[Disclaimer: This chapter contains suggestive writing that is borderline PG-13. Viewer discretion is advised. Feel free to bring your mother along for the ride~ hehe!]

Before I could say anything, he began to kiss my neck tenderly. My skin seemed to burn from the contact. I knew I should push him away, but I didn't have the strength to.

I forced myself to speak, "D-Dante! W-We can't…"

He paused between kisses, "Why?"

I blushed as I struggled to keep hold of my sanity, "Because Millie is probably watching…"

"And?"

My mouth dropped, "And we can't do THAT while she is watching!!"

He blinked, "I don't mind if you don't."

I narrowed my eyes, "Who are you and what did you do to Dante?"

He chuckled, "Millie saved my life. Thanks to her I can hold you in my arms once more. Letting her watch is the least I can do."

WHAT THE &@#%?!

Doesn't he hate Millie? Now he is willing to let her watch?! This is too suspicious!

NO! That's not the point here! I can't do THAT while someone is watching us!!!

He smirked as if reading my thoughts, "Don't lie to yourself. You like an audience."

I nearly jumped, "W-WHAT?! I am not an exhibitionist!"

He tilted his head, "I seem to recall you flashing me your bare thigh on many occasions."

"…"

I have no response.

He smirked, "So shall we continue?"

How can I possibly say no at this point?

I gave in to my carnal desires and allowed myself to completely take in Dante. We lay in each other's embrace as we panted in exhaustion. Dante kissed my forehead before his golden eyes traced every inch of my body that was held within his arms.

I flushed from sudden embarrassment, "Oi… Could you not stare at me like that?"

Dante chuckled as he kissed the top of my head, "I can't help it. It is our first time being together like this. I want to remember it."

I raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean the first time? This is the second time."

"…"

My face dropped. Ack! I accidentally let it slip!

Dante seemed to be connecting the dots with a blank face, "So that night… When I was drunk… I… You… We… Panties…"

I looked away with a guilty expression, "You were truly a beast that night."

He looked down with a pout, "How could I forget that?"

I kissed his cheek, "Don't be so sad. I certainly didn't forget. Plus, we have all the time in the world now."

Dante suddenly pulled me on top of him, "Again."

My face paled, "W-Wolf… You really are a ravenous wolf."

How does he have this much energy when he just broke out of prison and almost died?!

He smirked at me, "You promised."

…I am starting to regret that decision.

Dante noticed my expression and pretended to feel hurt, "Well since you are so weak, I will go easy on you…"

Weak!? Who is weak?!

I leaned forward and kissed him firmly. I pulled back with a determined look in my eye, "Bring it on."

Round two. FIGHT!

I lay face down slapping the ground, "I… Admit… Defeat…"

Dante chuckled and began to kiss my back, "It seems like you need more training…"

I groaned, "Have mercy…"

As we lay beside each other, a sudden noise sounded in the distance. I looked over in the direction with a frown, "We shouldn't wait around any longer. We are still close to the Sanki Capital and who knows what they are doing."

Dante nodded, "Let's go."

I blushed as I scratched my cheek, "O-Or… We could just hurry back to the Imperial territory. We will be safe once we are there. Then we can take our time getting back."

Dante smiled smugly at me as his face drew tantalizingly close to mine, "Take our time?"

UGGH!

I can't handle his teasing anymore!

I spoke quickly, "W-We should get dressed."

He nodded before taking one last glance at me, "Are you sure?"

I frowned, "Yes."

I went to stand up and immediately fell face forward on the grass. Dante rushed to my side in a panic, "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

Did something happen??? I WILL SAY!

I CAN'T WALK YOU A**!

AND IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT!

I turned my head to look at him with a forced smile, "I just wanted to feel the soft grass on my face one last time before leaving."

Dante stared at me with a blank expression, "Ah."

Did he really believe me? Hah! Well that works in my favor then. I can't let him know that my legs feel numb from over exertion. If he knew, he would become too arrogant.

He bent down and began to squeeze my upper thighs, "I heard that sometimes if you work out too hard you can lose the feelings in your legs."

Why does it sound like he is talking about actual training?

I felt his hands move up in a kneading fashion, "Can you feel this?"

"WHAAAA!"

MONSTER! HE'S NOT A BEAST! HE'S A MONSTER!

I trembled, "Have mercy…"

He chuckled as he squeezed me, "Since you can't move, I guess you will need my help getting dressed."

I turned back to look at him and saw his all too eager expression. My face twitched, "Yes?"

Dante's eyes flashed from excitement as he helped me sit back up. Then he gathered the new clothes and began to lay them out to get me dressed…

However, he wasn't putting the clothes on me. Instead, he only seemed to be teasing and purposely taking his time. My face heated up from his suggestive movements.

I shouted out in embarrassment, "A-ARE YOU TRYING TO DRESS ME OR GROPE ME?!"

His hand paused, "Grope?"

I began to smack him playfully with a forced frown, "You idiot! Just hurry up already. I want to get out of this terrible Kingdom already."

Dante chuckled and nodded. He stopped playing around and quickly helped me get dressed before soon getting dressed himself. I leaned forward and watched him as he began to pull up his pants.

Since he teased me, why can't I tease him?

I casually reached out and pulled down his trousers. I feigned an innocent expression, "Oops. My bad~"

"…"

He eyed me closely as he pulled up his pants again. I blinked innocently at him. He watched me carefully as he went to grab the new shirt I had packed. He waited for me to move, but I only watched him with a grin. He went to put on the shirt…

…I smacked it out of his hands.

"…"

I smiled smugly, "Fufu~ It looks like you are having a hard time putting your shirt on. Perhaps I should help you?"

Dante smiled as he took a knee and held out the shirt, "Please?"

I gulped down my drool and went to put the shirt over his head. I could feel his soft fluffy hair tickle my hands as I pulled it down. My hand went slow as I felt everything underneath that shirt.

Exquisite jawline…

Protruding adams apple…

A well-toned chest complete with the oh so provocative abs…

Lower…

Lower…

Lower…

Dante grabbed my hand, "Didn't you say not to take our time?"

I pouted, "Yes…"

He flicked my forehead softly, "Come on. We can finish what we started back in the Imperial Kingdom."

I giggled slyly while looking away, "Seeing as how I can't walk, perhaps you can carry me again?" I quickly recalled how he used to carry me and clarified, "Princess-style. Not like a sack of potatoes."

Fern slithered onto his wrist and went to hide within his sleeve. Dante began to carry me back as I told him the direction to go.

This isn't so bad. It's actually quite calming being carried. Plus, I am less likely to fall down the hill this time.

Once we, by we I mean Dante, hiked up the mountain, we stopped in front of the cave. We both turned back to look at the horizon. The sun was starting to rise over illuminating the landscape. I could see the citizens gathered in front of the Palace.

I guess that means the rebellion was successful. Now that I have time to slow down and think, I am a bit sad I couldn't say goodbye to the new friends I met along the way.

I am also a bit disappointed I didn't get my chance to kill Simon.

Dante smiled while watching my expression, "Should we go back?"

I looked ahead, "Hell no. Let's get out of this godforsaken Kingdom already."

Dante nodded and went to step into the cave. I held out the candle to illuminate the pathway so he could see. As we walked, I felt Dante stop. The sound of shuffling sounded from the ceiling above.

I immediately turned pale, "Right… I forgot to mention this cave had hundreds of bats. They had attacked me when I walked through the first time."

The bat's eyes all shot open as if they heard their cue. Dante looked up with a frown. His golden eyes glared at the bats mercilessly. If the bats weren't already scared already, Fern slipped out of his shirt to hiss at them in warning. The bats shrunk back trembling in fear of the intruders.

My mouth dropped open in disbelief. Are they seriously scared right now?!

Dante continued walking as the bats tried their hardest to blend into the ceiling above. Dante stopped when the path forked, "Which way?"

I can't remember the paths I took! D*mn. I should have marked it.

I scratched my cheek, "Uhh… It's probably best for me to not answer that. You know... Bad luck..."

Dante nodded and started walking. He was a lot luckier than I was. We were able to make it out of the cave with only taking the wrong path once. Once we were outside, a full day had almost passed.

I snuggled against his chest while in his arms, "Congratulations. We made it back to the Imperial Kingdom."

Dante leaned down to give me a kiss, "Shall we make camp?"

I nodded, "Yes. Because I am starving."

Dante put me down on a log as he started putting together a fire. I watched him full of admiration. Oh look, he can even start a fire the first time he tries. I guess that means that I just need to borrow his good luck from now on.

After the fire was started, Dante went off and soon came back with two dead squirrels. As he prepared them, I bowed my head, "Sorry mister squirrel that we must eat you. However, I promise that I will enjoy every bite."

Dante chuckled and handed me a skewer. I began to gobble down the meal. Dante didn't eat, but only watched me instead. Once I finished, he handed me the other one. I pushed it back and shook my head, "No. You need food too."

"I'm fine."

I scowled at him, "No. If you don't eat then how will you be able to keep that perfect Adonis-like body?! Nope! I won't allow it."

"So you only like me for my body?"

I blinked at his sudden question. It's true that I really enjoy that body and handsome face of his…

I scooted over to him and sat on his lap coyly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled bashfully, "No… Not just that."

He nudged me, "Then?"

I flushed in embarrassment, "I love everything about you. I love how serious and diligent you are when you train. You would always work hard even after they considered you the best. Even though you can be a bit sadistic at times, I feel like I won the lottery because you chose to stay by my side. Whenever I stare into your golden eyes I feel as if you are looking directly into my soul and it makes my heart skip. You don't work against me, but instead you work with me. You have always encouraged my goals no matter how ridiculous they are."

I sighed, "You are so devoted to me. I really don't deserve you."

He bent down to kiss my lips, "I am the one who doesn't deserve you." I felt as his finger traced the old wound I had on my back. His eyes were casted down, "It was my fault you were always in danger. I even… I even hurt you with my own sword…"

Seeing his eyebrows pinched together in a painful expression, I felt my heart stir. I leaned forward and kissed his forehead. I rested my forehead against his as our noses touched. I spoke softly, "Stop thinking about that. It really wasn't your fault. I was the one who was foolish to think I should jump in the way to stop the two of you."

"But I still hurt you."

"Let me ask you this, would you have hurt me on purpose?"

His golden eyes snapped up to look at mine, "No! Never!"

I smiled at him, "Exactly. The whole thing was just an unfortunate accident."

"But…"

"If you are that concerned with it, then just make it up to me."

His golden eyes shimmered, "Make it up to you?"

I nodded, "Promise that you will never leave my side."

I felt his grip tightened as he held me closer. His forehead rubbed against mine lovingly, "I vow that from today forward, I will never leave Seri's side. If I do, may god send lighting down to the Earth and strike me down. If I should live, I will spend my life in poverty suffering endlessly from plagues and starvation."

I laughed loudly, "Why such a dramatic vow?"

He smiled, "You will never be able to get rid of me, Seri. I will always be here at your side." He kissed my cheek, "Forever and always."

I nuzzled against him, "Good. If you break your vow, I will never forgive you."

I sat on Dante's lap as he finished his meal. Then we watched the fire while cuddling in each other's arms. I began to tell him everything that had happened in the Sanki Kingdom to the last detail. Dante listened to me with an expressionless face, never once interrupting me.

I sighed, "I'm sorry Dante. I wanted to give you the papers that the Holy Empress wrote herself, but I ended up losing them… I had put them in a hiding spot, but they disappeared. Now you don't get to have any keepsakes of your mother."

Dante shook his head, "That's not true."

I nodded, "Right I forgot about Fern."

"I'm not talking about Fern. I am talking about this."

He pointed to his head with a blank expression. I tilted my head in confusion, "Your face? I guess it does resemble your mother more since you only inherited your eyes from your father."

He flicked my forehead, "No. Not that."

"Ow!" I rubbed my forehead with a pout, "Then what?!"

He chuckled, "Memories."

My eyes lit up in surprise, "Memories?"

He nodded, "Yes. I was young, but I will still always remember the time before I came to live with William and Queen Luna."

I opened my mouth to ask but stopped. I shouldn't pry into his business. Since Simon mentioned he killed their mother, I am sure it wasn't a good memory.

As Dante sat next to me, he glanced at my reaction. He kissed my forehead tenderly and smiled warmly at me. His golden eyes flickered in the firelight. His voice was low, "Would you like me to tell you?"