The white ball cracked against the striped ball, and it flew into the corner pocket.

“Yes,” Kian said, pumping his fist like a human.

“Oh, come on,” Aiden said, holding his pool cue in his bejeweled fist.

“Fair is fair,” Kian said. “And our team drew first.”

“This is unfair because whoever goes first, wins,” Cato said.

Dax held his pool cue over his shoulders, resting his arms over the stick. “I think this works just fine,” he said.

Taking another shot, Kian hit three striped balls into various pockets and smiled at Cato and Aiden who were the opposing team together.

“This blows,” Aiden said, putting his pool cue back in the rack.

“Blows?” Cato asked, standing on the sidelines, looking at a hologram from his wrist device.

Everly held Ember in the corner where they were playing with a rattle. The baby bounced in her bouncer, and Everly cooed at her. He smiled at his mate before he made his next shot and sank the rest of the striped balls into the pockets, ending with the final eight ball.

“Oh, come on,” Aiden said, rolling his eyes and growling.

“Maybe you guys should come up with new rules,” Everly suggested. “It would be more fun that way.”

“If my mate thinks we should make new rules, we make new rules. Cato, can you create ‘dragon pool’ for us?”

“Yes. But first I have some information you should be aware of.”

“What's that?” Kian asked, craning his neck to look at Cato's hologram.

“As you know, I left sensors in the vampire’s mansion, so I could keep track of their movements and what they were doing. They have continued with their nefarious deeds. It appears they are holding a Dragon Soul at their mansion right now.”

“Oh?” Kian said.

Cato flipped his finger over his wrist and projected a picture of a beautiful young girl, standing near a window, looking forlornly out at the grounds of the vampires’ mansion. Dax dropped his pool cue on the ground and strode over to the hologram.

“Who is she?” Dax whispered, touching the hologram of her face with his fingertips.

“From facial recognition and a DNA and analysis, I've determined that this young woman's name is Aria Maxwell. She is an orderly at an old folks’ home. The vampires found her and kidnapped her, bringing her to their mansion to drain her blood.”

“We can't let that happen,” Dax said.

“Of course we can't,” Cato said.

“You have to save her,” Everly said. “Those vampires are horrible fiends.”

“Don't worry, my love. We will save her,” Kian said.

“She's so beautiful,” Dax muttered to himself. “I'm going to get her right now.”

Dax charged out the door, but Kian caught his shoulder on the way out, pulling him back into the pool room.

“No, you're not. We will make a plan, and we will all go together.”

“But I can't leave her there.”

“Dax, you will not to go off by yourself with no plan. You may be able to take on three dozen vampires at once, but we are going to sit down and create a strategy for her rescue.”

“I can't let her stay there a minute longer!”

“I understand that you want to protect this Dragon Soul, but we have to think rationally.”

Dax shrugged off Kian's hand and grumbled as he stormed out of the room.

“What's gotten into him?” Aiden asked.

“I don't know,” Kian said. “Dax is usually so happy and laid back.”

“He doesn't like to see anyone hurt. It's making him angry,” Cato said.

Kian turned to Everly and took her hand.

“We’re going to create a strategy to save the Dragon Soul. We may be in discussion for the rest of the day. I want to make sure that you and Ember are okay.”

“As long as the defense shields are up, everything will be fine,” she said bravely.

He reached down and kissed her cheek. He was so proud of his mate. Ever since he had claimed her, the strength of her Dragon Soul had been coming through. Everly had always been a strong woman, but now that the claiming had activated her Dragon Soul, she was even stronger and more capable of helping him lead the House the Flames like a true queen.

He kissed her cheek. When he smelled her scent, something extraordinary hit him like an asteroid falling from the sky.

“Everly,” he whispered.

Cato and Aiden left the room, leaving them alone with little Ember. He blinked several times, looking at his beautiful mate.

“What is it?” she asked, sensing his thoughts, his moods and his emotions.

“You are… You are with child,” he said.

“I'm pregnant?” she repeated, holding Ember in one hand and clutching her belly with the other.

He had just claimed her the night before. But to find it had already taken root in her belly, he didn't believe he could ever feel happier than in this moment.

“Yes, it's true,” he said. “You are bearing my child.”

“Oh my God,” she said, hugging Ember to her. “Now our family will be complete. You, me, Ember, and the baby. Oh, Kian.”

She rested in his arms as he held her close and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him adoringly, and he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, sending her just as much adoration back.

“I love you so much. I'm so happy.”

He held her for long moments, not wanting to let her go. It was his deepest wish to find his mate and start a family. He had little hope when he'd awoken from stasis. But the moment he'd seen her for the first time, his hope sprang anew. Now they would be together forever, creating a dynasty on this planet.

“I am so proud to be your mate,” Everly said. “What you are doing to protect humans and Dragon Souls from vampires, it is the worthiest cause I could ever hope to champion. I am lucky that I am here with you, to help you, to never stop fighting, never stop protecting what is true and good.”

“I know, my love. You truly are a Dragon Soul. Together we will help his planet become the world it should be. Full of love and hope.”

“You better go to the basement and start your strategy session before Dax runs off on his own,” she said with a giggle, rocking Ember and her arms. “Ember and I will be just fine on our own. I'm going up to the nursery to put her down for a nap, and then I'm going to our room to read a book in bed.” She winked at him. “You come up and find me when you're done.”

She giggled and walked off. He watched her curvy behind as she went. His desire for her was unceasing. He would have to ravish her again as soon as possible. She glanced back at him over her shoulder, having sensed his thoughts as he had them. She gave him an air kiss and continued up the stairs with Ember. He let out a long, contented sigh. That woman was everything to him. He did as she bid and went down to the basement to find his men waiting for him.

“So,” he said. “Let’s make a plan.”

“I say we go in and burn their house down,” Dax said.

“I was thinking a subtler approach.” Aiden said.

“I'm tracking the girl’s movements. She appears to be in the northwest tower,” Cato said.

“I suspect that the vampires have new wards against dragons now that they know we are here,” Kian said.

“It stands to reason that getting into their compound will be more difficult than it was the last two times,” Cato said.

“No more talking,” Dax said. “I demand action.”

He slammed his fist on the computer terminal, sending a shaking crack through the entire room.

“All in due time, Dax. We will leave soon, and we will save the girl. Why are you so bent out of shape anyway?” Kian asked.

“Because,” he said. “She's mine.”