(adj.) extremely delicate, light, not of this world.

Zane had already lived hundreds of years, but it was the first time since his age was in double figures that he was feeling rather excited. Princess Raneem was human. Purely human. Without a shred of blood that gave elves near-immortality, calm and control. Even so, he knew the princess would not be broken easily. Had she been elfin, he worried that nothing he did would yield anything. It had been a gamble before the revelation, but now, he was quite sure he would win even without using the Ollan to break her.

She would speak in his bed - scream, if she needed to - but he would have the information he needed. War could be averted if she yielded enough secrets, or at the least, the damages could be minimised. All he knew was Gwahan was planning to take what magic they can from Treliron and expand. He would not let that happen. He would not let the greed of humans win.

To his side, Raneem walked as if she were the queen and he, her guest. Nothing in her exotically alluring features betrayed what she felt. Save her hands. They were balled into fists, her knuckles white and her fingers red from how tightly she held them together. Her mind and her heart were obviously still in turmoil. He could exploit that. The treaty only did say bodily harm. But he would not do such a thing.

Zane was an elf. The better being. The only torture he would inflict on anyone was torture they like. And he did not know of anyone who did not like a good fuck. It was only pure luck that her arrival had been timed with his mating year. He would break her façade and prove her to be as wanton as her predecessors.

He shuddered in his mind at the thought of humans going after sex for the sheer pleasure of it, not for the sake of progeny. The woman at his side could have fucked many men before him and suddenly, his plan in getting information from her became depressing. There would be no joy in bedding a promiscuous woman, but if she held onto her fiery denial, it could be worth it.

He swept aside the vines that were the curtain into his chamber and unstrung his bow before relieving himself of the rest of his arms. He turned around and saw Raneem, her composure showing hints of uncertainty. Her eyes darted taking in the plain walls, the jewel-encrusted furniture and the casement where he placed his array. She suddenly flushed as her eyes settled on the bed that could barely fit two and quickly turned her head away.

A chuckle had involuntarily risen from his throat before he could stop it. She was only feigning innocence, perhaps to make him feel guilty about his plans for her. But he would not be swayed. Libertine or no, he would make her talk the only way he knew.

"How many days has it been since you have taken a bath?" he asked. She did not smell awful, but she did have the smell of sweat. And of faint arousal. They were not entirely unwelcome odors, but it was the only question he could think of, to break the silence between them.

"Three," she said quietly, not looking at him.

"I see. You can take a bath in the lake to the east. I hope you do not mind company. Everyone takes their baths there."

Her head whipped to him, her eyes bulging. "Everyone? All the time?"

"Afraid, princess? Why? Is it because seeing a naked elf will arouse you?" he asked, checking one of his daggers. It would easily tear through the fabric of her dress. He immediately spoke before her mouth could open to form words. "As for your question, yes, everyone, but rarely anyone goes there at the height of the night."

"For propriety's sake, do I not get a room?" she demanded showing cracks in her demeanor widen into crevices.

From where he stood Zane could see the tell-tale signs of a woman about to cry - face flushed, eyes, watery, voice tight, rapid breathing. In truth, he could only imagine what he was going through. He, himself was a legitimate son and the father he knew was not on the verge of death. The man he respected had never betrayed him or his trust. He knew he would not be able to bear all that on top of the fate of his country resting on his hands.

That was the redeeming nature of humans. They were resilient. Made to weather whatever life threw at them.

Before he knew what he was doing, he was already within arms' reach of Raneem. He didn't know what he was doing, but he knew he was supposed to reassure her. But the why and how of it escaped him. She was a captive. Royal and beautiful by prisoner standards, but that was what she was. She could wallow in self-pity and he shouldn't care. And the problem was, not only did he care, but the emotions that were making her cry was, he knew, not from self-pity.

"I could send you to another place, but who's to say what others would do to your mind?" he finally said, "The protection in the treaty is only physical. It takes only one elf to realize that and harm you. We may be elves, but we can still hate."

She bowed her head and her shoulders shook. He knew she was crying and he did not know what to do.

"I shall leave you for a while," he said finally wanting to break from his own confusion. "I have other duties to attend. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable."

He left.

That was it. He did not want to come off as callous but what could he say? "Nuat," he turned to his captain, "Make sure my room is guarded. Should the seamstress come, receive it. No one is to go in or leave without my permission."

"Understood." Nuat bowed and barked orders.

Zane glanced around and spotted Lucas. He knew he would be trouble. While his brother, Nuat, could rein in his temper and hatred, Lucas was less likely to be as reasonable. For now, though, he needed to clear his head.

The moon had risen quite high when he returned from all his duties. All the while, his mind played on what to do with her. The truth was, he was torn. He did not want to torment her more than what she had just gone through, and yet, he wanted to. Those fiery eyes that only humans could achieve were treasures he longed to behold for far longer.

He stopped before he entered his room and resolved his dilemma. If she was too distraught, he would make a new deal with her - one that would be less taxing on her emotions. If she showed more strength, he would press on. Either way, he would do what needed to be done and get information first hand.

The room was dark when he came in. He muttered a spell and several crystalline globes gave their light. On his bed, Raneem shielded her eyes and adjusted to the sudden light as she slowly put them down. They were red and swollen, but they weren't fresh. She had stopped crying for quite some time, but the evidence of her tears were still there. She smelled of sweat but none of the arousal he had distinctly caught wafted of. More importantly, she smelled of herself. Humans always did have a queer smell to them, though hers was not entirely unwelcome. In fact hers was-memorable.

It did not take long for her eyes to adjust and she stood quickly, covering the distance between them before he could react. Furnaces burned in those hazel eyes and it had him - for a brief moment - apprehended and at a loss.

"How dare you treat me as a prisoner!" she hissed through gritted teeth. "Who do you think you are? I have treated you with fairness and you do not even extend the same grace to me! I should slap you in the face, but I will not. You know why? Because I'm better than you."

Another involuntary chuckle escaped him. Damn the woman was making him nervous in all the inappropriate times. But he needed to focus. She still had fire and strength. A little more seduction and coaxing would not harm her. After all, a little fun would definitely brighten his own mood.

"So you wanted to take a bath naked with other elves who might take the chance to entrap your mind?" he asked.

She blinked and blushed at the same time, suddenly backing away a few paces. And - by the gods! - it was the cutest thing he ever saw. It was innocence personified and he had to remind himself that she was not innocent, no matter how she acted or looked like.

She took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry. You should have told me."

He could not believe his ears. A noble apologizing? And not just any noble - it was the princess of Gwahan, herself! She was getting queerer and queerer. His curiosity drew him closer to her. He lifted her chin with the crook of his forefinger and looked into her eyes. There was no hint of guile as her hazel eyes met his. But there was sorrow, confusion, anger and, if he was not mistaken, a flicker of desire.

He didn't say anything when he released her or when he caught a hint of her arousal confirming what he saw in her eyes. Yes. Human to the core. He could not forget his mission.

"Let me have the honor of accompanying you, then, princess. To make amends."

Her mouth was slightly parted and her eyes darted to the sides, looking anywhere but at him. He cursed at her feigned innocence and closed the distance to not see her and focus on regaining control and manipulate her. "Is there," he whispered hoarsely in her ear and registered the sharp intake of her breath, "a problem, princess?"

"No..."

He swallowed, feeling the rush of air from her lips graze at his sensitive ear. And he felt it. Felt the stir in his loins. His own arousal did not matter as long as hers increased, and by the smell of it, she was. He tore away and walked with her to the lake.

He stole a quick glance at her and took in the perfect skin covering her slender arced neck. They were silken under his touch and evoked a wild sense of mania throughout his body. He had never considered touching a woman intimately before, and now, he was considering fucking one. By the gods, he had to rein in his thoughts!

The lake was serene, and as he expected, there was no one else there. He set down her new clothes and sat at the rock by the water's edge. "Go ahead."

"Turn away."

"Why? I'm an elf. Not human. I've seen nakedness of countless others. Likely, more attractive than yours. Why should I turn away?"

"Because I don't want you looking." She crossed her arms under her breasts, staring at him defiantly.

He grinned. "You can try and order me, princess. But this is Treliron, not Gwahan. You are not my princess, thus I have no impetus to obey." He rested his chin on his hand lazily.

She glowered then stalked off away from him.

"Where are you going?" he called out after her.

"Away from your prying eyes!" She responded loudly, not turning to him.

He stood and followed her at a distance. "They're not prying. Just watching over you. You never know the dangers."

"Ha ha! Clever." She dodged behind a hedge of tall bushes. "What kind of a ruler are you if you cannot even control your people?"

"And you can?"

"Better than you by degrees if you worry this much about me!"

Zane stopped and opened himself to enhancing his hearing, choosing to ignore her comment. He could hear her struggle behind the bushes, whispering about the damn laces and buckles behind her. He grinned and stepped silently behind her. She had managed to remove her tunic, but was now having trouble with a leather jerkin and - from what he could tell - a corset underneath before her chemise. He moved quickly and silently, closing up his heightened senses, and covered her fingers which were fumbling with one of the buckles.

Raneem stiffened, and turned to him. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"You seem to be having trouble. I am only trying to help."

She bit her lower lip and nodded, starting to turn. But before she could complete her turn, his hands darted behind her and started undoing the buckles slowly encasing her in his arms. Her eyes widened in surprise and he held her closer before she could say anything.

As their hips met, he heard her gasp and shiver, the smell of her arousal growing ever stronger, igniting his own as her heat kicked his stimulation into his groin. She opened her mouth to say something, but what it was he didn't wait for it. His own arousal was threatening to speed things up to a point where it would be impossible for him to control himself. "Turn around," he said, finishing the last buckle.

She stared at him dumbstruck. Her look of innocence stirring him into even greater heights. "Turn. Or do you want me to undo your laces having this view?"

A panicked look spread across her face and she quickly turned, cheeks aflame even without his heightened sight. He closed his eyes to control himself, slowly undoing the lace and deliberately brushing her spine when he could.

He could sense her breath quickening and he knew he had the upper hand. This was a game of temptations and he would not be the first to give in. He would lure her and finally trap her. He would not let his own lust get in the way. And what a lustful creature she was turning him into!

"Go bathe," he said and left her. He stole a small glance and saw her holding herself, shivering, not from the cold, that much was obvious.

Omg! Three updates in a week! So, how was the chapter? Did you like it? Were they too intimate? Share your views and don't forget to vote and comment! Also I have decided the cast for Zane. Guess who?

It's Matthew Daddario! Oh how handsome he is. I think he fits Zane the most. But if you would like to picture him with someone else, be free to do. :)

I dedicate this chapter to my new friend whom I met a few days ago. She is just awesome. ♥

Next chapter will be up when I see some comments. ♥ Who's ready for some hot romance?

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Thank you so much for reviewing this chapter ccreationz