The sun filled the chambers and the warmth heated the room. A cool breeze swept across his face and he slowly leaned back into his chair. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and looked down at the paperwork. His eyes narrowed and he slid to his feet. Silently he walked onto the balcony and looked across the kingdom.

His eyes settled on the stables and he watched Lucian prancing around. Breakers were trying to work with him but were having no luck. His eyes narrowed and his hand gripped the railing. He watched her approach the stallion and run her hand along his strong red back. Growling, he stormed out of the chambers and made his way to the stables.

Quietly he passed the ground workers and approached the coral. Ala looked up as he approached and turned her gaze back to the captain. He jumped the fence and moved to Lucian's side. Catching his reigns, he looked up at her and found her studying him. Her hands jerked the reigns free and she rode Lucian into the pasture.

His hand tightened into a fist and his eyes burned at her back. Taking a deep breath, he walked back to the fence and found everyone watching. Frowning, he hopped the fence and retreated back to his chambers. Ala let out a sigh and shook her head. She turned back to the pasture and saw the woman watching his retreat.

She took a deep breath and flicked the reigns. Lucian shook his mane and galloped across the pasture. Her eyes settled on the fence and she leaned into the stallion. His stride quickened and they cleared the fence. Tossing his head, Lucian let out a shrill of triumph and raced to the courtyards.

Her hands loosened around the reigns and she allowed him more slack. The pace intensified and they moved in a red blur into the courtyard. The flying hooves caught his ear and he looked over his shoulder. She pulled Lucian to a stop and looked down into his face. His eyes narrowed and he turned back to the doors.

"I'm going home."

The words stopped his retreat and he looked back at her. Her eyes were cold and her face was hard. Slowly he approached the stallion and caught the reins.

"You're scaring me."

Her eyes flickered and Lucian side stepped out of his touch. He let go of the reins and stepped back.

"Let me come."

She shook her head and said, "You have your business to attend to."

His eyes narrowed and he gripped the reins harder. Yanking the stallion's head to him, his jaw tightened and his eyes burned into hers.

"You will not ride without me."

A small smirk crossed her face and she gave one node. Letting out a sigh, he relaxed his grip and called for Wind. His gaze turned back to her and she ran her hand through her hair. Her eyes narrowed and he caught her arm.

"What is it?"

Her eyes turned to the market and she tightened her hands on the reins. Lucian tossed his head and danced to get moving. The restlessness set him on the edge and he spotted Wind approaching. Taking the stallion's reins, he slid into the saddle and rode up to her. She flicked the reins and they galloped into the market.

She held the reins with one hand as they entered the country and her other gripped her sword. His eyes watched the tension slipping into her frame and he caught her gaze. The warning flashed in his eyes and she turned her gaze to the looming estate. Lucian reared and she held onto the reins as he swung Wind back. Silently the red stallion returned to his feet and she looked up at the estate.

The archers held her gaze and her jaw tightened. Lucian dug at the ground and his ears twitched with a low snort. Wind moved into her view and his gaze met hers.

"I will go ahead."

Silently she nodded and he rode Wind to the gates. The archers held their gaze on her and the guards stopped his approach. She watched him draw his sword and hold Wind steady. The gates opened and her eyes narrowed.

Her brother met his gaze and said, "You're not welcomed here."

His eyes flashed and he let Wind pace. Jacob laughed and their swords met. Her hands grew tight around the reins and screams filled her ears. She saw the archers falling off the protecting wall and spotted Simeon and Val waving. Smirking, she watched them remove the enemy with quick and precise blows.

Jacob turned his attention to his failing defense and ran back into the estate. The last archer dropped and she drove Lucian to the gates. He stopped next to Wind and she glanced back at the prince. His hand gripped his sword tight and she saw the tension in his face.

"He's betrayed you."

Her smirk startled him and she said, "It just makes it easier to kill him."

Silently she rode into the courtyard and found Simeon and Val waiting for her. They looked at the fiery stallion and then turned to her.

Val smiled and said, "We've been expecting you."

She looked at the aging he underwent and nodded. The boy was almost a grown man and the troubles were evident. A scar ran along the right side of his face and she caught his jaw.

"My brother?"

He nodded and said, "He rallied the bandits and took over."

Simeon smirked and said, "Val was the first line defense. This scar proves his loyalty."

Her eyes moved back to her husband and his eyes narrowed. The doors opened to the estate and she met Jacob's gaze. His delight in seeing her made her sick and she drew her sword. The frown slid onto his face and he descended the steps. Silently he approached and she held the two warriors back.

Jacob stood a few feet away from her and said, "You wish to kill your own blood?"

Her eyes flashed and they slowly walked in a circle. Each held their swords ready to strike and a shadow crossed the ground between them. Looking up, she saw Diana watching them and lowered her sword. Sheathing it, she approached her mother and knelt before her.

Diana frowned and said, "You're late."

Looking up at the woman, she said, "Forgive me."

The woman smiled and caught her shoulders. Silently she rose and the woman kissed her darkened forehead. Her eyes looked over her and her smile grew bigger.

"When will he born?"

"In a few months."

She glanced over her shoulder and saw his eyes watching her. Slowly she turned back to her brother and found the shock in his face. Jacob drew his sword once again and Diana stepped in front of him.

"This is enough. You will not fight your sister here, not on your father's land."

He frowned and said, "She sold her loyalty to the King and is now pledged to that tainted kingdom."

Diana frowned and said, "Your father would be displeased with those words. He never once renounced his loyalty to King Derek."

Jacob frowned and raised his sword. His eyes widened and he looked at his father's sword. It held his firmly in the air above their mother's head and she shoved him away. He stumbled backwards and the blade sliced his shirt. A small stream of blood ran down his arm and he looked up at his sister.

"You wish to kill me?"

"You will not touch her, traitor."

The sneer crossed his gentle face and meshed the face into the betrayer's true form. Her eyes narrowed and their swords clashed. Diana caught her shoulder and she shoved her off. Her attention narrowed on the man fighting her and she avoid a swipe at her stomach. The blow to her back sent her stumbling forward and she dropped to her knees.

His sword rested against her throat and her eyes burned. He laughed and lifted the sword. Her hand gripped her sword and he struck. She saw the blade holding the attack back and looked up. Jacob's eyes widened and he was shoved away. His hand rested on her shoulder and she nodded.

Silently he helped her up and said, "Return to my father. This is no place for you."

Her eyes narrowed and she said, "This is my fight."

"Kris. Go."

Jacob's eyes flashed and he said, "So you call her that name, do you? Only blood can."

Their swords met and she watched them drive at each other. A scream caught her ear and she turned around. Men surrounded Diana and her hand tightened on her sword. Silently she drove them to the ground and caught her mother's shoulder. Diana looked up at her and her eyes widened.

The sound stopped her heart and she looked over her shoulder. Falling back to the ground, she saw the sword and watched the man yank out it of her stomach. Her eyes widened and she caught the woman. Diana looked up at her and she pressed her hand on the growing stain.

Diana caught her face and said, "I pray he's as beautiful as his parents."

The tears burned her eyes and she shook her head. Catching the woman's hand, she looked around for help but found no one. Simeon and Val stood fighting the men away from them. Jacob and the Prince fought each other in another world. The cool hand caught her attention and she looked back down at Diana.

"Please don't leave me."

Diana wiped her face dry and whispered, "I'm so proud of you. Live your life, don't let someone else."

Shaking her head, she watched the woman's eyes close and the hand fall from her face. Closing her eyes, she kissed the woman's forehead and let out a low cry. The tears burned her skin and she bit her lip. Slowly she looked down at her soaked hand and took up her sword.

"I give you my word."

Silently she rose to her feet and Val glanced at her. Her gaze settled on the two swordsmen ahead of her and she slit the throat of the men stopping her. They dropped like flies and she silently approached the deadly battle. The blood on her hand ran down the sword and glistened in the sunlight. The blade sliced Jacob's shoulder and he stumbled backwards.

"Stand down, Alex."

Her voice was empty and the men looked back at her. The tears burned her eyes and the fire grew in them. She took a deep breath and met Jacob's gaze.

His eyes landed on the blooded sword and she said, "You killed her."

Her sword swung into his and he fell onto his back. She kicked his sword away and held hers against his throat.

"You will die."

His eyes widened and she swung. The arm caught hers and she looked over her shoulder. His eyes held her gaze and his hand tightened on her wrist. Silently her arm fell to her side and she closed her eyes. The sound filled her ears and she heard her brother gasping for breath.

His hands rested on her shoulders and she bit her lip. He pulled her into him and her knees gave out. She crumbled to the ground and broke. Silently he held her and his gaze rested on her pained brother. Jacob forced himself to sit up and looked over at the body.

His eyes widened and he said, "I didn't mean for her to get involved."

Her tears stopped and she growled, "Liar."

Slowly she lifted her face from his shoulder and turned to her brother. Her face was stained with the tears and her eyes burned. Jacob shook his head and she looked back at her protector. His hand settled on her stomach and he kissed her forehead. Footsteps approached them and she looked up.

Val knelt next to them and said, "We'll cleanse the body and hold the burial tomorrow at dusk."

Simeon yanked the wounded Jacob to his feet and said, "I will take him to the King and report to him this tragedy."

Her eyes softened and she nodded slowly. The two left with Jacob struggling to keep up with them. Slowly she looked back at the man holding her and rested her head on his chest. His hand ran through her hair and he closed his eyes.

"She will be honored as your father was. Your brother will punished properly."

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and nodded. He quietly sheathed their swords and lifted her into his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder and he walked to the doors. An elder stood at the doorway and allowed them inside. The manor fell into silence as he climbed the stairs and withdrew into her bedroom.

Gently he laid her on the bed and closed the door. His hands removed her boots and he untied her sword from her side. He brought over a bowl filled with water and a cloth. Gently he removed the blood from her hand and dropped the cloth into the bowl. He ran his hand through her hair and her eyes slowly met his.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Silently he removed his sword and rested it on a chair. He slid his body next to hers and held her in his protection. She rolled her body into his sheltering embrace and closed her eyes. His hand slid through her hair and he closed his eyes as she grieved their loss.