Chapter 10

Raw healed Cain's cracked rib and other injuries then he and Glitch went to get the truck and horses while Jeb finished tying the LongCoats. Cain picked up his gunbelt and duster and put them back on then he and DG sat on the couch in the living room both trying to reassure the other that they were there together. If it hadn't been such a stressful time for his father Jeb might have been yelling for some help but he just let his father have this time with his Princess.

Finally it was time to go. DG cast a Stunning spell over the LongCoats and Zero as they were loaded in the truck. Glitch and Raw climbed in the front seat as Jeb mounted his horse. Cain helped DG mount up then climbed up behind her, placing his hat back on his head. The trip home was quiet, with DG and Cain just enjoying the nearness of the other. Cain also took the opportunity to catch DG up on the whole Soulbond thing.

Azkadellia was looking out her window when she saw them approach. She bolted from her room yelling, "Mother, Father, They are back!! DG is home!!!" They all made it to the entrance hall as Cain brought DG in. Az ran and gathered her sister in her arms. "Oh, Deeg, I'm so glad you are safe."

Hugging her sister tight DG said, "Me too, AZ. I'm so glad to be home. Az, there is something we need to do later. We need to try to heal Zero's mind. If we can fix the damage the witch caused then maybe we won't have to kill him."

"We'll try, Deeg."

"Thanks, Az." Next to hug DG was her mother and father. Both said that they were glad that she was at home safe and sound. Then they all heard a door close and they all looked up. Lord Arom from the Southern Boarder Zone had entered the hall.

He made his way toward the Royals and their friends quickly. "Princess, I am so happy to see that you are safe!" He moved to take her hand but Cain, still on edge from the fight with Zero stepped in front of DG.

"Don't touch her!" he snapped.

The young Noble did not take that lightly. "I do not think that you realize to whom you are speaking, Tin Man."

Cain's eyes narrowed. "I know exactly who I'm talking to. I'm talking to the idiot trying to come between me and my Soulbonded."

The Noble looked at the others gathered in the hall; none of them looked shocked at what Cain had revealed. "A Soulbond? There hasn't been a Soulbonded pair in the O.Z. for over 80 years. This can't be."

The Queen stepped in before Cain could take it further. "Lord Arom, I believe that they are Soulbonded. And as that is the case there is nothing that you can do. My daughter will be much better off with Mr. Cain than anyone I could have introduced to her. I am sorry that you made the journey but you know how rare and special a Soulbonded pair is."

Lord Arom sighed, "Yes I do know that. The kingdom will no doubt benefit from having the two of you as Queen and Consort. I give you my congratulations. Majesty, with your permission I will leave for my home first thing in the morning."

The Queen dismissed him and he left for the guest quarters he was using. She turned to Cain and DG. I take it you two have discovered more of your bond." They nodded. "Good. We will talk about it in the morning for now though we should all get some rest." Everyone agreed.

Cain turned to Jeb. "Do you need help getting them to the holding cells?"

Jeb shook his head, "No, Dad, you go get some rest, the guards and I can handle them."

"Thank you, Son" Cain took DG's hand and together they walked to her room.

Once they got inside he closed and locked the door. He turned to her and looked in her bright blue eyes, seeing the love she had for him there. "I could have lost you tonight, DG. I don't know what would have happened if I did. I don't think I would have survived." He gathered her in his arms holding her tight and placing a kiss on the top of her head.

DG pushed him back enough so that she could look into his eyes. "Well I'm fine and we're together. I love you, Wyatt."

He lifted his hand to caress her cheek reveling in the warmth and softness of her.

--So perfect--

He heard her giggle and she tried to look away. "What is it?"

"You think I'm perfect." She smiled.

"You heard that?"

"Yeah."

"This is going to take some getting used to." He looked down into her shining blue eyes and slowly leaned in to kiss her.

--You know, this connection could come in handy though.--

Cain pulled DG closer against his body as he continued to kiss her. Teasing little kisses followed by longer more sensuous ones. His tongue teased her lips asking permission to enter. Her mouth opened slightly and he seized the opportunity to plunge inside, tasting and exploring every inch. She tasted like nothing else he had ever experienced and he knew that he would never find such sweetness anywhere else.

DG moaned. She was on fire for this man, her Tin Man. Their tongues dueled for control of the kiss finally she relented allowing him to explore at his pleasure. Somehow she knew that no other man would affect her like Cain. She was his and his alone.

They could feel their bond growing as they started to feel everything that the other was feeling. Love, devotion, protectiveness, desire all shared. DG could think of nothing but this man. She pushed his hat on to the floor and ran her hands through his short soft blonde hair. As he kissed his way down her neck she slid her hands down to his shoulders and pushed his duster off on the floor to join his hat.

--Wyatt, the gunbelt has got to go.--

"Mmm," was the only verbal response he gave.

--Unbuckle it and let it fall.--

She did and it landed with a thud on her floor. He knew that this was going to far, he needed to stop but her hands flew to open the buttons of his leather vest and pushed it off to join the other things on the floor. His hands moved from their place on her waist up her back searching for the fastenings of her dress.

--Damn buttons.--

DG giggled against Cain's neck where she was kissing and sucking on the pulse point there. She slid her hand down his chest using her magick to unbutton his linen shirt.

"That's cheating," Cain commented aloud.

"Don't care," She told him.

Then someone had knocked on her door. Cain and DG froze. "Crap!" she whispered then called, "Who is it?"

"It's, Az, open up, Deeg" they heard through the door.

"Shoot. Just a sec!" DG ran her hand down Cain's chest again this time using her magick to button his shirt. She waved her hand over his clothes and they smoothed out. Another wave had his duster, vest, gunbelt and hat in a neat pile and the last wave smoothed her own clothes and hair. "Go sit down, Wyatt." DG walked to the door and opened it. "Come in, Az."

Azkadellia entered her sister's room and looked around. Cain was sitting in one of the chairs looking the same as he usually does, maybe a little more relaxed than usual. The thing that caused her to grin knowingly was that he was not wearing his leather vest. He always wears that. The hat and duster were at times optional but that vest was ever present like armor. She turned to DG with a knowing look, "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, Az, why would you say that?" DG asked.

"Well, first you are breathing a little quick, dear sister. And second…" she turned to Cain, "the vest."

"What?" Cain wished he was wearing his hat so he could have at least attempted to hide the blush that crept up his face.

"The vest," Az repeated. "Unless you are in your official uniform you always wear that vest no matter what. And if you are wondering why I noticed it's because Deeg commented on it once and I started paying attention to see if she was right. She was."

Cain looked at DG. --Will she tell? Am I looking at an early grave?--

--Oh don't be ridiculous, Wyatt, apparently we are Soulbonded. We are going to be together and they can't do anything about it. Besides, it's been a rough day.--

Az looked at them. They had just been staring at each other for a couple of minutes. "You guys are doing that Soulbond mind talk thing aren't you?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry Az." DG said sheepishly.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Deeg, you two need the practice. But you should get some sleep. Mother wants to see all of us in the library first thing in the morning."

"Ok, Az, thanks for letting us know. Good night sleep well." DG said as she ushered her sister out the door. After closing and locking the door she turned back to Cain. "I'm going to kill her."

"No it's good she came when she did. We needed to stop."

"What? Why?"

"Like it or not you are the Crowned Princess. And having you when we're not married could get me shot. I'm going to my room to go to sleep, DG." he said as he picked up his things

"You don't have to. You can stay. Like last night. I promise I'll behave," she grinned.

Cain groaned, "DG."

"Please, Wyatt, stay with me." --Please?-- DG decided to try to send all of her feelings for him through their bond to him.

Cain was hit with a wave of love, trust, safety, devotion, honor, respect and desire. He stumbled a bit with the strength of her feelings for him. "That's not fair, DG." Another wave hit him. "Stop it, Deeg. I'll stay. Ok? Go get cleaned up and changed and I'll go get cleaned up and be back soon." He watched her as she disappeared into her washroom. "That girl is going to be the death of me," he muttered as left her room and went into his to get cleaned up.

As he got back to DG's door he was face to face with her father. "Oh, hello, Your Majesty."

"Hello, Commander Cain. How are you handling this bond that you and DG have?"

"As well as can be expected I suppose. It's a little disorienting to have feelings and thoughts in my head that aren't mine. I imagine that with some practice we'll get it under control."

"Good. She's a very special girl."

Cain's expression softened. "Yes, she is." Cain mentally shook himself as he realized that Ahamo was staring at him.

"You should get some rest, Commander."

"Yes sir. I just want to check on her one last time. Goodnight, sir."

"Goodnight, Commander." Ahamo moved on down the corridor and disappeared into his room.

Cain sighed in relief and entered DG's room. He closed and locked the door behind him and looked around for DG. He heard water and realized the she was still in the washroom.

He laid his duster and hat and gunbelt on a chair and then noticed that his linen pajamas that he had left were laid out on her bed. He took the opportunity to change. Then stood out on the balcony and allowed his thoughts to drift. He remembered the dream that haunted him the last few months he was in the suit.

In the distance he could barely make out the shape of a person. Male or female he couldn't tell. As the figure moved closer he could tell it was a woman. "Help me," she called. He tried to move but the suit was unforgiving. She was closer now he could see her long raven hair and her brilliant beautiful blue eyes. "Help me," she said again. He was focused on those blue eyes in front of the faceplate on the tin suit that imprisoned him, unable to see clearly or touch the face that held those eyes. It was torture to hear her call for help that he couldn't provide. He tried to close his eyes or look away but something wouldn't let him. "Do not look away." It said. "She needs your guidance. She needs your protection and your love." "Who are you?" he called. "Who is she? Why does she need my help?" The voice was fading but said one last thing to him, "You will know her when you meet her." The voice and the girl vanished.

"You're projecting, Wyatt." DG's voice startled him back to the present.

"You saw that, huh?" he asked as he turned around to take her in his arms. The flannel of her pajamas was soft under his hands. "That dream haunted me for months before you came and let me out of that suit. And when I got a really good look at you I knew you were the woman in my dream. The one I had to help."

"So that's why you changed your mind?"

"Yes, and then you saw what happened when I tried to turn away from you in Central City. I ended up right back with you. I'm just sorry that I didn't run with you at the Northern Palace."

"It's probably good that you didn't. I mean it sucks that you got shot out a window into the frozen lake but if you had been with me then we both would have been in a cell in the tower. That's the past now. Besides I got my first hug from you when you and Glitch came after me. Thanks for coming after me."

"I'll always come for you."

DG grinned wickedly, "I know you will… But for now I promised to behave and sleep."

As he led her to her bed and they climbed in he said, "I don't think I'll ever understand you."

DG snuggled into Cain's side and sighed, "That's the idea. Goodnight, Wyatt."

Cain kissed the top of her head, "Goodnight, my Princess."