AMY

I smell another dragon on the wind. We are close.

A flutter of excitement stirs in my belly and I wiggle against the sheet holding me against his back. Has to be Claudia and Kael. Is he mated? Can you tell?

He does not like that I am in his territory, Rast sends back after a moment. His thoughts are extremely protective.

His mate is pregnant. He might be a little fussy.

I can feel my dragon mentally snort. A little? He is sending me very angry warnings.

Ask if it’s Kael. Tell him that you bring me to visit my sister. I pat a hand excitedly against Rast’s golden scales. Oh man, I don’t know if she’s going to be mad or glad when she sees me.

Mad?

Mad that I ran away! Well, sort of. More like I fell and you caught me. Whatever. I squeeze him with my thighs. I’m so glad we’re doing this, Rast.

I cannot keep you from your family, he tells me with affection. It is not fair. I know that now. His thoughts add a tinge of amusement. And after seeing you in the human hive this week, I do not think anyone can stop you from something you want.

I giggle with glee. I’ve been a wee bit of a tyrant, I know. Just a small one, though. They just need a firm hand and Gwen isn’t it. But look at how happy she is to pass off the duties to someone else!

It is a good thing, Rast agrees. And they need a tyrant.

In a way, they really do. It’s clear that Gwen’s been a very gentle leader…to the point that some of the people have abused her kindness. The supply stores at Fort Shreveport were in a sad state for such a prosperous little place, and everyone wanted dibs on what the nomads conceded back to us. For all that they’re a small group, their sense of community was lacking, and it took a few meetings to make people understand that it’s better for everyone if we all have enough food, not just a few. I’ve been reorganizing rooms, restructuring where people sleep and how, because some of the elderly were stuck in the stuffiest quarters and that seemed unfair to me. We’ve set up watches, tasks for all and not just those that want to work, and we’re improving the fences and raiding a nearby neighborhood for supplies. Rast’s brought in so much fresh meat that we’ve had to learn how to build a smokehouse so we could cure it.

It has been so much fun.

There are a few fussers that don’t like my changes, but they’re the ones that have been leeching off of the rest of the hardworking group. Everyone will settle in eventually, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things are going when Rast and I return.

It is Kael, my mate tells me. He says his mate is overjoyed and that I am to bring you to their nest “at once” so your sister can hug you and then kill you.

I laugh aloud. She’s not really going to kill me.

I know, or we would not be landing. His thoughts are full of amusement. Are you ready?

I am.

We start to descend, Rast’s wings spreading out as we move lower, heading toward the cluster of broken buildings that make up the Scavenge Lands outside of Fort Dallas. I know which one is Claudia’s home—though it’s not hard to tell, considering that there’s a big golden dragon making slow circles around it. I’m oddly nervous as we move closer, half-worried that Kael is going to attack Rast for some reason. I know he’s my sister’s mate, but he’s always been hers. We’re not even friends, really. We co-existed because of mutual love for my sister, but now knowing my dragon like I do, he can’t form friendships with other women. His brain just doesn’t work that way. Even in Fort Shreveport, Rast tends to treat the other women like they’re slightly annoying bugs.

Will I have to wear pants here? Rast flavors the thought with disgust. Does your sister make her mate wear pants?

No, she doesn’t. You’re safe on that. I pat his neck.

Good. Pants are the worst part of living in a fort.

I’m thankful you suffer on my behalf, I tease him.

Kael flies in next to us, swooping close, and I can see the whirl of his eyes, black and gold. Thankfully, they’re more gold than black, so I relax a little more. Then we’re landing, and I can see my sister waiting below in her open-air apartment, gazing up with hopeful eyes, red hair streaming around her face.

We land gently, and then Rast carefully grabs the sheet and helps me slide down off his back. I’m getting better at it, though I’ll never be great. Above us, Kael settles on his favorite perch on one of the broken ledges, watching from overhead.

I’m barely on the ground before Claudia flings herself at me, wrapping me in her arms. “I’m so mad at you,” she sobs, squeezing me tight.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, and then I start to cry, too.

Rast ruffles his wings and then I feel him blow a warm breath against my hair, alarmed. My mate?

“Happy tears,” I tell him as I chuckle and pull away from Claudia. “I promise they’re happy tears.”

“I’ve been so worried about you,” Claudia says, squeezing my arms. “I can’t decide if I want to shake you for the next hour or if I just want to keep hugging you.” Her eyes widen and she smacks her forehead. “Oh my gosh, I’ve forgotten about your leg. Let me get you a seat.”

“I’m good. I can walk.” It’s funny, but ever since I’ve been spending time with Rast, I’ve been on my feet a lot more, and even more in Fort Shreveport. I think it’s helping, too, because my leg doesn’t ache nearly as much as it used to. Using it more is helping it get stronger, I think. Or maybe I just refuse to let it slow me down any longer.

“Oh. Okay.” She sits down at the table and waits for me, her hand on her stomach.

Rast noses my hair. I will wait above.

Going to chat with Kael? I ask.

I do not know. His thoughts seem guarded. If he remembers what I am, he will hate me.

He won’t. That’s the past. I turn and press a kiss to his muzzle. You’re mine now and I’m not going to let anyone be mean to you.

My fierce little mate, he sends affectionately. He noses me one more time and then lifts his wings, hopping up to a higher perch across from Kael.

I turn back to my sister and give her a little smile, then move to the table. “Emma and Sasha around?”

She shakes her head. “Sasha and Dakh are still at the beach. Emma went to Fort Orleans to see if they have mated dragons there.”

I frown as I sit down across from her. “Fort Orleans? I’ve heard it’s a bit wild there. Why?”

Claudia purses her lips. “There’s something fishy going on at Fort Dallas. It’s surrounded by dragons. Dragons that won’t react normally when we try to contact them.”

Salorians, Rast tells me, his mind flaring with alarm.

“Emma’s gone to Fort Orleans to see if the same thing’s happening.” She reaches forward and squeezes my hand. “But don’t worry about that. Tell me what happened. What’s going on with you?”

“I will, but if there’s a problem at Fort Dallas, maybe we can help. Rast has a lot of his memories. He remembers a lot about Salorians and serving under them—”

Kael growls low, and the sound sends a shiver through my spine. Claudia looks surprised, glancing up at her dragon and then back at me. “That spawned a memory for him. Not a good one, but a memory.” Her fingers tighten on mine. “Your dragon remembers? From before?”

I nod. “He remembers a lot. He can help.” I can’t help but smile. “He’s wonderful.”

Claudia’s expression gets teary again. “I would expect no less for my little sister.”

* * *

Claudia and I talk for hours. Hours. I don’t think I’ve had such long conversations with my sister in forever. We talk so long that we go through two pots of her precious coffee and my throat grows hoarse from talking so much.

It’s wonderful.

While we chat, Rast and Kael go hunting. Not together, I don’t think. I can feel little undercurrents in my mental link with Rast that tell me they’re communicating, but it’s clear that it’s a wary truce more than a friendship. It’ll take time. By the time the sun sets, though, they’re easier around each other, their postures relaxed. Kael’s tail is no longer flicking like an angry cat’s and Rast’s eyes remain a cool gold instead of flicking to black.

After dinner of some more of my sister’s terrible experiments to recreate the old foods we used to have—this one’s a sad thing that’s supposed to be a taco—I’m exhausted and Claudia can’t stop yawning. She gives me an apologetic, sleepy look. “The baby makes me tired. Are you…” Her gaze flicks to Rast and then back to me.

“Not yet.”

Not for lack of trying, my dragon adds, and I can feel my cheeks get pink.

“Won’t be long,” Claudia says, ever practical. “Both Emma and Sasha are expecting. Dragons seem to be potent.” Her smile is wry. “It’s good to have you back. We’ll all get used to having another dragon around—”

“Oh, we’re not staying,” I tell my sister, and inwardly wince at how she’s going to take the news. “We’ll be here for a few days, but we’re going to be heading back to Fort Shreveport. They need us.”

I expect Claudia to protest, but she only gives me a sad look. “I thought you might say that, but I hoped…” Her head tilts and she sighs. “Kael says it’s for the best. Wide-spaced territory and all that. Plus, you can be our eyes and ears there.”

“It’s not so far,” I promise her. “A straight flight and we’ll come and visit often. And one of the women there has trained messenger doves. We can figure out how to get you set up and send messages back and forth.”

Her sad smile brightens. “I’d like that. I’ll miss my baby sister, but it sounds like you’ve found your place in the world.”

I can’t help but smile at that. I have found my place in this world—it’s at Rast’s side.

* * *

Later that night, Rast and I are alone in my old room. He paces around my quarters, sniffing my things and poking at objects. So many colors in here, he tells me, running his fingers over a gauzy scarf I have draped on the wall. Why? Did your mind not hurt?

I laugh, sliding under my old covers. “I thought it was cheerful. Helped me forget that I was trapped here.”

He turns back to me, stalking over to my side like a lion hunting down his prey, and it makes a little shiver of anticipation run through me. And do you still feel trapped?

“Not in the slightest,” I tell him with a content smile. I lie back on the pillows and gaze up at my handsome dragon-man. “I have everything I ever wanted.”

And what is that? Rast moves to lie next to me on the bed, his claws lightly skimming over my cotton nightgown. And what is this nonsense?

“It’s sleepwear.” I laugh and push aside his claws before he can shred it. “If you want me to take it off, just tell me.”

I want you to take it off. His eyes gleam and he leans in, caressing my face and gently scraping his teeth against my ear. I want you naked because I am going to claim you and put my young inside you, like Kael has put his inside his mate.

I shiver at his fierce words. You want a baby?

Of course.

Me too. It might not happen right away.

Ah, my sweet Amy, he murmurs, even as he slides one blunted claw down the front of my nightgown. Half of the enjoyment is in the trying.

I can’t disagree with that. I think I’d like to have his baby very, very much. Almost as much as I like the trying itself.

You never answered, he tells me as he nibbles my ear.

Answered what?

You said you had everything you ever wanted. I asked what it was that you had wanted.

I caress his handsome, alien face. He’s so beautiful with his wild mane of long gold hair and scale-dappled skin. Otherwordly, but beautiful. I wanted someone to love and to be loved. I wanted a prince from the fairy tales that would come and rescue me from my world.

His thoughts flare with emotion. I am no prince. And I did not take you from your world. I cannot. I am stuck here, just like you.

You’re my prince, I tell him. Perfect in every way, and more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. And I no longer want to be rescued from my world. Not if you’re in it. I want to stay at your side.

He grunts and nuzzles my throat. You are too busy rescuing yourself, anyhow.

I laugh, because he’s not wrong. With him at my side, I feel strong and powerful and ready to take on the world.

Together, he agrees.