Distorted Truth

Serenity was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling of the bedchamber, with wide open eyes. She couldn't sleep again because she had dreams of drowning in Terron's blood. Theron was not in the bed. He had a late meeting with his new council. He appointed four members of his inner circle, those who supported him before he took the throne, and filled the seats just as Serenity had suggested.

It wasn't just nightmares of Terron's death that troubled Serenity and kept her awake that night. It had been four days since Theron stood before the entire population of the Den and announced that he was releasing the birds from their bondage. The announcement came as a great shock to the general population, though Serenity wasn't entirely sure why, as most individuals in the Den, outside of the palace did not have birds as slaves. It was the uproar of the lords and members of court that Serenity was waiting for. Theron seemed to be braced for it as well. In the next few days, the royal guard would begin visiting households throughout the territory to enforce the new law that no bird, or any creature, was to be held in slavery. If the tiger did not release their birds, they would be arrested.

Constance had been right, most of the birds in the Den wanted to leave to build their own futures and secure their own freedom. Serenity was surprised that only about fifteen birds stayed, including her brother Cevin. He immediately petitioned to be a member of the royal guard. Now, the Den was facing a staffing shortage. Theron had sent word to Allur asking them to send some of their staff over, but none of the birds in Allur wanted to leave their post. Serenity was not surprised by that. The birds in Allur had been in Theron's service for many years and were already free. They were treated with respect and worked daily with tigers in the same positions as their own. Even though Theron presented them as slaves to the rest of the world, he had always treated his birds as staff. Why would they want to leave their safe home to come work in a possibly hostile environment?

Serenity swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. There was no point trying to sleep. She felt restless. She pulled a dark blue robe on over her iridescent blue nightgown and made her way from the room. She walked down the dark corridors of the Den, heading for the kitchen. Maybe some tea would help her get to sleep.

The kitchen was empty, which was not surprising to her. There was a dim fire glowing in the grate, just embers, about to diminish entirely. Serenity started a kettle of water to boil on the stove then moved to the fire to add wood to it.

"Serenity," said a voice. Serenity jumped at the sound and turned sharply to see Lord Amon Carter in the doorframe of the kitchen. She put her hand on her chest and sighed heavily.

"Amon," she said. "You startled me."

He smiled weakly. "Forgive me," he said walked towards her. "Please, let me do that. Tending a fire is no job for a lady."

He took the small log from her hand and stepped by her towards the fire. Serenity looked up at him with gentle eyes. He was very much a gentleman. He obviously did not realize she had tended fires since she was a young child. Lord Carter tended the fire, stoking the flames back to life. The fire cast more light around the dark kitchen, but not much. He turned to look at her with his own gentle expression.

"You are up late," he stated.

"I couldn't sleep," she responded. "I hoped some tea would help calm my mind."

"Calm you? What keeps you awake?" he asked retrieving two mugs from the open shelf over the counter. He placed them next to the stove where the kettle was beginning to boil. Serenity watched him with curious eyes as he moved. She couldn't figure him out. What was his intention? Why did he pay such close attention to her?

"Just worried about my brother," she lied. "The King granted his request to join the royal guard."

"You're afraid he'll get hurt?"

"Or be discriminated against," she nodded.

Lord Carter nodded in understanding. The kettle began to whistle and he picked it up off the stove before Serenity could. He poured the boiling water into the two mugs. Serenity retrieved the tea leaves and dropped them into the water. Lord Carter picked up and offered her one of the mugs. She took it, still smiling, then he motioned for her to move to the large table that stood against the far wall of the kitchen. Together, they sat down to drink their tea.

"It is hard to see someone you care about join the guard," he responded. "But it is a respectable job and noble thing to do. It means that your brother is willing to put his country and his King before himself."

"I know," Serenity nodded. "I just want him to do well."

"He will," Lord Carter said confidently. He sipped his tea quietly for a moment.

"And what keeps you up this late, Amon?" Serenity asked.

"The beds here are too soft," he responded with a smile. "I have a hard time sleeping unless its on a bed as hard as a rock."

Serenity nodded. "Surely, you'll go home soon?"

"I think I will return to Allur before returning to Carna. Lady Amira and I have some business to finish there first."

Serenity took a sip of her tea. "You know when you're leaving?"

Lord Carter shook his head. "No, not yet. Amira is waiting for the King to give her instructions. I imagine it will not be until after your betrothal ball."

Serenity did not want to think about the betrothal ball that was only weeks away. At the ball, Theron would present her as his betrothed publicly to the court. She was sure it might be just enough to push the country to war.

"Do you love her?" She asked so she didn't have to think about the ball.

"That is a very forward question," Lord Carter said with a smile. Serenity's cheeks blushed.

"Forgive me, it is none of my business."

Lord Carter laughed as he studied Serenity with affectionate eyes. He stroked her cheek gently with his fingertips as he smiled. "It's alright," he replied. "I appreciate a woman who is direct."

"Amira is very direct," Serenity teased before sipping more of her tea. She tried to ignore Lord Carter's touch on her cheek. She didn't want him to think that she liked the feeling of his fingers on her, but she also did not want to offend him but pushing him away.

"She is a very strong woman."

Serenity looked at Lord Carter carefully after his comment. "Which is why you don't love her."

He smiled sadly and looked away from Serenity as if sensing she could read him.

"Yes," he replied. "I respect her greatly. She is a fantastic soldier and politician, but that is not someone I want to have as my mate."

Serenity sipped her tea so she didn't say anything else out of turn. She didn't want to embarrass Amira or tell Lord Carter off for leading her friend on.

"I prefer someone who is not as out spoken," Lord Carter said softly as he stared at Serenity. "Still strong and willing to stand up for what is right, but knows her place."

Serenity frowned deeply. She hoped he was not referring to her.

"I don't think anyone's place is permanently defined," Serenity said vaguely with a low voice. She traced her finger around the edge of her mug as she stared back at Lord Carter's red gaze. "And I believe that your mate should always be able to talk to you. Sometimes only your mate can talk you down or put you in your place."

Lord Carter smirked as he leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms over his chest as she studied Serenity. "I've heard that you're very stubborn."

Serenity shrugged. "I don't know about that."

"It takes great strength to survive the abuse that a King can inflict on you," he said slowly. "I can only imagine the trauma you've experienced as a slave for the royal Siberian Tigers. King Terron's cruelty was well known, as was his father's."

Serenity shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She did not want to talk about King Terron or her trauma. It was the reason she couldn't sleep.

"Amon," Serenity said his name delicately in an attempt to change the subject. "You said Carna is very diverse?"

Lord Carter looked at her with curious red eyes, but accepted the change of topic. "Yes," he nodded.

"Have you ever seen any birds there?"

"Yes, of course," Lord Carter said with a perplexed expression. "Falcons and Hawks pass through all the time."

"Birds of prey?" Serenity questioned surprised.

"Yes," Lord Carter nodded still looking perplexed.

"I didn't know there were hardly any birds of prey left," she whispered. "We all thought they must have been killed when we were enslaved."

Lord Carter frowned deeply. "No," he shook his head with a deep frown. "Serenity," he hesitated which caused Serenity to look at him with confusion. "The birds of prey sold you to the Tigerians. You weren't enslaved by the tigers, you were enslaved by your own kind."

A hole opened in Serenity's stomach and she felt as if she were going to be sick. She sipped her tea quickly so she didn't have to speak and to hide her reaction from Lord Carter. How was it possible that she knew so little of her own history? And how did Lord Amon Carter, a panther-tiger half bred, know so much?

"I'm assuming your education was very limited," Lord Carter said softly. He touched Serenity's shoulder gently to draw her attention. She could feel the warmth of his hand through her thin robe.

"Yes," she replied look at him and nodding. "My Mother taught me and my brother how to read and write. She'd teach us late at night after our chores when she was sure that the entire Den was sleeping."

"When did Theron learn you could read?"

"He's always known," she said easily. "His brother never knew."

Lord Carter nodded.

"What else do you know about the birds of prey? Do they still enslave birds they view as less than themselves?"

"No," Lord Carter nodded. "They were librated probably before you were born. Before the war between the Panthers and Tigers concluded."

Serenity nodded. "Have you ever seen a dove in Carna?"

"No," Lord Carter smiled at her and played with her earlobe affectionately. "You, my dear Serenity, are one of a kind."

"Yes, she is," said a voice.

Serenity looked up as Lord Carter turned in his chair. King Theron had entered the kitchen, dressed in black cotton pants and a black robe. His handsome bare chest was revealed. Serenity's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him appearing out of the shadows. The dancing fire casts light on his pale flesh that moved and made him appear to have an orange glow. His purple eyes were looking sharply at Lord Carter.

"Good evening, your Majesty," Lord Carter said standing up and bowing to the King. Serenity picked up the mugs from the table and moved them to the sink. She walked back across the kitchen to Theron, who wrapped his arm around her. She gave him a warm smile.

"Amon and I were discussing Carna and how birds of prey enslaved my kind," Serenity said softly. She placed her hand on his chest as she looked up at him with dark wanting eyes.

Theron's eyes flashed at her for a moment with anger. He turned his gaze to Lord Carter. Serenity frowned slightly. Was he angry that she was talking in the dark with another man who was touching her ear? Or was he angry that Lord Carter was telling her about her history?

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," Theron whispered to her gently. He seemed to remember his tone when addressing her. "Are you ready for bed?"

"Of course," she whispered.

"Go ahead," he nodded his head. "I won't keep you waiting long."

She frowned slightly. She didn't like when he dismissed her in that manner. She looked to Lord Carter. "Thank you for keeping me company, Amon," she said softly with a bow of her head. "I hope you can rest easily."

"Good evening, Serenity," Lord Carter responded. He broke Theron's gaze for a moment, only to look at Serenity as she moved to leave. As soon as she was around Theron, Lord Carter returned his stare to the King's.

Serenity looked over her shoulder as she made her exit. Both men were standing ridged staring at each other. Serenity was worried that Theron was going to unreasonably chastise Lord Carter. Once she was out of the door, she hesitated before walking too far. She strained her ears to try to hear what Theron had to say to Lord Carter.

"Forgive me if I spoke out of turn, your Majesty," Lord Carter said.

"Spare me," Theron said harshly. "You do not need to tell Serenity distorted truths about her people in an attempt to charm her—"

"You know what the truth is," Lord Carter interrupted. "She has a right to know her own history."

"It will only hurt her," Theron retorted. "Stay away from my dove—"

Serenity had heard enough. She transformed into her bird form and sailed through the open air of the corridor, heading for the bedchamber. She knew she would move faster as a bird. When she reached the hall that the bedchamber was in, she returned to her human form. She crept down the hall and paused in front of the bedchamber door. Her hand rested on the doorknob for a moment as she heaved a heavy sigh.

She turned on her heel and marched back down the hall to the floor below where Theron's private study was. She couldn't possibly go to sleep. There was too much on her mind and the King was just going to have to deal with the fact that she wanted to know more about her history. What distorted truth was Theron afraid of her learning?