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This chapter is longer than usual, but I think you won't mind ;)

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The morning was bright when Teela finally woke up. It was so unusual for her to oversleep. Adam was sleeping beside her, with an arm across her waist.

She tried to get out of bed as quietly as she could, but Adam woke up when he felt her escape from his embrace.

"Where are you going?" He groaned, half asleep.

She brought her hand to her forehead, remembering an appointment she had made with three of her commanders, "I have to get to the gate post real quick!"

Teela was frantically gathering her belongings, thinking of an excuse for being late. She couldn't let the guards know or even suspect who was responsible for her delay.

"Let me help you. Just give me a couple of minutes," said Adam rubbing his face. She didn't answer.

"I'm sure there's no job as important as taking care of the prince," he teased, trying to convince her to stay a little longer.

She smirked, "You know, some of us have to make a living."

And there was that. She said it half-jokingly and that was the problem. Because she also meant it half-seriously. Adam wished he could tell her he was not a useless monarchic ornament, he hated that she saw him like that. It was true that he didn't have to make a living, but defending Eternia while learning how to rule it was hard work. Not to mention the juggling that came with keeping a secret identity.

It would be nice to appear in battle as Adam, at least once! That would appease the increasing rumors of his lack of courage. People was more forgiving when he was younger, but lately he had to put up with ill-intentioned remarks, praising the bravery and wit King Randor displayed in the battlefield years ago, in clear contrast to Adam. He knew it was too risky to take the place of He-Man just for the sake of his own vanity; still, it didn't stop him for wanting a more dignified public image.

Teela mistakenly took Adam's pensive look for tiredness.

"Oh, cheer up, sleepy boy!" She said, then kissed him quickly in the lips, and winked at him, "I'll meet you here tomorrow night."

This promise was enough to bring him back to life, "I can't hardly wait," he said and kissed her one more time.

In the end, Teela decided she wasn't going to give any excuses. She was Captain for all the right reasons and she could get away with being late once.

After the long meeting, a guard told her there was a messenger waiting for her with important news, who refused to deliver them to any other than Teela. She gave the order to let the messenger in her office and she could not have foreseen what happened next.

"Moons of Eternia! What are you doing here, Mallek?!"

"Not quite the reaction I was aiming for, but I'm really happy to see you at last."

After the regular greetings, she agreed to go with Mallek to a tavern near the river market. Whatever he wanted to say, it was best to hear away from gossipy soldiers.

All the way to the tavern, they talked about the academy times, and the friends they had in common. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Mallek wanted everyone to see that he was in Captain Teela's company. Her high rank uniform and her flaming auburn hair made her highly recognizable.

Even during daytime, the tavern was dark and noisy. They chose a table next to a small window and sat on the chunky wooden chairs.

Not long after their beverages were served, Mallek took a deep breath and said, "I'm here to renew the offering of my affections. All I ask for is an opportunity. You can't be unaware of how much I care for you."

Teela looked briefly at her hands over the table, thinking how to make things easier for Mallek, and finally decided for a direct answer.

"I'm sorry that you're in pain, but I've never played with your heart. I can't give you what you want from me, not now, not ever…"

"He's not who he says he is," said Mallek in a bitter tone.

Teela gave Mallek an inquisitive stare.

"I know there's someone in your life. I dealt the crystals to inquire after you."

Even since their years at Wisdom City, Mallek was very proficient in divinatory arts and crystal reading was one of his strengths.

"You dealt the crystals?" Teela's voice revealed her indignation, "Without my permission? Without my knowing?! That's trespassing, Mallek."

"I confess I do that sometimes, just to make sure you're in good health and happy. That's all. But this time I saw you're at risk and that's where I draw a line."

Teela clenched her jaw, fury firing from her eyes. Mallek knew he couldn't lie his way out of this, so he went the brutally honest road.

"I'm jealous and hurt because I know your interest in him is genuine, but that's not why I came here. This man is dangerous, Teela, you know nothing about him."

"You couldn't be more wrong about that," scoffed Teela. She wasn't sure what annoyed her the most, the doubts Mallek had about her judgement, or him questioning Adam's honor.

"I know he is a man of great power and I have my theories of who this mighty man is. He is surrounded by impenetrable mystery. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get through his enigma."

Mallek grew uptight as he talked. This baffled Teela, who went from anger to curiosity as Mallek continued.

"This man has powers beyond my comprehension, but I won't back out. I'd give anything, even my life, to keep you safe."

Clearly, Mallek thought she was with He-Man. Because Adam was indeed powerful, he was Crown Prince after all, but the way Mallek talked about the mystery man was better suited for a tyrant or an invincible warlock, and Adam was none of those things. Given that she was in the militia, and a famed warrior herself, it wasn't that surprising that Mallek had thought He-Man was the man for her. In fact, that would have been a more sensible choice, even she could see that.

"There's a lot he's not telling you. His power comes from an obscure secret and I foresee that this secret will harm you, that I can't allow."

"Right now I'm a little scared, but it's you who's making me afraid. This has to stop, I'm serious, Mallek."

She decided she would not tell Adam about this or Mallek could get into serious trouble. Adam knew about the obsession that had taken over Mallek after Teela ended the relationship.

On a brief visit home, Teela opened up to Adam about her confusion. She liked Mallek a lot, but she knew she wasn't in love with him. Her female friends kept telling her she was overreacting, so she was in need of a male perspective. Adam had been genuinely helpful and told her that she should go on with the relationship for as long as it made her happy. This made her realize she wasn't happy at all and gave her the courage she needed to be honest to Mallek.

Things were fine for a time, but then Mallek had gone hunter-like on her, following her every move. That was when Adam almost lost it. Once, Adam showed her a royal edict, ordering the banishment of Mallek from the Sorcery Faculty. "Just ask me to sign it, Teela, and it's done," Adam had said, with an authoritative demeanor she had never seen before. Luckily, her time at Wisdom City was over before the situation got any worse.

Teela stood up and gathered strength to make sure her words were clear to Mallek, "You must leave the city before the sun sets tomorrow. And as long as I'm Captain of the Royal Guard, you're not to enter the Royal Palace."

Mallek was in total distress, in the brink of tears.

"I will do whatever you want. But please, Teela, I beg you, think about what I've said."

Teela turned her back on Mallek and walked away from him, feeling jittery, since this was the first time she feared he might actually do something crazy. And she also felt unsettled by the fact that Mallek had never lied to her.