Serena's POV:

The sprawling building was massive and I could smell the salty water of the ocean in the air. Darien told me that the ocean was just to the west, although the distant treeline prevented me from seeing it. Ahead of us, there was a huge stone wall surrounding the Council Building with numerous guards patrolling the tops.

The walls were probably two stories tall, but the building behind it was taller. I could also see bare tree branches of a single tree towering high into the sky. The tree looked massive from here and it made the wall in front of it look like a mere retaining wall.

Darien was watching those on the wall with a calculating gaze. He reached under the seat and pulled out a large rectangular shield before propping it up behind the seat, "If someone starts firing arrows, curl up on the floor and pull the shield on top of you. Okay?"

I nodded nervously, I really hoped that we didn't have people shooting at us. We slowed as we approached the gate. Darien's muscles tensed, partially in response to my nerves and partly because of the reaction I usually brought out in any Tarulk.

The leader of the warrior group had jogged ahead to have a word with the guards at the gate. The guards watched us pass through with narrowed eyes. They did not like me here and their expressions communicated that clearly.

Inside the gate was a huge grassy area, but what held my attention was that tree. It was the biggest tree I had ever seen. It vaguely resembled an oak tree, although it was a type of tree I had never seen before. It was massive with huge branches spreading in all directions. The base was so big that fifteen people would have been unable to reach around the base if they held hands.

It saddened my heart to see that it was mostly dead. Only a scattering of pale gold leaves adorned the various branches. It looked like it was in a slow decline. I wasn't sure what ailed it, but a short faint hum was not going to be sufficient to help this tree.

We were quickly guided past the tree, although I noticed that all of the Tarulk, including Alex and Darien, glanced at the tree sadly as we went by it. We reached the massive building far too quickly for my tastes.

The guards at the main door scowled, but let us in. The one in charge of the warrior group led us down the hallway while the rest of the fighters remained outside. This place had quite a few people going here and there on their various tasks. Most who spotted me were upset.

At long last, we were guided into a huge room with a dozen people on a raised semi-circle platform. The old men all sported grey hair as they worked through several piles of paper on the desks in front of them. They were high enough that it enabled them to look down upon those in the room.

One of the men looked down and frowned, "Who allowed a human on this planet?"

Darien growled at his tone and took a step forward, pushing me slightly behind him, "Another Tarulk who wanted me on this planet brought her here forcefully. If there was a way to leave, we would have been long gone. But that isn't possible at the moment. She is my soulmate and anyone who has an issue with that has to go through me."

The old man raised an admonitory eyebrow at Darien's growl and blunt speech, "A bit daring, young man. Do you really think it is wise to act so disrespectfully towards the Council?"

Darien snorted in derision, "I know where I stand. Where anyone else stands is up to them. I am fed up with people belittling my mate and I don't really care what the Council thinks about her being here. No one in this place can beat me."

The warrior who led us here winced as he put more space between himself and Darien. Darien now had the undivided attention of twelve unimpressed men who were apparently the top authority on this planet.

The old man was starting to go red in the face with anger, "We have some of the top fighters here and you would do well to keep that in mind."

Darien wasn't backing down, "If you are trying to use threats to make me roll over in submission, then you need to retire, old man. Such threats are against this planet's law, although that doesn't concern me. I can take on a Sidonean while unarmed and I highly doubt anyone else here can claim that feat."

The man was so red that I was wondering if he was going to die from apoplexy. He was obviously not accustomed to being challenged so. Another man interrupted, "So, exactly why are you here?"

Alex answered before Darien could, "That is exactly what we would like to know. We met some warriors along the road who insisted that we could not travel on the road without express permission from the Council."

The calmer man turned to the warrior leader with a raised eyebrow, "I have never heard of this rule before. Why did you bring them to us?"

The warrior was not happy with being put on the spot, but answered, "We wished to be sure that you had no problem with a human. We can testify to his strength though. It is like nothing we have ever seen before."

The calmer man turned to Darien, "In that case, your strength will be welcomed on the front lines."

Darien growled, "No. I am not leaving her and she will not be safe with the Tarulk warriors around."

"We can issue a decree to the camp you choose to stay in so that none will harm her."

Darien was starting to get riled up, "I said no. She will not go anywhere near the fighting. Your decrees have little power over people so far away and I will never trust a mere piece of paper to keep her safe."

Another man spoke up, "I, too, have a soulmate and know the dilemma you face. I can also tell you that the bond will not take long to settle, so your increased strength will not last long. A day or so, at the most. That short time will serve your people well if you go to the front lines. You will be able to make quite a difference even if just for a few hours. I know you cannot be parted for long, and we can arrange for her safety with our own trusted warriors in the war camp."

Darien snarled and his muscles trembled. Others in the room looked shocked at the challenging snarl and threat Darien was showing.

Darien's voice was deeper with his growing fury, "What part of NO do you simply not understand? Serving my people? I was trapped in a blasted human lab for thirty years! Where were my people then? What help was I given? None! I come here and everyone wants me to drag my mate into danger to fight a war that is not my own. A war that is only running because of headstrong stubborn people who need their pride knocked out of them."

Every single Council member looked livid at this point, but Darien met them glare for glare. The floor shook lightly and I glanced behind us. My eyes widened at the sight of another green-skinned behemoth coming up behind us, he unsheathed his sword and frowned at Darien.

Darien moved between me and the giant as he snarled menacingly at the Sidonean, "This is your only warning. If you choose to attack me when I have only spoken my mind, then you have signed the wrong contract. I have broken no laws."

The giant kept taking slow heavy steps towards us as if giving Darien a chance to change his mind and bow to the Council's wishes. Alex put his head in his one hand while shaking his head, "Oh my, here we go again..."

His tone was exasperated and the Sidonean glanced at him in confusion. Alex obviously wasn't concerned about his friend getting hurt if a fight broke out.

Darien's muscles practically vibrated in his anger as he snarled, "One more step and I will consider it a challenge. You will not win." Darien was rapidly running out of patience, and constantly being on edge around hostile Tarulk had not done his temper any favors.

"Stand down. He was only speaking his mind. Free speech is a right in this land."

The giant paused as he looked at a man who had not spoken until now. A man beside the speaker gave a disbelieving look before sighing in resignation, "He is correct. Insults will not kill us and the mate bond is obviously new. It is to be expected that his temper will be touchy."

The Sidonean went back into a niche that I hadn't noticed earlier. Darien had undoubtedly known that the Sidonean guard was there the entire time.

The man who had called off the guard spoke again, "I apologize for the actions of the others. The war has given us much stress and it is at the front of our minds. I will write a letter of safe passage for you and your mate. We can offer you accommodations and hospitality for the night."

Darien moved to stand between me and Council once more, "We are leaving as soon as the letter is written. Our travels were delayed enough as it is."

The man took no offense to Darien's blunt words. He waved his hand towards a large window, "There is a storm coming and you can see the clouds from here. It has been a very long time since I visited earth, but I don't believe humans do well in storms."

Darien glared at the large dark storm clouds on the horizon in a manner that should have vaporized them. He exhaled gustily, "Fine. We will stay the night, but if anyone so much as glares at my mate, I will not be held accountable for my actions."

"Please refrain from killing anyone while on the premises."

Darien did not respond. Everyone here knew that the request still left enough room to herd a stampede of cattle through. I was surprised to find not just one, but two Council members who seemed to be on our side. After how Darien had spoken to them, it showed that there were a few fair people in this group.

Along with a few hotheads with a superiority complex.