DG sat down next to Azkadellia on an ornate wooden glider at the edge of the garden patio, where Az's puppy was chasing a butterfly around the flowers.

"Something's going on." DG crossed her arms.

"Lots of things are going on. Do you care to be more specific?" Az took her eyes off the playful pup.

"For the last week, since our dear parents had that meeting with Wyatt," DG made quote marks with her fingers at the word meeting, which apparently confused her sister.

"And?" Az prodded.

"Well, he's always spent time personally guarding you guys. Especially you when you leave the palace. But, you have to admit, he spends most of his time as my bodyguard. Lately, he's spent two days a week as Dad's bodyguard, and he wears that guard uniform. He hates that uniform." With her foot, DG traced a pattern on the carved stone floor of the patio.

"You're jealous. You are jealous of your own father," Az grinned. "And Cain can't exactly act as bodyguard to the Prince Consort, or even the Queen, during official business in his usual attire."

"I'm not jealous of Dad. I just, kinda, miss Wyatt being around as much. And I think Mom and Dad had somethin' to do with it. Maybe they don't approve and are trying to subtly whittle away at our time together," DG hypothesized.

"Hardly. Mother rather likes your Wyatt. And they trust him with all of our lives. Maybe they're trying to get to know him better. After all, your courtship is pretty much public discussion." Az whistled and Gregory ran to her, wagging his tail so hard his entire back end danced.

"It's still… odd." DG reached down to pet the pup, who jumped up between the two women, seeking attention from both.

"Besides, it isn't as if you've been anywhere near the room assigned you before we moved back. You haven't exactly learned the fine art of subtlety, DG. And you still haven't told your sister all about it."

DG blushed. "It's… it's private, Az."

"Oh, and coming into my rooms demanding to know what I might know of sex wasn't at all getting into private territory. Payback is often terrible," Azkadellia smiled smugly.

"That's not the least bit fair. I came out here to tell you something fishy is happening and you try to pry details about my sex life out of me?" DG ignored the dog burrowing his head under her hand.

"Life is far from fair. You need only look around the palace to see more evidence than you can imagine of that. And I find myself curious, as well." Az collected the puppy into her lap and lavished him with scratches about his ears and neck.

Ouch. That was cruel. But DG figured her own wining about fairness deserved it.

"So, did you corner him or did he corner you? Was it frantic and desperate, like one of those novels young ladies aren't supposed to read?" Az was grinning, but her eyes were serious.

DG felt herself turning red; the heat on her face near unbearable.

"It was mutual, and he was a gentleman." DG kicked at the pavement, hoping that was enough.

"A gentleman? DG, I may not know much on the subject, but a gentleman in bed sounds rather boring. You're not doing anything for Cain's reputation. Maybe he's too old. Takes a while, you know…"

"Azkadellia!" DG felt she must be beet red by now. "He knew it was my first… and he tried to make it perfect. I was a bit of a brat, seeing how he was doing everything too well, for your information, and there were fireworks and stars and the earth moved and I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk straight… and did I just say that?"

Az laughed. Normally DG loved to hear her sister laugh, as it was a rare thing.

DG felt her mouth drop open. "You just manipulated me and I walked right into it."

"You have to watch out for that, little sister. Lots of people will try to manipulate you." She was still giggling.

"And why the sudden curiosity on your part? Hmm… Seems to me there might be someone you're interested in experimenting with?" DG dug in for some payback.

"What?" Az looked genuinely shocked. "Who? If this is because I've been spending so much time with Ambrose lately, I just felt so guilty, and then he was just so likeable. A bit like Gregory. He's a great friend, but lover material? Definitely not. He deserves someone sweet and kind, and at least smart enough to understand some of the things he rambles on about."

"Glitch? Nope, that one never really crossed my mind. You two are more like… like he's a mutual, older brother." DG knew her sister was clever enough to throw out decoys as well.

"The only other man I've been spending a lot of time with is Raw, and if you think, for one moment, I view him that way… He's a mentor, a… friend, and, I suppose he is easy to love, but I prefer men a bit less… furry. It would kill any attraction. I'm terribly shallow, I know." Az actually looked guilty as she said the last bit.

"I was thinking a bit more blonde and blue-eyed. Oh, eight or nine years younger than you, but I know as well as anyone that judgments in that area are just plain silly." DG reached over to pet Gregory, who offered a puppy smile.

"Hmm? Oh my God, you cannot be serious. He's one of my bodyguards."

At that DG made a checkmark in the air. "Like that never happens."

"He's… too young."

"Covered that. Not that young. He led a whole lot of men, many older than him, and led them well. Still does. Very mature for his age." DG waved her hand.

"He… wanted me dead," Az pointed out.

"So did most of the O.Z. But now he knows the truth, and he's put himself in a position to take a bullet for you," DG countered.

"His father is sleeping with my sister," Az huffed.

"Admittedly, creepy. Possibly therapy-inducing. But you're listing arguments like a thought-out checklist there. Not like you did about Glitch and Raw. Plus… he gave you a puppy because he thought you needed it. Because he cares. That's way above chocolates and flowers." DG stood and brushed off her pants.

'There,' she managed to keep Az from digging for more sex details. 'Put her on the defensive.'

"You have a very sick and twisted mind, DG." Az put Gregory down .

"So I've been told. Now, I have to go find my bodyguard. Which is totally out of character. He's usually waiting in the hall when I get out of my history lessons. Which goes back to 'something's going on.'" DG started for the door leading back into the palace. "Have fun with your puppy."