"What do you want, Bladen?" she demanded.

"I am only a humble supplicant, Highness," he taunted. "I've come to apply for the position of consort. I only learned of your search a short time ago, else I'd have arrived much sooner."

She made a rude sound of disbelief.

"Protector, I have returned to serve you in whatever capacity you desire." Bladen allowed one hand to drift down and over his groin, and was gratified to see her eyes fasten upon his thighs, drawn there against her will.

Kira drew her gaze away. "What I desire is for you to leave this fortress and get out of my kingdom immediately," she bit out, voice strained.

"You've grown into a beautiful, sensual woman, Kira," Bladen purred. "You'll have to tell me how I compare to your other lovers."

Kira flushed a lovely pink color. "You seem to be under the delusion you'll provide something for me to judge against," she scorned. "I assure you, I'm out of your league now, Bladen. Maybe you should just go back to wherever you've been hiding these last five years and find yourself some untried girls to deflower. That seems to be your style."

Bladen gave her his lopsided grin and nodded his approval at her acerbic tongue. She had indeed grown up. The coltish, shy girl he remembered had been replaced by a fiery, confident woman.