Bleary eyed and still tired; Kel awoke to the sound of someone calling her name. After getting her body to cooperate with her, she walked to the door and opened it to reveal a man standing there.

"Dom!" Although Kel's voice came out with a slight croak, due to her lack of sleep the night before, the happiness it contained was easily noticeable. She ushered Dom into her room before retreating to the washroom to get cleaned up.

A couple of minutes later, Kel walked back into her room freshly dressed and washed. Before her gaze settled back on Dom, she noticed that he had shut the outside door.

The look on his face, the look in Dom's eyes, began to send agreeable shivers shooting down Kel's spine. In a matter of moments, the intense fire filling his visage had increased ten-fold, and it left Kel longing for his touch.

Without any warning, Dom jumped up from the chair he had been sitting in. Crossing the room in three quick strides, he swept Kel up in a great hug, holding her tight to him as though she was his only grasp left on the real world.

Dom's fire had now spread into Kel, and she threw her arms around his neck with wild abandon. Pulling herself even closer to him, she rested her head on his chest to listen with fascination to the sound of his rapid and shallow, yet violent heartbeat.

His fingers laced together behind the small of Kel's back, Dom rested his chin upon the top of her head. Smiling, he slowly began to run his hands up to the peak of Kel's shoulder blades, then back down to her waist, his fingertips pressing into every crevasse.

Although she never moved her head, Kel began a similar inspection of Dom. Placing one of her hands on his chest, next to her face, Kel twisted the other up through the fine hair at the nape of his neck.

"Kel," As Dom spoke, Kel felt his breath flow across the top of her head. Laughing quietly, she snuggled even closer to him as she waited for his voice to caress her soul again.

He didn't speak though, not right then. Still holding the lady knight to him, Dom just continued to stroke her back, as her hair tickled the cheek he had laid across it.

Silence reigned supreme, but that silence warmed the air around them like a living thing. Taking passionate yet subtle comfort from just being in each others arms, time seemed suspended for both of them.

Gently, Dom moved one of his hands from Kel's waist to her chin. Responding to his touch, she lifted her head off his chest and allowed him to guide her neck into a new position.

When Dom moved his hand away, Kel found herself staring directly into his singularly stunning eyes. As she gazed into them, Kel felt a sudden and overwhelming desire swamp her entire being.

Letting it carry her away, Kel met Dom's lips with a fierce passion. As their kiss deepened, it swept Kel up in a whirlwind of emotions, carrying her into a rapturous utopia that swept away any and all trace of sorrow.

Cradling the back of Kel's neck with one hand, Dom brought his other to the side of her face. Placing her hand over his, Kel intertwined their fingers, wrapping her entire hand up in his.

Not wanting to stop for breath, Kel continued to press her lips to Dom's with a fervor matched only by him. As their kiss slowly dwindled, Kel finally pulled her lips away from his.

With only a few millimeters of space separating their mouths, Dom began to speak. "Kel, I love you," He paused, almost overcome by the feeling, "I've always loved you."

He pushed his lips against hers once again before continuing, "After that battle, I thought I would die… My grip on life was slipping fast; it was almost as though I could see the Black God coming for me."

He shook his head slightly, and Kel could feel where his hair brushed across her head, "It was you that kept me here. I felt you beside me, you made me keep fighting."

Kel kissed Dom again, "Don't ever say that! I couldn't live if you had died on me." She stroked the side of his face with her fingertip, following the contour of his cheekbone, "I love you too much."

"Besides," she said, countering his earlier statement, "I thought it was the Infinity Spell that saved you."

"By the time that monk got there, it would have been too late for me," Dom went back to embracing the small of Kel's back, "He saved me completely, but it was you that kept me close enough to this world for him to reach." He stopped, and then looked Kel full in the face, "I owe my life to you."

"Dom…" Kel fell full into his grip as he kissed her again.

OOO

As Thayet crossed her legs, the gold bangle she wore around her ankle fell into view, glowing against the simple red of her dress.

"Raoul," her voice was rich as she addressed the Knight Commander, but it was also laced with authority, "You are absolutely sure?"

"Yes Thayet, I am." Raoul reached into a pocket and pulled something out, "This is proof enough."

OOO

Now sitting on her bed, still arm in arm, Kel and Dom began to talk.

"Dom," Kel was sitting with her back against his torso, but she tilted her neck until she could see into his face, "Neal told me that Queen Thayet and Raoul went to see you last night…" Her voice trailed off as though she didn't want to finish her thought, or as though she didn't want the answer to it.

He met her eyes with a firm glance, a smile hovering about his lips, "Yeah, what about it?"

Kel drew in a long breath, "What did they want?"

"Do you really want to know?"

OOO

Solan had spent the night in deep contemplation, all his thought revolving around what he had done and what he had told Raoul.

With a sigh he said, "Whatever it is he does to me, I deserve it." He shook his head, finally admitting the truth to himself, "I've betrayed his trust too many times."

Trying to sleep with this thought on his mind, Solan had a lot of trouble getting any rest.

OOO

Kel looked up at Dom, astonishment shining in her eyes, "You're serious?"

Eyes downcast momentarily, Dom nodded in agreement, "I'm dead serious."

Gently pushing her body against Dom's, Kel told him in a stern voice, "Don't say dead, I mean it, okay?"

He laughed, "Yes, Mistress."

OOO

The healer paced in his study, Yuki by his side. "What did they want with Dom?" he shouted irately, "I want to know!"

"Neal," his wife began to tell him, "No matter what they said, you can't do anything about it." She placed a caring hand on his arm, "You can't run yourself ragged like this."

He studied her for a moment before acknowledging her words, "You're right, like usual. I'll sit for a while."

She smiled, encouraging his train of thought, "I'll get you some food."

He grinned in appreciation before adding, "Please, none of that strange Yamani stuff you gave me last time!"

All she did was laugh in response.

OOO

"You got this from him?" Incredulous, Thayet rolled the small object through her fingers, "From him?"

With grave concurrence, Raoul said, "Yeah, from him."

"This isn't good."

OOO

Joyous, Kel started to kiss Dom again, "That's wonderful!"

The smile dying on his face, Dom stopped her, "There's only one stipulation though."

There, Chapter 16! That was a fun chapter to write, actually! Okay, onto the next one, as I ask you guys to read and review this one! Of course, there's nothing new there, but that's okay. Onward we go!

Now it's time for reviewer responses:

Annmarie Aspasia: Nothing's wrong with Dom, you goose! I ended it there because it felt like a good place to stop… I don't know why, it just did. Please don't strangle me; I wouldn't be able to write anymore if you did! I reveled some of the plot this chapter, is that enough? Well anyway, thanks for still reading!

Patronus99: Thanks! You'll see, I can't tell you yet!

Alie Jnns: Thanks! I'm glad you like it, I hoped people would!

I LOVE the Irish: Thanks! I did have a good vacation, it was fun. There will be much more KD, I promise! Actually, there was some in this chapter… I hope you liked it!

horsiegurl: Thanks! I updated as quick as I could!

bookworym: Of course he's okay, he's Dom after all!

Atlanta Enchanted: Hehe, thanks! See, everything's all good with Dom, so no worries! Thanks again, I'm glad you still like!

FanFictionFantom: Short, sweet, and to the point. That was a nice review. ;D I updated, and I hope I sated some of your curiosity! And don't worry; I have quite a few plans for the alternate KN ending after I finish the main story! All for you!

Lady Angelique of mystiqu: I told you some of what's going on! Not all, but granted, I can't do that yet. I updated as soon as possible! Hope you liked this chapter!

phanogyph: Thanks! To be honest, I though it would take me at least two weeks, but I wrote some in the car. It was a six hour drive there… Yea, I liked that part too. Anytime I get together with my family, I always noticed how all the guys had to pick on one another, so I thought that part may help to show that Dom and Neal truly are related. I'm glad you like the story, and I updated as quick as I could!

laurashrub: He hasn't done anyth… Well, okay, actually he has, but it didn't get him in trouble! Lots of things are going on, but I think some of those things are going to be resolved really soon. I hope you liked this chapter, and I'll update asap!

Lady Belle of Masbolle: Thanks!I appreciate that a lot! I added fluff, because it did need it. I hope you liked!

SourJellyBeans56: I had to leave it there; it seemed like a good place to stop… I fluffed this chapter up a lot more than the ones before it! Well, I tried to anyway. I hope you liked it and I hope it was enough!

Jamie lynn: Thanks! I updated asap!

Swapneshwari: Oh, thanks! I don't want my story to kill you though! I want you to live! Sorry about the suspense, it's kind of a bad habit of mine to do that. But anyway, thanks again, and I'll try!

Redneck Girl: I updated, see! Thanks!

Steelo: I know, and I'm sorry, my chapters have been kind of short lately. But I'm glad you liked it! I love your signature by the way, very cute! Thanks again!

Sull89