This chapter was brought to you by the Pocahontas soundtrack.

The Doc Manager is giving me sass. There should be page breaks/lines in certain places.

He stared at her angrily, and she stared back with equal feeling. It took him a split second to push her hand aside and crush her to his chest, quickly locating her mouth with his.

And this time, she didn't resist.

Well, at least not right away.

With a forceful push off his chest, she launched herself backward and glared at him, the color high in her cheeks as she touched her lips.

Zachary breathed heavily, his eyes still fixed on hers as he advanced on her again. She took a few quick steps backward and held up a warning finger. 'We shouldn't do that again,' she said a husky voice.

His gaze still held a blazing passion, 'Why ever not? We both liked it.'

'Because it is wrong,' she said firmly, retreating behind an overturned row boat. 'This doesn't change things. We both made choices that we have to live with.'

'I was not in a position to make a choice,' he challenged.

She looked at him sorrowfully, 'You still signed the marriage contract.'

'And you ran away from me, that night on the astronomy tower,' he countered, crossing his arms over his chest. 'You chose to deny every glance and conversation between us.'

Karigan's brow flew up, 'And do you remember what you offered me that night? A position by your side, as your mistress?'

Zachary groaned and dropped his arms to the side, 'It was not my finest moment and I was an unmitigated ass, but I knew as soon as the words left my mouth, that I sounded horribly desperate.'

She looked indignant at these words, but he held up a hand, 'Let me finish, Kari. I was frantically trying to keep you close in a situation that was closing in on me, from all sides. Whatever we had gained would be lost with the marriage contract, but in making you that offer, I know that I was asking you to compromise your values.'

Karigan's body relaxed its rigid posture but she still eyed him with displeasure as she recalled that night. The tiniest part of her had asked what the harm would have been accepting him, but she had not in truth been prepared for onslaught of emotions when the words had left his mouth.

Elated that those feelings, those inclinations she had felt for so long might be reciprocated. A cold creeping sadness when she realized the futility of such feelings for a king about to be wed. And finally, indignation that he would dare offer her, a woman he professed to love, such a dishonorable life as a kept woman. He watched her steadily for a reaction, seeing the play of emotions across her face. 'Nothing to say now?'

Karigan shook her head clear of muddled thoughts, 'Nothing that I have not already stated.'

He looked at her consideringly, 'You really cannot think of what we might gain?'

She arched a brow, scoffing in derision, 'Emotional pain perhaps.'

Zachary started to walk slowly around the boat, 'It does not have to be like that. You are thinking only of the negative.'

Backing into the corner, she shook her head, 'Because I certainly can think of nothing positive in regards to us.'

He reached out and caught her forearm, drawing her closer, 'It is certainly better than how we were before. No court retainers hanging about, no advisors monitoring my every move, and finally no council members telling me who I should and should not marry. Listen to us . . . we are having a real conversation with no reservations.'

She looked up into his earnest face and smiled sadly, 'Unfortunately, we both live and breathe in the real world. We would only be able to take this so far. You have your duties and I have mine. You are married, Zachary.'

Zachary grasped her arms and rubbed soothingly, frowning slightly at the truth of her words. It felt like a sick joke that the gods had played on them, placing them in complicated circumstances. Whatever power had allowed them this reprieve perhaps had something in mind when it thrown them together here, but for now, all he truly wanted to do was talk to her.

Changing the subject, he sighed and asked, 'Are you going to tell me where you went?'

Karigan stopped the motion of his hands and shook her head, 'I am safe, that is all you need to know. I would not risk you dragging me back to Sacor City.'

He allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of his mouth, 'As if I would ever force you. Plead and beg, but never drag or coerce,' he finished, allowing his arms to fall. 'You admit that I am not a figment of your imagination?'

She breathed heavily through her nose and looked down at the ground, 'No I guess not. Stranger things have happened to me.'

Zachary chuckled, 'You seem to attract them.'

Karigan peeked back up with a rueful grin, 'Regardless of that, I seem to be stuck with you each night.'

'Don't sound too excited, now.'

'We have already established that our circumstances are hopeless,' she continued.

'Several times in fact, I do not think we need to continue on that vein.'

'But there is no harm talking I suppose,' she acceded with a sigh, truly not completely happy with the turn of events. Her declaration, though, brought forth a tight embrace from Zachary, 'I knew you'd see things my way,' he said happily.

Karigan held up a finger and poked him hard in the chest, 'No more kissing.'

This had to be the first time she had ever seen him look a mixture of crestfallen and outraged. His eyes widened, 'None at all?'

'Not a peck.'

His expression turned mournful, 'Not even on the cheek?'

She smiled slightly at that, against her better judgment, 'And would we truly be able to keep it at that?'

Zachary sighed and shook his head, 'No, probably not. So what would you like to do now?'

'I am not sure what to do with any of this,' she admitted aloud, walking to a window to observe the brightly colored turquoise ocean. The sky itself had shifted into a myriad of colors as the light began to fade from the sky. Perhaps this place had something akin to a nighttime too. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her torso, almost jumping up when she felt his arms wrap around her waist and draw her close.

Briefly she struggled but he held her tighter with a brief rejoinder, 'You did not say I could not hold you. And besides, you are cold.'

Karigan rolled her eyes, but relaxed, 'You can't get cold in a dream.'

'You can in this one,' he said simply, resting his head against hers. 'Do you remember what you said not too long ago?'

'That this is hopeless?'

'No, before that.'

She tilted her head to peer at him questioningly.

'You admitted you love me twice now,' he said softly.

She turned pink and quickly looked back out the window, 'Oh. Yeah, I did didn't I?'

'Could you say it again?'

Her posture tightened, 'Does it need to be repeated?'

'I would hope every day,' he teased, 'But I do not think I would ever tire of hearing it from you.'

Karigan looked up at the ceiling for forbearance before clenching her eyes shut and stammering, 'Fine, I do love you.'

Zachary laughed slightly into her hair, 'You sound like you are in physical pain when you utter those words.'

'Sorry, must be habit to tuck those sort of things away,' she mumbled.

He turned her around and cupped her cheek gently, 'And I am sorry for it. Sorry that you have been put through this much suffering for your country.'

She smiled wryly, 'It was mostly for you.'

Zachary smiled back but looked at her seriously, 'You do know that I loved you from the moment you walked into the throne room?'

'Sometimes I thought I had saw something when you looked at me,' she said quietly, 'I had chalked it up to my own fanciful yearnings.'

'No, Kari,' he said, drawing her closer and holding her tight. 'It is not something I can turn off, nor is it something I wish to be without. I might sound like a sentimental fool in love, but I am most definitely your fool.' he finished self-deprecatingly, coaxing a rare and brilliant smile to grace her features.

Somial had rested his head against the palm of his hand as he idly dozed. A small nudge by his assistant and apprentice Mhyla caused him to observe the beatific features of his patient.

With the lines of stress smoothed from her features in sleep, and her mouth curved into a smile, she looked utterly at peace as she hugged a feather pillow closer to herself. The corner of his mouth quirked up as he tucked the comforter around her shoulders a bit tighter, gesturing for Mhyla to turn down the oil lamp in the room.

With the fire burning lowly in the grate, the room was cast into shadow and darkness once more. Somial gently closed the door behind him, fully confident that his charge was in safe hands tonight.

It was fluffy, yes, but I wrote all these interesting plot lines that I cannot go forth with until they kiss and makeup. Thanks reviewers, I appreciate the feedback.