New Violation

Serenity left the dining hall without a second glance and made her way to the kitchen where she put the dirty dishes in the overflowing sink as two young finches were cleaning.

"They're all set in the dining hall," Serenity said.

One of the finches, a young woman, nodded. "Thank you." She grabbed a towel to dry her hands, then picked up a wet clothe to wipe down the table and chairs in the dining hall with. Serenity looked around the kitchen to one of the chefs.

"Will you please make dinner for the King?" she asked. "Steak and potatoes will be sufficient."

The chef, an overweight sparrow, stared at her for a few minutes with curious yellow eyes.

"He's asking for it," Serenity stressed with annoyance. The sparrow nodded and got to work as Serenity crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't appreciate her own kind questioning her with their ugly looks. When she was Terron's personal slave no one gave her any trouble if she asked for something. People almost pitied her—because they knew the abuse she was exposed to. They'd get her anything she asked for in hopes that it might make her visit to Terron a bit nicer.

After waiting for what felt like forever, Serenity picked up the covered tray with King Theron's dinner on it and exited the kitchen. She drifted through the palace towards his bedchamber silently. She knocked gently on the door to his room, but there was no answer. She entered and looked around surprised. The room was dark and empty. She frowned. He must still be in his private study.

Serenity turned, carrying the tray and exited the bedroom. She pulled the door shut carefully behind her. She pinched the tray of food between her arm and hip as she lifted her dress slightly to go back down the stairwell to the floor below. As she began to descend slowly, flashes of her fall down the stairs months ago entered her mind. She paused for a moment, gripping the tray tightly as if it would support her, and closed her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Serenity opened her eyes and met the scarlet stare of Lord Carter. He was ascending the stairs towards her. Apparently, he had not retired immediately after leaving dinner.

"Yes," she forced a smile. "Yes, I'm alright thank you."

Lord Carter stopped a step below her as he looked at her with concern. "You're sure? Let me take your tray." He extended his hands, gently touching her arm and waist as he took the tray from her before she could object.

"Thank you," she said as shivers ran through her body. He stood before her for a moment, smiling, before turning and moving down the stairs. Serenity pulled her dress up slightly and followed him. He was a mysterious man. His dark skin looked smooth and soft to the touch. Serenity remembered how his hands felt on her earlier that morning in the basin: gentle, yet strong. She bit her bottom lip as she thought about him touching her arms again.

"I thought you retired?" she asked as she joined him on the landing.

"I stopped to check on my men," he said easily. "Panthers often get restless in Tigerian territory."

"Why have the two territories been at war?"

"The war ended sometime ago," he said. "Probably before either of us were born. But the tension has remained because of the tiger's treatment of your kind. The war was over the border. Did you know that Allur used to be part of the Pantherian territory?"

"No," Serenity shook her head. "I did not know that."

"That is why it is designed so differently from the Den," Lord Carter looked around him. "It was designed with open beauty in mind, not dense darkness that leaves one feeling stifled."

"You feel stifled here?"

"Don't you?" Lord Carter asked with serious eyes. Serenity frowned slightly. "I'm sorry to hear that the council is not open to your betrothal to the King."

Serenity looked at Lord Carter surprised. She felt that he was speaking out of turn. His scarlet red eyes were looking at her with empathy. "Lady Amira is right, that your marriage is very important to the territory, but not at the cost of your life or love."

Serenity smiled sadly. "Those are kind words, Lord Carter."

It was his turn to smile. "Please, call me Amon. There is no harm with us addressing each other informally. We both serve at the pleasure of our Kings."

Serenity smiled more broadly. "Thank you for your assistance, Amon," she said taking the tray back from him slowly. "I must see to my King. Have a good evening."

"Good evening, Serenity," Lord Carter whispered with a husky tone that caused Serenity to look him straight in the eye. She saw a burning in his red fiery eyes. It caught her off guard. She was not prepared for someone to look at her with the same desire that Theron did. Men had looked at her with lustful eyes her entire life, but no one looked at her with loving desire except Theron…not until now.

She moved away from Lord Carter swiftly, carrying the tray at her waist. Her cheeks were flushed and hot. She was embarrassed by the way he had looked at her. She bit her bottom lip as she knocked on the private study door. At the same time, it was nice to be desired in some way.

"Enter."

Serenity opened the door to the study. She closed it easily with her foot and made her way across the room to where Theron lounged in his oversized chair. She placed the tray of food in front of him and stood up straight.

"I thought you might be hungry," she whispered as she folded her hands in front of her.

"Thank you," Theron said putting his book down and leaning forward. He lifted the lid of the tray up and put it to the side. He looked up at Serenity with curious purple eyes. "Why don't you sit down? Did you eat already?"

"Yes," Serenity nodded as she rubbed her cheeks.

"What is the matter?"

Serenity shook her head. "Nothing is the matter. I'm a little worried about Amira. I think she is falling in love with Lord Carter."

Theron shook his head. "Amira doesn't fall in love with single men."

"She doesn't fall in love with any men," Serenity smirked. "But she is quite smitten with Lord Carter."

Theron shrugged. "Leave her love life alone. It is none of your business. Besides, don't we have enough to worry about?"

Serenity was thankful that he was opening the conversation to their relationship. She nodded as she leaned forward in her chair. She picked up the bottle of wine that sat on the table and poured more into Theron's glass. Then, she picked up the glass and took a sip of it slowly.

Theron's purple stare watched her the entire time. He loved the way she moved so gracefully. And he loved that she was taking something of his. He knew that it meant she was confident and comfortable in their relationship despite what she had learned that day.

"Did you leave the Den because of the falcon's prophecy?"

Theron blinked and looked her in the eye again. "Yes," he said. "I wanted time to think everything through without any distractions." He leaned closer to her, his face almost touching hers. "You often distract me, Serenity."

She couldn't help but smile at him. "If you believe that making me your mate is still the best decision, why did the falcon's comments upset you?"

He sighed and leaned back, thinking carefully. "Her voice is always there, in the back of mind, telling me I'm wrong; that I am being selfish and foolish. That I only see my plan working because I want it to, despite her warnings. I have been able to ignore and push her voice out of my head, but to hear her say it all again in person….it just shook me…" his voice trailed off.

"Are you confident that our marriage will unite the territory over time?"

"Yes," he said sternly.

"Are you confident that your council will come around and accept me as your betrothed?"

"Yes," he repeated.

"Then I think you should make it public that I am your betrothed."

Theron looked at her surprised. "That could be dangerous if it's premature."

"Then you'll have your answer to the falcon's voice in your head," Serenity said. She repositioned herself up onto her knees and leaned on the armrest of the couch so she was leaning closer to Theron. He smiled at her as her beautiful silver white curls fell over her bare shoulder revealing her pale neck on the opposite side.

"If the public announcement is not accepted by the court or citizens, then you can re-assess. It will allow you to test the strength of our union without actually making me your mate."

"And if it is not well received?"

"Then you shun me away somewhere and marry a respectable tigress who the kingdom will support."

Theron was studying Serenity seriously. His purple eyes gazed into her trying to read deep into her mind. "You're serious about this?"

Serenity nodded. "You have to take a step forward, Theron. It may knock you a few steps back, but then you'll at least known where you have to go. I'm tired of sitting waiting for everyone to be ready for me to be your mate."

Theron stroked Serenity's cheek with his gentle fingertips. "You are more of a force then I could have ever imagined. But it will be dangerous. People will try to hurt you and divide us."

"I trust that you'll keep me safe," she replied instantly. "We both know this is right. It's right for us, for the kingdom and especially for my people."

"Alright, I will address the council tomorrow," he said. "The public after that."

Serenity beamed. "Alright." She stood up and moved to Theron. She leaned over him, kissing him deeply on the mouth. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body onto his lap. She straddled him easily while wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"There is fear from the council that you have power over me."

Serenity smiled slightly as she kissed Theron's neck sensually. Her tongue pressed against his flesh and she sucked lightly making his breath catch for a moment.

"Don't all women hold some kind of power over men?" she asked quietly.

Theron pushed her back slightly to look her in the eye. She frowned and glided her finger over his lips. She wanted to continue kissing him. He stared at her with longing in his deep purple eyes.

"Are you afraid that I have power over you?" she asked as she glided her fingers down the edge of his collar. She began to pull at the buttons of his shirt, opening it to reveal his perfectly chiseled chest.

"No," he responded instantly. He lifted her chin so she was looking him in the eye. "I'm not afraid of your power. I have always found your strength enticing."

Serenity felt butterflies in her stomach and a heat tingle in her center between her legs. Theron held her chin and pulled her face closer to his. He kissed her passionately on the mouth. They sat together kissing deeply for a long time, teasing each other with their love and desire.

His fingers pulled at the ties on the back of her dress, loosening it on her shoulders. Before he could push the dress down off her arms there was a sharp knock on the chamber door. Theron sighed heavily as he buried his head into her neck. He peered over her shoulder at the door with an ugly glare.

Serenity smiled slightly as she stood up off of the King. He stood up next to her as she turned her back to him. He tightened the strings on the back of the dress for her so it wouldn't fall off.

"Enter," he called as he brushed her hair over her shoulder. His fingers brushed her pure white feathers gently as he leaned down and bit her shoulder playfully.

The door opened as Serenity continued to smile at Theron's affection.

"Your Majesty," Lord Joss Michael entered the private study. He was dressed in his formal royal guard armor. "There is something you need to see immediately."

Serenity followed closely behind the King as Lord Michael led them up the stairs to the next floor where the bedchambers were. She was surprised to see a number of people standing in the center of the hall outside her own bed chamber. What the hell was going on? There were three royal guards, two young female birds. One was crying while the other held her tightly.

"A chamber maid went to turn down your bed, when she discovered this," Lord Michael said as he motioned for the King and Serenity to enter the room.

Serenity's mouth fell open in shock. The room was destroyed. Furniture was overturned, the wardrobe was open with clothes falling out of it. All the drawers of any piece of furniture were pulled open and their contents spread all over the room. Every piece of fabric was shredded and torn—the bed sheets, comforter, curtains and Serenity's clothes.

In the center of the room was a clear spot that seemed to be untouched by the mess. Serenity approached it carefully, stepping over her destroyed belongings. On the ground lay what looked like a small pillow. She gasped once she got closer. It was a stuffed animal; a white bird. In the center of the stuffed bird was a small dagger and a white ribbon was tied around the handle. 'Death to the Dove' was written on the ribbon in stark red ink.

Serenity turned away from the stuffed bird and into Theron's chest. He embraced her easily but looked to Lord Michael.

"Start interviewing the staff," he said quickly. "Is Savy alright?"

Lord Michael nodded. "She's startled, but fine."

"Ask her if she saw anything," King Theron continued. "Then interview the rest of the staff. Someone saw something. I want to know who did this before tomorrow evening."

"Yes, your Majesty," Lord Michael bowed at the waist.

Serenity looked up at Theron with petrified eyes. Someone had been in her room. Touched and destroyed all of her belongings. She felt violated in an entirely new way.

"This is just the beginning," Theron whispered as he stroked her cheek.

Serenity nodded. "You think it will get worse?"

"It could. You're sure you want me to announce you as my betrothed?"

"Yes," Serenity said strongly. "Perhaps it will weed the intruder out. They'll be even more upset and see that their attempt to intimidate us is not working."

"Alright," Theron nodded as Serenity pulled out of his arms and moved to the closet. She looked at the shredded and torn clothes with a heavy sigh. "You have some clothes in my chamber still. You'll sleep there from now on."

"Of course," Serenity agreed. Something silver caught her eye underneath a damaged dress. She bent down, pushing the black material out of the way and picked up a thin silver chain. She stood up straight. It was a necklace with a small yellow diamond shaped like a cat eye on it.

"What is it?"

Serenity shrugged. "A necklace, it's not mine though."

She extended it to Theron who looked at it closely. "Perhaps it was the intruders," he said wrapping his hand tightly around it. "Come on, I'll ask the staff to clean it all up when they're ready."

Serenity nodded and followed Theron out of the room. He escorted her to his bedchamber in silence. She felt numb and terrified deep in her bones, even though she would not say it out loud. She had made a promise to herself a long time ago that she would never let anyone know they scared her. Now, she felt like it was more important than ever to appear steady and strong, because Theron was right. It was going to get worse once he announced their betrothal.