A Reluctant Alliance

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She feels her face warm as his finger trails over her skin, but Ana doesn't move and she doesn't stop him. She'd like to say she's used to such gestures by him now, that she understands them, but the truth is she doesn't. She doesn't know why he does them when they are clearly not gestures of friendship and they are not in front of an audience, and her body reacts every single time. Sometimes it is in a strong reaction that leaves her reeling - not a bad way, but still - and other times its subtle. Like now. She could still feel the lingering affect of his touch long after he'd gotten off the bed and Ana is calmed by it, a warmth blossoming in her middle that is...nice.

It reminds her of fire and well, she loves fire. Especially Oran's fire, though, she will not tell him that.

At his call, she scrambles out of bed, less than graceful as she tumbles to the floor, but making up for it as she rolls to her feet and grins sheepishly, coming out with him onto the balcony. The waves enchant her instantly and Ana grips the rail as she rests against it, smelling deeply the salt air as it comes to play with her hair again, messing up any progress Oran might have made with the fiery mane a minute ago. She looks at her husband with a wide smile and laughs as her stomach growls nearly as loudly as his had done before they'd gotten here.

"I think that might be wise else I might turn into the dragon that purple Tellian thought I was and eat you."

She chuckles at the thought, moving back inside, her fingers working to unbraid her hair and let it tumble in waves down her back. Her tail caresses Azule where he has fallen asleep on the floor, at the foot of the bed and Ana stops briefly in front of a mirror hanging on the wall, tilting her head as if she can't even really recognize the woman staring back at her. She feels this way all the time and dismisses it, turning to look over her shoulder at Oran as her fingers trail over the decorative shells worked into the wood of a dresser.

"Oran...why don't you like the ocean?" She had told herself she wouldn't ask and if he reacted negatively, she would leave it be, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her this time.
 
So what? Oran is called to Ana, the friendship in his eyes growing more and more as the days pass. Ever since that first dance and later on the conversation, he knows that he can trust her. Therefore, he opens himself up just a little bit more every time. Instead of reacting as he wishes, in a vacuum of rage, he takes a step back and assesses -why- she asks the questions that she does. He dare thinks it is becoming part of his train of thought. No longer the snapping Oran any longer but the calm and quiet one, just like Gev. Well, perhaps Gev really isn't so calm but he is quiet and Oran thinks better on himself if he is compared to his elder brother. Ever since he was old enough to understand rank, he always wanted to be like and best his brother. In some aspects, like the flame training, he has. In others, such as flying or swimming, he has actually needed lots of assistance learning the ways.

The same feelings ping at his chest as he looks up into the mural, remembering that one day. Letting forth another breath, only aggravated this time, he states clearly. "Almost drowned. Never want to go back." Lifting himself up from the bed, he realizes that he did indeed just snap at her. Shutting his eyes, he silently curses to himself, curling his fingers in the sheets before standing up. "Accept my apologies for my snapping. I never meant to harm you."

Not quite sure what it is drawing him closer to Ana, he takes her hands from the dresser and kisses her largest knuckle on each hand before letting them go. Perhaps the salt of the water is making his brain swim, causing his judgement to be off balance? Never before has he shown so much affection in one sitting. First the hair and more recently the hand kissing. Oran rolls his eyes at himself once he turns his back. "Let us scavenge for some food, Ana." Not seeming too angry at her curiosity, he thinks that she is just wanting to know why he turns away from the sea. Water is the only element that can destroy him completely. He feels awkward when weightless in the pool, knowing he has no foot in what he is doing - his flames and ambition doused.
 
For a moment, Ana fears she's crossed a line, gone too far and when he snaps at her, she finds herself cringing back, not because she is afraid of his anger, but because....well, because she cares. She cares about what he thinks and how he feels and she suspects she's drug up bad memories for him and she is genuinely concerned she might have hurt him by doing so. When she hears he almost drowned, she feels guilty for asking and looks away, biting her lip. When he apologizes a moment later, she only nods, not feeling hurt by his tone in the slightest, but understanding it. She probably would have snapped too if he'd asked about the scars on her tail. It's...a delicate topic for him, this ocean memory, and she had stumbled where she wasn't welcome.

She is so busy with her thoughts that she doesn't realize he's moved until he takes both her hands and kisses her knuckles. Ana stares at him with wide eyes, unsure what to do, how to react as a surge of heat sweeps through her body and she feels almost like his fire has swept through her veins, boiling her blood. That unfamiliar something inside her leaps up, trying earnestly to escape, but it is hindered once more and Ana finds herself only breathing again when its settled once more. When he lets go of her hands, she takes a step back, her emotions and thoughts in such a whirl that for a moment she doesn't understand his words.

When the register, she nods jerkily and moves past him quickly, no fear in her movements, but her body is trembling and she is hopeful that he doesn't see it. She doesn't understand what is wrong with her. Is this normal? Is this....attraction? Is this okay? Does he even realize what doing this to a female does to their mind?! She doesn't know and she doesn't like not knowing. Ana's hands shake slightly as she ties Azule to the bed, not wanting him to get out if anyone opens the door. She's a bit more steady when she stands again and turns back to Oran, offering a smile that she hopes is convincing. She honestly feels too confused to actually mean it at the moment, but she's not mad at him and doesn't want him to think she is.

"Ready." He can lead the way. She is still trying to settle her thoughts again and they aren't cooperating.
 
Oran wants to turn around and scream at Ana, tell her the suffering he has gone through. Wanting to breathe but not being able to with the crashing of the waves. Salty water causing you to gurgle out any commands for help and instead you foil. Even though his fire can be tamed, the ocean tides are stationary. Even the greatest of wizards or enchanters cannot stop the moons from kneading the water like a lump of dough. Those white foamy waves curl in contempt in on themselves, pushing everything out of its path. Oran is at least lucky he had a beach to land on and not the unforgiving face of a cliff.

She has made him remember, she has made him re-live that moment. It's her fault! Yet, Oran sees her shake, tremble and shrink before him. Seeing him hurt someone he cares about right in front of his eyes. That's what made him kiss her knuckles. A sincere apology. An act of kindness for in his nation, you always kiss her knuckles. Never her cheek, lips, nor forehead. The hands may retaliate where as the head can only turn in the other direction. Thinking it's best just to keep moving, Oran turns around, leaving his helmet on the bed. Everyone will know who he is and for that he is thankful. As long as there are eyes upon him, he will not be suffocated by the waves for if he were alone, they would overpower him. That much he knows.

Ana allows him to lead the way and he happily abides to her offer. With his chin raised, he marches down the hallway, not even aware of how succinct his footsteps are. He means to step where he steps, there are no guesses or loss of thought. Completely zoning in, he looks to his feet for a while, not hearing any other life in the hallway but their own. "We can even bring up something for Azule." He comments behind his shoulder, knowing she will be there. Down the grand staircase they go, having it twist around like a perfectly peeled orange. "I am sure there will be lots and lots of seafood. I hope that is alright with you." Grinning, he moves through the reception area, nodding at other humans and folk lounging around. They're reading, playing games quietly, and chatting. Oran has to try his very best not to listen in on them, getting a tingling feeling up the back of his hand that they're plotting to kill him. Shaking his head, he scolds himself for having such stupid thoughts.
 
Ana has calmed and gained her composer by the time she and Oran arrive downstairs and she smiles politely at those who smile at her, but her mind is elsewhere. She barely registers Oran's half-question, merely nodding, telling him its fine distractedly. She's not even sure where her mind is, but its not here in the present and when Oran leads them into a restaurant she follows him without question, her body knowing the motions when the host seats them and her attention sufficent enough that she can order a drink when the waiter comes.

After that, though, she runs her fingers through her hair, a habit when she is nervous or in deep thought and Ana looks out toward the sea as they have been seated near a window. Her thoughts are twisting and whirling over themselves, tangling to a snarl in her head and the more she tries to unravel it, the more complicated it gets until she's frustrated and has given up. It makes sense, though. Her thoughts are centering on Oran and when she does that, there seems to be no actual hope of solving anything.

Ana sighs, finally bringing her attention back to her husband in question and she flushes slightly, realizing she's been ignoring him. She looks down at the table. "Sorry." The Princess searches for a topic then, but her mind draws a blank and it's the first time its done that in a while. Her gold-hazel gaze flickers around, finally landing on a strange-looking alien. Ana tilts her head and glances at Oran, her voice only a whisper.

"What species is that?" She honestly doesn't know.
 
Oran knows that she is in some sort of state, not knowing why, he figures she is still upset about him yelling. Not understanding, he knows that she has forgiven him for it so why does she still seem distant? Yes, her eyes look around and she is obviously thinking as her hands run through that mess of red hair. Was it my touch then? I knew I should have just kept them to myself. Chewing on the inside of his lip, he clears his throat as the average sized fish comes to greet them and introduce himself as their honored waiter for the evening. Handing them both a menu, Oran easily takes Ana's for her when she doesn't respond. When the waiter asks what is wrong, Oran shakes his hand dismissively in the air, "She is just amazed by all the sights. She... is new to the view of the ocean and having it be so close is mesmerizing." Coming up with that one the spot, Oran believes his words to be true. She does cast her gaze across the waters.

Staying silent, Oran knows how precious it is to let someone chew away at their thoughts before asking to at least have a civil conversation. His hands come together in front of him a moment before lifting up the menu and taking a look. His heart in his chest drops when he realizes that they're in Tellian. His eyebrows narrow and he snaps shut the menu, flagging a waiter down. "Would it be at all possible to either get a translator or just a set of Common menu's?" With a nod, the waiter moves off in a huff to please the two. That's when he hears her voice tickle his ears, apologizing. His hand comes up and he flicks his fingers to the right, "Don't worry about it, really, don't." His voice is calm once again, no hint of anger or aggression towards her pondering thoughts.

Looking over his shoulder, he pretends to look at the pillars, admiring how they fit well in the oval shaped room. "Which one?" He asks, clearly not knowing what she is talking about for there are plenty of odd creatures wiggling or walking across this area.
 
His question makes Ana realize just how odd her own question is and she breaks into a smile and then soft laughter, shaking her head at herself. And just like that, her usual demeanor snaps back in place and she's taking in everything with a touch of a smile in her eyes, admiring the beauty around her briefly before focusing on Oran again. Subtly she uses her tail to point out the alien she is looking toward, knowing that if anyone sees the movement of the red appendage they will mistake it for simple twirling or twitching.

"That one." It's a creature with hundreds of sharp little spikes covering its body and it looks more like a large ball with a mouth than anything else. It doesn't walk but hovers over the ground, not even really in its seat and it's gray in color. It's really like nothing she's ever seen.

Even as she waits for Oran's answer, Ana is looking around again and she finds herself relaxing, her nose bringing her the many scents in this place. She can learn much from such scents, about the atmosphere and the emotions of those gathered her, whether there is underlining tension or genuine relaxation. This place is as calm as it appears to be, boring almost and Ana quickly grows uninterested, looking back at her husband.

"When did you say you were last here?"
 
As soon as his amber hues hit her own golden ones, he sees the smile light up on her face, the trill of laughter traveling through the air. Just knowing that she isn't completely mad at him anymore, Oran loosens his grip on his own knee under the table. The waiter comes and hands them a revised menu in Common so that they can actually understand what they're reading. Once Oran turns to the waiter and they're ready to order, he opens his mouth to tell the wet fish what they want but he remembers his courteously and holds a hand out to Ana, letting her choose first. "After you, my dear." He tells her in all honesty, still having to hide a frown from his lips. Why can't he just order what he wants to order and be done with it. There is no way he is letting her pay for the meal though - that would be overkill. The waiter helps Ana choose before bowing and moving off. Their evening is spent without the translator devices around their necks for Oran can't imagine wanting to eat with such disturbances. He simply replaces it when he wants to speak.

Oran tells Ana everything, using his hands as assistance as he tells of the battle he fought in the skies for this planet to have their freedom prosper. His ship, however, suffered greatly and he crashed down to the surface. If it weren't for the other ships following his descent, he would have been stuck at the bottom of the ocean. He wouldn't have met Ana. Grinning to himself, he knows that he would have reveled in that thought just a few months prior. Now, he knows what he would be missing for he enjoys Ana's company and feels his own heart beat stronger whenever he makes her smile. After a great meal, they depart back to their rooms. Oran, walking along the door sides and Ana at his left side, he glances to her, asking some question. Having to keep up their persona alive, Oran has her arm in his, taking a graceful walk around to get a feel for what sort of hotel they're dealing with.

His right arm comes out and reaches across Ana, pointing to a sculpture carved into the stone. Not even looking where he is going, he feels his shoulder make contact with someone, not even hearing the door click open. A small shriek comes to his ears and he unclasps his arm from Ana's, trying to catch the purple blur falling to the floor. Grabbing a hold of her arm, he pulls her towards him so that she doesn't slip and collide with the rug. "Ah! Oh thank you." She had started to say, brushing the dirty blonde hair from her curls. The thick hair twists all the way down to her mid back, her hands flying to Oran's shoulders but they don't move once he assures her that she is alright. Their eyes are connected, amber clashing with amber.

Hardly being able to breathe, Oran feels the invisible hand wrap around his throat, restraining any words from being said. He knows those eyes. He loves those eyes. They're his and his is hers. Finally closing his mouth from the shock, he has yet to entice movement to the rest of his body. Just holding her is enough to make him smile as he lets out an astonished breath. The one shoulder stain dress curls right into her hip, the edge barely touching her kneecaps, letting men have a nice look at her calves. Seeing that he isn't alone, she slinks her arms off of his plated ones, stepping back. "Thank you." She utters, quickly turning and blinking the tears back from her eyes and quickly stepping from the hallway to the staircase nearby and literally running down the steps. To tell trained ears, they might be able to hear her gasp inwards as if she were about to cry. A jeweled hand coming to shield her lips from saying anything else.
 
The meal was delicious and what made it better to Ana was hearing Oran's story along with it. He was a good story-teller and she could almost the see the battle floating before her eyes. He is descriptive and more than once he makes her laugh with dry sarcasm or insults about the enemy that she completely understand. She is a warrior herself. Still, warrior or not, she is glad they are not fighting each other, either physically or mentally right now and she gladly takes his arm when they leave.

Every sight is a new one, full of beauty and Ana willingly looks everywhere Oran points too. So as it was, she was not looking either when he bumps into someone, but at the shriek, she knows without having to think about it that he is going to move. Even as he lets go of her arm, she's stepping back, giving him room to maneuver and he does, quickly and with speed that impresses her, though, he knows he can be faster. It doesn't matter that he will never match her own reflexes. He's good anyway.

Ana is smiling, glad to see he caught the girl, but it slowly fades from her face as she watches them. Their amber eyes are connected, the same shade and she realizes the girl is from Oran's homeworld, she is Kel'korian. While that doesn't surprise her, the intimacy she immediately senses, immediately scents coming from both of them does and when Oran smiles at the blond, Ana feels ice settle in her stomach and flow through her veins. She's smelled that many times. She'd put it out of her mind until now, but she knows that scent. It's something she's longed to smell directed at her, to feel, to know is true when someone looks into her eyes. It's something she knows she will never experience and a hot coil of jealousy and anger replace the chill in her middle, but it doesn't get rid of the coldness she feels everywhere else.

Oran loves this woman and she loves him back.

And Ana now understands completely that she has no chance with Oran, even if she had wanted it. The part that upsets her the most is that she is unsure if she did or not.

The Princess watches the woman leave and she hears the stifled sob. She sympathizes with it, but she can't go after that girl, wouldn't know what to say anyway and so her eyes return to Oran and Ana knows that her own are no longer bright, no longer smiling. They are not angry, though, simply...dull.

"Who is she?" If he lies to her, she will hurt him and she will not forgive him.
 
Oran has to fight back the urge to kiss the blonde haired Kel'korian for his heart is soaring right now with happiness. Finally he had found her and has embraced her in his arms. His lips shake as he battles within himself not to lean forward, knowing Ana is right there. His strain of obvious, his eyes looking nowhere but into hers. He sees what the world fails to. He knows of her kindness and her love - wishing to have her heart and for her, in return, to have his. "Divi..." He breathes but she is already slipping from his arms after her face too feels the pull. Divi is the one to pull away and she runs with good reason. He is not hers to have and she cannot allow herself to fall back into his arms for she might never leave. Oran lowers his arms slowly, no longer feeling her warmth against his shiny armor. "Divi?" He calls after her, as if Ana is no longer present.

"Divi!" He calls, hoping to the gods that she will answer him. He wants to hear her voice run past his ears and into his eardrum. She calms him and completes him. Not knowing that Ana can sense his love, he turns back, placing his hand on his head. His big eyes look to the floor and he slowly starts to smirk as if he just saw an apparition. Except... she is real. She is here! Moving right to the staircase, he lifts a foot to stand on the small ledge. He -could- make it if he jumps. He would land on the other side of the spiraling staircase. Yet, a feeling stops him. Regret for his actions? The drop of the reality that she doesn't want to see him. Like her, he would act foolish if he pursued her now. His mind buzzing with memories and feelings only he knows. Steadying himself away form the ledge, he turns back to Ana and shakes his head. "Um... She is Divihera. Divi..." He didn't lie to her but he isn't exactly telling her everything she needs to know.
 
He hasn't lied, but he hasn't answered her either, not really and Ana merely looks at him for a long moment, feeling too many emotions to act on just one. There is anger, but she is unsure what she is angry about. At him for loving someone else? No. She'd always known he didn't love her. At the sheer unfairness of it all, at the fact that she now knows for certain there is no hope, maybe because Oran hadn't told her? Yes. Yes, that is why she is angry.

And she is jealous. Jealous of what Divi has and it doesn't matter that it's Oran. That girl is LOVED. A male looks at her and wants her, wants to be with her and cherish her. Divi has the one thing that Ana cannot and she is so jealous of the other woman that she can't even put it into words. She is sad, too. Sad for both of them, for the impossibility of their situation and she is numb, not knowing what to do with this information, how to treat it.

So she doesn't. Ana merely nods, her throat feeling like its closed for good and every draw of air hurting her lungs, piercing her heart. The something inside her that had surged for Oran just earlier that day is now quiet and that is where her own sadness originates from. She feels cold. Rejected. Yes, that is it - among other things - and Ana smiles faintly, the expression bitter. Her eyes find Oran's amber ones and she finally speaks, her voice oddly calm in her own ears.

"She is beautiful. I understand...I understand better now why you were so angry to marry me. I am sorry." She takes a deep breath, a deep shuddering breath and lets it out slowly. "I am sorry I took you from her."

Ana turns then, unable to stay. It took everything in her not to run, not to simply flee and not to let the tears welling in her eyes to run down her face as she starts back to their room.
 
Oran might have told her if their love, his and Divi's, wasn't quite as secretive as it is. Well, was. They had to sneak around, even their most trusted friends not knowing of their attachment. Yes, they could see that the two adored one another clearly. Whenever they said one another's names, there is a certain spark that comes alive in their eyes. Oran survives though. He had gotten through the pain, Divi leaving as soon as Oran heard of his attachment to Ana. He didn't know her name, he just knew it would be a Princess. One of her kind. Learning to accept them has been a difficult task but Oran is lucky he has been placed with Ana for she is beautiful and Oran could have sworn his heart wishes to comfort hers. But those small tingles are pushed aside, his mind always thinking back to the blonde haired girl. His girl and what was.

Oran would have shouted to the world that he loved Divi but that's unfair for her. They swore to be secretive, his own fear too great to go to his own father and explain his situation. His father, Yuvo, would have not accepted her. He would never accept anyone. At least that's how Oran thought about it for many years until the day he was told in his own bed that he is to marry a Selphian. The people... no, the lizards with the tails. Bah! But now they have come so far and Oran can see the change in her demeanor. Remembering she can feel emotions through the air just like Oran smells scents. The mint smell sticking on his tongue from breathing Divi in. She always smelled of mint. Spearmint.

"I never really had her to begin with." He assures Ana but she is already walking away and his gaze is to the floor. Quiet yet calm. Being to immersed in himself, he forgets to reach out and to assure Ana that he is loyal to her. Looking back at the staircase, his eyes can see play the image of her running away. His Divi running. His Divi ... crying. Oh how his heart breaks. He never expected to see her and it's an exhilarating yet... turbulent. Softening of his heart yet locking it back up. She is a contradiction to his emotions. Oran always loved that about her.
 
She is glad he doesn't follow.

Ana starts to run as soon is she is out of his sight and when she gets back to the room she shuts the door firmly, but carefully before she breaks down and starts crying. Azule wakes immediately upon her entrance into the room and he whines and whimpers, trying to lick her finger and her face as she undoes his leash. She is crying into his fur and the wolf soon calms as her sadness washes over him, understood as he is much more intelligent than his ancestors. He stays still, licking his mistress' fingers gently, slowly as her body continues to shake and Ana eventually wipes her cheeks, knowing she can't stay this way.

She didn't know when Oran would come back.

The thought causes her heart to twist and she stands, Azule following as she goes out onto the balcony, shutting the glass doors behind her. It's getting cold outside and she feels it. It's strange. Her body is supposed to keep such chills at bay, but Ana finds herself welcoming it as she sits and Azule lays his head in her lap. She stares out to the ocean and her voice is only a whisper, speaking to the wolf who will never tell a soul her words.

"He loves someone else and I don't even know why that upsets me so much." She pets Azule's head and takes a deep breath, determined not to cry again. "I knew he didn't love me. I knew that...so why does this hurt so much?"

Ana doesn't wasn't to think about that possibility that maybe its her own feelings, deepening for her husband, that are making her feel this way. She doesn't want to go down that train of thought, especially now that she knows its fruitless. She finds herself watching the ocean, letting its sound wash over her and Ana doesn't remember when she decided to lay her head on Azule's shoulders. She's not aware of when she drifts off either as the sky starts to darken.
 
By the time Ana fades from his view, Oran quickly seems to jump into action for he is not thinking that Ana loves him. He knows she is upset or perhaps sullen in ways that he cannot understand. They're friends - why should she be so upset-- ah! She is feeling guilty for taking him away from the woman he loves. Well, yes! Oran is angry at her for that, infuriated actually. But he cannot blame her for his actions. He did agree to his father's terms even though at the time he didn't know he had the opportunity to say no. It's true that he was given a choice but in the dim light and shall section his father gave him, he thought he would be disowned and thrown out on the streets if he didn't accept. Blinking, he turns to find Divi, knowing she has to be around here somewhere.

The night rolls on and he finally searches what he thinks is -all- of the inn, not finding any traces of that purple dress. It's because Divi is not there. She fled, running down the steps and to the waterfront where she knows he will not follow. The last thing on his mind will be hearing the sounds of the waves crashing up against the rocks. She adores it, he hates it. She finds comfort and he finds distress. Much like Ana and him now. Divi grew up loving the water, being an excellent swimmer, she would always poke and pry at Oran for lacking such a simple task. It's not her fault that she learned to swim against the rapids when Oran nearly drowned. Placing a hand on her chest, she feels the vibration of her heartbeat against her ribs, tears falling from her eyes. He is not hers and won't be. She will now allow him to soil his marriage for that kind of mischief is forbidden. Hugging, kissing, and worst of all sleeping, with a married man.

Not knowing what else to do, Oran lounges in one of the circular chairs in the reception area. Having a good eye on the staircase, the restaurant, ball room... he knows she has to move back upstairs sometime.
 
Ana didn't know how long she'd been asleep when the voice sounded. It came floating over her ears like something out of a dream and Ana opened her eyes to find that it was a nightmare she'd woken to. Fear shot through her system immediately and she tried to scramble back against the wall, having no where to go, no way to escape and Ceverno laughed, his smile as mocking as the expression in his eyes.

"Why, Ana, aren't you glad to see me? It's been months."

The Princess froze, not knowing what to say, not knowing what to do. She was alone. Azule...she didn't know where Azule was and Oran....she didn't know where he was either. She was alone and she was terrified of angering the Saliphian before her. It was too soon, to soon after the last time for her to have grown bold again, too soon after Shadow's death and the threat on Oran's life, his family for her to feel like she could even begin to fight back. So when Ceverno stood from his crouch and reached out a hand, expecting her to take it, she did, her own body trembling greatly.

He tucked her hand into his arm and smiled, eyes glittering cruelly. "Let's take a walk, shall we?"

Ana didn't answer, she wasn't expected to as she was led out of the room and down the hall, toward a destination she didn't know....with a male who would kill without hesitation if she upset him. And the one person she'd felt could help her, could stand any chance against Ceverno, the one person she felt safe with among all these strangers...was not with her and Ana wasn't sure he'd care to be anymore either.

She had never felt more alone in her life.

---

Human. Stupid human. Where was stupid human?! Scents. Many scents. Human scent! His human scent!

Azule raced through the hall, his nose toward the ground and every once in a while the puppy would stop and backtrack, having lost the scent he was following so closely. Why was it everywhere!? Where was stupid human? Stupid human to not come back to room. Stupid human to not be with mistress when she watered his fur.

The young dire wolf growled, startling the Tellian walking by but then sped on, searching because the bad one had come. The bad one that he knew he shouldn't fight. The Seer had told him so. Not fight. Get stupid human.

Where was stupid human?!
 
Sitting in the chair, Oran gets plenty of giggling looks as ladies pass and lots of stern stares at the men wonder why he isn't with his wife. Someone was bound to hear him call out to Divi, perhaps they offered her shelter away from him and that's why he couldn't find her. No matter how badly Oran wants to, he will not go and start knocking on doors searching for her. He is desperate to find her but not -that- desperate. Learning from his mistakes from before, it's not like a Prince to go disturbing people to find a girl who isn't his wife. If she hides, she hides. Oran has to accept it. Getting up from the chair, he paces the reception area, telling anyone who works here that he is fine, just needs to pass the time in thought. Every single time he hears the doors click open, his heart jumps and starts to race, only silencing once he sees more fish people. Tellians. Pah. He wants it to be Divi.

Turning around in a huff, he starts to pace again, clasping his hands behind him as he ponders where she could be. Luckily, he doesn't have to think for long because he hears the door open again and he catches a glimpse of that purple dress swaying around her kneecaps. She freezes at the door when their eyes meet once again. "Divi." He has the strength to utter now, moving over and offering his palms to the sky in front of him. He wants her to take them but she just curls her fingers into the fabric of her dress. "Can we at least sit down and talk? Please?" Shaking hear head, she knows if she speaks, she will lose her toughness, collapsing into his arms like she once loved. He was there for her when she needed him, an arm or chest always at the ready for her to rest hers upon. That was before, that was different. That was illegal. They should have never... then she looks into those eyes of his and sees the man she loves through her own.

"Oran." Comes her shaky voice, fingers gripping harder at the hem of her dress.
 
Ana watched where they went, trying to memorize each twist and turn. She needs to get away. She needs to find somewhere safe, but she knows from experience that it didn't exist. And even when she is with others, she cannot speak. She must remain voiceless, she must remain stoic and pretend everything is fine and when she passes many Tellians that is what she does because she can feel Ceverno's fingers dig into her own where they rest upon her hand. He will kill them and she can't allow that. She can't give him an excuse.

She has to play the game. The horrible game she's been playing for so long.

Ana is tired of it. So very tired and as Ceverno leads her down an archway open to the sea air, she seriously contemplates pushing him over the edge of the railing. She would fall too. She knows she would. He'd grab her, they'd both go tumbling down together, toward the unforgiving rocks that would cut them and break them. And it would be over. A struggle, a free-fall, impact, pain, death...and it wouldn't matter anymore. Ana finds herself almost moving toward the edge, her mind on the verge of accepting the decision when Ceverno pulls her back to him, his voice a hiss. "Don't even think about it, Princess."

The moment is lost as they enter into a building and Ana feels a tear slip down her cheek as hopelessness starts to engulf her. She doesn't fight the male as he stops before a door and when he opens it, pushing her in, she doesn't resist. It's not until she looks around that she realizes why he's brought her here and she feels a chill run down her spine as her eyes meet the startled violet ones of the purple Tellian from earlier.

Ceverno comes to her back and without bothering to lower his voice, speaking perfect Tellian, he leans down to speak in her ear. "Kill her."

Ana shakes her head. She doesn't think about it, she only denies him instantly, everything in her recoiling at the very idea as the purple Tellian's eyes widen and she backs up, clearly scared. Ana feels the pain explode in her side, Ceverno's tail breaking her ribs before she goes flying across the floor and hits the bed. He is livid and speaks again coldly, seething. "Kill her!"

Ana again shakes her head, trying not to sob as terror and pain engulf her senses.

---

He'd found stupid human!

Azule raced through the lobby, barking in a high-pitched, excited way as he crashed into Oran's legs. Looking up at the man, he splays his legs and keeps barking, his body stiff and fur on end as he desperately tried to get his message across.

Bad one! The bad one was here! Why was his human just looking at him!? He needed to come now! He needed to listen!
 
Seeing her shake, Oran can't help but think of ways he can comfort her. Those same plated hands come out and press themselves to her hands on the hem of her skirts. She obeys his silent wish and she unclasps them, feeling the sticky texture of the grips on his cloth gloves instilled in the skeleton of the armor. "Divi..." He breathes again stupidly, this time loud enough so that she can hear him. "It's... I'm... you..." Is all he can get out, his head tilting in every direction as he speaks, tumbling over his words. He is powerless and she has his power, she is his opposite. "Why are you here?" He finally finds the courage to say, squeezing her hands in his. To anyone looking, it's a cute reunion between them. Divi gives him a shocked expression and Oran doesn't realize that he still as the translator on him. Squeezing the buttons, he speaks to her again. "Divi... why are you here? I have wanted to--" That's all he gets out before he hears the barking.

His face immediately tightens, wanting to punt the puppy clear across the room. The little mut is just jealous or even worse, Ana sent him to find Oran in some twisted way to get revenge for him not telling her about Divi before. How could he? His family doesn't even know. Gev, Que, Rakio... none of them. "Azule..." he breathes, bending down to pet the wolf, thinking that will satisfy him. Opening his mouth, his eyes find Divi's again and he utters one word before the barking starts again. "What do you want?" He asks, his tone sounding a bit angry, the heat definitely building up. As he does, there are small red lines illuminating on the black fabric of his gloves and the turtleneck. Most likely all over his form too for the black is to save his body from chafing and also working as an extra set of armor. Of course, not being as strong as the plate but it's better than being bare.

"What do you want?" He growls again, really aggravated once he realizes that Azule wants him to follow the pup. Looking back to Divi, he leans in and before he realizes what he is doing, he kisses her cheek, pleased to see her face brighten to a pink hue. "I'll find you again... please... don't run away." He asks with the buttons squeezed before squeezing her hands and bounding off after the pup. He might as well see what's up if Azule is going to make this much fuss.
 
Finally!

Azule barks at Oran again, stopping to make sure the man is following before he starts to sniff the ground again. He leads Oran back to the bedroom, but it is empty and the door is wide open. The balcony doors are the same, the wind chilling the room and Azule's hackles raise as his fangs gleam, a low, savage snarl erupting from his throat. This is not a game. He's not playing and it is clear as he intently sniffs the ground again.

It's not a puppy that gives a low, sharp bark, but a adolescent dire wolf bred and trained to kill, loyal and lethal to a fault as he races down the hall, nose always to the ground as he follows the scent of the bad one and his mistress.

---

Ana gives a sharp cry as she is pulled up by her hair and Ceverno's rage-filled eyes bore into her pained gold-hazel. He has lost his patience and Ana is beyond scared of that fact. She's only seen him rage once before and it had resulted in the deaths of five people and her own body beaten so severally she'd been unable to hide it. She'd lied, saying she'd been mugged, but her family had not been convinced. Still, she hadn't given in to their demands that she tell them what really happened. She couldn't.

And now she couldn't defend herself as she was hit again and she tasted blood, felt her cheek shoot with a sharp pain. She fell again and landed on her hands, trying to breathe past the pain in her chest. Ceverno regarded her with no concern, his eyes cold. "You will obey, Ana. Kill her."

"No." she spits it out along with the blood and braces herself for more pain. It doesn't come, though and Ana looks up see the purple Tellian standing in front of her, facing down Ceverno who seems genuinely surprised by the action. The fish-like alien lifts her chin, her fists balled in anger and her voice is shrill, but firm. "You will leave this honored guest alone and leave this room."

Ana listens to her words with horror and reaches forward, touching the Tellian's hand as she rises painfully. "No, please don't. Just..just run." she pleads with the purple Tellian, but those violet eyes only smile into her gold-hazel, no longer afraid and the other female's hands come to cover her one, holding it with a care that Ana cannot understand. "You are worth any risk, Draykoni. Just as your mother was before you and your people before her. It has been my great privilege to have met you."

The Princess doesn't get the chance to respond as a million questions erupt in hr mind, because Ceverno is reaching forward, a look of anger - and panic? - on his face and the purple Tellian falls dead, a smile still on her lips. Ana screams, shock and horror streaking through her....and then it is white-hot rage as her eyes come up to the male's. She abandons logic, doesn't know fear as she springs for him. He claws have just latched on to his shoulders, dug into his skin, drawing such sweet blood before he evaporates with a laugh and Ana crashes to the floor. She screams again in frustration and then her head is being jerked back, a knife at her throat and a hissing voice in her ear.

"That was very foolish of you, Princess. Perhaps we should pay Divi a visit this time. I hear Oran is quite fond of her. What do you think he'd do if she died because of you? Hmm?"

Ana closes her eyes and she stops fighting. She stops doing anything because she can't anymore. She can't do this anymore. She's reached her limit. She just wants him to kill her and get it over with, but she knows he won't. Ana doesn't resist as he pulls her to her feet and she can't help a whimper as it jars her ribs. Ceverno ignores the sound, leading her toward the door.
 
Divi finds herself shocked at Oran's arrival in her arms and then the sudden pain of his departure once more. There is no way she is going to let him out of her sight. Not this time. Never again. Not taking a chance to think over it, she snaps the heels on her shoes so that she may run quickly. "Oran!" She calls after him, barely touching the handrail as she skips up to him and the wolf, two steps at a time. "Don't leave me..." Comes her pleading whisper, a smile springing up as she sees him offer his hand to her. Wishing she could feel his skin against her hand, she suffices for the web feel of this under armor fabric. Not even needing to speak, Oran's eyes flush with endearment to her, knowing his heart beats for her as well. Silence with his voice but uttering clear text with his eyes. A single nod is all he needs to feel her hand tighten around his.

Following Azule, he can't help but wonder aloud, knowing Divi will hear him, "What trouble has she gotten to now." Upon reaching the open door, he sucks in a deep breath. Instantly, for one reason over another, he knows that this has to do more with him than it looks like. Why else would Azule be so persistent upon him following? Normally Oran can just stare down the pup, overruling over his wolf whims. He is the master along with Ana - Azule is bound to know that. Yet, he still barks and Oran feels this trudging pull of aggressive obedience to a wolf. "Where is she?" He practically shouts, his thoughts suddenly turning to Ceverno. Ana wouldn't just leave and if she did just flee, Azule would follow her, not even bothering to come to him.

"What's wrong?" Divi finds herself asking, concern strangled in her words. It's almost as if she doesn't want to know the answer. That wolf though, she has confidence once he starts to sniff around, will find the answer.
 
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