Richard was not pleased.

Kahlan had been ushering him through the People's Palace, insistently tugging and making him speed up. She was right, the palace offered too many interruptions. Right as they were about to make their way through and sneak out, another one popped up. This time in the form of a maidservant. Richard was reasonably sure that the spirits were taunting him.

Guests were coming. Lord Rahl was apparently supposed to entertain a dinner between himself and the majority of leaders from the Midlands. He was told it was planned since Kahlan had arrived, but he hadn't heard of it til now. Neither had Kahlan. Zedd followed shortly behind the girl, who was cowering under Kahlan's increasingly angry glare and Richard's obvious frustration. He dismissed her and approached the two, Kahlan's hand still gripped to the bottom of his vest.

She was rather livid.

"Why is it that everywhere we go in this palace, we can't get a minute of privacy!" She was breathing heavily, gripping tighter on his vest. Richard's shoulders slumped. They weren't getting out of this situation. Especially if it was Zedd blocking the way. Cara appeared behind Zedd, and Kahlan snapped, releasing her grip on his shirt to point at the two.

"You two do not understand the meaning of privacy, do you! Every time Richard and I are alone, one of you comes barging in. You don't even knock or announce yourselves! Then you treat us like children who can't make choices for ourselves. Richard and I are leaving. Now. The dinner isn't scheduled til later in the week and our counsel isn't needed to advance forward in anything. The maidservants can show the guests their rooms. Tell them we are off finding a mate, anything. I don't really care. All I care about is getting Richard alone." She glared at them both, eyes flickering from the elder to the blonde. "Now." She snarled. Zedd opened his mouth only to have Kahlan grab his robes and shake him. His arms started flailing, attempting to get her off.

"Child, you are going to make a grave mistake!"

"The only mistake I've made was not taking him as a mate before you were able to object!" She yelled, still shaking the old man.

Richard was mildly surprised by her outburst, and amused at the same time. He started laughing. Kahlan dropped her hold on Zedd and turned to glare at him.

"It appears he doesn't want you, Mother Confessor." Cara smirked, arms crossed, agiel hanging from wrist. Richard rushed up and wrapped an arm around Kahlan's waist, holding her close and preventing her from lunging at the blonde.

"You're wrong Cara," Richard began, his voice calm and authoritative. "I want her more than I've wanted anything." Kahlan seemed to relax in his grip, her anger subsiding. Slightly.

Zedd took a step back from the two, disbelief marking his features. He didn't know what to say that he hadn't already said. Cara scoffed as she rolled her agiel in her fingers. Kahlan's breathing steadied more.

"I am going to be with this woman," he gave Kahlan's side a gentle squeeze. "Now, either the two of you are going to leave and let me willingly give my soul to her - or," his voice emphasized the word, making sure to grab their attention. Kahlan stiffed a bit in his hold. "you have two days to find a way I can be with Kahlan without repercussions." When the two opened their mouths to refute the offer, he lifted his hand, silencing them.

"Those are the options." Richard's gaze darkened as his hold on Kahlan grew tighter. "After two days, I will be hers. One way or another. Now choose." He was vaguely aware of Kahlan smiling.

"This is absurd." Cara finally said, breaking the silence. "There is no alternative. There are many women who would choose to be with you, Lord Rahl. Leave her. Choose another."

"There is no other." He hissed. Cara rolled her eyes as she sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

"And you have known this woman for what? A few weeks?" Cara eyed Kahlan suspiciously. "And now you are already making proclamations of love and being willing to lose your soul?" She gestured with her hands to Kahlan. "She hardly is worth it." Zedd nodded slightly. Richard disregarded her words.

"You have two days. You should probably start working. Now." He retracted his hand from her waist and grabbed Kahlan's hand. "Kahlan and I are going to get more acquainted."

"You have got to be joking." Cara's tone was flat, disbelieving. Zedd took a step towards them, resting a hand on Richard's shoulder.

"My boy, you just gave us two days."

"I did." Zedd eyed the two. First Richard, then Kahlan.

"Then why are you two getting more," Zedd paused. "acquainted?"

"Can we not talk?" Richard questioned, tilting his head. "I'm good on my word, Zedd. Two days. You don't have to worry about my losing my soul before then." Zedd sighed and dropped his hand from his grandson's shoulder, walking back towards Cara, who's mouth was agape and eyebrows were furrowing together. Zedd grabbed her arm as he tried to motion her away, only to have Cara jerk her arm away from him and deliver a sharp and hard glare at him.

"This is ridiculous, Lord Rahl. She will destroy you." She snapped, turning to storm away, followed by Zedd.

Richard started to walk, but was stopped when he realized Kahlan hadn't moved. He turned to face her. She was pouting.

"Two days?" She asked, eyebrows scrunching together as her bottom lip protruded out. He sighed.

"Two days."

"Two whole days?" She huffed, yanking her hand away from his and placing it on her hip. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her forward. She made no move to embrace him back.

"Kahlan-"

"You do realize what this means, don't you?" The question startled him and he shook his head.

"This means," she used her right hand to walk her fingers up his torso. "that these next two days," her hand reached up to his throat, wrapping itself behind his neck as she pulled her face up to his. "are going to be painfully slow for you."

"Just for me?" He teased, boyish grin coming onto his face. She nodded. "And why is that?" He asked, his fingers running their way up her spine.

"Because I am going to make them painfully slow." She drew out the words slowly, as if forewarning what the next two days entailed.

"And besides," she continued, jabbing a finger into his chest, "you said you'd deny me nothing. What if I wanted you right here? You'd be breaking your promise." His brows scrunched together as he slumped his head down to meet hers. She was right. He made a promise. He would much rather break a promise to Zedd and Cara than to her. All she had to do was say she wanted to at that moment and he would oblige. She smiled at her victory and laced her fingers behind his neck.

"It's a good thing," she breathed into his mouth, "that I wouldn't ask you to do such a thing. Having you as you are would be much more .. exhilarating." She looked at him through her lashes. "Let's hope Zedd comes up with something." Richard chuckled.

"What? No mention of Cara?" Kahlan started to pull away, but Richard tightened his grip and she was flush against his body.

"No." Kahlan said flatly. "She's your favorite." Her voice was sarcastic and Richard couldn't help but chuckle. She moved to hit his shoulder, with more force than usual. He winced slightly but continued laughing. Kahlan placed her hands on his chest as she pushed forward, separating the two.

"Richard!" He kept smiling as his laughter died down.

"Kahlan." He inched closer to her, picking up both her hands in his. Her glare lessened as she sighed and looked to the right. "Amnell?" Her gaze redirected back to him, frustration apparent in her eyes. She hated it when he laughed at something she found serious. First, the mark on her neck. Now, Cara supposedly being his favorite. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking in her eyes again.

"You," he leaned closer to her face, "are most definitely my favorite." Her lips bunched to the right as she she rolled her head.

"Sure, Cypher." A small smile played on her lips and he lowered his head to gather it with his own grin. When he moved away from her, her blue orbs were sparkling.

"You want to be my mate?" She asked teasingly, biting her lower lip in anticipation, even though he knew she was fully aware of the answer.

"Why, of course!" He said with mock appall. She started smiling.

"You know," She muttered, pulling him closer to her, "practice does make perfect." He laughed as he let her pull him even closer.

"Ah, but we can't practice for two days." He was now aware of how long those days were going to be. She lifted a hand between their faces and waved her finger at him.

"No, no, Lord Rahl." His eyebrow raised at her. "There are many other things we can practice that don't involve confession."

"Oh, really?"

"Most definitely." She grabbed his vest as she led him into the nearest room.