A/N: Sorry it took so long, but you know how it is. Hope you enjoy...

Disclaimer: I do not own MR

Chapter Eleven: Ambition

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Recap:

"Pleased you could make it," the Director greets as Fang places me gently on the ground. I limp to my feet, not wanting to appear weak in front of our enemy.

"Let's get this over with," is Fang's reply.

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I rest against the prickly green labyrinth wall as my head spins. The Director's head swims in and out of my vision as I feel my body go weak. I think I see a grin split the Director's face, but I'm still losing blood so I'm not certain. I can sense Fang's worry for me, but he knows that he has to take care of the Director before he can do anything to help me.

The Director's personal guards step out from the labyrinth pathways. There are five that I can see and I know that Fang can take them. I just worry that there are more reinforcements just around the corner.

Fang's fists clench and then he's moving. I don't know if it's my vision, but he's almost a blur he moves so fast.

A swift punch to a guard's jaw sends him to the ground, but the others are harder to subdue. Although the guards are well trained, Fang has the edge. His speed and strength are from years of experience. He's spent years as the Director's second in command, and there is no way a guard is going to be able to stop him.

Black spots cloud my vision for a moment. When the spots clear another guard is on the ground with a dislocated shoulder and a lump forming on his forehead. The Director has used this distraction to his advantage, however, and carefully makes his way over to me.

Fang notes the Director's movement and makes to go after him. The three remaining guards pose an obstacle however, and Fang sends another guard to his knees with a kick to the gut and a knee to the chin.

Fang takes down the second last guard with a powerful roundhouse kick, but it's too late. The Director has reached me and I can hardly stand anymore from my blood loss. He reaches his hand out and touches my cheek. I slap his hand away but it's about as effective as a butterfly.

The Director positions my body so it's in front of his and his lips touch my ear. I give a shudder as I try to remove his arms from my body. But I'm too weak. My nails can barely find purchase on his skin. I want to scream in frustration, but I can barely breathe from my exertions.

Fang goes mental. He practically rips his way through the final guard in his efforts to get to me. But he freezes when the Director produces a knife at my throat. Fang's face goes steely as he eyes the Director with a malice I've never seen before. It's scary.

"What are you going to do with us? Make us your slaves?" Fang spits with disgust.

The Director's lips move against my ear. "Oh no, I've got much worse things in store for you," he says quietly. I can sense his wicked grin.

"Just kill me," I murmur. "I'd rather die than be in your presence one more moment."

"You're not getting off that easy," he replies.

My words have distracted him from Fang, who takes a step towards us. I cry out when I feel the sharp bite of the Director's knife.

"Not so fast," he warns as I feel blood trickle down my neck. My whole body has gone cold, which I don't think is a good sign. Maybe I will die soon.

"You sack of shit," Fang growls as he watches my neck. I can feel the knife cutting deeper, but the action is curiously devoid of pain.

With all of the strength I have left – both physical and emotional – I do the most disgusting thing I've ever done. I know that one more moment with the knife against my neck will be my last; the blade is so close to cutting an artery. So I turn around in the Director's arms and, much to his surprise, meld my lips with his. He stands stock still while I continue to kiss him, then I feel his lips starting to respond.

That's the moment that Fang's knife finds its place against the Director's neck. With one swift motion, Fang slits his throat in exactly the same way the Director had planned to slit mine. The Director's eyes meet mine just before the life leaves him.

The Director's blood gushes out in a hot flood and I catch some in my mouth. But by this point I'm having trouble feeling anything except the cold. The Director and I collapse to the ground and Fang is instantly by my side. I try my best to smile at him, but my lips are numb. He clutches my face between his big calloused hands and gently kisses my lips. Then he's all action as he brings me to his chest and spreads his wings.

I want to tell him how much I love him. I want to tell him that he'll be a better leader than the Director could have every dreamed of being himself. But I'm already drifting into darkness.

I don't know if I'll wake up.

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Epilogue

In the mirror a beautiful face stares back at me. My skin is healthier than it's been in years and I still double take at how clean I am. My hair falls down my back in waves. But my eyes are glued to my neck, where an ugly scar stretches across my throat. I touch it, but the wound has long been healed. The puckered skin is a harsh contrast to the rest of my paleness.

Fang appears in the mirror behind me. His magnificent naked body is just another reminder of my imperfection.

He kisses my shoulder and gently runs his finger along my scar.

"Do you know what I think when I see this?" he asks softly, his voice like honey.

I meet his eyes in the mirror.

"I think that I'm the luckiest man alive. To think that the love of my life barely escaped death in order to save a corrupt city. To think that together we rebuilt that city into something worth dying for. To think that today that very same woman is destined to be my wife."

A slow smile takes over my face as I turn to face my future husband. He kisses me on my cheeks, my eyelids, and finally my mouth.

"To think that Angel is so handy with a sewing kit," I joke.

Fang's mouth turns up at the corner. "Only you would turn this into a joke. The people in this city depend on us to keep them safe. With the purge of the corrupt and the freedom of the prisoners, this whole city has been renewed. All thanks to you."

"No, Fang," I say as I place my hand on his cheek. "It's you. It's always been you. You have a power that no one can compete with. You would have found a way to make this all happen without me."

He shakes his head as he grins. "Well, I think I like exactly how things turned out with you in it. It's a lot less lonely."

I laugh. "Shut up and kiss me," I order him playfully. It takes him less than a second to oblige.

And although we have a wedding to get ready for and people waiting for us, we spend the rest of the morning in bed with each other. Because without him I'd be a dirty girl in a cage without a future. Because without him life wouldn't be worth living.

The city flourishes under Fang's rule. Where the cage fights used to be viewed has been turned into a magnificent theatre. Winged people and slaves flock to our city for our protection. Former cage fighters train as guards and Angel's girls get the choice of freedom. Our vision has come to pass. And I know that Fang will do everything in his power to protect it.

It's a happy ending if ever I've seen one.

THE END.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews and support. Hope you liked this little story.