Casteel narrowed his honey gold eyes at Kieran as he paced the study.

"You're going to walk a hole into the damn floor." Casteel complained but Kieran either didn't hear him or was ignoring him, likely the latter. "I don't like this, it's too much of a risk, you've no idea who you'll be letting in to your home." Kieran is Casteel's closest friend, his advisor and the person he trusts most in this world but sometimes he worried too much. "Kieran, it's already done, people will be arriving as soon as the weeks end." It likely could be sooner which is why the staff was reading the rooms and the grounds for guests already. "You knew this was happening, why is it riding you now?" "You'll have to be vigilant." Kieran answered, but completely ignored his question. "Always am." Casteel grinned wide enough that one of his dimples appeared. "And keep up with training." "Let's go right now, you look like could do with blowing off some steam." Casteel's grin widened with Kieran turned his piercing blue eyes on him and scowled. His eyes were striking against his dark skin, it was always the first thing someone noticed about Kieran. That and his scowl. Casteel thought as they headed down to the training ring.

Casteel and Kieran peeled off their shirts and grabbed their swords, the males circled each other once, twice, and then they collided. Neither male held back, Casteel was strong because he was a vampry and Kieran because he was wolven, the clash of swords rang around the training ring as they pushed each other until both males were panting and dripping in sweat.

"You held back on that last blow." Kieran criticised as they walked from the training circle. "Yes because I didn't want to decapitate you." "I would have dodged it, you're more predictable that you think." Casteel had to refrain from rolling his eyes. "I'm going to the lake for a swim." He informed Kieran who headed towards his rooms.

With his shirt tucked into the back of his pants Casteel walked the grounds until he reached the lake, he was still glistening with sweat from his training with Kieran and was looking forward to sinking into the cold water. After kicking aside his boots he opened the laces of his pants and dropped them, leaving his hardened body naked. With a groan he sank into the water until fully submerged, and when he came back up he ran his fingers through his wet hair to push it back from his eyes. That's when he saw her.

Walking along the edge of the lake, in a world of her own and picking wildflowers was a beautiful female. Casteel quirked his head to the side, like a predator stalking his prey and watched as she made it all the way around to his pile of clothes. He was low in the water now, his eyes peering at her as he looked to see what she would do. She toed his boots first, then crouched to examine his clothes before searching the area. Casteel swam closer, slow enough to barely disturb the water. He lifted his nose from beneath the water and inhaled, the scent of her was tantalising.

"Planning to rob me while I bathe?" He asked in a teasing tone, his lips were pulled into a side smirk, his deep dimple on his right cheek showing.