The last fading rays of sunlight glinted through the halls’ glass windows as Zadion strode down them. His fingers fidgeted absentmindedly with the hilt of his sword as other members of the castle passed. A few of them offered him a smile, but it was mostly brief nods; given only because of his recent post.
When the brash soldier reached the staircase on the northern wing, he began to climb, his footsteps echoing throughout the quiet fortress.  Mirar’s words still rang sharply through his head. “This is the second incident this week Zadion. You are testing my patience. I was hesitant enough in the first place to promote you to this position...” If it wasn’t for Blaise’s words of reassurance that the boy would improve over time, Zadion would have probably been kicked right back out into the stables.
Running a hand through his light hair, he sighed. In light of what had happened this past week, he couldn’t have suspected anything different. After all, he hadn’t been born a soldier or to nobility lines. His rank could be stripped from him easily until he was nothing more then a stable hand again.
The landing led a large foyer leading to a drawing room and several vacant rooms waiting for guests. Zadian turned down the left hall, intending to go and speak with Shiah. The guards at the gate had alerted Mirar of the princess’s new look and the negative attention she had been drawn towards herself and over all to the royal family as a whole. Allowing Shiah to retreat to her room, Zadion had been instantly summoned to Mirar and Blaise’s study. After a lecture from both brothers, he had been sent on his way.
Knocking sharply on the familiar door, he waited for an answer. Even if he was slightly irritated with Shiah, he still believed that she deserved a heads up.
Large green eyes stared back at her as Shiah studied herself in the mirror. What she saw was a pale heart shaped face with high cheek bones and sad brilliant eyes lined with large thick eyelashes. The blond hair that fell past her shoulders in waves was now a rich chocolate that clashed with her pale soft skin.
Leaning closer over the vanity she scrunched up her nose as she took a closer look. Even her eyebrows matched her hair.  A tug from a brush made her glance past her reflexion to the petite girl behind her setting to work relentlessly on the knots.
“I hope you’re pleased. Your hair feels like straw now.”
Shiah’s smile faltered. “Mikala…ow...you don’t like it?”
Mikala stayed silent a moment, her brush now gently combing.  “M’lady...I can’t help it but you look like one of those sharrs ready to jump on someone and steal all their blood. Your hair was so beautiful, everyone said so. Did you see the guards at the gate? I thought they were going to attack us!”
Shiah listened to her friend and lady as her heart started to break. She loved the new look. She certainly stood out in a crowd now. She only wished her brothers would be as accepting. Maybe she should have waited until after her brother’s reception ball. She hadn’t thought of that.
She lowered her eyes from her reflexion as Mikala suddenly started in on her again and the pale girl bit her lip. “I’m sorry…I didn’t think...”
Huffing from her tirade, Mikala, wiped at her eyes quickly trying to hide her trembling lip before she cut Shiah’s apology off. “You should be sorry. We are going to be in so much trouble. You will be lucky if Blaise or Mirar ever let you out of their sight and what about Zadian? He will be lucky not to loose his post...”
Both girls turned their head towards the door, their keen hearing picking up on the footsteps approaching down the wing. Malika pursed her lips as she focused her attention back on Shiah’s hair. They both flinched at the brisk knock on the door. Mikala glanced to the mirror where she met Shiah’s eyes before she stepped towards the door to open it.
Presenting an innocent and dominant air, Shiiah swiveled in her chair as Zadian all but charged through her door.  How barbaric. That was one of things about him that had her so intrigued. She wasn’t sure why, it was a feeling she found to be confusing.
Zadian’s his pale eyes flashed dangerously as they fell on Shiah. He gave a short, courteous nod towards Shiah’s lady-to-be before averting his eyes directly to the young princess perched on her stool giving him a cat like stare.
“I’ve just finished speaking with your brothers,” he stated a little brusquely. “They are not pleased.” Noting her questioning stare, he cut her short before she could speak. “Mirar and Blaise were informed by the gate guards of your new look. They wanted a word with me before they came to you.”
The young princess hardly heard Zadian’s words instead she focused on his face and his build. He was rugged and chipped around the edges, a complete contrast to the razor sharp edges of her brothers. And herself she supposed. Although she hated that.

“I am sorry... I really didn’t mean for you to get the brunt of their anger” She said softly.
Soft fingers tugged on one of her stray dark locks absentmindedly, carefully averting her gaze to Malika. That simple gesture a sign of how bad she actually felt.
Zadian sighed before he leaned back against the door, his arms crossing stubbornly across his thick muscular chest. It was so hard to stay angry with her and he was reminded again just how young she was. But at the same time the responsibility on her shoulders demanded perfection and as her friend and guard it was his duty to see her image to the people stay unmarred.
Shiiah focused her attention away from the tempting man leaning on her door and instead she looked to Mikala for help. Her eyes narrowed and she felt her lip twitch in irritation as followed her friends gaze. The way her assistant was staring up at Zadian set a cold bitter twinge in the pit of her belly. She had never felt that way towards her best friend before and she instantly felt guilty.
Her deep jade gaze lowered her gaze to her lap, the good mood she had been in instantly vanished.  She carefully put on her mask to hide her feelings and gave Zadian a small smile.  “I’m sorry.” She repeated
“Blaise will correct it. He always does…I only wanted to have a little fun” She new she sounded childish but then she was still only a child. At least in the eyes of her elder brothers.
“Malika, why don’t you fetch your girl things from the lady’s downstairs, they shouldn’t have to bring it all up themselves. “ Zadian murmured. He was growing increasingly uncomfortable and restless now that he was under the gaze of two women and still had not gotten his point across. Women sure were manipulative.
Shiiah watched Malika through lowered lashes as she quickly gave their guardian a nod, having blushed under Zadian's gaze and quickly went to do his bidding.  She straightened her back as she prepared herself for another lecture, this time from someone she trusted and cared for. When Zadian latched the door behind her, Shiiah felt a twinge of unease. She didn’t watch him but she could hear his labored breathing as he attempted to subdue his wolfish nature.
She was surprised however when she glanced up to see him watching her. Pale aquamarine hues bore into her own and Zadian was a little disappointed when she shifted her eyes elsewhere. She needs to learn to keep contact, he thought. She’s the one in the power position.
Shiiah kicked herself for showing submission instinctively. Good way to poke the wolf in the eye. She had shown she was submissive to him when it should have been the other way around. She quickly swiveled back to her mirror, trying to hide her lapse.
The look in his eyes was one of predator. She had seen similar looks from her brothers, but never in that hungry way, only in anger. Watching him, it made her hair stand on end down her neck. She could sense the wolf lurking just behind those eyes and she wasn’t about to provoke it further into thinking it was dominant.

When Malika took her leave, Zadion paused for a moment, his intense gaze meeting Shiah’s. Running a hand through his hair as she attempted to mask the sudden show of submission, he moved over to stand behind her.
Zadian’s earlier annoyance with Shiiah disappeared relatively quickly when she flashed him her infamous little glare. It was one of her many interesting traits that had always piqued his interest. Just like the way she was currently winding her fingers absently through her newly colored hair, or the way her hand always found her hip when she was frustrated, or how she would bite her lower lip when she was deep in concentration….. Blinking Zadion returned to the present. His mind was wandering again.
Shaking his head, the soldier attempted to collect his thoughts before he made a fool of himself. He needs to gain better control now that his ranking had gone up. His image could make or break his career.
“What can I help you with Zadian? If you are finished then please leave.”  She hoped that the briskness and demanding tone would set him back in his place or at least his wolf.
A brow arched briefly at her tone. Her words were clipped and had a sharp edge to them. There was more to her actions than she was letting on but her tone and demanding words helped to clear his mind.
Zadian could tell that she was irritated with her brothers as of late. She was after all having her recognition birthday in a few days and he believed it was time that Mirar and Blaise began treating her like an adult. Sighing, he knew that it wasn’t his place to decide how she should be raised; as he had all too recently been reminded.
Shiah watched Zadian closely growing alarmed at his ever changing expression. “What’s wrong?” Her jade hues narrowed suspiciously as he gazed at her reflection, his eyes changing from their unique aqua color to a yellow animalistic color.
“You know, I did prefer your natural color,” he mused, pushing a stray strand back off her face. “But then again you were never one to be like everyone else.” A crooked smile flickered across his features as he studied her reflection in the mirror. Her original hair color had been one of the softest shades of blonde he had ever seen. It matched her large, almost doe-like eyes that lit up her heart-shaped, pixie face perfectly.
His thoughts were starting to drift again as he stood next to Shiiah. The pair of them had grown rather close in the last little while; closer than he would have thought. Although Zadion enjoyed her company, it was something he had to extremely careful about. If her brothers were to discover that there was perhaps more to their relationship than they thought… Clearing his head he sighed again. It wasn’t something he wished to dwell on.
  “Zadian?” Her voice was quiet and calming to his excited nature and she avoided looking him straight in the eye. “You’re scaring me...” He could scent her unease and it set his nerves on fire when he felt a shiver run up her spine beneath his hand.
“Shii, I think it’s time I left you to yourself. You probably want to prepare for your brothers’ tirade,” he said with a chuckle. “Well, Mirar’s anyways.” Shutting his eyes for a moment he stood still, His hands still resting on her shoulders. Shiah watched him closely, her heart starting to pound. She relaxed fractionally when his eyes opened again to reveal his intense blue colored hues.
The young woman was relieved when he let go of her and turned away. She didn’t want to be alone if he lost control of his wolf. He was more dominant then she had thought. Her own wolf still slumbered somewhere inside and had yet to make an appearance. The elders were starting to get alarmed that half of her soul still slept but her brothers suspected it would awake after her recognition day.
The awakening itself changed a person when her personality and the wolf joined. She could turn to a meek little thing or as most of the royalty did, she would find herself a dominant and in need of control over her actions and emotions. What ever the case, the kingdom was waiting to meet the real princess of Dakarai.
Stepping towards the door, Zadion stalled, his hand reaching into his pocket to pull out a small leather pouch. “Oh, I almost forgot,” he said a bit too casually. “Here. Consider it an early birthday present.” With a last faint smirk, the handsome soldier left.