Looking over the blue prints with the town artisan, Jonathan listened to the man but kept his focus on the woman across the town center. She was sitting by the fountain talking to some of the other young women. They were looking at the ring and giggling about something. He saw her stand up and excuse herself from them. The girls continued giggling and he looked back at the prints. "We'll have the building finished before the winter." He nodded and handed the prints back to the man. Quietly he looked for the blonde woman and found her moving toward the beach. Guiding through the crowded street, he reached the pier and looked down along the shore. No one came in sight and he walked along the pier. Stopping on the hill facing the orphanage he spotted her looking at the building. Silently he stepped up next to her and she smirked. "When did you get the touch ups done?" "You know when." She turned her blue eyes on him and said "You did so much." He smirked and she wrapped a hand around his arm. "What did those girls want?" Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder and met his brown gaze. "You know." "Jealous of you?" She nodded and said "At least they acted polite enough." He smirked and they heard people approaching from town. Lifting her head, she looked back and saw the three men approaching. Her hand lingered on her fiance's arm and he studied the men. Their eyes lingered on her and they stopped at the end of the pier. A slow smile captured her face and one man stepped forward. She ran up to him and he wrapped his arms around her. He spun her around and put her back down, pulling her into a hug again. "You look amazing." She smiled and asked "What are you doing here?" Looking at the other two, she met each studying gaze and glanced back. The men looked at the silent Lord and Liam smirked. "It seems he is a bit jealous." She smirked and Alexander said "You didn't tell him who we were." The men laughed and she crossed her arms against her chest. One eyebrow went up and she stared at each one. "Egging him on will just make it worse." Felic smiled and said "He'll learn." Letting out a sigh, she said "Come introduce yourselves." Silently she led them up to Jonathan and saw the warning in his cold stare. She stepped next to him and carefully drew his gaze on her. "This is my family." His brown eyes turned back on the three men and recognized her father. The younger men barely looked older than her and he focused his gaze on Liam. The man smirked and held his hand out. It hung there in the open and she watched her brother slowly pull it back. "I see manners aren't your thing." "Liam." The man sighed and looked at his father. The King was studying the young man and felt the brown gaze turn on him. "We're here for the wedding, nothing else." The cold gaze never wavered but he did look down at Eve. "News to me." He looked back at Liam and the man met the stony gaze. Alexander shook his head and let out a sigh. "Liam enough. Jonathan is just protecting her." "She's my sister. I should be protecting her from him." Shaking her head, she wrapped her hand around the strong one by her side and guided him away from the building confrontation. "Hey! Eve!" Ignoring the voices, she led him back into the town and stopped at the pier. Releasing his hand, she leaned against the railing and let out a sigh. "You really know how to get our blood pounding." He stood next to her and said "I've never seen you that happy." She looked up at him and said "I haven't spoken with them in over a year." "If you want to go home, then you should." "Jonathan." He left his gaze on the ocean and said "I wouldn't hold it against you. You may be better off back with your family." She smirked and wrapped her arm around his. He kept his gaze adverted and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I am with my family." He finally looked at her and she ran her fingers along his jaw. Some of the ice was gone from his gaze and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Promise me you will try and be civil with my brothers, especially Liam." One eyebrow went up and she said "He's always watched out for me. I don't want you two to keep butting heads because of me." His brown eyes lingered on ocean blue eyes and he nodded. He caught her chin with his hand and brushed his lips against hers. She listened to the steady heart beat in his chest and looked out at the ocean. The sun was beginning the descent below the horizon and she took a deep breath. "I better go show them where the inn is." "They'll stay with us." She looked up at him and he nodded once. Smiling, she brushed her lips along his jaw and stepped back. He held her gaze before turning away and said "I'll have the rooms ready." She watched him disappear into the crowded street and smiled. Leaning back into the railing, she looked toward the orphanage and felt a warm evening breeze playing with her skin. Walking along the pier, she spotted the three men finally making their way into the town. She waited for them to join her and felt each of her brothers checking for any injuries. "I'm perfectly fine." Liam folded his arms and said "I don't trust him." "Well at least be civil while you stay with us." His eyes narrowed and she said "He said you will stay with us, not in the inn." She could see the distaste in his eyes and looked at her older brother. The man smirked and gave a nod. Turning to her father, she found Felic waiting for her to lead them on. "Liam?" He sighed and nodded. She joined Felic and guided them through the town. Keeping them from being lured away by the young women, they left the town and stopped outside the gates. Carina stood waiting for her and she spotted Tempest. She turned to one guard and he said "She was brought for your need by the Lord and young William." "I'll have to thank Oric for his assistance." The guard chuckled and she walked over to Carina. The black mare nudged her hand and she swung up into the saddle. Looking back at her family, she watched her father and Alexander settle on Tempest. Liam climbed up behind her and she loosened Carina. The mare trotted out of the valley and moved up into the high grassy hills. The mare shook her head as she stretched her gait and began galloping in the open. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Tempest enjoying the run as well and smirked. When the barn came into view, Carina slowed to a trot and and William came out of the barn. The young man held the mare as Liam swung down and she followed. William then assisted Felic and Alexander off Tempest. Eve walked Carina inside and brought her back into her stall. The mare swished her long black tail as she ran the wire brush along the mare's body. The tack rested on the stall door and she patted down her tired friend. She locked the stall as she stepped out and met Solomon's gaze. The stallion snorted at her and she grabbed the tack. "We can keep doing this or you can be nice and let me say hi." He shook his head and walked away. Smirking, she hung the tack up and recalled how distant the stallion's rider use to be. As she left the barn, she found the three men waiting with William. He was listening to her brothers about some of their experiences and rolled her eyes. Catching the young man's shoulder, she smiled and said "Go on home for the night." He smiled and said "I'll see you in the morning." She nodded and watched him disappear into the woods west of the barn. "He work here all the time?" She nodded and said "Took his father's position when the man died at sea." They followed her along the gravel path and studied the architecture of the castle they were about to enter and the courtyard statues drew their attention. She opened one of the two doors and they came inside. Leon strolled up to them with a smile and she closed the door. "Would you men like a drink or perhaps a bath to wash up for dinner?" Both her brothers looked at her and she shrugged. Felic looked back at the butler and smirked. "I think a bath would refresh us." Leon smiled bigger and said "Allow me to escort you to the West Wing where you will be staying." The King followed Leon with his two sons behind him and she took a deep breath. Approaching feet caught her ear and she watched Trevor and Kara race toward her and the stairwell. She stepped into their path and Kara wrapped her arms around her as she was stopped. "Where are you two off in such a hurry?" Kara smiled and Trevor said "We heard your family was here. We want to meet them." She smiled and said "You will at dinner. Now, does Oric need help?" They shook their heads and she asked "What about Abigail or Grace?" "Abigail told us to stay out from under foot today." "Grace is upstairs in her room. She got a letter today from her brother." The smile faded on her face and she said "Then let's go check on her." Kara caught her hand and they walked up the stairs. Trevor led them to Grace's cracked door and knocked. "Come in." He pushed the door open for them to look in and found Grace packing. "Leaving?" The woman stopped and met her blue gaze. "Christopher wants me to come home after the wedding." Eve put Kara down and said "Trevor, how about you two go find Tanner and keep him out of trouble." They nodded and disappeared down the hall. She shut the door and looked back at Grace. "Is he ill?" Grace shook her head and said "His plan for me to marry our cousin failed and with him banned from this country, he is getting lonely." "Grace." The woman smiled and said "Don't worry about me. I'm use to moving around. Besides, he is my brother." Eve sighed and said "Can't live with them and you can't live without them." "Exactly." The woman closed her bag and smiled. "Now, where are those handsome men I heard that are staying in the West Wing?" She smiled and said "You'll see them at dinner." Grace laughed as they left her room and shut the door. "I'll see you tonight Eve." She nodded and watched the woman head downstairs. Glancing down the hall, she pushed the door open to the master bedroom and slid into the dark room. She shut the door quietly and saw him look at her from the window. She joined him and one arm circled her waist. "Everyone settling in?" "Liam has his doubts but don't worry about him." He smirked and said "You talked with Grace about her brother's note." She nodded and said "She's set on going home after the wedding." Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his other arm around her and looked out the window. "I'd like to see her make a decision for herself about herself for once." "Maybe a little encouragement from you would do it." "No. In time she'll learn." Listening to his quiet heart beat, she closed her eyes and savored the few moments they had together before the dinner atmosphere arrived.