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We stared at each other for a long while. I was pinned against the wall by his body and our breaths mingled once they left our mouths. The room was silent except for our breathing. Jason stood still behind Youko, his eyes wide. I felt bad for him. He was caught between two people he loved. He loved Youko, I knew this, because of Youko's power and divine ability at thieving for he himself was thief. He loved me not only as a princess, but as a woman. I had always known that and I had always thought of it as a distraction, but now it was a commitment.

Jason cleared his throat. "My…" He didn't know who to talk to. Me or Youko.

"Yes?" Youko asked.

"It is dusk. It is time for the dinner."

"So it is. Go downstairs and tell them I will be late as well as Princess Guinevere."

I cocked my head. How had he found out my name? He raised his eyebrows in a cocky way. I didn't want to know how he found out my name. Jason bowed and left quickly.

Kurama grabbed my necklace. "This thing is evil, Guinevere! It predicts the future to anyone who wears it. Take it off and give it to me."

I was taken back. His outburst scared and angered me greatly. "What does it say?"

"I tell you it is evil and you still want to know what it says," he shook his head. "You are a thief."

"Just tell me what it says damn it," I snapped.

He sighed and leaned against the wall next to me. "Destined to betray her King and be betrayed herself."

I gasped. "So that means that I betray either you or my father and in turn be betrayed by one of you?"

He nodded. "That's how my mother died. She betrayed my father by conspiring against him and…she was betrayed and killed."

We were walking up the stairs now; everyone was eating so the halls were quiet and private.

"Why did she conspire against him?"

He shrugged. "Who knows, but at the time my father was slaughtering those who went against him. Your family's tribe was one of them."

I thought a moment. "So your mother conspired with someone from my family, most likely my grandfather, but she was betrayed by someone else and died. Who was she betrayed by?"

His eyes went cold and narrowed. "Me."

I stopped. He betrayed his own mother. Did that mean he killed her?

"You killed your own mother? Why?"

"She betrayed my father and in turn betrayed herself," he spat bitterly, "Just like the pendant said."

I gripped it. "So will I then."

"Exactly why I want it," he growled and stopped at my door.

I looked at him. He was different than other princes or kings or whatever he was. He knew the past and present. He spoke politically and yet personally. I had judged him too quickly, but I did not underestimate him. He could betray me just as well.

I smiled weakly and opened the door.

"I'll meet you back here in five minutes, Princess."

He was punctual. Five minutes later, he knocked on my door. I opened it and was shocked at how good looking he was. My eyes lowered and I felt a light blush cross my face. God I hated this!

"You look nice," he complimented.

I curtsied. "As do you."

"Must you be so formal," he teased.

"Must you make me be," I teased back.

He took my arm and led me down the stairs. The dinner hall was filled to capacity and smelled delicious. Thieves ate to their fill with no manners what so ever, as I had predicted. Kurama led me to a seat and he pulled the chair out for me.

I raised an eyebrow. "Formal, aren't we?"

"To please you, I must be," he whispered as I sat down. I shivered.

He smiled and sat next to me. My stomach grumbled as I stared at all the food. Smoked fish, cooked fowl, and plenty of vegetation to feed a whole kingdom. My mouth watered and I remembered how long it was since I had last eaten. A servant poured me a glass of red wine and Youko a glass as well. I wondered if Youko had ever gotten drunk. I didn't want to find out. I sipped the wine and a luscious sweet taste filled my mouth. This was the most delicious wine I had ever tasted. Better than the wine they served at birthday celebrations.

Youko smiled at me. "Delicious, isn't it?"

I nodded. "Why must I be here?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Is the princess whining?"

"I whine occasionally when I don't want to be somewhere and besides, why do I have to eat? You are just going to kill me anyway, right?"

He looked at me strangely. "Perhaps, but I find that torturing is much more delightful than killing you."

I resisted the urge to slap him. He was enjoying seeing me be tortured by his own people. Oh! He was a bastard for sure.

"Why do you enjoy seeing people be tortured than killing them?"

"By killing them, you end their suffering. By torturing them, you prolong it which makes it much more delightful."

I smiled weakly. "Guess I'll be here for awhile."

Just then Akit came up to me. "Care to join me for a dance?"

I hadn't even noticed that some of the thieves were dancing. I looked at Kurama for some bizarre reason. He narrowed his eyes at Akit, but said nothing.

"Why not? I might as well have some fun," I said and took his hand. He led me to the dance floor with people staring at us. Some sniggered and shouted, but most just stared.

"You look beautiful," he complimented, pulling me closer to him. I was stiff and tense, ready to fight him if I needed too.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

"The events that happened earlier do not help you at all, I hope you know." Despite myself, I rested my head against his shoulder.

"For the record, I would never have fought you if everyone else wasn't there. You really know how to throw a punch or a kick. I can't remember what you did to me."

I smiled. "Would you really have done that to me if I hadn't fought you?"

He was silent as we twirled slowly around in the tune of a violin and a harp. The music was slow and dreamy and I relaxed a bit. He wouldn't do anything to me if Kurama was here. At least I hoped not.

"No," he said softly, "At first I didn't know who you were, but Nika had paid me to do it so I did, but when I saw you, I knew I would never be able to. Your beauty astounded me and I was stunned for a moment. I had never seen a more beautiful fox demon in my entire life. I acted like a jerk to you and tried to at least get you up to my room that way it would seem like I would do it, but you fought back and everything changed."

I sighed. "I'm sorry if I hurt you before, but I had to do it."

He laughed. "I know. I would have done it to if I were you. Most women would just give in instead of fight because they know we are the stronger species."

I pinched him hard and he whined.

"I said most women and it is true, no matter how degrading it is to women. We are the stronger species, that's how we were made."

I stepped way from him and glared at him. "You keep saying that. Why is it so hard to just say it once and only once?"

He winced. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth."

"I know it is and yet you keep repeating it. Do you think of me as a woman who has to be told something more than once to understand it? Am I one of those women that let the male species roll over me like I am dirt of a road? Is that what you think of me?"

A few thieves nearby were staring at us. I ignored them I really wanted to know what he thought of me. I stared at him hard before he spoke. "Not at all."

I folded my arms across my chest. "Then what do you think of me?"

He looked down and color came to his cheeks. "I'd rather not say."

"Tell me."

"And you accuse me of torturing people," Youko purred into my ear.

I turned to him. "Excuse me if I felt pressured."

He laughed and took my hand. "Let's dance, princess."

I had no choice and he pulled me close and twirled me around. He controlled my every movement before I could decline it. I hated him. The music was quick and adrenaline pulsed through me. I wanted to do something, but what?

"Feeling edgy?" he asked as he pulled me close. The music had simmered down and it was now a slow quit rhythm.

I rested my head against his hard muscled body. "When did you first get married?"

He became tense. I didn't know why I asked it. I just felt myself saying it before I could stop myself. Words were spilling out of my mouth it seemed.

"Nika was my first marriage," he said coldly.

"How old where you?"

"Same age as you," he said, "give or take."

My hands went around his neck and his around my waist. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I doing this? I despised this person. I had many reasons to and yet here I was dancing with him, my hands around his neck and his arms around my waist. And then it hit me. Today was my sixteenth birthday. That explained a few things. The huge feast and the way Kurama was acting towards me. He knew it was! But how? And then I remembered Jason. No doubt he told him. Me being sixteen and all meant that I was able to be married. To anyone! Anywhere and anyway. I began to cry then. Not hysterically, but the tears still fell silently down my cheeks. I couldn't stop and I began to shake. I was terrified of the idea of marriage and even more terrified that I was in a room full of thieves.

"What's wrong?" Kurama asked me, leading me to a corner.

"Nothing…..I'm fine."

His eyes were level with mine. "Princess, what's wrong?"

Jason came behind him. "May I say something?"

I saw Kurama's eyes flash with anger, but he nodded.

"Perhaps the Princess is crying because today is the day she turns sixteen and she wasn't able to spend the day with her family." A efficient lie.

I lowered my eyes. I hated that he knew me so well and yet I enjoyed it. At least I had one ally here.

"Is this true?" Youko asked me, lifting my chin.

I nodded. I couldn't tell him the real reason.

He smiled. "Come with me for a moment," he said and led me outside.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Curiosity killed the cat," he chided.

"Well I'm not a cat now am I?" I shot back.

He laughed. We came to a meadow lighted by the moon. The grass was long and soft and tickled my skin. I walked into the middle and looked behind me. Kurama was walking up to me slowly. He was staring at me as the breezed ruffled his long hair as well as my own.

I laughed out loud for no reason except that I was finally alone. I could do whatever I wanted too and not be criticized for it. I spread my arms out. This was freedom! I spun around in circles until I feel on my back. Kurama stared down at me as I laughed.

"Happy?"

I laughed as the grass tickled my face. "Yes. thank you, Youko. This was exactly what I needed."

He sat down next to me. "I haven't been out here in awhile. Nika prefers to stay inside and be pampered. She hates the outdoors."

"Why did you marry her then?" I nearly spat.

He looked at me. "She was a sweet child and my village had scarred for life. I took pity on her and took her in. Eventually, I came to love her in my own way."

"Oh….marriage doesn't seem like all it's made out to be."

"Why do you say that, princess?"

"Stop calling me that," I snapped. "My name is Guinevere."

"Why do you say that, Guinevere?"

"My parents married for political reasons and you married out of pity. My maid married because, well, she just had to. Isn't marriage supposed to be for love and honor?"

"Yes, but not all of us can have that now can we?"

I looked at him. "Why not?"

"Just the way life is," he shrugged. "Can't really pick the way things happen. They just do."

"I wish I could marry someone who loved me for me, you know?"

"Yes, I know, but being apart of royalty, your chances for that are slim to none."

"I know, but I can dream, can't I?"

"Yes, you can," he laughed.

"Kurama."

"Hmm?"

"I want to stay here."


Who say that coming? Well, keep reading and please review! Thanks so much!!