AN: Uch I tell you guys Sixth form is a total nightmare, I'm not gonna bore you with the details but seriously, NIGHTMARE. Anyways in this chapter Cara tries to make amends with Dahlia, Regin explains all to Sophia, Denna's Gar goes missing, Danika realises the importance of Rada'Hans, Nicci gets an unwelcome visitor while Zedd comes up with an idea to spare Raina the complications of her previous pregnancy.

Oh by the way Denna's Gar does serve a purpose, I will be revealing all in this chapter but I felt like I should mention that its not just a random thing. Okay then I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Twelve.

Cara rolled over in her lonely bed for the umpteenth time, cursing her inability to get comfortable without Dahlia snuggled into her side, it felt wrong without Dahlia next to her, like one of her vital organs had been plucked out her body and to make matters worse she knew she only had herself to blame, but what had Dahlia expected her to do, she couldn't just let Richard get away with this, not when Kahlan had been there for her through some of the most difficult times in her life, but then again so had Dahlia and Sophia was her eldest daughter, but she'd made the right decision hadn't she?, she wasn't entirely certain but the satisfaction she was going to get when she personally executed that slimy bastard was going to compensate, that being said though she wanted nothing more than to run through the palace until she found Dahlia and drag her back to where she belonged so she found finally sleep,with her wife safely tucked in beside her.

"Damn stubborn woman" Cara muttered lifting her upper body up off her mattress so she could punch her pillow into shape before dropping back into position, she sighed roughly when she found herself getting frustrated by her lack of sleep and the sun would be rising soon, by all rights she should be almost unconscious as it had been over fifty two hours since she'd last slept maybe she should ask Zedd for a tonic, she scowled into her pillow, she knew what the best tonic would be but unfortunately Dahlia was obviously too upset to grace her with her presence, she'd accuse her of being self centred if she didn't know why Dahlia was doing this. Cara groaned softly when she realised what she had to do, but public apologise were never pretty particularly when you were the mistress of D'Hara but if it got her back into Dahlia and Sophia's good graces she was going to have to grit her teeth and soldier on through it, or she could right her wrongs, now that was her ideal way of apologising, she could start off with having a little talk with Regin, the kind that involved fists and ageils and but after that she didn't have a clue how to convince Dahlia of how sorry she was, of course she felt bad for what she said and how she'd handled her daughter's relationship problem and she probably deserved a public flogging, Cara winced at the idea but then if she asked thats more than likely what Dahlia would demand and her pride simply wouldn't stand for that, she frowned in concentration, who was an expert on how to coax your lovers forgiveness in a dignified manner, suddenly it hit her, Berdine. Cara nodded slightly to herself, why hadn't she thought of it before, she sighed at her own stupidity before rolling over in bed she tossed back her sheets, exposing her bare, golden skin to the harsh morning air, she shivered softly, feeling like she'd just had a bucket of icy water chucked over her. Instead of dressing comfortably she instead, opted for her regal ankle length leather coat, that opened enough to reveal the black tunic with the Rahl family emblem stitched onto the front in gold thread she wore beneath, she'd pulled on black pants and brown leather boots, after that she hastily pulled a comb through her waist length blonde hair and expertly braided it quickly. She stopped next to the door where her sword was leaning against the wall, she hadn't worn it in the palace for years except during training but today there was a tiny voice in the back of her head screaming to her that she'd need it which she found exceptionally odd, but did she trust her instincts or did she ignore them?. Cara lingered next to her door before jerking the heavy wood open to reveal a dimly lit, marble corridor, she nodded to the Mord'Sith standing diligently outside her door before sauntering through the halls of the people's palace, taking a mental note of the footsteps following her, she knew that they belonged to her private guard that consisted of both Mord'Sith and various soldiers that had impressed her most trusted Mord'Sith and in doing so, earning the right and the privilege to fight along side the sisters of the Agiel.

"My Lady" Cara heard Ulic's thunderous footsteps before she saw the man himself, rushing down the halls towards her, Cara assumed that one of the general's underlings had informed him when she'd woken up.

"Ulic" Cara nodded in greeting as she stopped in the centre of the spacious halls patiently awaiting whatever news the tall soldier had to convey.

"Egan has finally written, Richard has managed to escape him but he assures me that hes in pursuit" Ulic informed her with rapid secession, Cara forced her initial anger down until all she felt was a Zen like clam, while she was determined to make Richard pay for mistreating his wife and her bestfriend she wanted her wife and daughters beside her when she did so, it made things so much more interesting to see just how her daughter's minds work, while Lily preferred to avoid any undue blood-shed, Cara had found that Sophia was very creative in her methods of punishment.

"So be it, but I expect him to delivered hourly reports on his progress and tell Egan that if hes not back here with Richard by the time Sophia turns fifteen, tell him not to bother coming back at all." Cara snapped, her former clam state evaporating when she saw non other than her beloved wife wondering down the hall with a cocky smirk on her beautiful face.

"As you wish" Ulic lowered his head in respect before hastily walking away from his mistress and the augment that he could sense coming, he shook his head in dry amusement, the Lady Rahl very rarely fell out with her queen but when she did, it didn't matter where you took cover there was always a piece of shrapnel waiting to hit you when you look to see if the storm had ended.

"You look rather smug" Cara commented while Dahlia moved past her at a lazy pace.

"Oh I am, see I was coming down here to see if you want to forget about how you placed Kahlan's happiness above that of our daughter, and yet here I find you demanding hourly reports of her husband, I'm feeling smug because now I'm justified in making you sleep alone again tonight" Dahlia explained while Cara mentally kicked herself, there goes her plan to get back into Dahlia's good graces, she sighed in resignation.

"Fine, but I can't help but notice that you're wondering around the halls at this hour, trouble sleeping?" Cara sneered, she hated fighting with Dahlia but if she wasn't going to meet her half way then fine, Cara would simply wait until Dahlia couldn't hold out any longer before making her move.

"Hardly" Dahlia snapped in annoyance while turning to face Cara while the blonde did the same, the both narrowed their gazes on each other.

"I'm not convinced" Cara smirked.

"Do I look like I care about your opinion at present?" Dahlia returned with a smirk of her own.

"If you don't care then why are you standing there instead of walking away?"

"It just amazes me how arrogant you can be some times"

"'Arrogant'?, how so?"

"If you realised just how badly you hurt Sophia yesterday then you'd be on your knees begging for her forgiveness but no, you are probably going to have a little chat with Kahlan, again, tell me did the sound of her voice make up for the empty space beside you last night?"

"Dahlia why can't you understand that Kahlan needs me right now?"

"I can see that, but we need you more, for the love of the creator Cara, we should be your first priority not Kahlan-fucking-Amnell!" Dahlia snarled, Cara flinched at the anger in Dahlia's musical voice, Cara mentally cursed, when she realised that Dahlia did have a point, but dammit it to the underworld and back, so did she.

"Dahlia I love you and the girls, you're my life, and you know that, but who does Kahlan have to look after her now, who was there to protect her when she needed it?"

"Argh! I know that Kahlan has had a hard time, but just leave it to Nicci, please" Dahlia pleaded, she knew that Regin and Sophia would eventually be okay once Regin dealt with her past but she needed to know that if push came to shove Cara would be there, and yet she hadn't even asked how Sophia was faring let alone if her and Regin were okay again.

"If Nicci had her way she'd do a spell that eliminated Richard from history and what kind of punishment would that be?"

"Damn right I would and to answer you, its not much of a punishment but the way I see it Kahlan doesn't need this to be dragged out-" Nicci drawled coming silently around the corner to face the somewhat agitated monarchs, Cara and Dahlia fell silent when Nicci stopped a few feet away from them "-Listen you two obviously have things to discuss, let me take care of Richard" Nicci purred suggestively.

"What is it in it for you?" Cara asked suspiciously as far as she was aware Nicci was still in the dark about Danika's heritage, more or less.

"Contrary to popular belief I love to see an abusive bastard burn just as much as the next person, but this is personal"

"I didn't think there was any bad blood between you and Richard" Dahlia mentioned while sending a questioning look Cara's way.

"When I say personal, I mean he deserves everything I'm going to dish out because he...hurt the one person that means everything to me" She knows Cara realised but how?.

"Would this please you?" Cara asked Dahlia coyly.

"Yes"

"Fine, Nicci I leave everything to you" Cara looked at Nicci, closely observing her expression, or lack thereof, the prelate looked as though she were deep in thought, Cara smirked softly, she was probably planing on how she was going to flambé Richard alive and offer his ashes up to Kahlan and Danika on a stick.

"You wont regret it" Nicci grinned evilly before sauntering off.

"I swear sometimes I think shes part Mord'Sith" Dahlia muttered when Nicci's retreating footsteps trailed off.

"Ah you forget, in that other verse that Zedd insists could still have some nasty surprises from that Nicci was a sister of the dark" Cara pointed out with a slight smile, which Dahlia returned uncertainly.

"Are we okay now?" Cara asked hopefully.

"Once you've talked with Sophia and Regin-" Dahlia nodded while Cara moved forward eagerly, Dahlia chuckled when Cara grabbed her hips and pouted up at her adoringly, Dahlia grinned at the rare sight of Cara pouting before leaning down and brushing her lips lightly across Cara's full lips, Cara sighed at the familiar velvety texture of her beloved's lips, Cara moved her lips beneath Dahlia's, silently asking to deepen the kiss, she openly scowled when Dahlia pulled away from her "-When you're done with Sophia and Regin then we can..." Dahlia reached around Cara and cupped her wife's well muscled ass, Cara closed her eyes at the sensation of her wife's touch, she really couldn't be without Dahlia, it just felt unnatural when Dahlia was away from her "...Make up for last night" Dahlia purred. Cara bit her lip and let go of Dahlia's curvy hips with a swift nod, Dahlia smiled and reluctantly let go of Cara, they stayed close for a few more luxurious seconds, basking in each other's presences.

"Go, I'll be waiting" Dahlia urged with a siren's smile.

xxxxXxxxx

"Morning beautiful" Danika smiled when she felt Shayla's lips press lightly against her own, the brunette blinked rapidly and her smile grew even wider when Shayla's stunning face came into view.

"It should be illegal for you to look so good in the morning" Danika grumbled groggily, reaching up and rubbing her eyes while Shayla chuckled and self-consciously ran her hand over her tightly bound braid.

"Mmm either I'm better looking than I first thought or you're going blind, maybe I should get you checked out" Shayla pondered aloud while starting to roll away from Danika.

"Where do you think you're going" Danika growled, following her mate and straddling her, not failing to notice that her would-be -lover was wearing one of her rarely used night gowns, granted it barely reached the middle of her toned thighs, but after Danika had asked her to go to bed fully clothed, Shayla had done so without complaint, which said a lot about her character, seeing as she was used to going to bed completely bare like she'd done for years.

"Well I thought I was getting dressed-" Shayla muttered, while promptly placing her fingers on Danika's silk covered thighs "-But if you have a better idea" Shayla smirked up at her suggestively, while drawing light circles on her her creamy thighs with her ungloved fingers.

"I can think of a few things" Danika purred, while leaning down cautiously, already she could feel her Confessor's power rising within her and they hadn't even kissed yet, Danika looked into Shayla's vivid green eyes when their lips were millimetres away from each others, she could see nothing but patience and trust shining back at her which gave her the self control to lean forward once again to close the distance between them, Danika gasped when she felt her powers suddenly spring to life with an electrifying jolt, as was normal for when their lips first touched, but today it just seemed more violent which shocked her, she'd thought that she was gaining more control when it came to Shayla, but obviously yesterday had been a one off. Danika clenched her eyes shut and tried to focus on what Shayla was doing, but the results proved disastrous when she felt Shayla move her hands to her inner thighs, it abruptly felt like every particles of her being was itching to be free of the tight grip she had on them. Shayla moved her lips beneath Danika's while her hands continued trailing light circles on her inner thighs, allowing Danika to try and get her wits about her once again, Danika dug her fingers into the soft cotton of the sheets either side of Shayla's ribs desperately when she felt Shayla open the seam of her rosebud mouth and delicately licked Danika's mouth, though she was attempting to mentally brace herself for the contact, she couldn't stop her moan of primal pleasure when she felt Shayla's moist tongue swipe against her lips, Shayla smiled against her lips and continued to lap at them until Danika instinctively opened her mouth, letting Shayla plunge her tongue into Danika's hot mouth, Danika moaned loudly when she felt Shayla's tongue rub against hers, suddenly just like that, Danika began to feel her control slip so she pulled away quickly, wincing when she heard Shayla sigh in disappointment.

"Sorry" Danika breathed gently even as her power started boiling in her veins, it was taking all her self control and concentration not to just let it out of its cage.

"Don't be, I love everything about you, and if I have to wait then-"

"A Rada'han"

"Say again"

"With a Rada'han then we could finally, you know..." Danika felt a blush stain her cheeks even as Shayla grinned up at her.

"Why, confessor Danika, look at you, all determined to have sex and what not"

"Thanks for making me sound loose" Danika sighed, while sitting leaning back and resting her wait back on her knees on either side of Shayla's hips.

"Thats not what I meant, I just mean that there was a time you wouldn't even consider kissing someone let alone...anything else"

"Yeah well that was before...all of this, now I just want to get this out the way"

"Excuse me"

"I'm tired of waiting around and I just want to, well...I need to give myself to you, in every way possible" Shayla reached forward and laced their fingers together.

"Honey didn't anyone tell you?, you've always been mine, you just didn't know it until now" She smiled lovingly.

"Careful, Confessor's mate for life"

"I thought they have many mates, you know to secure the confessor's line"

"Some of us take as many lovers as we can, but we take only one mate in our lifetime"

"Well if you're taking lovers then I am too" Shayla grinned when she heard Danika growl, literally growl like a large cat would.

"Over my dead body" Danika hissed, her eyes were darkening at the thoughts of someone else touching what was hers.

"No, not even then, if you ever leave me then I'll follow soon after"

"What if we have children?" Danika asked after swallowing several times.

"Then I suppose I'd have to wait until they were grown up, but still, I'd be counting down the hours till we were together again"

"I'd do the same" They both smiled adoringly at each other until they heard a scuffling sound outside Shayla's closed bedroom door.

"Get back here you demon spawn!-" Denna's voice echoed through the chambers, followed byangrysqueaking sounds and heavy footfalls that sounded like Denna was running "-Argh! I swear you're worse than Shayla when she was a baby"

"What the..." Shayla started, when suddenly the double doors burst opened to reveal an agitated little green gar, Danika giggled when the gar launched herself into Shayla's arms, shaking and yapping to herself "...Hell" Shayla finished when the little gar clutched at the front of her dress with her claws.

"Where is she?" Denna snarled stalking into the room clad in her full Mord'Sith leathers, the gar screeched and tried to burrow closer to Shayla.

"What did you do?" Shayla growled trying to pull the gar away from her without any success.

"Jennsen insists that she needs a bath" Denna answered simply.

"So why is she freaking out?" Danika asked.

"I have no idea, gars are supposed to love water" Denna answered looking perplexed.

"Well maybe this could wait until later after all its not even mid morning yet" Danika suggested.

"Good idea Dani, and I'll tell you what, later both of you can give me a hand, seeing as shes so attached to you"

"Fine, good practice for when we have our children" Danika smiled.

"Whoa!, you two better not plan on giving me any grand-babies any time soon, no way I'm being a grand mother before I'm thirty five" Denna growled.

"Don't worry mom, I'm not planning on it" Shayla assured her mother.

"Though we are going to have to get a move on if we're going to have as many children as I want" Danika said absently, she could already imagine holding their child in her arms.

"How many is that?" Denna asked curiously.

"Mmm seven or so"

"SEVEN!" Shayla yelled incredulously.

"Yes seven will be perfect" Danika sighed while Denna stalked from the room, muttering about crazy confessors under her breath as she went.

"Seven" Shayla said again.

"Yes, seven, why do you want more?"

"No, no seven is a good, round number-" Shayla plastered a smile to her face, while Danika climbed off of her and headed over towards Shayla's wardrobe where half Danika's white confessor's dresses were now hanging "-At least we can't have them until we get that tonic off Zedd" Shayla muttered under her breath so that Danika wouldn't hear her.

"Whose to say that I haven't already slipped it to you" Danika looked over her shoulder and grinned widely when Shayla paled considerably even with her natural alabaster complexion.

"Dammit woman, stay away from my food, drink, and anything else that I have to ingest" Shayla suddenly growled.

"Thats not the only way I can get you to drink it either-" Danika grinned and slowly licked her lips "-Now close your eyes, I might want to have your children but that doesn't mean I want you seeing me naked just yet" Shayla did as she was told almost instantaneously, after a few minutes of cloth slipping over skin, Danika told her to open her eyes which she did almost as quickly as she'd opened then in time to catch Danika tying her corset up. Danika looked over her shoulder once again when she was done with her corset in time to catch Shayla with her lips parted slightly.

"What?" Danika asked, looking down at her body to check if anything was out of place, but she couldn't find a thing, her long dress was immaculate, the black panted that she wore just beneath were spotless and her boots were tied tightly, the only thing she was missing were her long knifes that were normally strapped to her thighs, not that anyone really looked past the confessor's dress long nought to notice them.

"You just, well you look...um, 'beautiful' doesn't do you justice, but I can't think of another word right now" Danika grinned widely.

"Aww and you're not so bad yourself-" Danika smirked at Shayla's look of mock hurt "-Only playing, you're stunning particularly in your leathers" Danika admitted, she didn't know what it was but there was something very alluring about a Mord'Sith in her leathers, especially the blood red ones, deep down she knew that she should be repulsed by that fact, after all the blood red leathers of a Mord'Sith were worn to hide the fact that they'd spilled blood, and a lot of it, but Danika found that it was like watching a lioness in her natural habitat.

"Good to know" Shayla smiled knowingly, while Danika walked back across the marble floor so she could crawl from the foot of the bed up to where Shayla was leaning against the pillows.

"Why do I get the feeling you're going to use that against me in the near future?" Danika asked while settling on her knees.

"Because I am...as soon as we get a Rada'han" Shayla added when Danika's face fell.

"How are we going to get one anyway?" Danika asked while Shayla reached over to the small table beside the bed and picking up the comb, that she'd placed there last night before going to bed.

"I don't suppose we could ask your mother?" Shayla winced when she thought how that conversation would play out, probably with her being confessed by a very pissed off Kahlan.

"Ha with the mood shes in?" Danika laughed humourlessly while Shayla indicated that she should turn around.

"Good point, maybe Nicci would help us?" Shayla suggested while slowly dragging the comb through Danika's long mane of dark brown hair.

"Maybe, but that is going to be so awkward for me"

"You know shes going to find out sooner or later"

"Yes I know, but my mom would rather it was later, so I have to respect that"

"Its not just her decision though, its yours too, and don't you think that Nicci has a right to know?"

"Shay, don't go there"

"Fine, but I was thinking last night when you fell asleep, what if you have magic, and I don't mean your confessors magic but like Nicci has, you're going to need Nicci's help"

"I hadn't even thought of that"

"I know, you've been a little distracted as of late"

"I'm just worried about my mom, she hasn't been herself for a long time"

"Thats divorces for you, particularly these kind of separations"

"You think?"

"I just said so didn't I?" Shayla pointed out as she finished brushing Danika's long thick tresses.

"Mmm I guess you're right" Danika turned around and pressed a light kiss to Shayla's lips.

"I generally am" Shayla smirked cockily.

"Shay?"

"What"

"Where is the gar?"

xxxxXxxxx

"I think I'm going to be sick" Raina mumbled queasily when one of the servants placed a bowel of porridge in front of her, she swallowed the bile rising in her throat when she felt Berdine's comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Take deep breaths honey" Berdine urged softly, she hastily did as she was directed, in through her nose and out through her mouth, for a few moments it seemed to work, the nausea she was feeling faded until all she felt was the slight headache she'd woken up with, she sighed in relief, but unfortunately the action brought her nausea back with a vengeance.

"Not working" Raina managed before running from the great hall, she managed to get out into the courtyard before the almost empty shell of her stomach insisted on unloading what little she'd managed to eat that morning, she bent over and placed her hand against the side of the palace while she retched.

"I hate this" She whispered brokenly when she felt Berdine behind her.

"I know" Berdine said softly while drawing her back so that her back was pressed against Berdine's chest and her arms were around her waist with her gloved hands resting on her flat stomach.

"Mom are you okay" Jacqueline asked coming around the corner with Anya in tow.

"I'll be fine" Raina lied automatically, she didn't want to worry her twins but she felt like the world was spinning around her, she reached down and clutched at Berdine's wrists, trying so say without words that she only said that for the girl's sake, Berdine tightened her hold on her protectively.

"Girls go inside and wait for Cara, I think she has some news to share with everyone" Berdine ordered swiftly, when the two raven haired girls were out of sight, Raina closed her eyes and went limp in Berdine's arms, she just didn't have the energy to stay up right, not when it felt like her limbs were being weighted down with lead.

"Come on, I'll take you down to the hospital wing" Berdine spoke softly but forcefully, typical Raina thought, she should know that Raina only took notice of Berdine's orders when absolutely necessary.

"No just give me a minute" Raina breathed deeply, she opened her eyes and focused on Berdine's finger tips as they traced her sternum gently.

"Now you're being stubborn" Berdine spoke gently into her ear.

"You know me" Raina replied shakily, she no longer felt ill but she was still dizzy.

"Yes I do, and I also know that you have a tendency to down-play a lot of things" Berdine growled, Raina smiled slightly, she couldn't help but notice the scolding tone that Berdine used, and she was certain that the taller woman was frowning behind her.

"At least I don't over exaggerate" Raina breathed.

"I would prefer that you exaggerate things" Berdine whispered while nuzzling the top of Raina's head lovingly.

"I'm okay now" Raina ignored the sorrow in her wife's voice, she knew that Berdine was still worried about her health, she was too, but she found that if she concentrated on other things then she could overlook the symptoms of her pregnancy.

"No you're not, but I've given up trying to argue with you" Berdine sighed but she didn't relinquish her hold on Raina entirely, she wrapped her arm around Raina's shoulders as they walked back into the hall just as several maids hurried past them.

"Now I feel guilty" Raina muttered, when she realised what they were about to do.

"It is their job Raina-" Berdine pointed out "-And its not like Cara forces them to serve her" Berdine added, while they passed two of their lower ranking sisters stationed outside the great hall.

"True enough-"Raina nodded while they sat back down at the table "-Speaking of our beloved monarch, where is she?" Raina asked, finally noticing that Cara was absent from her place at the head of the table, she turned to look at Berdine when she heard her wife laugh to herself.

"My love you fail to notice that Dahlia is also missing" Berdine had a mysterious twinkle in her eye.

"Berdine..." Raina scolded "...It is not proper to make suggestions about the Lady Rahl and her wife..." Rains finished just a Cara jogged into the hall, looking very flustered "...Particularly when they are not accurate" Raina added, and reached out for her glass of water.

"Argh!, have any of you seen Sophia...or Regin for that matter" Cara panted.

"I just saw Regin heading towards Sophia's room" Katrina answered from beside Triana.

"Great-" Cara growled before spinning on her heels "-Thank you Kat" She called over her shoulder before jogging back out the hall.

"Think we're missing something?" Garren asked no one in particular.

"Very possibly darling" Triana answered disinterestedly.

xxxxXxxxx

Nicci paced back and forward along the length of the small study she'd been in for the last hour, she'd been waiting for Egan's report anxiously all this time but in the last few minutes she had been driven to breaking point, what was so hard about writing a progress report, it didn't even take that long, she knew from personal experience from when she was sent of political missions for her mother and former prelate. She cast a glance over to the open journey book which she's placed on the unimpressive desk that Ulic normally used, the brawny soldier had left the study half an hour ago when she'd snapped at him for doing something trivial, well that and the fact that her eyes might of started glowing with the force of her Han, it was like even that part if her wanted to get at Richard.

"Finally" Nicci growled when she saw words begin to scrawl across the page, seemingly of their own accord, she bolted across the room and quickly scanned the page, apparently Richard had started making his way towards the palace, Nicci growled under her breath, why didn't he take the hint, but she realised, this gave her the perfect opportunity to end the bastard. She reached out for the ink bot. And flipped it open while reaching for an untouched quill.

"Direct him to the Larafolk cliff, I'll do the rest" Nicci wrote quickly.

"How do I do that?"

"I don't care how you do it Egan, just make it so"

She waited for a few minutes, she smirked when she thought about him, probably cursing her to the underworld and back, but she didn't care about what he thought about her right now, all that concerned her was making Richard suffer. She closed the large book and placed the quill on the hard cover of it, before leaving the room in a whirl of red robes. She was half way to the great hall when she collided with someone, she scowled and grabbed the white clad person before they ended up falling.

"Kahlan!" Nicci exclaimed when she got a look at who was in her arms, she unwittingly tightened her hold on the confessor.

"Hey Nicci-" Kahlan replied softly "-Sorry about that" Kahlan hesitantly placed her hands on Nicci's shoulders, when the blonde just kept her arms wrapped around her.

"Don't worry about I should have been looking where I was going" Nicci spoke gently.

"So should I" Nicci hated the way her voice was so frail and Kahlan refused to meet her gaze, it just made her want to crush Richard slowly and painfully.

"No I'm pretty sure it was my fault" Nicci assured Kahlan, she didn't know every detail of her marriage but she was almost sure that Richard had been beating her as well, it was in the way she flinched when someone raised their hand near her face.

"N-n-no"

"Let it go Kahlan-" Nicci whispered, she swallowed hard and ignored her instincts to lean down and brush her lips across Kahlan's "You want to go to breakfast?" Nicci asked gently instead.

"Okay" Nicci cursed herself when she realised that she'd have to let go of Kahlan, when she really didn't want to, not when Kahlan felt so right in her arms.

"Nicci, you're going to have to let go of me" Kahlan said after a while of Nicci trying to cling to the moment.

"Sorry" Nicci reluctantly let go of Kahlan and crossed her arms over her breasts so she didn't do what she wanted to and jerk Kahlan back against her.

"Why does it seem we're always apologising to each other?" Kahlan pondered aloud.

"I honestly can't say" Nicci answered while they walked side by side to the great hall just as Cara came jogging out.

"Where is the fire?" Nicci found herself asking the other blonde.

"Ha, ha you're funny" Cara drawled sarcastically and continued to jog down the hall.

"I wonder what that was all about" Nicci spoke gently to Kahlan.

"I haven't got a clue"

xxxxXxxxx

Cara growled under her breath once again when she found yet another obstacle in her path, dammit all to the underworld she couldn't wait to get back home, at lest there she could get back to running Jandralyn with Dahlia at her side, all she had to do was find their traitor and eliminate them.

"Hello sister, need a hand?" Cara turned her head to find Denna in the form of the maid servant she'd mimicked.

"What do you think?" Cara drawled, while Denna rushed forward.

"You have no idea how unnatural this is" Denna murmured and picked Cara up.

"No shit Denna I've been turned into a GAR!" Cara huffed, normally she wouldn't complain but after this morning's fiasco she figured she was justified in being a little upset.

"That was your choice you know" Denna snickered to herself while they walked through the halls towards the servant's quarters where Cara presumed Dahlia was waiting.

"Well excuse me for being committed" Cara snarled and clutched at Denna's dress, and fell silent when a group of soldiers passed them, she cursed when they stopped Denna in the middle of the hall, why couldn't Denna have taken the form of an unattractive woman?, it would make walking through the halls without drawing attention to themselves so much easier.

"Hello Sara, who's this?-" The tallest man asked with a smile, Cara ignored her first impulse to use the claws hat her new form offered to scratch his large eyes out, while Denna murmured back to him incoherently "-I'd heard Mistress Denna had brought a Gar into the palace but I didn't quite believe it"

"Denna" Cara hissed up at the woman, while digging her claws into Denna's wrist.

"Yes well who are we to judge a Mord'Sith?" Denna chuckled to herself.

"Ugh they think they walk on water when in reality..." Cara turned her head and bared the razor sharp teeth that her new form offered, she nearly chuckled when the soldier recoiled and his hand fell to the hilt of his sword.

"When in reality what they do is so much more complex" Denna finished for him before stalking down the hall.

"Ignorant bastard-" Denna hissed while Cara nodded her head softly "-Anyway Dahlia has a lead for us"

"What is the catch?" Cara asked, when they entered the modest living quarters of the royal attendants, Cara smirked to herself, it must be hell for Denna and Dahlia to live here when they were used to the luxury that their stations offered.

"If Dahlia is right, then the traitorous little bitch is next to impossible to reach" Denna answered and placed Cara on a small table leaning against the wall, Cara stretched her new limbs before sitting down close to the edge of the table.

"Fabulous" Cara muttered while the door opened to reveal a blonde servant Cara had never seen before.

"Good morning" Dahlia greeted before pulling out the chair and sitting down in front of Cara, while Denna went rummaging around the room.

"There is nothing good about this morning" Cara growled, while Dahlia placed her elbows on the table and leaned on her hands.

"Its your own fault-" Cara snorted, even though she knew Dahlia was speaking the truth "-And its only for a little while longer" Dahlia promised, before tentatively reaching out to caress one of Cara's pointed ears.

"Ay! don't do that!" Cara swiped at Dahlia with her claws, that small caress had felt too good for her to feel comfortable with.

"What?" Dahlia jerked her hand back before Cara could make contact.

"I'm a GAR!, Dahlia you don't need to remind me" Cara growled while rubbing her tingling ear.

"Only because you couldn't wait for us to find someone else" Dahlia reminded her.

"Yes well, I've had enough of this place and I just want to go home, I'm starting to miss Triana"

"I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that" Dahlia drawled just as Denna came over and perched herself on the edge if the table next to Cara.

"All right enough with the pleasantries, what have you got Dahlia?"

"Okay so I managed to check the manuscripts in the restricted area of the library-"

"How did you get in there?" Cara and Denna spoke in synch.

"Berdine has been distracted as of late" Dahlia answered before continuing "-Anyway the records show that theres a Mord'Sith that just magically appeared almost six years ago, I'm thinking thats our best bet" Dahlia leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over the bodice.

"-Why did no one check that?" Denna growled.

"-Thats an extreme breach in security" Cara murmured.

"Does it really matter?, I mean we know who she is and I know where she is" Dahlia smirked cockily.

"So, who is she?" Cara asked.

"Mistress Catha" Dahlia spoke with a disgusted curl of her lips.

"Understandable in our verse she wasn't exactly..."

"Regardless of what our Catha is like we need to get rid of this one and quickly, before she gets close enough to the Lady Rahl to actually get the job done" Cara interrupted Denna.

"I still don't understand why we're here though" Dahlia spoke honestly.

"Because Dahlia, at the end of the day all of us, every Cara mason in all our verses are connected in one way or another and if this one dies then all the others will be effected" Cara explained.

"How though?" Denna asked with a confused frown.

"I don't know and I don't particularly want to find out-" Cara snarled "-Now then I have to get back to Shayla and Danika" Cara peered over the side of the table, wincing when she realised just how high up she was.

"Why did I have to be a baby gar again?" Cara sighed.

"Because you look cute and cuddly...and totally ruthless" Dahlia hastily added when Cara's head snapped up to glare at her.

"Whatever you say, now get me out of here" Cara held up her arms to Dahlia, Dahlia smiled to herself and lifted the tiny gar, that was Cara, up and left the room with her, while Denna rolled her eyes at her sisters.

xxxxXxxxx

"Say that one more time" Berdine prompted when Zedd had finished, after breakfast Raina had started feeling ill again so Berdine had 'encouraged' her to come down to the hospital wing, encouraged meaning she'd had to carry Raina bridal style while Raina was suffering from a particularly violent wave of nausea.

"I think I've found a way to stop all her symptoms and eliminate the threats all together" Zedd growled again, this time enunciating each syllable for Berdine's benefit, while the Mord'Sith in question blinked dumbly.

"And what is this miracle cure?" Raina wheezed while holding her stomach, she was covered in a sheen of sweat and laying on her side on a small bed with Zedd standing to her left and Berdine to her right.

"This..." Zedd reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial containing a luminous green liquid.

"And the side effects are?" Berdine prompted once again, Raina glanced up at her wife to find Berdine staring at the little vial like it was her salvation.

"Well Raina, you will become invulnerable to all pathogens, from all kinds of plague to simple colds, and you ah..." Zedd's last words were incoherent to Raina.

"What?" Raina asked, feeling her eyelids droop, she felt like she could sleep for a month but she knew she had to hear this.

"I said that, it might very well, well...it might stop you...ageing" Zedd stuttered.

"WHAT!" Berdine shouted before she could stop herself, Raina jerked upright ignoring the way the action made bile rise in her throat.

"Thats your cure, making me...immortal?" Raina growled at Zedd.

"Well..."

"Never-mind we don't want to hear it-" Raina slipped of the side of the bed, she gripped it for a moment before steeling her spine "-Come on Berdine" Raina made it a few steps before she realised that Berdine hadn't moved.

"He has a point Raina..." Berdine spoke in a hoarse voice, Raina looked over her shoulder to find Berdine glaring at the floor instead of her and her shinning blue eyes were shinning.

"Well too bad, I'm not taking that...stuff, and you better get the idea out your head" Raina snapped, not really believing what she was hearing, Berdine wanted her to take Zedd's cure.

"But if it means that..."

"It would mean that while you and our children age and eventually die I'd be frozen like this"

"There is more of the tonic" Zedd butted in.

"Then give it to someone who wants to live forever" Raina replied without taking her eyes off Berdine, she scowled when Berdine's eyes finally met hers, all she could see was stone cold determination reflecting back at her and she hated it, she didn't want to live without Berdine or her twins or her unborn child or any of her family, so unless Zedd had enough for them all she wasn't touching it.

"Don't even think about it Berdine" Raina spoke in a harsh, cold tone that she normally reserved for new recruits and once upon a time to protect herself from Berdine's persistent advances, she nearly smiled when she thought about how futile her efforts had been, she held out for two months and then she'd ended up bent over Berdine's desk in the library of all places.

"Tough, I'm not living in a world without you" Berdine smirked in response to Raina's modified tone.

"We'll talk about this after I've rested" Raina hissed before walking out the room, all of a sudden she didn't feel ill anymore and she was tired, while she stalked through the halls as she couldn't help but think, what would the world be like in a few hundred years and what would it be like to experience it with all her family beside her?

xxxxXxxxx

"What do you want?" Regin shook her head slowly when she stopped in front of Sophia inside the gardens next to the marble fountain, she been searching the palace for the younger blonde all morning and had resorted to the gardens as a safety net, one that had caught her when she ran out of choices.

"I wanted to apologise for how I reacted-" Regin tried, though Sophia gave no indication that she'd heard her, she seemed to be looking straight through her "-And for what I said" She added hopefully.

"Hello" Regin closed her eyes and sighed in annoyance at the interruption until she turned and found Lily staring at them with knowing eyes, Regin smiled softly in response while Sophia simply patted the area beside her on the edge of the fountain, Lily gracefully bounded forward and hopped up beside her older sister, Regin watched silently as Lily and Sophia seemed to communicate with their eyes while she stood before them, suddenly feeling like she was on trial.

"What you said wasn't very nice Regin-" Lily scolded softly, Regin's eyes nearly bugged out of her head when Lily scowled at her, how did she know? "-But shes sorry and not that 'I'm only sorry because I want something' kind that uncle Richard always is with aunt Kahlan" Lily turned to smile uncertainly at Sophia.

"Thanks Sis, but in future could you refrain from involving yourself in my business" Sophia smiled back at her brunette sister.

"Sorry but I knew how conflicted she was about grovelling to you" Lily shrugged.

"How does a five year old even know what those words means let alone use them in a sentence?" Sophia arched her eyebrow at Lily.

"Like momma and mom are always saying, I'm really intuitive" Lily quoted, before hopping off the edge of the fountain.

"Now where are you going?" Sophia called out to her sister's retreating back.

"To see if aunt Denna has found her gar, shes going to help keep mom safe" Lily answered back, Regin cleared her throat when Lily was gone, Sophia was once again staring at the edge of the fountain while Regin stood routed to the spot.

"Shes right you know" Regin said gently, her hand fell to the hilt of her Agiel, she found comfort and security in the familiar burn when Sophia remained silent, the fiery burn from her Agiel was the only thing keeping her from retreating from her silent mistress, at some point she knew she was going to have to tell Sophia about all the things she'd been subjected to and all the things she done in return, none of which she was very proud of but like so many things they were apart of her now and she didn't know how to let them go.

"I know-" Sophia breathed gently, making Regin sigh in relief, at least Sophia was talking to her, that had to be a good thing "-But I would've loved to see you grovel" Sophia smirked, Regin swallowed hard as dread filed her with the force of a tidal wave, she would do anything to earn Sophia's forgiveness but putting her pride to one side wasn't something she was used to and she didn't appreciate it either.

"If thats what you want, then..."

"Not really, I don't want a meek partner, I want someone who will stand at my side as my equal, who will trust me with anything and everything that that affects them, whether its good or bad"

"Except I'm not your equal am I?"

"Just because you're a Mord'Sith doesn't make you any less my equal, you match me in everything, you know me better than most, thats what makes you my equal, I might have more political power than you and if I wanted to, I could see all of D'Hara in ruins but, when it comes to the things that matter..."

"All my life I've either been someone's superior or their inferior, all this equal business is quite confusing"

"Then we'll just have to work on it, I want you near me even if we're never together like that"

"I do want us to be together"

"Then what is stopping you, and its not my innocence Regin, so just tell me" Sophia pleaded with her aquamarine eyes.

"All right, when I was younger...I was my mistress's favourite, I don't know if you've ever seen a mistress with her pet, but..." Regin shook her head softly as memories assaulted her "...They don't just own your body, they get inside your head and its like you'd do anything for them, just to make them love you, in some cases they tire of you and they move on to someone else but Mistress Catha didn't, in fact she got more and more possessive and violent as the years went along and when Dahlia showed up at the temple looking for someone to command your personal guard, I didn't even try to catch her attention, nothing mattered to me except Mistress Catha, but when Dahlia did see me sparring with some of my sisters, she didn't ask, she told me that I had the position. That night Mistress Catha gave me a parting gift" Regin sneered angrily as the 'gift' in question began to tingle insultingly, Regin wasn't even aware of Sophia moving until she felt a hand cupping the side of her face.

"What did she do?" Sophia whispered softly.

"I'm not sure if you've ever noticed but on the insides of my thighs I have moderately sized circular brands, if you look close enough you'll see the imprint of a wolf which is mistress Catha's insignia among our sisters-" Regin chuckled humourlessly "-She said that she'd always be with me, and shes right"

"If she ever crosses my path I'll kill her for touching you alone" Regin felt her eyes begin to burn at that statement, no one had ever cared enough about her to say anything remotely similar and the barely restrained angry in Sophia's tone made her believe the words she spoke.

"I don't want you to kill her Sophia I just want you to make me forget about her" Regin whispered gently, while bringing her hand to to cover Sophia's, even now somewhere the back of her mind Regin felt the bonded pet inside her screaming that it was wrong to even contemplate being with someone else, but with Sophia so close to her, there was another part of her that wanted to be free of its former mistress.

"There you two are, I've, been...looking all over for you" Cara's voice rang out as she burst into the gardens, Rein glanced over at the older blonde to find her breathing heavily and her hands her on her hips while her head was bowed.

"I can see that" Sophia smirked, while stepping forward and wrapping her arms around her mate, Regin stiffened slightly before wrapping her arms around Sophia's shoulders, when Cara looked up to find them like that, she scowled slightly.

"Okay then, is it safe to assume you're together, as in together, together" Cara asked, Sophia nodded against Regin's chest, perfectly content to stay in Regin's arms until she was physically forced away from her.

"Good, I suppose, at least all this melodrama will be coming to an end-" Cara sighed happily and turned away from them "-And Sophia?"

"Yeah mom?"

"I'm, happy for you and what not" Cara nodded to herself and stalked back the way she'd came, while Sophia sniggered to herself.

xxxxXxxxx

"Well that was...fun" Cara grumbled and dropped onto her bed, laying on her stomach so she could snuggle into her pillows while Dahlia shut the door behind her.

"You've only yourself to blame" Dahlia muttered, while undoing the many laces and buckles that kept her corset and neck guard together.

"I'm a glutton for punishment" Cara smirked and rolled over to gaze up at Dahlia, heat began to pool in her lower stomach when Dahlia shed her gloves and began unlacing her shirt, Cara tucked her hands behind her head and watched while Dahlia peeled the shirt off, revealing her alabaster pale skin, her toned abdomen which was only marred by a few scars that Dahlia had collected over the years, finally Cara's eyes trailed to Dahlia's full perfect breasts, Cara bit her lip, when her own breasts seemed to swell against the confines of her tunic and it felt as though her entire body had become sensitive enough to make even the slightest breeze painful.

"I'll have to remember that" Dahlia smirked and let her hands linger on the laces that held her pants together, it was like time stopped for Cara as she waited for Dahlia to reveal her pussy.

"Come here-" Cara instructed, ignoring Dahlia's words, she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything else except re-familiarising herself with Dahlia's flawless body, Dahlia bit her lip before shaking her head slowly, Cara pursed her lips, feeling slightly confused at Dahlia's response before it dawned on her "-Please?" Cara tried hopefully, Dahlia's smile widened but she otherwise stayed put, although she trailed her fingertips tortuously slow up her abdomen towards her breasts, Cara felt like someone had lit a fire in her lower stomach when Dahlia finally cupped her own breasts and tilted her head back on a sigh. Cara watched silently as Dahlia began to twist and pull at the rosebud coloured points, Cara could feel her pussy slowly begin to heat as she heard the soft moans leaving Dahlia's mouth, Cara sat up on the bed, sighing in defeat when her movements caused Dahlia to cease pleasuring herself and to glare intently at her, instead of pouncing on Dahlia like she'd planned, Cara settled for pulling her restraining tunic off, sighing when the cool air caressed her hardened nipples with a feather-light touch, Cara leaned back against her pillows and lightly ran her hands over her toned abdomen, biting her lips when every move of her fingers sent flares of arousal to her pulsing clit.

"Just couldn't wait could you?" Dahlia smirked, while Cara dragged her finger tips up to her sensitive nipples, Cara closed her eyes and imagined that it was Dahlia's finger's, not hers, that were gripping the tight buds, she moaned and clamped her thighs together when she felt a sharp tingling sensation travel from he nipples straight done to her abdomen and eventually to her throbbing pussy, she was suddenly aware of Dahlia's weight settling on the mattress next to her, she could feel Dahlia's heat merging with hers, hear her breathing speeding up when Cara pulled at her nipples harder than she had.

"Need a hand Cara?" Dahlia whispered, Cara moaned when the sound of Dahlia's voice caress her senses and heightened her arousal to the point where she could feel her juices leaking from her pussy and coating the seam of her pants, she clamped her thighs together even harder, hoping to increase the friction that her pants were already inflicting on her desperately wet pussy, she pulled at her nipples even harder, gasping when she suddenly felt Dahlia's hot tongue on her collarbone, Dahlia groaned softly and began lapping at her golden skin while Cara continued to work her nipples with disastrous effects, Cara canted her hips up, her eyes flew open when the seam of her pants rubbed her clit in a circular motion, but as pleasurable as that contact was Cara longed for it to be Dahlia's fingers, or her tongue or even her Agiel, Cara panted when she thought about the latter, the ageils sting would caress her nerve endings, one by one the Agiel's magic would slowly send them into a state of glorious rapture until she was almost insane with the need to orgasm.

"Ugh Cara...you're so beautiful like this, your cheeks are flushed, your back is arched and your nipples...baby, there just so fucking tempting-" Dahlia nibbled on Cara's collarbone while Cara released one of her painfully sensitive nipples to cup the back of Dahlia's head, silently asking Dahlia to cover the aching point with her hot mouth "-You want me to suck it Cara?-" Dahlia purred while she continued to nibble and suck on Cara's collarbone, Cara nodded frantically against her pillow, she grabbed Dahlia's braid and all but forced Dahlia to move down her body "-Mmm I love it when you do that" Dahlia breathed before enveloping Cara's distended nipple in the moist heat of her mouth, Cara cried out at the delicious sensation on Dahlia's mouth sucking firmly at her nipple while she continued pulling at her other nipple. Cara writhed helplessly as Dahlia swirled her tongue around Cara nipple before gently raking her teeth over the hard nub, before repeated the motion over and over again until Cara felt like she'd go insane unless Dahlia did something to relieve the burning ache that had blossomed in her pussy.

"Dahlia..." Cara panted, Dahlia gave one last lick to Cara's nipple before lifting her head away from Cara's breasts, she slipped down Cara's body until she could unlace Cara's pants.

"Lift your hips" Dahlia growled, Cara swallowed hard when she saw that Dahlia's eyes had darkened with lust and the smirk on her stunning face reminded Cara of a large cat, confidently stalking her prey before she lunged, Cara arched her hips up off the bed and-

"Fuck, why did you have to wear shoes today?" Dahlia snarled impatiently and slid further down Cara's body until she could rapidly unlace Cara's boots, when she'd flung the boots over the side of the bed Dahlia's hands were shaking as she grabbed Cara's pants that were wrapped around her thighs, Dahlia got rid of the offending material quickly while Cara mewled in need beneath her.

"Spread those pretty thighs for me baby-" Cara did as she was told, she felt she couldn't breathe when Dahlia moved between her long legs

"-You know what I really missed about last night?" Dahlia growled while leaning down to grip Cara's lightly muscled thighs. Cara arched her back and looked up at her lover with her eyes glazed over. Dahlia tilted her head up at her, the hungry gleam in her mate's perceptive blue irises made her pant with her own rising desire.

"-My midnight meal" Dahlia grinned and leaned forward. The first touch of the brunette's skilled tongue was like a bolt of liquid fire searing through her. She gasped at the sensation, her body tightened, she felt like she was drowning in the pleasure that washed over her. Cara bucked against her wife's succulent mouth, feeling the Mord'Sith's tongue circle her aching clit, Dahlia's full red lips lips suckled at the tight bundle of nerves. She gasped when she felt Dahlia's long slender fingers part her passion swollen folds, a low moan resonated deep in her throat as her mate's ungloved finger ran through the juices that wept from her body, caressing a path from her pulsing pussy then lower, to the tight puckered hole of her ass. Her lean hips involuntarily jerked with arousal, the Mord'Sith groaned into her glistening flesh, sending vibrations of ecstasy echoing over her body as the brunette continued to ravenously lap at her cunt. Her back arched and her hands fisted in the maroon bed sheets, as her mate's talented tongue plunged into her tight pussy, over and over, all the while the Mord'Sith pressed her middle finger insistently against her asshole.

"Dahlia!" Cara gasped and reached down to grip the brunette's slender shoulders, she dug her short nails into her lover's strong sleek muscles as her pussy tightened, desperately trying to hold Dahlia's plunging tongue in place as she marvelled at the feel of the Mord'Sith's long slender fingertip lodged just past the entrance of her ass. She clawed at her wife's back when she felt the brunette pull her long digit free of her body's tight grip, she groaned and writhed desperately as Dahlia moistened her ungloved fingers in the thick juices leaking from her quivering pussy and coating her inner thighs, she moaned loudly as her wife's fingers slide along her folds, gathering her own essence as lubricant before Dahlia was pressing her middle finger into her asshole once again. All the while Dahlia's tongue thrust hard and fast inside her, driving her closer to completion even as her finger drove her closer to insanity. Cara tossed bucked into Dahlia, as she used her hold on Dahlia's shoulders to pull her close as she felt the sensual pain in her ass and the heated thrust plunging into her pussy. Torturous need clawed at Cara's insides, making her feel as though she had been set on fire as Dahlia fucked her tongue hard and fast inside her gripping channel. Cara was close, she could feel each stroke and caress from Dahlia was sending her closer and closer to the edge. She screamed out at the agonizing pleasure and exploded into Dahlia's mouth as her finger forged deep inside her ass an instant before her muscles clamped tight in orgasm. She couldn't breathe as her orgasm raged through her, all she could do was convulse against Dahlia's skilful touch. Long minutes passed where the only sound in the room was Cara's erratic breathing and the wet squelch of Dahlia easing her finger from inside Cara's quivering asshole, and she proceeded to lick every drop of Cara's essence which made the blonde shudder at the almost painful sensitivity of her body.

"You know I find something new to marvel over each and every time" Dahlia murmured and rested her head on Cara's muscular thigh.

"I find that hard to believe" The blonde muttered back, while her eyelids seemed to be closing of their own accord.

"Its true" Dahlia pressed a soft kiss to Cara's inner thigh before sliding up so she could gather the blonde into her arms, Cara threw one arm over Dahlia's waist, tangled their legs together and buried her face in the crook of Dahlia's neck.

"Prove it" Cara mumbled feeling sleep open its arms for her to fall into.

"Like this time, I've never forgotten to take your boots off first" Cara chuckled softly, her lithe, sweat slick muscles were weak from passion.

"You're right" She sighed into her mate's magnolia pale neck.

"Oh and I forgot to tell you earlier that Mistress..." Cara didn't quite catch the last part as she edged closer and closer into an exhausted sleep, with Dahlia's beautiful body snuggled tightly into her own.

"Say again" She muttered.

"Mistress Catha is coming to the palace in two days"

TBC. . .

AN: And I leave it there as I have a mountain of course work to get through, and as you might of guessed I have absolutely no idea when I'll be updating again, but I'll try to make it quick, til next time =D.