Olive bit her lip as she looked at the bra and underpants set that Danika held out. It was very different to the others that Dainka had selected. The others were pretty but nowhere near as naughty as this set.

'Well?'

She could see the hesitation in Olive's eyes. She could hear her thoughts. Pretty yet very cheeky. Danika had to get her to make a decision fast.

'Come on Olive before Islana gets back. You need to get the frillies in the bag before you have your future mother in law looking at your purchases.'

'Alright, fine.'

Danika picked out several, much to Olive's horror and she took them to the woman at the counter.

'Can you bag these before her mother in law gets back please?'

'Sure.'

The woman grinned at them, knowing what the tell tale blush was all about. Olive was her usual pink cheeked self, thoroughly embarrassed by Danika. She put the other items onto the counter, along with a few night dresses. These ones did not have kittens on them, they were the softest satin she had ever felt. Islana walked back into the store and instantly produced a card to pay for it. Olive looked at Danika, horrified that she was about to pay for it. Danika shrugged, if she were to object she knew that Islana would ask why and neither of them would want that. Islana took the bags and passed them to Olive.

'There you go my dear, that should keep him happy.'

As she winked at her, Olive gaped and watched her saunter out of the room.

'Far out.' she muttered 'She knows, doesn't she?'

'I'd say yes.' Danika chuckled.

They stepped out onto the street feeling the warmth of the morning. Olive had spent the first few hours shivering and wrapped in layers of blankets, feeling the cold of the castle. She knew it was going to be a very long year. Olive wasn't impressed that she was being dragged away from her love for a day of shopping. She didn't want people spending their money on her, she didn't want to feel like a charity case. But as always, Olive said nothing, not wanting to disrupt the blissful world that she was in. Danika would give the clothes off her back if Olive asked if of her, she was a wonderful woman who wanted the best for everyone. And Islana was the same, she thought nothing of paying for these items for her and Olive knew that she wasn't going to get away from her buying more things. There were a few places on the list for today, dress shops to find a few things for her then maybe some lunch where they could talk fine dining and offer welcomed advice. Danika had insisted that after lunch they find a shop for Olive to purchase more material and any other bits that she needed for her designing world. Olive smiled feeling the best she had ever felt, sure she was away from Phabel but she knew that they couldn't be around each other all the time. She knew that sometimes a little space was welcomed.

Islana had gained some distance as Danika and Olive stepped out of the shop, already she was at the next shop looking through the window. Olive could see her looking at the dresses with anticipation, readying to go into the store.

'Oh my god.'

A voice laughed cruelly from behind them, a voice that Olive knew. It made her shudder with fear.

'Looks like the love birds are buying clothes together.'

Danika and Olive turned to see Shelly behind them. Danika couldn't help but wonder what Shelly couldn't understand her instructions about not speaking to them. Regardless of whether they were on campus grounds or not, orders were orders.

'I don't believe that you are married to the king.' her eyes narrowed at Danika 'He would never pick someone as weird as you.'

Wordlessly Danika punched her hard, sending her to the ground. She didn't think she was the kind of person that would physically assault someone but Shelly deserved it and a whole lot more. Danika had to show Olive that whilst hitting someone wasn't ideal, neither was sitting back and taking their abuse. She had taken her father's abuse and now she was taking Shelly's, Danika was determined to show Olive that shrinking into herself wasn't acceptable. Danika looked at Olive, she was shocked but she could see there was an element of happiness. By this time Islana had seen what was going on and returned to the lingerie shop front.

'How dare you!' Islana snapped 'Do you truly dare to speak to your queen like that?'

Shelly held her hand to her face, feeling the pain burning through her cheek. Danika looked down at her with a little smugness, the bruise was already starting to appear.

'Who are you?' she narrowed her eyes even though it pained her to do so.

'I am the kings aunt and I can assure you that he would not be appreciative of your antics. Foolish child, find another country to live in, this one is about to revoke your right to live here.'

'You can not do that!'

Shelly sneered at Islana, not realising how much the king had told his dear aunt.

'Can't I?' Islana said smugly. 'You forget yourself young lady, you forget how things work in this world now. You were told to stay away from your queen and Olive, you were told that you were not allowed to even speak to them, yet you are so dismissive of your instructions. The dean told you of what your punishment would be if you were to break these orders, you stated that you understood and you signed a document to that effect.'

'I was under duress!'

'And the lawyer that sat beside you, was he under duress too?'

Shelly scowled at the woman in front of her.

'I would suggest that you go home and pack your things and be grateful if you aren't being executed. I do believe that you were warned that it was an option that was open for the king to select if you disobeyed him.'

'This isn't over!' she hissed.

'Isn't it?'

Islana took the bags from Olive and passed them to one of the bodyguards who had been watching closely. They were seconds from stepping in and taking over the situation.

'I would suggest to you that if you want to see tomorrow, you leave now.'

'Or what?'

She said nothing as she took Olive by the elbow and pulled her away, giving Danika a look that said she was to follow without question. The bodyguards remained, looking at Shelly with poker faces, waiting for her to leave in the opposite direction. Shelly looked up at the two men that were like mountains, their shoulders were broad, their arms folded over their chests.

'I'll sue!' she yelled as she stood to her feet.

'Go home little girl.' one of them said 'You provoked her, you broke your orders. No judge will even bother to listen to you.'

'Fine!'

Shelly turned on her heels and thumped her way down the street, vowing revenge.

'What a beastly human.' Islana scoffed 'How well do you know her?'

'She's in our class, she had her eye on Phabel.'

'Oh dear.' she shook her head 'Thank our maker that he has better taste in women.'

Olive could feel the flush rise to her cheeks, Islana chuckled as she patted her arm.

'My dear, you are such a delicate creature. Learn to take a compliment, I am sure Phabel passes them to you freely.'

She gave her a shy smile to Islana as they stepped into the dress shop. A crowd had formed and watched the fiasco, some wondered if it was an ordinary cat fight, others wondered if there was more to it and wished it hadn't ended so abruptly.

********************************

Olive took her things to her room, stating that she wanted to show Phabel before the maids cleaned them. She worried that he might not like some of the more exotic items and thought that if she showed him first, she could return them with little issue if he didn't like them. The maids hung the dresses in the wardrobe for her, Olive had never owned so many clothes in her entire life. She didn't want any of it but had accepted it because Islana had insisted. Phabel had functions to attend, when Olive became one of their people she would be going to his world and attending these functions with him. One by one she showed each of them to Phabel, he nodded with an appreciative smile, each of the dresses were pretty and in keeping with the rules of court. He was secretly grateful his mother went with them, for all that Danika had great taste in clothes, Phabel knew that they were on the edgier side of life. He didn't mind the clothes she wore, in fact, he liked a lot of the items but he knew it wouldn't sit well if he had to take Olive to somewhere of importance. Phabel also thought that Olive didn't really have the kind of personality to wear clothes that had skulls or rips, tartan skirts with chains. He doubted that he would ever see her in a pair of army boots.

'Very nice, you chose well.'

'Your mother did.' she sighed 'Except uh, those bags.'

Phabel's eyes looked upon the large bags that were stuffed with soft paper. He grinned widely as his eyes returned to her, the cheeks were a rosy pink and he knew exactly what was in there.

'Am I going to see the contents?'

'Yeah, I might have to take some of them back if you don't like them.

'I highly doubt that I would.'

He pulled the first item out, a soft pink negligee that was very see through.

'Did you happen to select this with my mother around?'

'No. She had stayed for that bag and then had to use the bathroom. Danika had the sales woman bag them before she returned.'

'Thank the maker for that.' he groaned.

Phabel put the delicate item back into the bag.

'I am sure that they are all very pretty and you are not to return a single item.' he grinned darkly 'And I don't want to see them on you until I am allowed to remove them from you. What are you up to today while I am busy?'

'Your mother is going to be teaching me about lots of things apparently. Countries and cities for today, etiquette and history for tomorrow. I'm sure I will have a large headache by the end of tomorrow. How long will you be gone for?'

'Not long, just some minor business to attend to in town and then I shall be back.'

******************** 

'Are you sure about this Phabe?'

'Positive.'

'Mid jump would serve just as good, you know.' Lucian said dryly.

'But there I am known, if I'm seen doing this then they will search her out. I would like some anonymity.'

'She's going to find out.'

Phabel narrowed his eyes at Lucian.

'You know I think the world of your beloved wife Lucian but I swear to our maker if she tells Olive anything I will...'

'Oh be serious Phabel.' Lucian interrupted 'As if she would.'

'And what of the shifting?'

'If I go to a specific place then I will be fine.'

'Mid jump would be easier.' he grumbled.

'Shut up.'

Lucian shook his head walking back into the castle. Phabel sighed as he climbed into his car, knowing Lucian was right. Mid jump was easier, there would be no way that Olive could find out other than being told by some loud mouth. He had to wait for her return from town to ensure she wouldn't stumble upon him outside the place. Thoughts plagued Phabel's mind of all sorts of visions of what she would say if she did happen upon him, of what he would say or the excuse he would have to find. It taunted his mind with thoughts of her imagining the worst and running off in a flood of tears. He felt sick for misleading her, it was almost a lie. There was truth to it, he was going to town, he was going to be there for business of sorts. He didn't want to tell her, he wanted it a secret. It was bad enough that Lucian knew, it meant that Danika would know. She had moments where she was known to spill out with all sorts of things she wasn't supposed to tell people. Lucian didn't approve of him going to town for it, he thought Phabel should have done it in mid jump. It was his opinion that mid jump was safer, that there was more to offer for the delights of the dark beings but Phabel didn't see it that way. Like he had said to Lucian, he wanted anonymity and that he could get in town.

Olive was occupied by his mother and her boring lessons, it would keep her mind from over thinking it too much. Now all Phabel had to do was to get into town, get the deed done and get back to her. He hoped it wouldn't take too long but he knew how things like this went, he could be there for hours. Phabel quietly prayed that she wouldn't take too much notice if he took too long.

*************** 

Phabel looked upon the selection, the choice was vast and he was surprised. So many beautiful choices, so perfect and it pained him to chose just one. He would like to have all of them. That would be a memory in itself. The woman waited patiently as his eyes gazed over the selection, stopping and asking her questions about each one. She smiled at him, her gaze washed over his handsome features wondering why he was here, wondering why he hadn't gone to mid jump for this. There were few shifters that came here for what she offered. Though, she thought that she recognised him, she thought that maybe he had been here before and perused her fine specimens. Phabel stopped at the last one, his eyes looked to the woman. She was a pretty shape shifter, her hair was a short crop of blonde, blue eyes were permanently fixed upon him as she smiled at him.

'This one thanks.'

'Of course.' she smiled again 'How will you be paying?'

'Cash.'

Her eyebrows raised with surprise.

'No card hun?'

'Not today thanks.'

'Alrighty then.'

Her eyes twinkled with delight as she took his money. Phabel looked upon his purchase with excitement, he couldn't wait to touch it, to feel the raw power of it. This was perfect love.