Tae's bones ached from training the new recruits. He had climbed the shortest waterfall with each young man, one on one. That meant climbing it ten times in one morning. Then he spent an hour in wrestling matches. Now, his muscles tensed as each one held a weapon for the first time. Accidents were bound to happen when ten teenagers came into contact with lasers, but Tae was determined not to let it happen with his group. He checked each weapon to be sure they were working correctly and on the lowest setting.

Though the Savra were no longer spying from the sky and they had seen the lasers in use, practice continued to be held in the caves. The king was wary of other planets discovering them. Most Talonians laughed at the idea. Tae did not. On the trip to the Savra's planet, he had seen how vast the sky was and how many worlds were close by. Hearing about them in school was far different than seeing them for yourself. It just did not compute in your brain until you were deep in space and its vastness was revealed. His world was a tiny speck, but to his people, it was the universe. Tae now understood that the creatures who inhabited the other worlds felt the same. They would do whatever it took to save their worlds, just as the Talonians were doing. Wars were going to occur, and these young men needed guidance in order to survive. That was his job. He pushed his pain aside and told the first weredragon to aim and fire.

Tae praised the recruits at the end of the day. He remembered how much it helped him to be told when he had done well. He pushed himself harder and these weredragons would do the same. His anxiety over being a leader had dissolved as his group began to show respect for him and follow his orders without hesitation. He realized how difficult it had been for Hesher to lose his men in the war and what a sacrifice he had made to aid in Eveline's rescue. Responsibility came with a high price.

Eveline had eased his burdens by looking out for his family. His father had sent Jax to the mines to let him know how well she was caring for them. Jax praised her profusely, especially the meals she brought.

"The stew was delicious, and it lasted us for two days. The bread was fresh and warm. When the girls came home, they ate their fill and were able to do their studies instead of cook. Then she brought a pie the next day. Father almost cried he liked it so much," Jax had chattered.

Tae smiled as he remembered the excitement in Jax's voice. He was grateful to Eveline, and now it was time to pay her back. He was ready to fulfill his promise and take her to the waterfall.

Freshly showered and dressed in casual clothing, Tae buzzed Eveline's door. She answered quickly assuming it was one of the other residents. Her eyes widened upon seeing a grinning Tae holding a basket in one hand.

"Shouldn't you be in the mine?" she asked.

"I finished my work there last night, and Kelan gave me this afternoon to escort you to the waterfall as I promised. School is over for the day, right?"

"Yes, I got home a few minutes ago. Are we really going to the falls? I can't believe it's finally happening! What do I need to bring?"

"I have food, and the water is pure enough to drink, so I guess you don't need anything."

Eveline blushed as she remembered the swimwear Michelle had given her and the idea of not using it. Deliberately, she decided to leave it behind. She wanted Tae, and if skinny dipping was what it took to let him know, then she was all for it. "Let's go," she replied.

The walk took less time than expected. Tae followed a well-trodden path through some trees and the waterfall, with its sparkling pool beneath, appeared in a short time. Eveline gasped when she caught sight of the rainbow hovering over the pool. Its colors were magnificent, though not the same ones as Earth's rainbows. The red sun made a prism of a different kind, denser and darker. She spun in a circle with her arms stretched out to the side as the mist sprayed her.

"How does anyone get any work done knowing this is waiting for them? It's amazing!"

Tae confided, "As dragons, we can slip away during breaks, fly through the water, and be back in a minute or two. It's more refreshing to us than any snack. When we have time to sit and rest here, it becomes a place of contemplation, almost a place of worship. It brings us peace and the volcanoes are for power."

"Can I go near the volcanoes or is it forbidden?" Eveline inquired.

"It is not forbidden, but the only safe way to get close is by flying," Tae answered.

"Oh, then I guess I'll never get to go," she sadly replied.

"If you ever feel courageous enough to try it, I will carry you. It is risky. We do not recommend it. In fact, the only time it has happened without it being an emergency is with Kelan and Michelle. Their souls are somehow connected, and she is safe. No one understands it, yet we envy it," Tae explained.

"They are unique. It must be wonderful to share such a connection. I suppose that the necessity doesn't arise often, since all of you are weredragons."

"As I said, we carry others in an emergency. Injured soldiers cannot transform, and sometimes children wander into dangerous situations. It is rare, and there is no happiness in performing the duty. I too would like to feel the joy of connecting with a rider," Tae declared.

Eveline sighed and walked to the edge of the pool. Removing her shoes, she sat down to dangle her feet in the crystal clear blue water. A rush of energy, laced with peace and contentment, swept through her. "The feeling here is much stronger than it is in the shower," she exclaimed.

"That is why we fly through it whenever possible. Our dead give their ashes to the waterfalls and volcanoes, renewing the energy we use while alive. This is part of the reason Kelan was given the task of preserving our atmosphere."

Tae put the basket down beside her and lifted out the contents. There was soft bread, a green cheese, and berries with whipped cream. As they ate, Tae pointed out the unusual plants and creatures contained in the pool of water. "The red leafy plant is used to make painkillers. The silver one looks solid, but it is actually thread we use for cloth. Can you see the tiny blue creature bouncing among them? Children catch them and keep them as pets, but their secretions aid in healing cuts and burns."

He offered Eveline a plump berry, covered in whipped cream. As he slid it into her mouth, she brazenly licked his fingers. Tae's eyes darkened and became hooded. He leaned in and used his tongue to remove a drop of cream from her lips. Sparks shot through him and he shoved the food aside, gathering Eveline into his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck as her fingers slipped into his thick, dark hair. She fell backward onto the soft ground, and Tae rose over her. Her eyelids closed when he lowered his body, and their heaving chests were smashed together. His kisses were almost frantic with need. His tongue pushed into her mouth eliciting a groan from her. Suddenly, he jumped up, leaving her bereft and chilled in his absence.

"I am sorry. I got carried away. Forgive me," Tae said. Then, he turned and dove into the pool.

Alone on shore, Eveline watched as he disappeared under the waterfall. Her thoughts were scattered and confused. "Did I scare him off? Does he not desire me as I thought? Did my groan make him think I was hurt? I have to find out. I don't want to lose him."

Taking a deep breath for courage, she made a daring decision. She stood and removed every stitch of clothing. Either he would reject her advances, or she would force him to admit his attraction. Eveline jumped into the pool. To her surprise, the water seemed to carry her. It took very little effort to glide over its surface. As a child, she had learned to swim, though not very well. Amidst the power of the falls, it didn't matter. Soon she was underneath the roaring water and searching out Tae.

She found him clinging to a rock in the calm behind the waterfall with his back to her. His head was leaning against the rock as if to gain insight from its hard surface. Eveline quietly swam up and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her bare breasts flattened against his muscular back. Tae's body jerked and began to quiver.

"Do not touch me or I will lose control all over again," he declared. "I do not want to be like the Savra soldier and try to force myself on you."

"Oh, Tae. Of course, you're not like the Savra. That was anger and evilness. I didn't want him, but I do want you. You aren't forcing me into anything. I desire your kisses and your touch. Turn around and you will see that I am shamelessly begging for it."

Slowly he turned and discovered her nude body, visible beneath the clear water. "I...I do not understand," he stuttered.

"Yes, you do. Touch me," Eveline pleaded.

Tae's shaking hand reached out. As his hand touched her bare skin, heat leaped between them. Fire raged in the depths of his eyes. His clothing was gone in the blink of an eye, now laying in a wet heap on the rock he had previously clung to. He was panting in a desire to hold on to his wits and slow the moment down. Being with Eveline was too important of an occasion to hurry. He wanted to savor every minute and have her feel treasured rather than used. The beautiful offering of herself had reached into his heart and plucked away the last vestige of his control. His doubts had dissolved. This woman had been reserved for him. Their meeting, though under dire circumstances, was meant to be.

Reverently, he ran his fingers over her full breasts. Her chest rose with a deep breath as if to welcome his attention. Boldly, Tae lifted one rounded mound in his hand, lowered his head, and pressed his mouth to the dark nipple. Shudders ran through both of their bodies.

Eveline moved closer, allowing the lower portion of her body to brush against his. She could feel the hardness of his desire push against her belly. She was thrilled by his reaction to her. She tugged on his head, raising it up for her kiss. His fingers entwined with her long hair in a desperate need to draw her as near as possible. To show him she felt the same, Eveline wrapped her legs tightly around him. The water held them aloft in a warm embrace of its own.

Tae's hands roamed down her sleek back until they cupped her delectable bottom, pressing her forward to rub his shaft. She moaned into his mouth, as a new wetness formed at her core. Its heat called out for Tae.

Hearts pounding, they floated in a world of their own into the thundering waters of the falls. Eveline began tracing the rigid muscles of Tae's torso. She explored every inch of his skin. At times, she imagined she could feel the faintest hint of the weredragon's scales beneath the surface, fighting to take over.

Tae's hands found each scar left from Eveline's ten years of torment, tracing them gently, hoping in some way to heal what had come before. The pool surrounding them seemed to heat, reaching a boiling point along with their bodies. Unable to hold on any longer, Tae lifted Eveline high and brought her back down, impaling her on his throbbing member. She stiffened momentarily, reminding him that it was her first time. He held still and soothed her, "I lost myself in you and forgot. I will never hurt you again. I swear."

"The pain lasted only an instant. Can't you feel it? My soul is calling out to yours. Make me your own, please," she demanded.

Tae began to move. His eyes did not leave Eveline's until she threw back her head so that the waterfall spilled over her tear-streaked face. Tae knew the tears were joyous, not sad, for his own face was covered in them as well. Her movements joined his, faster and faster. The tightness in him built, but he held back. He would hold on forever if that is what it took for his beloved to find her fulfillment.

As it turned out, forever was not necessary. Her inner muscles clenched him over and over. Her triumphant shouts were absorbed by the waterfall, as were his when he followed her into oblivion. The pool accepted their love along with the blood sacrifice she had made with her first joining. It added them to its power, spreading silver ripples over its surface.

The sun was already gone when Tae carried her to shore. A warm wind dried their skin as they lay entwined. "I will never forget this day as long as I have breath in my body," Tae whispered. "It is the day I truly began to live."

"Don't let it be over. Come to me again. I am so lonely without you near," Eveline confided.

Tae kissed her neck, then licked his way down to her heaving breasts. He lavished each one with dozens of kisses. Going lower, his tongue flicked across a scar or two, ending up in the depths of her belly button. She squirmed and giggled at the tickling sensation. As his head went lower still, she tugged on his hair. "Come back. What are you doing?"

Instead of answering her plea, he gave her a demonstration. The hot breath and wet tongue on her center took the air from her lungs. Tae spread her legs wide, opening her swollen nether lips to his gaze. His thumb rubbed over her nub, followed by his lips, then his tongue. Her hips involuntarily rose to meet him. She opened like a flower and he took the invitation, sipping on her special nectar. The climax was explosive. This time her shout echoed through the air. If any weredragons were in flight, they would smile recognizing the sound as one of love. Before the last spasm ended, Tae shoved himself inside to become one with Eveline. This was his home. He needed nothing further.