Theron’s Garden

Much later in the evening, there was a knock on the chamber door that startled Serenity. She sat up from her position on the sofa and looked to the door with alarm. She had been relaxing, reading a book about ancient magic, as there was not much else to do alone in the suite. She stood up and picked up the long thin dagger that had been hiding under the pillow. She tucked it behind her back as she walked across the room, heading for the door.

She placed her hand on the doorknob. "Who is it?"

"Cevin."

Serenity couldn't help but smile at the sound of her brother's voice. She pulled open the door with a large smile on her face.

Cevin looked exactly the same as he did months ago when she left the Den for Allur. He beamed at her with pleased blue eyes. His blond hair was long enough to be braided, but he wore a plain headband on his head to keep it out of his face. He was thin and muscular, as always. He wore dark brown pants and a white tunic. He was holding a covered tray in his hands, Serenity assumed with their dinner.

"Come in," she said excitedly. She dropped her arm to her side revealing the long dagger she held in her hand. Once the door was closed, Cevin looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"Who were you expecting at the door?"

"I wasn't sure who to expect," Serenity said as she placed the dagger on the circular table in front of the sofa. "My time in Allur has taught me to be prepared for anything."

"Are you constantly on guard there?" Cevin asked as he set down the tray.

"No," Serenity nodded her head. "I'm actually very safe."

She embraced her brother around the waist tight. She missed having someone to confide in; yes, she had people to talk to in Allur, but no one she truly trusted with everything. Cevin had always been the person she could talk to about everything, even her relationship with Prince Theron. He was the one person who knew their secret.

Cevin brushed her hair slowly. "I told you you'd escape in time."

Serenity looked at him with a weak smile. "It is different. I am free there, especially these last two month that Prince Theron has been here. I answer to no one. I've learned self defense skills. I go hiking every day in the Black Morning Mountains—" she was speaking with enthusiasm as they sat down and Cevin removed the cover from the tray of food. "—I've read books. I do chores around the palace. I fly whenever I want. I go horseback riding—Cevin, it's an entirely different life."

"I'm sure," he smiled. "And the Prince? How does he treat you?"

"Well," Serenity said sincerely. "My safety is a priority for him."

Cevin nodded before offering Serenity a plate of steamed vegetables and fresh fruit. She thanked him before she began to eat it. "Does he treat you as well as he used to?"

Serenity glanced at Cevin. She understood what he was alluding to. She nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "If it is possible, I think I am falling more in love with him than before."

"Has he made his feelings known?"

Serenity frowned slightly before taking a bit of her food. "He confuses me," she confessed. "He seems to love me, but at times he is expressionless and cold. He's never rude or abusive," she added quickly. Cevin nodded in understanding.

"Is it possible that your view of your relationship with the Prince is skewed?"

Serenity looked at her brother seriously. "No," she replied. "I'm confident that he shares my feelings in some manner, but due to his position he cannot make them known."

"So, you're not confused," Cevin replied. "In some ways you are still a slave to a master—"

"—even when free, a person always serves a master whether it be their lover, their king or their god," Serenity intrupted harshly. She did not like what her brother was suggesting. That Theron did not love her, was simply using her in a nicer and more gentle way that Terron had. "Tell me what is different here," she said after taking a bite of food.

"Annabelle is getting married," he said easily following her change of subject. "Prince Telson granted her permission to marry that robin who works in the kitchens."

"That's good news," Serenity beamed.

"Maggie and Summer were given to Lord Garad," he continued mildly. "They left the Den just after Prince Theron returned."

"Lord Garad?" Serenity asked interested. Lord Garad was one of the twelve in Theron's circle; the one who questioned the Prince's lack of bride.

Cevin nodded. "I barely know of him," he said. "Maggie and Summer were worried because no one in the Den knows of his reputation."

Serenity frowned and nodded. "Prince Theron seems to think he is a worthy Lord. I met him in Allur."

"What did you think of him?"

"Well, I met the young Lord Garad," Serenity responded. "It was a short exchange. One where he questioned when the Prince would take a mate."

Cevin was studying Serenity closely. "You hope he'll choose you?" There was a tone of disapproval on his tongue. Serenity glanced at her brother quickly with a dark stare.

"I do not hope for anything, I am simply thankful to be a little more free."

Cevin nodded with a smirk at her defensive response. He took a bite of his vegetables as he studied his younger sister. She tucked her silvery curls behind her ear as she avoided his eye and eat her dinner. He had worked so hard to keep her safe when they were younger, but he failed her. She was taken and tortured by the worst of the Tigerian royals. Now she was caught between them, and in love with one. Even if she wouldn't admit it to him, Cevin knew Serenity well enough to know that she loved Theron and hoped he would make her his mate; despite what the laws said; despite what the rules of society were. She wanted to be with him and she hoped, hopelessly in Cevin's opinion, that Theron would choose her over everything else: life as he knew it, his place within the social order and royal family.

"I'm happy to hear you are ready to live again," he said very softly as he stroked her cheek. "I worried that your last escape attempt had completely broken you."

"It almost did," she replied. "But I am better now. I am healing."

"If the King takes you back?"

Serenity frowned deeply. "I would die before I returned to his services," she said soundly as she stared at the ground. She looked up at her brother. "I will never be his again."

Cevin frowned deeply but nodded. He heard the seriousness in her voice.

"Do you trust that Prince Theron will be able to keep you safe?"

Serenity frowned as she looked away from her brother. "I trust Theron, but I do not trust the King."

"Don't let Theron know there is any doubt in you," Cevin advised. "He won't appreciate it."

Serenity nodded. She knew already that was true.

Cevin stood up from his spot. "I must turn in, little sister. I have an early morning in the stables."

Serenity stood up next to him. "Of course," she whispered embracing him. "I'm happy we got to see each other."

Cevin brushed Serenity's hair smoothly as he looked at her eyes and kissed her forehead. "You are a magnificent creature," he whispered. "Remember that."

Serenity nodded with a weak smile.

"I'm sure we'll see each other again soon," Cevin said before pulling away and bidding her good night.

Serenity was alone again. She wrapped her arms around her center as she stared at the food on the table thinking of everything her brother had said. She missed him, but somehow their conversation left her feeling empty. It was as if he didn't approve of her relationship with Theron. She bit her bottom lip. She had been so concerned with how the Tigerian people would view their relationship she did not think of what her own people would think. If Theron's plan worked and he freed the birds, what would they think of their former masters? They wouldn't trust them. They'd probably hate them as she hated her abusers and owners.

Serenity's head was beginning to hurt. She rubbed small circles on her temples with her fingertips trying to relax. She moved out to the balcony of the suite and looked out at the dark night that had blanketed over the Den. She looked down past the wall that surrounded the palace out to the crowded slums of the Den that were not welcoming. The common Tigerian people lived there. It devastated Serenity to see even Tigerian people living in such poverty. How could the royal family leave so many to a certain slow death?

She stood up straight and leaned back, holding the railing of the balcony for support so she didn't fall back. She closed her eyes as a calm breeze pulled her hair over her shoulder and around her face. She imaged she was in her bird form, sweeping through the sky on light wings. She missed flying. She wished desperately that she could jump off the balcony and transform into her beautiful dove form. She swayed on the balcony, pretending she was flying. She opened her eyes to stare up at the full white moon. She sighed heavily. It was no use pretending. Nothing compared to the feeling of really flying.

Without a second thought, Serenity moved to the left to a narrow stairwell that was connected to the balcony. She walked down the stone steps slowly, descending into Theron's private garden. She looked around the flowering maple trees and lush green grass. The last time she stood in the garden was when Theron told her he was leaving for Allur and ending their relationship.

She walked across the grass to a wooden bench under the tree. She saw wild flowers sprouting up around the base of the tree. Without a second thought she lifted her hand and motioned to the grass at her feet, dark purple violets popped up out of the ground, blooming slowly as she used her magic in tandem with the nature around her.

"I always enjoyed watching you grow things in this garden."

Serenity glanced up to see Theron standing before her. He was barefoot, wearing thin brown pants for sleeping in, and no shirt. Serenity stared at him with dark heavy eyes. She didn't really want to see him. His choice of words was interesting. Was he referencing their child that she was growing somehow? Was he trying to tell her that he was happy about the baby and wanted to watch her grow in that manner as well?

Serenity said nothing. She looked back at the grass and moved her hand towards Theron. The flowers sprouted out of the ground in a path towards him.

"Come to bed," he said softly.

"Is that a command or an offer?" she whispered finally.

"You're so angry with me that you won't come to bed?"

So he knew she was angry with him? She finally looked up at him.

"You dismissed me when you learned that I'm carrying your child."

Theron stepped forward as he raised his hand, motioning for her to be silent. "Keep your voice down, Serenity. We don't know who may be listening out here."

Serenity frowned deeply as she leaned back on the bench, crossing her arms over her chest. The garden had been safe enough for them to conduct a secret affair. Why now would it not be safe to discuss their secret child?

Theron moved quickly and sat down next to her. He wrapped one arm behind her on the bench and touched her thigh gently. Serenity glared down at her lap not wanting to look at him. She knew if she looked at his memorizing purple eyes she wouldn't be able to stay mad at him.

"You won't make me your mate if it doesn't suit your political needs," she whispered sorely.

"No," Theron responded honestly. "I have to be very careful how I proceed."

Serenity nodded her head once. She suddenly wished she had thrown herself from the balcony into the garden. Then he would have found her dead instead of growing flowers with her magic on the bench.

"I will always keep you safe—"

"—and around to satisfy your needs when your mate can't?" she said with disgust.

Theron looked down. "I do not want to lose you."

"You never will," Serenity said coldly. "Even if you free my kind someday, I will always be bound to you because of the child."

She stood up from the bench. "I wish to sleep alone tonight, if that is alright, your Highness?"

He frowned when she called him by his title. "Of course, there are extra pillows and blankets in the—"

"I know," Serenity said. "Good evening, your Highness."

She bowed her head to him and turned away, disappearing across the grass back to the narrow stairwell. She was hurt and angry; she desperately wanted to hurt him like he had hurt her. She did not look back at him as she returned to the suite. She gathered the extra pillows and blankets from the linen closet in the bathroom. Then she laid down on the couch to sleep. She was sure hours later she heard the Prince cross the room and close the doors to his room. She laid staring at the couch cushions with her back to his door so he couldn't see that she was awake. She didn't want to talk to him anymore.