<div class="floatright">(https://img00.deviantart.net/9350/i/2013/067/7/5/prince_ivan_wolf_by_mad_sama-d5xbtav.jpg)</div><br/>Auren's back stiffened and his leisurely pace slowed further at the sound of his sister's voice.  There was a time he found her call reassuring, but now it put him ill at ease.  His free hand crossed over his body and clasped the Serana's black gauntlet as it held onto his arm.<br/><br/>"Sister.  Lady Serana, meet my beloved sibling, Lady Allura of House Arrakis."  His eyes darted across his sister's body before he looked thoughtfully into her eyes, as if probing to see if anything had changed.<br/><br/>Nothing had.  Ever since Auren had been chosen they were distant and hurt.  A gulf stood between them now and he wondered if they would be able to cross it again.  It pained him--he always admired her strength and determination, along with her more feminine aspects.  He felt she was brandishing the latter at him to hurt him--the way that dress clung to her body, was she trying to remind him of the bond they once shared?  If so, was it to twist the dagger or an expression of sorrow and longing?  Then again, it could be both.  Perhaps even Allura didn't know.<br/><br/>He took her hand and held it up to his cheek, then let her palm rotate around his and returned the gesture.  But the tenderness they usually shared wasn't there--the warmth of her hand on his face came from the body and nothing more.  His heart sighed inwardly.  What had happened to his sister?  The one that rode on the same horse as him when he was too small, that sparred with him until he was no longer an embarassment to his family's martial tradition.  The one who, on discovering the romance between Absalom and Kreyta, was bold enough to decide that she had just as much rights to pursue her feelings and had arrived at Auren's bedchamber without a trace of fear.<br/><br/>"You're as beautiful as ever," he said honestly.  "I hope I find you well. I wish I could linger and speak a while with the three of you."