Warning: This chapter includes one usage of the F-word. I tried really hard to avoid it, but I'm pretty sure it would be the only word strong enough that would come to mind in the situation.

After reviewing my previous chapters, I saw that how I was denoting POV changes was not transferring from MS Word to the website, so I went through and fixed them all. Hope it makes it easier to read.

CHAPTER 5

Her door was gone. She blinked twice just to be sure she wasn't imagining it. No, it was really gone. She stepped through into the bedroom to find Jeb Cain standing there, marking on a clipboard.

"What is going on?" she asked. "Where is my door?"

Jeb looked up and gave her a quick nod of respect. "Your Highness. I'm boarding up the door and reinforcing it with a metal sheet."

She stared back in disbelief. "What? How will I get in and out?"

He pointed at the door on the wall to her right. "That leads to the sitting room, right?"

"Well yes, but –"

"And the sitting room has a door to the hall?"

"Yes, but I never use it."

He looked back down at the clipboard. "You do now."

She could not believe what she was hearing. "What difference does it make whether I use this door or that one?"

"This one," he indicated the empty doorway, "Gives anyone in the hallway direct access to you. That one," he pointed to the door to the sitting room, "Makes them come through me first."

"Through you?"

"Yeah, I'll be staying in the sitting room. Don't worry, you won't know I'm there."

This is not happening, she thought, right before she saw her nightgown hanging up next to her bed where she'd put it that morning. Face turning a furious shade of red, she stalked over, snatched it off the hook, and placed it back in her closet.

"You could have at least warned me you were coming so anyone passing by didn't get a full view of my undergarments!"

He glanced back at her briefly. "Sorry."

She placed her hands on her hips in indignation. Over Jeb's shoulder, she could now see a blueprint of her quarters on the clipboard. "Any other remodeling I should know about?"

"I'm cementing your bathroom window closed. Oh, and I'm putting a lock and deadbolt on the hall door to the sitting room. Your father, my father and I will have keys to it. You, your mother, and DG will be able to open it with your magic. Other than that…you don't have a balcony, so that's not a problem. Yep, that's it."

She let out an annoyed growl before grabbing the playing cards DG had left on her bed and storming out in search of her sister.

"Well what did you expect?" DG asked as she shuffled the cards. "He's supposed to keep you safe."

"I don't know, ask first? He just went in and took my door off!"

"Relax, Az. It's for the best and you know it." She dealt the cards. "You go first."

She wasn't surprised to find Jeb leaning against the wall, arms crossed, when she stepped out of DG's quarters. Choosing to ignore him, she continued on toward her room. He followed silently, a few paces behind her. The thought suddenly occurred to her that the rest of her life might be very much like this: being shadowed by her bodyguard. How would Jeb feel about that? Probably awful. He never would have volunteered for this. I bet he hates it already. That idea made her feel bad about being cross with him earlier. She passed her former doorway without a second glance and entered her sitting room with a wave of her hand over the lock.

He hadn't rearranged any of the furniture. The only trace of his presence was his bedroll and a small bag in the far corner. She turned to face him as he stood under the doorframe.

"Were you planning to sleep on the floor?"

He appeared confused. "Yes, ma'am."

She looked over her shoulder at the three sofas in the room, then back at him. "You can have one of the sofas, I don't ever use them."

"That's mighty kind, Princess, but I don't think –"

"No, really. I – I'd feel better, I think."

Now he looked really puzzled. Clearly unsure of what to do, he gave in. "All right."

What was she supposed to do now? Say goodnight? She wished she'd asked DG more questions about this whole security detail business.

"Okay, umm…good night." She stammered.

"Good night, Your Highness."

Ugh, she thought as she closed her bedroom door. Now he thinks you're a complete mental case.

There would be no sneaking out to the garden, she realized. At least not until she figured out how to rappel out her window down the side of the palace without Jeb or Wyatt finding out. She changed into her nightshift and climbed into bed. Thankfully, she'd remembered to bring the novel from the library. She read until the fatigue from so little sleep overtook her.

--

Maybe princesses are just weird. Jeb was thoroughly perplexed as he rolled out his sleeping bag on the sofa closest to the hall door. He hadn't been excited about this assignment, but it was his job, and he was going to do it to the best of his ability. Nothing would happen to her on his watch. But in the span of a few hours, she'd been pissed at him, then she ignored him, and then she'd seemed concerned about his comfort.

He took off his jacket and boots and set his revolver and knife within easy reach before settling in. This was going to be interesting.

He woke during the night to a sound. The sound of a struggle. In the princess's room. The mere seconds it took to get to her door felt like hours.

Fuck! It's my first day and someone gets right by me! I have to be the worst damn guard ever –

But when he burst into her room and turned on the lights, there was no intruder. Azkadellia seemed to be in the middle of a terrible nightmare. She thrashed around, strands of long dark hair sticking to her sweaty forehead.

Unsure of the proper way to wake a princess, he stepped toward her bed. "Your Highness?" He inched closer. "Princess?" Finally he took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. "Azkadellia!"

She came out of it violently, grasping tightly to his arm and sitting straight up. As she recognized her surroundings her breathing slowed. After a few seconds, she realized he was there and quickly released his arm.

"Oh goodness, Jeb. I'm so sorry." Her eyes were still wide with panic.

"Are you all right?" he asked her.

She took a deep breath. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm so sorry I disturbed you." She looked down at her hands. "I – I wasn't saying anything, was I?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Good. I'm very sorry I woke you. I feel terrible."

He knew she was dismissing him, but she was still shaken and he'd feel bad leaving her alone like that. "Is there…anything I can do for you? A cup of tea or something?" When she didn't respond, he continued. "Do you want to walk around? That's what I do when I can't sleep."

She looked up at that suggestion. Leaving no time for her to talk herself out of it, he said, "I'll get my coat."

She walked next to him this time, not in front of him, but he was still letting her lead. He was not at all surprised when they reached the door to the garden.

She pulled off the hood of her cloak and breathed in the fresh outdoor air. It was a crisp evening, and he was glad for his jacket. Azkadellia meandered down the dirt paths, sometimes stopping to touch leaves or petals. After several minutes, she broke the silence.

"Do you know much about plants, Jeb?"

"No, ma'am. I used to help my mother with gardening, but I was just as likely to pull up a flower as a weed."

She smiled slightly. "I loved flowers when I was a child. I knew all their names, where they grew, and in what colors."

His eyes fell on some odd-looking stalks on his right. "What are those?"

She turned and looked. "Day lilies."

He frowned. "They don't look like lilies."

He could hear the smile in her voice as she explained. "They're day lilies because they open up during the day." As she spoke, she opened her hand in front of one, and he watch in wonder as light shone from her hand and the long petals unfolded. A vivid pink and orange bloom stared back at him. It was like she was sharing a little secret with him.

"Wow." Was all he could say.

She closed her hand. The light disappeared and the lily retreated back into itself. Stepping back onto the path, she spoke over her shoulder to him. "That particular variety occurs naturally in the far Eastern Guild."

Jeb began to regret how he'd acted earlier in the day. He could have at least told her before about the modifications to her quarters. He hurried to catch up with her while she continued down the path.

"Listen, Your Highness, about this afternoon –"

She looked over at him. "Don't apologize, Jeb. You were just doing your job. I overreacted. I'm sorry."

That hadn't really been what he was expecting. "You were right, though. I should have informed you ahead of time. It won't happen again."

Apparently that hadn't really been what she was expecting either.

"Then how about you accept my apology and I accept yours."

He nodded. "All right."

Jeb spent the remainder of their small trek wondering when, in the course of a single day, this had stopped feeling like a duty only. Why was he genuinely concerned for her well-being, not just physical? His father was like that with DG, but the two of them were friends. Was he becoming friends with this princess? Was that normal? He thought not, but then again, he wouldn't consider DG or Azkadellia normal. Maybe that's just how things needed to be with them. Either way, this job would certainly not be dull.

Thanks to my reviewers! As always, reviews and concrit and appreciated!