On Duty [Angel]

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

The light over head was still on, she hadn’t bothered to shut them off when she’d made a poor attempted of sleeping the night before. Slumped over, Dawn held her head in her palms feeling exhausted and cursed her body’s unforgiving way of not allowing her to get even an hour of sleep. The room she was in was a temporary one which any guard could use to grab some sleep, but for her it was a waste of time, even making her feel terrible for not letting someone who might get some shut eye use it. Instead she was sitting wide awake like she had been for the past 24 hours. It amazed her how after all the time, she still couldn’t fall asleep.

“Shit.” Her eyes watched the first rays of the Sun pass over the stones, telling her that the ‘break’ was over. Back to work for her. Pushing off the bed and it’s plush comforters, she stretched each muscle, groaning softly when a couple of joints popped making her feel oddly relaxed after getting zero sleep.

“Captain! King Vaan is on the move.” Dawn groaned again at the words followed by a light rap on the door making her want to punch the moron who came to wake her up. Any person with eyes could see the light was still on; clearly someone was still awake for it to be on! It was tempting to open the door and slam it in the guy’s face, but Dawn resisted while pulling her leather jacket over her shirt before zipping it. The crackle of well broken in leather was about the sweetest sound to her ears right then. More rapping on the door reached her causing a deep snarl to pass her lips loud enough for the idiot on the other side to stop.

“I heard you, dismissed.” In other words, get the hell back to your place and way from my door. Dawn snagged her phone off the bedside table to throw in her pocket. Swiftly exiting the room, her boots clicked on the tiles causing the guards in the hall to snap to attention. One day, they would forget to do that and the she’d have an excuse to release all her anger.

Yes, a lot of anger filled Dawn, but none of it was truly reflected at her men, no in fact she was very proud of them for having improved so much over the past 90 years. Her anger was directed at one Lady Adrienne whose head was getting too big for the palace. That one woman was off limits for Dawn to kick around only because she slept with the King on the rare occasion. Everyone knew they had started to cool off from the fiery passion which had over taken them a few years back. If she had to admit it, she was angry at Vaan as well for his ignorance on the fool Adrienne was making him. While he was truly busy in meetings, the ‘Lady’ was having man after man visit her room and make sure their scent was either full washed off or so faint it was nothing to cause alarm about.

It took a great deal on her part not to snarl at the thought of Adrienne and Vaan together. Her steps didn’t stall, but her mind back tracked on that previous thought. She was the Captain of the Guards, a commoner, and that was it. She wasn’t a Lady who stood a chance with the King to even think that would allow room for the Chancellor to eat her alive.

Curling her fingers, Dawn kept reminding herself of her non-existing position while making good time down the hall. Her nose easily picked up on King Vaan’s scent. Dragging a deep whiff of his scent into her lungs, Dawn kept placing Adrienne in her mind to prevent herself from acting on unwanted emotions. As his scent grew stronger, her feet slowed until she was only a hall away from him. Not spotting any guards, she pressed her back against the cold wall, pleasing her jacket barely made a noise on the stone. Shutting her eyes, her nose focused on Vaan’s scent while she waited to hear or figure out where he was going. Unfortunately, her mind was more focused on Vaan’s scent and the warmth it wrapped around her. His scent made her think of sex, the quiet moment afterwards.

Zoning out, Dawn knew she was leaving herself opening for an attack that could come at any second. She knew leaning against the wall only provided enough protection to keep her back free of knives, claws, and a whole assortment of blades. Right then, she was in the least bit caring about any of that. All her attention was focused on the way the King’s scent filled her nose, her lungs, and crashed over each inch of her.

She needed to get laid and soon before Dawn did or said something stupid. Her mind counted back to the last time she’d really had a moment like that and was shocked nu the time lapse between then and now. Had it really been a whole year? Luna, that was pathetic. If she was going to keep up her mask of emotionless bitch that minor detail was going to have to change and soon before she went off on some unsuspecting guard who even stepped foot out of their stance along the palace perimeter. Thankfully, her brother in law had a way of calming her down before thing ever got out of control.

Thinking over today’s date, Dawn made a quick schedule for the next two weeks in her mind. At the end of those two weeks the stupid celibacy her body had been forced into would end. Her sister wolf nearly howled at the simple thought of sex. She didn’t want a mate, just a body to work off some frustration. Hell, a human male would do the trick and they were easy to come by in town.

Those thoughts brought a smile to Dawn’s pale lips while she remained leaning on the wall for a period. The smile lessened remembering why her social life was nowhere to be found. If she thought she was alone, a snarl would have spilled from her lips wanting to not be so wrapped up in Vaan’s life to have one for herself. At times, her job felt more like a curse then something she had strived and fought for.

[angel]

Morning... It was a blessed time of the day, a point of new begging, one day gone and another starting. A single man stood watching the sun rise upon the island. His dark eyes noting its rise while hardly paying attention to it. He after all had things to do... he was always a busy body in the early hours of the morning. His feet moving across the dew coated grass of his yard glancing up at the window that veiled the sun from his sleeping beauty. In all honesty he would have much preferred to stay home on this morning. His mate was in heat and they both wished for a child and yet after over a century she had yet to bear a child for them.

In all honesty the lumbering man could hardly believe his own age as he contemplated possible reasons for his inability to get his Mate with child. He knew that Summer was his other half some piece of him he would have never found if not for the curse cast upon him... for it was a curse that kept him alive long past his brothers and sisters of his tribe. His dress through was still reminiscent of that which he wore so long before, moccasins covered his feet though they were not only on his feet as the design was much akin to boots rather than shoes. He had a dislike for the white man's foot wear tending to complain that those that wear them were much to loud... which was true. If one really listened to the sound of the lycans walking in the early dawn you could hear the shift of the sole of the shoes or even how one's foot moved within the shoe. Wish his footwear bindings of leather held the footwear tight against his feet and the flexibility of the material allowed him ease of movement and silence... if one knew how to walk as such.

For him it was second nature to pick out the loose cobblestones on his path and skip over that stone his feet making nary a whisper as he moved. People hated that he seemed to be the quietest Lycan and yet was as dangerous as the Captain of the Guard. She was Family now, having caused the joining of a native with her sister. Of course none of them could actually pronounce his birth name... Which in the tongue of the white man meant Rising Wolf. It was a unique name that he found odd because of the beast that echoed in his heart. That though at the moment was still. As was he the peace he held was unique a quietness of spirit brought on mostly by his beliefs and the way he was raised.

He had on more than one occasion walked the forest to speak with the woodland creatures to listen to their songs and more often than not they would draw to him rather than flee. Somehow knowing that he was not one to harm them without reason. For food he would hunt, for clothing as well... though he never moved upon the young rather choosing the aged and close to their end to take for supper. It was not long after sunrise fully lit the island that he strode through the gates into the city. His leather breeches and leather vest marking him as a native american... yet his weapons and gear clearly did not. Across his back was a massive Claymore with a blade fully 6 feet long. To add to that on this day he also bore a hunting bow that he had made for himself... Its wood was touch and yet bent properly if one knew how to use it... He had yet to find another that could pull the string back... of course most lacked the strength that he possessed. Along with the bow that lay unstrung in its part of its quiver, was a brace of Arrows, also hand made by his own hands. It was odd to carry the bow... though he carried it today because he planned to hunt that evening before he returned home. Most of the arrows were steel... A few though kept apart from the rest held silver upon their edges much as his sword.

He moved with light feet his eyes noting the Guards jumping to attention as he passed many clearly frightened by his appearance. Of course most of the lycans were younger than he was that held positions in the guard and even more of them had been trained by him at one point or another... In the end they each had something to be afraid of. It didn’t help that he had a glower that could curdle fresh milk. He didn’t use it much... but on the other hand he felt that they should know his intentions from a look and a simple hand sign over any verbal communication so as to keep potential attackers from knowing their plans.

It didn’t take him long, to locate the captain, he wondered how many times he had worked at her side... to many if he counted them all. Years and years had made him understand the look on her face as he approached. She got like this around the king. Of course he was extremely silent for one of his own size so she probably wouldn't have heard him... it didn't help that she hardly seemed to be aware of her surroundings. Holding himself back from her, mainly to protect himself from her reaction than anything he watched her for a moment before letting his voice whisper out... he didn’t like talking in the palace, he preferred not being in the palace, enjoying the wide open spaces outside of it.

“Little Sister... If you don’t want people knowing what you want to do with him... you really should stop daydreaming in the halls you know.”

He couldn’t help but grin knowing that she was a lot littler than he ever was, and for that matter that he did mean her physical stature not her age as she was rather older than he himself was. He honestly just couldn't help himself... He simply found some of the things she did amusing and hardly understood why it mattered that she was a common born... all of them were the same, inside and out... some born and some bitten the only thing that rank did was ferment inequality. Rank belonged in his opinion to those that were wise in their teachings... not to those that were the strongest...

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

From her spot on the wall, Dawn’s breathing seemed to even out almost like she was about to fall asleep. It would have been nice to get some sleep right then, even a couple of minutes. However, her mind and nose were zeroed in on the King. His scent grew stronger, stopped, and then went away as if he was pacing in the other hall. It was enough to annoy her right then since she could have gotten some shut eye if the damn guard at her door hadn’t attempted a reenactment of Rambo by pounding on it.

It was far too quiet in the hall forcing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. The air had shifted around her, the only warning someone else was standing near her. She might have opened her eyes if there was a cause to do so, instead from the faint scent; a brief smile graced her lips. Angel was remarkable for sneaking around even with his large size, he knew the way his body moved and this manipulated it to only make a noise when he deemed it necessary. But the man had neglected to take note of the air already gently brushing against her dark curls. His body was in the direct path to block the minor breeze, allowing the new scent to mingle with Van’s around her nose.

“Didn’t Summer give you a stern less on sneaking up on me?” As Dawn remembered it, her twin had gone on and on for a good hour about the many reasons a person shouldn’t try to approach her when she wasn’t aware of it. The last time Angel had been naïve enough to do that Dawn had nearly sliced his throat open. The both of them had gotten a stern lecture from Summer. While Angel had gotten nagged about the sneaking, Dawn had gotten nagged about lightening up. A feat she found impossible even on a good day.

“Just because someone is leaning against a wall with their eyes closed doesn’t mean they are day dreaming. I was, for your information, trying to snag a few minutes of sleep, little brother.” Her eyes finally snapped open to find Angel had kept a good distance between them, smart male. After all the years she had known him, the traditional Indian wear didn’t even phase her. She had a hard time thinking if it ever did and somehow she doubted it. The nickname was a joke on her part and among the guards for when she had brought Angel to the island. Dawn could recall them poking clean fun at her for having to bring back the largest bitten lycan possible. She’d coolly called Angel her ‘little brother’, which only caused the men to laugh until it was clear she wasn’t joking, at least not with them. The joke was between her and Angel about him being so freaking huge while being quite younger than her.

“Did you happen to see how the men looked along the outer wall?” Running a hand through her hair, Dawn forced her body to at least appear awake while pushing herself off the wall to stand straight, eyeing Angel up and down with a deep frown on her face. “Tell me, why are you here when my sister is in heat?” Dawn and Summer were connected to the point they were only a week difference between one being in heat and the other not.

“I did tell you to take the next few days off, didn’t I?” Dawn’s face may have been emotionless but her voice held every ounce of seriousness. She knew how much her sister and brother in law wanted pups and after nearly a century had failed. Their parents wanted little pups running around their home in the country, which they’d pretty much given up on Dawn filling that position a long time ago and had now set their eyes on her sister. Dawn had promised their mother she would make sure any help she could offer them while Summer was in heat would happen.

In a way, Dawn was jealous of her sister. Not really because of Angel, the big guy was a brother to her, but for the connection they had. Most lycans made it seem so easy to find a mate when in reality it wasn’t as easy as some as it was for others. For her, that spark just wasn’t there for male she’d ever been with.

[angel]

Stone... It was all stone in this place, It was hard for Angel to stay in the palace for long. He liked the touch of the air and the feel of the world, he felt confined and small in the palace. It was not a feeling that the overly large lycan enjoyed as he stood tall, it was only luck that the palace had such high ceilings on all floors. But the fact was that the rooms, all had walls, the wind could not move freely and as such it felt stiffing to him. It was only luck that they were in a portion that had windows to see through and out into the world outside otherwise he would have ordered another member of the guard to collect the captain... He hated the palace, at least at home the windows could sit open, let him feel the breeze so that for a time he could feel like he was home again.

“Didn’t Summer give you a stern less on sneaking up on me? Just because someone is leaning against a wall with their eyes closed doesn’t mean they are day dreaming. I was, for your information, trying to snag a few minutes of sleep, little brother.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he waved a random finger at the air in front of him as if he had a thought to share before stepping forward to cut the space. More often than not once she was focused again you were less likely to lose your head. Himself more than most on account of her sister, would likely sever her own head if she harmed Angel to much.

“Ahh... but I wasn't sneaking, You just weren't paying attention... There is a difference you see.”

It was true, he had walked the same as he did any other day. It was not at all his fault that she was paying so little attention that she hadn’t at least smelled him. That was besides the point though as he looked her over taking in that she did look as if she could use some sleep. Him telling her to sleep would hardly go over well and likely end with one of them on the ground in a hold of one kind or another. So he didn't even bother. He of course knew where things would go from here and tried to think of any point that the guards he passed hadn't been at full attention and completing their duties as ordered. That could of course be because they had seem him, as he wasn’t being deliberately sneaky at the moment as he normally might have been.

“Did you happen to see how the men looked along the outer wall?”

“Working”

Angel grunted in a typical noncommittal retort as if he really didnt care one way or another though it was more because he could here someone close by moving without the skill that he held in his large frame. Perhaps another guard though perhaps not it was at times hard to tell. That and he disliked speaking to some of the Lycans, many thought of him as a dumb brute... He and Dawn knew better and he enjoyed keeping the guards on edge by actually working them. He had on a number of occasions broke through the guard in order to see if he could get through. He would then generally pass the information onto Dawn and let her make sure the men knew about the weak point. Sometimes if he felt that Dawn needed time to himself he would just take care of the problem point himself and move on.

“Tell me, why are you here when my sister is in heat? I did tell you to take the next few days off, didn’t I?”

So that was why he had been ordered home for the week. Dawn, was probably getting pressure from the parents as to why Summer and he had borne no litters. It was not something that he wanted to think about and it was honestly a testy subject for him as a snarl rumbled up his throat. It was not out of anger or hate. It was annoyance at himself and a deep fear as to his own ability as a mate. Over a century and she had yet to carry or even carry a child at all so far as he knew. It took him a moment as he swore to himself under his breath.

“Nothing we do will decide the effects of this curse little sister... It is in the Great Spirits hands and not my own.

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

As her mind was pulled away from Vaan’s scent, Dawn’s shoulders straightened pushing herself up to her full height of 5’ 10” trying to give off the appearance she was much more alert than she was feeling. The lack of heels on her feet didn’t provide her with the additional height she normally liked, but had been no telling what she’d be doing and so she’d opted for the boots instead. Her eyes glanced between Angel’s finger and his face while he stepped closer as if to divulge the world’s greatest secret to her. “The difference is you always walk so much softer than any man I know and I have to strain my ears to even get a heads up you’re coming. It would be much easier if that heart of yours beat like a drum instead of acting like a humming bird.” There was a bit to her voice, but it wasn’t because she was really annoyed at the lieutenant just at the lack of sleep. She was having a hard time sleeping the past couple of weeks and she couldn’t place her finger on why. Did it have something to do with Adrienne and her screwing around with other members of the court behind the king’s back? Or was it because her family life was going up in flames around her face?

“Awake or about to pass out from boredom?” The guards still had a good three hours but if they needed a little motivation to stay away, Dawn was more than ready to yell in someone’s face. Hell, it might even help herself wake up out of her strange foggy mind. Eyeing her brother in law, she wasn’t too surprised by the one word answer or the rough voice that went along with it. Half the time, he liked playing up his simpleton ways just to keep the guards underestimating his mind, which Dawn and Summer both knew as far greater than most. He was the one who’d come up with the idea of purposefully breaking through the guard’s defenses to see where they were the weakest. So far, it had been working brilliantly and Dawn made sure Angel knew that since most of the guards on the outside were always alert for a sudden ‘inspection’ by the giant lycan.

“So let me get this straight, instead of being with my sister making love doing things happy married couples do, you’d rather be here in a place you dislike talking to your sister? Did I get all that?” Arching an eyebrow at him, Dawn pushed off from the wall and stood toe to toe with her brother in law. Naturally she had to stare up at him, but she never let that cause her any problems and acted as if they were even in height. She wanted her sister to be happy and Angel made her smile in a way Dawn had never seen her do before, she wasn’t about to let him get out of his duty to his mate because he wasn’t using that brain she knew he had. “You two are the only ones going to give my parents pups so stop using that curse mumbo jumbo on me and get busy.” There were no illusions in her mind about ever having kids, not that she didn’t want them, but it took two to do the deed and it was kind of hard to find a man that could keep up with her. The males she’d been with couldn’t handle her strong personality and were only good for one night stands.

“Stop snarling at me. You’re scary enough without it.” A smirk tugged at Dawn’s lip while trying not to laugh at her brother in law. She had a hard time finding many lycans, humans, or even vampires she as terrified of. Tilting her head slightly, she heard footsteps and wondered if Vaan had finally made up his mind to where he was heading this early in the morning. And why the hell had she been awaken by a guard? It wasn’t normal for them to even think of awakening her to tell her the king was out and part when he was simply in the castle. Now, when he did go outside that was when someone normally found her typically in the middle of training a new guard were she would have to hand the training over to Angel or the next highest ranking guard around. Taking a deep breath in, she instantly picked up on the scent and felt her stomach turn to liquid making her want to slap herself for being so silly when it was only King Vaan.

[Vaan Niall]

Today he had been restless. Today his mind had been confused, full of thoughts of her. Vaan was losing a battle with his emotions, developing feelings for someone he shouldn't. It was highly frustrating for someone in his position. Normally he would be either struck in a meeting with members of his council or in his office going over paperwork. Stretching his legs was good for his health unlike his mistress Adrienne who brought him nothing but stress and headaches.

Vaan had managed to straighten things out with his mistress. Again he had been the one to apologize, he had brought her favorite flowers which she had quickly accepted. Adrienne had pleasured him with that naughty mouth of her, he knew all too well. A smirk played on his lips as the last few hours played over like a movie in his mind.

Two scents brought him back to reality, away from his lustful daydream. Both were familiar, Dawn and her brother in law Angel. The two most trusted members of his guard. Turning the corner, entering the hallway. His eyes quickly found the two of them.

He a towering muscular lycan dressed like he always was. He stood out like in his court of finely dressed nobles and courtiers. Vaan welcomed the change and would not force a uniform upon the man, he could be trusted. Dawn well she looked as beautiful as the dawn which she was named after.

"Captain, Lieutenant" He spoke, his voice controlled like a king's should be when addressing his subjects. Only a few servants wondered past, keeping their head down and out of trouble as they went about their daily duties. It was a common occurrence seeing the two standing before him together. If you found one, the other was not far behind.

The bond between Angel and Dawn was tight. Vaan enjoyed to see the two of them interact like brother and sister. It warmed him up inside. This was something he never knew, being an only child but his sons acted the same way with one another. Many words were on the tip of his tongue but he had bite down, hold back. Something could not be said in the company of others even if he desired to.

[angel]

Life had been so simple before, his life before fate had changed the course he was upon. He wondered at times what life would have been like had he not fought the lycan that had attacked his village. Each and every time he thought about it he doubted that it would have changed, he had been raised as a warrior and hunter. To his people they were the same thing, a hunter or men or food either and the same. Often though he came to realize that life as a mortal would have left him always looking for something that he would never find. Yet he felt complete around his mate. Summer, just had an effect, an aura about her that brought out the fact that as large and gruff as he may seem he was in fact a very gentle person. Not many had seen him walking in the forest though. Of surrounded by animals of the forest talking to a raven, or listening to a Coyote. Such things were not normal among white men, in his own people many felt the call to the animals of the wilds, it was part of who they were and what they believed as a people.

“So let me get this straight, instead of being with my sister making love doing things happy married couples do, you’d rather be here in a place you dislike talking to your sister? Did I get all that? You two are the only ones going to give my parents pups so stop using that curse mumbo jumbo on me and get busy.”

Angel, was a passive sort, not one to give into emotions and yet in his life. He had to learn to control them in order to control the animal and from that he gained a peace that made it hard to stir a rage in him, only when it came upon him it was that much deeper and harder to stop. A rising river born from a slow moving stream. It was not often that he felt that tide rising and he had learned to keep it held in check and pushed down and away from himself. To stay separate from it. His love life, his private time was not something he was about to speak to Dawn about. Yes she was his commanding officer, but it felt wrong to discuss his physical relationship with her sister with her. So instead of responding he ignored her paying attention instead to Vaan, as he moved closer to their location. Even with that however he noticed the lack of guards pacing with him. Dawn didn't seem to notice though she also didn't seem to be very alert or awake either. But Vaan, was supposed to have a guard near him at all times, Dawn after all didn’t trust anyone and as such tended to maintain a guard around him.

"Captain, Lieutenant"

Angel, took stock of the scene, the smell that hung upon Vaan, was that of the whore woman Adrienne. In all honesty Angel, along with his mate felt that the king would do best with a common woman, it would bring a sense of equality, give the commoners a voice that they didnt have at the moment. It would change the game of course, but it also would open doors to the lower ranks. It would show them that they could rise above their position. It was an opinion that he had never spoken to any but his mate. But he shared all thoughts with her.

“Vaan,”

A single word spoken, he felt no need or reason to say more, it was not lack of respect that kept him from stating the title but rather a lack of need to use it. He knew the mans position but power didn’t define the man and if he was forced to use the title upon him, it would make Vaan less worthy of the helm he bore. Plus to say more meant he would have to act more intelligent than he honestly wished to. It was mostly his eyes the way he moved that spoke for him most of the time. Either way something felt off something in the air that simply didn’t belong there. Only he couldn’t place it.

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

Dawn shook her head, no surprised that Angel didn’t respond when she spoke of his relationship with her sister. It annoyed her that she had to hear it from Summer every little detail between them and how her twin fawned over the male knowing she had no one to even consider in that light. Half the time she wanted to snap at her sister for being so selfish in constantly speaking of their relationship, the other part of the time she loved seeing how the light in her eyes glowed, sparked at the simple mention of her mate. What Summer and Angel had was something Dawn wished for, but doubted she’d ever find in this life time. Sometimes, she was content in the idea of watching over others like a silent guardian who would lay her life down to save another.

Vaan’s scent filled Dawn’s nose causing her eyes to instantly seek him out spotting him walking around the corner towards them. If she wasn’t better trained at her own emotions, her mouth would have hung opened completely at a loss for words. Instead her eyes rolled over his body taking in his appearance before locking her eyes with the King. But another scent filled her nose that hung around the king like a dirty blanket, Lady Adrienne. Closing her eyes, she shoved her annoyance and anger out of her body before she released her inner wolf on the damn woman. Who was she to even think of questioning Vaan’s pick in women? Even if the said woman had slept with his son.

“Your Highness.” Dawn nodded respectfully, again not surprised that Angel called the King by his first name. She knew his ways were different from her own, but her habit was much harder to break. Flicking her eyes behind the king, she noted his lack of anyone shadowing his movements. That, more than him been with Adrienne, pissed her off far greater than a guard stepping out of place. “Wasn’t Jared supposed to be on your tail?” Had that been the idiot who’d slammed on her door to tell her the king was moving? That was another reason she barely trusted anyone to watch over Vaan aside from Angel, they always fucked it up. Damn, she needed sleep before she passed out. Right then, even her visions was blurring slightly making her curse under her breath while rubbing her eyes trying to force her body to keep working properly.

“Next time I tell you to stay home, Lieutenant, do it. You will not report in tomorrow. Do you hear me?” Dawn needed to focus on her brother in law to not allow her mind to drift off to that dangerous place it liked to be whenever Vaan was in a close proximity without anyone really around. Her voice wasn’t joking any longer with Angel, she was sick of this crap where he didn’t listen to a simple order to stay with her sister for a few days. Nothing was going to happen in that time and if something did everything would be fine, she had survived years without the large guy watching over her shoulder, she’d still survive when he retired.

[Vaan Niall]

One thing was certain in Vaan's mind, when it came to the tall, muscular Angel he held deep respect for him even if he never asked him formally. He could easily brush this off and carry on a conversation with the man but others would view this as wrong. At the end of the day he was king and made the rules around here.

"how are the most recent batch of trainees coming along?" He could not help be curious. These two were the toughest trainers he had but the results spoke for themselves. The guards that came out the other end, were of the highest calibers and worthy of a position here at court.

"He was but he is easy to lose in these winding halls" He joked but every word was true. Jared was nothing compared to the two standing before him. He could not shake Dawn, the way he could lose various other members of the guard but the question was, why would he want to shake of Dawn? There were moments when he soaked in her silent company, she was a diamond among the rough.

"Captain, I do believe you should head home" he said, worried that she was overdoing it once again. He hated to see her like this, exhausted and open to attack. Dawn should listen to what she preaches sometimes.

Dawn wasn't the only one suffering from being so close to her, when his emotions were causing him pain and those blasted dreams. His brother wolf was growling in his ear, wanting nothing more than to pounce on her but he was the one on control. Vaan had no choice but to tighten the leash and force the wolf back in the darkest part of his mind.

Control was everything to the King of lycans but every time he was around his captain, he felt his control slip and wolf slowly take the controls. This was not good, not good at all.

[angel]

Had the hall became more tense, he honestly felt that he could cut something in the air. Of course with the way that Vaan and Dawn were looking, or in Dawn's care not looking at the other had him wondering if something had happened between the two. Normally Dawn did better at pretending to not be interested and yet here he could read it on her face. He felt that he was intruding on something as he was told to take the next few days off … for the second day in a row. He wondered if maybe it was a good thing to do. He watched the King and Vaan for a moment, just seeing how each would react to each other as he slowly slipped away.

He was quiet and each of them were distracted so he was able to vanish in a simple manner, and more than that he needed to get outside the palace was simply getting to stuffy as he headed towards him home, orders were orders after all.

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

“Let me put it this way sire, this week they’ve only broken eight ribs, three arms, a couple of noses, and one minor scratch to a skull. Not too bad for their sixth week.” It might have sounded bad but with the rate lycans healed those injuries had been momentary pain compared to what it would have felt it they were human. Those injuries had all healed up in a day if not a few hours. Dawn was harsh on the recruits because she had to be, Angel knew the drill better than anyone. There would be no one babying the men and few women out there in the field if someone attacked the palace. By the time they were done with them, the guards would be able to move with a speed they lacked before coming and a strength most lycans envied.

Dawn blamed everything on her lack of sleep. Her inability to keep her face blank, her moodiness, and her sister wolf playing havoc on her already flip flopping emotions it all went back to no sleep for the past few days. Nothing, not even one of those power naps humans were always raving about. Groaning, she rubbed her face again struggling to keep her legs from buckling under her own weight. She hadn’t felt this terrible since she first shifted into her werewolf form all those years ago. It still hurt but not nearly to the point she lost the strength in her toned legs. No, this fatigue was completely from so little sleep on the Captain’s part and she couldn’t pin point the exact reason she couldn’t seem to fall asleep most nights. “Head home? But I just got up.” The most pathetic and weary smile found a home on Dawn’s lips while trying to ease the tension in the air but found she just didn’t have it in her to fake a real smile even for Vaan.

On minute Angel was right beside her and the next the big guy was gone. She honestly hated when he did that. It made her seem old when she couldn’t keep track of her own damn men when he pulled his little disappearing acts, not that she had any right to complain since she did the same moves to Vaan or anyone she as tailing. It came with the nature of her job, not being seen or even letting it known she was there protecting someone was part of her ways. However, she didn’t complain since she had told him to go home. It would have been nicer if he’d left without the confrontation but life was never that simple.

“Your Highness, may we speak about -” A strange dizziness swept over Dawn forcing her to clutch at her head while groaning under her breath. She felt downright sick to her stomach like she hadn’t eaten in days and maybe just maybe she hadn’t because between watching Vaan, keeping an eye on Henry, and making her routine rounds of the perimeter she might have skipped a meal or two. Her arm reached out blindly trying to grab for the wall but her vision was already blurring until she saw nothing. Dawn’s legs gave out from under her weight forcing her to start falling for the floor. Her mind had finally forced her body to stop and sleep.

[Hayley, Angel is gone but feel free to save Dawn from cracking her head open please. =) There is something very important she needs to tell Vaan as soon as she wakes up. ]

[Vaan Niall]

Everything had been fine then Dawn had started to fall towards the tiled floor. Time seemed to slow around them, Vaan could not let her head collide with floor. It would only end badly and he did want to try and explain this to Angel.

His body moved, his arms wrapping around her waist pulling her into his arms. Her head resting against his chest, acting like a cushion for the unconscious captain. By the time he had realized what happened, she was out of harms way but in his arms. If anyone happened upon this scene, gossip would start. Tongues would wag, his mistress would scream until her voice box hurt. 'Oh what fun that would that be' He thought sarcastically.

Dawn needed a doctor and soon. Shifting her in his arms, making it easier for him to carry her. Vaan started off down the corridor, in the general direction of guest suites. With every stride he took, his worry grew for the woman that been in recent weeks growing on him.

How was it possible that when he needed someone, anyone there was no-one around. Fate was working against him, a frown set across his features. The hall spread out in front of him, bare of life and seemed to go on forever. What was he going to do? Vaan had no medical training, after all he was only a blacksmith's son who ended up with a crown upon his head. He just had to keep on searching down this hall.

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

Dawn’s body had completely relaxed when her brain had forced her to shut down so she could recover from being over worked. The warm body pressed against hers registered only enough to make her think maybe passing out in the hall wasn’t a very well thought out plan. As if she had planned the whole situation from the start…NOT. Her mind slipped away into a deep dream state where she wasn’t the Captain of the palace guards. Instead, she was Dawn, lycan, sister, daughter, and a lover to a male that was her equal. In her mind, she was worry free of the silly games played by the Chancellor or the nobles for power. The world around her was only trees and wide open space to run with a clear blue sky racing over her head with a light breeze pulling at her dark hair. The air was fresh, clean that only held a small trace of salt water in it.

“Vaan…I need…” Her voice trailed off into mumbles but ‘you’ hung clearly on her lips to die in the cool air. There was no denying that she spoke in her sleep, but only after long periods of staying awake from being under severe stress. Under her eyelids, the flicker of her orbs was noticeable telling whoever that looked that the Captain was dreaming. Back in her dream world, the once blue sky was growing dark as if a summer storm had rolled in from nowhere while the man in her dreams turned his back on Dawn. His words were lost over the whistle of the wind but she had a gut twisting feeling he was leaving for another woman, instantly the image of Adrienne flashed in the dark clouds. It seemed even in her dreams the Captain was never free of the court. “Adrienne…you vagabundo…” This time her words were spoken in a deep growl, clearly not a compliment even if someone didn’t understand the Spanish word for tramp.

Subconsciously, Dawn’s body moved towards the warm body until her nose was pressed against Vaan’s neck where she was able to take deep breaths of his scent. It seemed to calm her mind until the dream just brushed away leaving her able to rest in the King’s arms. Once again, her body seemed to melt against Vaan’s form as his musky scent washed over her easing her active mind. She had no idea he had picked her up and was moving her through the halls looking for help. She was content to remain in his arms passed out for a little while longer. Any thought of what Adrienne might say if she saw them had been completely cleared from her mind; any thought of how ashamed she should be was thrown straight from her mind.

As quickly as she has passed out, Dawn’s eyes snapped open. Her eyes were alert but her body wasn’t in the mood to listen to her silent commands to move. In her mind, her sister wolf was purring when she realized who was holding her so close. “Your Highness?” Looking up slowly to his eyes, she wasn’t sure what to make up the situation until she remembered blacking out. Her heart kept pounding against her chest at their closeness knowing this wasn’t very proper for either of them. “It’s safe to put me down.” Already, she was wiggling to move herself out of Vaan’s arms while her wolf whined at her trying to distance them.

[Vaan Niall]

What was he going to do! Vaan had never been in a situation like this one. Yes he had been present at the birth of both his sons but this was in a different league altogether. Never before had he held one of his guards on his arms.

What left her lips confused him but his brother wolf it drove close to the edge. Her words trailed off into mumbles, he could not help but be curious at how that sentence ended. No he would not be curious, it was entering territory he wanted to stay away from. The King could not help but try to imagine what she was seeing in her dreams. Something to do with him, something to do with Adrienne but he could not be sure.

Vaan did not understand the words that followed his mistress's name, but if he had then questions would have followed naturally. It was conversation that was bound to happen eventually but today was not the day for such conversation between Captain and King.

Heat rose up from his chest, turning his cheeks slightly red. The very movement of her body into his was making his wolf grow more aggressive with each passing second she was in his arms, against his chest. Oh what was he going to do now?

Vaan carried on searching, oh where was everyone? How was it possible that no-one was around and wandering down this particular hallway. However his worry left him, Dawn was awake, moving around in his arms. Thank god, no harm was done. Yes he should put her down but the strange thing was that his brother wolf didn't want him to. A soft, you better not do that growl rumbled through his mind. The wolf did not control his actions.

"Of course Captain" He said hastily, lowering his arms in order to let her climb out of his hold.

[Captain Dawn Roseburn]

Dawn’s mind was still in a haze while she opened her eyes. All she knew was that the body holding her tenderly shouldn’t be doing that. Everything in her mind was screaming to move, move very quickly away from the warm arms holding her. Shaking her head, her eyes stared up recognizing Vaan, a little amazed that she was in his arms. They hadn’t been this close since the dance in court nights and nights ago. Barely remembering what she had been dreaming about when she passed out, she slowly began to learn what her brain had come up with the more she stared up at Vaan. She felt awful for even thinking about the King in such a light and Lady Adrienne, oh Luna, she had no right to be jealous of her.

That didn’t stop the fact that deep down, after having a talk with Summer on their birthday, Dawn knew she needed to speak up to Vaan about his mistress. The way things were going someone was going to get hurt if Adrienne continued to play leap frog from one bed to anther while still pretending to only be with the King. And if Adrienne hurt Vaan in any way, Dawn wouldn’t be responsible for her actions against the whore. “Thank you for not letting me hit my head.” It was only a guess since her head didn’t feel like it had been slammed against concrete, a feeling she had known while being a guard.

“I’m sorry about that, Your Highness.” Rubbing her head, she attempted to stop the world from spinning around. It seemed she had somehow forced herself to wake up when her body was in high demand of a good long rest. As her feet touched the ground, Dawn rested a hand on Vaan’s shoulder to steady herself since her legs still weren’t ready to hold her weight up. For once, she was grateful for her combat boots instead of having thrown on high heel boots that morning. There would have been no way she’d have stood on her own in heels right then. “I suppose you were right, I should head home.” But she smirked weakly at Vaan before speaking again. “But let’s take bets on if that will happen or not.” They both knew how stubborn she was, anything less than an order she didn’t listen to if she thought for one moment she was needed at the palace, a few times she had ignored orders to go home when a gut feeling had surfaced. Those times she had always been right about stay.

Noticing her fingers had curled into his shirt at his shoulder, Dawn blushed slightly before removing her hand much to the regret of her sister wolf. Inside, she was whimpering and begging to just roll over at the king’s feet for a belly rub or any sort of attention he might give.