Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters. I don't own anything here.

A/N Sorry not to have updated for so long, but finally here is the next part. Please R&R

*~*~*~*~*

Prince Kaddar gaped at the girl in front of him, then at the lions' enclosure behind them. He had been surprised when he had first met Daine, and again when he got to know her. He should have stopped being surprised by her except, well, he was. He knew she had Wild Magic, but to go into the lions' enclosure? I suppose I have no choice he thought dryly. He shook his head, and looked for the right key.

"One of them is just called a key," he heard Daine say behind him. Startled, he looked around; he hadn't said anything, and he knew what one key was called. "Zek's asking," she explained. Kaddar turned back to the lock. "No one's ever going to cage you again, Zek; I promise." He started, then inwardly grimaced. He wished she would stop doing that. Unless he was mistaken, she could speak mind to mind with animals, without speaking out loud. He wished she would do so. Hearing her sudden responses to things he couldn't hear was nothing short of unnerving. Unlocking the door, Kaddar let Daine into the dark stairwell. "Lights?" Daine asked.

"Just snap your fingers," Kaddar replied.

"I can't snap my fingers, Your Highness." He couldn't miss the face she made.

"You can't? Really? But it's easy. You just--" he couldn't believe it.

"I know what you just. I've been trying to for years."

He grinned. "You don't know how much better that makes me feel. You can outshoot me and talk with animals, but you can't do this," he replied, and he meant it. He would never have imagined that such a great person --and yes, did admire her-- could be unable to do something that he took for granted. He snapped his fingers, the small light-globes flickering on.

"No need to rub it in," was her grumbled response. "Kit, are you coming?"

"Maybe Zek would rather stay with me." He waited for Zek to tell Daine what he wanted.

Daine handed Zek to him. "Will I need keys down there?

"No. The inner doors are held with bolts. They aren't locked."

"Zek want's to know if he can see your keys." Kaddar gave the keys to Zek, grinning as the little marmoset examined them interestedly. Kaddar watched as Daine entered the pit. The lions moved towards Daine, and they snarled. Kaddar tensed, waiting.

"It's all right. She's a friend. I'd think, downwind of those immortals, that you'd be more open-minded." Kaddar laughed, relieved. Had he really thought that they might hurt Daine? She was safe, wasn't she?

"Is that what upset them?" he asked.

"You'd think they never smelled a dragon before," she joked.

She was certainly different from what he knew. Even studying at the university, where he met all different kinds of women, as well as men, he was amazed by Daine. She was young, barely a young woman, and yet she seemed so much older. She was strangely human, while she possessed such great power. Kaddar watched her as she worked. Since she had first arrived, she had not ceased to surprise him. He couldn't see what she did, but he had an idea. Finally, she was done. She climbed back up the stair. Kaddar stepped away from her, watching her with awe, as she headed toward the next enclosure.

She was truly amazing.

*~*~*~*~*

A/N OK, so this wasn't good. I'm sorry, but I'll write another chapter soon to make up for it. Sorry for not updating for so long. Please forgive me and R&R *puppy eyes*