Emmett stood at the edge of the clearing, watching Anala walk to the center of the field. The black leggings and shirt molded to her body. Her hips swayed as she walked and he tore his gaze from her plump ass as images of bending her over and touching that same ass filled his head. Emmett tried to avoid quickies with Anala. He didn't have anything against them, he liked the creativity that could go into them and could appreciate the convenience, but Emmett could never just have her once. He needed his fill of Anala, taking her again and again and then once more just for good measure. His very nature demanded it. It left him frustrated and wanting and seeing her in that outfit, or any outfit really, didn't help. She looked out of place out there, among these people arming themselves against her. Anala was gentle and the farthest thing from a fighter he knew. But he knew she could hold her own if it came down to it and he was excited to see her kick ass. He had seen her kill demons after all, and the newborn fight with Victoria. But Emmett could admit it made him a bit uneasy seeing her in this situation. Zain stood next to him, arms folded across his chest, watching Toben and Kadaus circle his mate.

"Why is Nolan doing this?"

Zain shrugged. "He has his reasons."

"Doesn't this seem a bit . . . excessive?" he asked. Zain turned to him, red eyes bright. He shifted on his feet to face him slightly.

"Why do you think these people are here?" he asked. "To go up against her?"

"Well aren't they?"

"Don't get me wrong, they all want a chance to test her skill, I included. Not only is she a royal and Marked as her brother, she's powerful. But Anala rarely participates in these things. However, that isn't why they came. Anala and Nolan are siblings. They're close. How many chances will someone get to see the two most powerful Layame in existence go at it?"

They were here to watch? He looked to Nolan, who had passed out the last of the ribbons and commanded they begin.

Emmett already knew he had a bad-ass mate. That went without saying, he just never knew how good she really was. He quickly realized there was no fighting Anala. They had to catch her first. Anala was fast, as he knew. But she was small in comparison, and easily underestimated by her soft appearance, which also fooled Emmett on most days. He couldn't help it. She was his mate and he wanted to protect her. She was lower to the ground than most of the people in the field. It was easy for her to make her way around them and take the strips of fabric off them like a sneaky little pick-pocket. It was like watching a performance. Anala moved in a way he'd never before seen anyone do. Her motions were fluid and graceful and her feet moved lightly across the grass. She didn't even seem to be battling.

"She's beautiful," he murmured.

Zain chuckled. "That she is."

"I didn't even know she could move like that." He watched her and Lilith circle one another, swaying like languorous serpents.

"Anala's been dancing since before she could really walk. It gives her a good advantage."

Emmett didn't look away from her. "Dancing?"

"Yes. That's how she met Lilith. She took an interest in the dancers in the market at a young age and they offered to teach her as soon as she could stand on her feet. Lilith had only been about a year older than her. Lil's mother ran the place with her father, who was a musician."

A dancer. It made perfect sense. It would explain the graceful way she moved and walked, the fluidity and ease and that desirable way her hips swayed naturally. It was the perfect way to describe it: A Dance. Anala, the exotic performer and her opponents were animated props, emphasizing her movements, bringing attention to the way she moved through them and twirled around them. He wanted to see her dance for him, really dance for him. Zain clapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, I have to make sure my lessons haven't gone to waste."

That alone made Emmett stressed. He knew from personal experience what sort of fighter Zain was. He had sparred against him many times as he taught him to access and wield his own power, learning some new moves and a whole new meaning to ass-kicking in the process. The man was ruthless, and deadly. He growled as an axe nearly sliced Anala's throat open. Emmett's body tensed, preparing to get her out of harm's way if need be. She gained the upper hand quickly however, one smooth move and the fight was over. Yellow ribbons were quickly littering the ground and each one marked another victory closer to her leaving. The thought definitely didn't make him happy but he could see this was a separate matter. Anala had a duty, and he had to respect it. He looked over to Iliana, standing some distance away from him. He couldn't be sure, but Emmett thought the woman didn't like him, or at least didn't have any particular feeling towards him. As much as Emmett wanted to shrug it away he couldn't. That woman was important to Anala. She and Nolan never had the chance to know their parents and Azrael and Iliana were the closest thing either had to one. He wanted her to have a good impression.

But that lady was unsettling.

Eventually the fights ended. Edward and Jasper were impressed, he could see it. Edward couldn't cheat and Jasper got to test his skill against Anala, who had proved a worthy opponent in physical combat. Emmett didn't know why he had wanted to go up against Anala but he supposed it had to do with the fact he had seen his own mate's skill and wanted to test hers to compare. It had been close and in the end, Emmett wasn't sure who won. He was unbelievably proud however. That was his mate after all. The field cleared and it became eerily quiet. Nolan kicked off his shoes and took his serrated blade in his hand.

"I don't want to do this!" Anala called from the field. Her vibrant eyes flared in exasperation and reluctance. "There's no point!"

Nolan began walking into the field muttering under his breath. "Too damn bad."

Nolan loved his sister. He took care of her and would do anything for her. None of that applied anymore. Emmett had seen the man fight before. But that was before he transitioned, before he remembered what he was, that he had trained an entire lifetime with a brutal authority named Azrael. Nolan was a violent force of visceral power. Each move unleashed it onto his opponent, staggeringly deadly. He fought mercilessly, cutting down whoever faced him swiftly and coldly. Anala was the exact opposite of that. She moved like her own gifts, quiet and smooth like a shadow, capable of things even Emmett didn't know but was a borderline pacifist. Hell, she was called Dove, a symbol of peace and harmony. She hadn't even picked up a weapon and Nolan was headed towards his sweet, gentle mate with cold intent. Anala's next words made him stop.

"I won't do it."

"Oh really?"

Anala lowered and sat where she stood, crossing her legs as she gave her brother a defiant look. Nolan continued towards her. "Get up."

"No."

"Anala get the hell up!"

"No."

Zain had his arms folded over his chest and was shaking his head as he chuckled "here we go," he muttered. Iliana laughed softly. Movement to Emmett's left made him look over. Rowan stepped to his side, eyes trained on the unfolding sight before them. He wore a black cloak, similar to the one Iliana was wearing when she arrived only longer, the material brushing his lower calves. The hood was pulled up partially, obscuring the white-blonde hair that didn't fall across his brow. Another cloak was folded over his arm, the material a deep blue-black color. Their eyes met. "I see Anala is being stubborn."

Emmett smirked. "You could say that again. Where have you been?" he hadn't seen the blonde in days.

Rowan shrugged. "Around."

Nolan was standing ten feet from her now. The blade fell from his hand and he flashed forward, jumping on top of his sister, growling in annoyance. Anala pushed at him, protesting, and he was attempting to move her hands away. "Why are you being so difficult? It's not like we're fighting to the death."

"Get off!"

"Fight me!"

"No!" Anala somehow pushed him off, rolling onto him and straddling his stomach. Nolan gripped her wrists and pulled her until she fell on her side and he climbed over her again, but not before she kicked him in the shin.

"You're such a pain in the ass!" He hissed.

"I did what you asked. Get off me Nolan!" she landed a smack to his shoulder, which would've been his face if he hadn't jerked back at the last second. Emmett found himself grinning at the scene. This was pure gold. Anala and Nolan got along uncannily well. They annoyed each other every so often as siblings did but never to this extent. Nolan reared back. "Ow! You fucking bit me?!" he snarled and stood. "Fine! Fine, go." He began walking back towards them, picking up his sword. His other hand was bleeding from a crescent shaped wound.

"Little vampire," he muttered. That made Emmett laugh.

Anala stood and ran after him. She slowed at his side. "That counts as first blood."

"I'm armed." He warned.

Anala moved to where she left her boots and the crowd began to disperse, disappointed they didn't get to see a fight but otherwise amused. The only ones left were Emmett and his family, rowan and Zain, Elias, Kadaus, and Iliana. Zain and Kadaus were also pulling on cloaks and sheathing their weapons. Anala stood, shoes on and Rowan moved towards her before draping the cloak around her, pinning it at her shoulder with a simple brass brooch. She approached her brother and he kissed her cheek, earlier aggravation gone. Nolan passed her a dagger but she pushed it away. "I won't need it."

She was suddenly in front of him, emerging from a conjured shadow. Warm hands touched his jaw and Emmett lowered to capture Anala's soft mouth in a deep kiss. He held her hips and a low purr vibrated through him as her fingers slid over his scalp. She pulled back and her emerald eyes stared into his own, filled with love. She stroked his cheek and Emmett pressed his hand to her heart, feeling it thump steadily beneath his touch. Anala smiled gently at him as she stepped away to move to Rowan's side, taking his hand. Zain and Kadaus moved to stand with them.

Emmett watched the air around them ripple, and then they were gone.