''Flying''

''I'll Protect You.''

Henry leads Arabella down the corridor and onto an empty balcony. He had seen how uncomfortable she became when Alexander stopped her and it took everything in him not to hit him when he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

Henry knows that he has no right to do something like that, specially since she has yet to accept or refuse his request. And yet, he feels extremely protective of her and Alexis, and he will be damned if he is going to let anyone hurt any of them.

-"Are you okay?"

-"I'm fine. Just needed to get out of there."

-"Did it had anything to do with Lord Roberts?"

-"You saw?" - Her voice so soft and low, he almost missed the question.

-"I did. You looked uncomfortable."

-"According to Josh, he might be interested in courting me."

-"Is that something you want?" - His heart clenched at the thought.

-"I have no interest in Lord Roberts. The man is too full of himself."

-"If I remember correctly, not long ago, you thought the same about me." - He smiles softly at her.

-"But there's a difference. With you, everyone kept telling me that deep down you're a good man and from the moment we met, I thought the same. Granted, it has been challenging at times, but still..." - She smirks, but it quickly fades. -"With him, everyone is telling me the exact opposite. He creeps me out, specially with the way he looks at me."

-"Maybe Josh can talk to him and tell him to leave you alone, if that's something you want."

-"I have a feeling Josh already did that, but apparently, he won't give up that easily."

-"I can talk to him."

-"Are you going to assert your dominance and save me from the big bad wolf?" - The mockery in her tone makes him snort before answering.

-"You don't need me to save you from the big bad wolf. Knowing you, the big bad wolf's head will be mounted on your bedroom wall by the end of the week."

-"You're not wrong." - She laughs, shaking her head at the image.

-"I can talk to Alexander and make him understand that you're not interested in him in a way he will understand."

-"Thank you, but I don't think that will be needed. I'm sure I can handle him, specially now that I know his intentions."

-"If you change your mind, I'll be more than happy to let him know you're off-limits."

-"I'm sure it won't come to that, but if it does, I'll let you know."

-"No matter what, I'll protect you."

Bella smiles and Henry smiles back, feeling her squeezing his hand in thank you, before both look out to the lake.

***

In the darkness of the corridor, Alexander watches the interaction between Bella and Henry, far enough away that he can't hear what they say, but close enough to see just how comfortable they are with each other.

Alexander knows then that this isn't going to be just a quick battle to win Bella over, but a war against the man that stands a little too close to the woman he wants for a wife. A war that he is more than willing to rage. "The Devil won't win. Not this time.", he thinks angrily, as he walks down the corridor back to the Ball.