Cain paced his room as soon as he came to. He had no idea what his princess was up to. What was she thinking? He threw up his hands in frustration.

Let's go over the facts.

One she was having nightmares that included his wife recently. Erm, ex-wife. Yeah. He glanced at his bare fingers. He took off his ring. He didn't feel an ounce of guilt. He had mourned her for 10 years.

Two she was in pain. And he wasn't there to hold her through the pain. Which was unacceptable.

Jeb knocked on his fathers door. It swung open and was met by a livid Cain.

"Dad, you're overreacting."

"Am I? Do I have the right after I find out that my princess has been in pain?"

"If you had been told, would you have come? Or left her to the likes of Robert again?"

"He died, Jeb!"

"There are others like him. I heard him boasting about what he did to her. In prison." He tried a different approach. "She needs you, Dad. I see it everyday. And you need her too."

"No, I don't." Denial.

"I've never seen you smile at anyone like you do at her since Mom died." Cain scoffed but didn't deny it. "She's in pain and I'm under orders to keep you away."

"Yeah I know."

"She's having breakfast with her parents. If you corner her, she'll have no choice but to answer your questions. You didn't hear it from me." Jeb left his father in a thoughtful silence.

Cain grabbed his hat, gun and put it in its holster. He slammed the door behind him, shaking the door frame.

She wasn't going to get away from this shit. Something was going on in that pretty heads of hers and everything be damned, he was going to figure it out.

He stormed down to the sitting room where the Gale family was having tea and breakfast. Az was in a pale purple dress and looked utterly bored. She had changed since the witch left her, she was quite nice actually. She loved her sister constantly. They were quite close when they were younger. Her mother was eyeing DG and Ahamo was basking in his wife's presence. Then Cain's eyes fell on DG. She was sitting on a cushioned chair, her hair in soft waves, pulled back lightly. She was wearing a pale green dress and he could tell she was wearing a corset. Then DG he knew would never wear a corset unless the leverage was pretty big. His eyes narrowed at her parents. What did they do?

"Morning Mr. Cain." Queen Lavender Eyes said delicately. He restrained rolling his eyes. Where did DG get her lack of delicacy from? It certainly wasn't from her mother. He looked at the younger princess, her eyes narrowed accusingly. He knew that she knew that he wanted to talk to her. He bowed to the royal couple and kissed Az's hand. He then took DG's gloved hand and pressed a kiss to her clothed hand while maintaining eye contact. They glared at each other while he released her hand.

Az shrank back in her seat at her sister and the Tin Man's heather glare, unresolved sexual tension and obvious attraction. She rolled her eyes at her parent's obliviousness.

"We need to talk, Princess." He finally caught her attention. Her eyes widened and he smirked knowing he cornered her.

"Mr. Cain," He winced at the formality. "We will speak after breakfast." She set down her tea cup and moved further back, moving her arm back so he could see her rubbing her ribs where the sorset crushed them.

"What about, darling?" Cain didnt miss DG's hand clench and Az's glare at the tea cup. Was it just him or did the tension just raise exponentially?

"Mr. Cain has returned from his vacation. He's a Tin Man at heart. He wants to make sure the security is as tight as he left it. To see hwo many I escaped." She joked at the end. Az smiled at her spirit. God knows she missed it.

"Darling, you promised." The Queen said fragily.

"I have honored that agreement." She said coldly. Cain was startled by that tone beofre but Az lowered her eyes in submission. "Mr. Cain-after the breakfast." She said in a promising tone, not looking at him. He bowed and left the room. The Guards assumed their position and he walked briskly away from the room. Jeb caught him.

"Do you see now?"

"What happened?"

"I don't know, and she won't tell me. But it was something big. She doesn't speak to her parents unless she is summoned."

"Well, shit."