Thunder rolled by, crackling its twin against dark blues. Each flicker it brought forth igniting the skies with an overwhelming call to the gods. Booms shook the very foundation that held the manor together. Siana groaned to a shaking bed as a very pronounced thunder cloud rolled over her windows. Rubbing eyes she glanced into the darkened window as a steak of fiery light zig zagged over blacking clouds.

Rain drops pounded sopping wet earth, creating puddles throughout the surrounding areas. Rising on elbows Siana watched, the emotions of the earth reminding her of herself. Every flash, every booming crack sent another reminder of what she had been through. Trickling tear drops squirmed down each glass pane, crying out for her.

“It will end soon” His voice thick like the furs she lay upon, caused her heart of calmness to jump. Swiftly turning from storming weather to the storm of his eyes, Siana watched as a streak of lightning flash over his features. The very light stunning her more when it took his eyes from dark and everlasting to utter destruction. Even the weather knew how lethal War was.

His mere presence was enough to make her nervous. She feared for those rising up against him in battle, the tyrant he must be when allowed to be the man he was calmed. Every muscle set upon his body rivaled that of the next. Dark hair fell into darker eyes, giving him a soulless edge over men twice his size. Which for War was rare.

Sitting close to a dead fire he matched the gaze of each thunder cloud bangingover head. Arms leaned inward allowing his hands to cup laced fingers, pressing them to his chin as he studied her with too much interest. Like a deer unsure where to flee Siana sat very still, her eyes never blinking from his own.

When he rose not even boards beneath his feet dared to groan in complaints. Taking glass in hand he moved till just a foot from bedside, reaching out handing her the filled glass.

“Drink it” Siana gave him a questionable look as she gingerly took the glass. His constricted face daring her to refuse. With small hesitation Siana took a small sip, her worry he was doing something wicked.

The liquid heated as it flowed down her throat, warming even the coldest of parts. Her eyes looked up when another flash of light screamed across skies, lighting his face up in a murderous stare. Turning from her, he looked out that same window she had only moments ago. Taking another sip Siana sighed out feeling stronger than before, she gave him a glance noticing he’d crossed his arms over an impressively large chest.

Dark leather to his very allowed a full view of biceps that could choke a man without much effort. They seemed to argue with shoulder muscles that gave him an even large appeal then she’d thought before, a jawline that would rival any battle man abling him to stare bulls down. Siana slowly brought the cup to her lips watching him for all intensive purposes.

Wondering how many woman had seeked for his affection, Siana swallowed her sip thoroughly. Her cheeks flamed due to an over excited mind of how many he’d bedded, she’d heard stories from a few of the men when they thought no one was about to listen in on their less than pleasing manners.

She thanked herself for not taking a sip as it would of been her undoing. Shaking them away Siana placed the glass to the side of the bed, giving her hands nothing more to do but fidget.

“Get dressed, we have work to do”  Heels spun him around heading for the door. Siana frowned unsure what had him so tense, but not liking it one bit. Standing halfway between exiting and entering War sent her a challenging look.

“If you should decide not to, I’ll be sure to drag you out as you stand” He closed the door as a boom of thunder pounded the glass pane window next to her. Jumping from both she glared at the doors backside, wanting little to do with him. It was only after he left did she happen to look down at herself. Feeling as though she would scream Siana snapped both arms around her bare chest, realizing her towel had dropped somewhere between her slumber and her rise.

He’d seen her.

Keeping his look plain War had nearly lost it when she’d rose without the slightest idea of her uncovering, deciding what would be the best course of action seemed to remain silent. She’d never listen to a word otherwise had he mentioned it prior to giving her the drink. Taking more self control than he thought should've been needed to keep eyes peeled outside.

Seeing a woman exposed wasn’t new for War, many times women were all too eager in throwing their secrets into his face. None so appealing as Siana’s. Something about the way she looked was doing black magic on his nerves, it tested every fiber he had instilled in icing a solid silver heart over with. His threat was hallow, never would he bare her such trauma. His men were that of rivals hounds in heat when a woman of Siana’s grace was exposed.

He might be called savage, killer and barbarian...but a womanizer he was not. Little memories of his mother were all he had, but they were kept locked away from all who dared pick such a lock. He found woman to be one of two things. Either blood thirsty for power and riches, or docile and meak fleas. Siana bestowed none of those, which was what he contributed to his interest in her.

She’d had power, wealth and meekness, only to lose all of it in one nights time. She was neither docile nor blood thirsty, her reign for power was for a cause far greater than anyone he’d come across. Marveling those who he once sought as better than most, Siana was putting even them to shame. A will to fight, yet soft when need be. Able to withstand summers of pain, torture and yet forgive those around her whom did so. Looking even one of those individuals in the eyes would prove to be a risk to ones heart. She’d done it for so long now, it seemed a part of her.

He drug a hand down his face nodding to a male in passing. Why was it she could do this, yet those born into it were unable. His foot dragged up the wall allowing him to fold arms once more in thinking. The scuffling sounds of her dressing a tease to his thinking. War gritted his teeth. There was no need for him to indulge in the sights of her body, she had taken every female and dropped them into a barrel of nothingness.

Woman now a days were so breakable, he’d feared bedding even one. Made for nothing more than picking flowers and walking around in overly elegant dresses, War refused to be bothered, keeping his mind contained and content with bathing in blood. Having seen part of Siana he’d need not see the rest, positive if that little could bathe a man's sense than surely the whole of her was enough to destroy even kings to conforming.

War licked parched lips, when the door swung open. Her eyes flickered at him briefly, looking both crossed and embarrassed. He held down his chuckle knowing it would only further annoy her. Pushing off the wall with his lifted foot War headed down like he was going towards the kitchen, following behind was Siana and all her annoyance. Waiting to see if she would ask where they were headed, he received not even whisper from her.

Giving off a mindful grunt, War cleared his throat looking somewhat behind him. Her face kept changing as though she were fighting with inner demons. Frowning to that he looked ahead, perhaps he should of said something sooner. He gave off an irritable sigh.

Everything about was wrong. She just couldn’t decide who she hated more, herself for not noticing, or him for not speaking up. But what made it worse was the simple fact that his face didn’t show anything readable. No dislike, but no interest. It had Siana fueling for a fight. The longer she thought about it the more angry she became, her new devotion was now devoted to not speaking to him.

Not because she thought it would bother him, on the contrary she figured he’d love that. But more so because she didn’t want to give him anything else. He’d seen a part of her no other male had seen, and much to her dismay he’d not done a thing. Conflicting emotions bubbled around her heart. Causing her mind to wander where it shouldn’t wander.

It was bad enough that every female within the walls whispered about her being his new pet. A toy for him to bat about when he so needed, and every whisper, every hot scaled look turned her insides out. Truth was...he’d never touched her. At least not until last night. Siana’s cheek heated remembering just what his hands felt like against her skin. She’d seen his calloused pads, the way dirt seemed to love every line foretelling about his life, but when they touched, they gave so much more than what she thought they might.

If she wished to stick to this plan, or any for that matter Siana was going to have to help herself. Starting with finding some place else to sleep. She’d not disobey him, but she also wouldn’t be at his calling whenever it suited him best.  So wrapped up in her ways of keeping away from him Siana hadn’t noticed he’d stopped, making her nose crash right into hard back muscles. With a swoop of his hand he’d caught her, placing her back on balance.

By reaction she pulled away putting a great deal of distance between them. Brows rose to peaks as War stared at her intrigued.

“I am to assume by your lack of footing, you didn’t hear a word I spoke?” Siana blushed looking away with a shaking her head ponytail. She noticed his lip twitch in aggravation, but not a sound of it became heard.

“Then I shall let you figure it out on your own….” His eyes watched her, when no reaction was given War pushed a little more. “Unless you wish to ask?” It was as though he wanted her to, Siana shrugged seeming uninterested. She heard the low rumble, it was unmistakable.

Shoving a door open War pushed his way through a few members allowing Siana to tag behind, she kept her eyes elsewhere besides the mass of his weight moving members around as if they were nothing more than wind.

They had only been outside for a few minutes when War stomped into the stable area, horses lifted their heads to see which master came calling. When they saw it was none of their own they returned to munching on hay, all but one dark bay in the far back. His snort of either displeasure or greeting was one Siana couldn’t make out.

He seemed already knowing where War wanted to go, and waited patiently by his door to be lead out and tacked. Leather gear dropped to a stone floor as War retrieved the stallion from his stall, tossing everything onto him before tightening it up. Every so often Siana could feel his eyes checking on her, she did not return the favor.

“Come” It growled followed by clopping of hooves out the entranceway. Siana sighed softly walking a few feet behind the horse, she knew too well how well the beasts you kick. A leg swung over his saddle as War took the reins in hand holding the stallion in place, only allowing him to paw the earth in anticipation.

Reaching a hand down to her War waited. Looking at his extended hand, Siana looked elsewhere. This plan had failure written all over it from the start, she thought to herself.

“Where we go walking isn’t an option, now...take my hand” It ordered from deep within his chest, causing Siana to wince slightly. The idea of touching him on her own was starting to make her knees knock, never mind the implication of having to sit behind him and more than likely hold onto him for stability. Was she ever going to be able to breath normally again.

Touching his hand had been worse than she expected. She could feel emotions she didn’t want to feel, bringing more light to why she needed to stay away from him. Without warning he swung her up and over the horse's rump, dropping her butt right behind his saddle. He gave her a minute when eyes looked over broad shoulder. She knew well what he was waiting for, she’d not hold onto him.

Snarling with a low hiss to stallion, Siana waited for the horse to leap forward. Her hands already gripping the back of saddle. To her unpleasant surprise his stallion didn’t just leap forward, it launched. Making it physically impossible for Siana not to grab ahold of his body for support. Managing to take a fast look at the ground where back feet had pushed form, Siana frowned to the indents the stallion made.

He knew she was purposely avoiding him, she thought looking back to her front. He knew.

At first he had figured she was just embarrassed with the now knowing of what he’d seen. Upon further investigation, War had come to understand she was now purposely going out of her way to keep away from him. Slightly amusing to his sense he’d found it quite interesting she thought it possible to do such a thing. When she continued it had started to grind against his toleration.

Knowing the power which was held by his stallions hind quarters, War was positive Siana wouldn’t have a choice in gripping onto him for support, unless she rather crack skull to ground. To her gripping tightly War eased the stallions heavy beats, managing a steady gallop over terrain. He swore she was digging nail so roughly into his vest, its shreds would blow across mountain tops.

Cutting through short valleys he wondered if she’d receive one, it was common for many about her age to get their own. He just hoped her time was now. The closer they got the less War wanted to near, she’d return to cold shoulders avoiding his presents at all costs. This was going to get tiring fast. Huffing as they reached a large meadow War nodded to a few members who had already arrived, trotting past them Siana lifted her head.

Horses whinnied to one another, greetings through squeals and rears could be seen all over. A few younger members were already walks around, some facing off with one horse in particular. He could feel her eyes watching a young male dodging a stallions advancing, waiting to hear her ask what they were doing he’d received nothing.

Shaking his head War finally gave in, she needed this and if Siana felt that strongly about what had happened he’d give her a little time to be more comfortable with it. Stopping a few feet from a large herd he turned to glance at her.

“Walk through the herd, if one should advance you beat him.” He said taking her upper arm without permission lowering her gently to the waving grass. Siana stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. War groaned shaking his head.

“To earn the right to sit upon such a steed he will test your willpower, in order to gain his loyalty you must first get him to submit. Do so.” Raising a hand in the direction of the stallions War didn’t look back at her.

(So I have made this one a little longer. If I don't post in a day or two its because you all are very close to getting Hadar up to 4k votes and I want to make sure the next post is nice and long. >.> don't let me down. -clears throat- Please tell me what you thought. ^-^ have a wonderful night)