“Leal, what do you think you are doing?” asked Dracia as she pushed Leal away and wiped her mouth with her hand.

“Well, I was kissing the woman I love before she so rudely pushed me away,” said Leal with a smile. He reached out and tried to pull her back to him, but Dracia pushed his hands down and walked a few steps away.

“What do you want, your highness?” asked Dracia turning slightly to not look directly at Leal. He ran a hand through his wavy, sandy blonde hair. His full lips curved up into a smile.

“Your highness,” laughed Leal. “You know I remember you calling me that before, but it was in much more pleasurable circumstances, High Captain.”

Dracia turned and glared at him.

“You have not answered my summons. I am the Crown Prince, you serve as High Captain under the direction of the royal family. You cannot ignore a summons from me.”

“I serve the current king. I cannot ignore a summons from him. Yours are more optional.”

Leal let out another small laugh. “I know you want to talk with me of the Ellis boy. I know you are displeased.”

“Of course, I am displeased, you didn’t even let me know me first.”

“How can I talk to you and tell you, Dracia? You won’t even come when I summon you as a member of the royal family,” said Leal in frustrated tone

“You could have written me a letter. You say I have been ignoring you, but I have written you many letters on the status of the Sentinel. You wouldn’t have even known Galen was interested in the Sentinel if I hadn’t told you.”

“It’s true, and I could tell you were worried about the boy. I know he is the brother to your second. The one you particularly like,” said Leal with an edge to his voice.

“What is that supposed to mean? I value both of my seconds and all of my Elites.”

“You seemed to spend an extraordinary amount of time with Roderick,” said Leal looking at her with narrowed eyes.

“How would you even know that? Have you had me followed by someone?”

“No, you aggravating woman, I have spent hours watching you myself,” said Leal angrily.

“You have glamoured yourself to fit in with my Elites, haven’t you?” asked Dracia incredulously. She shook her head and walked further from him. “How dare you.”

“How dare I? You are the woman I love. You said you loved me, but you never allow me to see you. You only write me to tell me kingdom business. Did you think I was just going to let you disappear out of my life? I can’t stay away from you, Dracia.

“When my father let you be named High Captain, I was furious. Do you know how many nights I have stayed awake worrying about you? Do you know how may frustrating days I’ve walked the palace halls, wondering if you were safe? I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to find a way to watch over you, to just be near you.”

Dracia felt her eyes soften, hearing the worry and tension in his voice. She walked closer to him. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you. It has been horrible for me as well, but I don’t know what choice I have. I was told to stay away from you. I was told you would be promised to another. I couldn’t stay close to you, knowing that soon I would have to watch you love someone else.”

“How could you ever think I would love someone else, Dracia? After all we have shared, do you really think I would ever be with anyone, but you?”

“If it was your choice, no,” said Dracia. “But I don’t believe you will have a choice in the matter.”

“I will have a choice, and I will have no one but you,” said Leal adamantly. “One day I will be king, and the choice of who will be by my side as queen will be mine. I will have only one woman as my queen, and it will be you.”

Dracia smiled up at him sadly. She didn’t know what to say. She would like to believe him, but she knew his first loyalty would have to be to his father and the kingdom.

“What about Galen, Leal. How will this work?”

Leal looked at her for a moment at her change of subject, but he sighed quietly and answered her. “From what I hear, the boy is brilliant. I have no doubts he can find time to do both some studies at the High Academy and complete the Disciplines of the Sentinel.”

“You know how demanding the Disciplines are. How can we expect this young man to do both and not kill himself from exhaustion?”

“I have a scheduled worked up. I will have it sent to you. You can make any adjustments you think are necessary. We will let Galen try out the schedule. If he finds it too demanding, or you think it too much for him, we will tell him he must choose one.”

Dracia nodded. She looked up at Leal. “You don’t really think I have any feelings beyond Sentinel devotion towards Roderick, do you?”

Leal shrugged. “I have a lot of thoughts about you since I can’t seem to be with you anymore. Some of them have driven me a little mad. Roderick is talked of as handsome by the ladies of the court. He seems very devoted to you.”

“He is. I chose him as my second for a reason. He is devoted to me as my second and nothing more. He is a dear friend, as you know, but that is it. You tell me to trust in your love, yet you would think I would turn to another so quickly?”

“I didn’t really think it, Dracia, not when I am sane and thinking clearly,” said Leal smiling slightly. “You do seem to favor him over the other man at your side.”

“You mean, Darron?” asked Dracia with a smirk. “Of course, I trust Roderick more than Darron. I named Roderick as my second because I trust him completely and need him by my side. I named Darron because I trust him little and wanted him by my side to watch him.”

Leal walked closer to her.

“You aren’t really angry at me are you, Dracia? Haven’t you missed me?” asked Leal as he moved very close to her. He took her hand and held it.

Dracia took a breath looking down at their conjoined hands. “Yes, I have missed you. How could I not? I cannot stay angry at you, no matter how much I might want to, but I told you I can’t see you like this anymore. You know it isn’t good for either of us.”

“If you remember, I didn’t accept you staying away from me then. I do not accept it now.”

“It does not change the fact that we shouldn’t be together like this. You know your father has spies everywhere. He probably has someone watching us both at all times.”

“So,” said Leal pulling her closer to him. “What could he do to us? I am the Crown Prince. You are the High Captain of the Sentinel. He won’t do anything to either of us, Dracia.”

Leal pulled her close to him and kissed her gently. She found she couldn’t not resist him. She put her arms around his neck and parted her lips. He moaned as he deepened their kiss, pulling her against him. Dracia let him kiss her, but she did not agree that the king could not do anything to them.

The king had insinuated that there was a few things he could do to Dracia if she did not leave his son alone. He had hinted that she could be disposed of rather quickly if she persisted in her relationship with Leal. Dracia would not burden Leal with this knowledge of his father, not today.

Leal pulled back, leaned down, and kissed her neck. He looked at her, his eyes usually a calm hazel, were a bright green. Dracia took a deep breath and smiled slightly, feeling his pull and alure.

“Let me come to you tonight, my love,” he said quietly before kissing her again.

Dracia found herself wanting to say yes. She would do almost anything he wanted. She might let him have her right where they were. She quickly looked down and shook her head. “No, it’s too risky. You will be seen.”

Leal put his hand under her chin and raised her head, so she was looking again into his bright green eyes. “You know better than that. I can sneak in and out with no problems. You know I can. I have hidden amongst your Elites many times. Please, Dracia, let me come to you. You made me promises. You know you did. Do you not remember?”

“I do,” said Dracia staring at him. “I remember well the promises I made to you, and you to me.”

“And I intend to keep every promise I have made to you. Can you say the same?”

“I want to, Leal. I do.”

“Then let me come to you tonight. It has been so long since we have been together. I can’t stand another day. Will you let me come?” asked Leal as he brushed his lips against hers.

“Yes,” she whispered. He kissed her again. He finally released her, and she stepped back. His closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, they were back to their calm hazel.

“That wasn’t really playing fair, you know,” said Dracia, giving him a small smile. “It’s hard to tell you no, when you are using those powers of yours.”

“You think I did that on purpose?” asked Leal taking her hand. “If you want to blame somebody for that release, it will have to be yourself. I have a rather hard time containing myself around you.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t come tonight then,” said Dracia with a teasing sound in her voice. “I would hate for you to do anything drastic in the Fortress. I rather like my rooms the way they are, in one piece.”

Leal laughed. “Don’t worry, I have enough control over myself to handle it, even around you, my love.” He looked down at her. “You know I am still not happy with your position as High Captain, but I must say I rather like this look on you. I have enjoyed watching you as you perform your duties.”

Dracia dropped his hand and rolled her eyes. “I need to get back, and I am sure someone is missing you in the palace.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I do what I please. I am the Crown Prince you know.”

“Yes, I know you are, and I know you have many duties that you do attend to, so go attend to them all,” said Dracia turning from him. He grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“You will see me tonight, won’t you?” he asked as he raised her hand to his lips.

“Yes, it’s probably very stupid, but I will expect you in my rooms tonight. I will let down my wards at the tenth bell.”

“I look forward to all your barriers coming down tonight, Dracia,” said Leal with an eyebrow raised.

Dracia shook her head and shooed him away. She turned to walk back to the Fortress, wondering what in the world she was actually doing.