Serena's POV:
I remained quiet as I listened to Alex and Darien talk. Alex said, "I assume that you plan to stay on this planet since you are arranging for more fake IDs? Probably a wise plan with the war back home. If I recall correctly, your hometown is currently in enemy territory."
Darien nodded, "Had this new race not shown up, the people in my town would have accepted her simply because she is mine. Others will likely not be that accepting, and the other races never did understand the power of the soulbond. Their hatred of humans is well known and I will not risk her if we can stay on this planet without danger."
Alex seemed the type of person to leisurely think before speaking and he took another sip of his coffee. "That is probably for the best since this new race is slowly pushing us back. They showed up about a decade ago and are gaining momentum as they get more ground to build and organize on. Within another fifty years, they may very well take over the entire planet despite the fact that we have two other races helping us."
Darien frowned, "What race is this? What grudge do they hold against us?"
Alex tilted his head, "They call themselves the Dranek. With their light blue skin, they are easy to identify. They are also taller than Tarulk and have a tail. We aren't quite sure what they are after. When they first showed up, they kept asking for someone, although we couldn't figure out who. They wanted to check all of the towns to see if they could find this person, but you know how the Council would react to such a request since it would allow them to see any and all defenses we have. The Council's fighters forced them back through the waygate and closed it."
"I take it they came back?"
Alex sighed, "Yes, they came through a different and more remote waygate. We have no idea how they found the code for that one. We don't even know it. An army flooded through and that is where things got weird. They circled each town swiftly, but let the people leave unharmed through corridors they left in their ranks. Those who tried to fight, they beat back. They aren't really trying to kill people and I am fairly certain that they are still attempting to find this mystery person."
Darien frowned, "All this for one person? That makes no sense, armies are not easy or cheap to maintain, especially over so many years. How are they pushing us back? The person they are seeking could have easily disappeared through a different gate since there are half a dozen such gates on that planet."
"They are stronger and faster than us. We are losing ground at the exact speed they choose to advance. We can't even slow them. They also managed to do something to the remaining waygates. The gates are now much more difficult to open and they aren't working properly. People can get to that planet, but it is impossible to leave. They just pass through the veil like it was fog and they don't actually go anywhere. Supplies and letters can be tossed through though."
Darien made a face, "All the more reason to not go there."
Alex shrugged, "That is one reason why Tristan and Clair are still here, Nick is going to open up the waygate later this evening. A dozen more Tarulk are on their way here, and they plan to return home to help with the war."
I finished my omelet and Darien took my plate and set it on a nearby coffee table without even looking away from Alex. He wrapped his arms around me as he leaned back into the chair and relaxed. Alex watched us, "Her skin really doesn't hurt you, does it?"
Darien shook his head, "No, there is no pain or discomfort. I actually need her touch."
Alex examined Darien before carefully asking, "Do you mind if I shake her hand? I am curious to see if her skin pains me like other humans I have come into contact with."
Darien tensed up at his words, and I looked up at him in confusion. Alex had sounded like he knew he was walking on thin ice with that question. I rubbed my hand along his arm, unsure of why Alex's question had affected him so.
Darien looked down at me, "Do you want to?" He sounded as if he really didn't want me to shake Alex's hand.
I tilted my head in confusion, "It doesn't bother me. I don't understand why his question bothers you though." Honesty and openness was my policy and it had served me well in the past. I was equally sure that rule would hold true with Darien.
Alex chuckled, "My apologies, I forgot you wouldn't be aware of most of our usual habits. I asked Darien because he is your soulmate and the males often have a strong reaction to another male coming into contact with their mate. Considering what I have seen him do, I plan to play it safe. I prefer my head on my shoulders."
The words overprotective and possessive came to mind. Overreacting was another good one. His love overshadowed all of those though, and made putting up with them worth it. I had a feeling that the soulbond was responsible for my easy acceptance of his overprotectiveness. Darien sighed, "Alright then."
Alex slowly stood up before walking over. He was watching Darien carefully, just in case. Alex held out his hand for a handshake and I reached out to take his hand. Darien's arms tightened around my waist slightly as if he didn't like Alex's proximity.
Alex winced the moment our hands touched and gently pulled away. He lightly massaged his hand as if rubbing away residual pain. He spoke to Darien, "If I can't touch her without pain, then no one else will be able to either."
Alex went to sit back down and Darien relaxed. Alex spoke quietly, "If you don't mind me asking, what do you feel when you aren't in contact with her?"
Really? He asked that as if I wouldn't hear them. I was right here you know...
Darien growled lightly at the thought of the separation, "My skin feels cold and I can't get my mind off her. It isn't too bad if she is close by and I can see her. If she is out of my sight..." He exhaled gustily, "It is very hard. I am constantly listening to the sound of her movements and her heart to know she is alive. We have been separated so many times that I don't like her being out of my sight."
"What is your biggest fear?"
Darien rested his cheek against the side of my hair. His voice was very quiet and full of emotion, "My biggest fear is losing her. The thought of it terrifies me and I have never been scared of anything in my life until I met her."
Alex nodded, his voice still quiet, "That is something that all Tarulk soulmates feel. I presume that Serena also feels something similar since she seems aware of the mate bond."
I nodded, I simply couldn't imagine being parted from Darien again and my heart sped up at the thought of it. Darien's arms somehow pulled me closer to him, which was quite an accomplishment since I was already leaning against him. We fell silent for some time, although it wasn't an uncomfortable silence.
Alex turned on the tv and switched the channel to the news. The weather looked good for the rest of the week. I absentmindedly fiddled with Darien's fingers as I simply enjoyed his presence. Being without it for those hours really made me appreciate the small things in life, like simply leaning against him.
"-and in other news, investigators are still not sure what caused the explosions at the medical research center."
My eyes opened in shock as I turned to look at the tv. A helicopter circled a massive crater with wisps of smoke still coming out. If I hadn't known that a building had been there, I would have assumed it was a volcano crater.
The broadcaster continued, "The hospital was evacuated and all patients and staff are safe. No casualties have been reported. Crews believe there might have been a large gas pocket in the earth beneath the building that somehow started leaking into the basement. The explosion was believed to be caused when the gas reached the boiler room."
The research center must have only been reporting the legal topside part of that place. I knew that Darien had killed more than a few guards when retrieving me. I glanced up at him, "How about we avoid mad scientists in the future?"
It wasn't my best attempt at humor, but Darien chuckled, "That sounds like a good plan."
The doorbell rang and Darien's eyes narrowed as he stared at the door unhappily. Alex got up to answer it.
"Ah, Carmen, Alfred, Josh, nice to see you again. Nick just stepped out for a moment, come on in. Oh, the human is Darien's soulmate and the bond is new, so tread lightly."
It was a bit embarrassing that Alex had to warn them so they wouldn't react badly, but if it kept Darien calm, then I wasn't about to complain. Three people walked in and glowing eyes looked at Darien and me with curiosity and slight surprise.
They didn't seem as surprised as I had imagined, so I had a feeling that Nick might have warned them about my presence to avoid a repeat of what happened with Tristan and Clair.
They all nodded politely, although they seemed a bit aloof. They didn't like humans and it was only Darien's presence that kept them civil. If this was how most Tarulk were, then I was somewhat glad that Darien had decided to stay on Earth. The newcomers wandered in and made themselves at home, although they gave us a wide berth.
Nick had gone downtown to get some paperwork for the flight he had booked for Darien and me. Apparently, there was lots of wilderness and sparsely populated places in Canada and the population had so many cultures that neither of us would stand out too badly. I heard it would be cold in winter, but I looked forward to seeing snow.
I was also looking forward to the change. Neither Nick nor Darien had found any mention of us in the Canadian news, so we shouldn't be recognized if we did enter a town. The push of our faces in the media seemed to have died down somewhat, although things were still being circulated since the news stations had no closure for the 'kidnapping emergency'.
They would get over it and it would become one of the many unsolved cases that would be filed into a dusty box in a storage area. Within a year, our faces would likely be forgotten by the authorities and the general public. We both liked the sounds of a remote location with few people, so the possibility of being identified didn't worry us too much. Even if they did spot us, Darien could easily get us to safety.
The future didn't worry me with Darien around.