LOVE CHALLENGE

Dean went completely tense a million plus thoughts speeding through his brain. Rage and terror racing neck and neck. Not the terror of this man but the terror of losing Arandi all over again.

"Don't even attempt to deny that she is here." Tobian said coolly.

"Oh she's here with me." Dean said his voice showing a sureness that he did not feel but hell would freeze over and the devil would be giving figure skating lessons before this man took Arandi from him. "Who told you she was here?"

"I'm no fool. Things just didn't seem right. So when her father disappeared I had her body exhumed, only there was no body. I knew she had been here before so I had people check and when they told me that there two women working here about the same body type and age, a few pictures and I knew. I would know that body anywhere."

"You wish you knew her body." Dean growled.

"I will soon enough." Tobian growled back fire in his eyes.

Dean smirked, the fucker thought he knew fury, he hadn't met the Winchester's yet.

"Your royalty does you no good here and you are not welcome." Dean said evenly.

Tobian smirked. "This is far from over little boy."

"I'm more man than you will ever be."

The window rolled up and the car turned and went back. Dean waited until it was out of sight then raced back to the house.

He put Winchester in the arena and ran to the house. He could hear Arandi laughing with his mom and her sister and now he had to tell her this.

Everyone knew something was wrong the second he entered the room and he just stared at Arandi wishing that they could just be left in peace.

"Dean what's wrong?" His mom asked.

"Tobian knows you're here." He said to Arandi.

Arandi leaned against the wall feeling suddenly weak and very angry.

"He was coming here to get you but I told him that he was not allowed on the property. I'm sure he's going to find a way to get here."

"We need to go now." Jade said in fear.

"No! I'm tired of running." Arandi said defiantly. "This is going to end one way or another but he will not rule my life any longer." She fell into Dean's arms as he approached her.

"What are we supposed to do?"

"I will die before I go with him."

"Don't say that."

"There is nothing left to do."

"Yes there is Arandi." Jade interrupted.

"No Jade I will not allow it." Arandi glared at her sister.

"What? What is it?"

"As Arandi's lover you have the right to challenge Tobian for her hand." Jade continued even as her sister threw fiery daggers with her eyes.

Dean wished that Jade had used another word besides lover in front of his mom.

"What do you mean like a duel?" Mary asked in disbelief.

"Things are not as primitive anymore but it can be dangerous."

"No." Arandi insisted. "It's too dangerous. Tobian is trained in everything."

"I will die before I let you go." Dean said staring into Arandi's eyes as he cupped her face.

Mary stared at them knowing she couldn't stop her son from doing what he wanted because his love and desire for the woman he held now was so intense nothing else mattered in the world. She was no fool she had seen what Arandi's absence had done to her son the first time. If it happened again she would lose him for sure so at least his way there was a stitch of hope.

"What is the challenge?" John appeared in the kitchen having heard everything from the other room.

"If Dean challenges Tobian then Tobian chooses the challenge." Jade said still ignoring the glares of her sister.

"He's going to challenge you to something he knows that you're not good at." Arandi said fearfully.

Dean smiled. "Baby he doesn't know me from Adam and I've got a few surprises in me." He hugged her tight. "I'd rather fight for you and fail than not fight at all."

Arandi nodded then. "Alright I have faith in you."

Jade took her phone out of her pocket and called Stepheno so that they could have some of their own people there when things went down.

She turned to Dean. "You have to go to wherever he is staying and challenge him face to face. He has to accept or he forfeits Arandi to you. Hopefully it will be that simple."

Dean has seen the look in Tobian's eyes and he knew that it would never be that simple.

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Dean told Arandi to stay at his house with his parents while he went with Stepheno to confront Tobian at the Grand Hotel where he was staying.

Dean stared out the window of the car not used to being driven anywhere.

"You must show no fear when you face Tobian." Stepheno said. "He thinks he's got the upper hand of things but you're young and strong you stand a great chance."

"Thank you Stepheno for everything." Dean replied.

"She deserves happiness and you give her that."

"She is everything to me."

Stepheno smiled. "As if I can't see that in your eyes or hers. She gave up a kingdom for you never take that for granted."

Dean met Stepheno's eyes in the mirror. "Trust me I won't."

Arriving at the hotel Stepheno got them past the front desk with his credentials and they headed to Tobian's room. Guards stood at the door and Stepheno stood confidently.

"Master Dean Winchester wishes company with the king."

"On what basis?"

Stepheno turned to look at Dean signaling for him to speak.

Dean stood at his full height and didn't flinch his voice rich and thick. "I'm here to challenge him for her majesty's hand."

The guard exchanged amused looks and one of them headed into the room and returned moments later motioning for Dean to enter the room.

Dean entered the extravagant room which had more guards and Tobian stood with two glasses of golden liquid.

He offered one to Dean and Stepheno gave him a slight nod to take the offering.

Dean took the glass and waited for Tobian to drink his before he drank. Whatever the drink was it was strong but really tasteful and Dean let it burn smoothly down his throat without as much as a flinch.

He wasn't a heavy drinker but he'd had his share of stolen drinks from his parents stash.

Tobian looked impressed and grinned smugly. "So you are here to challenge me?"

"Yes."

"If I don't accept then I give up Arandi's hand." Tobian did the whole act as if he was actually thinking about doing just that but then he smiled. "I accept and I think I want an interesting variety for this challenge."

Dean looked at Stepheno who looked worried but said nothing.

"Three days from today we will meet at Winchester Haven and have a mixed martial arts fight, no referee and last man standing type of fight."

Dean sighed thinking he just might be able to get by that challenge with his bulk and speed.

"Then if you are able to stand we will have our own athletic event just not so difficult with a swim across that impressive lake, followed by a three mile run, then some target shooting, and then a horse race around the entire length of your property." Tobian said his stance sure that Dean didn't stand a chance at any of the challenges.

Dean remained calm as he stared at Tobian and though Tobian was older and regal Dean was still just slightly taller. He extended his hand to shake to accept the challenge.

Tobian stared at his hand for a second before taking it in a strong grasp and shaking. "Do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into Mr. Winchester?"

Dean tightened his grip just a bit as the corner of his lip curled slightly his green eyes sparkling. "I'm a Texan and a Winchester through and through your highness maybe it is you that should be wondering what you have gotten yourself into."

With that he turned and walked out the door.

Tobian gave a slight chuckle as he watched the young man walk away with extreme confidence and he thought this was going to be more interesting than he had first assumed.

TBC

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Thanks for reading!