The prince…

"You seem distracted." A voice pointed out lightly as Connor leaned against the railing of his ship, feeling the slight sway of the vessel as it moved through the water while calming his nerves with its essence. Ahhhh, the sea! Connor turned just enough to catch a glimpse of Haden—a nobleman, fellow soldier, and friend. They had played together since boyhood, in days when fighting with wooden swords had turned eventually into true metal and real wounds. The prince shook his head.

"I'm not distracted." Connor stated simply as he looked out over at the sea again. His friend actually chuckled from beside him. Lying had never been something they did well with each other.

"Is it the girl?" Haden asked as he leaned over the railing next to the prince. Connor sighed. Maybe it was the girl or just the fact that coming home again was something he had never expected to do. His inner 'beast' also craved release. A dolphin jumped out of the water from below and turned a flip before diving back into the waves. The crew almost cheered. Dolphins were considered good luck among seafarers and with a woman on board, something considered a bad omen, the crew reveled in anything that boded well.

"There's something about the girl…she's keeping something from me." Connor answered his friend in a low tone as Haden shrugged. And that was a surprise how? None of them knew her.

"Do you think she's a threat of some kind—that maybe Lord Horton had her imprisoned for a reason?" Haden asked honestly as Connor shook his head. He knew Horton. The man didn't imprison people for good reason. He did it out of lust for fear. It was almost like he enjoyed seeing people in agony.

"No, not a danger. But there is something there…" The prince commented vaguely as he looked behind him just long enough to catch a glimpse of the gel. She was walking awkwardly across the deck, tripping slightly as she picked her way over to the opposite rail in order to peer at the water herself. It took a while for anyone to gain their sea legs, especially if it was their first time at sea, and he was amused by her awkwardness. They could have made the trip over land. There wasn't much distance between Ridgeland and Freemont, but the prince had supplies on the ship that couldn't be left behind. Haden followed his gaze.

"Well, if you ask me, the girl makes me absolutely nervous. Have you noticed that the air even seems more tense with her on board?" Haden asked as they both looked down when Bella looked up suddenly. Connor raised a brow in agreement. The air did seem different, but it seemed due more to his own powers than to her presence. Maybe his tension was rubbing off on everyone else. It had nothing to do with the girl even if her power was rather strong. She seemed to think he didn't feel 'her' power, but too much of his essence was made up of 'magic' for him not to feel hers. He just wondered how long she could keep lying to him about it. He also wondered if she knew how powerful she was or if she was just unaware of it. It was the reason he was restless. He felt downright caged. Haden looked over at him.

"I don't think I've ever seen you so…so claustrophobic. It's almost like your uncomfortable in your own skin. Do you think that you will be able to make it to shore?" Haden asked curiously as Connor peered over at him cautiously, his eyes glowing green slightly before he shut them to hide the change. Connor sighed. Only Haden and Connor's parents knew that there was more than one reason that Connor was referred to as the "Beast." And Bella was calling to his beast without her even being aware that her magic had that ability. It was disconcerting. She was young and naïve, appearing as if she had barely seen 19 or 20 turns in her lifetime. Connor, however, was almost past twenty-six and had learned to control himself better than that. He peered at Haden again once he was sure his eyes had faded back to normal.

"I have more control than that, Haden." Connor replied evenly as the other man shrugged. Control or not, the girl was getting under his skin and his friend knew it.

"She's certainly nothing liking Annabelle." Haden murmured, referring to Connor's former wife. Connor narrowed his eyes. It had been too long since her death for him to be effected by that statement, but he still cringed when he thought about her. Haden was right, other than the similarity in name, Bella seemed nothing like his late wife. The little sprite had too much temper and no feminine wiles whatsoever. It was as if she fought to be as loathsome to others as possible, as if afraid that her exotic appearance would be nothing more than a trial for her. And, despite the fact that Connor had loved Annabelle with all of his being, she had never seemed able to accept his beast. It disgusted her. Which is why Connor had learned to fight its control. He hadn't 'turned' in years. And yet now he felt it under his skin like he had the first time he realized it lurked there. It disconcerted him. Haden chuckled.

"You can deny it if you want, but if you start to howl, don't expect me to throw you a bone." His friend joked as Connor rolled his eyes. He didn't howl. Did he? Connor looked up at Bella again. Did he? She looked up then too and their gazes met. Her eyes held anger ad fury and he let his expression mirror hers. It was easier to let her anger at him infuse him with the same anger than to admit that he was disturbed by her nonchalant behavior. Besides, anger would help her keep her distance and he needed that distance.