Leal sat next to her and looked out. At the table in front of him sat Dracia with her two seconds on either side of her. She was turned talking to Roderick as he poured her a glass of wine. She said something that caused Roderick to smile at her as he put the pitcher of wine down. He leaned in and whispered something to her that caused her to laugh and lightly squeeze his arm.

Leal took a deep breath to contain the power he felt welling up inside of him. Dracia had told Leal over and over, that Roderick was nothing more than a friend. Besides, Leal was sitting in front of her with a foreign princess many expected to be his wife. How could he blame her if she found a way to distract herself?

Leal looked at Darron who sat on Dracia’s other side. He was staring at the princess next to Leal. Leal looked to see Lilith staring back at Darron.

“Who is that man?” asked Lilith, still starring at Darron.

“He is an Elite of the Sentinel and a second of the High Captain,” said Leal. “His name is Darron.”

“Maybe your father should have put him in charge of my security. He looks like he could actually scare someone away.”

Leal would love to tell her to ask his father to exchange Dracia for Darron as the head of her security, but he would not let her disparage Dracia’s ability as High Captain.

“Trust me, princess, no one can protect you better than Dracia. I have seen her in action. She is no doubt the best warrior in the kingdom. She will not let anything happen to you. My father would not take your safety lightly. Like I said it is a great honor to have the High Captain watching over you. She has many responsibilities, so her leaving the Fortress to attend to you is no little thing.”

“Do you know her well?” asked Lilith.

“Yes,” said Leal. “We grew up together. She is great friends with my sister, as well, as you can see.”

Leal watched as Lexine stopped by Dracia’s table to speak with her. Dracia stood and curtsied, but Lexine smiled and waved her away, leaning to give Dracia a kiss on the cheek.

“Your sister is very beautiful,” said Lilith.

“Yes, she is,” said Leal. “She is also a wonderful person. I will introduce you after our meal.”

Leal hoped he could have Lex distract the princess for a moment so he could finally talk to Dracia. He hoped to convince her to let him come to her tonight. He knew it would be late, but he felt the need to be close to her, even if was just to hold her as she slept.

The meal started, and Leal was able to not have to make constant conversation with the princess as she was distracted by others. He tried not to stare at Dracia throughout the meal, but he constantly found himself looking at her. She ate her meal as she chatted with both Roderick and Darron. He smiled a little watching her roll her eyes at something Darron said.

At one point Leal saw Dracia looking at someone else at the head table. She looked down, but kept looking back up. Leal followed her gaze to see Lady Elise starring at Dracia. Dracia must have noticed Leal looking at Lady Elise as well, because she turned and looked at him with a questioning look. Leal shrugged his shoulders, giving her a half smile.

The rest of the meal passed without any incidents. Leal was happy when the king made a short speech welcoming their honored guest, because when it was over, it meant he could get try to get away from Princess Lilith. When the speech was over, Leal caught Lexine’s eye and motioned for her to come over.

“Lexine, this is Princess Lilith. She would like to be introduced to you,” said Leal as Lexine came to Leal and Lilith.

“I am happy to make your acquaintance, princess,” said Lexine curtsying.

“I am glad to meet you as well. Please call me Lilith if you please,” said Lilith as she smiled at Lexine.

“I was wondering if you could introduce the princess to some of the ladies of the court, Lex,” said Leal giving Lexine a pleading look.

“I would be happy to do it,” said Lexine as smiling at Lilith before looking at Leal with a cocked eyebrow. He knew he would owe her something later.

Lexine started walking and Lilith fell at her side, taking Lex’s arm. Lex looked down for a moment and then turned to look back at Leal before they moved on to a group of young women. Leal looked to find Dracia standing up to follow Lex and the princess. Leal cut her off as she was walking his way.

“High Captain,” said Leal nodding at Dracia.

“Your Highness,” replied Dracia with a curtsey.

“You are well tonight, I trust?” asked Leal holding out his hand.

“I am very well,” said Dracia taking Leal’s hand. “I am working, though, so I will need to move along.”

“Of course, I will not detain you long,” said Leal as he bent over and kissed her hand gently, knowing his lips lingered a little too long. He stood up and looked around to see if anyone was near them. “Are you heading back to the Fortress tonight?”

“I am. I will be needed at the Disciplines tomorrow. Don’t worry about your princess, I have assigned two well trained Elites to the safety of all our guest tonight.”

“My princess, High Captain?” asked Leal frowning. She knew he would have only one princess in his life, and it sure wouldn’t be some fragile, woman of winter.

“A slip of the tongue, your highness,” said Dracia looking down. “I have heard her called your princess many times tonight.”

He wanted so badly to take Dracia into his arms. He wanted to tell her that no matter what anyone said, the only woman that mattered to him was her. He felt his arms ache to hold her as the power inside him urged him to claim the woman in front of him. It felt wrong to speak to her so casually, to know in a moment he had to let her pass.

He leaned forward as close as he dared. “Tonight,” he whispered. “Please, tonight.”

He leaned back and looked at Dracia as she studied him. Finally, she nodded, filling Leal with a tremendous feeling of relief and happiness.

“Now if you will excuse me, I must see to my duty,” said Dracia.

“Of course, I hope you have a pleasant evening, High Captain,” said Leal as he moved out of the way.

“We will see how the night goes. I have great hopes of finding something to bring me pleasure,” said Dracia with a glance at Leal as she walked by.

Leal smiled as he watched Dracia walk towards Lex and Princess Lilith. He had not heard her tease him in the open in a while. He found the whole irritating evening might have been worth it for that one moment. He just had to get through a few more hours, and then he could slip away and be with her.

“I had hoped to make it over here in time to meet the woman you were just speaking with,” said Lady Elise as she made it to Leal’s side.

“Oh?” asked Leal.

“Yes, I believe she is the High Captain of your Sentinel, is that correct?”

“She is,” answered Leal looking down at the old woman.

“She seems like an interesting woman,” said Lady Elise. “I have heard she is the first woman as High Captain is that correct?”

“You are correct,” said Leal. “She is a very interesting woman. I will be glad to take you to her if you would like an introduction.”

“No,” said Lady Elise, as Leal watched Dracia be greeted by her parents. Her father smiled as Dracia leaned in and kissed his cheek. Her mother stood to the side and nodded at Dracia

“She seems to already be speaking to someone, and I believe she is on duty, is she not?”

“She is speaking with her mother and father, it seems,” said Leal. “She is charged with seeing to Princess Lilith’s protection, but with the number of Elites in here tonight, I doubt anyone is in any danger.”

“Lord Arwel is her father?” asked Lady Elise, her voice rising slightly.

“Yes, she is the youngest daughter of Lord Arwel and Lady Owena. She was previously Lady Dracia Yates before she was named an Elite of the Sentinel. Now she is the High Captain.”

Lady Elise starred at Dracia as she spoke with her father. Dracia laughed at something her father said, her eyes bright.

“She is a very pretty woman,” said Lady Elise quietly. “Such lovely dark eyes.”

Leal wasn’t sure what to say. Lady Elise didn’t seem to require a response, she seemed very lost in her thoughts. She turned to look at Leal after Dracia’s father had kissed his daughter’s hand and turned.

“I am sure I will have opportunities to speak with her in the days to come,” said Lady Elise. “I am rather tired. I believe I will retire.”

“Would you like me to call a servant to attend you to your rooms?” asked Leal.

“No, I know my way. My attendants will be awaiting me in my room. Good night, your highness.”

“Good night, my lady,” said Leal as she turned and left.