I stood in front of the fire watching the low flames while he finished his bath, feeling perfectly warm now. The flames were not sufficient to warm up the room, but I did not need them anymore. A little, private fire seemed to be burning inside of me ever since he came back, its flames consuming, unextinguishable.

I let the damp blanket drop to the nest of furs on the floor, revelling in the heat spreading through my body.

Suddenly, he stood close behind me, warm and scented from the bath.

Don't think, just don't think, I told myself.

I closed my eyes and drew a deep, shaky breath as he wrapped one of his arms around my waist, drawing me closer. So close that the muscles of his chest pressed firmly against my back, shaping around my body, filling all gaps, leaving no space between us.

I felt his bare flesh through the thin fabric of my shirt, and my knees trembled, leaving me no choice but to lean into him. He held me tight, as he ran his other hand across my cheek, letting it fall to my neck, travelling lightly down my arm, leaving a trail of gooseflesh in its wake, and finally coming to rest on my hip.

I let my head fall back against his shoulder as his lips dropped a line of featherlight kisses along the column of my neck, then, following the trail of his hand, along my collarbone.

"Samara... " he whispered, his voice hoarse.

"No. Not now," I whispered back, not wanting to think about anything.

This was not the right moment for words or thoughts. Or memories. I was doing so much better without any of them for the moment. The only thing I cared about was the here and the now.

I brought my hand to his arm wrapped around my waist and added, not quite trusting my voice, "Whatever it is, you can tell me later."

Then we were next to his bed, so fast I didn't notice how we got there, my heart pounding in my throat, my shirt pooling at my feet. His lips were suddenly on mine, asking, claiming... The coolness of the sheets against the backs of my knees made me shiver. The feeling was so pleasantly unexpected on my bare skin, an intense contrast to his unusually warm hands, making my skin burn wherever they touched me, like a lick of flame.

Lacing my fingers through his still damp hair, I pulled him nearer, making him follow me, never breaking the kiss as he lowered me on the bed. I let my other hand travel around the expanse of his body, wandering, rediscovering, exploring, remembering... allowing him to do the same in his turn.

"Don't ever leave me again, promise me... " I whispered, much later, when I could spare enough breath to talk.

"I love you, Samara," he whispered back, gathering me into him, making my head rest on his shoulder.

That's not what I asked, I thought, my mind too tired to protest, too distracted by his hand caressing my hair, my own arm resting on his chest, not sure anymore what it was that I asked exactly.

I was drifting off to sleep, cocooned in his embrace, lulled by the erratic beat of his heart when his whispered words reached me one more time, "It's been a hell, all those days without you."

"I love you, too," I whispered, my voice trailing off, even as I realised that he had been only speaking to himself, the thought confirmed by his soft laughter as he pulled the blankets higher around me, covering me up to my chin.

I woke up in the heart of the night, afraid not to find him by my side, thinking that he would be gone again, that the previous night had only been a dream. But he was there, cuddled next to me, his front to my back, one arm wrapped around my body, sleeping... Sleeping! I had never seen him asleep since I came back here.

I didn't want to wake him, but I couldn't resist the urge to turn around and look at his sleeping face. The fire on the hearth had turned into a weak glow, but it was still strong enough to illuminate his features with its pulsating light, chasing away the deepest darkness of the night.

He looked so peaceful, untroubled, and happy.
His long lashes cast faint, moving shadows on his cheeks, and a strand of hair fell over his face.

I felt my heart swell with joy at the sight. If only he could always look like this, I thought as I drifted off to sleep again, after snuggling closer into him, so close that he wouldn't be able to move, to leave, without waking me up.

When I woke up again, it was to Vlad whispering my name in my ear, his cool breath landing on my skin, making me shiver. I opened my eyes to meet his, looking at me, taking me in... Seeing the memory of our previous night in his green gaze as he watched me made me feel suddenly shy, I couldn't stop the blush creeping in my face.

Vlad smiled as he caressed, then kissed my flushed cheek before standing up, already dressed and ready for the day.

"I must go," he announced, scattering my thoughts into panic.

"No, you don't!" I blurted out, sitting up on the bed. I reconsidered my words, realising immediately that His Highness could not, most probably, afford to spend a whole day in bed, and tried again, "Where?"

"I'm not leaving," he said, smiling, coming back to sit down next to me, punctuating his words with another kiss. "I must meet Ioan, he should be arriving soon. He is bringing... someone... we need to look after."

"The girls? Have you found them then?" I asked, excitement and curiosity running through my veins. "I want to come with you, I can help!"

Only now, I noticed his unhappy look, not understanding it. "What is it?" I asked.

"Tell me just how much you know about this, was it my son..." he said, looking at me, all seriousness.

I bit my bottom lip, realising that he was probably not supposed to know that I knew. Change the subject, Samara.

"Where is your son, by the way?" I remembered that I had only heard Junior's voice briefly the previous night. I needed to thank him for bringing Vlad back as he had promised.

"If he listens to my instructions for once, he should be in the Citadel, with his mother, by now."

"Why?" I asked, his words refusing to make any sense to me. Why would he leave?

"To keep an eye on some people there. You mustn't worry, Samara..." he said. Then, seeing the look of determination to get clearer answers in my eyes, added, "Fine. It was a trap. I would be... it could have been much worse if you hadn't sent my son after us."

He paused for a while, considering his words, pulling me into an embrace before he continued. "Still, the decision that saved us could have killed you!"

"But why would anybody want to kill me?" I asked, pulling away from him to be able to read his eyes.

He sighed heavily. "Hatred, vengeance, jealousy... there can be any number or reasons. Maybe the same reason why they took and harmed..."

"Are they all right? The girls?" I asked, alarmed.

"One of them is still missing. We couldn't find her," he admitted carefully, his voice sad and soft, his eyes searching mine for a sign of weakness, a reason not to have to tell me more, "the other one will be here shortly with Ioan."

"I'm coming with you. I want to help," I said, determined, looking around for clothes and slippers.

"Fine," he said dryly, my linen shirt materialising in his hand. "Katerina has already brought your breakfast and a dress. Don't go in your chamber. It's not ready yet. Eat, get dressed, and come to the Great Hall as soon as you are ready," he said as he pulled the shirt over my head and kissed me briefly before standing up again and walking away.

"One more thing, Samara," he added seriously, pausing mid-stride and turning back to me. "From now on, only Katerina and Clara are allowed to enter our chambers, and there will be more knights and Guards around. I'm not asking your opinion about this," he added, as I tried, and failed, to resist rolling my eyes at him while pushing my arms through the sleeves of my shirt.

"Very well, my lord, as you wish," I said, scrambling out of the bed unceremoniously and walking past him in search of my dress, catching a glimpse of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I've heard about your adopting a wolf, too. We will talk about that later." He shook his head, watching me across the chamber as he walked slowly to the door. "Now, is that a safe thing to do, I wonder? Will you ever consider your safety..."

"Aren't they your wolves? Shadow is perfectly tame. And by the way, weren't you busy this morning?" I added, as he suddenly didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. But I didn't want to argue about my wolf.

"Oh Samara," he said, crossing the room in a blur, pressing his lips passionately to mine, making my heart race, then disappearing out of the door.

I was still standing where he left me, one hand over my heart, the other pressed to my smiling lips when Clara entered from the library.

Shadow followed closely behind, making a beeline for the hearth, happy to lay down and sleep the whole day by the fire. It had become his most favourite indoor activity.

"Katerina asked me to tell you that your chamber will be ready tonight, my lady." Clara reported the message while I struggled to pull my favourite blanket from under the wolf, making him grunt and protest as I pushed him away. He could have all the furs I left next to the fireplace the previous night, but not my blanket.

"Thank you, Clara," I told her, carrying the blanket over to the bed, then walking to my basin placed on a table under the window.

I washed quickly, dressed and ate while Clara buttoned and adjusted my gown, then brushed my hair.

"We must go down now. Your Ioan is coming back soon," I said, watching her face glow like a candle. She is so much in love with her Captain, I thought as I hugged her, my eyes filling with tears. I knew well how she was feeling.

We left Vlad's chamber followed by two knights, leaving another two pacing up and down the corridor, between the doors to both our rooms. Right. More knights.

As soon as we reached the second flight of stairs, I heard a medley of excited voices coming from the Entry Hall.

Descending the large staircase, I noticed Ioan rushing in from the courtyard, making his way through a large group of people assembled there, a female body limp in his arms.

Acting on impulse, I turned to my companion, "Clara, the room you prepared for me last night?" She nodded after a moment's thought, understanding, already turning to go back upstairs.

"She is worse, my lord," I heard Ioan speaking towards the corridor leading to the Great Hall, his voice filled with frustration and despair.

Vlad walked out from the shadows, followed by some more visitors, making the curious onlookers blocking Ioan's way to part and make way.

"Where shall I take her?" the captain asked him.

"Ioan!" I called across the people filled hall without really thinking about what I was doing. My voice came out low and unsure, audible only to those standing the closest. I cleared my throat, squared my shoulders, then tried again, "Captain Ioan!" This time, my voice echoed around the hall, catching his and everybody else's attention.

Surely there must be a more proper way to address the Captain of one's husband's Guard, I realised as some faces I had never seen before started to bow and curtsey in my direction, making me feel embarrassed. Great, I thought, blushing. But, as I already started...

"Follow my companion, Captain. Take the girl upstairs." As soon as I said the words, I noticed that they came out like an order rather than a request.

I chewed on my bottom lip as I saw Ioan's gaze flicker to Vlad for confirmation. Vlad nodded, then looked at me over the sea of heads, and our eyes locked as he spoke to Ioan.

"You heard your orders Captain, follow Princess Samara." Vlad smiled at me infinitesimally, bowed, then disappeared back into the dark corridor, followed by the group of people that had arrived with Ioan.

Trying not to panic, I rushed up the stairs, trailed by Ioan, calling Katerina's name as soon as I reached the corridor, hoping that she would be in one of the rooms. She exited from my chamber, startled, a stretch of burgundy coloured velvet dangling from her hands. The new curtains for my bed, no doubt.

"Katerina, leave that now, I need your help!" I exclaimed, pointing to Clara and Ioan disappearing into one of the chambers. "We need towels, and water, maybe some food and someone to make a fire in that room..." I had no idea what we needed, really.

"Is she... " Katerina asked when she caught a sight of the girl in Ioan's arms.

"I think she is injured," I said, my skin crawling into gooseflesh when I thought of what kind of injury she might have suffered. "Please, Katerina, I need your help."

"Of course, my lady," she said, handing the fabric to one of the knights, surprising him. "Take it inside Lady Samara's room," she told him, rushing off towards the stairs, filled with purpose.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was coming, then followed Clara and Ioan.