei was recovering from her injuries and Zoicite was watching over them both protectively and they were making her feel better. And she did feel better. Rei really was okay; she hadn't been that badly hurt – she'd be completely healed within the hour, so maybe, just maybe, Serena was worrying a little too much.
Behind her, the doors swung opened and Serena looked over looked over her shoulder to see Darien, the Betas and one of the Anami guards enter the room, Jadeite leading the way while looking in their direction with anxious worried eyes.
Serena hastily rose to her feet and stepped back as Jadeite fell to his knees, taking up her position on the floor by the couch his wolfmate rested upon. Then taking her hand in both of his, Jadeite planted a kiss on the back of her fingers as he stared deeply into her eyes.
Rei smiled at him with loving reassurance and Serena turned her gaze away from them, feeling intrusive watching while the two of them shared an intimate moment. She knew they were communicating using their mind link thing that mated couples shared.
Serena found herself wondering if maybe one day she'd have the mental link thing with Darien, even though Rei had already told her that it was virtually impossible, but wasn't a mortal mate just as impossible? It was a strange thing to think about, maybe even want a little; she suspected that it would be nice having such an intimate relationship with the person she loved.
Sensing movement nearby, Serena raised her gaze from the floor to find Darien standing beside her, only millimetres separating them. Darien was staring at her with his intense emotional deep eyes again and Serena lost all ability to think of anything else but him.
Not that Serena intended to tell him yet, but she was beginning to get the hang of reading him. Like right now; she knew that he was trying to hide his fear and angst at the close call they'd just had. He was worried about her but he didn't want to distress her by freaking out himself, so to speak.
Knowing that Darien needed to be assured that she was alright, Serena gave him a gentle smile and brought her hand up to rest on his chest, directly over his heart.
Even through the material of his long sleeved black dress shirt and a layer of thick hard muscle and bone, Serena could feel his heart beating steadily beneath her touch. His heartbeat was so strong, so steady, it was almost hypnotic.
Darien wrapped both his arms around her, pulling her close. Serena went willingly, resting her head against his chest and closing her eyes as he held her. She felt so safe and at peace in his arms, so cherished and loved, that she could've stayed there forever, but sadly that couldn't be. At least not yet, as Serena knew that there was much to discuss and do in light of the close call they'd just had.
The second in two days. In their own territory.
Darien was getting sick and tired with this feeling of terror that settled heavily in his stomach and his heart every time his mate was in danger. Too many times Serena had been threatened or in a dangerous situation and he could not stand it any longer.
And it did not help that this time his sister had been involved.
If Rei had not been there though, Serena would have been taken before he'd had the chance to do anything about it; as it was his sister had nearly lost her life in the time it took him to realise what was going on and reach them.
He was furious that despite all his precautions and his resources, a Damned had somehow made it not just into his territory undetected but literally into his front yard.
It was unforgivable and Darien intended to find out exactly how the Damned Anami had managed to get so close to what he protected without being detected at all until he'd revealed himself to attack. If it was due to someone's incompetence, then heads were going to roll and roll hard. He would not forgive; not only had a female under his protection suffered harm, it had been his own sister and almost his own mate!
And now that Darien knew his mate, and his sister, were going to be alright – the Damned who had threatened and harmed the two females he loved had already been dealt with, swiftly but excruciatingly – Darien needed to take more drastic steps to protect his own.
On top of it all, the leader of the Anami guard who had been assigned to protect Serena by Andrew's orders had received news when he had reported the incident to his prince warning Andrew to check the Anami grounds for simular infiltrations.
"Serena, why don't you help Rei upstairs so she can rest?"
Serena pulled back and glared up into Darien's masked face; she knew a dismissal when she heard one. It was time Darien learned that she wasn't now – or ever going to be – some fragile innocent Victorian virgin who kept her little mind out of men's business.
Whatever Darien had to say, he could say it in front of her.
"No," Serena told him stubbornly as she pulled out of his embrace. "I'm part of this now. And it's time you treated me like part of this family."
Darien's eyes all but blazed with gleeful triumph at her declaration that she had finally acknowledged that she belonged with him; he knew that at least for the time being, she was staying.
On that note, Darien remembered something he had made a point to bring up. "I heard you call me an idiot and a moron."
Serena showed no embarrassment at being overheard. "I'm not surprised. Everyone hears everything in this house."
No one disputed the point.
Ten minutes later they were all seated or standing in Darien's office where they'd relocated after receiving confirmation that there were no other Damned spies in the immediate vicinity but the majority of the pack continued in their thorough search of the grounds and surrounding forests.
Jadeite and Rei had disappeared for a brief moment, but within three minutes they had joined them, only now Rei was once again decently clothed – in fact she looked so perfect that it was hard for Serena to believe that the clothing the Lycaon Princess had been wearing an hour before now lay in shredded tatters on the manor's lawn.
Currently, all their attention was on the Anami guard as he relayed the news he'd received from his prince concerning what was happening in the city.
"Of the unit hunting in the city last night," The Anami guard was saying, "only one returned. The rest of the unit sacrificed their lives to give him a chance to return to the mansion so he could deliver the warning. The situation is increasing rapidly; with each hour more Damned flood the city. Diamond is building an army for the obvious purpose of attacking both the Anami and Lycaon terrorises." His eyes pointedly zeroed in on Serena. "He wants the mortal mate at any cost. Already they number at least a thousand. The largest Immortal Army seen in since the beginning of the Immortal war, thousands of years ago."
"We can't defend against such a number." Jadeite said gravely from where he stood directly beside the chair Rei sat within, his stance protective. "Not even with the coven fighting with us. More of us arrive every day, but even with our numbers combined, we will struggle to number four hundred."
Darien was silent for a long moment, deep in thought, as he hovered protectively around her, which for once Serena wasn't going to object too.
"Father could send a large number, but even if they reach us in time, it wouldn't be nearly enough." Darien sighed as he rubbed his hand over his face in a gesture of exhaustion, both mental and physical. "The best we could hope for is two against three, and that would mean leaving the Royal Court virtually unprotected."
"What if we divided Diamond's focus?" Nephlite suggested, speaking in Serena presence for the first time in days; it wasn't that he was shy. Serena knew it was because he was the serious type who spoke only when he had something to say.
All eyes turned to him.
Nephlite was looking directly at his Alpha. "Send your mate away-."
Darien's eyes flashed threateningly.
"-to where she would be the safest." Nephlite went on without even pausing. "Instead of trying to bring the strength of the Royal Court here before Diamond attacks, send her to the Royal Court."
Serena froze. Sent away while Darien remained to fight a war against such overwhelming odds?
Not in this lifetime.
But before Serena could say an objecting word, Darien responded to Nephlite. "She would be far too vulnerable in transit. The Damned have already shown that they are watching us."
"Not if we create a diversion." Nephlite supplied promptly, betraying that he'd already given the notion a lot of thought.
Jadeite stepped forward so that he was almost between Darien and Nephlite, physically and effectively putting himself into the conversation. "They'll both go."
Rei leapt to her feet the same time Serena did, glaring darkly at the three males who blatantly ignored them as they continued their conversation as if they weren't even in the room.
"In father's court, they'll be beyond Diamond's reach." Darien rationalised in that annoying logical male tone that was without sentiment. "They will be safe."
"While we finish it." Jadeite concluded.
Zoicite stepped forward to stand beside Jadeite, his eyes moving rapidly back and forth as he contemplated. "The logic is sound. There's no way Diamond could get his entire army onto the Island without the Court having fair warning. And the Lycaon fortress has never been breached, not since its construction during the Immortal War."
"Hey!" Serena snapped irritably, finally having enough with all of the men in the room talking about them as if they weren't even there!
As all male eyes turned to her, Serena walked over to Rei to stand beside her, deciding it was better to face the five males down with a wing woman beside her.
"You lot may think it's all good and done but do you really think we're going to just run away and hide while you idiots face an army?!" Serena was yelling by the time she finished.
Darien glared that look of his at her that told Serena that Darien had made up his mind and one way or the other she was going to do as he wanted. "I think," Darien said with firm irritating calmness. "That the two of you will do as I tell you."
Silently, Rei looked back and forth between Serena and her brother, before she turned on Darien with hard steady eyes and a refined composure that screamed "princess".
"Darien, it's not wise-."
"I don't care, Rei!" Darien snapped crossly. "I'm the Alpha, this is my pack that you chose to be a member of and I WILL be obeyed! I think I have been far too lenient in my ruling of this pack for far too long!"
"Well, I didn't choose a damn thing!" Serena pointed out, not exactly proud of herself as she was screaming like the infuriated young woman that she was. "You have no-!"
In the space of a blink of an eye Darien went from standing on the other side of the room to towering over her so close that her breast were brushing his hard chest.
Darien glared down at her with hard fixed eyes and an unreadable expression, his jaw clinched so tightly that a muscle in his chin was twitching. "You have chosen Serena and I don't give a damn about your rights when I am protecting your life. You WILL do as I command."
Serena took a full step back from him, narrowing her eyes. She didn't like his implication one little bit. "So I'm your prisoner again?"
Darien followed her, closing the space between them once again. "You'll be whatever you have to be in order for me to keep you safe."
Darien knew that Serena was furious with him but when that came up against her very life he could not bring himself to care. He would rather apologise later than risk losing her. She WOULD be safe, even if he had to send her away for the next decade. No matter how long it took, no matter what he had to do, she would be safe.
As the two continued to argue, two unbending wills facing off against each other, Rei considered the situation. She didn't want to go, this was her home, her pack and this is where her mate was. She didn't want to leave her mate or her brother and her pack, but it had to be. It was too dangerous for Serena to be here; Darien would never be able to fully focus in battle if he had to worry about the safety of both his mortal mate and his sister.
It was too dangerous to remain; staying may very well get both Darien and Jadeite killed.
With the pack's resources – mainly the private jet – Serena and herself would be in England by tomorrow evening – where they would be safe.
Rei grimly looked up into her beloved mate's eyes as she sensed his grim relief at her decision. He didn't want her to go but he needed her to be safe. She could feel his love, forever constant like a warm blanket around her and within her.
Unlike Serena and her brother, no matter how far she went, even the other side of the world, Rei would still have the matelink between them, able to feel every emotion her love had and hear his thoughts as if he were there in England with her. No matter what she would have her link with her love; she would know that he was safe – and alive – as he would her.
'I don't want you to go, my fiery love.' Jadeite's loving words caressed her mind as they stared into each other's eyes from across the room. 'But it is for the best. I can't see you hurt again. I can't see an enemy's arms around you, hurting you. Killing you.'
Rei silently sent a wave of soothing love through their matelink, reassuring him without words and then returned her attention to what was happening around her.
Serena was in the middle of insulting her brother, which would have been greatly amusing had the situation not been so severe.
"I am not going, you arrogant mutt!"
"Serena." Rei gently placed her hand on the young mortal woman's arm, drawing her heated gaze to her. "We have to go. It's the only way. If we stay, we only endanger everyone."
Serena opened her mouth to argue with Rei, but then it hit her that she was outnumbered and outflanked.
"I'll arrange everything." Darien stated solemnly. "You'll leave at first light."
Serena slumped in defeat. Damn, she'd been counting on Rei to back her up.
That night Serena was too sore from the night before for love making as she found herself wanting too, not with Darien's Beast but with Darien himself, the man. So instead when Darien climbed into bed with her, he pulled her into his arms, kissed her goodnight and held her as she fell asleep.
Darien refused to sleep; his love was leaving him in a matter of hours, he was not going to waste one single second of the short amount of time they had left together for who knew how long. He watched her sleep, listened to her heart beat and all the while he thanked the Goddess for her and preyed over and over that he would live to hold her again.
They packed only one small suitcase each with what they needed – everything and anything else could be brought for them in England.
Rei had her passport for customs as even Immortals weren't above airport security and Darien had presented Serena her passport a full hour before they were due to depart.
What boggled her mind was that she knew for a fact that twenty-four hours ago she hadn't had a passport. And that had told Serena all she'd needed to know, that Darien hadn't obtained her a passport through legal channels.
But regardless of the questionable origins of her flawless travel papers, Serena didn't object. There were far more important things to worry about.
The most prominent of which was that she was leaving Darien to fight a war in which the odds did not favour them; the odds that Serena would never see Darien alive again were terrifyingly high.
The private jet that Darien owned – just how rich was Darien anyway? Not that it mattered to her at all, but still she was curious – was waiting for them at a small airport on the outer west side of the city, ready to take them halfway around the world.
Exactly twenty minutes after the sun's first light touched the horizon, Serena found herself being ushered out the front door where six vehicles – three black SUV's, two sleek black motorcycles and a black stretch limousine – where waiting to take them to the airport. Well three were waiting to take them to the airport; the fourth was the decoy that wasn't a decoy.
The idea was that a smart man would send the empty limousine, escorted by two of the SUV's and the motorcycles along one path and the single SUV – that wasn't as well protected – along one of the back roads, but an even smarter man would put the precious cargo in the most obvious place thereby making it safer because the enemy would believe that the precious cargo was in the lone SUV instead of the "decoy" convoy.
It was confusing but the basic idea of it was to outwit the villain who thought he was smarter than everyone else by believing that Darien wouldn't really put the two of them where they would most likely to be.
In Serena's opinion if this worked then it would only succeed in proving one thing: men were egotistical idiots who all suffered from the same unfortunate case of testosterone poisoning. Immortal men not being the exception.
Darien was waiting for her by the open back door of the limousine. Both he and Jadeite were staying behind as part of the decoy plan, so they'd have to say goodbye here.
With a heavy anxious heart, Serena stepped through the Manors front door and slowly descended the eight wide stone steps to Darien. She had dressed as comfortably and as smartly as she could as Serena knew that she not only had almost a full day's travelling ahead of her, but there was also the possibility that she might have to move in a hurry and she didn't want any part of her wardrobe hindering her. She wore dark blue cotton pants with a baby pink blouse beneath a soft forest brown sweater, over which she wore a dark blue denim jacket that matched her pants in colour. On her feet were comfortable new white running shoes that were so soft her feet felt like they were wrapped in fluffy pillows. And her long hair was thickly plaited down her back, only a few strands dangled free, framing her face.
In her suit case, Serena had something much less comfortable packed that she would change into before meeting the Immortal King and Queen of the Lycaon race.
Once Serena was within reach Darien didn't hesitate, he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close and lowered his lips to hers, kissing her with gentle hungry desperation.
Serena couldn't help but sink into him; his kisses were more addictive than chocolate. She couldn't get enough of him or his untamed forbidden taste. That he could enwrap her in hard muscled heat but remain so gentle with her had yet to cease to amaze her, to seduce her into wanting so much more. But unlike before, this kiss had an essence of frenzied grimness to it, as if he were tasting her for the last time.
It was a goodbye kiss. A goodbye kiss that came to an end all too soon.
Darien pulled his lips from hers, leaving her reeling from his kiss, his possession.
"I'll end this as quickly as I can." Darien promised her, staring down into her eyes, in a thickly emotional voice as he gently stroked her check with his fingertips. "I promise we'll be together again the moment it's safe."
"It won't be soon enough." Serena whispered, visibly distressed at the thought of leaving him and possibly never seeing him alive again.
Darien forced a smile for her sake and planted a tender kiss on her forehead, closing his eyes and fighting against everything in him that screamed not to let her go. Regardless of the force within that said they were wolfmates and the pull between them, he – the man – had fallen in love with her and not because they were wolfmates. He loved her because she was strong and stubborn and argued with him about nearly everything. He loved her because of the way she looked at him no matter the disposition in which the look was given – anger, irritation, lust. When she looked at him, he felt like he could fly to the moon where he would bow before the Moon Goddess in gratitude for the wolfmate she had granted him.
If anything happened to her, it would destroy him. He refused to let no how much it was killing him to send her away, to trust someone else with her safety and well being, but he could not fight a war with her there.
"We'll be together again soon." Darien promised her again, planting a single delicate kiss on her lips before he forced himself to release his hold on her and step away.
Everything in him screamed incessantly at him that this was wrong – it went against everything in him to be parted from his wolfmate. He did not even have the comforting luxury of being matelinked with her as Rei and Jadeite were, but at least he could track their progress and keep an eye on them – so to speak – through Jadeite's matelink with Rei.
Rei would not leave Serena alone at any time; he trusted his sister in that she would take care of Serena and see that he was updated every hour they were parted.
Serena swallowed even though her throat was dry as Darien helped Serena into the limousine. Her heart was pounding with emotional anguish. The last thing she wanted to do was leave him; they'd just found each other.
The last thing Serena wanted was to lose him, which was the reason why she'd eventually given in to leaving. As hard as it would be to be so far apart from the man who in such a short time had become more important to her than her own life, it would be absolute agony living without him, especially when she could've done something to prevent it.
Beside her, on the other side of the limousine, Jadeite was helping Rei in. The married mated couple had only kissed briefly before Rei had climbed in, but Serena knew that unlike Darien and herself, they'd had all night to say goodbye in the language of lovers.
"I'll have my cell phone on me at all times," Darien told her as he pulled it from his pocket to show to her and he crouched with ease in the V of the open door, with perfectly steady balance. "Call me whenever you want too. We'll be in constant contact if you wish."
Darien had done all he could do to comfort her short of going with her and Serena felt obliged to give him some comfort in return.
Forcing a weak but loving smile, Serena placed her hand on his arm that was holding his cell phone out for her to see, needing the physical contact with him for the last time for who knew how long. "I'll be fine. I'll be meeting your parents without you, but I'm sure I'll survive that." She forced more confident humour into her smile. "Hell, they'll probably like me all the more for meeting them so soon."
That brought a small smile to his lips for which Serena was grateful. As hard as this was, at least she could look forward to the time when they'd be together again. No doubt Darien would make an occasion of it.
"Be safe," Darien pleaded her, drinking in one last look of her before he forced himself to rise to his feet, step back and close the door. The windows were tinted so heavily with a reflective coating that acted as a two way tinted mirror that not even the eyes of an Immortal could see inside.
Nephlite opened the passenger door of the limousine, but paused before getting in. He turned to Darien, his hard expression one of hard resolution. "We'll keep them safe, Darien. I swear to you on my life, I will not let anything happen to Serena or Rei."
Darien bowed his head once in brotherly gratitude. He was sending Nephlite and Zocite along to escort them to the airport. Once Serena and Rei were on the plane and airborne the two Betas would return to him and the hunt would begin; six of the men Darien was sending would accompany Serena and Rei to England and would remain with them as personal bodyguards for the duration. They were under strict – fear of death – orders that at least two were to be with each woman at all times.
They would not disobey him even if it cost them their lives.
Darien stood silently as he watched all vehicle doors close and the two motorcycle riders mounted their bikes. Moments later the vehicles were moving along the driveway, through the gates and disappeared from sight.
Darien remained where he was until the vehicles were miles away and he could no longer hear the rumbling purr of the motorcycles. The only betrayal of his suffering and distress was his tightly clenched fists and his closed eyes as he once again found himself preying to the Moon Goddess for his women's safety.
They weren't even on the plane yet and already Serena was driving Rei crazy, unintentionally of course.
They'd already driven though the city and were on the opposite side heading for the small private airport that was well away from the Lycaon territory for reasons Rei, for the life of her, couldn't remember.
They were maybe fifteen more minutes away, currently driving through a heavily wooded area which would in a few minutes open up to lush green farmland.
And beside her Serena was fidgeting like a jittery bride on her wedding day.
Normally, Rei was far more tolerant – well, a little more tolerant – but she was trying to do several things at once. Doing several things at once wasn't unusual for her – she was a princess, she'd been raised being prepared for the burdens of a royal life since the cradle – but this time the situation was far more dire.
Rei had to keep an eye on the surroundings for any sign of danger or the Damned, while all the while keeping Serena constantly in her sight and keeping her husband in constant contract on every single step of their journey. She also had their travel documents open on her lap, making sure each and every detail was perfect and as planned. Not one document had been legally obtained, but with the amount Darien had paid for them from their usual but reliable mortal contacts, as always each page would be perfect and vetted; not one would be discovered fraudulent.
But still each and every time each detail was checked and rechecked; after all to err was human.
'You'll be on the plane in a matter of minutes, my precious heart.' Jadeite's voice whispered into her mind from miles away.
'While you remain.' Rei mentally whispered miserably. It wasn't easy for them to be apart for even the shortest time; even now her heart, soul and her body missed the touch of her love. This was going to be hard, being apart for how long they couldn't say, but it was worth it if her mate wasn't worried to distraction over her wellbeing while fighting the battles that were fast approaching.
'We are never apart.' Jadeite reminded her before he pulled his focus from her thoughts to answer Darien's seemingly incessant inquiry of their progress to the airport.
Rei couldn't help but smile. The two men were so alike. Rei knew if their positions were reversed Jadeite would be tormenting Darien with the same constant need for updates of their wellbeing and progress.
Beside the princess, Serena was becoming more and more agitated and restless, squirming in her seat and looking around them as if she truly did expect Darien to appear out of thin air at any moment at having decided that he really couldn't let her go away for so long.
But Serena knew better; Darien would send her to the moon for the rest of her life if that's what it took to keep her safe.
Serena didn't know how Rei could be so calm and still. Yes, the princess had her matelink and was hundreds of years old, but still she was a woman in love, surely she was far more anxious than she was letting on?
Just as the thought passed through her mind, Rei stiffened beside her as if she'd suddenly been turned to stone. Her body language screamed that something was very wrong.
Serena whirled to fully face Rei immediately after the Lycaon Princess's head snapped up so violently that she had to have given herself whiplash, her face consumed by sheer alarm and perplexing puzzlement.
"What is it?" Serena asked, her heart pounding in her ears. Everything about Rei now screamed that something was gravely wrong.
Serena preyed that it wasn't an attack on Darien or Jadeite, or anyone else in the pack.
"I don't know." Rei replied, sounding truly baffled and alarmed. "Something's very wrong. My matelink with Jadeite has been severed. I can't hear him at all; I can only just barely feel him."
In the front seat, both Nephlite and the Lycaon driver stiffened at hearing Rei's words, both immediately began rapidly scanning the passing surroundings.
Rei closed her eyes and poured everything into her matelink, all her consciousness and will, trying to reach Jadeite, to force her way through the seemingly solid wall that was suddenly and unexplainably blocking the matelink. Her mate was still alive, she could feel it, it was the only thing that kept her controlled, but already after only seconds, she felt alone and hollow. Nothing like this had ever happened before, it shouldn't be possible – she'd never heard of anything that was capable of interfering with a matelink except death – but something was somehow blocking the link!
Eyes flaring open, Rei grabbed hold of Serena and drew her close as she opened her mouth as the realisation struck her, "Watch out! We're being attacked! It's a trap!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth that it came to pass and chaos exploded all around them. The sound of tearing and crumpling metal, shattering glass, vicious shouts, ferocious howls, growls and snarls filled the air around them in the space of one instant to the next.
From Rei's side, Serena watched as the driver and Nephlite, who was sitting in the passenger seat, reacted, slamming on the breaks as the black SUV in front of them screeched to a halt. Serena couldn't see what had made the vehicle so suddenly stop but whatever it was it was very unlikely that it was because of a tree across the road. They were on a straight section of road, the vehicle in front would've seen the obstruction long before they'd come close.
From somewhere behind them the sound of something hard colliding with a heavy vehicle – the SUV behind them no doubt – thundered through the air like an explosion, but before they even had time to react, a second deafening explosion of noise pulsed through the air.
The sound of twisting, tearing and bending metal made Serena whirl around in her seat. The SUV behind them was no longer behind them; it took her a moment but she soon located it. The black SUV was now nothing but a distorted twisted chaotic piece of torn and twisted metal and broken glass that was wrapped around the thick base of a tree.
The opposite side of the SUV than what was completely wrapped around the tree was violently bowed inwards; the SUV had been hit hard with something with a lot of force and had been sent hurling into the base of the tree. The SUV was now the shape of an stretched hourglass.
Oh, dear lord. Serena sent a silent prayer upwards that the men in the vehicle had had time to get out before being hit. She couldn't see how anyone, even a superhuman Immortal could survive THAT!
Without any warning, the back half of the limousine violently lurched forward and into the air as a massive black wolf with a white chest and paws – a Lycaon wolf – landed heavily on the front hood of the long vehicle so heavily that the hood gave under the weight of the massive creature with a loud squeal of protesting and buckling metal, and in effect lifting the back wheels off the road.
Serena could see the creature's black eyes glaring at her with intent lewd lecherousness and she knew that this Damned Lycaon had come specifically for her.
In the front seat, the driver snarled wrathfully, throwing open his door and shifting at the same time. The driver – a Lycaon whose name Serena did not know – lunged at the Damned wolf, and the two flew off the hood and backwards through the air, disappearing from sight as they engaged in a ferocious battle to the death, tumbling over each other in an blur of colour and frenzied motion.
While the driver had shifted and knocked the Damned Lycaon off the bonnet, Nephlite had twisted his body and had slid gracefully through the partition into the back with them; he was at their side in less than two seconds, crouching in the back with them in the space between the two parallel backseats in the back of the limousine.
Looking over Nephite's shoulder, through the now badly cracked windshield, Serena saw the SUV in front of them, the one Zoisite had been travelling in, but there was no one in the vehicle, evidenced by that all the doors were wide open with no one in sight.
Serena feared not just for Zoisite, but for all of the guards who'd been sent with them, both Lycaon and Anami.
Serena didn't want anyone dying for her.
Nephlite pulled a cell phone from his jacket and handed it too Rei. "Call Darien. We need reinforcements, now! Then call the decoy SUV and tell them to get here now-!"
Nephlite never had the chance to finish his sentence as simultaneously on both sides of them, metal stretched in violent protest and glass shattered as taloned hands pierced the metal of both back doors and ripped the two doors from their hinges, exposing them all to the two Damned Anami.
The deafening chaotic noise of the battle beyond became louder as the only barrier between it and them was ripped away. A chaotic combination of thunderous roars, bone-chilling snarling, meaty thuds and screeching tearing metal filled Serena's ears.
Serena could do nothing to stop the short shrill scream from escaping her parted lips that had Rei tightening her arms around her protectively.
Nephlite snarled savagely at the two Damned, but that was all the warning they received before he launched into action.
With a powerful leap, Nephlite flew upwards as he simultaneously shifted into his wolf form – a deep rich forest brown wolf as massive in size as Darien's wolf form – tearing straight through the fabric and metal of the limousine roof, tearing a hole the size of a child's inflatable paddling pool.
Rei had to get Serena out of there, but they couldn't make a run for it; there was no telling just how many Damned were out there. There might even be Damned waiting in the woods for them to run, ready to catch them without the help of their guard. Her hearing told her that there were at least thirty on the battlefield that raged around them with a vicious ferocity that Rei had never known.
As the Lycaon princess, Rei had actually had very little engagement with the enemy, unlike Darien; the greatest warrior of all Lycaon kind.
So Rei did nothing but hold Serena down, shielding her with her own body as Nephlite exploded out of the vehicle, twisting his wolf form to land heavily on the Damned – on their right – that had been reaching in towards them.
But Nephlite did not take the time to kill the Damned beneath all four of his paws; instead he once again leapt high into the air, sailing impressively over their heads to crash into the second Anami on the other side of the mangled vehicle.
Momentarily clearing their path to the woods.
Rei knew it was risky, but it was the only chance they had. As risky as it was for them to try to run, remaining on the battlefield was even more so for Serena. Running was a risk that they had no choice but to take; Nephlite had intentionally cleared their path and they were going to oblige him.
It truly sickened Rei that she'd have to leave Nephlite, Zoisite and the eight other guards to face this battle without her, especially when they were outnumbered by near two to one, but she had no choice. She had to get Serena out of there.
Protecting her brother's mate, who was renewed hope of her people, was her first priority. She was the Lycaon Princess and sometimes that meant making the difficult decisions – something her brother knew better than any other of their kind, other than their currently reining parents.
Rei tensed her legs and tightened her hold on Serena, preparing to leap from the vehicle and run as fast as she possibly could, while carrying Serena, into the trees. She had no intention of stopping until they were safe.
Which would be Anami territory; the border of the Anami territory was only forty miles away, closer by half than Lycaon territory.
Above them, the hole in the limousine's roof spontaneously expanded, the piercing screeching sound of tearing metal made the two women wince in pain, to reveal three Anami Damned, each of whom continued to pull the metal of the limousine roof until the entire roof above them was gone.
Most of the abused metal actually came free of the vehicle.
Rei growled warningly low in her throat, releasing her hold on Serena completely.
It was now or never.
Without thinking about it, Rei grasped hold of Serena by the waist and effortlessly tossed her out through the doorway in the direction that Nephlite had cleared their path to the trees, and followed Nephlite's example.
Launching herself high up into the air Rei willed her body to shift, mentally calling her Beast up from deep within and giving it the control of her body. It was a familiar pain that Rei didn't even feel anymore as in less than three seconds her body had shifted into her wolf form.
All three of the Damned Anami that surrounded the limousine – who hadn't expected Rei to shift – stumbled back in surprise as she caught them off guard, giving Rei the split second she needed.
Landing lightly on the ground, Rei was already moving again before her back paws even touched the earth. Serena was still airborne but gravity had already reclaimed her, she would only remain airborne for another second or two before she hit the ground, hard.
Bowing her head low, Rei forced all her speed and strength into her legs as she dove under Serena's flailing form.
Serena's mind couldn't catch up with what was happening. One moment she'd been flying through the air – for at least fifteen feet – because Rei had thrown her out of the vehicle as if she were a small lifeless weightless doll, and the next she landed painlessly on a warn soft furry –and moving – surface. Or at least she thought she'd landed – she was still flying through the air even though she could feel something solid beneath her.
Whatever was happening, it had happened so fast that she was having trouble getting command of her body again even though she could practically feel the adrenaline flooding her system. Her heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she couldn't hear anything else.
All Serena could understand was that she was somehow moving much faster than was humanly possible.
Rei couldn't run as fast as she wanted too, not if she wanted to keep Serena on her back where she'd landed after Rei had caught her before she'd dashed into the trees, away from the battle.
They were on their own now, at least until they made it to Anami territory where they'd find safety until Darien and Jadeite came for them. Rei had no doubt that Andrew wouldn't use everything at his disposal to protect them.
There was nothing they could do to help Nephlite and the others, just as none of them couldn't be of any help to the two of them, not as dangerously outnumbered as they were. The best thing Rei could do for everyone was to get Serena far away and send help, even though she knew that by the time help could arrive, the battle would long be over.
If only her matelink wasn't somehow being jammed! She could've called for help the moment she'd realised they were under attack!
No, not attack.
Trap. Ambush. The Damned had been waiting for them to drive right into their trap, which meant that either Diamond was watching them and had figured out the fake decoy or there was a spy in their house.
If they did manage to get home again, Rei intended to find out which it was. If there was a traitor amongst them, she was personally going to tear the traitor limb from limb!
PAIN!
Pain exploded through Rei's entire right side as something slammed into her – in mid-stride – with the force of a bullet train, sending her flying sideways through the air for a several metres before she slammed into the thick trunk of a tree that caused the whole tree to shake violently from the force of impact.
Rei's last conscious thought before she was swallowed by darkness was for Serena and Jadeite.
Serena groaned painfully from where she lay in the damp forest floor that was covered in decaying leaves and damp black earth.
Only moment ago Serena's mind had finally been able to catch up to what had happened and where she was. Rei had thrown her out of the limousine but had shifted and caught her before she'd come crashing down to earth. Then, carrying her on her back, Rei had bolted into the trees, taking her away from the battleground.
But without warning, and so fast that Serena hadn't even seen the cause – not that she would've even if her eyes hadn't been pressed into the fur of Rei's back – Serena found herself tumbling across the forest ground for what must've been several feet.
Fully aware of the severe seriousness of the situation and how much danger she was in, Serena opened her eyes and raised her head – ignoring her body's sharp painful protests.
Two metres from her, Serena saw a fiery red wolf lying limp and motionless at the base of a large tree that had leaves raining from above in plenty.
Rei, who before her very eyes, returned to her human form without as much as a twitch of her finger. Her naked dirt smeared form lie still on the damp earth.
No! No! Rei couldn't be dead! Terrified sickening dread filled her. Forcing her body to obey, Serena rose up onto her hands and knees and clumsily scrambled over to her.
There was no blood and Serena could see that Rei was breathing, but she was already pale and as still as death. She was unconscious and possibly badly hurt.
Serena reached for her, intending to find her pulse just to make sure that Rei was alive, but her hand froze in midair as her entire body filled with horror and comprehension, as a darkly amused chuckle filled the air around her.
It was a chuckle that Serena recognised.
Very slowly, Serena turned her body around, still on her knees, to see the Damned she knew to be Diamond and his lackey Sapphire standing only a few metres from them, looking down at them with victorious amusement and dark anticipation.
Serena swallowed thickly. Rei was unconscious and quite possibly injured, leaving them both defenceless against the two very worst of the Damned.
Serena gave serious thought to hurling the meal she'd eaten before she'd left the manor in an attempt to rid herself of the sickening icy dread that filled her stomach.
Very slowly, so slowly that it actually hurt her battered body, Serena forced herself to her feet, placing herself purposefully between them and Rei's unconscious form. She was only a mere mortal against two Immortals with enough strength between them to level a city with their bare hands, but she wasn't going to stand aside and let them hurt Rei.
Rei had risked everything in her attempt to keep her safe; Serena wasn't going to repay her by letting anything happen to her. She might not be able to stop them if they did want to hurt her, but still she would do all she could to protect the Lycaon Princess, as futile as her efforts were.
Serena drew in a deep slow breath, glaring stubbornly into Diamond's black eyes, knowing that her efforts to mask her fear were unsuccessful. "You will not hurt her!"
Diamond couldn't help but be amused by the young mortal's foolish display of courage. He even found himself admiring her strength and foolish bravery in the face of certain defeat. Her strength would serve him well in that it would be an invaluable quality in the children she would bare for him. "I have no intention of hurting either of you." He told her with an almost gentle voice. "You are both far too valuable."
Serena swallowed again, only this time the act was more like a gulp. Everything within her screamed at her to run – even though it would be a futile effort; she'd never be able to outrun either of them – but she held her ground. She would not abandon Rei even for a moment.
Of all the times Serena had come face to face with danger, never had she been in peril as absolute as she was now.
Chapter End Notes:
The deadline for Chapter 9 I have made the end of the month, but you all know me, I'm always late! But it will - pending no more disasters on my end - definitely be posted by the end of the first week of December.