Kahlan sat on the edge of the lake, watching as the water rippled before her. The sun was beating down upon her, relentlessly heating her body without mercy. Her heart was pounding, not only from the warmth, but the thoughts she had tried to run away from. It wouldn't be long until he came after her, wondering what was wrong and once she told him; once the words were spoken aloud, it could not be taken back. It had been going on for over a year, her heart and mind fighting over what she wanted and though she had promised to never hurt him, it was increasingly becoming harder.

The night before they had stood around him as he shouted in anger, announcing his frustration in the situation between himself and the Mother Confessor. Her heart had stopped in that moment, a part of her wanting to rush into his arms and demand that he make love to her, while the other wanted to run into the forest and scream in agony. The look in his eyes remained with her, the intensity of the moment almost overwhelming. She knew that it was hard for him, that whatever feelings he had for her were forced to remained buried, but in that second, when their eyes met, she saw the same frustration and rage she felt herself.

She awoke in his arms, unsure as to how she had arrived there, but didn't rush to move away. It was the first time in a long while where she had felt the way that she did. She was safe and warm, comforted and alive, things she never felt away from him. Richard had awoken without a tell, laying silent as she pulled herself closer, needing more. The instant she let it known she was awake, she would have to pull away and she wanted whatever feelings he provided her to linger when she moved.

The urge to kiss him had been so strong, she could almost feel his lips against hers and from that thought alone, she went down. Her body began to ache, her mind imagining things she had never done before, things she would never be able to do with him. Her leg had come to lay over his, her knee lightly touching something that gave him away. Doing her best to pretend to awaken, she rolled from his arms and onto her back, rolling her shoulders as she turned her head toward the fire. If she opened her eyes in his direction, her secret would be clear, she needed something more. Sitting up, the Mother Confessor stretched her arms the way that she always did before coming to her feet. Within a breath she was standing and moving faster than before.

Now she sat here, beaten by the sun for her own foolishness. A part of her had wanted to jump into the water, hoping that it would clear her mind and ease the ache in her stomach, but even now, she thought of the consequences. It was her burden to bear, loving a man she could not have. When they found the stone, he would leave and she would take a mate, it was their destiny. He would never touch her the way that he did in her dreams and his mouth would never claim hers and hers alone.

Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she pulled off her boots and brought her feet to the water, almost moaning as the cool liquid flowed over her hot skin. Laying back, she let the sun pound on her face and chest, almost feeling like it was a punishment from the spirits for having such thoughts. Lifting the bottom of her dress, she exposed more of her legs to the heat, enjoying the cross feelings of pain from the sun and the relief from the water. She has definitely spent too much time with the Mord'Sith, she thought as a smile came to her lips. Pain was never something she enjoyed before, but now, the physical pain either reminded her that she was strong or it took away what she felt inside. Both, she concluded, were a good thing.

The brunette jumped as something cool splashed on her face, her eyes opening as she brought her hand to her forehead to block out the sun. "Richard?" she questioned as he knelt down beside her, almost blocking the light from her eyes. "What are you doing?"

The panic left his face as she finished, his shoulders slouching in relief. "You wouldn't wake up," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry, I must have- How long was I out here?"

"Long enough for the sun to claim you," he responded softly, pulling his shirt from his chest. She watched him move for a moment, his muscles rippling with each motion, her body screaming in need. His shirt was wet when he brought it back to her sight, she had to force her eyes off of his skin as he brought the cloth to the side of her face. It stung, but not as bad as she thought that it would. He was gentle as he moved the cloth, letting her skin soak up some of the water in hopes that it helped with her pain. "Zedd said that it would be safest to stay here for another night until we know where the compass is taking us."

She was grateful that he didn't mention what had happened that morning, but she wasn't entirely sure why. "Does he think it will bring us to another village?"

Richard shrugged, moving the cloth to her neck, his eyes glancing to the top of her breasts. "I don't know, maybe. I don't think I can become any more of a monster."

"You're not a monster," she stated quickly.

Blinking, he brought his shirt to her chest and squeezed, watching as her eyes fell closed to the pleasure the water brought her. "I killed all of those innocent people, Kahlan."

"We've all killed people and some, some have been innocent, yes, but some haven't. We can't let our past mistakes hold onto us. We learn from them and try to become better."

"You-"

Sitting up, she held his shirt in her lap, letting what was left of the water inside drip onto her dress. "There are always mistakes, Richard. We make them everyday, I make them every day. It's the ones that we can control that we hold onto. Listen to me, I know how you are feeling, I do. It's terrible that those people died, yes, but you were not able to stop it. But," she added as her hand came to his knee. "If it was to happen again, you could and you would stop it. You learned from it, found something about yourself..."

"I don't like who the anger turns me into."

Pulling back her hand, she leaned toward the water, staring out as she took in a slow and deep breath. "We all have a piece of ourselves that we wish we could change."

"I can't think of anything you'd want to change about yourself," he told her softly.

Blinking, she turned her head toward him. "I can think of one."

"You shouldn't."

Her body tensed at the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes captivating her instantly. "We should get back."

"We have time," he told her quietly. Watching her for a moment, he sighed. "What were you thinking about?"

"Everything," she said, skillfully admitting nothing.

"About this morning?"

Holding her eyes on the water before her, she shook her head. "I don't- I shouldn't," she corrected herself.

"Are you upset with me?" Her eyes met his in confusion for a moment before he continued. "I know that you don't like me to sleep so close to you."

"Why did you?"

Shrugging his shoulders, he tried to find something to say, something other than the truth. "I hated who I was. I sat beside the fire and all I could think about was that when I was near you, I wasn't the evil I saw in myself." He avoided her eyes as he spoke, settling on the truth. He could never lie to her, not because she would see through it, but because she thought of it the way he did. Lies never solved anything or helped anyone. "I just needed to be close."

"You could have woke me."

"I was afraid," he whispered shamefully. "I saw the look in you eyes last night and I didn't mean to hurt you-"

"I know. You- Richard, you didn't hurt me. I was... Surprised, I think."

"You know how I feel about you."

"Part of the surprise."

"I don't know how you can't see it."

"What?"

"How I can love you."

Looking down to the cloth in her hands, she swallowed. "Don't say that."

"Anything else would be a lie."

Bringing her eyes back to his, she frowned. "You can't love me. I'm a Confessor, no one loves us."

"I do."

"I'll destroy you."

"No," he said at once. His mind was made up, there was nothing she could do to change the way he felt and he wouldn't give up until she accepted it. "You would never hurt me."

"My magic would take away everything that you are. Loving me is a death sentence."

"It's a purpose," he whispered just loud enough for the two of them to share it. "I know you, Kahlan. I know you better than anyone you've ever known. I know that it's hard for you to understand that I'm not afraid, but- I don't fear your magic running through me, Kahlan."

Pushing his shirt into his lap, she gritted her teeth to find her strength. "Then you are a fool." She stumbled to her feet, remaining in the water for a moment as the bottom of her dress fell into the lake. "There is a reason people run away in fear when I approach. I destroy people and if given the chance, I would ruin you."

Coming to his feet, he stepped in close to her. "You've had many chances, Kahlan. You would never- The one thing I am sure of is that you would never hurt me."

Her eyes dropped to his chest at his words, unable to hold his as her heart threatening to leap out of her mouth. "And if I wanted to?"

"It wouldn't change anything."

Sitting down once again, Kahlan closed her eyes. "Sometimes I wish that it would." He didn't move at her words, though she wished that he did. "Sometimes I feel trapped inside of myself."

"I know the feeling."

"Do you?"

Kneeling down, Richard brought himself closer to her. "Maybe not as well as you do." Pulling off his boots, he lifted the legs of his pants and let his feet sink into the cool water. "I know how you feel."

"When you went into that village," she said, hoping to change the subject. "What was going through your mind?"

"I'm not sure I can name one thing. I couldn't see anything other than my anger and each movement brought me- I was glad when I killed one of them."

"Because it dampened the anger?"

"Because it made me feel strong."

"You are strong."

Closing his eyes, he sighed. "I wasn't strong enough to stop myself."

"You didn't know how," she told him softly. "Now you do."

"It doesn't change what I did."

"We can't change the mistakes we've made, but we can learn from them. That's why we remember them so well."

"I remember their faces. Each one of them and not just the ones I murdered- I never wanted to kill anyone, Kahlan."

"I know and you don't- You don't kill most of the men you fight. You give them a chance to-"

"Do you remember what you once told me? I asked you why you would release a man who had tried to kill you and- What you said keeps ringing in my ears."

"That people deserve a second chance?"

"They deserve to become better than what the world made them. The people I have killed, they were not given that chance."

"Yes, they were. They know you in battle; what you stand for and they choose to fight. You standing before them is chance enough. The ones who rush in to attack, they seal their own fates."

"And the men you confess?"

"I am different," she told him softly as she brought herself to the same position he was in, letting the water cool her feet. "I am not a symbol of hope and freedom. I am your servant, prepared to deliver justice to those who try to harm you."

He smiled at the thought, the idea laughable. "You are no one's servant."

"Then what am I?"

Turning his head toward her, he fought the urge to take hold of her hand. "You are the symbol I wish to be. You are the greatness of people and when you are seen in battle, the fear the enemy feels is not of your magic. You are the light that shines down on their darkness, revealing their deepest secrets." Richard looked back to the water, seeing the tears in her eyes. "You are the justice of those who have been harmed."

"I wish I had known you as a young girl." He turned to question her, but the words refused to leave his mouth as their eyes met. "You are the only person I have ever known to see me as anything other than the pawn of the High Council. If you had been one of the wizards we trained with, I think many of us would have- Your words would have saved many lives."

"I'm afraid that whatever wizard is within me, he would not have been the same had I grown up with you." He grinned, his cheeks hot as his mind imagined impossible things. "No learning would have ever taken place with you in the room."

"You underestimate the power of our teachers."

"Even if they had beaten me silly, I would have found it impossible to focus on anything else."

"You would have known what I was," she said in a voice that pained him. "You never would have grown to care for me."

"I would know who you are, Kahlan." Releasing another sigh, he leaned forward and poked the index finger of his right hand into the water. "What was it like? Training with the wizards?"

"Difficult," she chuckled. "We train at different ages, our magic developing in other ways. A wizard is, what's the word, connected, to a specific Confessor. They are our guides; our protectors. I was three when I met mine, Henry; he was ten. He was afraid of me, they all were."

"Why?"

"Most Confessors do not come into their magic until they are five, especially not the way I- I seemed to be ahead of the others."

"How?"

"My magic was- It was different than the others, stronger. I couldn't control it and I..." Looking down she folded her hands. "I used to scare myself. I used to wake up and before I would dress, I'd pray to the spirits to- I was so afraid I was going to hurt someone. Have you ever- The magic within you, the way you feel, the fear you have about hurting someone else- I still feel that to this moment, but as a child, I... I used to believe that there was no greater fear."

"There isn't," he told her softly.

"My wizard used to say that I would never need protection as long as the people continued to fear me. I always envied the life a wizard had. They-" Meeting his eyes, she almost smiled. "You have magic, but people do not run away when they see you coming. You're embraced, have friends, lovers... I always wondered what it would be like if I had been born a wizard, instead." Richard smiled, his teeth showing. "What?"

"You would have been a wonderful wizard, too."

"Things would have been easier," she replied. "Maybe we should switch bodies for a day."

"That would be a sight to see." Holding a smile, he nudged his shoulder against hers. "What happened with your wizard?"

"After my mother died, my father took us away, I didn't see him for many years, not until I was old enough to leave Thandor. When I returned to Aydindril with Dennee, I learned that he had married and had a son... He was surprised I was still alive and I would have asked for his help, but he had offered his services to another Confessor. He died a few months later, after Darken Rahl took over the Midlands."

"I'm sorry."

"That was why I traveled to find you with my sister. Neither of us had a wizard and we were safer together. Most wizards were murdered to keep Darken Rahl in power and I- She was scared to go alone, but I was sure we would make it."

Meeting her eyes, he frowned. "It's not your fault," he said softly.

"I don't think I'll ever believe that." Slouching her shoulders, she looked to the water and sighed. "I know that she didn't die for nothing, but I can't help but feel like it was partly my fault." Bringing her eyes back to his, she gave a half smile. "I didn't know she was pregnant and I keep thinking that if I had, maybe I could have helped her. Maybe hid her somewhere safe... She had a chance for a family-"

"And it's not your fault it was taken from her. You did everything you could to protect her."

"She should have had a wizard at her side."

"What happened to hers?"

"She never had one. By the time her magic came to her grasp, we were in my fathers care. I was allowed to work with her in Thandor, teaching her as well as I could... She was smart and quick, any wizard would have been lucky to train with her."

"I'm sure. She must have succeeded even you," he teased with a smile.

"Maybe, if I had been a better teacher. I- My mother died before I was able to learn much of what I needed. I felt lost for months as the changes began."

"Changes?"

"It grew stronger, at first and then I couldn't- I'm still learning now. The ConDar, I shouldn't be able to do that." The confusion on his face made her smile, always enjoying the way he tried to understand everything about her. "Not every Confessor can bring out that kind of magic, especially without being taught. There is a lot you would have learned had you trained with us."

"In another life, maybe."

"I'd like that."

Grinning, he leaned closer to her, their shoulders lightly touching. "We'd be great friends."

"Of that," she replied with a smile, "I have no doubt. You would have had many friends."

"Not like you."

"Nobody is like me."

Nodding, the Seeker wiggled his feet in the water. "That's true. I wish we had that chance- to have grown up together. Though," he added with a smile, "it feels like I have."

"We grew up in different worlds."

"Maybe, but we found our way here.

Lifting her dress, she moved forward, letting more of her legs submerge in the water. "The water feels nice."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she answered without hesitation.

He turned at the waist to look at her, almost knowing that if he didn't, she wouldn't answer the question. "This morning, when you woke up and realized you were- That I was holding you, you didn't move away... You brought yourself closer and I know that you- I felt it to, Kahlan."

"I don't see the question."

"If I hadn't awaken, would you have stayed?"

"I don't know, maybe." It was a simple answer, though he knew it was difficult for her to say. She thought about this differently than he did, making it harder for him to know how to respond. Before he could find a thought, she continued. "I shouldn't be so comfortable with you."

"We are not hurting anyone."

"It's dangerous."

Releasing a sigh, he nodded. "Everything that we do is dangerous."

"I cannot change what I am."

"I would never ask you to," he said instantly.

She licked her lips, trying to buy herself a moment to think. Her head was spinning and her heart racing, the same as it was before, only now he sat beside her, hunger in his eyes. "I may have remained for a few more moments."

He nodded and looked away, doing his best to keep her from feeling pushed on the subject. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Answering. I know it couldn't have been easy."

"We should get back." Neither moved at her words, making them share a smile. "Zedd is going to come after us."

"I don't think he will be angry at us for sitting here. We aren't doing anything wrong."

"Not physically," she whispered. His head snapped in her direction, surprisingly meeting her eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No," he replied softly, still stunned. "It's alright, I know what you mean. Our thoughts can't get us into trouble."

Giving him a smile that set his skin on fire, she shrugged. "That depends on the thought."

"And keeping it hidden."

She moved quickly, lifting her dress as she climbed onto his lap, her knees on either side of his thighs. "From everyone else." Taking his face in her hands, she leaned forward and kissed him.

There was something about the moment, something that whispered to her that it was the end. This would be the only chance she had to give into her desires and though they could do nothing more, she wasn't willing to let it slip by. He returned her kiss in full, his arms circling her at once. There was a hunger in their motions, both clinging to the other as they tried to remove the space between them. Kahlan slid her hands over his back, thriving on the feel of his skin. His muscles flexed beneath her touch, fueling the fire within her, pushing her farther than expected.

The need to feel more of his skin began to overwhelm her and from the way he pawed at her dress, she knew he had the same urgency. Before she could stop herself, she pulled on his hands and broke their kiss, keeping her face close to his while they both gasped for their next breath. Bringing his fingers to the front of her dress, she laid them over the laces and encouraged him to pull. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes trying to focus on hers to be sure it was what she wanted him to do, but she was so close, she couldn't see anything other than the passion within him mirroring back. Her fingers circled his, helping him to grab the strings as she teased his lips with hers. Moving slowly, he pulled back his hands, the dress loosening as their mouths returned to claiming the other.

She wasn't wearing her corset, a fact he was thrilled to learn as his hands circled her shoulders. Their kiss never broke as her dress fell down her arms, their bodies parting for a moment as she pulled her arms free. The instant her hands came back to his face, he tightened his arms around her, bringing her chest to flatten against his, a soft moan of content leaving both of their throats at the feeling.

She couldn't come close enough, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't feel enough of her. His mind spun with the possibilities, the fantasies he had had and it was impossible for him not to respond. His hands dropped to her hips and jerked her forward, bucking upward at just the right moment. Her head pulled back, a gasp leaving her lips as her own body replied to his with a hard rock, followed by a roll. She moved rapidly, taking her cue from him as he nudged her hips with his fingers. His kisses grew sloppy, his breathing heavy and in a swift action, he brought her to the ground and laid over her.

Kahlan let out a sound of surprise, one that was cut off as he brought his lips back to hers. His hands slid down her sides, instinctively trying to rid her dress from his path, needing her at once. Trailing his mouth down her neck, he tried to focus on his actions, wanting to be sure she was given everything and more. He paused as her hands came to his, his head lifting from the crook of her neck to look down upon her. She had her eyes closed, lips parted and her cheeks were flushed. She was always becoming more beautiful at every moment and when she opened her eyes, his heart stopped. The blue he adored was gone, leaving a darkness that was just as beautiful and called to him all the same.

"Richard, I can't..."

He could hear the sorrow in her voice, the disappointment and shame, each an emotion he hated her to feel. Bringing his right hand to her cheek, he nodded, bringing his face closer to hers for a breath. "I know."

"I'm sorry." Her words shook, matching her body beneath him.

Nudging his nose and forehead against hers, he smiled. "Don't be. I'd do this all day."

A smile came to her lips, unstoppable as she shook her head. "You're a strange man."

"I know, but we can't change that."

Stoking her fingers through his hair, she grinned. "I wouldn't want to."

Closing his eyes, he kissed her once more and then rapidly moved off of her. His body was on fire, desire and need at its height. Rubbing his hand over himself, he sucked in a gasp of air and looked away in embarrassment. His pants were tight and the urge to jump into he water was strong, but he couldn't stand to be away from her. To his surprise, she inched to his side and slowly crawled back onto his lap.

Unsure as to what to do, she used his eyes as a guide and lowered her hands between them. Unlacing his pants, she took in a slow breath and slowly reached inside, her fingers wrapping around him gently. His breath caught in his throat at her touch, his body thriving. Leaning forward he kissed her, changing the speed of her hand to his benefit. His release came with a whisper of her name against her lips. She lived off of his breathing, her eyes closed as his forehead rested against hers, his fingers digging into her legs.

When his breathing slowed, she moved her hand, lowering him back to the ground. Their eyes met, his just as dark as hers and both breathing as though they had just gone through battle. Without a word, she released him. Darting her eyes to her hand, she examined the liquid that covered the top, trying to ignore the way his body had spasm to release it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she bit down on her bottom lip and pushed the thoughts from her mind. His hand took hold of hers and brought it to him, wiping the top with his other.

"I'm sorry, I should have warned you."

She seemed dazed, her eyes still on her hand as though it was still covered in him. "It's alright... I-"

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Meeting his eyes, she blinked away the shock. "No- I, I don't know. I'm sorry, I'm just... I can't believe I did that."

"Are you alright?"

"Fine, I-... Are you?"

He smiled, "Yes."

Moving off of him, she pushed her arms back through the sleeves of her dress and began relacing, doing it quickly to keep her mind busy. "We should get back, they're going to wonder what happened to us."

She had pulled on her boots with lightning speed, coming to her feet before he could stop her. When he had retied his pants and looked up, she was already walking through the trees, disappearing within them as he watched in confusion.

Kahlan was sitting beside Zedd when he returned to their campsite, the two of them looking over a map as the wizard grumbled something about walking too far from a tavern that had his favorite food. The Mother Confessor whispered something about the fate of the world and Richard couldn't help but smile at the sound of her voice. He had found it impossible to move after she walked away, feeling guilty for having more than she could and he would never forget the look in her eyes as she began to redress. It was understandable that she would be confused as to what happened, but there had been something more and he feared it was disappointment. She deserved more.

Sitting down on his bed roll, he laid back and stared up at the blue sky, a set of clouds floating by to distract him from his thoughts. Cara was watching him, he could feel her knowing eyes. She wouldn't say anything in front of the others, but when they were alone, she would tell him what he didn't want to hear. To everyone else, the thought of him and Kahlan was mute, a mistake and if he needed to be 'taken care of', he should go to Cara, who, as a Mord'Sith, was used to being in service to the Lord Rahl. She would give him that look she had, the annoyed one with her eyebrows furrowed and lips parted, one he was sure she only gave him.

Turning his head, he looked at her and grinned, doing his best to act normal. "I'm surprised to see you still sitting there," he commented to her.

"I went for a walk," she replied with a sly grin. "The lake was too warm."

His heart stopped and her smile widened, pleased to have embarrassed him. "The sun has no mercy today."

"I didn't see a need for mercy."

"You don't see any need for mercy."

"Weakness."

Shaking his head, he sat up and began to move toward her, suddenly wanting her advice. "What did you see?"

"The Mother Confessor in your lap." She answered with a grin, one that was surprisingly kind. "Were you able to-"

"What do you know about Rada'Hans?" The question surprised them both, but the Seeker was in another mindset, his thoughts on her needs alone. "There has to be some way."

"The Rada'Han is the only way, but you would never allow her to wear one."

"She shouldn't have to," he replied at once. "Her magic is part of her and should be released, she should be free."

"She cannot be, not with you."

A growl of frustration left him, bringing the others eyes to him. "It isn't fair."

"We will be moving on after lunch," Zedd informed him with a smile. He didn't seem to notice as Kahlan met his grandson's eyes and shifted beside him. "I will make us some soup!"

The Mother Confessor inched back, allowing the older man to move past her, hurrying away to begin their lunch. Richard took the opportunity to sit beside her, hoping that she wouldn't rush away. She remained still as he settled down, her eyes firmly on the fire ahead of her. He wanted to talk about what they had done, but she wasn't sure she would be able to. It was difficult for her to even think about what she had done, how close she had come to demanding that he take her and what was the worst of it all, she still felt the same desires. Her body heated with his next to her, her muscles tightening as though she was in his arms and her breath refused to come, lost in her lungs while she waited for him to break the silence.

"You found a safe city for me to travel through?"

"We believe so."

"Are you alright?"

Slouching her shoulders, she looked to the ground. "I don't know," she replied honestly.

"I never meant to upset you."

"I kissed you, remember? Anything I am feeling is because of me." He started to speak, to tell her that it wasn't her fault, but as though she could read his thoughts, she brought her eyes to his. "I knew better. I made this harder because I- I was weak and I'm sorry for pulling you into my mess."

"I jumped in," he said instantly. "Kahlan, this isn't on you, not alone. I know that it's hard for you, especially after what we did, but it was just as much me as it was you. I wanted to be with you, I wanted it just as much. Kahlan, I understand the frustration you feel, I match it at all times."

"How can you?" she questioned in a voice that was almost painful. "You do not have to be afraid that the instant you touch me, you will lose control and destroy everything that matters. This, you sitting beside me, it's hard. This, something so simple, is more difficult than imaginable and I know that it's silly, but even in a moment like this, I feel like I could ruin you. By the lake, I couldn't get my body to stop screaming for yours and then I couldn't stop myself from doing... I'm ashamed for what I did." He stared at her in silence, unsure as to everything she meant with her words. "I was weak and I am sorry."

"You are far from weak."

"No, I'm not."

Taking hold of her hand, he intertwined their fingers, watching the way hers fit perfectly within his. "You have more strength than anyone I know. What we did by the lake, Kahlan that is more proof. I saw the desire in your eyes, the hunger and yet you- It was not you who should be ashamed, it's me. I should have stopped you, but I didn't. I didn't want to. I wanted you more than my next breath and in that moment, your hand wrapped around me... I never wanted you to stop."

"Zedd will be back soon, I should find more firewood so he can begin the soup."

"Please don't let this end th-"

"If I do not leave right now, I'm afraid one of us is going to say something we shouldn't."

He watched her walk into the forest, leaving him with his thoughts, Cara watching intensely.

"Keep Zedd from coming after us," he instructed the blonde as he came to his feet. His mind was full and spinning, a single thought remaining as he rushed after the Mother Confessor.

She hadn't gone very far into the trees, almost a relief to him as he closed the distance between them. Grabbing her arm, he spun her around, meeting her eyes with a panicked expression.

"What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, he took a small step back and licked his lips. "Nothing. I- Kahlan, I'm going to-"

He cut himself of by leaning forward and connecting their lips, knowing that she wouldn't be quick enough to stop him from wrapping his arms around her. To his surprise, she didn't attempt to pull away, instead, she pushed into his embrace, soaking in his warmth as though it was the first time she's felt it. He couldn't keep his hands still, the memory of the feel of her skin hovering above him, quietly whispering for him to experience it again. Walking her backward, he brought her back to a thick, redwood tree and pressed her against it. Lifting her feet from the ground, he wrapped them around his waist, needing her closer and instantly. A soft moan escaped her at the contact, his slight roll of his hips being more pleasurable than she anticipated.

Her body burned for him, ready for his and desperate in need. He was careful, moving slowly to keep her from pushing him away, if they stopped now, he wouldn't survive. He needed her to breathe, to move and holding her in his arms was enough to rid him of anything and everything else. With a heated moan, she tightened her legs around his waist and bucked forward, almost screaming his name as he reached between them to give her the attention she needed. Her head flew back into the bark of the tree, her eyes squeezed shut and lips parted as she panted. His name rolled off of her tongue, rapidly climbing with each stroke of his fingers. With a flare of warning, she raked her nails down his shoulders, nearly tearing through the fabric of his shirt.

Pulling back his hand, he replaced it with his knee, pushing forward until she was rocking against it. His mouth danced over her chest, his tongue sneaking a taste that was instantly stored in his memory. His actions came to a sudden stop as she went rigged, her body tensing in a way that captured his attention and worry. Pulling back his head, he brought his eyes to her face, his right hand coming to her cheek in concern. When he eyes opened, he nearly gasped, the darkness covering them completely and as he leaned forward, drawn to their beauty, she closed them and groaned.

Moving quickly, he pulled her from the tree and lowered her to the ground, trying to find words as she blinked loose a set of tears and wiped the flow of blood that leaked out of the right side of her nose. She was shaking, so much so that he could see it in every movement, her heart beating hard enough for him to not only hear it, but feel it as well. Kneeling down at her side, he tried to help her, needing to do something, but she wouldn't allow it. Using all of her strength, she pushed him backward and then covered her mouth to muffle a cry.

He didn't understand it at all. She was free, she could release her magic, but she didn't. His mind quieted at once, appearing to have thought too soon as it witnessed the most beautiful view.

Kahlan's back arched forward, her fingers digging into the dirt as she sucked in a breath, the air around them shifting powerfully as it knocked him back. He almost missed the rest as he struggled to sit back up, bringing his eyes back to her just in time to see her nearly lift from the ground as her body gave in completely and not only release its magic, but reach it's height as well.

Zedd and Cara were next to them in a matter of seconds, seeing the last of it, the moment her body fell back onto the cool grass. The Seeker stared at her in amazement, wonder and adoration, wishing he had hurried to her side and grabbed hold of her; claiming himself as hers.

"Have you lost your minds?!" the wizard shouted as he came to Kahlan's side. Her nose was still bleeding and from the expression on her face, he was sure she was dizzy and seconds away from losing consciousness.

He was right. A moment after the older man knelt down, she was gone.

"I don't understand-"

"Of course not," the wizard snapped at his grandson. He had warned him time and time again and he couldn't express his disappointed anger enough. "You must listen when I tell you that it can never be. Do you understand me? She could have damaged herself beyond repair, her body is not made to hold back the magnitude of the magic in passion. The strength of it is wild and dangerous, far more so than anything else. It is painful and she must let it free. Spirits Richard, do you have any idea how much pain she would have experienced while holding it in?"

"No- Zedd, she didn't say anything."

Shaking his head, the wizard frowned. "You must never do this again. If she wakes up, there could be more consequences."

"What?"

Releasing a sigh, Zedd turned to face the young man. "She may not be able to release her magic again for some time. There is also the chance that she will not be able to hold it in again and we both know how dangerous that will be. How could you have been so foolish?"

"I love her," he stated factually. "I would never hurt her and I know- I wanted to show her how I feel."

"The two of you can never experience the feelings you have for the other."

Bringing his eyes back to the woman sleeping before them, he sighed. "I never wanted to hurt her."

"I know," his friend whispered.

"I can't stop loving her, Zedd."

"You don't have to stop loving her, but you have to let her go."

Swallowing, he brought his eyes to the other man. "How"

"That is a question only you can answer."

When Kahlan awoke, she remained quiet, embarrassed and upset, her magic locked inside of her. Richard kept his distance, keeping quiet and avoiding her at every turn. It was frustrating to both of them, but neither could change it. They walked on opposite sides of their friends, one trying to keep from crying, while the other growled softly in anger.

Her mind was focused on the feel of his mouth, hot on her skin and his hands on every inch of her body. She felt as though she was on fire and the wind that breezed by did nothing to help, the contact making her shiver in need. She couldn't feel her magic and it was impossible for her mind to ignore its desires. It was foolish, of course, but with each moment, the possibility grew within. Her magic may return at any moment and with her luck, it would be the instant she jumped into his arms. He would be destroyed and she would never be able to live with herself. She could hear him breathing across from her, his hand on the sword for a boost in anger. This was all her fault.

Zedd stepped closer with a sad smile, hoping to comfort her as she looked up. The attempt failed. "I'm sorry, dear one."

"Me too," she whispered shamefully.

The wizard brought his eyes back to the road ahead and sighed, "I cannot imagine how hard this is for the two of you, but you must understand-"

"I understand," she interrupted quietly. "I'm a danger to him, more so now than ever before. I will not allow myself to hurt him."

"I do not believe that you would. Kahlan, this situation is far greater than we thought. If the two of you were to lose yourself within another moment-"

Kahlan stopped and turned toward him, stepping close to keep her words between them alone. "There will not be another moment between us, not in the way we both desire and the instant we have sealed the rifts, I will return home and take a mate."

"Kahlan," the older man started before realizing she wasn't finished.

"I cannot continue on like this, especially now and if the time comes and I feel myself becoming a danger, I will leave and take a mate before my mind has the option to think on the matter. I will not destroy him, we cannot lose the Seeker."

Zedd frowned at the young woman, his heart aching at the pain in her eyes. "I am sorry that it has come to this."

Blinking out a small set of tears, the Mother Confessor swallowed. "I wish I could stop loving him. I wish that it didn't hurt so much."

"I know, dear one. Give it some time, you will see that it will be alright."

Shaking her head, she looked ahead to where the others were walking. "I'm in love with him, Zedd. It will never be alright." Bringing her eyes back to him, she shrugged. "I was foolish and now I must endure everything that comes from it. Was it so wrong to want it?" she questioned after a moment. "I was going to stop him, but I thought- I hoped that it would bring us something out of it, I hoped that I would have a piece of him with me. I hate that it was wrong to hope for it."

The wizard pulled her into his arms at once, hugging her tightly as she let go of her tears. "I'm sorry, Kahlan."

"I need you to promise me something," she said into his chest. "When the time comes for me to take a mate, I need you to make it alright."

He knew what she was asking, what she wanted him to do and the thought, as unbearable as it was, he knew it was nothing compared to how she felt. "The spell does not work on everyone, Kahlan."

"I must try. If I am to do this, I cannot have him in my heart."

"If the time comes, I will do what I can."

Nodding, Kahlan forced a small smile and wiped her cheeks free of the tears. "Thank you."

"He will fight your decision."

"I am the Mother Confessor," she stated in a voice that revealed as much. "He has no say in the matter of my duties."

"No, but it will not keep him from voicing his protests."

Lowering her voice, she looked over to the others, who had stopped and turned toward them. "Then he must never know."

"You cannot expect to keep this from him. He knows you, he will see-"

"I have no other choice, Zedd. By taking another, I can set Richard free. He may not understand it now, but in time... It will not be long before he starts a family of his own and when that happens, he will be grateful."

"I do not believe it will be so soon. I've known Richard all of his life, he has never cared for a woman the way he does you."

"He doesn't care for me, Zedd. He can't."

"That doesn't change the fact, Kahlan. Confessor or not, Richard loves you and it will take time for that to change."

Swallowing the man's words, she blinked. "Then I must aid time." Looking at the older man, Kahlan frowned. "Forgive me, Zedd."

"There is nothing to forgive dear one. It is not your fault."

"I have broken my promise to you."

Nodding, the older man smiled weakly. "It was not your intention."

"No, but I-"

"It's alright, Kahlan. I understand the power of emotions."

She avoided Richard's eyes as she looked over to the others, who were waiting patiently. "We should keep moving, I don't want to slow us down."

"Kahlan," Zedd said in a voice that made her blood run cold. "We know what this will do to him and if he keeps feeding off of the sword-"

"We will lose him. I don't know how to prevent it, Zedd. All I can think of is what I mustn't do." Staring into the wizard's eyes, she swallowed. "I know Richard, he will not allow the anger to consume him again in that way, he doesn't want to hurt anyone."

"When it comes to you, he will do anything and I fear that this will not aid his control. He will use it to take the strength of it out of his blood, he will-"

"I will stop him."

"How?"

"I'm not sure, but I will. Zedd, I will protect him, even from himself."

She began walking without another word and without hesitation, passing the others just slowly enough for them both to catch glimpse of her tears. Richard had released the sword, a surprise to them all, but he remained quiet, holding back a secret kept between him and the metal at his side.

The Sword whispered to him at all times, talking to him, warning him and from the beginning, it started with her. It told him of the dangers, a subtle sentence that he couldn't understand and grew stronger with his feelings, telling him that it wasn't him alone it would hurt. Now, it whispered of pain, somehow feeling within her an amount a weapon could not cause. It told him to be careful, that she was close to breaking and one small move from them could end her. The sword sent a light shock through him as the Mother Confessor passed, a final whisper on the matter, telling him to act.

Rushing to her side, he matched her speed and held himself a short distance next to her, being sure to give her space to breathe. The silence was loud around them, but it wasn't deafening. They felt comfortable, the presence of the other being enough to keep them on the edge of the relationship.

Turning his head, he watched her blink through her tears and he refused to go on this way any longer. "I'm sorry, Kahlan."

"Don't be," she said calmer than she had expected the words to be released. "This is not your fault."

"It's not yours either," he said quickly, his hand going back to the hilt of the sword that hissed through him. "If you had told me the dangers, it may not have changed anything."

His words surprised her, a thought she had never had. "Yes, it would-"

"This is it, this is why it's as hard as it is. Kahlan, listen to me. Telling me that when we made love you would destroy me is only a small factor. You're a beautiful woman, smart and kind, your captivating and every piece of you is attractive. Just because there is a risk, that doesn't mean that it's not worth it. The only thing that would have been different, Kahlan my mind would have fought just a little bit harder as I imagined myself with you."

"I'm sorry."

"You should be," he snapped before jerking his hand away from the sword. "But you're not sorry for what you need to be."

"And what is that?"

"You shouldn't be sorry that I care about you, you should be sorry for believing it would hurt you alone." Brushing his fingers back through his hair, he sighed. "It's not just you who feels this way."

"I know and I will never be able to take back my mistake. Richard, I grew up in a place where everyone rushed from my path and I know that I shouldn't have held onto your friendship, that I should have told you, but I couldn't help but believe that you didn't care about me. I-" Coming to a stop, she turned to face him, prepared to say something she had never spoken aloud. "For months, I was excited. You would sit next to me, hand me things and never once did I see fear in your eyes and I mistakenly let it go on because I thought that somewhere within you, you were like everyone else. I am me, I am a Confessor and how could you care about me? When I started to have feelings for you, I- I started to see it differently, but again, I made a mistake and told myself that it was what I wanted to see because I loved you so much and now... Because I was foolish, I have brought you pain and that is what I am sorry for. I was to protect you and I failed."

He nearly laughed, his face holding back as a smile pulled on his lips. "Even now... You don't realize it, do you?"

Confused, she tilted her head. "What?"

"Everything about you, everything you say, it only makes me love you more. You say these things that are- They only make me care about you even more. Kahlan, I can't help it. You didn't fail in protecting me."

"We have to get moving, we are running out of time."

He didn't stop her as she walked away, not knowing what to do to change her mind. From the way she walked, he knew something was on her mind, something important and though he wished she tell him, he couldn't bring himself to push. He wanted to know what was going on in her mind, how she felt and if her magic was on edge. When he looked into her eyes, he saw nothing like before and he almost missed the warning from the sword.