As Siran awoke, she felt someone's eyes on her. She had an acute sense for these things, and she was right. But it wasn't a stare full of malice. No, it was her beloved Nora, watching her pensively from the window seat.

“Do you enjoy the morning sunlight, darling?” Siran asked her lover, who smiled tenderly at her and looked out over Cerridwen with her light green eyes.

“Yes, I do, it's warm,” she replied and then leant back, her head turning so she could gaze at Siran. “Have you seen Raka?”

Siran sighed and sat up, pushing her fall of red hair from her eyes with careless fingers. “Yes, I have. But do not worry, Nora. I told him I love you. I do…still love Raka, I will not deny it. He left me so abruptly that my feelings for him were left hanging in the balance, never able to be resolved. But I cannot be with both of you…and you are who I choose.”

Nora looked unhappy and her eyes travelled downward until they were fixed to the floor. “I do not wish to be a burden to you, Siran. I am serious now…if you still love Raka…and that love is not going to go away…then I suggest you go to him.”

Siran shook her head and her eyes were pleading. “No, Nora. I have told you…I love you, and I want to be with you. Not Raka. He left me…and I cannot forgive that. Please believe me.”

“I do…” she sighed and stood up, coming over and sitting on the bed. “I simply do not want either of us to be hurt by this situation.” She leaned closer and pressed a tender kiss to Siran's mouth. “But if you say…that you would rather be with me…I accept that.”

Siran laughed. “Do not sound as if it is a chore, darling!”

Nora giggled and wrapped her arms around the other witch's waist, who leaned into her contentedly. “I did not mean to sound that way. I love you, Siran.”

“And I love you, Nora,” she responded and they lay back, staring at the ceiling as dawn broke fully and the sky was flooded entirely with warm sunshine.

~~~

As Surya neared her sister's apartments, she had a feeling of uneasiness, and when she opened the door, she knew why. Samdhya writhed on the bed, her curved body alternately taut and trembling underneath the covers and her face contorted in a silent scream. Surya approached the bed warily, and then leaned down, shaking her sister awake.

“Surya…” she breathed and relaxed, but the Queen saw the way the pulse in her throat throbbed madly and sat down, wondering what she should say.

“You are having dreams about wolves, aren't you, my sister,” Surya stated and Samdhya looked shocked and then ashamed, bowing her head and nodding almost imperceptibly.

“Yes, I am…and I don't know what to do…Surya, I am frightened.”

Surya's heart cracked for her sister, and she leaned closer, taking her hand. “I know, but I am going to help you. Don't worry. We are planning a battle against the Shapeshifters. It will happen in two days time…at midnight. I will beat them all for you, and Wynne and Leilani.”

“They are having dreams to?” Samdhya asked, and was somewhat comforted when her sister nodded. Now she knew she was not alone in this. She was not strange, or going crazy. Samdhya clutched the Queen's hand, and looked into her eyes. “Don't get hurt…during the war, sister.”

“I won't,” Surya assured her, and kissed her forehead. “How could I? I have to get the happy ending,” she joked, and both girls laughed slightly. “Besides,” Surya continued, “I will have Shahla with me. He is an excellent fighter and nothing will happen.”

Samdhya felt a sense of foreboding sweep over her, like icy fingers crawling up her spine. She could see the uncertainty and fear in her sister's eyes and knew she was not as confident as she seemed. A chill sliced through her, and she looked at Surya, wondering what exactly was going on in her head. She could never tell. “Things will be all right,” she said hollowly and Surya nodded, her expression hopeful.

“It will be,” she agreed and turned her golden head to look out the window. “It has to be.”

Both sisters watched the sunlight flood the sky and wondered why they both felt so cold.

~~~

All was still in Badria's hut. Outside the witch hummed madly over a pot of food she was cooking for her breakfast, and she did not look up as Iona walked stealthily towards her in a brilliant purple gown.

“Witch,” she greeted her but Badria did not look up, simply pursed her red lips and stared down into the pot, the steam rising around her in eerie waves.

Iona watched her for a moment and then frustrated, she grabbed her arm and forced her to look up. “Witch…I am speaking to you.”

“Name's not witch,” she drawled, and snatched her arm away as if it had been tainted. “It's Badria…and kindly do not come here, wolf Queen. I do not wish it.”

“We had an agreement, do you not remember?” Iona cried, and Badria growled at her, turning away, her dark hair swinging wildly about her body.

“I remember, Queen. And I will do it. But that does not mean we will be friends, you and I. Go back to the wolves…to the savages. You do not belong with me. No one does.”

“I'll agree with that,” Iona commented and then spoke firmly, “I will leave, but I must tell you this one thing. We will do the spell in two days time. Word has been brought that the Queen thinks to attack us at midnight…but we will be ready. I do not care about the Queen or her army, but Shahla will come out alive. And it is then that we will curse him. I want the spell to be irreversible…do you understand?”

“I understand more than you do,” Badria snarled and then her face melted into an expression of utter calm as she continued, “I understand, wolf Queen. Go now.”

With a sigh, Iona left her, still humming over her pot of blood and meat. The wolfen Queen was hungry. She had to eat someone and she would.

~~~

Surya was sweating and she loved it. As she and Shahla fought in her training room, she dripped with sweet sweat and felt alive for the first time in days. She loved to fight, loved the dance of death and the elemental instincts that took over. She knew Shahla loved it to, so they always trained together.

Dressed in a brief outfit of tiny shorts and a gauzy top, she knew many would be shocked to see their Queen in anything but a long flowing gown, but they would be even more surprised to see how Shahla trained. In nothing…but shorts. Licking her lips, she kicked his side and he grabbed her leg, forcing her to the ground. She jumped up, and did a back flip, their fight continuing.

“You are quick today,” she panted and righted him. He followed that with a punch of his own and laughed.

“I have been practicing, adora,” he breathed and then when he couldn't take it anymore, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, inhaling the sweet smell of her sweat and the blood pulsing under her skin. His lips found hers and they fell to the padded floor, their bodies hungry for each other.

“Shahla…” she moaned, her hands searching under his shorts as he took a moment to rip away her clothes, and spread her legs. His fingers delved into her center and found her already wet and hot. Groaning, he slammed into her and she screamed into his mouth, moving her hips to meet his.

His pelvic bone grinded against her's with every thrust of his hips, and he bent down to lick the beads of sweat from her nipples, as she gripped his back, forcing him closer and closer to her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she moved with him and felt her body convulse as she came, contracting around the hard, hot length of him.

He rammed in deeper and harder, and she came again and again, muffling her screams against his shoulder, their flesh slick and hot and gleaming in the dim light of the room. As he came he released a long breath into her mouth, and she kissed him, swallowing his choked groans as his hot seed flooded her insides.

Surya shuddered with satiation and felt him roll off her, bringing her with him to lie atop his chest. She pressed her forehead against his, and smiled at him. “That was a nice work-out,” she teased and he laughed, his hands holding her tiny waist.

“I think we should do this more often,” he joked and she smiled slightly, kissing the place in his neck where his pulse throbbed. Suddenly it dawned on her how tenuous life could be, and how precious being alive really was. She clung to him, afraid for no obvious reason, and he returned her embrace, speaking softly. “What is the matter, adora?”

She sighed heavily and snuggled her face into his neck. “I do not know, darling. I simply feel frightened and I do not know why.”

“It must be the battle that worries you,” he said, his eyes shadowed with pain he was glad she could not see. She pressed a kiss to his chin and propped herself on her elbows so she could look at him.

He forced a smile to his face, smoothing her hair away from her forehead. She arched against his hand, pressing her cheek to his palm and he felt a tear slide into his eye. She was so beautiful. And he loved her more than he could even fathom.

“Perhaps it is the battle,” she nodded and then lay back down, closing her eyes. “But I will not worry anymore.”

“No,” he agreed and stroked her hair. “I will never let any harm come to you, adora,” he vowed and dropped a kiss on her hair. “Never will I let anyone hurt you.”

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