I spent the rest of the morning working out on the lake shore, then went for a run around the property. When I came back, I found a garment bag on my bed containing a traditional black suit.

Rey hadn't come out of her room. And, I didn't push the matter, figuring she just needed space to sort things out.

I showered and got ready, finding that the suit Ciir'sae sent fit like a dream. I walked across the hall and gently knocked on Rey's bedroom door.

"Almost ready!" She yelled from within her room.

I heard shuffling, from her or the service droid, I wasn't sure, and then she said from right behind the door. "You have to promise not to laugh."

"I'm not going to laugh." I promised and the door cracked open enough for her to stick her hand out, covered in a red satin glove, with her pinky in the air.

"Pinky promise?" She insisted.

I rolled my eyes, and looped my pinky around hers. "Pinky promise."

She held onto my finger. "Wow, I can't believe you just did that. A pinky promise is, like, the most wholesome thing ever." She teased. "You are steadily losing scary Dark Lord credibility, Solo."

I snatched my finger away. "Are you coming out, or not?"

She snaked her hand back behind the door. "Next thing I know, you'll be bringing stray puppies in here."

I didn't tell her that I'd actually given milk to a stray kitten I'd found under the balcony just this morning.

"I'm leaving." I said, turning.

"Ok, ok!" She relented, and pulled the door open.

I turned back around, just as she stepped out and my stomach completely dropped at the sight of her.

Her hair was down, curled, and pinned back on one side by a ruby and diamond encrusted silver comb.

Her gown matched those rubies exactly. It was satin, with ruffles that framed the v-neckline and went over both shoulders. It was long, dragging bit in the back, and it clung to her every curve.

She wore long matching gloves that covered both of her arms to well above her elbows.

She was, without a doubt, that most beautiful creature I'd ever had the privilege of laying eyes on.

And all I could do was stare.

Her eyes searched mine, trying to figure out what was going on inside of my head.

"You're exquisite." I breathed, and she beamed up at me, making my heart flutter.

I offered my arm to her, and she placed a gloved hand in the crook of my elbow, gripping it as we made our way to dinner.

oOo

We were greeted by Ciir'sae, and a younger man who stood at her side.

"Ben." Ciir'sae greeted. "Surely you remember my brother, Caledyn."

I took the hand that he stretched out to me and shook it. "Of course." I lied.

I remembered that she had a brother, and that he was at least a decade younger than us, and was just a kid when I last saw her.

He'd obviously grown up.

He was a few inches taller than his sister, with sandy blonde hair and eyes that were several shades of blue. With his straight nose, square chin, and strong jaw, he was what most would consider conventionally handsome.

He looked at Rey, first to her face, and then his gaze swept over her hungrily.

Id never seen anyone else look at her that way and I did not like it. Did not like him looking at her like that.

"Caledyn," Ciir'sae said, "This is Lady Rey."

Rey gripped his hand the same way she'd seen me do, and shook it. "It's nice to meet you."

Caledyn took her hand, turned it over, and brought it up to his lips. "My lady." He purred, brushing a kiss to her knuckles. "The pleasure is all mine."

My lip curled, and it took every bit of my self restraint not to bare my teeth at him and snarl.

I moved to put my hand in the small of Rey's back, and met bare skin.

I looked, seeing the entirety of her back, outlined by the red satin ruffles of her gown.

She looked up at me when my skin met hers, and we both blushed.

Caledyn pulled her seat out for her, and she took it, smiling up at him as she sat down. He took the seat next to her and I sat between him and Ciir'sae.

Service droids brought out the first course, a variety of breads and wines.

Caledyn took it upon himself to fill Rey's glass before filling his own.

My hands balled into tight fists under the table.

"It's been so long, cousin." Ciir'sae said, holding her glass as her brother poured wine into it. He offered to do the same with mine, and I shook my head tightly.

"Tell me, what have you been up to all these years?" Ciir'sae asked.

Killing and maiming and hacking people up into tiny little bits. That was, until I met Rey, who is my mate, and since then I've been torturing myself day in and day out because I refuse to tell her about the mating Bond, so that she won't have the opportunity to reject me again.

"I'd rather hear about you." I told her, honestly.

She shrugged. "There's not much to tell."

Caledyn scoffed. "Ciir'sae is the greatest Queen since your grandmother reigned. She's maintained peace while our neighbors go to war." He leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine. "She's just being modest."

"Only I am not the reason Naboo has known peace." Ciir'sae snapped at him. "The First Order could have invaded at any time, but they haven't." She looked at me. "And, I could never thank you enough for keeping the fighting away from us."

I looked at her, at the girl I'd grown up with. It was true. I'd gone out of my way to protect her, her kingdom, this planet. But, she'd done well keeping herself off of the First Orders radar.

I nodded once, and she gave me a knowing smile.

"Where are you from, Lady Rey?" Caledyn asked, leaning toward her. "And how do you know our cousin?"

A thinly veiled attempt to see if she was spoken for or available.

Rey took a breath. "I don't know where I'm from." She told him. "But I grew up on Jakku."

"Jakku?" Ciir'sae and Caledyn repeated in unison.

"And, Ben saved my life during The Battle of Hoth." She offered me a smile, and I returned it.

The service droids brought the second course, soup.

I watched Rey take the correct spoon from the arsenal of utensils laid out before her, and carefully dip it into the soup, keeping her back perfectly straight as she brought it up, and into her mouth.

She glanced up at me to make sure I was watching and I didn't have to fake the look of admiration on my face.

I wasn't sure where she'd learned which spoon to use, but how proud she was with herself was a sight to behold.

"How do you like Naboo?" Caledyn asked.

"It's beautiful!" She said, and I watched his gaze roam over her again.

Mine. I wanted to growl. I wanted to extend my arm, and send him flying as far away from Rey as the Force allowed. I wanted to pull her into my arms, and seal this Bond right on the table between us.

That thought sent me reeling.

After dinner, Caledyn stood, and offered his hand to Rey. "Care for a tour of the palace?"

Her eyes slid to mine and I kept my face a cool mask of indifference.

She wasn't mine.

Not until she said otherwise.

And, she never would.

She cleared her throat and put her napkin on the table. "I'd love to." She said, taking his hand.

I watched, my heart sinking as they disappeared down the hall.

Ciir'sae leaned forward as soon as they were out of earshot. "Who is she?"

I was taken aback by her question. "I told you who she is."

"Yes." She agreed. "And, now I need you to tell me the truth."

When I didn't answer, she sighed. "I think I have a right to know who you've brought here."

I took a sip of my water. "She's training to be a Jedi."

"Is that where you met her?" Ciir'sae wanted to know.

"No." I answered honestly.

"Could you start giving me some real answers, please?" She demanded. "Where is she from?"

"She told you she's from Jakku."

Her eyes narrowed. "And you expect me to believe that?"

I nodded. "Yes, because it's the truth."

She stood up, her chair scraping the floor in protest, and snatched a holo caster from a nearby droid. She pressed it, and an image of Rey, on her three bun hairstyle flashed before me.

"Twenty thousand credits on her head." She flipped the image, to a different news cast. "And, a desperate plea from your mother for information on her whereabouts, and you have the nerve to tell me that she's just a padawan from Jakku."

I tore my eyes from the hologram. "Ciir'sae, I know how this looks-"

"This looks like you've kidnapped the crowned jewel of the Resistance." She confirmed.

I showed her my palms. "I swear to you, Cousin, she left the Resistance of her own free will."

"Does the Resistance know that?" She demanded.

"I thought they did, but-"

Ciir'sae cut me off. "If they come here for her, I'll have no option as Queen but to hand her over."

Hand her over, or risk war with The Resistance and their allies, and be shunned as the Queen who didn't help a victim escape her captor. I couldn't keep the devastation off of my face. "I didn't take her."

"I know that." She assured me, and moved her heavy skirts to sit back down. "You have a ship on the ready at all times incase she wants to go, and you've made it clear that she doesn't need your permission to leave." She leaned forward. "Does she know about The Bond?"

She could have slapped me in the face and I would have been less shocked. "How do you know about-"

"Do you think you're the only person in our family who is sensitive to the Force, Cousin?" She raised her chin. "I sensed it the moment she stepped off that dented saucer she flew here on." Her eyes flickered to mine. "A mated Force Bond, right?"

I swallowed hard. "Yes."

She hummed her understanding. "There is a law that was written millennia ago that protects those who are Mated in the Force. If you have your Bond with her confirmed, no one can take her from you."

Confirmed by a priest or a holy man or another Force user, if by some miracle we could find one. Then, officially declared mates, and inseparable, by galactic law.

I shook my head. "I cant."

Her brow furrowed. "What?"

"I cant." I repeated.

The crease between her brows deepened. "What do you mean?"

"I can't force this Bond on her." I said, my voice pleading with her to understand.

Her head tilted to the side, just a bit. "You wouldn't be forcing anything on her, Ben."

"Wouldn't I?" I growled. "Even if she accepted the Bond, it would damn her to a life with me. And you have no idea what she thinks of me."

"Do you?" Ciir'sae challenged. "Do you see the way she looks at you?"

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. "What?" I gasped.

"She is so crazy in love with you, Ben. Nearly as in love with you as you are with her."

I tried to shake my head, to deny her words. But I was frozen, staring at her.

She leaned back in her chair. "Tell her. Seal the Bond. Have it confirmed. It's the only way to keep the Resistance from marching in here and taking her from you, and having every legal right to do so."

"Use the Bond to manipulate her into staying."

"That is not what I said." She hissed.

"That's what everyone will think." I pointed out.

"Which is why you need it to be confirmed." She reminded me.

I shook my head again and waved my hand in dismissal. "Its not what she wants."

"Have you asked her?" She countered, and I looked at my plate, not answering. "That's what I thought." She chirped. "If you had, you'd know that it is what she wants. She wants you."

I shoved myself away from the table, and stood. "She does not." I snarled. "And, she never will."

Ciir'sae didn't so much as blink. "Well, if you're so sure, you have nothing to lose."