"I don't know what you're talking about," she said defiantly. "I know of no god-child named Veralidaine Sarrasri."

He rose up and ambled over. "Daine, Daine, Daine. It doesn't do to lie to those in charge."

"When I find someone in charge, I'll remember that," she retorted smoothly. "Who are you?"

A voice called to her from a recent memory. 'How far will you go for him?' 'He doesn't love you. He's never loved anyone.' 'He's never loved anyone.' 'He doesn't love you. He doesn't know how to.' 'I loved her. I really loved her.' 'HE ruined it! He ruined MY life! I loved her!' 'Now the tables have turned! They've turned right around. I have the right cards, I have the right of the roll! It's my time to shine!' 'I can win.'

"You," she spat, realisation sinking in.

"Me," he grinned. "Kyle Draper."

Uh-oh. Annoying one of Numair's relatives was not wise. On the other hand... She stood and wrestled with her chains, bleeding her wild magic into them. Now, even if her moved her, even if she died, animals would be able to find her, no matter what kind.

"I hope you're not planning on living long, Master Kyle." She threw herself at him, shifting into a wolf. Her arms slipped easily out of the locks. Her paws scrabbled for his flesh, her teeth gleamed next to his face.

Fear flickered in his eyes. She watched as determination took over, and steeled herself. She promptly flew across the room, smashing into the wall. Whimping, she dragged herself up. She had measured his power in that blast to throw her off. His prowess was great, just enough so that she'd have to be wary of him. But now he knew to be wary of her.

He staggered to his feet, shaking slightly. Wimp. A grin crept over his face. "Now I see why Arram used you. I like your style. So, I won't punish you. Instead, you can do something for me."

Her stomach sank.

---

Daine glanced back at Kyle. "I really have to do this? Just because of that stupid Varice?"

He grinned nastily. "Go on."

She sighed, dragging a huge breath in. 'I'm doing this for you, Numair, and I love you, even though I'll never be able to tell you,' she thought, eyes lingering over his ruffled hair. 'Here goes nothing.' She slipped down the stairs. "Numair."

Numair looked up, cautiously. It seemed as if he was making sure it really was her, not his eyes making him look foolish. "Daine?" His voice broke on the word, his face lit up with relief, with happiness and with... love. Daine firmed her mouth, making it form a straight line instead of the smile she wanted to give him.

She could see Kyle lightly treading down the stairs. 'Don't hurt him,' she thought desperately. 'Gods, please don't let him get hurt.' "Numair, I've got to tell you something."

He stood, papers falling to the floor with the motion. He didn't notice, just strode over to her, enveloping her in a huge hug. "Gods, I've missed you," he murmured into her hair.

She broke away from him. "No, Numair. You're not listening. If you don't listen, it's proof that you don't love me."

He stepped back from her in shock. "Sweet, what are you talking about?"

Daine bit her lip. Somehow, the pain gave her courage. "Numair, I've fallen in love."

Numair's face turned ashen. "What? Who?"

"Your cousin, Kyle," she lied. "I love him so much. What we have together is... amazing. It's so much more than I had with you. He makes me feel so special." She tried to make her face light with pleasure, but failed miserably.

"But Kyle... Kyle loves Varice."

Daine shook her head. "It's me. He told me so," she insisted.

"That's why she didn't leave with me. She felt sorry for him."

Behind Numair, blue-grey eyes saw Kyle's fists tighten. "I'm sorry, Numair."

Numair was silent for ages. She never guessed the reason - thought he was hurt, not thinking. Well, not until he spoke again. "It's him, isn't it? He took you. You're in his power."

"No," she said quickly, but he saw the flash in her face.

"It is. He's here. He wants to get me."

"Numair, don't think of yourself all the time! I'm in love with him. Why can't you accept it? Use eyebright, if you must!" She crossed her fingers for luck, hoping he wouldn't.

His face twisted in pain. "I never thought it would be a person who broke us up," he admitted.

Daine smiled weakly. "Guess you never know how life will turn out for people."

"True. I never thought we'd be here. You, standing there, feeding me all these COMPLETE LIES!"

She staggered back slightly, never having heard his voice raised to her before. "Lies? You're in denial."

"It's not true," he insisted.

Well, no, it wasn't, but she didn't want him thinking that. "It is. I'm sorry, Numair, but..."

"Daine, I love you." She smiled, moving back slightly so he wouldn't see her eyes soften. They fell on Kyle. What he was doing made her mouth open in shock, losing the smile. "I would never want to lose you, not to him. I wake up in the morning, and feel torn apart when you're not beside me. I...Daine, what's wrong?"

Kyle had been mouthing the exact words Numair was voicing. Her fists clenched in anger. Anger at him. "VARICE! YOU SAID THAT TO HER? TO VARICE? HOW COULD YOU?" she screamed.

He stepped towards her; she couldn't move away fast enough. His expression was filled with confusion, hers with fury and hatred. "No, I never said that to her! Daine, what has he done to you?"

Daine forced her face to sadden. "I don't know. I'm so confused. It hurts, Numair, it hurts."

"What does?" Tentatively, he pulled her into an embrace. She commanded her body to relax, instead of tensing up.

"My head."

"Look, sweet, I'll find him. It will all come out right. Don't worry."

Her body stiffened. "No, don't!"

"Don't? But-" He turned her to face him, thankfully releasing her. She couldn't stand to touch him, not after he had just given her a speech that Varice had heard first.

"I don't want..." She waved her hands, vaguely in his direction. "You... hurt..." She faked tears, covering the silences in her words.

His features eased, and he breathed out with a smile. "I won't get hurt," he promised, a slight sneer in his words.

And she cared about him, because... "Not you! Him! He's so weak that you, with your black robe and snooty manner, might harm him." She was rigid with rage. He couldn't even touch her.

"Daine, why are you doing this to me?"

"Ever since the Divine Realms, I've been on this pedestal. I have to live up to Mithros knows how many stuck-up court ladies. I can't do that. I can't be beautiful, clever, amusing... I can only be me." She put a hand up to stop whatever reply he had begun. "No, Numair, don't tell me I am.

"I'm the King's toy. Wheeled out whenever he wants to display his finery. A thing to gawp at. Or a thing to challenge when some air-headed prat like my cousin gets too big for his boots."
"Well, I've been thrown out. Kyle doesn't want me for my power. He treats me like I don't matter. Like he hates me. You have no idea how that makes me feel. He's just amazing." Daine spat on the floor, next to the astonished, hurt black robe. The shadowy eyes were aflame with passion.

"How can you say that?"

"I HATE YOU!" she screamed, before running out of the room. Kyle slipped back to the shadows and followed her.

--

Wow, that was fun to write. Yeah, Rud, you keep on thinking Thayet's a man. Only cos you fancy her. And the mystery man has been unveiled. Uh-huh, an idiot. Got to go!