Serenity

My hands shook as I turned the key to my apartment. A small scream erupted from my throat when I saw Daniel waiting for me. "How did you...?" I started to ask, but he cut me off, wrapping me in his embrace.

"I could feel your fear and panic. What happened?" he asked, pulling us down onto my couch. Taking a shaky breath, I recounted my meeting with the partners and their expectations. "Those bastards," Daniel growled.

"What am I going to do? Do I resign?"

He took my face and said, "The first thing you're going to do is relax. I won't let anything happen to you, Ren." A flood of calming emotions washed over me as my body relaxed. "That's better," he cooed, "Now, let me fix you something to eat and we can talk about this later." I nodded and let him lean me against the cushions as he moved toward my kitchen and began rummaging in my refrigerator.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew Daniel was gently shaking my shoulders as he knelt before me. I was lying down on the couch with a blanket over me. "Come and eat, love," he said gently as he helped me stand.

He pulled out a chair and I sat marveling at the food before me. My stomach rumbled as I saw the bowls filling my table. Rice, grilled fish, udon noodles with smaller bowls of toppings and sauces...it was a full-course meal and I know I didn't have these things in my pantry. "How?" I mumbled.

He gave me a wide grin, "I may have called Garen for a favor or two. He did some quick shopping and we discussed the matter of your firm. He's already looking into it. Now, you need to eat and then have a nice hot bath."

"You spoil me," I blushed as he filled my plate, then his own. He sat next to me, both of us lifting our cups.

He clinked his against mine, "I will spend eternity spoiling you if you allow me to, my Eternal." I felt the heat settle in my core at his words, and his eyes darkened as he gave a short chuckle. Then we both dug into our meal.

Garen

"I need you to dig into that firm, Matt. We are way past coincidence at this point. I also need you to make sure Serenity is fully guarded at all times, even if she doesn't realize it."

Matt looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Garen, take a breath, man. She's gonna be fine and so is Mr. Ito."

I fell back into the seat, my hands running down my face. "If anything happens to her..." I couldn't finish my sentence. My chest hurt so badly that it felt like my heart would implode.

"Oh shit," Matt muttered. I looked up and saw his eyes wide as he gaped at me. He pointed to my chest. I'd clutched it when the pain hit, and now Matt was sputtering, "She...you...but, oh fuck."

I groaned as he sat, dumbfounded, across from me. "You can't tell them. She can't ever know. Hell, Daniel can't ever know." He started to protest, but I cut him off. "Matt, this isn't possible and you know it. All that matters is the King and future Queen right now. When it becomes too much, I'll leave, and make some excuse about needing some downtime. But right now, I need your help keeping both of them safe. There has to be more to it than some greedy, nosy humans...there has to be."

"Alright, Garen, I'll keep my mouth shut for now, but I won't watch you lose your mind. Not to mention, you aren't giving Serenity a chance to decide. What happens if she feels the bond? Sure she might not now, but what if...especially if she chooses to transition? Are you going to condemn her along with you?" He left his words hanging as he walked out of the office.

Author's Notes:  Well damn, now Matt knows...