AN. Hey! Thanks for all your reviews, I'm so glad you like it. So here's chapter three, hope you like this one too.

Valkyrie's POV

We finish our dinner and we are about to have our dessert. The maid puts in front of us a delicious looking sponge cake with fruit and cream on the side. I eat it slowly, savouring the taste. Afterwards we move into the parlour, sitting on exquisite chairs around the fireplace, the heat of the fire is on my face. I feel someone's eyes on me and look beside me to see Skulduggery staring at me. He leans closer whispering, "Would you like to go for a walk Valkyrie?"

I smile and look around and see no one paying attention to us. I nod and whisper back, "That would be lovely." He smiles back and offers me his arm. I take it and we leave the room, he leads me outside into a garden. I can't see much as it's dark out but from I can see it's beautiful. There are flowers, hedges cut into the shape of animals and many trees

"This is my favourite place to be, especially at night," Skulduggery says quietly, looking up at the sky. I look up too and see a sky full of twinkling stars.

I gasp, "They're beautiful." From the side of my eyes I see Skulduggery smile down at me. I look at him and smile. "if you don't mind me asking, Skulduggery… how old are you?"

He chuckles, "I don't mind at all. I am nineteen. And not to be rude but may I know your age? You couldn't possibly be any older than I."

"I am eighteen. Are Time and Lightning older than you? They seem to be."

We continue walking around, he nods, "Yes, they are twenty-one. Time is two minutes older than Lightning. Do you have siblings?"

Just as I'm about to tell him about Alice I stop myself, I can't tell him about her, "No, I am an only child. I would like to have siblings though, it seems interesting." I giggle and he chuckles.

"It can be challenging sometimes, especially when it comes to beautiful women like yourself. Lightning seems to take a liking to you." I feel my cheeks go red.

"If you mean he has feelings for me then im sorry to say I don't feel the same, I hope I don't hurt him, I'd very much like to be friends with him."

"He can handle it I'm sure," he seems to hesitate but then says gently, "but I can't. do I have to worry about rejection?" he turns to face me and takes my hand in his.

I shake my head and smile at him, surprising myself, "No, you have nothing to worry about." I know I love Skulduggery, since before I came here, but should I really be doing this?

He smiles back at me, "Valkyrie, would you like to go on a picnic with me tomorrow?"

"I would love to."

"Excellent. Shall I escort you to your room?"

"Yes, please."

As we make our way to the house I hear a rustling, I look around, "Are you alright?" Skulduggery looks at me with slight concern.

"I thought I heard something. I probably just imagined it." He looks around for a moment and we continue walking into the house.

We arrive at my room and Skulduggery breaks the silence, "Ah you are just across the hall from me." He points to his room directly across from mine. I smile, I feel safer knowing this. "if you need anything, you are always welcome to come and ask me."

I nod, smiling, "Thank you Skulduggery." I hesitate and kiss his cheek, resulting in my heart racing. When I pull back I see his smile has widen.

I open the door and step in, "Goodnight Skulduggery."

"Goodnight Valkyrie." I close the door slowly.

Skulduggery's POV

I go into my room and fall on the bed. I lay there in darkness, my thoughts never leaving Valkyrie. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever met. She smart, kind, caring. I love her, there's no doubt about it. I realise I'm smiling as I think about her then it drops. I've noticed Lightning's feelings towards her, and when it comes to getting what he wants, he does whatever he can to get it. No matter what the cost. I grow worried thinking of what he might do.

I cannot and will not let her go.

It is not an option.

I sigh and get ready for bed. I fall asleep with a smile on my face and dream of Valkyrie.

Valkyrie's POV

I lit the candles in my room and not long later a maid comes and helps me undress. I get into a nightgown. It's then I hear a knock on my door. I put on my silk robe and open the door to see Lightning, "Hello Lightning." I smile and he returns it.

"Hello Valkyrie." His face goes serious, "May I come in, I'd like to talk to you."

"Of course," I move aside, when he's inside I close the door.

"Valkyrie, I have noticed how you and Skulduggery look at each other," I hear the note of jealousy in his voice, "and I would just like to say, be careful. I'd hate to see you get hurt. You see Skulduggery has been known to have many… relationships with women. He'd have his way with them and leave them. So please, be careful."

I'm shocked at this. That doesn't sound like Skulduggery.

I nod, "I will, thank you Lightning."

We say our goodnights and he leaves. I stay up for hours thinking about what he said. I can't believe it. I just can't. I blow out the candles and get into bed.

I lay for another hour and I decide I'll confront Skulduggery tomorrow. I sigh and fall asleep, dreaming of Skulduggery.

AN. So there's chapter 3! I hope you liked it. Please R&R. Until next time