Author’s Note: I apologize very much for the long delay. Thank you too all who have reviewed and e-mailed for this fic, you were my inspiration!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, but I do take ownership for the concepts and ideas that went into the making of this story.

He could feel the darkness spreading through him, could sense the evil that had lurked just below the surface boiling for release. Clawing at his self restraint, the demon that had been borne inside of him at the moment of his creation roared and raged, and he fought a struggle against what had always seemed to remain dormant inside of him.

He didn’t realize the wild blue of his eyes had turned a slicing red, couldn’t hear the snarls erupting from deep within him to drift through the silent night to the horrified form of Serenity.

He saw her then, saw one of her hands clutching her throat, saw her wide eyes on his face, the color drained and leaving her cheeks pale. She was terrified of him, of him. The sudden realization had him putting a tight leash on the raging desire’s racing through him.

He lifted his eyes to hers, and watched the horror grow as the soft blue of hers met the fury of his. Letting out a small cry, she turned and raced into his home.

He couldn’t follow her. Forcing himself away from the sight of her retreating form, he pinned the forests that lined his home with his gaze, breathing hard. Why was it he couldn’t restrain himself? Why was it he couldn’t leash this terrible fury inside of him? He had always been able to, had always managed to find the control and calm himself.

But the fury of the demon seemed to be finally gaining its own power.

He needed to get out, to run free. He was dangerous to Serenity at a time like this and being near her would only feed his emotions. Just the scent of her was enough to drive him to the brink of madness.

He leapt from the balcony, to the soft earth below. Crouched on his hunches, a blinding light entrapped him and swirled about his bent form, the shimmer clearing to reveal a huge, black wolf.

He trotted into the forest, was met by his pack who silently followed alongside him. They immediately sensed the turmoil in him, sensed the danger of his instincts, and after several silent moments, broke off to lope into the quiet shadows of the forest, leaving him alone.

He raced through the forests, past the shadows that shifted and blurred, past the valleys that were marked as part of his terrain. And came to a halt over a huge cliff overlooking the sharp, rumbling mountains that surrounded his home.

He remained quiet, the snarling emotions finally retracting and leaving him calm. A sense of peace swept through him, and the demon inside silently receded. He was far from her, and the distance he had put between them had helped, but also left him feeling unbearably lonely.

A slight breeze moved over him, whispered against the rising hair of his back, brushing like the caressing fingers of a long time lover. Shadows shifted against the quiet of the night, moved and slithered over the earth to entrap themselves back into the hiding corners surrounding the forest. With this breeze came a warning, some hidden darkness that had him stiffening and enhancing his senses.

He sensed something different, a change in the earth. Lowering his head, he sniffed at the ground, ears perking for any signs the earth could give him in the rapid change he felt occurring.

The scent came to him then, and he snarled, baring sharp, white fangs. The scent was different, the scent of another, a male. He couldn’t see who it could be, couldn’t separate the veil of emotions to see who it was had trespassed into his lands.

And just as suddenly as the scent had come, it disappeared. Confused, suspicious and furious, he sniffed again at the earth, a rumbling growl emerging from deep within his chest when he felt nothing.

In a split second he remembered Serenity, that she was alone at his home. Whirling away from the mountains, he raced for his home, a strange, foreign emotion gripping his heart.

And realized quite suddenly that it was fear.

She had raced away from him, had sprinted up the winding stairs and back into her rooms. Panting, heart racing, she had slammed the door and leaned heavily against it for support.

She waited, breath held, for him to come up the stairs and burst into her room. Moments passed, silent moments of terror ticked by, and she was relieved when she heard nothing. Relaxing inch by inch, she left the door and went to settle herself against the softness of her bed.

The house was quiet around her, still. The lights in her room were a relief to her, and she sat contemplating what had just occurred.

She didn’t understand him. What could have come over him? She knew there was a darkness in him, knew there was an evil that had lived and breathed in him just as he had. But why was it that touching her had unleashed it?

Part man, part wolf. Could he truly be? Could he have the power inside him that she had suspected, that the elder villagers of her home had spoken of? She had always thought the stories were myths, legends. Could the legend be true?

A sudden chill swept through her, a sudden icy breeze that trailed like the cold touch of spiders legs along her flesh. She felt the warning deep inside her heart, and trembling, frightened, she leapt to her feet just as the lights in her room flickered, blurred, and winked out.

The darkness surrounded her, the cold wind seeming to swirl around her, pressing against her lightly clad body. She felt it whisper against her, and held her breath when she heard a sound behind her.

She turned slowly, faced the pitched darkness looming behind her, and cried out when she saw a shadow shift just outside the open balcony doors.

It was the figure of a man, the tall, solid outline of a body silhouetted by the moons soft glow. She knew it wasn’t Endymion, knew it instinctively, and felt her palms grow damp when the figure passed through the doors and into her rooms.

She watched with mounting horror as he circled around her bed, approached her shaking body. He was as tall as Endymion, as solidly built as him, and seemed to have the same arrogance in him as he stepped directly before her. Breathing hard, filled with a terrible gloom of fear, she could only stare when his hand came up and gently cupped her cheek.

His touch sent a jolt through her, an unexpected thrill of some kind. She couldn’t separate her emotions, couldn’t tell if she welcomed him or loathed him. In mute silence, she lifted her eyes and met his.

She could see them even in the dark, gleaming a brilliant blue that were so like Endymion’s. The wildness in them was somehow different, the raw hunger sending a sharp slice of unease through her. His hand was still cupping her cheek, and she watched in horror as his head descended to hers.

She brought her hand up abruptly, surprising herself and him at the small gesture. She stopped him with the palm of her hand against his chest, holding him back with his lips hovering just above hers. She saw his eyes searching hers, confusion in their granite depths, but made sure to keep her mind firm when she stepped back from him.

His arm suddenly whipped out, circling her slender waist, and she had no time to struggle as he jerked her forward into the warmth of his powerful body. His lips came down to hers once again, but halted suddenly, his large frame tensing.

She realized he was scanning his surroundings, realized his mind was working quickly at what to do. She watched his nostrils flare, watched his lips firm and felt the rage pulse through him. Snarling beneath his breath, he released her and disappeared before she could draw another breath.

Confusion came first, even through the fright of having another man bathed in shadows break into her room. She wasn’t certain what had just occurred, and wondered also why it was she felt the man had some familiarity to him, why she had felt a sudden connection with him just as she had with Endymion.

Puzzling over her emotions, she jumped when a sudden draft swept through the room, banging the balcony doors back against one another, and let out a screech when her doors were thrown open and the shadow of Endymion filled her doorway.

He advanced inside, prowling the room restlessly. It was the only description that came to mind as she watched him circle, watched him sweep his powerful gaze over every lingering aspect of the room. She sensed the tension in him, the savage rage pouring through him, making sure to keep well out of his way. But then he went suddenly still, lifting his dark head to sniff the air about him. In one moment those eyes slashed with fury, and locked onto her.

Choking back a cry of alarm, she remained perfectly still as he advanced on her, his hands snaking out to grip her arms and hold her still. His large frame bent over hers, the width of his shoulders blocking out the light from the moon. She wasn’t sure what to expect, and was mildly surprised when he bent his dark head to her, his nostrils flared against her neck, traveling lightly up to her cheek, where he went utterly still.

She felt him begin to tremble, and knew it was seething fury coursing through him. A bit frightened of what he would do, she kept herself silent in his hold, flinching when his tongue suddenly reached out and gently caressed her cheek.

An immediate warmth filled her, an odd sensation that only he could provoke. Even as she felt herself melt into his arms, she wondered if he was casting some sort of spell over her.

His lips were nuzzling her cheek, his arms hard bands of steel holding her close against his muscled frame. She felt him pause in his tenderness, and felt him suddenly sniffing at her cheek and neck.

Snapped out of her trance, she frowned sharply. He was actually sniffing at her.

Disgusted, she shoved him so suddenly he was thrown two steps back. “What are you doing?!”

”Who was that man?” he asked it quietly, and she saw finally the swirling fury of a storm brewing through his eyes, darkening like a thundercloud over his face. “Who was he?!” he took her by the arms and shook her.

Enraged, she threw his arms off. “How the hell should I know? It was dark, I couldn’t see a thing.”

”You allowed him to touch you.” His tone was accusing, but she heard the underlying hurt.

”I was too scared to do anything.” Sighing when he only stared, she whirled away to pace the room. “I don’t understand anything! I don’t understand what’s going on here! Your some guy who takes me from my home, then turns out to be someone I should have known my entire life.”

He took a step toward her. “Serenity-“

”Don’t interrupt.” She shot him a fierce glare before resuming her pacing. “Then you race off into the night after almost attacking me, then some guy breaks into my room and tries to kiss me!”

His jaw clenched. “You must tell me everything that happened.”

”Why? Why should I? How do I know he isn’t the one trying to save me from you?” the moment the words left her lips, she wished she could take them back.

The fury that had been clearly etched into his features faded, smoothing into a carefully blank expression. She saw the shadow come over his eyes, watched a shutter descend and leave her wondering what he could possibly be thinking. In one swift move, he shut her out.

He nodded once. “I’ll leave you to rest then. You’ve had a trying night.”

”Will you let me go?” she asked the question with hope, although her muscles tensed at what his response could be.

His eyes hardened, a muscle working tensely at his jaw. “You hope for nothing. I will never release you.” He strode to the balcony doors, shutting them with a definitive snap. “If you attempt to escape, believe me Serenity, I will find you.”

He stalked back toward the main doors to her room and she ran to catch him before he left. “I didn’t mean that. I’m—I’m sorry I said that.” She placed her hand on his arm, felt the muscles beneath her hand tense. “Endymion, I don’t know what to make of everything that’s happened.”

Just the touch of her small hand on his arm sent a sharp wave of desire trembling through him. He couldn’t remain this close to her without somehow touching her, but he was afraid that if he touched her the demon lying in wait would once again emerge full force.

But he could feel her guilt, he could feel her confusion and also fright. Her life had changed dramatically in the past two days and he wasn’t making the move any easier on her with his fury that another man had dared to touch what was his.

He turned back to her, felt his heart melt at the pleading in her soft blue eyes. “Don’t apologize, little one. Perhaps in some way you’re right.” He added this softly, his gaze leaving hers to study the cool marble floor.

She couldn’t stand his remorse, or his sorrow. Hadn’t he said that he had been waiting for her for years, for thousands? Even if she was having a difficult time believing that, she could still feel the deep loneliness in him, and she knew that it was in her to take away that loneliness.

She curved her hand around his cheek, turning him to face her. He stood several inch’s taller then her, his large, powerful frame dwarfing her smaller one, but she felt no fear now as she moved herself into contact with his hard, warm body. “Don’t say that. I’m still trying to cope with everything that’s changed, but I don’t want you to think that I regret being here.” She watched the frown crease his dark brow and brought her arms to circle his neck, bringing his head down closer to hers. “Kiss me Endymion.” She murmured it against his lips, leaning closer to nibble gently at them.

She felt the shudder pass through him, felt his arms gather her closer to him. “I can’t resist you, annsachd.” he covered her mouth with his, groaning when she welcomed him inside and slid them both into a vast pool of drowning sensations.

She pressed closer, burying her hands in his dark hair, sliding them through the wild thickness, murmuring his name when he left her lips to descend to her throat, his mouth burning a trail of sensuous fire along her tingling flesh.

She didn’t realize he had backed her toward the bed until she felt the backs of her knees against it, falling back with him following, his hard body covering hers. He was nuzzling the wild beating of her pulse at her throat, both hands taking the simple blouse she wore and parting the buttons gently, revealing her smooth, ivory skin to his hot gaze. Her breasts were bare, open to him, and he leaned back to study the round perfection before him as her nipples puckered in anticipation.

A bit uncomfortable at her nakedness, she moved to cover her breasts, only to have his hands brush hers away. “Endymion, I don’t think-,“ she cut off when his dark head lowered and his tongue slowly stroked across one of her hardened tips.

An explosion of desire raced through her, and she arched her back as his tongue slowly toyed with the nipple before him. She couldn’t think, could barely breath, gasping his name when he took her into his warm mouth and suckled her hungrily.

”Endymion…….please.” she was struggling against him, desperate for something she couldn’t see. His mouth was pulling strongly at her breast, his other hand lowering between her thighs to cup where the heat and excitement seemed to center.

She nearly came off the bed at his touch, trembling and holding him closer, her thighs opening and allowing his body to sink more fully into hers. “Please what?” he whispered the question, leaving her breast to slowly trail his mouth along her belly. “What would you like me to do Serenity?”

She couldn’t answer that question, as she didn’t understand the sensations swamping her body and mind. His hand was moving gently between her thighs, the heel of his palm rubbing up and down. Acting on instinct, she arched into his palm, crying out softly at the torturous desire that seemed to envelop her entire being.

He watched her moan, watched her struggle, and felt his own heart constrict at what she was giving to him. Her innocence, her trust and compassion, gifts he needed to treasure. He wouldn’t take her so soon, would allow them more time before he consummated their union and truly made her his.

Taking a deep, calming breath, he kissed her breast one last time before leaning back to cover her. Her eyes opened slowly, the misty blue meeting his hungry gaze. He had removed his hand from between her thighs, leaving her frustrated and aroused, but also somewhat relieved. She didn’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t stopped.

He leaned down and took her mouth with his, a little desperate. He could feel his muscles tightening with the need for more, could feel his patience straining against the short leash he’d wound himself too as her mouth moved hungrily beneath his. But when he felt her stroke a soothing hand down the taut muscles of his back he calmed, and was able to lift himself away from her, still keeping her close in the protection of his arms.

He pressed his lips to her brow. “Not yet annsachd. I would allow you more time to accustom yourself to me and the demands I’ll make.”

She nodded, her cheek against his chest. “I understand.”

The hour was late and he wanted her to sleep. She had napped earlier, but he knew she was still tired. Her dreams had been filled with what he had wanted her to see and had therefore been restless.

Aching to remain with her, but knowing he would have to leave her alone, he gently set her from him. “I want you to sleep now. In the morning I’ll show you around my lands so you can see what will be yours from now on.”

She decided not to comment on that, instead stepping forward and once again molding her body to his. “Couldn’t you stay with me?”

He groaned quietly. “No, little one, even I don’t have that much restraint.” He kissed her one last time, than firmly put her away from him. “Sleep well annsachd. I will see you in the morning.”

She watched him leave her room, sighing when he shut the doors and she was left alone. Still bathed in darkness, she turned and walked to the vast closet in her room, taking a thin, silk nightgown from inside and slipping into it. Once she was settled beneath the soft sheets of her bed, she lay in the dark, listening to the night sounds around her.

She knew that even though Endymion had relented in asking her over the mysterious man, he would still be asking her over him tomorrow. She knew he wouldn’t allow the subject to simply remain as it was, especially since the man had broken into her rooms and touched her.

Drowsy with sleep, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

He stood at the balcony in his own rooms, overlooking the lands that spread out before his home. His eyes were narrowed in concentration, his nostrils flared as he scented the air for what he had discovered earlier.

Frustration filled him, annoyance that he had allowed the man who had dared to trespass here and touch his woman escape from him. Not once in all his centuries of living had that ever occurred. He could scent men several miles away, his senses tuned to the invasion of others that didn’t belong in his forests and mountains. Yet he had been unable to scent this man.

What could that mean? Why had he been unable to sense him? Could his own natural born gifts given to him be failing?

But that was impossible. Even now he could hear every sound within a twenty mile radius, could smell every animal, anything within his domain. He knew his gifts were there, as they always had been, but why had they failed over this male?

The rage at being unable to stop the intruder took over and he could feel a red, seething fury taking over him. The snarl torn from him was low, but grew in volume as he remembered being able to scent the other man on Serenity’s cheek, on her body. He had touched her, had almost kissed her. The bastard had dared to lay a hand on what was his.

His gaze snapped up the glowing moon above, to the thick clouds moving in a drifting current across the brilliant light. He felt his fists curl at his sides, felt the strength of the demon, of the wolf, rise as quickly as a storm broiling above the ocean depths. And as the wind howled through the thick of the trees surrounding his home, he vowed fiercely he would find the man, vowed he would hunt him down and kill him. No matter how long it took, no matter how long he searched, he would hunt the bastard down and see his end.

She slept peacefully in the massive bed, drifted for a time, her mind misting over and taking her beyond sleep, into the open plains of dreams. For a moment she was confused at where she was, wondering if she was dreaming of Endymion yet again. But she quickly recognized the vast green of his lands, the hills that surrounded his home and the mountains that loomed in the far distance.

There was a dense fog surrounding her, a thick mist that prevented her from seeing anything except the swirling white around her. She was dressed in a white, billowing gown, her feet bear as she walked slowly along the damp earth below her. She knew the night was chilly, knew there was a sharp wind blowing around her, causing her gown to swirl about her bare ankles, but she couldn’t feel it, could only watch as the mists around her shimmered and she was able to see the figure of a man standing some feet away from her, covered by the thick fog separating them.

She couldn’t see his face, couldn’t see his features, and stopped to remain still, to watch as he moved forward to her.

She realized it wasn’t Endymion as she had hoped, but the man who had invaded her rooms. He walked purposefully toward her, and the mists parted to reveal him fully to her.

She saw his face finally, saw what had been hidden from her before, and felt her heart leap inside her chest when his lips curved, a cool smile taking over his features.

”Hello Serenity.”

She opened her mouth, closed it slowly, then opened it once again. “Donovan?” she breathed the single word, taken back by the sudden similarities she could see between him and Endymion.

He bowed his head in acknowledgement, the cool smile shifting to sensual charm with an ease that had her fumbling. Those dark features were dangerous, she realized dimly, her gaze moving helplessly over the ruthless slash of dark brows over twin blades of ice. Reaching out, he took her limp hand in his. “I came to you like this because he would prevent me from being any closer.”

”I don’t understand. How is it were here like this?” there voices were echoing around them, carried by the thick fog drifting quietly along the earth.

He raised her hand to his lips, pressing his lips deeply into the palm, pleased with the shudder that trembled through her. “I’m not merely a rich man Serenity. I’m much more then what you see.” He jerked her forward into his arms before she could struggle for release, molding her slim body against his. “I came for you earlier and you didn’t recognize me, but I’m not surprised. You must leave his home and I will be able to take you back.”

She shook her head, her silvery hair flying gently around them. “No Donovan, I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know I won’t leave him.”

His arms tightened around her, and her eyes flew to his. “You will leave him. The moment you are free of the protection of his home I will be able to come to you.” He cocked a dark brow, and she felt a small ripple of interest at how brutally handsome the simple gesture made him. “He didn’t sense me, he didn’t know I was coming for you. Does his arrogance go so far that he believes he could stop me if I wanted to take you?”

”Donovan, how do you know him?” she realized no one had known of Endymion’s existence for hundreds of years, yet Donovan did. How was that possible?

One of his hands reached up to gently brush through her hair, sifting through the soft strands. “I won’t tell you just yet. Some things must take time to reveal themselves.” One corner of his sensual lips curved, and she watched the movement with fascination, hardly realizing he was stroking one hard palm up and down her back. “You know him as Caladran, Serenity. What do you know me as?”

The question was confusing enough to have her mesmerized gaze leaving his mouth, to have her studying the slashing dark brows, the opaque eyes, the sharply honed face of a warrior who had battled many years and returned for the victory of his woman, of the one meant for him.

And she realized quite suddenly who he truly represented. Not a lord, not a rich man seeking a bride. Nothing so simple could be rested upon him.

”Teheratlas?” she couldn’t think, couldn’t see beyond what had suddenly opened itself to her. Even as she felt the truth, the small word came as a question, a plea for understanding in a world that was rapidly changing around her.

He cocked his head, the admiration he held for her evident in his vividly dark eyes. “You always were clever Serenity.”

His soothing tone had her back going rigid against his caressing hand. “Donovan, I don’t think-“

”Enough.” He stopped her protest with one lashing word. “The time for destiny approaches. This moment was preordained several centuries ago. What will you do when the choice is yours to make?”

She shook her head, unable to understand what he meant. “I don’t understand you.”

For a moment his arms were tight, nearly cutting off her breath, but just as quickly they gentled, and she was left wondering if she had imagined the fury in his eyes. “It’s not time for you too yet.” His brilliant eyes locked with hers, and she could see the raw hunger for her there. When he spoke again the calm and gentleness had left his voice, to be replaced by quiet steel. “I’ll be coming for you soon. Until then, don’t allow him to touch you again.”

As suddenly as he had been there he was gone, and she was snapped from her sleep awake, her eyes flying open, traveling to the balcony doors, where she could see the sun beginning it’s rise into another new day. Sitting up slowly, wondering if he would emerge suddenly from any hidden corner, she breathed a sigh as moments ticked by and nothing occurred. She brushed her hair from her cheek, removing the sheet from her body and rising to go to the balcony and gaze outside.

The morning dew was covering most of the plains, the sun still covered in partial thick, clear clouds overhead. She could see the fog that settled over most of the land thinning away quickly by the warm heat from the sun, a small flock of birds emerging from the dense forest to trail across the spreading sky.

Donovan and Endymion…….she didn’t understand what was happening. She had always thought Donovan was merely a man, a rich Lord who owned a large majority of the lands on the other side of these mountains. Yet her dreams had just revealed to her the legend he lived by, as Endymion did.

He had spoken of Endymion with disgust, had criticized his arrogance, yet Serenity had sensed Donovan’s own arrogance in himself. Both men were savagely handsome, and each one seemed to contain the same confidence and temper the other had. Fleetingly she wondered at the twist of fate that had brought her to be desired by two such powerful men.

Squinting against the sharp glare the sun had brought with its rise, she could see in the far distance, past the green pastures and endless plains, the mountains that Donovan had said belonged to him. It crossed well out of Endymion’s terrain, and she wondered if Endymion knew who he was as well. He hadn’t seemed to recognize the name when she had continued mentioning him, had merely expressed raging jealousy that she had been promised to him.

Fatigue pressed against her already delicate mind, disrupting the riot of emotions and thoughts traveling through her. Still exhausted from another restless night, she turned back to her rooms and went inside, settling down once again and allowing the tension of her dreams to seep slowly from her weary body. Allowing her eyes to drift slowly shut, she hoped this time a confusion of dreams would not plague her.

He had left his bed early that morning, had emerged from his home to circle the domain that was his as a wolf, calling his pack to him and informing them of an intruder who had invaded their forests. The males were clearly furious, agitated that another male unknown to them had managed what others never had. With them at his side, he had raced through the lands and carefully scented every bit of space he could.

By the time the sun was rising in the east, he was frustrated and on edge. There were no scents, none of the others had sensed anything other then the usual animals of the forest. There were absolutely no signs of an intruder, and the fact that he knew someone had been here only infuriated him more.

Departing from his pack, he returned to his home, stalking inside and beginning to pace the vast entrance hall. The sounds of his boots echoed quietly through the hall, his savagely handsome face darkened into tight lines of fury, his hands balled into fists as his sides as he wondered what could have possibly occurred the day before.

Was he a weak man after all? His creation had been meant for strength, for power, to rule as the man and leader he was. In countless centuries he had ruled these mountains and forests, and in countless centuries had watched his own kingdom spread and fold over a great majority of the earth’s land. And yet he couldn’t even find these simple answers he was striving so desperately for.

He was unaccustomed to failure, to weakness in himself. His own arrogance was a powerful force, and his temper a fury he had never fully released. In several centuries of existing alone, he had found no other to be able to rise above the strength’s of his and leave him trembling with rage as he was.

It was how Serenity found him, stalking back and forth across the quiet hall of his home, his lancing features drawn together into tight lines of fury. He was dressed in complete black as he had been before, his fists clenched at his sides. She knew instinctively that Donovan’s intrusion of the day before had caused this, and wondered how he would react if she were to tell him of her dreams.

Taking a deep, calming breath, she forced herself forward and descended the stairs, faltering only briefly when Endymion’s dark head whipped around and his eyes locked onto her.

She watched his face, and watched as the fury slowly faded and was replaced by a burning desire and fierce love. Her own heart tripped delicately, warming to the gentle caress of his brilliant eyes roving over her. As she neared the bottom steps he moved forward, extending his hand to her, smiling when she placed hers in his. She felt the difference, the hard strength of his, the soft delicacy of hers.

She had forgotten Donovan the instant there eyes had met, had forgotten any fears that had lingered in her mind. With her hand in his, she willingly allowed him to pull her to him, his arms slipping around her to press her tightly to him.

She tipped her face to his, enraptured with the pulsing desire in his eyes. Content, she slid her hands up his broad back, thrilling to the feel of taut muscles beneath her roaming hands. “Good morning.”

He was silent a moment, taking his time to drink in the glorious sight of her. Her eyes were a sultry blue this morning, covered by thick, dark lash’s, her ivory skin smooth, her cheeks sprinkled with a warm glow. She was breathtaking. “It is now.” He bent his head and melded his mouth to hers, bending his taller, powerful frame to hers.

She couldn’t resist his tongue as it invaded her mouth, couldn’t resist him as his mouth moved restlessly over hers. The taste of him was addicting, and she moaned quietly when he took the kiss deeper, desperate for the intoxicating taste of her.

But just as his hands slid down the length of her, she heard the voice in her head, and the warning accompanying it.

”I’ll be coming for you soon. Until then, don’t allow him to touch you again.”

With a strangled gasp, she broke away from him, her breathing irregular, her lips bruised and swollen from his. He hadn’t allowed her from the tight circle of his arms, and she remained trapped solidly against his hard, lithe body.

She hadn’t torn herself away because of Donovan’s warning. She had broken away because she had heard his voice clearly in her mind, as though he had known what was happening and had been determined to remind her of the warning he had issued her.

She blew out a slow breath, clinging to Endymion, her cheek pressed against his chest. She refused to leave him, refused to believe that in some way she belonged with Donovan as she did with him. If she had been taken from her home by Donovan, had been brought here by him instead, would she be feeling the same fierce emotions for him as she did for Endymion?

She felt his hand move to cup her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. He stilled for a moment, allowing his granite gaze to intently search hers. Unnerved by his intense stare, she glanced away.

”I gave you the night for rest.” He spoke calmly, but she could hear the underlying impatience straining for release. “Now it’s time for you to tell me of the man who invaded you’re rooms last night.”

”What do you want to know?” she was hoping to stall a revelation she knew would send him into a violent rage.

He took her arms between his hands and forced her back, his eyes locked to hers. “Who was he?”

Swallowing visibly, she answered him quietly. “He was Donovan.”

She felt his hands close tightly around her arms, felt the simmering rage taking over and driving him to the brink of maddening fury. His eyes had darkened perceptibly to a dark, violent black, his jaw clenching brutally as he struggled to control his dangerous emotions.

She took another deep, calming breath, and spoke before she could lose the courage to tell him the rest. “He’s known as Teheratlas.”

She watched the anger fade, watched all color drain from his dark features, and felt his hands go slack against her arms. “That’s not possible.”

”Yes it is.”

He released her abruptly to pace away from her, his hand coming up to cover his eyes, rubbing deeply at them. He was aggravated, his broad back stiff, his powerful shoulders tense. She wanted to go to him, to soothe him, but remained away as he took in this bit of news.

Wordlessly, he turned to face her, his face grim. “You must tell me everything he said.”

”What will you do?” she asked quietly, suddenly afraid of him. He was standing utterly still, holding the seething rage she knew was pouring through him steadily in check.

A cunning, ruthless smile curved his lips, a predatory gleam entering his eyes. She watched his nostrils flare, watched a muscle tick at the corner of his jaw. And when he spoke his voice was mild, arrogant even, but she heard the raw, murderous fury hidden skillfully just beneath the surface. “I’ll kill him.”

Last Notes: I seem to repeat myself with this a lot at the end of my chapters, but I’ll say it yet again. I know most of you readers must be confused with what has been only half revealed, but don’t worry. In the next chapter I plan to reveal a little, or maybe, a lot more.

I hope you readers found this chapter worth the wait, and I’ll apologize again for the long delay. Please leave me a review with feedback it would be very much appreciated. ~SailorP