The final battle had not only won the war, but given the Mother Confessor something she needed. One of the men she had confessed during the fight was an excellent candidate for her mate and the decision had been made. His name was James, Kahlan had come to learn during her inquiry, a father and husband and though she felt sorry for the family he left behind, she had to push on. The man wasn't as large as the others, making him a little smaller than the Seeker, his hair was the same length, but the shade was darker. His eyes were what held her, the soft green that reminded her of the trees she had passed through as a child. The thought making it easier for her to continue.

Richard remained with her at the Confessor's Palace, roaming the halls while trying to decide what to do next. Darken Rahl was dead and there was no longer a need for the Seeker, but he couldn't bring himself to go home. He didn't want to leave her and he knew it was because he hoped that she would change her mind and take him. Of all of the things he had ever hoped for, this was the one he wanted the most. He envied the other man, though from the looks of him, he would almost swear that she chose him because there were similarities between them and in the brief moments the thought ran through his mind, he smiled. Their relationship hadn't changed completely, like he thought it would, a more than pleasing fact. She still came to him, sometimes in the middle of the night and they talked. The topic of their conversations changed constantly, but as long as they were talking, he felt like there was still a chance that his friend would come to see them the way he did.

"His wife has asked for a meeting," Kahlan whispered as Richard sat down in the chair beside her. They were in his bedroom, one of the biggest that she had given, a small way to thank him for everything. "What do I say to the woman who loves the man I destroyed?"

"The truth," he offered softly. "She's hurt and only you can help her to understand that in this, you are giving him a chance to do more with his life, to make up for what he had done."

"I don't think she will see it that way."

"Why not?"

Her eyes closed, unable to look at him as she answered, not if she was to speak the truth. "Because if it was the other way around and she took you... Richard, I wouldn't be able to see past my own pain."

His hand was on her knee, squeezing softly until she opened her eyes. She didn't look at him and he knew that she wouldn't, not when she had admitted something so powerful in a different set of words. "Then I would hope that she would have your heart to see that you are not bringing him or her any harm. Kahlan, you could send him back to her, but you don't and I know that it's not only because you need him. You won't send him back, because he is no longer the man that woman loved and it would be more painful for her to spend the rest of her life with someone who loved another woman than to accept the loss. You are doing more good for her than imaginable and I know that it may be hard, but I think that at some point you can help her to see it."

"Would you listen to someone who stole the woman you loved?"

He frowned, shaking his head as she, at last, brought her eyes to his. "I don't know, but as angry as I would be, I would know there are two sides. You are not a cruel person, I think she knows that."

Her hand laid over his, holding it to her as she looked out of the window. "It's snowing."

"A snow storm will be coming through tonight, you should make sure your fireplace is well taken care of."

Continuing to stare out of the window, she tilted her head in his direction, hoping to feel a little closer to him. "Would it be alright if I stayed with you tonight?"

He knew why she asked, why she didn't want to return to her room, but he hoped he was wrong. "Of course. I'll take the floor-"

"We can share the bed, Richard."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding, she gave a small smile. "Yes. It will be warmer for both us."

"I'll tend to the fire."

She was in his arms when she awoke, warm and happy. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that this was her life. Snuggling closer, Kahlan kept her eyes closed and took in a deep breath. The smell of his shirt was comforting, but she couldn't help but wonder how it differed from his skin. He was hugging her to him, firmly, as though protecting her from an unseen danger and she knew she enjoyed it more than she should. Without the sun shining down on her face, she couldn't be sure what time it was and if she was found in his room, their troubles would never end.

With hesitation, she began to inch away from his warmth, doing her best not to wake him. Sitting up, she looked around the room, surprised to see that he had left a plate of food on the table beside her, filled with her favorite things. This is how it would be, she thought instantly. If she had a life with him, he would give her everything. He would spend every moment, making sure that her next was filled with happiness and there was no doubt in her mind, that if it was possible, they would be happy. Taking a strawberry from one of the bowls before her, she pushed it into her mouth and carefully stood.

He shifted in the bed, making her look over her shoulder to be sure he was still asleep. He was smiling, the first thing she noticed and quickly realized that it wasn't often that he did. The urge to crawl back into his arms flooded her veins and she almost did, but when she turned, she met his eyes.

"Leaving?"

"I was thinking about it," she told him quietly.

"What's stopping you?"

"You."

He seemed surprised by her answer, his eyes widening as he sat up. "Me?"

Bringing her right knee to the bed, she knelt against it, wondering what to say next. "When did you leave for the food?"

"An hour after you fell asleep. I thought you would wake up early and be gone by the time I- I thought you may be hungry."

"Thank you."

"Is that why you stayed?" he asked quietly. "To thank me?"

"Partly. I- I should go." She moved back, smoothing her hands down the front of her dress. "I'm sorry for waking you."

"You don't have to go," he told her before she was able to turn around. "You still have time before you meet with her and I can help you find the words to say."

"You already have."

"Please stay."

"I shouldn't."

"Why?"

She couldn't give him the truth, he would get that look in his eye, the one that always held her hostage and made her feel like she was someone or something else. "I need to wash before I go. I must look like-"

"You look beautiful," he said before thinking. "You always do."

She gave a sad smile, her head falling forward slightly. "Richard- Thank you."

He moved to her, remaining on the bed as he reached out for her. She allowed his arms to circle her waist, pulling her to him and with a moan, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with a passion which was causing her head to spin. She had seen the way his eyes slid over her, a look of desire in them and it took away some of her fears. It had been months since their lips touched, but there was nothing that suggested the fact as they lost themselves in the action. Kahlan's fingers wound themselves in the hair above his neck, finding a small way to pull him closer as his own hands moved over her back. They moved together, she moving forward as he inched back, bringing her to sit on his thighs as his back lowered to the bed.

His instinct was to roll over her, but he knew better than to take control. He longed for more and his body gave her undeniable proof as he pushed up against her. She rocked against him and he knew that she didn't realize what she was doing and what she needed. Shifting his hips, he pushed his right leg against her, earning a moan he longed to remember. Her dress made it difficult to move and harder to please her, but it didn't stop him, only she could.

Rolling them, he laid her on her back and he remained on his side, hoping he didn't push her too far. His left hand traveled over her stomach, fighting the urge to unlace her dress or rest on her breasts and the way she pushed against his touch, he was almost certain she wanted him to do them both. He continued to kiss her passionately and she returned each one in full, her tongue now dueling with his. As he pushed closer, her right hand left his shoulder and came to his cheek, instantly bringing their kiss to a stop.

"I'm sorry."

With a quick kiss, Richard nudged his nose against her cheek. "It's alright. I shouldn't have-"

"No," she said quickly. "I'm not sorry for that," she admitted surprisingly. "I should go."

Sitting up, he looked over to the door and licked his lips. It took more of his strength to hold his eyes open as he continued to taste her on them. "You're right." He moved off of the bed and away from her, walking across the room to his wash station, splashing his face with the water instantly.

She could feel his frustration and knowing that it matched her own made it even harder for her to come to her feet and once again begin her journey to the door of his room. When she reached the thick wood, she looked back at him, hoping to see his face once more, but he had it hidden in a towel. She left quickly, making sure he didn't hear the soft whimper that escaped her as she stepped out.

He didn't see her for the rest of the day and from the things the servants were speaking quietly about, he could understand why she had found a place to herself. Jessica, the wife of the man she would be taking to her bed had cried and screamed, begging the Mother Confessor to release him. The actions the woman then took was not a surprise to him, but hearing that it was to the others made him wonder how Kahlan was feeling. The other woman had lunged forward, trying to kill her and he could understand her anger, knowing what it was like to love someone and not be able to have them. Though it shocked the palace that Kahlan had not hurt the other woman, nor placed her in prison, it didn't him. A part of him knew that she felt part of the woman's pain and she wouldn't want to bring her more.

She wasn't in her room, that was the first place he looked after lunch; after the kitchen staff had told him the story. Walking through the halls, he tried to think of a place she would go and he couldn't help but hate himself for making it impossible for her to come to him. After what happened that morning, she wouldn't come to him for comfort and it pained him when he knew he was one of the few who could provide it. The garden was empty, her second favorite place and the palace was too big for him to search each room. With a heavy sigh, he turned and began walking into the trees, the only place he could hear his own thoughts anymore and wouldn't be disturbed. Time seemed to have sped up as he looked up to the sky, now noticing it wasn't as bright as before and realizing that soon she would have another man in her bed.

His legs nearly gave out beneath him at the thought, making him stumble before he was able to sit down. No matter how many times they had talked about it, her way of trying to prepare him, he still felt sick and angry at the idea. She didn't love him and sometimes it was enough for him to focus on, but not now. The feel of her lips still lingered on his, the desperation and passion behind her kiss left him tingling and he hated to think that someone else was going to experience a portion of it. She should be his, only his, but she refused to believe her love wouldn't hurt him. He refused to let her go.

Closing his eyes, he let himself listen to forest around him, always enjoying the sounds within. The snow kept the birds away, leaving it much quieter than he liked, but the feel of the frozen flakes touching his skin made him feel alive. There was a sound he could barely make out, soft and familiar, but when he opened his eyes, he could see where it came from. Curious, he came back to his feet and began walking in the direction the wind came from, hoping it had been carried to him. He almost didn't see her, the white of her dress blending in with the snow that not only surrounded her on the ground, but had settled upon her as it fell. It was clear she had been sitting there for some time. Her cheeks were red, her nose even more so, the cold showing itself to he harsh.

She held her eyes closed, sensing his presence, but unable to turn her head to look at him. If she brought her eyes to his, he would see the pain, fear and shame that mixed with her tears. For months this had been how she felt, but when she woke each morning, she put on a smile and hoped to deceive them all and it had worked. He remained a few feet from her, but she could hear his mind spinning. He wanted to come to her, tell her she shouldn't be out here in her dress alone and then wrap her in his arms, but he couldn't. He wanted to yell at her, demand that she send the other man away and take him, but he couldn't and the last thing that he thought of was what he did.

Kneeling down a foot from her, he avoided looking at her directly. "You're freezing."

"Not anymore," she told him, her voice shaking, though she could no longer feel the cold.

"It's getting late."

"I know."

He cut of his sigh of frustration, not wanting to upset her as he noticed her eyes open. "Shouldn't you be preparing?"

"They can ready my room without me."

"I suppose." He stood, pulling off his shirt with a single breath and before she could say anything, he laid it over her chest and crossed arms. "It won't help very much, but it's warmer than the snow."

She turned her head toward him, crossed between thanking him and throwing it back, but he was already walking away. He couldn't bring her back and they both knew it to he true, so he did what he could, what he always managed to do. With a single action, he comforted her in a way no one else ever could. She watched him until he disappeared and the moment he was gone, she cried.

"Take off your clothes," Kahlan instructed as she moved around the room. James did as she asked, dropping his clothes to the floor as he watched her. She didn't look over to him, even as he stood naked before her, his arousal very clear. "Put this on," she said as she tossed a blue shirt into his chest. He caught the fabric instantly and before she could take a breath, he had it over his head. It was then that she brought her eyes to him. "In one night, how many times were you able to please your wife?"

He frowned, hating the thought of having a wife, of ever being with anyone but his mistress. "Three, maybe four times. Forgive me, Mistress, I didn't know how much I loved you when I was with her."

Kahlan felt her heart stop for a moment as she came closer to the man. Laying her hand against his cheek, she smiled. "There is nothing to forgive. You loved her and gave her four children. You should be proud." When he relaxed, she took back her hand, dropping it at her side. "When you were with her, were you above her?" He nodded, relieved to have been forgiven of his mistake. "How did you touch her?"

"Would you like me to show you, Mistress?"

"Yes."

James took a step forward, a smile on his lips as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist. He brought her to him, but their lips didn't touch. As his hands gently moved over her sides and back, he pushed the side of his head against hers, kissing her hair as he rocked their bodies. She was surprised by the action, but didn't stop him. Instead, she brought her own hands to his waist, almost pulling him closer as his lips found her neck. The hair on his cheeks scratched at her skin, but just before it began to burn, his lips found it and kissed away the pain. Her head fell back as he continued, allowing him full access to the front of her neck.

"Do you wish me to continue?" he asked, almost afraid she would say no.

"Yes. What would you do next?"

He didn't speak, but answered with his hands. Untying her dress, he started walking them backward, but not toward the bed. She gave no fight as her back hit one of the walls and her dress fell to the ground. His mouth returned to her skin, but not on her neck. Kissing over her chest, he avoided her breasts until her fingers came to his hair, almost as though he needed permission to continue. She had imagined someone kissing her this way, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to believe it would feel any better.

James worked one breast with his hand while the other was safe in his mouth, a gentle bite every now and again that matched a squeeze on the other. He remained there, half hunched over, continuing his actions for minutes, making her grow warmer and warmer. Without moving his lips from her skin, he made his way back up her chest and neck, rounding her chin until he was close to her lips. He stopped suddenly, bringing her to open her eyes.

"May I kiss you?" he asked in a heated voice. He was panting and his eyes were filled with desire and before she could form a thought, she nodded and his lips pressed against hers.

He was gentle with their kiss as well, his lips caressing hers in a way that felt so powerful, it seemed to drain her senses. His left hand continued to move over her, gliding down her side and over her bottom, lifting her with the one hand while the other held her head. He had her pinned against the wall, but she couldn't tell. Her arms were wrapped around him, kissing him frantically as she allowed him to do as he pleased. She felt her magic floating on her fingertips as she pulled him closer, her body rocking forward in a need that he didn't rush to grant. He slipped his hand between them, touching her briefly to make sure it was alright and when she didn't stop him, he did it again. His fingers stroked her steadily, working off of not only her soft moans, but the way her body moved against him. She broke their kiss, her head coming to lay back against the wall as she held his shoulders. Her eyes remained closed as he worked, her breaths coming quickly and short, her body withering until she lost control.

He didn't stop as her magic flooded through him, his mouth returning to hers as she cried out in passion and before they knew it, he was inside of her. He moaned loudly against her lips as he pushed in farther, her body holding onto his with a tight grasp as she continued flowing on her release. He rocked slowly at first, through from the way he held her hips, she knew it was hard for him to go slow. Her legs tightened around him, her body slouching to increase the pleasure and change their angle. She panted her words, telling him not to stop, to move faster and then just as they both peaked, his name left her lips.

James's head pulled back from her chest, confused by the way she nearly screamed another man's name, but before he could question his concerns, he saw her face. She was sweating, her lips parted for her breath as her chest rose rapidly against his own and her eyes were dark, entrapping and he couldn't think of anything else.

"Did I please you?" he asked when he managed to find his voice.

Nodding, Kahlan pulled her nails from his shoulders and found her breath. "What would you do to her next?"

With a smile, he held her to his chest and carried her across the room, laying her down so gently upon the bed, she wasn't sure she was laying down. "I am unable to continue again myself so soon, but I..." His words trailed off as he returned his hands to her body.

He knelt above her, a knee on each side as he kissed her chest, his full attention on her body beneath him. For nearly an hour, he held her in his hands and his mouth, never failing to bring anything other than pleasure with each action. She continued to speak the other man's name, but James didn't stop. He was beginning to return as his lips circled her bellybutton and with the strong urge to hear her release again, he moved lower. Her eyes few open as his tongue snaked over her, a sensation she could never imagine and just as she began to pull his head away, she was unable to. Her hips rocked upward, her hands holding his head with a pant of pleasure coming again and again. Her magic tore through her without warning, without any hesitation and with a force that took her vision. She shoved him from her instantly, falling onto the floor in tears as she covered her face.

She had been imagining someone else and with the sudden release of her magic she was terrified that she had destroyed him. James came to her side, asking her if she was alright and the sound of his voice, mixed with the smell of the man whose shirt he wore only made it worse.

"Take off the shirt," she mumbled through tears. He laid the fabric in her hands and watched as she pulled it to her chest, clinging to it as she cried harder.

He was confused and the tears made him terrified that he had hurt her, but each time he asked, she shook her head. After a few minutes, she managed to speak again, telling him to dress and then return to his room. He did so immediately, leaving her alone on the floor.