Too Much Hope

Serenity desperately wanted to get out of the palace and fly into the Magic Forest again, but Theron had advised against it. He did not think it would be safe for her to leave the Den when someone was still threatening her life. She felt trapped again, by her position next to Theron. Now she was not his slave, but she was trapped in the shadow of his responsibilities and all that came with being his Queen.

There were a few nights that Serenity woke in cold sweats, not from dreams of drowning in Terron's blood, but from nightmares of being killed herself. A dark shadowy figure managed to sneak up on her in the Den and cut her throat. It ended the same every time—she'd wake up gasping for breath as if her air way had just been sliced and she couldn't breathe. Some nights, the terrors were far worse; instead of dying herself, Theron would step in to save her and he would die by the hand of the shadowy masked figure.

Theron did not know of the nightmares. He slept soundly each evening next to Serenity. She was not sure how he managed to sleep. He was just as stressed as she was. Each day the betrothal ball grew closer, but each day no one was captured regarding the threats on Serenity. Each day whoever was responsible got away with it and grew closer to their goal. Serenity knew it was just a matter of time before someone actually tried to kill her. She understood why Theron did not want her to go for evening flights or leave the Den…but she was growing restless. She was beginning to feel something that she had never felt while with Theron: trapped. She needed to get out.

"Good morning."

Serenity was sitting on the edge of her bed looking towards the large bay window across the room. The window was open allowing a warm breeze to blow the thin white curtains in the air. Serenity turned her head to see Theron walking towards the bed. He was wrapped only in a towel, with water dripping down his rippling chest. Serenity couldn't help but smile as she admired his lean physic. She laid back across the bed, on her stomach, as she watched him move across the room towards his wardrobe.

He paused at the edge of the bed, staring at her with the same smiling expression that she had. It was one of love, happiness and desire. Serenity felt a thrill in her stomach. Despite everything that was happening to them, they loved each other. Despite her doubt and fear, their love gave her hope.

"Good morning," she whispered as she stared up at Theron. She placed her chin on her hand as she looked up at him longing in her deep shining navy blue eyes. Theron leaned on the bed, dropping his towel easily and laid across the sheets so his head was near hers.

"What is on your mind?" he asked leaning forward and kissing her revealed neck easily. Serenity couldn't help but smile. "You look like something is troubling you."

"I'm just worried," she whispered honestly. "I wake up every morning and wonder if this is the day that someone will try to kill us or if today will be the day we catch whoever threatens me."

Theron pulled his head back for a moment. His velvet purple eyes were deep and serious as he stared into Serenity's. "That is how we must live every day," he sighed. "I am sorry that I cannot ease your mind. We both knew this would be dangerous. But we will catch whoever is stalking you. And it will get easier with time. My people just need time."

Serenity frowned, rolling onto her side. She reached up and stroked Theron's long brown hair as she leaned over her. "What if they never come around?"

"I assure you we will both die if that is the case."

This did not comfort Serenity in the lease. She wished that she could rule a people that were accepting of her. She wanted to lead people to peace…she didn't want to force people to see that she wasn't any less than they were. Part of her felt those people were lost already. There was no way to change their mind.

"Let's just focus on the present," Theron said taking her hand. "Just one day at a time—"

"You are King," she said sorely. "You always have to focus on the future and the big picture. You need to have a plan, Theron. If your people do not come around, that most certainly means a war is coming like so many have warned."

Theron looked frustrated suddenly. "What would you have me do?"

Serenity frowned. She didn't have an answer he would like. Her flight instinct was starting to set in. She felt she didn't belong in the Den and that she would run.

"Are you prepared to fight for your throne?"

"What so many people fail to see, including you," he said aggressively as he sat up. "Is that I have already fought for my throne—and regardless of what people think of our relationship—I would have liberated the birds. It doesn't matter that you are my betrothed. I would have freed your kind because it is the right thing. This war was always coming—are you willing to stand with me and fight for what is right?"

Serenity felt a hole open in her stomach. Of course she wanted to fight for her people, and for what was right, but she also wanted to survive. She didn't want to lose Theron.

"I don't know if enough of your people are accepting to the idea that my kind are not beneath them," she whispered slowly. "We have so many forces working against us—"

"You can't lose faith, Serenity," he interrupted. "You can't lose hope. If you don't see hope for our situation….how will anyone?"

"Why does everyone's hope have to rely on mine?" she questioned with her own frustration. "I'm a dove, but I'm also a human with emotions and fears. Is that all I am to you? A beacon of hope?" It was a low blow and a question she asked emotionally.

Theron pulled her up so she was sitting in front of him and looked her squarely in the eye. "You are everything to me. You are my hope, my fear, my joy and my burden. You are the single person who has destroyed me and put me back together. And you know that."

Serenity frowned, but didn't dare break his stare. She didn't want to apologize either though because she was angry with him. She leaned forward and kissed him full on the mouth as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He let her kiss him, tempting him, with her full wet lips and deep burning kisses. They knelt on the bed for a few moments, sharing hot kisses. Serenity moved her hands down Theron's chest and touched his manhood with just her fingers. He was already growing hard. She wrapped her right hand entirely around his penis. Slowly, she began to stroke up and down. She leaned back looking at his eyes with wild passion as she touched him.

"Is this your way of apologizing?" he asked.

"This is my way of telling you I want you in me," she responded as she stroked him. "Theron, I love you. And I will stand by your side through this fight. But I also want us to survive it."

Theron pushed her back onto the bed. He touched her hips, coaxing her to roll onto her stomach, which she did. She sat up on her elbows and looked over her shoulder as he pushed her short nightgown up her legs. He kissed the back of her thighs smoothly, dragged his tongue over her cheek, and kissed the small of her back before pressing two fingers into her wet sex. He laid behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder and nibbling her ear as he pleasured her.

"We will survive it," he whispered as she gasped. He kissed her fiercely from behind, bit her lip playfully and nuzzled his face into her neck. It did not take long for him to make her climax with only his fingers. The sounds of her hot moans and gasps made him want her even more. He was trying to control himself, to take it slow. He was always afraid of pushing her too fast and too hard. He never wanted to hurt her. But today, in that moment, the position they were in and the sound of her wanting more, was pushing him over the edge.

Theron sat back, pulled Serenity's hips up and spread her knees apart with his own. He pressed into her without much warning, burying himself completely into her hot sex. She cried out with pleasure as she grabbed the bed sheets and buried her head into the pillows. Theron pumped into her quickly. He couldn't help himself any longer. She felt so good on him—her tight body, her hot wet juices, the sight of her lying below him—it drove him crazy. He gripped her hips hard, digging his fingers into her flesh. He wanted more of her, all of her. He wanted to feel her squirm on his body and press against him.

He reached forward and grabbed a fistful of her beautiful white blonde hair. He pulled on her head, encouraging her to sit up. She lifted her upper body up and put her weight on her hands so she was on all fours. He pulled her head back and pounded into her more quickly. He loved the way she looked before him, the roundness of her butt pressing against his body, the curve of her back and shoulders; the way her hair cascaded down her back and was intertwined with his fingers.

"Serenity," he murmured her name. It was all he could do without screaming.

She turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him with hot desire-filled eyes and pressed her butt against him, pressing him deeper into her. She bit her bottom lip, arched her head back and cried out in ecstasy. The sound of her pleasure brought Theron to his climax. He grabbed her hips with both hands as he thrust into her, holding her tightly as he finished.

Serenity trembled as her orgasm over took her body. She laid her head on the bed, burying her head in the pillows again, as she screamed with pleasure. She gasped in surprised when Theron pulled out of her, leaving her feeling empty. He laid next to her on his back, his chest rising and falling with his long slow breaths.

"Do you trust me?" he asked as he turned his head to look at her.

She beamed at him as she placed her hand on his chest. "You know I do."

He nodded as he turned and looked back at the ceiling. "Then trust that we will survive."

Serenity frowned slightly, but not for long, so he wouldn't see. She trusted Theron to keep her as safe as he could. She trusted that he would act with their best interest in mind. But she didn't trust his people. She didn't trust the council members that resigned or the members of court that talked about them behind their backs. Their fate rested on the trust of others, who frankly, Serenity felt did not support or trust Theron. She laid her head on his chest as she frowned more deeply. Perhaps, it was Theron who was too trusting and had too much hope.