Chapter 2 Learning What It Is To Be Queen

Driving up along Hwy 193 following the directions with an unearthly sense of knowing where the house was. As a wrought iron fence come into sight seeming to go on for miles. From the papers Keren knew it in fact did go on for miles. After five miles a pair of handmade stone pillars appeared on either side of double wrought iron gate. The center of the gates when together had a crest with a D in the center. Marvel enveloped her very being at the refined opulence just on the outside of the estate. With a wave of her hand the gates swung open as the forest seemed to swallow the paved driveway laid out before the van. Starting the van once more going slow noticing the solitude of the thick forest surrounding the estate. As the forest give way to a massive front yard the next thing to capture her attention was a voluminous citadel styled to resemble a colonial estate built in the 17th Century.

Stopping halfway up the driveway getting out of the van walking to stand in the center of the front yard. Looking around at what belonged to her now, she let her head fall back as blue eyes turned silver and both arms lifted in a summons to come, "Guardians, it is time to come home." All at once the ground began to rumble, the winds began to swirl and the forest seem to burst with life. Above two massive dragons circled above as if waiting for something. As the tree line

seem to rustle with activity a canis ambrusteri emerged. Most would call it a large wolf although this canine family appeared over 55 million years ago. As the ambrusteri stopped just outside the forest waiting a small gray fox bounds down from a limb to stand next to him. Both run to start to surround Keren. As her head was still back and arms up summoning still more came. On the other edge of the forest lion a black jaguar runs from the forest being chased by a

lioness as though they were racing to join the growing circle around the new Queen. A raven come to fly below the dragons landing just before a peregrine falcon joined, as if mimicking the first two birds next come the two final birds. A male ferruginous hawk followed by an eagle owl. As these final birds finished the circle around Keren the two dragons swooped down shifting as they did to stand before the Queen as human. In sync with the dragons the animals gathered shifted to take their human form.

Lowering her head letting the power that still had strands of her hair flying as if a live Keren looked as the ten Guardians dropped to one knee before her. Standing slowly with her mate the two before stood as the female spoke. "I am Saran, this is Stephan." With a nod the two turned around to the rest staring first at Falcon. "This is Falcon and his mate Raven. Hawk and his mate Deedra she is the eagle owl. Lucas our great jaguar and his mate Ivy the lioness. Then finally Darmus the ambrusteri and his mate Mya the gray fox." Turning back to the center the female continued. "We are your Personal Guardians. Through out our people we are known as your shadows. As you know the Guardians are a race of the Darbin people which are even broke to different races. As you have the Guardians, Fighting Guardians and the Guardian Lights." Looking to the male at her side with a smile that spoke of a commitment that has withstood time

before turning back Saran went on. "In a time we were fortunate enough to have children to aide the Guardian race grow. I think you could call us the grandparent of the lines. Although there were those converted over time." At Keren's nod as she tries to take in all that she has learned and she is seeing the group before her as one bow with old world elegance "My Queen you have my allegiance." As the group said this it sounded as one voice not that of ten people.

A bit shaken all Keren could think to do was nod a bit regally before giving a small yet short laugh as she spoke. "Well alright then. Here is what I have to do today to get on with my life and what I will need of all of you."

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Driving home from the new house and summoning her guardians, Keren debated on the best way to tell her daughters what exactly were the result from last night. Knowing the three of them would think she were making up a fairy tale she decided on the extreme version. Using yet again a new ability she silenced the sound of the van coming up the driveway to the old house. Searching til she found a link with the animals inside Keren calmed them and showed them the wolf being the same as her. Pushing open the door as she stepped out. Closing it as her human form shifted to a small wolf not wanting to scare the girls too badly. Sending a wave of power to make the girls immobile as the door opened slowly. Padding in on four feet instead of two. As a gasp from a wolf entering to the inability to move the girls went wide eyed even as the wolf shifted to become their mother dressed in her normal jeans, t shirt and shoes. As if unable to stop it Leana began to scream as Serean started out with "Oh shit a.. Well damn how did you do that?" Tabitha always the more easy going of the girls was a mixture of the two. At first screaming, "Leana!" As she tried to climb on the back of the couch. As she realized that the wolf had become her mom she went silent before saying, "Cool." Leana however kept screaming saying, "Oh shit! Hell no!" Realizing they could be here all day waiting on Leana to calm down, Keren silenced her. At the realization that she could no longer scream her daughter did what she suppose was the next best thing. Looking down Keren shook her head laughing as she saw her daughter had literally wet her pants.

Looking to Leana then the other two girls in the living room, Keren sort of smiled. "Last night something happened. It seems we need to talk." Leana spoke with fear still coating her words, "You think so?"

With much consideration Keren decided to give the shorter version as to not cause any of her children too much trauma. "Last night I was bit by what I thought was an animal. I thought something had fallen on my face trying to make me stop screaming, but it seems it had given me blood. The next thing I know I passed out not waking up till you three come home and found me." Looking to Leana as she knew that her oldest would be the main one to win over.

"Why can't I move?" Leana asked.

Looking seriously at her daughter, "I did not want you running like a mad woman from the house. We need to talk and had I not froze you in place you would have done more than wet yourself."

"I did not do that. It was Shadow she did it." With that she looked to her rottweiler laying next to the couch. Looking back to her mom as she lets the magnitude of what was going on sink in. "Okay release me. I will not run. Are you okay now?" Concern etched her oldest daughter's face to match the one on the other two girls standing now next to Leana as if either to protect her or for protection. Which was uncertain.

Nodding knowing that she would have to be ready in an instant to refreeze her daughter Keren motioned for them to sit on the couch. As the three girls settled down, she back up to sit on the recliner. "Like I was saying I fell asleep to wake when you found me in the woods. The doctor and two other staff members at the hospital were the ones who did it."

With hearing that part Leana jumps up saying, "What the hell those SOB's they can not just do stuff like that!"

Holding her hand to calm her daughter, "It is over Leana what is done can not be undone. Now however, I have become Queen of the Darbin People. With that is going to be a lot of responsibilities. It is asking a lot, but I have thought it over. As the Darbin Species is basically immortal I do not wish to live it alone. With that said my question to you three is this, do you three wish to be converted?"

Without a second thought Tabitha jumped up with a rushed "yes". Serean looked at her mom, "you say we will be immortal?"

A small smile touched her lips as the younger two was as easy as she had thought they would be, "yes you would be immortal."

At her answer Serean held up her hand as if she were in class, "Count me in!"

Laughing before going more serious Keren turned to Leana who was looking at her sisters like they were fools. "Are you two out of your mind? You are not even asking any questions. Like is it going to hurt? What will we become? Will we be blood sucking vampires?"

Shaking her head trying not to laugh as she knew her daughter was serious Keren glanced to the other two girls seeing a touch of fear in their eyes at the questions asked by Leana. "It will not hurt at all. You will go to sleep and wake up, nothing more. You will become what is called Guardian Lights." Holding up a hand to stop the next question, "Guardian Lights are just immortals who have the speed of the Darbin and the ability to speak telepathic with other Guardians. You will remain that until the time comes when you meet your mate. Then what you become will be up to the two of you. For now that is nothing for you to worry about."

Looking to her sisters and then to her mom knowing if she did not go through with this she would be left behind by her sisters. Being able to run fast sounded pretty cool. "Well what do we have to do?"

Walking over to her girls hugging each one and guiding them to walk outside. Nothing for now. Lets go outside and go fishing. Something to get our minds off all this for the night." Leana called the dogs to let the other two girls go out before her. "Mom, are you sure you are okay?" At her question of concern the other two stopped as the four of them stood on the ground before the porch turning to her.

Looking slow letting her power flow smoothly through her, Keren let her eyes touch each of the girl's eyes capturing their complete soul deep attention. "I am fine girls. I promise. Now the three of you sleep. You will not wake until I wake you." As the trio slumped to the ground Raven, Deedra and Ivy stepped out of no where catching them to make their fall no more than if they were laying in bed. Watching them before looking to the three women. "As you convert them lay them in the ground to sleep. Be certain to cover them completely. Guard them do not let anything happen to them. I will awaken them in the morning." At their nod and joint, "Yes my Queen." Keren turned going in the house knowing that she would never be able to stay and witness her daughters being buried. Even if she knew they were doing no more than sleeping the night away to wake in the morning.

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Awakening the next morning looking around her bedroom knowing this would be her last day in this house. Thinking of Saran, "Are all of you ready to move us from this house to the new house?" With a mere pause from the question Saran answered, "Yes my Queen we are ready." With a sigh Keren asked, "Do you have to call me that?" A voice filled with amusement replied, "My Queen you will find that most Darbin will not be able to control the reaction as it has something to do with the blood connection. Your family members you have converted will

probably fight it and not call you that. Most Darbin will do it without thought." Without making a reply to that Keren broke the connection getting up from bed dressing in a manner of only a few Darbin. Using a thought to dress her for the day ahead.

Letting her mind reach out and touch the dogs waking them. Smiling as she walks into the living room finding that the dogs had not made another mess. "Hmm.. Maybe these powers will have their benefits." Laughing at that comment she followed the dogs outside. Shadow went to stand next to where the girls were buried. Looking at her, "Shadow, go use the restroom. I will wake them." As the dog walks off to see to her business, the ground began to open with dirt rolling to the top of each grave. Glancing down seeing each girl buried thinking, 'this is the quietest I have seen them in over fifteen years.' As the thought ended Keren thought of the girls floating up from the ground, moving to the side of the graves and then the dirt sliding back into the holes. Waving a hand over the dirt smoothing the grass over top to look like it had been untouched.

Looking at the girls watching as the color come back to their skin, then their chest starting to take in air and eye lids starting to flicker to open. Leana rose slow looking around at the house and ground, "What happened?" Serean stretched before sitting up, "Am I sleeping on the ground?" Tabitha looked to her sisters then her mom, "What did we do pass out?" Looking to her mom with accusation in her eyes Leana spoke slowly. "You did it without warning us didn't you?"

Shaking her head Keren turned around going to the van as the dogs followed, "I warned you I was going to do it."

Both Serean and Tabitha asked at the same time, "Where are you going?" Looking over her shoulder at the girls Keren said, "Shopping for clothes and a car. Seeing how yours do not fit anymore. Then going to the new house. My guardians will be here to move our things soon."

As the girls glanced down each one in turn grabbed hold of the pants that had all, but fallen down. The next thing she knew the two younger girls had used the speed of a Darbin and was sitting in the van waiting on her. Looking back Leana was pouting, "Does anyone ever listen to me?" Shaking her head Keren said, "No, so do you want to go shopping or what?" With a breeze of air Leana run past her mom to the van sitting int he driver's seat. "I am driving."

As their mom got in the front seat of the van she held up three cards. Looking at her hand as if it was a viper each girl asked, "what is that?" Raising a brow she looked to her oldest in the driver's seat then in the rear view mirror at the other two. "They are unlimited bank cards. If you do not.." Before the sentence was finished the three had snatched the cards up. The next few minutes was spent trading out cards till they got the one with their names on it and putting them up in their pocket. With a muffled curse Leana put on a burst of speed getting out of the van, going in the house to get her purse then back to the van. "I forgot my license. You two got yours?" The next instance the other two caused a small whoosh as they to moved like a tornado grabbing their licenses.

The first store on the agenda for the day was Wal-Mart. With the justification being that they could shop their first until the malls open. Then shop at the mall until after lunch. That being a good time to go shopping for cars. Keren had been grateful that the girls did not try to gather clothes at Wal-mart with Darbin speed. Watching as they shopped giving her opinion when they asked. One time during their trip to the department store Tabitha looked at their mom, "Mom

are you not going to buy anything?" Smiling at her youngest daughter with a shake of her head Keren said, "No hun I do not need anything." Stopping looking at her mom, Leana tilted her head. "You lost weight to so why do you not need more clothes?" Motioning for the girls to follow as Keren reached and grabbed some clothes from their basket for them to try on she led them to a handicap fitting room. When the last girl stepped in Keren waved a hand down in front of her to distract them. Changing from blue jeans and a t shirt to a strapless dress. Waving a second time to change to a sweater and slacks. Finally another time to end up in the jeans and shirt from earlier. Then looking to the girls. "See?"

"What the hell that is not fair!" Leana all, but demanded her. Leaning close to the center of them whispering, "The quirks of being Queen." With that Keren blows on her palm sending a cloud of glitter to the girls' eyes. when they opened their eyes, Keren was standing outside the fitting room laughing and waiting for them to finish.

As the day progressed they found themselves at the Mall not long after 10am. As they got to watching the time Keren had to use her own powers to block the sight of the girls using Darbin speed to shop. The only thing she allowed the humans to clearly see was the girls entering the stores then paying at the cash register. By lunch time the girls opted for the Waffle House closest to the car lot. Looking at each girl Keren told them, "Just so you know there are going to be cars at each of my houses. The ones you buy today are well just ones you pick out. You may want to keep that in mind when shopping for cars today. Maybe buy the 'new car' you want and like. Later you can look and see if I already own the 'car of your dreams'. Understand?"

All three girls answered in unison spoke, "Understand mom."

To Keren's amazement on the way to the car lot the three girls had decided rather quickly on which car they wanted. Leana chose a navy blue Ford Escape. Serean chose a Ford F-150 that is jet black. Shaking her head at the youngest one's choice. "Tabitha are you sure?" At the "yes mom" Keren said no more. Watching as she pulled the pea green Ford Fiesta. Going to get into the van planning on having it fixed up and kept in the garage just encase one day it may be needed, "Mom are you not getting a car?" Shaking her had at her middle child who looked at her in concern. "I have my car waiting on me in the garage at the new house. Now are you ready to go?" After the last comment she slid into the van and started to drive to the new house knowing when she got there they would be shocked.

Driving down the road having to slow down as the girls had almost stopped when they saw the wrought iron fence along the property. She could see they were trying to see through the forest. Turning into the driveway with the gate slowly opening she could hear the girls screaming in their minds. Laughing she pulled farther in blowing her horn to get them to follow her not stop in the street. As they followed up the driveway you could see the girls getting nervous probably thinking they were lost. Driving up the driveway quicker than the girls when the forest gave way to the front yard Keren stopped in front of the house giving Lucas the key to the van. "I think they are in shock." As Lucas walked to the car he remarked, "It would appear so my Queen."

As Leana, Serean and Tabitha got out they looked like fish out of water. Leana asked, "Is this the 'new house'? Are you freaking kidding?"

With a wicked sense of humor Keren pulled their powers for a few moments knowing what was coming. "Yes this is the new house." Serean and Tabitha started to run much to their disappointment it was the speed of humans running. Leana not thinking nothing of it thought she would get the run on them and tried to put on a burst of speed, "Me 1st!" She began to run just as her sisters had at a human pace. Stopping dead stop she looked back to her mom. "What is going on?"

Laughing Keren said, "I thought you should take time to enjoy it and let Saran show you to your rooms."

With a multitude of complaining from all three the girls they walked with a more sedate pace into the house following Saran through the house. Walking into the kitchen grateful for a moment of silence she looked to Darmus as he was preparing a glass of sweet tea. "Well Darmus, I think the girls like the house."

Darmus looked up hearing the happy sounds through the house before looking to his new Queen. "Really? Is that what that is?" Laughing he looked to the glass he had filled. "I hope so the last time I heard screaming like that the Darbin Night Walkers were having a vigilantly group of women for a snack. Watching as he realized his words had caused the Queen to remember the memories of kings passed.

Going pale at Darmus' words, Keren saw the memory of the night he spoke of.

Unable to stop the memory as it began. It was a late evening when King Caudin reigned. It was of a group of women that had been having a late evening picnic. A group of Darbin children five or six years old were out playing. The children being just that children forgot about the warning of the adults to not use Darbin powers in front of humans. They began playing chase using speed close to that of a cheetah. As the children were not much faster they had already gotten nearly as fast as their Clan's namesake. The Cheetah Clan. The children not watching what they were doing run through the women's blanket causing them to spill their glasses of wine. Anger that their husbands would be able to tell they had been drinking had them jumping up to yell at the children. As they started to yell they then noticed they were moving faster than any mere human adult could much less any child. The women had been a bit eccentric to begin with as they were always going about declaring people sinners.

Later that night the ladies returned after having went home and several had gotten in trouble for being out so late as a woman was not allowed such luxury in their time. The women remembered the mountain the children had run to for shelter. Joining late that night in the area they met to picnic the women went to the cave at the side of the mountain. Some going in with knives some using guns they had taken from their husbands. Many adults had died that night trying to save the children. As the screams and pleas for help was heard the Darbin Night Walkers had waken going to the aid of the Darbin Cheetah Clan. As the night had come close to an end the only ones of the Cheetah Clan left had been the children. King Caudin had come as the fight had ended. Ruling that the children be taken to the sister Clan in the next colony over. Heavyhearted King Caudin had ordered that the dead humans and Darbins alike be left in the cave. To protect his people from further exposure to the humans the King had brought forth the fire in the earth. The erupting fire had exploded as a volcano spewing the hottest fire burning all it touched.

As images of the cave collapsing and the sounds of the women storming into the cave killing the Darbin, while the Darbin fought back in Keren's memory making her have the unearthly feeling of being there. Footsteps running down the hall had sounded similar to the rocks falling during the volcano just as the girl's had come to the doorway smacking the door frame, Darmus using his ancient Darbin speed was in front of the girls in less than a second. Still pale with the horror and fear of the memory Keren struck out without thinking. The burst of fear aimed at the sound of rocks falling had struck swift and hard. The burst sent the large Darbin male flying across the kitchen through the hall separating the kitchen and washroom where he landed on the floor. Just as the burst had been sent the other Guardians had come immediately half going to Darmus the other half going to their Queen and her daughters. Realizing what she had done Keren first looked at the girls. "Are you three okay?" The three still in shock only nodded speechless that they were. Joining the other Guardians kneeling over Darmus, she moved to kneel next to him as he was beginning to ease his way to stand. Checking him closely trying to make certain he was okay Keren asked with great concern, "Are you okay Darmus? I am so very sorry."

Haunted eyes look to his Queen as he remembered the day of that particular nightmare. He and other Guardians had been sent to make certain that no bodies had escaped the flames. Shaking his head to take the blame from his Queen. "No my Queen. It was my fault for not thinking before I spoke. I know what your conversion consisted of. It is I who is very sorry to you for bringing that up. Please my Queen forgive me."

"Nothing to forgive Darmus. We all just have to learn how to live together. I am certain there will be a few bumps."

At her words Leana looked at the group who merely laughed at her mother's words. Her mother waved a hand causing the wall to reappear and seem as though nothing had happened. "What the hell are you people talking about? We could have been hurt or killed! Did anyone think about that?"

Looking to the Guardians then to her daughters with a sarcastic smile. "No my dear you would not have been killed you are immortal. If you were hurt well I am here I can heal you." Turning to the Guardians, Keren gave a wink before they all burst into laughter at the looks of shock on the faces of the three girls. To catch them off guard Keren slid onto the stool next to the breakfast bar and looked to them. "So, what was it you wanted?"

Leana looked to her mother with very little humor showing on her face, "You know you are not funny at all!" Keren tried with great effort to remove the humor from her face. As she began to feel uneasy it was becoming more of an effort to not look as though she were in pain than it was to appear to be taking her daughter serious.

Tilting her head glancing to the three girls before her that looked so excited, "So why did you three come running in here and get pour Darmus thrown thru a wall?"

With a finger pointing at her mother, Serean put one hand on her waist as she spoke up. "We so did not do that!" Quickly to follow her sister Tabitha joined in, "Yeah we just wanted to ask if we could take the van and go pick up Cassy."

Taken by surprise at the question enough to forget the uneasy feeling coming over her Keren looked at her oldest daughter. "Why do you want the van and not your own?"

At her question the girl began to act more like herself with hands mobile as she spoke, "Well, we wanted to go pick her up and bring her to the new house. You know as a surprise?" A look of concern and uncertainty come over Leana as she turned to her mother. "You were going to tell her to right?"

Nodding as she could feel sharp scratches on her side Keren frowned enough to cause the guardians to take notice and start to shift where they stood. Covering the expression of pain and smiling to her daughters a bit distracted, "Yes I am going to tell her. Are all of you going to go pick her up?"

Tabitha seemed to notice her mother's discomfort looked worried stepping closer to her, "Unless you want one of us to stay with you mom. I could stay here while Leana and Serean go get Cassy."

Reaching over with a quick hug for her youngest daughter Keren started to guide the girls to the door leading through the washroom to the garage, "No you three go ahead and get your sister. She will be so thrilled to see the house. I am fine. I have ten guardians watching over me if I need something."

Leana and Serean glanced to their mother now having actually forgotten just a few days ago she was in the hospital. Leana stopped in front of her mother, "Mommy we can wait to go get her it is not that important." Serean had began to nod her head in agreement with her sister.

Laughing while the pains began to feel like a stabbing pain in her side Keren shook her head at her daughters. "No the three of you go on. Besides Cassy would never forgive you if you did not tell her right away."

As she spoke each girl hugged her and kissed her cheek before running to the van were Lucas had already opened the garage door. As the van backed out and the door closed he joined the other Guardians in the kitchen looking to the Queen.

Taking a deep breath at the van leaving Keren looked down to her side lifting her shirt slightly making certain that she was not in fact hurt. With a look of consternation just before she doubled over in sudden pain with a gasp following close by. As she realized that the pain was coming from a mental link she quickly followed the path from which it was coming. Stepping back into the counter back at her kitchen as she reach her destination of the pain and able to look at what the person was seeing. Before her was two clashing swords.

With little thought of her own safety she let her spirit step into the other world beside the two men lifting her hand to stop the men fighting. As she froze the fighting men it was then that she noticed there was in fact four grown Darbin men with swords not just two. Even as her mind was registering her surroundings in this new place she also let her mind touch on the fact that she was not only here but she was also back in her kitchen. Letting her mind touch slightly on the house it come as a surprise that she was able to function in both places at the same time. Neither hindering the other worlds. As her 'house self' was assuring the Guardians everything was fine just a mental link catching her off guard, she brought her 'battle ground self' back into focus to what was transpiring before her. The three Darbin men fighting with her Fighting Guardian.

Without a second thought as she had learned during one of the conversions of the day she was made, her blood had a healing agent for any and all Darbin. As for the rest of the Darbins it depended on their race if their blood held the healing agent. This universal gift was given to her along with being able to be in more than one place at a time as she was the gift to the Darbin people giving birth to future Darbins. Quickly biting a wound on her wrist as she stepped to where the Fighting Guardian was frozen. Reaching up taking his sword from his hand as she lifted her wrist and unfroze him. As he began to drink she made herself look to his wounds checking to make certain they were healing as he drink. She pulled his name from her memories from the past Kings/Queens remembering this Fighting Guardian was Zeke, "After this Zeke, I plan to talk to all of the Fighting Guardians." As the Fighting Guardian finished drinking he looked to her then down speaking softly, "Yes my Queen." Handing the Fighting Guardian back his sword as he moved to stand next to her Keren turned to the other three Darbin men still frozen.

Noticing the two smaller men looking in fear to the one who had been yielding the sword at Zeke then to their Queen. Shaking her head as she figured out who was the leader of the three Keren looked to the man in charge. Just as the rest it seemed that she knew all of these people. The memories of the past Kings and Queens may as well be her own as they felt so personal. Taking a deep breath she slowly released the leader looking over him slowly. "James what is going on? Why are you, Lukin and Dale fighting with my Fighting Guardian?"

A bit shocked unable to move as his new Queen released him from where she had frozen him, "It is true. You are alive. It was thought you would not survive." As he stopped speaking he looked with anger at Zeke then to the house down below them in the valley. "We were going to our mates. He was preventing us from it."

Turning to look behind her in the direction James had been talking of. Keren let her senses expand. She felt only human women in the cabin below them. Letting the part of her spirit that could find the location of a fate mate she touched first the three women. Only one appeared to be a fate mate for a Darbin. He however was across the world with a Darbin Water Clan. Looking back to the three men before her unfreezing the other two shaking her head. "None of those women are your fate mates." Feeling the pain from James as the fate mate remorse filled him. It she knew grew with their age.

James stiffened as the pain of the long awaited fate mate filled him. His pain was more than a mere mortal could have withstood. Stepping forward as though he were going to go after a woman anyways, just as Zeke stepped to move before his Queen. Zeke all, but growled, "I can not wait! I will find my mate or I will die."

A look of disapproval moved to James. "You would get them killed with you to ease your pain? They are not as old as you. They have not even began to feel the fate mate remorse." Turning the same look to Lukin and Dale. "Are you two willing to die? What of your mates? When they are born on the next cycle and comes of age what will happen to them when they reach fate mate remorse? Can you leave them to suffer?"

Lukin and Dale first looked to James then to their Queen, it was Lukin who spoke for the two. "No my Queen. We would never do such as that my Queen. We were told there were no more mates."

Looking to the three men then to Zeke with a question as she searched the many memories, at her look it was Zeke who answered the silent question, "Audin made certain to tell any and all Darbin that at his death there would be no more mates created." Finding the memories she sought, were in fact she saw him tell a group of Darbin just that. He had done such so that every Darbin would live and die protecting him. Shaking her head she looked to the three before her. "Surely you know that fate mates are not created. They just are."

James looked down at his feet, "Yes my Queen, just my fate mate remorse grew to a point I could no longer endure it. I am sorry to both of you." Looking to both Lukin and Dale, James apologized. "What she says is right. I just was not thinking straight. Forgive me." At his words he looked to Zeke as well.

At his words Keren turned to the two lesser Darbin as she took a deep breath. "Return to your clans. Tell them of your crimes and what you have learned. Take your leaders punishment." At her orders the two men moved to walk off as they replied, "Yes my Queen."

James took a step closer to the Queen as the two left. Zeke out of reflex moved to step in front of her. Keren reached out putting a hand on Zeke's arm listening to James. "Fighter, I am no fool! I have grown with the same stories of our royal leaders as you have. I know if she dies so do the rest of us. Even my fate mate will suffer. My Queen what of my mate? Does she live? Where is she?"

Feeling compassion on the Darbin before her a gentle smile curved her lips. "Your mate lives. She is not in these lands however. You will have to leave your beloved states. You will be going over the sea to Paris. Find the Deep Moon Clan. You will aide them however their clan leader needs you. If he has no need of you then I suggest you live your life. Fate will bring your fate mate to you." As she finished speaking she made certain that none of his wounds were life threatening she stepped to the side.

"Yes, my Queen. Thank you for your understanding and mercy." With that James held out his hand to Zeke. "Safe travels." Zeke not trusting the fellow Darbin ignored the hand and stepped back allowing the man to take his leave. Looking to Zeke as James left Keren opened her mind sending her next words out to all of the Fighting Guardians as she spoke to the one before her. "As I said, I wish to speak to all of you at my home later tonight around midnight." At her final words she heard several "Yes, my Queen." coming from more than just Zeke.