"These the days of our lives," went through Shalee's head as she lay sprawled out on the couch like a lioness while watching the flames dance in the fireplace. She knew Gabryael would be back soon, but she'd asked him to let security know what had happened and who to watch out for in the near future. She knew they'd return, no doubt in her mind. They now had his top security clearance giving him free reign in the castle and able to go where she went. After all this is what was needed for her personal body guard. The thought of him returning to her sent chills up and down her spine with anticipation of their next union. Yes at this moment it was physical, but she could feel a bond starting to happen between them, one that was almost to the point of scarey for her. Something she'd never felt before. This bond...wow...it had her in a place where her mind would wander to him and almost feel his thoughts. Shalee concetrated and thought she felt a wisp of his being. This made her smile brightly as she reached for her wine glass and awaited the return of her lover.

Somehow she knew he was coming, did this have to do with them being together and he a vampire? That she could sense him? She was going to have to ask him this question. It was a burning question in her mind. Along with lots of other burning desires and the smile came to her face once again. Of course they'd have to discuss business first and foremost, going to the surface was going to be in the cards as well. She hoped he wouldn't mind the little jaunt they'd need to take to get there. Interesting time for the both of them no doubt.

She did not fear his interesting way of returning to her, it did not frighten her in the least. She *knew* he was there before he formed once again beside her. Her fingers trailed the lip of her wine glass as she looked over her shoulder at him, long dark tresses covering just the right areas.

"Very good. I am glad things seem to be in order. However I do believe we need to go above, up to Mana. I need to make sure everything is all right up there. My mother is still in Rhydin and I contacted my sister during one of our *rest* periods, she is far to the north. So I need to make an appearance. Do you mind a little trip?"

She reached out with her hand clasping his within her own, "I think we shall need to refresh ourselves before heading up above. No worries though, the castle is designed for your needs. You can easily walk the entryways during the daytime." The princess pulled herself up to rest against him as she laid her head upon his chest. So odd not to hear a heart beat when she did this. "Shall we stop by the dungeons on our journey to the surface? You can speak with your special friends."

When he called her precious she looked up at him suddenly and tears almost sprung to her eyes, it had been far too long since any sincere words of endearment had been spoken to her.

"First I think proper clothing would be best." She disengaged herself from his embrace to get herself cleaned up and ready for her journey to the surface. It didn't take her to awfully long to get these things accomplished, she opted to go to the dungeons via foot then teleportation. She wanted to spend the extra time with him and found the idea of traveling quite to her liking. Let them come after her, she was invincible! Ok maybe not but it sounded good.

"Come my lover, it is time to leave." She wore a floor length black cloak where the hood would cover her features should she decide to go that route. Underneathe she wore little clothing, most mages didn't worry about armor they had their magic for protection. The bodysuit she wore clung to her like a second skin, what skin it did cover. The low cut v neck almost went to her navel and the slits on the sides left little to the imagination. Every day she took more and more after her mother, which for the men in this world was not a bad thing.

When his hand touched hers a wicked little grin crossed her face as they teleported to the dungeons. They would go on foot from there, since they purposely put them inbetween both realms to keep those that *think* they could escape at bay. The best way to keep them in place was to take all hope from them. Their dungeon keeper was a master at his craft, they didn't ask and he liked it that way.

"Hmmm...I think I'll wait right here while you go and enjoy yourself my dear," she kissed his hand with a little twinkle in her eye.

While she waited, the princess studied her surroundings and was rather happy to not have to be *here* all the time. The dungeons were a place of torment and in the end...death. None who came here ever left, this was the place where the cruelest offenders of the crown were placed. That's when she decided she would give him the option of a quick ascent or a slow one to the surface.

It didn't take Ryael long to feed and she gave him a special smile upon his return.

"You peckish? I'm surprised," she said teasingly. "We should continue on our way to Mana. It's a couple days on foot from here. We can travel that way or I can simply teleport us. It is your call, I'm game for either way."

"Hurry not really. Immediate attention? No. If there was something overly pressing they would have called me. But, there is not a ruling person above and hasn't been for a few days. But, Mana being Mana it can run itself for a little while. My mother made sure to have *trusted* subjects in just the right places, if you know what I mean."

She took Ryael by the hand, twining her fingers thru his and started to walk out of the dungeon area. Not many knew the trails to traverse from here, she of course being from the royal family knew the secret by ways.

Nope. She didn't see a thing, she was too busy surveying the surrounding area to notice what Ryael was about. Of course had she seen it, there would have been a HUGE smile playing at the corners of her lips. Oh yes there would have!

"Hmmmm, everything looks to be in order. Let's take a little walk shall we?" She looked up at him, gave a sly wink then headed down the cooridoor that would lead them back out into the Underdarke proper.

"Shouldn't take us but a day or two to reach the surface. We shouldn't have any trouble, being this close to Mana and Babylon most of the nastys down here steer clear. We do have patrols and they know it!"

He'd called her Precious?!?! "Wow, that was so awesome," went through her mind. Made her tingle all over with happiness actually. No thought of desire surged through her, it was a better feeling then even that. Could it possibly be *contentment*? Maybe. Maybe not. But for right now it felt good no matter what!

The princess reached down in her belt pouch and pulled out a beef jerky strip, he might have eaten but she had not. So they walked on in a comfortable silence through the tunnels leading away from the dungeon. Before long the entrance into the Underdarke appeared that would take them to the surface.

"You ready? Like I said no worries, the castle is designed with vampires in mind." As she spoke to him, they'd stopped walking and she leaned into him, kissing him lightly on the neck as she pushed him against the rough stone wall. "Sorry, couldn't resist. It must be the way you look in the light down here," she said with a chuckle.