While Daer extracted blood samples from the little boy, Josie checked his mouth and throat for the signs she feared. They were there: ulcers that told her the child was suffering from radiation poisoning. Eating was too painful for him, and he was growing weak. She jumped back as the boy vomited bile, his empty belly heaving and tears began rolling down his pale face.

"He needs fluids, and lots of them," she told Daer.

"This is part of what is happening to Talonia, is it not?" Daer asked.

"It's radiation poisoning. He ingested it from the plants and even the dirt he got in his mouth. I don't think it's severe, but he's so small and dehydrated, it's not okay either. His thyroid should take care of clearing it once he's had fluids. If not, we'll need to treat him with potassium iodide."

"I do not have any," Daer replied.

"Luckily, I do. I knew we might be subjected to radiation considering the situation, so I brought it just in case."

Maxxus entered with three more children and an adult. They were all from the same village. "The children say they cannot eat. They are hungry, but it hurts to put food in their mouth, and when they do it comes back up. They played in the ash and dirt around the village. This man drank from the waterfall. He too cannot keep down food, and his skin is peeling. The others have no symptoms of illness." Maxxus spoke matter of factly, though his facial expression was one of despair.

Josie gently touched his cheek and replied, "It's going to be okay. We can treat them, and they will recover quickly. Just remind everyone to stay away from the damaged areas and never to eat or drink from the food or water they find that looks less than perfect. I'll test the dirt and water here immediately. Don't let anyone eat the grain or vegetables they brought with them until I test it as well."

"It has already been taken to the storage areas where we are keeping the food for rationing. I do not know if their bags have been emptied and mixed with what was there. I will find the soldiers in charge and hope for once they were lax in their duties, " Maxxus stated.

"Please, let that be the case. If all the food reserves are contaminated, it will be catastrophic. We brought food and seeds for more, but without your supply, we'll all go hungry more often than not. Any more crops brought in by refugees will have to be tested before they get anywhere near the storage facilities. What about the first village, the one near here? Didn't they bring crops?"

"Most of what was given to the city had been in storage. The fresh vegetables were watered by an unaffected waterfall. The villagers had ceased to use the water from the contaminated one as soon as it began to lose its color. We have all eaten from their contributions, and I believe it is pure," Maxxus explained.

"Rain can be contaminated too. It could cause problems with the crops, but I think Kelan's efforts to fix the atmosphere may have kept the radiation to an acceptable level. We'll see as soon as I get done in here. Until we find the correct formula, we'll have to keep using others as patches and hope that's enough to keep us from total destruction."

"Do your best. No one can ask for more than that. I am glad you are here." Maxxus's eyes sent a message, making it clear his statement meant more than a general welcome. His worry and concern for the planet did not mask the desire he felt for Josie. The heat in his gaze promised a special, private welcome to be administered as soon as possible.

Maxxus became frustrated as the days passed. His hands itched to touch Josie, and his body ached from denial. For two weeks he had to hold back his desire as Josie worked day and night testing and retesting the air, ground, and water. Her land rover left before dawn and returned after sunset. Even then she was not content with her research. She wished to travel farther, perhaps spending days away from the city.

Maxxus fought against the idea. Reports from his scouts were trickling in. Small patches of dead trees and grass were discovered across the planet, yet most of the villages claimed to be doing well. Two more groups came trailing in, having been forced from their homes by the scouts when it was found that they were eating only stored food and it was running low. New communication devices had been delivered to the outlying villages, so communication was now simple once more. Maxxus declared that Josie's studies should be confined to the nearest problem areas. He did not believe she would discover anything far away that she could not find here. Reluctantly, she agreed.

During the two weeks of testing, Josie tried three more formulas. Each seemed to help for approximately forty-eight hours, then deteriorate. The citizens were losing confidence in her ability to save Talonia, and that made her fight harder. She slept less and worked more. Maxxus could see how thin she was growing and the dark circles beneath her eyes. She had to rest, and he was ready to force it upon her.

When her hovercraft arrived in the darkness, he was waiting in the shadows near her ship. She must have sensed him there, for her head spun back and forth, searching for the life she felt, but could not see. She stumbled from exhaustion on her way to the ship's ramp. Maxxus reached out and caught her, sweeping her up into his strong arms. She stiffened, but soon relaxed as she recognized Maxxus.

"Put me down. I'll be fine in a second. My legs were just a little wobbly."

"It is more than that, and you know it. You have worked yourself into illness. I will not allow it to continue. I know what you are feeling. I have been there myself, but you cannot help if you are ill, or worse yet, if you die. I command you to take tomorrow off and rest. Kelan will deploy the newest formula, and you have covered the area over and over. Nothing more can be done for now," Maxxus told her.

Josie's eyes shot flames as she replied, "You can't command me to stop. You're not my king. I make my own rules, and I know my own body. I'm fine. I'll rest when I say, not you."

"You are being childish, and that is not like you nor is it acceptable to me. It proves my theory that you have reached your limit. You will rest. I will force you to. "

"You can't force me to sleep. My mind will continue working even if you lock me up," she argued.

"Then I will give your mind a better topic to consider," Maxxus said. His head lowered, and his lips met Josie's in a kiss that stopped her brain from functioning. "This is what you need, and so do I. I have waited for you long enough. We both knew the truth the moment you arrived two weeks ago. You are my mate. Do not try to deny it."

"I wasn't going to," she whispered. "Kiss me again. I need to feel your desire. I thought the words I had heard from your lips that day were all in my head. You've stayed away from me all this time, and I began to doubt what I felt between us."

"Spend tonight and tomorrow in my arms. I will erase all your doubts, leaving my mark upon your soul. We will be refreshed and revitalized through our joining. Let me show you how it is between destined mates."

"Won't we be missed?" she asked, though at that moment she really didn't care.

"Anyone who it matters to will figure it out. I have not endeavored to hide my feelings about you. They have been prominently displayed every moment since you stepped off the ship. If no one noticed, then they have not been paying attention."

Josie raised her eyebrows in question. "I haven't noticed. Are you saying I wasn't paying attention? I'll have you know I breathed in tandem with you whenever you were near. Your scent gives me goosebumps and I watch every step you take. I memorized the muscles of your chest that first day and dream of them at night. Don't tell me I wasn't paying attention."

Maxxus's chest rumbled with laughter against her side. "You really like to spar with me, and you have no consideration for the fact that I am king. You are perfect. I must assume, however, that my chest kept you distracted from what was below it. My desire has, shall we say, stood out prominently at all times."

Josie blushed charmingly as she caught his meaning. "I...I guess I missed that," she stammered.

"You will no longer," Maxxus answered. He allowed her to slip from his arms, sliding slowly down his body. The friction made their skin sizzle and she soon found he had been telling the truth as her center felt his hardness pressing against it. His mouth found hers and she opened her lips to let his tongue sweep inside. The heat burned through her chest, dropped past her core, bringing wetness, and ended in her legs causing them to shake.

"Come away with me," he begged. She nodded her agreement against his rippling chest. Her helped her into the hovercraft and got behind the controls.

"Where are you taking me?" Josie asked.

"To my secret hideaway. No one except me knows it exists. Until now it has been my sanctuary. I wish to share it with you. More than all the desires in the world, the willingness to share this tells me you are my life mate."

His words humbled Josie and touched the deepest part of her heart. She loved this weredragon and it gave her soul peace.

The hovercraft made it easy and quick to reach the valley but getting up to the cave with a human was a bit more difficult. It was too dark and the climb too dangerous for Josie to attempt in her exhausted state. There was only one way to get her there. Maxxus, in weredragon form, would have to carry her. He had carried humans from the rooftops on Earth during the battle there, using his claws. He did not want to do that with Josie. It was a risk. Claws were treacherous and easily punctured flesh. Maxxus had witnessed Kelan and Tae flying with their mates on their dragon's backs, and that is the way he would be attempting to carry her. It would require complete trust between the dragon and the rider. Was Josie ready to trust him with her life?

He explained the situation to her and asked for her trust. "Will you honor me with your heart and soul, putting your life in my hands?"

"You're the only one I could relinquish control to. I trust you more than I do myself," she replied.

Pleasure engulfed him at her confession. He left her standing by the mountain as he backed into the valley. There he found room to transform. He saw her fall to the ground and tears spring into her eyes. Concerned that he had frightened her, he slowly stepped closer. Bending his front legs, he laid his huge head and snout on the ground near her feet.

Josie's small hand caressed his snout and she said, "You're so beautiful and majestic." She leaned over and kissed his face, eliciting a rumble from inside him. He released a puff of smoke, and she laughed. It was not fear he had seen in her actions. It was awe.

Holding very still, he allowed Josie to climb onto his back. Her arms reached across his neck as far as possible, but he was too large for her to get a good hold. She flattened her chest on his back and clung tightly. His stood and began to move his wings. She briefly lost her balance as the air hit her, yet held on. He rose into the air. For her pleasure, he made one turn around the valley before landing at the cave entrance. She found safety inside while he became Maxxus once more.

Flying with his love and experiencing the close bond between dragon and mate sent his libido into overdrive. The beast had lost all its patience. Maxxus growled and grabbed her, practically tossing her onto the old blankets in the cave.

Josie was having none of the roughness. She turned her head, refusing the kiss he would have given her. Her hands ran gently over his powerful shoulders as she murmured soft, soothing sounds, almost like the lullaby she had sung to Hope. The growling ceased, and Maxxus's heartbeat slowed. The beast was being tamed.

Josie placed her lips on the muscle above his left nipple. She planted a small kiss there, then licked her way downward until she was flicking the nipple itself. She moved to the right side, showing Maxxus what type of loving she wanted. He was an excellent student.

Taking over, he kissed her lips, neck, and shoulder. Her body warmed from his heated breath. Big, calloused hands pushed her shirt up, spanning her waist effortlessly. His thumbs met at her belly button and teasingly slid under the waistband of her jeans. Josie moaned and wiggled, asking for more.

"No, my love. You forced the beast to slow down, so slow is what you shall get," Maxxus promised. He tugged her shirt over her head, trapping her arms inside. With a mischievous grin, he lowered his head and nipped at the mound of her breast showing above her lacy, black bra. He teased her relentlessly, swiping his tongue up and down her cleavage. He kept his body braced over her, never allowing his pelvis to meet hers, though she raised her hips in desperation.

She cried out when he finally suckled her through the material covering her distended nipple. He blew hot air over the wetness and she almost lost her mind. Excruciatingly slow, he gave the other breast the same treatment and her body erupted. Her center clenched over and over, leaving her breathless.

Maxxus ground his teeth to keep control. He could smell her passion and it was overwhelming. He needed bare skin. Releasing her hands, he unleashed her breasts. He marveled at the tempting pale mounds with their rosy centers. They outshone the stars in the sky. Reverently, he filled his palms with them. They were soft and pliant to his touch, making him ache with need.

Josie's hands were not idle. They caressed his chest, spreading the perspiration over his abs down to his leather covered backside. She squeezed him there and attempted to shove him toward her welcoming thighs. He resisted, and more sweat popped out.

His fingers found the button and zipper of her jeans, opening them for his next move. Crawling backward as she protested his absence, he took the pants all the way off. The scrap of black lace that covered her center was ripped away with his teeth. Bending her knees and spreading her thighs, he let smoke emit from his throat and settle over her soaked core. He watched silently as her body reacted to the hot air, her inner muscles squeezing as moisture flowed out. Josie shouted her release, and he was satisfied.

Abruptly, he stood. He dropped the leather pants and allowed Josie to see how much he wanted her. His shaft was so hard, it appeared made of stone. It quivered in anticipation. A single drop of moistness clung to the tip, making Josie lick her lips and moan. The man was spectacular, and he belonged to her.

With a roar, he returned to the ground, sliding purposely between her splayed thighs. His steel met her softness, and together they panted. Their eyes caught and held as he very slowly entered her, and their souls collided. Fully seated he began to move. Her legs tightened over his bottom forcing him deeper with each thrust. "From this day forward, no man shall touch you but me. You are mine for eternity. This bond can never be broken. Swear it!" Maxxus commanded as their passion built.

"Yours forever, I swear," Josie replied as she came unglued. Maxxus joined her as her body milked every drop of seed from him. Rolling over, he felt her fall into a deep sleep, using his body as a bed. He was whole for the first time in his life. No more walls would bar him from being a part of his people. Josie was his savior.