~Mirandiona💎

Serana had gone to see Selina and told me she'd head for more training if the doctor allowed, if not she was going to shoot her bow. I had set off in the direction of the library telling her to look for me there if she needed me.

I had Katal with a whole platoon of guards searching the city for whatever the rebels had snuck into the city. All the supplies that could be moved and the amounts we needed were all in order and the rebuilding plans were drawn and being put into use. There was nothing for me to do except wait for something else to inevitably go wrong and scramble to fix it.

Nodding to one of the guards I walk into the library and head straight for the stairs.

"Good morning, your majesty." Lanja, the head scribe greets as smiley and chipper as ever.

"Ms. Nixa." I greet in return with a polite nod before hurrying up the stairs.

I head straight for the back, following Serana's directions to the unmarked bookshelf. Once I reach it, I grab the ladder and move it toward the far end. I cringe when it lets out an unseemly screech at being moved. That will need to be fixed immediately. Ignoring the ear splitting sound I shove it all the way to the end where the first and oldest book resided, squished between the bookcase and the next book after it. Climbing the ladder I reach out and tug on the old book.

It took quit a bit of effort but I finally managed to pry it out of its spot. Climbing back down with the tomb in hand I gently drop it on the nearby table and take a seat on the bench.

I whipped as much of the dust as I could from the ancient faded cover. I had to use my talons to peel the pages apart so I could read inside of it. When I finally got a look inside at the yellowed pages I noticed how faded the weighting looked, how old and slightly off the letters were. Looking in different sections I noted that some of the pages were so faded they were illegible.

With a sigh I turned back to the front page where the righting began.

'Mariah' I mouthed the odd name at the top. Pretty. I thought absentmindedly.

Scanning along the first few entries I tried to make out what they said but the script was poor and too faint to see. The only reason I could read the name is because it looked like someone had gone back over it. With a sigh I flipped toward the middle of the book and started reading what I could.

There wasn't much I could read but what little I did manage to get seemed to talk of the Purge and the sapians. The more bits and pieces I read the more it solidified in my mind who's journal I was reading.

Keeping my hand on the page I flip back to the front and read the name over again. 'Mariah.' It was so odd a feeling. All Angelo were raised hearing the great tails of the Foremother and how she came to rule as our first queen. She was my ancestor, a woman who lived over a million years ago had eventually led to me. Her last living decent. All those stories and legends were just that, stories, the tails of a legend long gone. But she had a name. She was real, and this, this was her's. These were her words I was reading, her thoughts, her actions, her life. It was broken and hard to see a clear picture, but this was her.

Flipping back to the page I was on I skim through until I find the most legible entry thus far.

'I gave Coda the other key today. I gave her the red one since it matched her wings better. When she had asked me why I'd given it to her since I guarded these necklaces so fervently I couldn't bare to tell her the truth.

I don't remember what excuse I'd made but know I hadn't spoken my true intentions in giving her the key. That is what they were wasn't it? Bloody humans and their clever tricks making the key to a bomb that could level three cities look as innocent as a pretty necklace.

I would have destroyed them if I could but the liquid inside didn't react well with other things. Not to mention the capsules were nearly indestructible. When the humans had panicked and shoved huge masses of the liquids into the ground they sealed their fate and destroyed half the Earth in the process. Bloody idiots were simultaneously too smart and too damned stupid for their own good. Cracking the crust in their idiocy thinking it could hold down the combined substances when they hardened.

Of course, when has anything ever gone as planed. When the Western Hemisphere broke and rose from its place attached to the Earth's side I believe marks the true downfall of the humans.

Their greatest cities shattered, half of Africa was washed away into the ocean and all of Europe had long since disappeared into a crater, blown away by their petty war. The world was broken and all of those that are left fight against us still. I have tried to reason with them but they refuse to listen.

A few humans see us as angles sent by their god even though they know us to only be the result off their tampering. 'God needed a way to send you.' They say. It doesn't matter, it keeps them from fighting against us and as I've learned when the have children with our kind the child itself is Angelo not human.

It is an unfortunate inevitability that the human race will go extinct. If not completely by the fires that rage like rain over the ocean then by the simple fact that we will absorb them until no more are left. The Homo sapien is a quickly dying breed.

I can't say for sure...'

I reeled and flipped to the next page but there was nothing there. The text had been washed away. I went back to the top of the entry and read it over again.

Reaching up I twirl the blue sphere of my lavaliere between my fingers. '...the key to a bomb that could level three cities look as innocent as a pretty necklace...' Fear gripped me as I tightened my hold on the jewel adorning my neck.

"Hey Mira, I brought lunch." I voice startles me out of my revery.

Jerking my head up I spot Serana at the end of the bookcase with a tray of food in her hands. I can't find my voice so I motion to the seat across from me. As she trots over and drops the tray on the table I close the journal and push it out of the way.

"What's wrong?" Serana ask with a worried frown.

I open my mouth about to tell her that it was nothing, just stress from the rebels, when I remembered the words in the journal. I am many things, but I will not be a lier. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves my gaze drops to the red sphere around the other woman's neck. "I believe I know what the rebels snuck into the city." I breath.

Serana seemed to perk up at that and leaned forward eager to hear what I discovered.

I open my mouth to continue but find the words stuck in my throat. Sighing I push the tray of food to the side and slide the journal back over. Opening it to the entry I had read I point to the second paragraph and wait for her to read it.

I can see the moment she does because her mouth pulls into a frown and her hand clasp the lavaliere around her neck. "Wait." She says a little too loud in the deafening silence. She looks up at me and there's a smile spread wide over her features. "This means they can't activate that weapon without one of these." She holds up her lavaliere. "And we've got both of them. So as long as we have them, the city is safe from this 'bomb' whatever one of those are." The more she talked the faster it became until she was rambling without pausing for breath.

"Serana." I call, grabbing her hand to get her attention. "I know what it means. I also know that it means the rebels are going to attempt to get in the castle and take them by any means necessary." I hated to tone down her excitement and return the frown to her face, but she would have realized sooner or later so it might as well be now while we're talking.

"Right." She mutters sliding the gold spiral back and forth on its thin chain.

Now that I really looked, and I mean really looked, I could see the faintest amount of movement inside the sphere.

Looking back to Serana's face I studied her frown and furrowed brow as she stared at the table top deep in thought. I still held her hand and ran my thumb over slightly red knuckles. Leaning forward I lift her hand and kiss the abused joints from where she had been punching things.

Closing my eyes I keep my lips pressed firmly to her hand and breath in her gentle earthy scent. She smelled of wet wood and fresh dirt, even after a month and a half spent within the castle. The result was an oddly calming effect that never faltered in its ability to ease my mind until I could think clearly once again.

I open my eyes when Serana pulls her hand away and slides the tray of food back between us. "Come on, we need to eat." She says quietly, grabbing an apple from the tray.

Relenting, I pick up a roll and sink my teeth into the soft bread.

~💠~

I had told Katal of the new information and had her cut back on the amount of guards she took with her to search for the weapon. She agreed whole heartedly and immediately doubled the guard around the castle making it impossible to get down a single hallway without running into at least one.

By the time night began to fall and things started to settle down for the night, I had already reached my wits ends with the increased guard around the castle. Serana didn't seem to happy about it either if the scowl on her face was anything to go by.

She fired another arrow that hit just shy of center causing her scowl to deepen. She fired another and hit the target dead on. With a smirk she reached to grab another arrow from the quiver on her wing. Standing up from my place against the table pressed to the wall just behind the other woman, I walk up behind her.

Without a word I wait for her to line her shot up and, with a last quick glance to be sure no one was in the room to be hit, I lean in close and let my breath ghost her ear. The shot goes wild and ends up hitting a completely different target.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I bothering you?" Tease in a low voice. Between all the work and impending doom looming over our heads I decided I might as well have a little fun while I still can.

Serana doesn't reply, but the way her breath catches and her wings flick about speaks volumes about what was going on in her mind. Now it was my turn to smirk as I leaned forward, pressing my chest into the back of her wings, and plant a soft kiss to her high cheekbone.

Seemingly without thinking she turned her head for a real kiss. With a grin I happily obliged. She broke the kiss when she pulled back to turn around, but as soon as she was facing me her arms were around my neck and her mouth was on mine in a searing embrace.

I was barely aware of the soft moan that left my throat as wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer to my body. I was so utterly lost in the feel of the woman before me that I hadn't heard the person that entered until they cleared their throat.

Breaking apart I look over to see two of the delegates that had stayed behind. Well they were actually the daughters of delegates. I recognized one as the Eastern Cliff woman with violet wings Serana had accidentally insulted and the other was the blond Vally girl with a too feminine voice.

The Cliff woman was wide eyed and staring at the Vally idiot like she was crazy. The other one didn't seem to pay her any attention and was looking between the two of us. "I thought you two weren't mated?" She questions motioning between the two of us.

With a blush Serana tries to step out of my hold. I let her escape the embrace only slip my arms back around her and pull her in front of me, holding her from behind. She shoots me a sideways glare but doesn't try to break free again.

"We're not techni-" Serana cuts off when I nip her exposed shoulder. "Now your just being mean." She accuses turning her head to glare at me.

Smiling innocently I rest my chin on her shoulder and turn my face slightly into her hair. When she returns her attention to the two women now openly staring at us, I give her a bit more of a bite than a nip. She yelps and tries to jump away from me but I just grin and hold her in place.

I could feel her heart rate speeding up and the way her breaths became shallower. My hold wasn't that strong, if she really wanted to she could easily slip out and get away from me, but she didn't.

"Uh... we should..." The Cliff girl starts fumbling to grab the other woman and pull her away. "We're terribly sorry for having burdened you, you majesty." She apologizes finally getting ahold of the Vally woman's arm and yanking her back toward the door.

"Before you go." I call after them. The Vally woman jerks her arm out of the others grasp and tries to suppress a scowl as she turns back to face me. The Clifften turned back looking absolutely terrified. "What exactly were you two doing in here? You shouldn't have been allowed in the barracks." I was truly curious and concerned about this issue. I'd have to talk with the guards later.

"She wanted to look around and I was the only one who didn't tell her 'no' when she asked for company." The Cliff woman answers before the other can open her mouth and say something stupid.

The Vally woman shot her glare but smiled in a painfully fake way at me. I returned her smile with just a hint of malice and maybe I let my fangs show a little too much. A good dose of fear seemed to hit the woman as it truly sank in who she was interacting with and that I was the real queen.

"You should be more careful where you wonder. I wouldn't want any of my guest getting hurt or lost. It is a big castle after all." I don't break my gaze from the blond and she seems to take the hint with a healthy dose of humbleness and bows low before hurrying out of the room.

The Cliff woman blinks after for a moment before turning her relieved expression to me. "Thank you so much. She was becoming insufferable to all of us." She bows gratefully before turning and trailing after the her companion.

Once both women are gone and Serana and I were left alone again she turned to me. "Was that really necessary?" I could hear her fighting back the chuckle, so in response I purr softly and pull her hair to one side so I can bury my face in her neck.

This gets her to release that chuckle and tilt her head to expose more of her neck. Grazing my lips over the sensitive flesh I strain not to open my mouth and bite down to leave a mark dark enough for anyone to see from twenty yards away. I had bitten her shoulder a moment ago, but that had been playful and aimed to agitate the other woman. If I were to bite down and leave a mark now it would be in an entirely different sense. I restrain myself to small nips here and there drawing sighs and the occasional low moan from her.

Ever since she kissed me and broke that unspoken barrier I found it harder and harder not to pull her to me and claim those beautifully soft lips every time she stood close.

"Mira..." Serana starts, trying to interrupt my admiration of her neck.

Growling I pull her closer and end up biting her hard than I meant to. My fangs didn't break skin thankfully, but the result was not what I expected. Serana let out a bit louder groan and dug her fangs into her bottom lip, throwing her head to the side to reveal as much of her neck as she could.

Grinning almost evilly I claim her neck with my teeth again before she can protest and suck hard on her pulse point. She moans and her body tries to arch into my mouth and I have to strain to hold her still so my teeth don't pierce her skin.

Satisfied that I've left a sizable mark I release her neck with a light 'pop' and pull back to watch my handiwork take shape. Serana was breathing a little heavy and leaning back on me for support. I lightly bit my lip as I watched her skin quickly darken and turn red then purple in a heavy mark.

Purring contentedly I place a gentle kiss on the mark and wait for Serana's reaction. When she doesn't immediately yell I relax and rub my hand across her abdomen in a soothing gesture, just incase she really was angry.

"Did you just?" She breaths turning her head to look at me.

Pulling back just enough so that I can see her. "Sorry, just kind of happened." I try to excuse. I really wasn't sorry in the least, but she didn't need to know that.

She growled deep in her chest and ripped out of my embrace. The next thing I know I'm being pressed into the table and her teeth are sinking hard into my neck. Gasping, I bite my lip and cut off a moan halfway out of my mouth. She pushes me harder into the table making it groan from the force.

She sucks just as hard as I had and growls again with my pulse still firmly clasped between her teeth. This time when I moan it comes all the way out and echoes slightly in the large room. Serana release my neck and covers my mouth with hers, promptly swallowing the sound.

After a few moments I gently push her back to take a breath. Her eyes fall to my neck where I was no doubt sporting a dark purple mark of my own. "Now they're definitely gonna talk." She states with a self-satisfied grin before looking up at me.

With a chuckle I return the grin and kiss her softly. "I dare someone say something negative." I husk, my voice was a little rougher than normal, scratching at my throat, but the way Serana's eyes blew wide and her breath hitched at the sound of it made the slight discomfort worth it. "Come on, we should get so rest. No doubt we'll have more than a few questions to answer in the morning." I only half joke ushering her toward the door.

We flew up to the room to avoid any odd looks or questioning glances for the time being. Once inside and in the bed Serana flopped down on top of me and shifted around until she found a comfortable position with me as her mattress.

Quirking a brow at her. "Why?" I chuckle.

She doesn't lift her head from where it rest on my chest. "Selina said I should still try to keep off my wings when I lay down. The mattress isn't very comfortable when you're on your stomach." She mumbles burying her hands between my stomach and hers.

Rolling my eyes I slide my arms under her wings and shift until I find a comfortable position to hold her weight in. Placing a light kiss on top of her head I lay back and let my mind wander off into sleep.