Finding our Serenity (Stryders # 0.5) HOLD

Chapter 12

Idk this chapter just came to me. This story is alive though!!

Comment. Vote. Enjoy :)

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Bringing Lochlan was a mistake. 

The instant that they both stepped foot into Haven's Way, a swarm of guards surrounded them. Their main target was obviously Lochlan, but Serenity felt a surge of protectiveness for Lochlan. She would use herself to make sure the guards didn't do anything.

None of the guards looked friendly or ready to talk anything at. She had to remember that it was Reggie who trained these vampires. And Reggie was the most serious character ever.

Curiously, they all parted in on motion, but as Damien stepped forward with Reggie and another female vampire flanked his sides, Serenity had a bit of hope.

"What shall we do with him?" one guard asked.

Serenity opened her mouth to explain, but Damien's icy voice cut her thoughts off. "Put him in the dungeons."

"No!" Serenity exclaimed, stepping in front of Lochlan. Glaring straight at Damien even though he wasn't looking at her. Damien was sizing up Lochlan like a predator would a prey. In her mind, she willed for Damien to look at him.

One of the guards made a motion towards them, but Serenity put her hands out. "If you put him in the dungeons, then I'm going with him."

Now, the guard hesitated.

Silence that pierced the night air thickened with tension. Serenity wouldn't waiver on this.

Damien's entire demeanor changed. His jaw clenched tightly. Those gray eyes were cold as he briefly met her eyes only for a single second before he looked back to the guard. No one could see it, but she could tell. Damien looked furious.

"Fine." Damien's tone was sharp and held a command that made every single vampire - including herself and Lochlan hold their breaths. Lochlan was trembling behind her. "Send him to the barracks."

Relieved, Serenity almost staggered back. Better than the dungeons, where she was sure Lochlan would be dead.

No one moved but Damien, and he turned around as the sea of guards swallowed him. Reggie didn't even glance in her direction as he followed his King.

"Come on, I'll take you there," one guard said to Lochlan. The guard nodded at her. "Please, you should go back to your house."

"I'll see you later," Serenity assured him. No matter what she had to do, she would see him later. Lochlan looked uneasy, but she had to be brave for the both of them. They had escaped Xavier, and that was all that mattered. If Damien wouldn't let Lochlan live or stay with them, then she would leave here.

Lochlan let the guard guide him to the opposite direction of where her house was. Wishing she could go with him, but it seemed like that wasn't an option. This fueled her anger even more. How dare Damien look angry! How come Damien didn't even stay so that she could explain who Lochlan was. Would he have even listened?

She bought him here thinking it could help him, but she wasn't going to regret it. She would make it right.

XXXX

She packed up her essentials. Ready to go to Lochlan and get out of here. Both of them could survive like they did with Xavier. Anything and anywhere would be better than with him.

Lance was sleeping on her bed, and as she gazed at her small baby, a strange sense of sadness overcame her. Lance needed stability, and it seemed like Haven's Way would be the safest place for him until she felt restless. Her encounter with Damien earlier had her heated - more than she ever did in her entire life.

There was a knock on the door which made her pause.

"The King requests for you to dine with him," the voice called.

"Tell him I will never dine with him again," Serenity responded very pettily. After all that, he wanted to dine with her? If he cared so much, then he would have come here himself.

Waiting to see if the guard would say anything else, she was relieved when she was met with silence. She resumed packing her baby bag. She opened her door to get some food, and was met with stormy gray eyes. Damien towered over her, and she hated every single second of it.

"Leaving already?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Serenity paused, gritted her teeth. Inhaled. "Anywhere that I don't have to see you."

"Tell me what I did wrong and maybe you don't have to leave."

"Wrong? You don't think your reaction earlier was wrong?"

"I've killed men for less. A stranger comes inside Haven's Way - steps foot inside, and you think it's okay? Who is he?"

"Lochlan is my good friend. You keep telling me about this mate bond-" her tone was complete mockery, she knew by the way Damien's eyes narrowed to slits. Dangerous. Would he ever be dangerous to her? "This mate bond is nothing, Damien, if you think I should trust you while you don't trust me. You didn't even give me a chance to explain!"

She felt herself exasperated, exhausted and just angry for no reason. In all the time she was with Xavier, she never fought with him. Ever. Since she knew it would turn out ugly, and she didn't care much for him, she was compliant like a robot. Which made her feel like a shell of what she was and small.

No more. Serenity wouldn't do that to herself anymore, and she would love to test Damien's patience, to prove him wrong about their mate bond and what it means. To prove her right about why she was hesitant in the first place. Any reason to leave.

Because the life she dreamed of was right here and it terrified her if the dream would eventually turn out to be a nightmare.

 He was angry too - she saw in the churning of those gray eyes. Damien took a step forward, and it was out of pure instinct that she flinched.

"Serenity," his voice held a more gentler tone than she could have ever imagined him mustering. The tone he uses when she caught him speaking to Lance in secret. It hurt too much of how gentle it was - she couldn't take it. He took a full step back, letting her breathe. Feel secure. At the same time, she wanted him to be near.

She hated this bond she felt with him.

"Please, just leave me be. I'll be here." For now.

Damien nodded, and before he fully turned around, he paused to look at the ground. "Hurting you would be as though I pierced my own heart. I will never hurt you."