Rahn hit the bag again. And again and again. She had acquired a large bag of dry beans, at no small cost, hung it up in her bedroom and was using it as a punching bag.

She kicked and punched and ducked at an imaginary opponent but instead of releasing her frustration as it normally did, her frustration kept building.

"5 days." She muttered as she punched the bag again. She groaned as pain erupted from her wrist down her forearm. She cursed as she drew it into her chest and drew a deep breath.

Dom had visited her at least every other day during her time here. Until that kiss. That mind shattering kiss. It had been five days and he still hadn't shown up.

"Coward." She said angrily as she unwrapped her hands and placed her left hand and wrist in the ice bin in her freezer.

She had tried to will herself to forget about him. To forget about the kiss. But it still consumed her thoughts. If he returned, she wondered if she'd be able to keep things between them platonic, as he obviously preferred. But no, that wasn't true was it? She asked herself over and over. He had wanted to kiss her. He had put as much passion into the kiss as she had... hadn't he?

She fisted the ice. Second guessing and insecurities were foreign to her. She didn't like it. Punching the bag wasn't helping. She needed to do something else.

She removed her arm from the ice and went to the door, putting on her shoes. When she opened the door it was dusk. She normally ran in the mornings but tonight she'd run until she was so exhausted her body would have no choice but to sleep instead of her mind keeping her awake.

"Males are just distractions." She told herself as she began a light jog to warm up. She'd give herself to the outskirts and then really hit speed once she reached the woods.

The path was getting darker as the shops were closed and people were all inside their homes. She took a deep breath in and released it slowly as she pushed her feet to move through the streets.

"Running at night?" A figure stepped out from behind a corner and blocked her path. She stopped abruptly and took him in. He was a tall, lanky male. He was young, she noticed.

She turned and took steps to run a different direction but another figure stepped out and blocked her again. She turned to find the young male taking very slow steps toward her from behind. An ambush. She cursed and stood up straight. "I can't catch a break." She said loud enough for them to hear.

"Why is that, sweetheart?" The young male asked.

She chuckled. "I don't know anyone who would describe me as sweet."

"Oh?" He smiled.

"That's close enough." She said in a firm tone as he was almost within arms reach of her. The other male a bit further away, holding his position.

The young male leaned his shoulder against the wall, lazily. "I've noticed you around. Running at night isn't your usual routine."

"Oh yeah?" She said as she kept her eye on both of them.

He nodded.

"I needed to clear my head." She sighed and folded her arms.

"It's not as safe in this area at night." The male commented. "Especially for a female." His eyes roamed up and down her body and she cringed. "Especially one wearing..." he motioned toward her. "It's a very brave choice of attire for a female at night in this area. Brave or stupid."

"Perhaps a bit of both." She smirked. "I wasn't expecting to run into anyone. I just want to go for a run in the woods and go back to my dwelling."

"I see." He said as he took a step toward her. The other man closed in as well.

"Now get out of my way and let me go." She said firmly. Her muscles were tingling, preparing herself for the fight. She was cursing the situation. She can't show her fighting skills to anyone while she's here. But she didn't love the thought of what these two likely had in mind. She weighed her options as she watched them, her back hitting the wall behind her.

"Why would we want to do that?"

"What do you plan to do?" She asked, letting a bit of fear and insecurity seep into her voice.

His eyes roamed up and down her body again, but he didn't respond.

"I don't like cat and mouse games." She growled at him. Both men were standing just outside of arms reach in front of her. There was nowhere for her to go in the skinny alleyway.

She watched as the second male's hand came up with a rag in it. Her eyes rounded. "No." She said in a shaky voice. The young male smiled. Rahn may not be able to use all the weapons in her arsenal but Lana was no pushover. She raised her knee and pushed her foot against the wall, lunging at the younger male. She saw surprise on his face just before she collided with him. She rolled to the side and began to run.

She saw the end of the alley in sight and forced herself to quicken her pace. But just as she started to turn the corner a large hand with a cloth covered her mouth. She struggled against it as a big chest slammed against her back.

"Shh, it will be over soon." She heard a voice whisper as her vision turned to black.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My lord." Biechta nodded her respects as she entered the dining hall.

"Lady Biechta, it is a pleasure to see you again." Kahal said as he stood and pulled her chair out for her.

They sat and he sipped from his water glass. "I hear you attended a theater rehearsal. What did you think?"

"Oh! My lord, it was splendid."

"I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it."

"They are very talented, my lord. It was unlike anything I could have ever imagined."

"The first performance will be in 16 days, while you are still in the homeland with us. You are welcome to sit with my family, of course. Assuming you plan to attend."

"Thank you for such a gracious offer, my lord. That would be lovely."

"Lovely... yes." He breathed a sigh of relief as a side door opened and food was brought in.

After their shared meal was over, Kahal plopped onto the sofa within his dwelling, exhaling deeply. Lady Biechta was sweet and seemed like a good person, respectable. On paper, she seemed the perfect partner for the future king.

But the undeniable fact was that there was no spark between them. No life. He refused to partner with someone purely for responsibilities sake. He would only partner with someone that he could love. A true partner in life. In all aspects.

His parents had found such a partnership, so did two of his brothers. As would he. He would settle for nothing less. Not only for him, but also his kingdom deserved a king and queen that were true partners, equal in everything and providing a good example for their people.

He groaned. He was familiar with all of the titled ladies that lived within the homeland, and was confident he would never feel anything for any of them. Likewise, for any other females he had gotten to know over the years. His mothers attempt to introduce him to the ladies of the outer provinces was proving unfruitful as well.

"Maybe it's me." he spoke to himself with his eyes closed, as he rubbed his forehead. "No sense in groveling. I have work to do." He pushed his hands into the couch and started to stand but then noticed the tablet still sitting on the end table beside him. He grabbed it and settled himself back into the couch. Two days have passed since he received the letter from Rahn. It would be an appropriate amount of time to send one back now, he thought.

Lana,

I know this has been difficult for you. Although I asked for a time of separation from our relationship, please know that I do care about your well-being. I am glad to hear you are making friends and settling into your new situation. It is good you are making the best of it.

Of course, you would not be you without your boldness. There is no way I could forget you showing up at my office barely clothed, and in front of my coworkers no less! Yet you had your head held high. It will forever be ingrained into my memory. My only regret was that you came to my office that way instead of my dwelling. I hated the way others were looking at you and wanted you all to myself at that moment.

He smirked as he typed that last sentence. If she was going to have fun in her letter, he could as well. And he owed her for the physical teasing she had done to him the last time she had appeared in his office. Another memory he would not forget any time soon. He read through her letter again, and wondered how he would respond if he were truly her partner. She had asked him to share news of what was going on in his life.

"Might as well pull from something real to make it believable." He shrugged.

Given how recent events played out with you and I, my mother has been pushing me to find a new partner. She claims I need a helpmate that will support me through the years. I agree, of course, but I also want a partner who challenges me. Someone I can share passion with and we can push each other to grow. I will not settle for anything less.

For a time, I thought you might be that female. It is why I was so disappointed in how you handled everything that led to you getting yourself removed from your position, and therefore removed from the grand hall. I need time to think about what I want and you do too. Take advantage of this time away from this place to look at everything through a new perspective and find what it is you truly want in life.

Please take care of yourself, Lana. Whether we end up together or not, I wish the best for you.

His fingers hovered over the screen, reading his letter before hitting send.

Kahal looked up at the ceiling and sighed before looking back down at the letter and cursing.

"That was probably a mistake."

He'd gotten a bit too personal. He should have changed it, deleted portions of it. She may like to tease him, but he was the future king and the acting general. He shouldn't stoop to those games. But he couldn't undo it now. He could only wait and see her response. He found the corners of his lips turning upward in anticipation.