Book 1: Cole

Chapter 1

You are not my son.

Those were the most devastating words he could think of. He would rather hear that his parents were dead, that his older brothers, the Crown Prince and the Duke, had disowned him. Anything but the fact that he was not who he thought he was.

His blood boiled in his veins as he stood in the middle of the grand hall, the gleaming thrones mocking him. Cole had been born the third Prince of Umora, a planet so advanced in civilization that there was no pain, no suffering, and virtual immortality through science. Everyone on Umora was some sort of shifter, some sort of magical creature–whether it be wolf, lion, or otherwise. The dragon shifters, however, had always been the royal family, ruling over those beneath them. The witches, the werewolves, and the lions all bowed down to the dragon shifters.

Cole always believed his place in the world was at the top with everyone bowing down to him. He knew that his magic was better than the rest of his family's, but he never thought anything of it. It was a gift, after all.

What he didn’t know, however, was that he was a half-breed witch and dragon shifter–a bastard orphan left on the door steps. He could now claim potential royal blood from both sides. Or, from neither side. He was everything and nothing at the same time.

He should have inherited the richness of the witches and the power of the dragons.

Instead, he lost it all when his father admitted the truth.

There would be no throne for Cole on Umora, no happy ending here. He had been cheated out of everything by matters of his birth.

Cole saw only red as he spun around, looking at the murals on the walls.

This explained so much about his life, about his feelings, and about why he felt like he never fit in. Growing up, it became apparent that he was different than the rest of his family. His magic did not come in the same way theirs did. He could not focus in the same way, could not create the same things. Cole needed to eat more than the rest of them, and more frequently. Alexander seemed to only nibble twice a week, and Nicholas took great pride in large feasts and social meals. But Cole was always ravenous, always strong, and always a moment away from rage.

His rage was so different than Nicholas's rage. Nicholas was simply a kind soul and fiercely loyal, but also ready to destroy anyone who came near those whom he loved. Cole seemed to rage out for no reason, and he, himself, admitted that he threw tantrums when he didn't get his way.

Everyone was unfair to him. His brothers were allowed to do things that he wasn't. His parents let his brothers lead wars and lash out. But Cole was punished unfairly, even by his brothers. They always treated him like a mischievous child, who didn't know how to handle himself.

Death was nothing to him. Feeding for the sake of something to do was nothing to him. He loved the attention, loved the power, but hated how they scolded him.

And now, it was clear that this was not the place he belonged. All these years of trying to fit in, and he wasn't really one of them anyways. They didn't want him; that much was clear.

He continued spinning, barely seeing, barely thinking. His anger was uncontrollable, and his rage lay in front of him. He wanted power. He wanted control. He wanted to show them what he was capable of. He was not a child to be scolded, nor was he someone to be put aside.

And that is when he spotted Earth–painted blue, small, and fragile–in the upper corner of the wall.

If he could not have Umora, if they thought he didn't belong here, he would show them where he did. He would find his own Kingdom; he would make his own throne.

He knew how to take control of a planet. That was nothing foreign to his family. They kept peace and ruled over several planets in the system. One simply needed to purge the planet, control its people, and make them fear you. Only then would they bow down.

Cole turned on his heel and stalked out of the throne room and into the records hall. The records hall contained scrolls of all nature, including rules for unlocking magic on each planet. The Gods who had created the planets, millenniums ago, had written down the secrets to unlocking each one, in the ancient tongue of each planet.

"Cole," a not-so-distant voice called.

The unexpected sound startled him; he had thought he was alone in the hall. But his brother, Alexander, was standing there, looking majestic and comfortable. But then again, why wouldn’t he be? He belonged here.

"We've been looking everywhere for you."

Cole smirked, "And why would that be? Seeing as how I don't belong here? Do you want to lock me up, too? Toss me out of the only home I've ever known?"

"Cole," Alexander took a step further. "I know we've had our differences. But there was no reason for the tantrum you threw."

"Tantrum?" Cole sputtered. "Tantrum? Is that what you call a reaction to finding out your whole life is a lie?"

When his father had finally told him the truth, Cole barely remembered what he had done. All he remembered is rage; all he remembered was his dragon brain taking over.

It was only after coming back to his human form that he heard about the destruction he had caused. He had flown–flown until his wings hurt–and killed whatever had lay in his path. The reports said that he went to neighboring planets, breathing fire, tearing up villages, and leaving civilians dead in his wake.

They had trembled in fear when they saw him coming, bowing to their knees and begging for mercy. But he didn't care about their pleas, nor did he care about their tears.

If his family was going to tell him that he was some half-breed monster that didn't belong, he would show them how he didn't belong.

Let them say he was a criminal; let them say he was a monster with a black soul.

"That is what I call it when it was followed by the amount of destruction you caused, yes," Alexander replied. "Cole...the people...."

"You and father have done much worse in your so-called 'peace keeping missions,'" Cole spat. "Following in his footsteps, as if he's always been around to encourage us."

He knew it wasn't much of an excuse, but there was no excuse that mattered, really. If Alexander was questioning him, then he would not see reason. Alexander was always calm, controlled, logical, and frankly, in Cole’s eyes, boring. He thought carefully about every word that exited his mouth.

"He is not the kind of King I want to be," Alexander growled.

“Poor, poor Alexander,” Cole teased him. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Always acting as the martyr. Had Peter still been alive, your life would be so easy, wouldn't it?”

Alexander's eyes flashed at the mention of their oldest brother. Peter was supposed to be King, and Alexander would have been his second in command. But Peter struggled with his own identity, trying to come to terms with what his life's purpose was, and it was never meant to be. It had been two years since Peter vanished, flitting into the black magic world that was simply known as the Other. No one had ever returned from the Other, and the weight fell heavily on Alexander's shoulders. He had lost his confidant, his mentor, and his best friend. And suddenly, he would rule the land when their father perished.

“Don't you mention him,” Alexander said, although his voice trembled with emotion. “Peter fought a fight he could not win. But the rest of us are still here. And it does not change the fact that–”

"The fact that I am no longer your brother, just some bastard orphan," Cole cut him off, standing tall.

"That your rage may have killed people," Alexander answered. "You know that when we transform, control is harder..."

Cole simply smirked.

"So, you intend to rule passively? Kill them with kindness, is that it? And be nice to your bastard brother, who was born into a terrible life, but got lucky."

"Cole...."

"Forget it." Cole had found the scroll he needed. "Forget all of you. I was born to rule, and if you won't accept me here, I’ll find another kingdom!"

Alexander's eyes widened.

"Where are you going?"

Cole smirked, drawing the magic around him.

"It's a magic trick, brother," he said, and snapped his fingers.

He felt the familiar magic swirl around him. Magic was always his comfort zone, his safe place that he could go to–a place that baffled his brothers.

The golden light filled his soul, and he felt his dragon wings spread. It was only for a moment though, to make the impact with the ground easier. His wings retracted, and he found himself sitting on grass.

It took a moment for him to adjust to the air. It was different than on Umora, not thicker or thinner, but different.

The scroll was still clutched in his hand–the key to controlling this race. Humans were weak minded, he had always been told. It was simple magic.

That is, if he could unlock it. He couldn't even read the words that were written, the characters unfamiliar.

It had seemed like such a good plan in the moment, standing tall against Alexander. But Cole was smart, and he knew he'd never figure this out without help.

He pulled his knees up to his chest, laying his head on them, thinking.

There must be people who worked with ancient texts around here. He could probably intimidate someone into helping him. It shouldn't take long for someone who knew what they were doing. This weak-minded planet could be his by this afternoon.

And once one planet was his, there were more for the taking. He would show them.

Cole slowly stood up, glancing down at his clothes. Squinting to catch a glimpse of people in the distance, he snapped his fingers and became dressed like them. He wanted to remain undercover, at least for now.

In his world, if he faced this problem, there were only a handful of people he could go to–archive managers, elders, perhaps travelers. But he had no idea who those people would be here, or where to find them.

"Oof!!!"

He was so wrapped up in his own head, distracted by his thoughts, that he didn't notice the girl he bumped into until it was too late.

The force sent him stumbling back a few steps, but she tumbled right to the ground, as if she was a limp rag doll.

He wanted to roll his eyes and walk away; humans were so weak, especially compared to the force of a Dragon. But what she said next stopped him.

"I'm sorry."

He paused.

"You're sorry?" he said in complete confusion. His English was rough, but he had paid some sort of attention when they had taught it in school. "I bumped into you. I should have been watching where I was going," she said.

This girl was slight and pale as ivory with jet-black hair and dark eyes. Her collarbone stuck out, her cheekbones were sharp, and her body clad in a long skirt and long-sleeve shirt. She was completely different from any woman he had ever seen. Something about her seemed odd, however, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Dragon women were normally large boned, tall, and strong. Their clothing was made to show off their bodies with their armor wrapped around their strong muscles when they fought. This girl couldn't have been more different from them had she tried. Dragon women were also strong-willed and held their heads high, hardly ever apologizing.

"You should have been..." he shook his head. He was surprised to find it bothered him that she took the blame. It had been his fault, and he was fine with that. It was almost intentional. That was just who he was. But when she met his eyes, he felt disarmed. He sighed, reaching to help her up. What a weak, pathetic, little kitten. "It's fine."

Now standing, she was taller than he originally believed, although they weren't anywhere close in height. She was oddly beautiful, he thought, if one liked that look.

Not that he knew what he liked; there had been no one who caught his fancy back home. His brothers, on the other hand, always seemed to have women in their arms.

"Thank you," she said. "I walk this route all the time, so I space out sometimes."

Something clicked in his brain.

"You know the area well then?"

"Yes," she said, shrugging one bony shoulder. "Are you lost?"

"I...," he paused. What difference did telling her make, though? If she couldn't be trusted, he could always be rid of her. "I need some help with a," he said, holding up the scroll, "family heirloom."

"Oh," she clearly wasn't expecting that response. "I could show you the direction of the museum in town if you want? They are mostly a modern art gallery, though, so I'm not sure that'll help."

"Uh...," he translated the words in his head. "No. I need someone with languages, ancient ones. The older the better."

"Seriously?" she said, brushing the hair from her eyes. He was confused once more.

"Yes."

"Sorry, that was rude of me," she said. "It's just a coincidence. That's my degree in school."

"Languages?"

"Dead languages to be specific," she said. "I mean, I'm only in my second year, but my grades are good. I could take you to one of my professors...."

"No," he quickly cried out. When trying to orchestrate a plan like this, the less people involved, the better. She was already involved. "I mean, you're in your second year?" Their school system was much the same as Earth, and she seemed a bit old for that.

"Sort of," she said. "I mean, technically. I've been taking classes a bit slow, a few at a time when I can."

He cocked his head.

"Busy life?"

"I uh...have a medical condition," she replied. "So, I just take it slow."

That was what he felt radiating off her earlier. Illness–the aura of death. This fragile, little thing didn't have much left in her.

Of course, he could fix that with a snap of his fingers. Magic could heal any human disease in a blink.

"Well," he put on a sly smile. "I could fix that."

She looked at him like he was crazy.

"I'm sorry?"

Quick as a whip, he reached forward, grasping her arm. She didn't even have time to scream, although he saw her eyes widen. Her face did lose the little bit of color it had as his hand tightened around her wrist.

There were other people in the park. She could have screamed had she wanted to.

But a strange feeling flooded her body; the sudden heat and sense of wellness stunned her. She had a headache when she first ran into him, but she noticed it was virtually gone. She felt less tired, her eyes more alert, her body lighter.

Cole’s eyes flashed yellow, the telltale sign of a dragon shifter. He glanced away, but she had already noticed.

When he knew that the magic had done its job, he let go of her arm.

She remained stock still, almost paralyzed as she met his eyes.

"What...are you?" she whispered softly.

"Does it matter?" he asked, a smirk curving his lips. "Does it matter what I am, so long as you are cured?"

"Can you...cure me?" she asked.

"I can, there is more where that came from. This will wear off, but I can make it permanent," he replied. He wasn't entirely sure what the details of her condition were, but in the end, she was simply a weak mortal. He could cure anything. "Can you read my document?"

"It'll take some work," she answered, "but I can."

"Are you afraid?" he asked with such intensity that she had to take a step back. But there wasn't any fear in her eyes.

"No," she said. "I’m not afraid. Should I be?"

"If you don't do as I say," he said, quietly but firmly. "I will kill you."

"I'm dead anyways," she raised her chin. "So, what have I got to lose?"

He liked her attitude. It wasn't quite strength, but there was commitment.

"What's your name?"

"Enya," she said, and held out her hand. He remembered that this was a human tradition and took it.

"I'm Cole," he said. "And together we will change the world."

Chapter 2

Every night, she lay in bed, asking herself whether it was possible. Asking herself whether he was just conning her; whether he had some cheap trick to make her believe that she felt better. Enya wanted to be healthy more than anything in the world. Her mind was strong; her thoughts kept her awake long after her body failed her. She watched healthy people run, jump, laugh, and work 12-hour days with envy. But she had never known that life. Plagued with chronic pancreatitis that she had inherited from her father's side, she had always known pain, always known weakness. And the way things were going, she would soon know death. Her pancreatic tissue was slowly fading, and the disease affected all systems of the body. Normally caused by heavy drinking, hers was idiopathic, inherited, and deadly.

But the day after Cole touched her, she had a blood test taken at the hospital. The physician who had followed her since birth seemed genuinely confused at the results.

"I'm going to redo these tests next week, if you don't mind coming in," he said, squinting at the paper. "Because it says that you are gaining digestive enzymes. That's odd."

"Right," Enya said, knowing exactly why that was the case. "Odd. And there's no cause for it? Maybe I'm getting better?"

"Enya," he leveled with her, looking her straight in the eye. "You know it's not possible for you to get better. Having false hope isn't going to help."

"I know, I know," she said, abandoning all reason. She had spent a lot of time googling her disease and of course had spent a lot of time within the medical system. She knew there was no hope of curing herself with science the way it was.

This meant Cole was telling the truth. She hadn't just been hypnotized into feeling better; she really had healed a bit.

"I'll come in next week for a retest," she said to the doctor, but she was sure that unless he showed up again, her levels would go back to normal. She had a feeling Cole's magic was temporary until he cured her for real.

He had left her in the park with the scroll and the promise that he would be back soon to check on her progress. But she had no idea when soon would be.

All she knew right then was that she was suddenly motivated to work on it.

After a few more follow up words, she was allowed to leave. Enya didn't usually schedule class on days that she had appointments because she felt like they were too draining.

Today, however, there was a new spring in her step as she headed back to the small apartment she paid for with student loans. Her parents had been nervous about her moving out by herself, especially when her disease caused frequent medical attacks. But she had to have independence; she had to have a life. Her apartment was ten minutes from the school, but just two streets down from the hospital, of which she was a frequent visitor.

She had put the scroll under her bed, unsure of what to make of it at the time. But now home with a new-found curiosity, she slowly unrolled it.

It was authentic. She could tell as soon as she cracked it open. There was the familiar smell of antiques, of dust, and the musky past.

The ink was half faded but well preserved, scrawled across the page with a practiced hand.

She had never seen writing like this before. Ancient script was harder than modern script of a different language for many reasons. Some letters or words had long since died out, and there was no globalization. Today, it seemed like all major languages shared some similarities. But back then, things could have nothing in common due to the lack of communication between cultures.

She had no idea where to begin. None of the symbols looked familiar to her. Nothing jumped out.

Part of her agreement was that she would do it by herself. Enya was tempted to go into school to ask her professor, but she remembered the results of the blood test. He had been telling the truth. He could make her better.

And so, she hunched over the text, took out a blank notepad, and began working.

It was somewhere around midnight when the pain started. She tried to ignore it at first, hoping that it was just a spasm. She was so focused on the text and on trying to match the letters to one of her many translation textbooks that she had on hand. She was glad she never really got around to selling them.

The pain began to radiate up her abdomen, causing her to gasp and grit her teeth.

She was onto something. Some of the symbols possibly looked like Aramaic, a long dead language. There was certainly no one alive who spoke Aramaic anymore.

She sketched a few of the symbols as nausea rolled through her body.

E. She was positive that the odd looking one that appeared the most frequently was E. It had to be. It was one of the most basic rules of translation–E was the most common letter of the alphabet.

Enya was top of her class and she always had been. When things weren't so bad, she had dreamed of working for the UN as a translator. She would earn a good salary and help her parents get out of the medical debt that she put them in.

She supposed, in a way, that a cure was the highest paid salary of all.

She was just filling in E to the copy she had drawn of the scroll when the pain she had been feeling became too much to ignore.

A spasm hit and she felt her stomach turn over. She cried out in pain, leaning to the side of the bed. She knew that it was going to be bad, because she could see the edges of her vision go black.

"Ah!" she managed to move away from the scroll just in time before heaving into the nearby garbage can.

She hadn't eaten very much that day, but her stomach never failed to surprise her.

"Oh, God, oh God," she clutched her blanket as she broke out into a cold sweat.

But suddenly, she felt a hand on her arm, and everything came back into focus.

The heaving had made her eyes watery. As she glanced at what appeared to be Cole, she was sure that she saw a halo above his head.

"Gross," he said. "Do you humans have no dignity?"

Enya was simply grateful that she wasn't going to pass out in a pile of vomit. No wonder she didn't have a boyfriend.

Gingerly, she wiped her mouth.

"Because you've never been sick."

He smirked, letting go of her arm.

"No," he said. "We do not entertain such notions anymore."

She leaned back against the pillows, grateful she had at least hit the garbage can. And then, logic returned to her brain.

"How did you get in here?"

She should have been afraid. She should have feared for her life, her possessions. But as she watched his yellow-tinted eyes and his usual smirk, she knew she had nothing to fear. As long as she upheld her end of the bargain, that is.

He was handsome in the way that images normally stared back at her from 15th century historical paintings. He didn't look quite right in modern day as if he was holding himself to different standards.

"I can cure you, and yet you wonder if a half-locked door can stop me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Stupid questions get stupid answers, I guess," she leaned forward. "Sorry you had to see that. It was not the most attractive thing, by far."

"Because I care about how attractive you look," he replied. "Have you cracked the code yet?"

"I got one letter," she replied. "At least, I think I got one letter. I did tell you it would take a while."

"One letter has taken you a week?" he asked, in disbelief.

"Is there a deadline I don't know about?" she answered. "Besides me expiring?"

His face changed.

"The deadline is as soon as possible. Does that ring true in your ears?"

"There has to be a reason," she answered. "You wouldn't be so desperate to have it otherwise."

He rolled his eyes.

"Is it a strange concept to you?" he asked. "To want to do something because someone told you that you couldn't?"

"Not at all," she replied. "People tell me I can't do things all the time. If anything, it inspires me to do them even more."

"There we go then, we have a common understanding," he replied. "So, spend less time emptying your stomach and more time working on the scroll. May I remind you that your life hangs in the balance?"

"My life hung in the balance long before you came into the picture," she answered, defensively. She didn’t like being kept in the dark. "You should tell me why you want it. It might help me solve it faster if I know the reason behind it. Common sense is a huge part of language."

He gave her a look.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes," she said. "I have no reason not to."

"Fine," he sighed. "I suppose that you'll be dead if you fail, so it doesn't make a difference. I'm a Prince, from a world far away. Or I was, until my father told me I was actually some bastard orphan. I thought I was of Royal Dragon blood, but it turns out I'm just some witch-dragon mutt. That throne is not mine for the taking, and that planet is lost to me. But this one, this one could be mine, if you activate that scroll."

She sat there in silence for a little longer than he was comfortable with. Cole flexed his hand, causing sparks to warm up beneath his palm. He was ready to act. He didn't really want to kill her. He wasn't the monster people made him out to be. He was mischievous and he was hurt. But he would do it if he had to–if she lost her mind.

He stood there staring at Enya, and her calm gaze slowly disarmed him.

"Aren't you afraid?" he asked, confused.

"No," she replied. "Every race has a reaping. Every creation story has an ending."

"Is that what you think I am?" he asked. "The end?"

"Or the beginning," she replied. "When you have come to terms with death, you learn what matters and what doesn't. I don't know if you are who you say you are, but I saw in my blood tests today what you can do. The rest doesn't matter."

"I am a god compared to humans," he said. "I am superior to you in every way."

She shrugged.

"And yet, you need me to help you with this. It's odd, isn't it?"

He hadn't expected that response. His shoulders relaxed and he even chuckled a bit.

"I suppose I do," he replied.

"Good." She flipped the scroll towards him. "Now, do you want to see which one I think is E?"

"Sure." He glanced at the scroll, but his mind was elsewhere. For a week, he had thought about nothing else but how he was going to take over this planet. But now, he was distracted by thoughts of how she could answer the way she just had. How she was the only person who didn't see him as a monster, as a criminal, as a bastard who had lost his throne.

Besides, it's not as if he had anywhere else to go. His world had rejected him; he was wanted for his crimes of destruction. His brothers had surely shunned him, or were too distracted to even notice he was gone. This place, with this girl, was all he had now.

Chapter 3

"Don't miss the Translators Ball which will be held next month. For those of you who are sitting in your seats right now thinking of not going, remember that you will be mixing and mingling with some of the top minds in translation. There will be games, puzzles, and food, which usually draws the rest of you in like flies."

That last statement caused Enya to look up from her notes, as it did for most students. However, it wasn't the food that enticed her, but the idea of multiple translators in one place. She could bring the scroll and pretend like it was a puzzle. This could give her the headway she needed.

Secretly, Enya also wanted a chance to feel pretty and good about herself, something that she hadn't experienced in months. To put on a formal gown and dance the night away sounded wonderful.

She blushed when she realized that Cole was on her arm in that image. With his dark hair and pale skin, he would be a sight to see.

She shook the image from her head. This was not the way she was supposed to be thinking about him.

As class was dismissed, she gathered up her books in a hurry. Her stomach had been growling, and she figured eating would distract her. Enya very rarely could eat when she was hungry; either her stomach disagreed, or her medication schedule didn’t allow for it. But these days, she could eat anything.

Rushing out into the hallway, she bumped straight into Cole.

He looked slightly out of place, standing in the middle of all the college students. If she were to compare him to humans, she would say that he was probably in his 30s. Even though he had chosen a more normal style of clothing today, she still thought he stood out somehow. His jeans were too expensive looking, and his gray shirt fit him too well.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in shock. He raised his eyebrow, a slight smirk on his face.

“Is that any way to greet me, love? Given what I'm doing for you.”

Enya rolled her eyes, shifting her backpack to the other shoulder.

“That's not what I meant. I meant what are you doing here, in my school, right now?”

“I came to check on your progress, of course,” he answered. “And your library.”

“Our library?” she said. “I've checked the library, and I've gotten all the books that could be of use.”

“Ah well,” he said as his eyes twinkled, “two sets of eyes are better than one, aren’t they?”

“Sure.” She felt slightly annoyed that he didn't trust her, but she supposed any help couldn’t hurt at this point. Her stomach suddenly let out a growl loud enough for Cole to hear. She didn't want to say anything because her time with Cole was precious, and, although she wasn't sure how she felt about him, she wanted to learn more who he was.

She led the way to the large library containing stacks upon stacks of dusty books that no one ever looked at. Even Cole coughed as they made their way through them to the language books.

“No one uses them,” she said. “Everything is online. It's–” she was about to explain, and then he laughed.

“Do you think I don't know what online is?” he asked. “Our civilization is far more advanced than yours.”

“I forgot,” she replied. “Everything about you seems so…old fashioned.”

“Does it?” he cocked an eyebrow. “You would be blown away by the things you would see on Umora.”

“I…” she started, about to retort with a witty comeback. But then she felt a knot in her throat, a side effect of not eating. Her window of hunger had passed, and it had turned to nausea. She wavered slightly, and Cole’s gaze turned protective and concerned.

“Are you alright?”

“I'm fine.” She tried to wave it off, but it was clear that her body was fighting her. She reached out for the shelf and Cole quickly caught her before she fell. “It's fine. I just need to eat something.”

“God damn it, woman, why didn't you say something?” he asked. “Where is there food on this sprawling metropolis?”

It was Tuesday meaning that her tuition payment had come out of her account. If she had any hope of making it to next semester, or at least until her next loan payment, $5.99 specials were not in her future. “I'm alright.”

“What, you don't eat on Tuesdays?”

She would have laughed if it weren't so sad. Instead, she briefly leaned her head against his shoulder, trying to get her bearings.

She knew he could kill her, but she had seen her blood tests. He could also save her, if he wanted.

“God,” she managed, when the feeling had passed. “That was close.”

“Close to what?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Last time I was in here, I forgot lunch as well and ended up on the floor. It seems to be a trend around here.”

“Enya,” he said. “I would appreciate you not dying before you solved my mystery.”

“Sorry to inconvenience you,” she replied. “Do you think you can take me home?”

“Aye,” he answered, although there was an unexpected note of sympathy in his voice.

Lately, she noticed that he didn’t choose to flood her with magic, nor did he choose to cure her there and then. Had it been a one-time proposition? Was being a dragon shifter, a part witch, something that he made up? Something that could only be done at a certain time?

She had to know. Once she was inside the confines of her tiny apartment, the questions came flooding out.

“Can you show me?”

“Show you what?” he asked, with raised eyebrows as he had barely finished shutting the door.

“That you are a dragon? I know you have magic; I saw my blood tests. But you have to understand why this is all so hard for me to believe.”

He said nothing as he leaned against the counter, and her heart plummeted.

“You aren't, are you?” she asked. “God, I'm an idiot.”

“I am,” he assured her, with a glare that could be described as icy. “But it's not as simple as that.”

“What, it needs to be a full moon?” she taunted him. The lack of food was making her head pound, and she was feeling testy.

“No,” he replied, “but it takes a higher level of magic to transform on Earth than on Umora. And I don't have an unlimited amount of magic here. So, if I show you to satisfy your curiosity, you better not need any relief for about a week. Is that clear?”

She considered this, and then nodded.

“Just toss me that banana and there's half a sandwich in the fridge. I'll be alright. My blood tests after the last time were good.”

He sighed, clearly not a fan of this plan. But as powerful as he felt, he understood that she could refuse to help him. She was dying one way or another, and his threats didn't mean as much to her as they did to a healthy person.

“Fine,” he said, as he retrieved the food. “Stand back. Don't move. This apartment is barely big enough to hold both of us, forget a dragon.”

“Right,” she sat on her loveseat against the wall and crossed her legs, watching him intently.

She wasn't sure what to expect, if anything at all. But when the gold magic started swirling around him, she knew that everything he told her was true.

The magic began to engulf him, the gold burning her eyes. She reached up to shield her eyes, but she couldn't tear her gaze completely from him. Giant wings began to expand, and his head went from human to angular. Smoke came from his nose, and green and gold scales engulfed his body.

In almost no time at all, a beautiful dragon was standing in her living room, his wing span going from wall to wall. He dipped his angular head towards her, and she slowly unfolded herself from the couch, mesmerized.

“Wow, “she said. “You weren't joking.”

He met her eyes, lowering his head. With a smile, she reached up, and her instinct of being an animal lover causing her to scratch his eye ridge

His multi-lidded eyes closed in pleasure, just for a moment.

“Are you in there?” she asked, softly. “Or is your brain all dragon now?”

Obviously, he couldn't answer her. But he bumped his head against her hand, and his eyes flashed.

“Yes, you are,” she grinned. “You are in there.”

They stood in silence for a moment, and he sat back on his haunches. He had to duck his head to avoid hitting her ceiling, and she smiled.

“Alright,” she said. “You proved it to me. I'm going to change. Maybe you should change, too.”

He cocked his head, to indicate that he understood. She headed into her bedroom, shutting the door.

It was only then that she covered her face with her hands, and took a deep breath.

This was real. Everything she knew before him had been a lie. Dragons were real, witches were real, and despite what the doctors had told her, there was a cure for her. And the cure was standing in her living room.

She took her time changing into sweatpants, pulling back her hair as she finished the banana in her hand. When she felt less shell shocked, she opened the door again.

Cole was sitting on the loveseat as if nothing had ever happened. He looked tired, but satisfied.

“Believe me now, do you?”

“I believed you before,” she said, as she leaned on the counter. “I just needed to see it. I needed to see that my hope was real.”

“Hope?” he asked, confused.

“Hope,” she said. “for a cure.”

“Oh,” he clearly hadn't thought of it that way. “Yes. That is real.”

“Is it easier for you?” she asked. “To be a dragon? Or is it human that is easier?”

“Easier?” that seemed to confuse him even more. “There isn't one form that's easier. On Umora, everyone takes the form that suits them at the time. The dragon is easier to be angry, to be strong, but a human form has its advantages as well.”

“But there must be one that you prefer.”

“Didn't you grow up bilingual?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Perfectly? There isn't a language that you prefer, is there?”

“No,” she admitted. “Both my parents' languages are natural to me. I wouldn't know how to be unilingual.”

“There you go,” he replied. “We aren't so different, are we?”

“No,” she said, “we aren't.”

“Now that it's all sorted,” he pointed to the half-eaten sandwich, the moment broken. “Eat. And then it's back to work. I can't wait forever.”

“Neither can I,” she said, as she moved towards the sandwich. They were both on borrowed time it seemed, and she wasn't sure which of them would outlast the other–in patience, or in life.

Chapter 4

“I think I have a solution,” Enya said, when he burst into her house for the third day that week. “But we have to go out.”

He leaned against the wall in the front hallway.

“How long have you been thinking about that excuse?” he asked, although it was slightly good natured. “Why didn't you say it yesterday?”

“Because yesterday, I wasn't quite so desperate,” she replied. “But today, I'm at the end of my rope.”

“I thought you were good at this,” he said, and she rolled her eyes.

“I am good at this. But in terms of education, I'm still only in my second year. And I spend half my time trying not to throw up. Can you have some compassion?”

“The world showed no compassion to…,” he was about to lament his own misfortune, but her eyes, large and pleading, told him otherwise. “Never mind. Fine. Yes. What's your idea?”

“Why are you so testy today?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “What happens when you are away from me?”

That was not an answer he wanted to give her. That was an answer that involved long hours of walking the streets, of lurking, and of finding a place where he wouldn't be noticed. He hadn't been back to Umora in weeks, and Earth didn't exactly have exciting possibilities. Conserving his magic except to convince people to give him food and shelter wasn't the most exciting story, but he wasn't about to admit that to her.

“What is your idea, Enya?” he asked as she sighed.

“The translator's ball,” she replied. “It's tonight, and there will be top-notch translators there. The theme is all about puzzles and games. We could easily sneak our puzzle in and see if anyone could help.”

“Do you realize how compromising that could be?”

“It could,” she said. “If I didn't know who could be trusted, who could be too drunk to say a word about yet another puzzle they had to solve.”

“Hmm,” he contemplated. “And you realize if this goes wrong, it's on your head?”

“Will you stop threatening to kill me?” she asked him. “Because that's my fate, no matter what you do. The only way this works in my favor is if it works out exactly the way you want it.”

“You're right,” he sighed, giving up. “Fine. What do you need to go to this ball?”

“You,” she replied, and his shoulders tensed.

“Oh no,” he said. “You are not roping me into this.”

“I can't go alone,” she protested. “Don't you think it will look odd, me standing alone, shuffling this puzzle around?”

“As opposed to someone they've never seen, who is not a translator?”

“But you can speak another language,” she pointed out. “It's just one they've never heard before.”

He smirked at that.

“You’ve thought this out, haven’t you?”

“Possibly,” she admitted, blushing. “What harm could it do, really? I need a boost, and if this world is to be your new life until you are accomplished, then you might as well get out and about.”

He said nothing to that, crossing his arms.

“Fine,” he said. “What do you need?”

“I have everything I need.” She eyed her closet, knowing there was one dress that could still fit her rapidly slimming figure. “The question is, what are you going to wear?”

“What do I need to wear?” It was the first time she had seen him look confident.

“Something formal, I imagine,” she said. “Do you have a suit? Can you get a suit? No, don’t just snap your fingers. You said you must conserve your magic. You can go shopping.”

“You're intolerable,” he said. “If I’d known that in the park when we met, I–”

“You'd what?” She raised an eyebrow, “Would you really not work with me?”

Something passed between them–a look, a glance–and he felt lost for words.

“No,” he stuttered at last. “I'd probably do the same thing.”

“Good.” She grinned.

In the end, they managed to get him a suit. She pointed him around the corner to a mall, and he managed to not kill anyone on the way there or back. Sharing the space to get dressed was a little tricky, however. She seemed to take on new energy when she was preparing for a formal event. She moved between the bedroom and the living room, fixing her hair, using the better light for makeup, jostling around him. But when she stepped out of the room in a red dress with a billowing skirt and her hair piled on top of her head, Cole had to hold his breath.

Before, she was quirky and pretty in an unassuming sort of way. Now, she was simply stunning.

She wasn't anything like the dragon women or the witch women. She was her own person, her own type of beauty, and he had to look away.

“One would think you were stitching the dress by hand with the amount of time you took,” he said, standing up.

She couldn't stop staring at him. In a charcoal-grey suit and a black shirt, his eyes were piercing, his skin icy, and his cheekbones perfectly carved. He looked like a high-fashion model that would stare back at her from the magazine pages, usually with an impossibly beautiful woman in his arms.

“Did you buy that off the rack?” she asked, when she felt like she could speak properly. “The suit?”

“There was a man who was eager for a commission,” Cole replied. “And I was eager for him to shut up. Now, how are we getting there?”

“Do you have legs?” she asked. “It's not far.”

“Walking?” He raised an eyebrow, “Commoner.”

“And don't forget it,” she teased. “Although the people going tonight will not be commoners. The tickets are expensive, but experiences are included in my scholarship.”

“You know you don't have to worry about money, right?” he held open the door for her, shockingly gentlemanly of him. “I don't know what you need, but one snap of the finger, and I could get it.”

She raised an eyebrow as she headed out the door, both at his comment and his sudden display of manners. Now that she had seen him in dragon form, she could see the similarities in things like the way he moved and the way his eyes flashed. How she had ever seen him as anything but different was completely stunning, really, given how different he seemed.

“Aren't you supposed to be conserving your magic?”

“Uh,” he grunted. “Maybe anything you want after next week.”

“Anything?” she teased him as they hit the pavement. It was early in the evening, but the night air was already chilly. Enya crossed her arms over her chest, trying to keep out the chill as she walked. “I want a unicorn.”

“No you don't,” he replied. “They are nasty, evil creatures, who will stab you at any opportunity.”

Her mouth fell open.

“Don't say that. My childhood!”

“Dragons are nicer than unicorns,” he said. “And dragons are not nice at all.”

“What is nice then?” she asked, determined that her entire perception of the world was going to be ruined.

He paused, thinking for a moment. She was leading the way, so he didn't have to concentrate on where they were going.

“Werewolves, as you know them, or wolf shifters, aren't bad. Very sociable. Very touchy.”

“Werewolves?” she asked in disbelief. “The whole world is going crazy.”

“Don't believe everything you read,” he warned her. “The world isn't as you think it is.”

“I know that,” she replied. “I knew that the moment I was diagnosed. They teach you in school that you can grow up and be anything that you want; that the world is at your fingertips, that it's easy if you just try. But…” she realized the conversation had suddenly taken a dark turn. “Sorry. Never mind. Where were we?”

“Never mind where we were,” he said, grabbing her wrist. “My world crashed under me when they told me I wasn't their Prince. It didn't make an ounce of difference what I wanted or what I will get, and it shouldn't make a difference to your life, either.”

She searched his eyes, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Thank you,” she said. “It's nice to hear.”

“But you don't believe it.”

She shrugged one bony shoulder.

“It's just something I've come to accept. I don't need a speech,” she tried to smile. “I think we're lost, by the way.”

He rolled his eyes, the moment broken.

“How long have you lived here, exactly?”

“My whole life,” she admitted. “But north and south have always baffled me.”

She pulled up the GPS on her phone, indicating where they should go. After a quick glance, his long legs started in the opposite direction. She noticed that he hadn't let go of her arm.

“Do you have them on your world? GPS?”

“Navigation?” he asked. “We do, of course. But it's easier. The palace is north. Our rebellions are mostly south. It's hot in the east and cold in the west. One does figure it out rather quickly.”

“Plus, when you can fly over all of it, it's probably effortless,” she answered, and he smirked.

“It is. Seeing things from the air gives you a better idea of direction, I admit. But still, getting lost in your own city makes you special.”

“I see your language is improving,” she tried to look on the bright side.

In no time at all, they found the hotel where the ball was being held. All around them, beautifully dressed women and smartly dressed men entered in droves. Enya heard at least seven different languages being spoken, and she smiled as Cole turned his head in confusion at each one.

“Greek,” she said. “French. Spanish. German. Russ…no, Ukrainian.”

“You can recognize them?”

“Mostly by their bases,” she replied. “It's the first thing they teach you in school, recognizing the roots.”

“And yet our puzzle alludes you?”

“Because it doesn't seem to have any logical roots,” she replied. “I can't find any language like it, no matter how far back I go. Every time I recognize something, it's one symbol that is sort of close to something else.”

“So you say.” He took her arm and she gave him a strange look. “If we're going to be asking these people for help, Enya, we might as well play the part. Shall I be your long-distance fiancé? Did we meet on your inter webs?”

“Internet,” she corrected him. “And that's creepy. It makes you sound like I mail-ordered you from Russia. Do you want to just be an old friend instead? No one asks questions about old friends who moved away.”

“Where's the romance in that?” he teased, but accepted the story as they headed inside.

The ballroom was decorated with photographs of beautifully drawn letters, and everywhere they looked, there were puzzles, games, silent auctions, and laughter. Everyone had a glass of champagne in their hands and a smile on their face. There was a live band playing music, and tables decorated with calligraphy script. The white on black was enchanting, and Enya breathed in the happy air. She rarely got to go to such events, although she longed for them.

“Don't enjoy it too much,” Cole said. “Remember, there's work to be done.”

“I thought you wanted to play a part?” she said, as the band took up a new song. “Do you dance?”

He paused, and then smiled.

“If it will help crack the code, I'll stand on my head,” he replied, taking her into his arms.

Chapter 5

“That's odd,” said the eighth person they asked. Enya had copied the scroll and unrolled it every time someone whom she knew was distinguished came along. People questioned what it was less and less as the night wore on. She pretended it was part of the ball, a puzzle that they had made to get into the spirit of things, and there would be a prize for the most number of letters deciphered. She didn't know what the prize would be, but so far, most people were tied at zero. They squinted at the letters, using their specialty to decipher a symbol that they thought looked similar to their expertise. “I think that's an L in hieroglyphs, but I'm not quite sure.”

“Yeah,” Enya sighed, leaning against a table. “No one is quite sure.”

“Clearly, you've made the puzzle too hard, my dear.” The old man's eyes twinkled. “You have to remember that some of us don't have as sharp a mind anymore.”

“I didn't make it too hard.” Enya glanced to Cole. “I just thought we could all work together.”

“By using symbols from different ancient languages?” the old man asked, startling both Cole and Enya.

“What?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Did I figure it out?” he asked. “Each symbol is from a different language, isn't it? Now, I see it. That is an L, an ancient form, the first version. And there's an E in Aramaic. Yes, yes, that's it. Isn't it? What's my prize?”

“Uh.” Enya couldn't believe it. Now that he said it, the answer was radically clear. She had suspected it before, but not like this. It was perfect. “A coffee day at your workplace.” Coffee satchels were cheap enough, she was sure she could figure it out. “Where do you work?”

“Red Cross, as a translator, on Bank Street,” he answered. “Do I get to pick the day?”

“Sure,” she said. “Give me your business card, and I'll be in touch.”

“Excellent!” he said, handing it over. “I've never won anything before.”

“Congratulations,” Enya replied, handing the card to Cole. As soon as the old man was gone, she whipped her head around to him. The sudden movement, though, made her feel dizzy, and she felt pins and needles rush through her body. “Whoa.”

“Enya?” Cole had a glass of champagne in his hand–crisp, cold and reminding him of his own world. He had been surprisingly half enjoying himself, letting her do most of the talking, while he watched the colors swirl around him. This world did have good aspects as well as bad, and soon they would all be his. He had been picturing himself ruling over them and perhaps throwing a ball as grand as this to celebrate. But the bigger picture left his mind as Enya became pale, and his vision tunneled to her eyes.

“I'm alright,” she replied, putting a hand on the table. “I just...”

And then she wavered again, shivering with such a passion that he was forced to grab both of her hands.

“Your hands are like ice, love,” he said. Her collarbone was covered in sweat, and he realized how glassy her eyes looked. “What's going on?”

“Nothing. It's nothing,” she closed her eyes. “It'll pass, I promise.”

“What will pass?” he asked, and she winced.

“Sometimes, it just…we should keep asking people.”

“Forget people,” he said. “You're no use to me dead.”

“I…” her sentences weren't coming out in full and she groaned, loud enough to be heard over the clink of champagne glasses. Her teeth were chattering, and he could hear that her heartbeat was out of control. “Oh, God.”

To avoid drawing attention, he pulled her close as if he was simply showing her affection. In his arms, she felt so small, so fragile.

“Tell me what's going to happen,” he said in her ear.

“I need to lie down,” she managed. “Could you take me–”

“You aren't going to make it home,” he replied, looking around for the entrance back to the hotel lobby. “Here, give me the scroll and hold onto my arm.”

“Where are we going?”

Her voice sounded far away and childish.

“This is a hotel, isn't it?” he asked. “And you need to lie down? The solution seems logical enough to me.”

“Cole, the rooms here are–”

“Never mind that,” he answered, as her teeth chattered harder. Although her hands were like ice, her body burned, and he knew that she must have been feeling ill half the night. “Come on.”

He dragged her through the lobby, barely managing to convince her to sit in a chair, while he went to the front desk. She was hunched over, eyes closed, and he couldn't take his gaze off her while he ordered a room.

Humans were so mortal–so fragile. Was this how she was to perish, close to immortality, but not quite within reach? He opened and closed his palms as they registered for a room, fighting for magic, but knowing none would come. He had truly drained his supply to transform into a dragon, and he wouldn't have any for a few days yet. If he was on Umora, he could heal her in a moment. He hated this planet for that. Hated the pull of its gravity and the quality of its air.

What startled him most of all, however, was how worried about her he was. He told himself it was because his chance of ruling slipped away with every gasping breath she took. She was the only person he could trust, and her mind was always half clouded with pain and fear. But he knew deep in his heart that the truth was about more than the scroll. It had been about more than the scroll from the moment he saw her.

This wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to be heartless and cruel, an ice king ruling with an iron fist. That was how they described him on Umora. They bowed to his brothers and his father out of respect; but they bowed to him out of fear. How much would they fear him if they could see him now, helping this fragile girl under the covers?

“It's so cold,” she said, the blankets drawn up. “This room is like ice.”

“It's not,” he glanced at the thermostat, the primitive technology confusing him. “It's set as high as it will go, I think.”

“I'm sure it is.” She wrapped the blanket tighter, drawing it up to her chin. “Jesus, I can't even think straight. Ow.” Her eyes clouded again, and she gritted her teeth.

He was helpless, standing by the foot of the bed, his empty palms flexing for nothing. He felt his heart half shatter when she looked up at him. He was trying to remain calm, trying to remain impartial. But nobody could remain impartial when such eyes pleaded for help.

“Can you–”

“I can't,” he said, although it nearly broke him to admit it. “I told you that the dragon transformation would use up my stockpile. I have nothing left, even if I wanted to.”

“Would you want to?” She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.

“Yes.” He was standing paralyzed at the foot of her bed, his own chest rising and falling harshly. “If I could.”

She considered that answer, and then held her hand out.

“Come,” she said. “Please. You're warm, at least.”

“I…” He was about to protest about the indecency of it, the lack of proper form. But despite her pain, she looked so beautiful–so tempting–so angelic. He couldn't stop himself from moving forward.

He gently climbed onto the bed beside her, easing her body until she was mostly in his arms. She buried her face in his chest, and he squeezed tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“The scroll–”

“The scroll will still be there in the morning,” he said. “I'm not sure that you will be.”

“This isn't death,” she said, although it felt like it. “When I feel like this, I always assume this is a worse fate than death. Like I'm being punished for something I did in a past life.”

“What could you have possibly done in a past life to deserve this?” he wondered.

“I didn't solve a scroll for another Dragon Lord?”

He laughed at that, brushing her hair away from her face.

“Probably,” he said. “Maybe we've done this all before.”

“Is that a thing?” she managed. “Past lives?”

“No,” he sighed. “There is only one life as far as we know. For some of us, it's longer than others, but there is only one.”

“Is there a heaven?” she asked. “Up in the clouds, where you are from?”

He was silent for quite a while on that front.

“There may be,” he said. “I'm sure you'll find out one day. Although, it's unlikely that I'll meet you there.”

She grasped his hand as a fresh wave of pain hit her. Their fingers intertwined, and he didn't want to let go.

“How often does this happen?”

“Not so often,” she said. “Although more often than not lately. The weeks when you first touched me were blessed.”

“And they will be again,” he said.

“When?”

“Soon. A few days, at least. Unless,” he thought, carefully, “I could go back.”

“Go back where?”

“To Umora,” he replied. “It would replenish the supply faster.”

“You haven't been going back?” That made her raise her head in surprise. “Why not?”

He sighed, moving the stray hair again.

“It's complicated, Enya,” he said. “And it takes far more energy than you have at the moment. Rest now. We'll take about it later.”

She seemed to accept that answer, lying her head on his chest again. The spasms soon subsided, and she lay peacefully, their hands still intertwined.

Making sure that she was okay, was the first time in a long time that he had not thought about the scroll. She tossed and turned half the night, and he made sure that she was comfortable, covered, and safe.

When her hand squeezed his in her sleep, perhaps for comfort, he squeezed back, his eyes never closing.

This was not part of the plan; this girl clung to him like he was her lifeline.

He was her lifeline, he realized, as the dawn sun rose. Even without magic, he could feel her life force dwindling. She had to trust him. She had to work hard, because there was no other hope.

But was that why she lay so peacefully upon him, looking more comfortable than she had since they had met?

Did she feel for him what he felt for her? Confusion, riddled with fondness and warmth in the heart?

Her phone which had been left on the bedside table went off, and he got to it before she did.

Class said the alarm, but he didn't really care. She needed to sleep, that much was clear. And in his heart, he didn't want her to move.

It was half past ten when her eyes finally started to flutter open. He relaxed his grip, so she could move as she needed to, stretching, but not reacting in shock when she found him there.

“Have you been watching over me all night?” she asked.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, deflecting the question.

“Better.” She sank onto the pillow beside him, taking her hand. “Did you use magic?”

“No,” he replied. “I just was here.”

“Apparently, that's enough,” she smiled at him, and his heart warmed.

“Apparently, it is,” he said.

Chapter 6

“I didn't know what to bring you,” he said, as she pulled open the door. “So, I brought you everything.”

Enya's mouth fell open in a giggle as Cole made his way through the hotel room door. There was free breakfast that ended half an hour after she woke up, so she sent him down to get it while she showered. There were no fresh clothes, since their sleepover hadn’t been planned, but at least she felt more alive.

“Did you bring me the entire buffet?” she said, as he set down three plates piled high. “How much do you think I eat?”

“I wanted you to have choices,” he admitted, as the plates almost toppled over.

“Do you eat?” she asked, and he smirked.

“Yes, darling.”

“Sorry, silly question,” she sat down at the desk. But Enya's interest in the food was second only to the scroll. She was typing frantically on her phone, and then scribbling on a spare napkin.

“I've got it,” she said suddenly. Cole looked at her in shock.

“What?”

“I cracked it,” she said, squinting at her scribbles. “That old man was right. Are you ready?”

He felt his stomach lurch as he sat at the end of the bed.

“Yes?” he said.

In a way, he’d gotten used to the fact that she would never solve it. Of course, he still had his mind on the goal. But the idea of spending all this time with her, in a constant limbo, did not sadden him.

She cleared her throat.

“In front of the pillars of Hercules, you will find the key. On this island, there exists a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power. You will have sway of the world, if you climb the tower.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he asked, in confusion. The words were too fast, and he felt like they were no closer to what they needed.

“It's Plato,” she said. “Plato was...don't worry, it doesn't matter. And apparently, someone is either quoting him or Plato knew of magic, which explains so much. The fact is, I remember those verses. He's referring to Atlantis.”

“Well, where's that?” he asked, and she sighed.

“No one even thought Atlantis was real.” She typed a few more things on her phone. “I mean, it appears in hundreds of things as myths, but it looks like Plato thought it was Gibraltar….”

“Which is?”

“Very far from here,” she said. “We'd have to travel.”

“We?” he answered, and she shrugged.

“Do you honestly think I'd let you get this far and not come along for the ride?”

“What about your life here?” he asked, even though secretly, he was thrilled that she was considering coming along. “You have class, you have–”

“What difference does my life here make if you are going to take control of Earth?” she asked. “Or, let me put it another way; without you, I'm going to die. The safest place is with you. In more ways than one.”

He paused, picking at the bedspread.

“Is that the only reason?” he asked, cautiously. “Safety?”

Enya paused, and his heart thudded in his chest.

“No,” she said, coming to sit beside him. “It's not.”

He turned to look at her, and found that their lips were inches apart.

He knew this was a terrible idea. He knew that she was so different from him, so fragile, stuck in human form. They had grown up on such different worlds; they were such different creatures.

None of that stopped him from meeting her lips, and pulling her close.

She didn't pull away, nor did she seem surprised by this development. She kissed him back, her lips nipping and biting at his. At first, she was hesitant, but then the kiss deepened. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warm body against his.

When they finally broke apart, they were both panting.

“Wow,” she said. “I didn't expect that. Sorry, I don't have a toothbrush.”

He laughed at that, taking her hand.

“Do they not teach you humans romance?”

“Of course, they do,” she said. “But nothing taught me about kissing a dragon. Which, by the way, was excellent.”

Her stomach growled then, and her attention went back to breakfast. He let go of her hand, so she could pick at the bagels.

“Do you really want to come with me?” he asked. “Because I would be delighted to have you along.”

“I would,” she said. “I'm not the easiest person to travel with, though. There's meds, as I'm sure you've figured out by now.”

“We'll figure it out,” he assured her. “And my magic should return in a few days, so I'll be able to help you.”

“To cure me?” she asked, and he looked away. Regardless of the developments between them, he couldn't give over his whole heart, not yet. There had been too many times he had trusted and had his trust shattered. Even though she made his heart beat faster, and that he thought he was falling in love, he couldn't give her what she wanted. What if she lied? What if she left him? What if all of this was a ruse?

After all, if his own family had been that way, why would this be any different?”

“I will cure you when we’ve succeeded,” he said, at last. “But I’ll help you.”

“Mmm,” she didn't seem impressed, but her mind was already on the next step. “When do you want to go?”

“As soon as possible,” he said. “Without putting you in danger. You still need rest after last night, and I'm not willing to take any more chances.”

“I'm fine,” she tried to assure him. “But if we're going to be headed to a country where my doctor isn't, I need time to gather some meds. And maybe pack a suitcase.”

“I can get you whatever you need,” he said. “Why don't you stay here and give me a list?”

“I’m not going to break,” she said. “You need to believe in me. I mean, I got this far without you, didn't I?”

“That you did,” he said. “But we need to make sure that is true a little longer. Now, make me a list. Include things like paying your rent, anything that you need to do so your life isn't in shambles, should you return to it.”

“There won't be a return,” she was clear about that. “If we don't succeed, you know I’m not coming back here.”

He held her gaze for a long moment, and then sighed.

“Make me a list,” he said, turning to look out the window. He didn't want to tell her that she wouldn't die under his watch, even if they failed. Even if saving her was his last dying breath, he would probably do it. He hated himself for it; feelings this intense scared him. But it was true, and she'd be able to read it in his face if she looked at him any longer. “I'm going to extend our stay here. You're comfortable, and I don't want to overexert you more than you need.”

“Are you going to get my clothes, too?” she asked, teasing him.

“If that's what I need to do.” He pointed to the note paper on the desk. “Write.”

She made a list and handed over her apartment key, coming to terms with the fact that she would likely never return to it. Enya had never been obsessed with material goods; her apartment was sparse. Anything of value to her was still at her parent's house.

Her parents. She fiddled with her phone after Cole left, contemplating on whether she should text them. But what would she say?

I think I have a boyfriend? He's going to take over the world, and he's a dragon?

My boyfriend can cure me?

I just kissed a Dragon?

Going to Atlantis. Brb?

Clearly, there was not a right answer.

She climbed back under the warm covers, enjoying the simplicity of the hotel room. For when they left here, their entire life would be different.

Cole returned in two hours, and she chuckled as she let him in for the second time that day. He was even more burdened than that morning–with suitcases, and a back pack, as well as juggling various things in his hand.

“Thank you,” she said, as she realized he had gotten everything on the list. “That was fast.”

“It's easy when you know where you're going.” He winked at her. “I didn't end up going in the wrong direction.”

“Are you ever going to let me live that down?” she answered, as she sat back on the bed.

“Maybe,” he said. “How are you feeling? I assume that there’s a flight we have to take to get to where we need to go.”

“I'm alright,” she said. “There is a flight that leaves tonight, but I don't know if that's too soon. It’s expensive.”

“Hmm,” he flexed his palms, and she saw a tiny bit of magic spark. She looked at him, hopeful, and he winced.

“I could probably convince someone at the airport to give us a flight for free,” he said. “But that'd be it, we'd be back at zero. So, tell me honestly, how are you feeling?”

“I survived without you for a while,” she said. “And now that you've brought me meds, we'll just have to combat it the old fashion way. Have you ever flown before?”

He smirked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not what I meant,” she cried, throwing a pillow at him with a giggle. “In an airplane. Do you have those?”

“No, because I have wings.” He caught the pillow and sat beside her. “When's the flight?”

“Midnight,” she replied. “We would have to change planes in Belgium and then Spain, there's a huge layover, but it's still faster than any other option. It looks like there are still seats on it.”

“Well then,” he said. “I guess you'll be flying tonight.”

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced over, and saw that it was her mother calling. He reached for it, but she stopped him.

“No,” she said. “There's no point.”

“You'll make your parents panic if you don't answer the phone,” he said. “Whenever my mother sent out a magical ping, if we didn't answer it within a moment, she would–”

He stopped talking then. These were memories of happier times, when he still felt connected to his family–when life was easier and when he was a ruling Prince that had nothing to worry about but what girl would be in his bed and what party he would attend next.

She let the phone ring, her hand over his.

“I'll call them later,” she said. “At the airport, perhaps. It's alright.”

“Do you need anything else?” he asked, and she shook her head. “Then, we should go. Atlantis awaits. And hopefully, the key to all the magic.”

“Have you considered that it might not?” she asked, casually. “I mean, the message is pretty clear. But what if I'm wrong?”

“Then I'll keep looking,” he said. “I have all the time in the world, Enya. I can accomplish this.” He got up to head to the bathroom, making sure they hadn't forgotten anything. It was only once he was gone that she spoke, softly, and mostly to herself.

“I don't,” she said. Not that it mattered. Dead or alive, he would take control of this planet. She was just along for the ride, and, unfortunately, in love with him.

And she thought her university classes were complicated.

Chapter 7

“In what class, sir?” The airline attendant asked, at 9:30pm, as they stood at the airport. The sales desk was empty, as Enya suspected that it would be. After all, no one bought their tickets at the counter anymore.

Currently, there was space on the flight. It seemed this was not a popular flight at an odd time, so they had their pick.

“Do you have any in–” Enya was about to say business, which was one up from economy. She figured maybe she could have a little luxury for once in her life. But Cole took things to a whole other level.

“What are the best seats you have?” he asked. The girl clicked a few more buttons.

“Well, we have Suite Class available with a private cabin and bed, but–”

“A bed?” Enya's eyes widened. “On a plane?”

“We'll take that,” Cole said, and flexed his hand. The magic sparked and the girl simply nodded, printing their tickets.

“Here you go. Enjoy your flight.”

“Wow,” Enya marveled, waiting until they were away from the counter before she expressed a massive amount of surprise. “Does it take more magic to convince her to do such an upgrade?”

“No,” he replied. “Convincing people is convincing people. It's just a switch I have to flip in their brains.”

“Oh,” she said, still marveling at the fact that they were going to fly over the ocean in an apartment. “Have you ever done that to me?”

“No,” he said, and then his voice caught. “Yes.”

“What?” She turned to him in shock. “When?” She went over every interaction they had ever had in her head. What had he convinced her to do?

“It was brief,” he said. “But the first time we met, you were in pain. I didn't do it intentionally, but part of making you feel better was convincing you that you weren't feeling any pain.”

“Oh.” Her shoulders dropped. “Well, that's alright then.”

“Which way do we go?” he asked, confused as he looked at the tickets.

“I think we probably get lounge access with those,” she said, already googling what an apartment inside the plane looked like. “Wow!” She put her phone in his face, and he laughed.

“You humans. You're always looking for immediate gratification, aren't you? We'll see it in a few hours.”

“There's a bed and a flat screen,” she said. “This is going to be the most comfortable flight ever.”

“It's going to be odd,” he answered. “Being in the air and not being in control.”

“I can hold your hand if you're scared,” she teased him and he rolled his eyes.

“Let's find this lounge,” he said, taking her hand anyway. It sent shivers down her spine, and she squeezed as they lined up to drop off their baggage. She knew they were headed off to change the world, but she couldn't help but revel in the sense of adventure. Her life had been nothing but an endless string of work, doctor's appointments, and class for so long. Even though the end of this mission could take a disastrous turn, she couldn't wait to get started.

“What do we do next?” he asked.

“Bags dropped, so security, I think,” she said, as they moved off. “I haven't flown in years, so that's a guess. But I really don't think they eliminated security in that time.”

“Security?” he asked. “For what? I'll take down anyone who threatens us.”

She gave him a sharp look, hoping that no one had heard him.

“Cole,” she said. “Number one rule of pretending to be human. You don't say anything threatening or even eyebrow raising in airports.”

“Why?” he asked, and she sighed.

“I'll teach you later. For now, just take my word for it.”

“Only because it's you,” he answered, as they entered the security line. But it appeared all her words of wisdom whizzed over his head as a security guard asked her to step out of the line for additional screening procedures.

Enya was perfectly willing to comply, but Cole shot daggers at the woman the entire time she was doing a pat down.

“How dare they?” he fumed. “How dare they single you out like that? You didn't do anything wrong!”

“I didn't,” she said. “But someone once did, and now they do everything they can to keep people safe.”

“Huh,” he said, listening this time. “Humans are more resilient than I thought.”

“We are,” she gave him a small smile as they moved with the crowds. “Here's the lounge, I think. You need your ticket. And it never occurred to me to ask where you got a fake passport.”

“Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to,” he said, giving her a wry smile back. “What are we supposed to do if we go in there?”

“Just...lounge?” she said. “I've never been inside one, but I hear rumors of free food and drink.”

“By all means,” he said, as he waved her inside. He was eager to get to their destination, but unlike dragons, planes didn’t fly whenever they wanted. The least he could do was make her happy until it was time to get there.

He noticed that she still hadn't called her parents, a thought that oddly saddened him. Enya seemed to have accepted her fate and given up on the life she had known. And while that was technically true, it still made him sorrowful. It wasn't fair that someone so young and otherwise vibrant would live a life where the reaper was right around the corner.

Inside the lounge was more of the luxury he was used to, with shiny marble, wide couches, and everyone with their noses in the air. They were surrounded by a buffet and free drinks lining the countertops.

“Well, that's more like it,” Cole said, as she sank onto the couch. “Do you want a drink?”

“I'm alright,” she replied. “But you might as well take advantage of it.”

“You should at least eat something, darling,” he said, pouring himself a glass of brandy and setting up a plate of food for her as he settled onto the couch.

To his surprise, the brandy was rich and smooth, and almost as good as at home.

“Perhaps Earth isn't so bad after all,” he said, pulling up one leg onto the couch, “if the brandy is this potent.”

“I wish I could see your world,” she said. “If only so I had something to compare this to. You have such perspective on things, and I just feel so lost and so singular. It's frustrating.”

“You are used to having the most diverse perspective in the room,” he pointed out. “With so many languages under your belt. God, this is good.” Draining his glass, he stood up to get a second one. Enya laughed as he did.

“One would think you were dying of thirst,” she said, as he sat back down. “But, I suppose you might as well enjoy it. When are we ever going to get a chance to do this again?”

“We will,” he promised her. “Luxury will be a life that you are used to by the time I am done.”

“What?” she asked, stunned. He swallowed, shaking his head and taking another drink.

“Just that I will be the King of this planet.”

“And I will be....”

“Cured,” he looked away. He wanted to say more, but he realized he really shouldn't. “And I will take care of you, no matter what happens. Of that much, you should be certain.”

“That's very kind of you,” she said. “Because you could just smite me with everyone else.”

“I don't plan to smite everyone,” he replied. “There is no glory in loneliness.”

She didn't say anything then, simply leaning against his shoulder. He slipped an arm around her, brushing back her hair and letting her close her eyes as he finished his drink.

The future was uncertain. But this moment was perfect. There was hope; there was happiness, and Cole knew it wouldn't stay like this.

By the time their plane was called, he had gone through four drinks, and he could feel his head buzzing. He thought that his tolerance was higher than any human’s, but he waivered as he stood.

“Oops,” Enya caught him as he nearly fell, sleep leaving her eyes. “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” he said, grinning. “I'm excited.”

“You look a little bit more than excited,” she said, as she got to her feet. “I see you enjoyed the open bar.”

“I enjoyed your company,” he responded as he reached for the carry-on suitcase and missed. She rolled her eyes, taking it from him as they headed towards the door.

“Just try to keep it together on the plane.”

“Enya,” he gave her a cheeky look. “I am a sovereign Prince who has attended many great feasts and banquets, raised a hand to warriors, and drank in their honor. In addition, your human metabolism is no match for me.”

She pulled him out of the way right before he walked into a post, distracted by his speech.

“You were saying?” she teased him, and he shook his head.

“Forget it, just get me on the plane.”

“That's what I thought,” she replied, as they joined the line to board.

Their apartment on the plane was everything she had dreamed of. It had a living room, a huge bathroom, and a double bed all at the front of the plane.

They even had their own private attendant, who would take care of anything they needed.

“Look at this television,” she marveled. “I think it's bigger than my whole apartment.”

He smirked at that

“It's quite possible,” he replied. “Although, I'm not sure why anyone needs such a big one.”

“There's a lot of things you don't understand about humans,” she replied. “And this is probably one of them. Look at the bed.”

She could feel the plane rumbling to life. She knew that outside of their own closed-in, little area there were hundreds of people crammed into the economy seats. But she was comfortable on the couch with Cole's arm around her as the wheels lifted off the ground.

“Cole,” she said, turning towards him. She could see the slight haze in his eyes and the cocky smile that lit up his face. “Thank you. For all of this, however it ends.”

He kissed her then, rough and passionately, as if he couldn't stand another moment without touching her. Everything about the kiss felt natural and right. She leaned into it, feeling his arms encircle her waist.

“Mmm,” she couldn't help but let a moan escape as their kiss deepened. He pushed her gently until she was lying on the couch, their seat belts undone and his lean, muscular body hard against hers as he lay on top of her. “Cole....”

He eventually pulled himself up long enough to meet her eyes.

“Yes?” he asked, his breath hot. They were panting, and her body was tingling with anticipation.

She had never done this before, but she knew that the moment was right.

“Should we continue this in the bedroom?”

He knew in an instant what she was asking. He didn't hesitate as he got up, pulling her hand. Once she was on her feet, he swept her into his arms, kissing her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and they headed into the bedroom.

“Oh, God,” she said, as he undid her shirt. This was it, the moment she spent dreaming about and fantasizing about. And it was going to be with a dragon lord. She had never wanted anyone more thoroughly than she wanted him. And now, she would have him.

Chapter 8

“AH!” Enya awoke with a startle as the plane hit a bad area of turbulence. One moment, she had been asleep in the warm, soft bed, and the next, she was nearly tossed against the wall. Luckily, even half drunk and asleep, Cole's reflexes were fast. He grabbed her before she hit the wall, yanking her back against him. The plane bumped again, and she whimpered, moving into his arms. “I don't like this. I don't like this.”

“Shhh,” he said, rising slightly over her. His shirtless torso was warm and gleaming in the low light. He rose slightly over her, his eyes open and his ears perked up. He reminded her so much of a dragon listening for danger. She knew that he would protect her from anything that he could. But he wasn't in control of this turbulence, and it felt like it was getting worse with every second. “It's OK. It's OK.”

Just as he said it, the plane dropped what felt like 15 feet. Her stomach dropped, and she heard the screams of the people in the back rows. It stabilized quickly, but the damage was done. She leaned over the side of the bed, gagging and then vomiting on the floor.

She was furious with herself, even as it happened. They had made love for at least half the flight, their passion tangled in sweat, limbs, and sheets 30,000 feet in the air. They had both just dropped off to sleep when the turbulence took over and now she was ruining it.

“Oh, God,” she whimpered, as he put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”

“It's OK, Enya,” he said, kissing the back of her head. “It's OK.”

Finally, she fell backwards onto the pillow. Her head was throbbing, and her mouth felt like sawdust. He managed to find a water bottle, handing it to her to take small sips.

“If I was flying the plane, this never would have happened,” he growled. “Some people just weren't meant to fly.”

“Could we do that with you as a dragon?” she asked. “Fly long distances like this?”

“Yes,” he replied. “It's absolutely possible. But I can't go as fast as this, of course. By myself, it's fine. But if you were to ride on my back, it might not be so pleasant.”

“You did seem pretty cuddly, though, when you transformed,” she put the water bottle down on the bedside table. “Should we call someone to clean up?”

“I think you should rest.” He pulled her back into his arms. “We can deal with things like that later.”

She sighed, curling into his side.

“This is what it's going to be like,” she said. “The whole time. Things are going to be fine and wonderful, and then my body is going to rebel against me.”

“Well,” he replied, “we will deal with those things when they come up. For now, everything will be fine, alright, my love?”

“Where did they teach you such compassion?” she asked. “In prince school?”

“Compassion?” the word surprised him. “Most people on my planet say that I have no compassion.”

“Well, they are wrong,” she said. “Of course, you do.”

Even after she slipped back into sleep, he contemplated the word.

Compassion.

There had been so many times that the people he had helped slaughter in battle begged him to have some. He and his brothers had been heroes on one side. But there were others who called him a villain, who called him a monster.

Yet, here was this innocent-hearted girl who called him compassionate, who snuggled up to him like he was the safest place in the whole world.

When they finally landed, he was sober, but his head was a million miles away. He wanted to hear her say it again–that he was compassionate, that he was kind, that he was not the monster they screamed he was.

“Do you think you could help me?” she asked, as they waited to exit the plane.

“With?” he asked, standing at the door, waiting for the signal.

“I feel like my legs might collapse if I walk right now,” she said, and he turned around in alarm.

“Enya?” he asked, in concern. “What can I do? How can I help?”

“Don't look so worried,” she said. “This just happens sometimes. Especially after I throw up, I get so shaky.”

“Tell me what to do,” he said, plainly. She gritted her teeth, and it was clear that she hated admitting weakness. But at this moment, she had no choice.

“Just ask them if they could get a wheelchair,” she said. He cocked his head, the word unfamiliar. They had been through this a few times, and she stayed still, looking him right in the eye. “Wheelchair.”

“Wheelchair,” he repeated, just as their private attendant came in.

“My girlfriend needs a wheelchair.”

That startled Enya more than the speed of the attendant entering the room.

“Do you know what that word means?” she asked as they were left alone.

“Wheelchair?” he asked.

“Girlfriend,” she replied.

“Oh,” he colored at that. “It was the easiest word. I didn't want...I mean... I wanted to honor you, so that people knew you weren't just my mistress.”

She laughed at that.

“Things are different on Earth. No one would think that. I supposed that they would think that of a Prince, but here you're just normal. We're just two young people traveling.”

“Normal.” He smirked at that. “I don't think anyone has ever described me using that word. If they have, it's usually proceeded by ‘why can't you be...’”

“My mother used to ask me that all the time as well,” she said. “Especially when everyone else around me would get a cold, and I would get bronchitis or something.”

“Do I want to know what that is?” he asked, as the attendant arrived with a wheelchair.

“No,” she answered. “You do not want to know what that is.”

They had a layover between Belgium and Spain, which Enya had originally thought was going to be an easy transition. But she could see there was something wrong as soon as they got out into the main section of the airport.

Nearly everyone was crowded around a single board, and she could see red on it everywhere.

“Uh oh,” she replied. “Push me closer.”

“If you tell me what to look for....”

“I could, but it's complicated,” she said, and so he obliged. As soon as she scanned the board, she realized what was happening. There must be a problem at the highest level, for everything said ‘Delayed’ or ‘Canceled.’

“Excuse me, sir?” she turned to the man next to her. “Do you know why everything is lit up?”

“Problem with air traffic control,” he replied. “Could be hours, or could be a minute.”

“Amazing,” she said, and turned to Cole. “Alright. We better find some place to settle down.”

“What's air traffic control?”

“Don't worry about it.” She could explain everything to him, but it seemed an insurmountable task at this point. She was already incredibly weary after a transatlantic flight. She couldn't imagine how she might have felt had they not had a bed. Last night had been mostly amazing, but it certainly hadn't been restful. “All you need to know is that until it's fixed, no one in this entire airport is going anywhere.”

“This does not inspire confidence in humans,” he said, as he found them a bench. “It's also incredibly frustrating. I can fly.”

“You can't fly,” she pointed out. “Not unless your magic has returned.”

She lowered her voice when she realized she was getting a few stares from people around her.

He laid a hand over hers. “Even if it has, I'd want to preserve it for you. I hate that you don't feel well and I can do nothing about it.”

She gave him a soft smile.

“It's kind of you. But I'd feel better if we could just get to our destination. Airports aren't exactly designed for comfort, so perhaps the wait won't be long.”

“Is there another way?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“No. We need a plane, unless we enjoy 48 hours of boats, trains, and walking.”

“Humans are dumb,” he said, and she chuckled.

“They don't teach you much patience, do they?”

“I'm a Prince,” he reminded her. “We never had to wait for anything.”

“But you're...,” her face contorted. “Are you immortal?”

“No,” he answered, softly. “My lifespan will be far longer than yours, but we can perish, and eventually, we do grow old.”

“Are you old, though?” she asked. These were all things she had wondered many times before, but never got around to asking. Now, it seemed as if they had all the time in the world.

“No,” his answer surprised her. “Not even for a human.”

She met his eyes.

“So, you can probably guess what my next question is going to be.”

“32,” he answered. “Exactly as I appear.”

“Huh,” she leaned back. “I expected you to say 292 or something. That's not bad at all.”

“It's the age of majority,” he replied. “Which is probably why my father chose this year to tell me the truth. He thought I could handle everything I knew being a lie easily when I reached majority. Turns out, it's harder the longer you believe a lie.”

“Cole,” she squeezed his hand. “We all make our own path in life.”

“My Enya,” he answered. “So ridiculously positive, even though we're stuck in a God-forsaken place.”

She glanced around. “We could go shopping. I have a bit of room left on my credit card, and I've never shopped in an airport before.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Why? Are things different here?”

“It's the experience,” she said, and he rolled his eyes but rose to oblige her. At that point, his heart would have given her anything that she wanted. He dreaded spending time in this place. It seemed overly chaotic, tempers were running high, and everywhere he looked felt dirty. The effect on Enya's fragile state was not going to be a good one.

As the hours ticked by, it was exactly as he feared. They lost their spots on the bench, long since taken after a shopping spree. Despite his better judgment, he let himself be convinced to sit on the floor, so she could lie in his lap. He wasn't quite sure that she was sleeping, but she was quiet, still, and her body warmed as she snuggled against him.

Eventually, an announcement came over the PA, offering to re-book flights for the following days. But by the time he got the front of the line, they only had seats for two days down the road.

“It'll be fine,” Enya said, barely sitting up when he returned. “We can explore Belgium. Unless you have a time limit?”

“I don't,” he answered, crouching down to meet her eyes. “But I am concerned about you.”

“One last time,” she said, with a smile. “To have an adventure and act normal before you take over the world. What do you say?”

If it was anyone else, he would have smote them. But instead, he leaned forward, kissing her soft lips.

“One last time it is, then,” he said, pulling back. But, he worried it would be more than just one last chance for a normal life. Perhaps this would be one last chance at life itself.

Chapter 9

She fiddled on her phone as he returned with the luggage they had collected. “There’s a hotel downtown that's pretty cheap. Right off the train station, and then we could be close to all the sights.”

“I shudder at the word ‘cheap,’” he said, crouching down to look at the picture. “And if you don't want to vomit now, I'm sure you will by the time we get in there. There must be something better.”

“Again, room on my credit card,” she answered. “Unless you can conjure up some compulsive magic.”

He flexed his hand, thinking. He really didn't want to use an ounce of the returning magic in case she needed him. At this point, though, he wasn't sure he could convince any innkeeper to even give them a smile.

“It will be good for you to see how the other half lives.” She smiled.

“I don't like it,” he said. “But then, I haven't liked much since I came here, apart from you. Tell me which way to go.”

“Um.” She glanced at her phone and coughed. “We have to catch the train downtown, I think it connects to the airport. This way, up a flight.”

“Sir, do you need any help?” a porter stopped them, pointed at the bags, and Cole realized it was going to be quite a challenge. Everything was a challenge in this human form, and what frustrated him the most was everyone else seemed to be managing quite well. It was as if they spent half their lives pulling roll-away suitcases through airports. Enya not being stable on her feet presented a problem at this moment, but it was more than that. This human form was weak–physically, and emotionally. He never felt so strongly swayed by another being when he was a dragon. He didn't know how to deal with his feelings half the time. Of all the challenges he expected to meet on Earth, this was not one of them.

“I uh...,” he looked to Enya.

“It's alright,” she said, reaching for Cole's hand and using his weight to struggle up. “We'll manage. Won't we?”

“Will we now?” He kissed the top of her head, “I guess we will.”

Her sense of direction seemed to have improved since the night of the ball, and she figured out how to buy tickets and board the train. He had one arm wrapped around her waist, and they both pulled a suitcase onto the crowded train. He felt like such a commoner and such a failure as she curled against his chest. The countryside of Belgium flew by as they passed the few stops to downtown.

“Have you ever been here before?” he asked her, and she shook her head.

“No. I've flown at home, but never across the ocean. I've always imagined Europe as a place with great castles from fairy tales. I suppose they are around here somewhere.”

“Pardon, Madame. Est-ce que cette place est occupée?”

“Non,” she answered the stranger without a second thought, waving her hand as he sat down. Cole raised an eyebrow at her.

“French,” she said. “They speak French in Belgium.”

“Excellent,” he said, leaning his head against the window behind them. “I'm stuck in a country I don't intend to be in, for two days, and they speak a language I don't know.”

“They speak Dutch, too,” she replied.

“Oh, that makes things so much better.” He rolled his eyes.

She clung to his waist. “Cole, we only have two days. Let's make it the best two days either of us have ever had. Think back. What was the best day of your life? We'll re-create it.”

He looked down at her eager face, despite her tired eyes, and couldn't help but smile. He didn't want to appear so sentimental, so emotional, but there was only one answer that had truth in its words. There were happy memories with his brothers at home, laughter in his days. Despite being the black sheep and often in trouble, his life hadn't been terrible. But there was nothing that stood out as the best day of his life until he met her. That was a day he would remember, no matter how many days he lived. So, he gave the simplest answer he could.

“Walking in the park,” he said, and she took it at face value.

“They have parks here, I think,” she said, as the train chugged along.

“And you, my dear?” he asked. “What was the happiest day of your life?”

She looked up to meet his eyes and said words that warmed his heart.

“I think that a park would suit me just well. Just walking, just sitting, and just being. No stress, no pressure, no school. Just me and you.”

The train signboard announced their next stop and they rose, his arm still around her waist. Looking around, he saw other couples just like them–young, tired, burdened down with baggage and yet happy. No one gave them a second glance; no one even blinked an eye.

Anonymous in a crowd–no one bowing down to him. No one fearing him. It was surprisingly refreshing.

The hotel was exactly as he feared it was. It wasn't the worst thing he had ever seen. There weren't bugs or dirt. But the room was small and cramped, and he didn't get the feeling of comfort or luxury, Enya sank onto the sheets though, her head happy to be on a soft surface.

Deciding to put his thoughts aside, he crawled onto the bed over her, smiling devilishly as he kissed her. Her body reacted, arching up to meet his.

“Mmm,” she said, as he lay beside her. “I feel so gross. But that was nice.”

“You're not gross,” he assured her. “That plane shower was quite the thing, wasn't it?”

She chuckled.

“What's the plan?” she asked. “Short nap and then explore?”

“If you're feeling well enough,” he said, “then I'd love to. But if not, we can do whatever you desire. Do you need some food?”

“I don't know,” she squeezed his hand. “I just need you.”

“Mmm,” he lay his head on her stomach, calmed by her breathing.

“You don't mind, do you?” she asked, tangling her hands in his hair. He had never felt anything more glorious in his life. “That we're a bit delayed?”

He could barely form words as she scratched his head. He could waste his whole life lying here, having her touch him.

“No,” he said, as tingles ran up and down his spine. “Not for just two days.”

“What will it be like when you take over?” she asked.

He raised his head. “What do you mean?”

“It won't be some biblical tale of terror, will it? Humans enslaved and a reign of fire?”

He once thought that it would be exactly that. But her shining eyes changed his mind every moment.

“No,” he said. “But even you must agree that there are things on your planet that need fixing and that need a strong leader.”

“Yes,” she said. “There's so much chaos and destruction, and I have often wished for unity.”

“You will have nothing to fear from me,” he promised her. “How could you even think otherwise?”

“I suppose I wonder what my place will be,” she said. “Will I go back to my old life, just healthier? Or do you have other plans?”

“There will be a place for you,” he promised her. His heart was breaking at what he wanted to tell her. But he couldn't. Not yet. He couldn't promise her the whole world, not when he had been so broken. The thought of betrayal outweighed the love he was feeling. “But this is not the time to worry. I thought we were going to spend two days being normal.”

“Oh,” she said. “Is that what we're calling it?”

“Yes,” he snuggled onto her flat stomach. Their hands were tangled together as the sunlight streamed in through the window, warming them both up. “What's the most normal thing you can think of, since you obviously don't want to get up?”

“Ordering pizza and watching a movie?” she suggested and he smiled as he rose.

“Consider it done.” He glanced from the television to the phone. “As soon as you teach me how to do both those things.”

That made her laugh out loud, and she propped herself up on her pillows.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” she teased him.

In the end, it was the most normal evening of his life, and the happiest. They didn't leave the hotel room all day, snuggled in each other's arms. They watched hours of stupid TV, making fun of whatever they saw. The pizza was delicious, and after dinner, they made love for an hour–lazily and happily.

He knew there was a whole world out there with so many things that had to be done. But he was content here and now.

But in the middle of the night, he got up, sliding slowly away from her arms to gaze out the window.

The night was clear, and the stars were shining brighter than they were in America. The moon was full and perfectly white over their window. He cracked open the window as quietly as he could and climbed out on the windowsill.

The air was slightly chilly, and the noise of traffic outside was louder than he liked. But he drew his knees up, blocking both the cold air and hopefully the noise from his sleeping angel as he watched the night sky.

Somewhere in that mess of stars and planets was Umora. He had lost track of where it was and lost track of where they were.

And tonight he had lost track of where they were going, he admitted.

Oh, how his brothers would laugh if they could see him now. He had stormed away in such a huff, in such a fit of anger, to rule this planet. To show them he was better than the fate they left him with.

They would not praise him for being holed up in a cheap hotel with a weak human girl, with no one bowing or scraping.

He fiddled with the dirt on the windowsill, tracing a pattern with his nails.

Was this about them? Was this about showing them what he was worth? Showing his father that he was more than a bastard orphan child? Or was this about him and reaching his true potential? Or was it just about finding happiness?

Behind him, he heard Enya cough, and he glanced over his shoulder. She shifted in her sleep, but she didn't wake, so he remained on the windowsill.

What was happiness, really? Was it measured in grand halls with thrones and crowns?

She coughed again, causing him to turn completely this time. She was restless, her body trembling with cold.

He felt remorse right away, and came off the windowsill, closing the panes behind him.

She coughed again, and then her breathing grew harsher.

“Enya?” He approached her cautiously. If she was alright, he didn't want to wake her. But she twisted, and he knew she was in pain. Just as he lay a hand on her, she woke with a blood-curdling scream. It startled him, and he jumped as he realized her scream was not terror, but pain. “Enya, what's the matter?”

“I can't!” Her hands flew to her head. “I can't. It hurts. I can't….”

And then, to his horror, she went completely limp in his arms.

Chapter 10

“ENYA!” he screamed in her face. He didn't know what to do. Flexing his palms did barely anything, but he placed his hands on her stomach anyways, trying to help.

The screams brought knocks on the door, and he threw it open. Cole had never been one for accepting help, but he never needed such help.

“Monsieur?” said a bleary eyed and confused hotel staff member.

“Please!” he pleaded, pointed to her limp body. “Please, my…my girlfriend, please. She's sick.” He could barely remember the words in English, but the hotel clerk seemed to understand. He rushed to the bed, and one look at Enya had him rushing to the phone. “What are you doing?” Cole demanded. “What are you doing? Are you calling for him?”

“Monsieur,” he snapped his fingers. “CPR.”

“What?” Cole babbled. He had never felt so helpless or so useless in his life. He was a sovereign prince. He was a dragon lord. But he could fix nothing with this world, it seemed.

“Here!” the staff member threw the phone to him and immediately went to Enya, compressing her chest. Cole didn't know much, but he knew life was leaving her.

“Bonjour?” said a voice in his ear, but he couldn't speak. Whatever emergency phone call he was making would not be in time. “Bonjour?”

Silently, he put down the phone, closing his eyes. There was no magic left, but there was something he could always do, no matter what state he was in.

It was his last hope and he was quite sure that they wouldn't come. But he had to try, even if it meant the end of his life.

He closed his eyes, trying to focus his energy away from there. His heart was breaking, and hot tears were running down his face as he focused his mind back to his planet. Back to his brothers.

Nicholas. Alexander. I am here.

He had spent this whole time guarding his location and his thoughts from them. If they knew he was on Earth, they had no idea where. And he suspected they were doing him a favor by not finding him.

Nicholas, he called again. Nicholas was the middle brother, the one that often took care of him and came to his aid. Alexander was to be King. He was always far too busy to listen to his youngest brother's cries for attention. Find me.

There was silence in his mind. He could barely feel any life left in Enya, and the hotel clerk was panting in frustration and panic. He could vaguely hear the man screaming at him, begging him to use the phone. But Cole knew this was his only shot.

Brothers, he said. I will lay down my life for her.

Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning. He felt it in his very soul. He took a step back as he felt a large gush of wind.

When he opened his eyes, he was only half surprised to find both of his brothers standing there in dragon form. They barely fit in the hotel room, knocking things over. The hotel clerk turned white and slumped against the wall. Alexander, who was the smaller and yet the more regal of the two, snorted, blowing magic in the man's direction. He slumped peacefully to the ground, and Cole recognized the illusion. What little magic dragons had was quite useful.

The majestic dragons regarded him wordlessly, and he used his mind to hear them.

Please. She is dying.

Alexander's yellow eyes looked right into his. If you return, you will be jailed. You cannot escape what you have done.

Nicholas's thoughts penetrated his mind. She is human, brother. And she is almost gone. She may not survive the jump, yet alone long enough for us to heal her.

“You must!” Cole practically screamed at them. “You must, please. Please.”

Do you accept the price? Alexander regarded him.

“Yes,” Cole said, and realized he had to do more than that. He sank to his knees, humbling himself. He had never done anything like that. He refused to bow to his father half the time. But this was different. This wasn't about pride or ego. This wasn't about him. “Please. I have no magic, though. You must take me, too.”

The two dragons looked to each other, and for one terrifying, heart stopping moment, Cole wasn't sure they were going to help him.

His childhood flashed before his eyes–playing in the meadow, laughing through the palace. They had been so innocent and young. And once, they had not been so different. When had it become them versus him?

He then suddenly realized that he had made it so. He had chosen to distance himself. He had chosen to run.

They had always been there for him and always tried to protect him.

Hold on, little brother, he heard Nicholas say as Alexander approached the bed. Cole went to Nicholas, wrapping his arms around the dragon’s long neck.

Alexander ducked his head, putting it against Enya's now still body. Her life force still beat, but just barely.

Cole felt the familiar magic swirl around him, and he closed his eyes.

Please. He didn't think he had ever prayed before. He wasn't exactly sure who he was praying to, but he needed to do something. He had never felt so helpless.

He felt a jolt–a start–and then, the ground became solid again beneath them.

He felt his own magic rush back and fill him. He was strong, and he was home.

He opened his eyes, finding them in the royal palace.

And to his horror, he saw his own guards marching towards him.

“Nicholas.” His eyes flew to his brother, who had taken human form beside him. He saw such disappointment in his brother's eyes and such sadness. Nicholas had fought his own battles so many times, and yet he had always been there to protect Cole and to make sure he was safe. Now, Cole saw nothing but pain. “Please,” he pleaded. “Please will you protect her? Please.”

“Brother,” Nicholas said. “Give yourself over to them now.”

“Please!” Cole felt hot tears streaming down his face. “Brother, if you will do nothing else for me, please do this.”

It was clearly tearing at Nicholas. But eventually, he placed a hand on Cole's shoulder.

“It will be done,” he said, and Cole nearly broke down sobbing.

The guards put handcuffs on his wrists, and looped their arms through his. Just a few months ago, these same guards had protected him as he walked through the streets. Now, they were stone faced, dragging him through the palace. They refused to look him in the eye and refused to speak. Once, they had been friends, allies in mischief and in life. Now, they were his undoing.

Cole did not try to fight and did not attempt to struggle. He didn't want to do anything to endanger Enya. He needed her to live, even if it meant his life.

Chapter 11

Dragging Cole away meant Enya was left with several tall, menacing dragon lords. She was barely coherent, and her vision was blurry. She couldn't even make proper words, and she wasn't sure if they would understand her anyway.

Her vision practically blacked out as they approached. She couldn't even scream, she could barely tremble.

“Please,” she managed. “Please.”

And then there was nothing but darkness.

When Enya awoke, she had no idea where she was. Her thoughts didn't make any sense, nor did the fuzzy feelings in her head. She felt like she couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and couldn't do anything.

And then everything rushed back into focus.

She was in a room with a very high ceiling and marble columns along the wall. It was a room fit for a king.

That was when she realized where she was.

She was at the Royal Palace of the dragon lords. Cole had brought her here because she was dying, and he had risked his own life to do so.

Slowly, she sat up, expecting her head to pound and her breathing to become short.

But to her surprise, there was nothing that pained her or that even made her wince even temporarily.

Her fingernails had full color, and her eyes were wide open. She felt like she’d had the most restful sleep of her entire life.

Was this it? Was she cured? After all this time, after all this chaos, was it as simple as this?

The doors opened, and she jumped in the air.

In walked a tall, thin man, with reddish-brown hair, and she saw his yellow eyes flash. She knew that this was Cole's brother, Nicholas, whose dragon form had reddish-brown scales.

She pushed herself back on the bed, and he smirked, putting his hand out.

“It's alright,” he said in his heavily accented voice. “You won't come to harm under my hand.”

She froze, and he didn't advance, seeing that she was frightened.

“Do you understand?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Good. My English is not–”

“It's alright,” she said, picking at the blankets. “Maybe 10 years of learning, with two years of no practice?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“I'm a translator back on Earth,” she said. “So, it's my job to know those things.”

“Oh,” he replied. “Is it a good job?”

“I'm a student,” she replied. “So, probably. Is Cole–”

He waived his hand.

“How are you feeling?”

She recognized the deflecting question right away and chose not to press on. Cole may love her, but she knew from his stories that Nicholas was the muscle, the strength, and the most vicious. Angering him was never a good idea.

“Good,” she answered. “Am I cured?”

“No,” he said. “But it's an improvement.”

“Why am I not?” Had they not promised her that?

Nicholas's face clouded, and she felt like something was horribly wrong.

“Please, can I see Cole?” she asked, and Nicholas sighed.

“You are summoned before the King as soon as you can stand.”

“The King?” she asked. “Your father?”

A darker cloud passed over his face, and her heart thudded.

“Isn't the King your father?”

“Our father is dead,” Nicholas said. “My brother, Alexander, is King.”

Enya gripped the blanket, her jaw falling open.

“What? When? But wouldn’t Cole have known?”

“Cole's link to the magical world when he was on Earth was not strong enough to feel the sudden decline of power from the throne. When we came to you, we did not want to distract him.”

“I'm sorry,” she said, and a moment passed between them. She knew that she had to be brave and strong right then. It wasn't just because she was a million miles away from Earth in the presence of dragons who could kill her. It was because her boyfriend had just lost his father, and he would need her to be his rock.

Nicholas held his head high, although she could see that his eyes were full of emotion.

“Will you come before the King now?”

“Yes,” she said, finding her legs strong enough to support her, “I will. Do I need to...,” she looked down at her clothing and was shocked to find that she was wearing a long, flowing, blue and white gown. “Never mind then.”

“Come with me,” Nicholas said, and she followed him out of the room

The rest of the palace was grander than the bedroom she was in. She had a feeling it had been standing for thousands of years.

Everyone they passed in the hallway was staring at them, mostly with raised eyebrows and some whispers. Nicholas didn't even acknowledge them, and Enya kept her head down.

The throne room made her gasp when she entered it. It was the most majestic of all, straight out of a movie. There was a raised throne, made of what looked like ivory, and marble columns with ridges carved into them. The ceilings must have been three stories high, painted with murals of dragon history.

And on the throne, in human form, sat Alexander. To his right, to Enya's surprise, was what looked like a human woman. Tall with shocking, red hair and pale skin, the woman had green eyes and perfectly arched eyebrows. This girl was from Earth. There was no doubt about that.

“Bow,” Nicholas snapped, and Enya dropped to her knees, unsure of how long she was supposed to be down there.

“Rise, “Alexander said, after a moment. “Bring her a chair.”

“I'm alright,” Enya spoke out and he raised an eyebrow.

“So be it. You may stand. Do you know why you are here?”

“Cole brought me here?” she tried. Alexander's English was slightly better than Nicholas's, although not as good as Cole's. She couldn't tear her eyes from the human woman sitting on the throne beside him.

“Yes,” Alexander said, accepting that. “But Cole forfeited his rights when he left here. My father's wish was that he be tried for his crimes.”

She knew what he had done, and if she didn't, she could guess. He had alluded so many times to being so terrifying, to killing, and to maiming.

And yet, somehow, that didn't change who he was. She simply saw him as a sweet, misunderstood creature–one she was in love with.

“This does not surprise you?” Alexander asked, and she stood her ground.

“This is your world,” she said. “But there is perhaps a side of Cole that you don't know.”

“Tell me,” Alexander shifted in his seat. “What do you know about my brother that I may have over looked?”

“That he's kind,” she said. “And considerate. He may seem like he has a tough exterior and that he's focused on power. But I can't tell you the amount of times that he's held my hair while I've thrown up, or made sure that I was alright. The day we left, he went to get my luggage, my things, and even got me breakfast. He put aside his plans for world domination when I had a raging fever, and wouldn't leave my side. He held my hand, he got me water, and he made me feel as good as he could get me with his limited magic. He's soft, he's gentle–”

“And you're in love with him,” Alexander said, dryly.

“Yes,” she said, in shock, her eyes darting to the redhead. “Surely, you can understand that.”

The two of them exchanged looks, and the redhead smirked, but said nothing. Enya was now even more confused than before, but she knew better than to ask.

“Can I see him?” she asked Alexander.

Alexander looked behind her. “Nicholas, can you take her to the prison? Cole is not restricted on visitors. Let her have as long as she needs.”

“What will happen to him?” she asked, a sudden feeling of dread filling her.

“We have yet to decide,” Alexander replied. “That will be all.”

“What do you mean, you have yet to decide?” Enya asked, but Alexander waved his hand, and it was clear the conversation was over.

Nicholas took her gently by the elbow, and she jumped.

“If you'll follow me,” he said, and Enya froze up.

“What will happen to him?” she repeated, but Nicholas pulled her out of the throne room.

“A word of advice,” he said. “You do not question the word of the King. If Alexander asked you to stand on your head, then you do it.”

“Is that...,” Enya tried to put the pieces together. “That is the Queen? His Queen? His wife?”

“Ariel?” Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “Sort of.”

“What do you mean, ‘sort of?’” she asked. “Are they engaged to be married?”

“Ariel has been with my brother for the last 15 years, but it's complicated.”

“Because she is human?” Enya asked.

“She is stronger than a human,” Nicholas replied. “She is a carapace. A breed of human that can block magic.”

“Why would you want to block magic?” Enya asked, confused.

“Some dragons and other creatures enjoy being in their human forms and not feeling any sort of pull. Alexander is one of those people.”

“Oh,” she replied. “But isn't being around someone like that dangerous?”

“Yes,” Nicholas said. “But we don't choose what attracts us. However, don't make the mistake of assuming they are in love, because they are not, or so they claim. Neither of them believe in love, but they do believe in using each other for power. And they are happy with it.”

“Do you believe in love?” Enya asked, but Nicholas' face turned dark as they rounded the corner.

She found herself at the front of a huge, steel door. With one wave, magic flew from Nicholas’s hand causing the door to swing open.

Inside, there were several rows of what she considered to be cells. One door was open, and the bars were revealed.

Inside, sitting against the wall, was Cole.

“Enya!” He scrambled to his feet, his arm out to touch her. She ran towards him, and their hands met. He put a hand to her face, and they hugged each other as best they could.

“Are you hurt? Are you alright?”

“I'm fine. I'm fine,” she said. “Are you alright?”

“Can you leave us?” Cole looked up to Nicholas who sighed.

“I guess there's not too much trouble you can get into where you are,” he said. “Just be careful.”

When they were finally alone, Cole kissed her fully on the lips.

“I missed you,” he said. “Oh God, I missed you so much.”

“Cole,” she said. “I think they cured me.”

He put a hand to her face, closing his eyes. She could feel the familiar warmth of magic in her cheeks, and the way it sent shivered down her spine.

“You're much better,” he said. “But they didn't cure you. However, there's more magic in you than I can give right now, so it's a start.”

“They didn't cure me?” she asked, in confusion. “I thought that they could.”

“It may be that they don't want to do it just yet,” he said. “Perhaps to use it against me.”

“Oh,” she replied. “That makes sense.”

“Enya, don't worry,” he buried his hands in her hair, pulling her close. “Everything is going to be alright. I'm going to make sure that everything is alright.”

“I know,” she said. “I know that you'll take care of me. No matter what.”

He kissed her again, inhaling her scent and closing her eyes.

He knew that she trusted him utterly and completely. He didn't want to scare her, but from inside the bars, he wasn't sure he could take care of her at all. He had to trust his brothers to do so. He had to trust that they weren't so mad that they would use an innocent life to get revenge.

Chapter 12

“What do you mean, they won't give you a trial?” Enya asked, confused. She was sitting outside of Cole's cell, their hands linked. He was sitting on the floor as well, and they were as close as they could possibly be with bars in between them.

“If they gave me a trial,” Cole explained, “then there is no way in hell I can't be found guilty. I lashed out. I did terrible things, Enya. Things that I shouldn't have done. And I know they were wrong, but in the moment...”

“We've all made mistakes,” she tried to reassure him. “We've all had moments we wish we could take back. But what's done is done. However, they can't keep you in here forever.”

“Nor can they keep you here forever, either,” he said. “If they won't cure you, they need to let me out of here. It's hindering my magic, and it’s probably on purpose. If we were free and clear, I could cure you, and we could live happily ever after.”

She turned to him in surprise.

“What?” she asked, in shock. They had never spoken about their future, at least not like this. But in this moment, Cole smiled at her.

“That is, if you still want me, after all of this. And honestly, my love, I'd understand if you don't.”

“Of course, I want you!” she cried. She wished desperately that the bars weren't there so she could embrace him. “Why would you think that I wouldn't?”

He chuckled.

“Look around, love. We aren't exactly in an ideal situation here.”

“Oh, Cole,” she shook her head. “I've never been in an ideal situation. Honestly, this is the most stable my life has been in a long time.”

He smirked. “Trust you to put a happy spin on it,” he replied. “Although I don't know when we will move on to the next stage.”

“Maybe there's an angle I can work with your brothers,” she said, leaning her back against the wall beside his cell.

“I heard about your appeal to Alexander about love,” he replied. “Alexander and Ariel are the most complicated, most ridiculous couple I've ever met, and yet the simplest. Nicholas told you how long they've been together, but they claim to not be in love and to not believe in love. They have mutual benefits in being with each other, and they get along very well. She doesn't judge him, and he loves how simple and easy being with her is. But heaven forbid they label it love.”

“What about Nicholas?” she asked. “Maybe there's some secret love story there.”

Cole furrowed his brow.

“I don't know about Nicholas. He sneaks off a lot and comes back smelling pretty each time, so I suspect there is someone. But whoever it is, there's some sort of epic devotion and protection, because it's been the same way his entire life.”

“But if there is someone, why wouldn't he tell you?”

“Because Nicholas is dangerous,” Cole said. “And people around him more than anyone else, tend to die.”

Enya didn't say anything to that, squeezing his hand. She knew that life around them could be dangerous, but he had never had it laid out in such plain terms.

“And people around you?” she asked.

He laughed. “They tend to live,” he replied. “Because I'm better at everything. But also, because I've always connected with witches due to my increased magic. They love me, so they add an extra layer of protection.”

“Well, good to know,” she said, and he laughed.

“That's my Enya,” he replied. “But don't try to work on the boys too hard. To be honest, it's best to let them work it out themselves.”

“I know,” she said. “But you underestimate me.”

“Enya,” he said, as she got up. “What do you have in mind?”

“Trust me,” she said, with a devilish smile. “You know, the same way you are always asking me to trust you.”

“I do trust you,” he squeezed her hand. “But my brothers are crazy.”

“Please,” she replied. “I've met you. They aren't worse. I'll be back soon, I promise.”

She didn't want to leave him; she didn't ever want to leave. But ideas turned in her head as she headed down the grand hall towards the throne room.

She wasn't exactly sure what her place in this grand palace was. She wasn't a servant, she wasn't a prisoner, and she wasn't nobility. She could come and go as she pleased. After the first few days, no one paid much attention to her. She had access to everything that she needed, and she felt better than she had in months. If she wasn't cured, she was sure they had done some permanent improvements, because she felt amazing. She was eating better than she ever had, and there was no stress. Aside from the fact that her boyfriend was in jail, she was having the time of her life.

The door to the throne room opened just as she was about to knock. When they were normally in session for whatever reason, there were guards at the door, and there was a flag outside. Today, though, there were no guards, and Ariel was exiting just as she reached for the door.

“Oh,” Enya said. “Sorry.”

“It's alright,” Ariel said. “They aren't doing anything important, anyway. They are so boring sometimes.”

“Boring?” Enya raised an eyebrow. “I don't find any of this boring.”

“You will, if you do it long enough,” she replied.

“Nicholas told me you've been living here for quite a while.”

“I don't live here,” Ariel quirked an eyebrow. “What does he think I am, a live-in wife or something?”

“Oh,” Enya replied. “Sorry, I misunderstood.”

“Nicholas likes to pretend I live here because I'm nice to him,” Ariel smirked. “But I don't spend all my time here. I have a life on Earth, and I'm there half the time.”

“What is it that you do?” Enya asked.

“I'm a dancer,” Ariel replied. “Mostly ballet.”

“Oh, that makes sense. You look like a dancer.”

“Right,” Ariel replied. “I feel like you want to ask me something.”

“Just about you and Alexander. How did you meet?”

“How did we meet? He came to my show, and he was mesmerized,” Ariel replied. “Most men are.”

“And then you started a relationship?” Enya asked. Ariel shook her head.

“And then we slept together multiple times. Sometimes multiple times a day, until we decided we should probably stay in touch,” Ariel shrugged. “This really isn't a complicated story. The throne is a nice perk, I like being a Queen, but it's only one half of my life.”

“So, it's possible to go back and forth?”

“Yes,” Ariel replied. “And it's difficult for me, because I block their magic if I'm too close to them. Magic can affect me, but only a very powerful amount. Which is, luckily, what the boys have. It won't be forever though.”

“What do you mean?” Enya asked, and Ariel shrugged.

“People like me get more powerful the older we get. So eventually, I will have to choose whether to stay forever on Earth, or forever here.”

“And which one will you choose?” Enya asked.

Ariel smirked.

“Well, I can't be young and pretty and a dancer forever. But eventually, I'll get bored of that fame, and probably end up here if Alexander doesn't get bored with me.”

“Oh,” it made her head spin. It was such a different lifestyle and perspective from what she had in mind. “Wow.”

“You and Cole are serious?” Ariel asked. “You think you're in love and the whole shebang?”

“Perhaps.” Enya replied. “We’ve been through a lot.”

“But you aren't the first girl he's had, if you are thinking that,” Ariel said. “I don't know if you think he's been innocent.”

“I don't think that,” Enya replied. “But I bet I'm the first Earth girl he's brought back.”

“Yes,” Ariel admitted. “Dragon-human relationships are a bit rare. Dragon-witch, dragon-werewolf, dragon-lion–all of those things are much more common than dragons going to Earth and finding some weak human.”

“Except for you and I,” Enya replied. She smirked.

“Well, I'm not weak,” she said. “I've been alone since I was a child. My parents ditched me, I ended up in foster care, went to Russia to train in ballet, met Alexander, and boom.”

“I've been through some stuff, too, you know,” Enya replied. “Although to be honest, my biggest fear right now is my parents freaking out.”

“You can call them,” Ariel said. “It's not that complicated.”

“I can call them?” Enya asked. “From up here?”

“Sure. The boys can change anyone's memories, so the people that you care about accept that you're off somewhere and you're fine. It's easier than being a missing person half the time.”

“Oh,” Enya replied. “This seems ridiculously easy. “

“It's not,” Ariel said. “But it is worth it. Anyways, enough idle small talk. I've got things to do.”

“What are you doing?”

“I have a show tonight.” The girl shrugged. “Gotta go.”

Ariel stalked off, leaving Enya in a state of shock. This entire time she was up here, she hadn't thought about her life back home. She missed her parents, but she never could have imagined living a normal life. Or at least, as close to normal as she was used to.

But could she do that? Travel here was hard, but she had been very sick. She felt stronger than she ever had before.

Inside the throne room, Nicholas and Alexander were sitting on the thrones. They weren't in any official positions, just quietly talking.

“Enya?” Alexander noticed her first. “What can we do for you?”

“I just came to talk to you,” she said. “If you had a moment. Oh, you're uh...highness,” she curtsied. When she looked up, she saw Alexander smiling down on her.

“Thank you,” he said. “But there's no one here right now, so you can speak freely.”

“Brother,” Nicholas protested, but Alexander waived his hand.

“She can speak freely. I am not her king.”

“I wanted to ask for Cole's freedom,” she said. “I wanted to plead for Cole's freedom.”

“Plead for it?” Alexander said, with a raised eyebrow. “I assume you have a case to present to me.”

“I don't really,” she replied. “Aside from the fact that I can control him, I can make him better.”

“Better than what?” Alexander asked. She paused.

“I...he wouldn't...the things that he did, when he was alone. You have to understand what he went through. The news that he was adopted devastated him.”

“Devastated him?” Alexander replied. “Enya, you have to understand. WE didn't abandon him. We didn't tell him that he wasn't welcome.”

“But you broke everything he believed in,” she said. “How would you feel if you were told your family wasn't your real family?”

“We are his real family,” Nicholas said. “And I admit, Father didn’t treat him the best. But he is gone now.”

“So why don't you let him out?”

“Because he killed a lot of people!” Alexander burst out. Enya looked at the ground, her eyes blinking back tears.

“None of us are perfect,” she replied. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

There was silence in the throne room.

Chapter 13

“Cole.”

He looked up to see his brother, Nicholas, at dawn the next day. Nicholas was a frequent visitor, so he didn't move. Nicholas was always the one who had taken care of him. It was the rule in the family. With four boys, originally, they always took care of the ones below them. It was always Cole who had no responsibility; who had no one to watch over. He supposed that contributed to the fact that he was always up to no good. It wasn't his job to take care of anything but his own amusement.

“What did you bring me?” Cole asked with a smile. He was trying not to think about the reality that his brothers could possibly leave him in there forever. That was the obvious solution, he thought.

“A key,” Nicholas said, and waived his hand. To Cole's surprise, the door clicked open.

“I'm free to go?”

“Not quite,” Nicholas replied. “But for the moment, you can wander the palace. More specifically, you need to go see your human.”

“Enya?” Cole asked, in concern. “What's wrong?”

“The magic we flooded her with is wearing off,” Nicholas said. “She's growing sick again.”

Cole got up quickly, panic flooding his face.

“Why don't you help her then?” he asked. Nicholas remained silent. “Nicholas! Help her!”

Nicholas paused, trying to put it in less frightening terms.

“We have, Cole. Several times.”

“So, do it again,” Cole snapped. “Why don't you just cure her? Why are you keeping her in this state?”

Nicholas said nothing, and horror came over Cole.

“You can't do it, can you?”

“Not all of us are witch half-breeds,” Nicholas said, trying to have hope. “Alexander and I may be the most powerful dragon lords alive, but you are more than that.”

“So?” Cole asked, half frantic. “Are you going to let me do it? Are you going to let me cure her? Is her cure a condition to my prison sentence?”

“Cole,” Nicholas said, meeting his eyes. “Do you think we are so cruel?”

“So, you'll let me do it? No conditions?”

“No conditions,” Nicholas said. “Let's go.”

Nicholas's haste scared Cole as they hurried down the hallway. Nicholas was not usually panicked. He took things in stride and did what was necessary. It was true, he had anger and emotional issues, and sometimes lashed out. But he never looked panic or scared.

Cole wanted to transform for the simple reason that he would get there faster. But he had a feeling that he would need every bit of magic he had.

Nicholas led him to the room where Enya had been housed. Cole was relieved to learn that she was being kept in the royal quarters–the best rooms, the best service.

But upon entering the room, he saw the familiar demons return. Enya was pacing the room, which she sometimes did when the pain was out of control. She was half doubled over, sweating buckets, and trying not to vomit.

“Hey, baby,” Cole leapt forward. The hope in her eyes when she saw him was so uplifting that he almost cried. He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “It's OK. It's OK.”

“Cole,” she managed, and a wave of pain took over.

“Alright. It's OK. Come here.” He pulled her down to the luxurious bed. “You're OK. I need you to stop tensing up, because you know it's harder to accept the magic.”

“But I can't!” She was fighting against him, but he remained calm. Nicholas was taken aback by the way Cole was acting. This was not the reckless, mischievous brother that had caused so many problems. The one that sometimes seemed cruel just for the sake of being cruel. Cole was angry. Cole was a rebel. Cole killed for the sake of killing.

But in this moment, he was the calmest, sweetest, kindest boyfriend to his weak, sick girlfriend.

“Ready?” Cole asked, and Enya managed to nod. “Here we go then, my love.”

The magic flooded from his palms, stronger and better than it had on Earth. Cole could feel her body accepting the healing, and he fully intended to surpass the normal point. He didn't just want to just heal her. He wanted to renew every cell in her body so that she was never sick again.

Cole was the greatest dragon lord when it came to magic. Learning that he was a half breed had been his downfall not too long ago, but currently, he was grateful for it.

He closed his eyes, pushing the magic from the most inner workings of his body, but he couldn't seem to break the barrier within her to renew the cells. And to his horror, Enya was still in pain. Her fever still burned, and her head was half limp against him.

“Nicholas,” Cole's eyes flew open. “Nicholas, can you come and help me?”

Nicholas moved forward, placing his hands on the bed.

“Tell me what to do, brother.”

“It's healing magic,” Cole said. “But you have to give it to me. Can you do a transfer spell?”

“I think so,” Nicholas replied.

“You can do it,” Cole urged him. “You can do it. I know you can.”

“Right.” Nicholas put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

“Cole?” Enya asked, and he squeezed an arm around her.

“It's OK, love, just give me a minute.” He was trying to sound hopeful, but his heart was beating a million miles a minute. He couldn't seem to find the perfect position to give her all the magic he had. It was almost as if her body was putting up its own barrier. “Just one minute.”

He felt Nicholas's magic flood into him, and he pushed as much as he could, grasping Enya tight.

Her cells were highly damaged. He could practically see them in front of his eyes–warped, weak, and fighting for survival.

“I need more!” he cried to Nicholas, who gritted his teeth and pressed harder.

“Cole,” Enya said again, and it sounded like she was in even more pain.

“Just hold on,” Cole said, as he tried again. The magic was starting to flood him in ways he had never experienced. He knew that using high amount of magic was dangerous, and he knew that it could sometimes do terrible, harmful things.

But in that moment, feeling Enya's limp body against him, he didn't care. He would give up his own life for her.

He suddenly felt what he could only describe as a pop or bang. It hurt immensely and he felt darkness sparkle in front of his eyes. Nicholas fell back, slumping against the wall. Cole felt blood dripping from his nose, and he wiped it away in haste as he looked down at Enya.

She was limp in his arms, her eyes closed. And to his horror, her chest was not moving.

“NO!” Cole screamed. He was loud, the scream coming from the bottom of his lungs. It was such a terrifying cry that people from all over came running into the room. “ENYA! NO!”

Alexander came sprinting in with Ariel, having been down the hall. Cole's hands were on her chest, trying to push more magic in a frantic attempt to revive her. Nicholas was dazed, his magic blown, and he could barely focus on the scene in front of him.

“Move!” Ariel moved forward, letting go of Alexander's hand. “Cole, get off her. Alexander, call your medical team.”

“What the hell happened?” Alexander barked, in his own panic.

“I'm trying to help. I'm trying to help. I’m trying to help,” Cole repeated, but Ariel had no time for his explanation.

“I said, call your damn medical team,” Ariel swore as she quickly tied her long, red hair in a knot. “They are more advanced than Earth, and yet they can't get here? Do it, now!”

She pushed a stunned Cole aside, checking Enya's breathing. Finding nothing, she placed her hands on Enya’s chest and began CPR immediately.

Everything on the planet was either magically controlled or mechanically controlled. The simple measures of CPR seemed beyond them, and none of them had any idea what they were doing.

Ariel continued CPR for almost five, heart-stopping minutes. It was the most chaotic that things had ever been in the palace. Cole was frantic and screaming, Nicholas was trying not to faint, and Alexander was trying to remain in control.

Eventually, the medical team rushed in. They moved in perfect unison, taking over the moment that Ariel's hands left Enya's body.

The redhead grabbed for Cole, holding him back as the team worked on Enya. They rushed her away, and the boys were only a moment or two behind.

Within an hour, it seemed all was well. They had revived Enya, hooking her up to high tech machines, and making sure that she was awake and conscious. In a place where science and magic went hand in hand, it was the head physician who consulted with them.

“It should have worked,” Cole said. “It should have worked. I tried to heal her on a cellular level.”

“You did,” the physician said. “But it didn't work. Humans have a different make up than us, Cole, and magic doesn't work on them that way. You can't just change her cells without changing her in a radically different way. Or in this case, killing her. Medical science can intervene, manage the symptoms, and heal the damage done by the rebel cells. But you cannot change them.”

“What are you saying?” Cole asked. “That I can't cure her?”

“No,” the doctor said sadly. “No, you cannot.”

Cole sunk against the wall, his face growing pale.

“I lied to her,” Cole said, softly. Nicholas turned to him.

“Little brother.”

“I lied to her,” Cole said. “I promised her. She risked everything for me. She gave up everything for me. I promised her that she would live, that she would be healed, and I lied.”

“You didn't know,” Alexander said softly. “You thought as usual–Cole–that you were invincible and could do anything that you wanted to do.”

“And now?” Cole asked, in a flat voice. “What do I know? If you lock me up for the crimes I committed, she cannot receive my magic, which is the best for her. If you try me, I will die, and so will she, eventually. If you let me out, I know that your rule will be forever questioned.”

Alexander said nothing, looking between each of them.

He had never wished that Peter was here more than in this moment, and that was something he wished for daily.

“Cole,” he said. “You will be under house arrest in the palace while Enya recovers,” he said. “You can stay in the medical center with her. You won't be guarded, so I need to have your word and your honor.”

“Of course,” Cole said, and Alexander looked him right in the eye.

“This is your last chance,” Alexander said. “If you break this parole, I will have no choice. There will be no way to get out of this.”

“I understand,” Cole said.

Alexander had his doubts about the promise, but he knew he had to take the risk. If Cole didn't change, then he would have no choice. It would be life in prison or worse. “Good. Go to her then,” he said, and Cole hurried off. Alexander looked at Nicholas and sighed.

“Any ideas?” he asked. “Otherwise, an innocent girl will end up dying.”

Nicholas sighed.

“For once, brother, I have nothing to say.”

Chapter 14

She had been in the medical center for three days, and she had been enjoying every second of having Cole by her side. Without the need to rush through the cipher, or half way across the world, they were ironically having the most relaxing time of their relationship. Cole brought her things to do, entertained her with stories, or occasionally took her on short walks through the palace to show her things that he had strong memories of.

She laughed, she smiled, and she seemed to be growing stronger each day. But the fact remained heavy in Cole's heart that he wouldn't be able to heal her like he said.

“What things did she tell you?” Cole asked. Enya shrugged.

“That she goes back and forth and lives a normal life. I didn't realize something like that was possible.”

“Well, Ariel is sleeping with the King,” Cole replied. “But it is possible, of course. Not forever, but for a time.”

“So, would it be possible for me to do something like that?” she asked. “If things settle down?”

“My love, if we find a way to survive this, I would happily give you whatever you want. But to be honest with you, I’m not quite sure how to get out of this.”

“We'll find a way.” She leaned against his shoulder. “Your brothers are good people, Cole, we'll find a way.”

“You have such faith in them, and you barely know them,” Cole replied.

“Yes, but they are related to you,” she replied. “So, they are good people.”

“Oh Enya,” he replied. “You are such a romantic.”

“Mmm,” she said. “Until then, we cannot change anything, so why don't you relax?” She closed her eyes. She had been through so much, and somehow, she felt the safest and calmest in her whole life.

In the throne room, Alexander and Nicholas had locked themselves away with Ariel, scouring records and books.

“You know how this society is,” Nicholas was saying. “If we can find a way to pardon him by law, then the citizens will accept it. Besides, has he done any worse than any of us when we go to war?”

“The difference is, it was in cold blood,” said Ariel, who seemed undeterred by this. “Unless of course, it wasn't.”

“It was,” Alexander replied, but Ariel shook her head.

“He went into a war-torn zone to take his temperature, a zone that you have been sending fighters to for years. Who’s to say that he wasn't following through with some order, some war? He killed enemies, too, didn't he? Civilian casualties are part of war.”

“So, let's say for a second he did,” Nicholas replied. “He didn't kill in cold blood. He still committed a crime.”

“Argh,” Ariel put her head down. In her time here, she had become fluent in dragon words as much as English. But sometimes, she was simply frustrated with their stubbornness. “There must be something. Look, I love Cole just as much as the rest of you. But if you're going to follow the rule book to the letter, you're going to lose your brother. “

“And then there's the case of this girl,” Alexander said. “To bring an innocent girl into all of this….”

“As you did to me?” Ariel asked. Alexander raised an eyebrow.

“You may have been younger than her, my dear, but you were far from innocent. You had seen and experienced the world. This girl has lived five feet from her parents and always been taken care of. It's a different case. “

“Still, she's not here against her will,” Ariel replied. “She thinks she's in love with Cole, and I wager he thinks he's in love with her.”

“Or they actually are,” Nicholas replied, and Ariel rolled her eyes.

“Whatever,” she said, as she looked down at the book in front of her. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Hold on a moment.”

“Hmm?” Alexander leaned over to look at the book in front of her. “Can you read that?”

“I'm not just a pretty face,” she gave him a smirk. He had a look of pride on his face as she translated the text in her head. When Ariel first arrived, she had stubbornly refused to learn dragon lore. She had struggled with it and gotten frustrated. But now, she was fluent, and even able to take on ancient texts that sometimes confused him. She was growing to be a good partner, his red-headed dancer. “There's some bullshit here about the savior of an innocent–a trade.”

“A trade?” Alexander asked, confused.

“A trade: evil for good.” She squinted. “Nicholas, you must have invoked this half a hundred times. You're a rat bastard sometimes.”

“What?” Nicholas asked with a smile on his face as he leaned over on her other side. “The law of Repentance. I've heard of it before.”

“Your father probably passed it several times without even mentioning it,” she said. “You remember when you saved that drowning girl, and suddenly you didn't have to answer for the fact that you freaked out during a council meeting?”

“I thought Father was just grateful,” Nicholas said, and Ariel rolled her eyes.

“It looks like it's an actual thing.”

“Nicholas had a temper tantrum,” Alexander said. “Cole slaughtered left, right, and center”

“Correct.” Ariel seemed to think. “But Enya isn't going to be cured. He'd have to devote his life to the medicine here, to giving her just the right amount of magic every week. He can't do that if he's in prison or dead.”

“What you're proposing is that he devotes his life to her,” Alexander said. “And it will wipe out the sins he committed. “

“Not wipe out,” she said. “A trade. Will your people accept that?”

“They might be upset, but they couldn't question it if that's the actual rule,” Alexander answered. “Nicholas, do you concur?”

Nicholas ran his hand over his face.

“You're the king,” he replied. “You don't actually need my opinion to do anything.”

“I don't need your opinion,” Alexander answered. “But it might be nice to have it.”

“Hmm,” Nicholas answered. “I think they might accept it, but only if there's a grand gesture. Only if he proves that this is forever.”

“You romantic!” Ariel cried. “You are suggesting that he marry her.”

“He has to do something,” Nicholas said. “Or we lose our brother forever.”

“Is it allowed?” Cole asked, and everyone's head shot up.

“Cole, what are you doing here?” Alexander asked, in surprise “I thought you were with Enya.”

“She's asleep,” Cole said. “So, I thought I'd see what you folks were up to. Which is apparently planning my whole life.”

“We are trying to save you, brother. We are trying to forgive you,” Alexander replied.

“I know,” Cole said, leaning against the wall. “But Father wouldn't have wanted this.”

“Father is gone,” Alexander said, raising his chin. “I am King now.”

He had said it before, but Ariel had never heard it with such certainty and such confidence. She smiled at him proudly.

“Yes,” she touched his arm, briefly. “But it is Cole's choice, remember?”

“The truth is,” Cole grinned. “I thought marrying her would be nice. Either that or banishing me with her. How wonderful would that be? We'd have this secret life, and you could send us secret money and–”

“Stop!” Nicholas rolled his eyes. “What is it that you want?”

“Let me marry her,” Cole replied. “It'll be the first dragon-human marriage. We'll go down in history.”

Ariel and Alexander exchanged looks.

“You know it won't be easy,” Alexander said. “You think this will be the end of security and the end of judgment, but it will just be the beginning.”

“I've endured worse,” Cole replied. “So long as I've got my family behind me.”

The princes looked at each other.

“We're behind you, Cole,” Alexander said. “And I think that you've suffered enough. You'll have to repent, but devoting your life to that girl may be enough to redeem you.”

“Thank you,” he said. “And, I know what I did was wrong. But I can't...I mean...”

“Love changes us,” Nicholas said. “There's no one who would deny that.”

“So, help me plan the greatest proposal known to man or dragon,” Cole said. Ariel shook her head.

“You clearly don't know this girl at all. She doesn't want fireworks and a giant billboard. She just wants you. Do you have a ring?”

“I think I can figure that out,” Cole replied. “Where's that ring that mother left?”

“The sapphire?” Alexander replied. “That weighs more than she does.”

“Perfect,” Cole said. “Let's get it then. This is going to be the greatest disturbance to the palace since you brought this red-head here,” he winked at her.

Alexander knew that what he was doing was a gamble. Starting off his reign on shaky territory was not the way he had imagined. If he was truthful, he didn't really imagine starting his rule at all. He had always thought he would be the second prince–the one with all of the fun and none of the responsibilities.

Even now, he felt like he was possibly just a place holder for Peter, and not really the King.

But every day that Peter did not return was another day that he knew he had to shoulder this burden and do what he thought was best for his kingdom and his family.

The ring was found, polished, and a new band put on to fit what they thought would be Enya's finger.

Cole changed his clothes into his formal dress attire, looking like a beautiful Prince. He took Enya's breath away when he walked into the room.

“What are you looking at?” he teased her, as she sat up in bed.

“You look mischievous,” she said. “Like you're up to something. What is it?”

“What makes you think that I'm up to something bad?” he asked.

She gave him a look.

“Did your brothers make a breakthrough?”

“Yes,” he said, sitting on the edge of her bed. “They did.”

“So?” She looked so hopeful, her eyes sparkling, and her cheeks full of color. She looked much better now that the medical team had helped her, and now that the excess magic had flowed from her body. He could see that she would soon be ready to leave and to live life again.

“So,” he said. “It turns out, I could devote my life to doing something good, and I might be alright. Repented, even.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Well,” he replied. “I couldn't imagine anything better to do with my life than taking care of you, being with you, and living with you.”

“What?” she asked, in shock. “Cole, what are you talking about?”

He pulled out the giant sapphire. “I'm talking about marrying me. If you want.”

Her jaw fell open as she looked at the ring.

“Marrying you? Staying here?”

“Marrying me,” he said. “So, my beautiful, Enya, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she breathed, and he slipped the ring onto her finger. “Yes, I will marry you.”

“Good,” he replied. “Because with you in my life, I will be the best person I could possibly be.”

Chapter 15

When Enya pictured her wedding, she had never pictured something so grandiose. She had wanted a ceremony on Earth–a traditional wedding ceremony. The fact that she had been away from her parents and family for so long had been wiped away with Cole's magic. But she didn't want to continue lying and wiping their minds forever. She wanted them to know that she was safe, happy, and married. She had concocted some story about Cole living in Australia and being a pilot, so she didn't have to be in the same place whenever they wanted to visit. It was the closest to his accent and the closest to his true status that she could get without completely lying.

Her parents and her friends were nothing but happy for her. Enya was thriving–rosy-cheeked and happy–and there was no one who thought this wasn't the best thing for her. She was clearly in love, and her wedding in the local church was a dream come true.

“Thank you for helping me,” Enya glanced to Ariel as she did up the buttons on the back of her dress. “You're so kind.”

“If we're going to be living in the same place,” Ariel replied. “We might as well get to know each other. Besides, I like weddings.”

“You do?” Enya said.

“Sure. It's just like a show, isn't it?”

Enya laughed. “You're such a romantic.”

“I try,” Ariel said. “There, all done.”

“Oh my.” Looking in the mirror, Enya gasped. She felt like a princess in antique lace, with lace sleeves, and a tiara woven into her hair.

She had to look twice to remind herself that she was, in fact, a princess. Marrying Cole meant that she would be a Dragon Princess, and she would have a life that she thought was only possible in fairy tales.

“Are you ready?” her father asked, sticking his head into her bridal room. “I think everyone's here. I must have fallen out of step with your friends, because there are a lot of people here I don't recognize.”

“Oh,” she said. “Probably Cole's friends.”

“Right,” he held out his arm. “They all look alike, have you noticed? All tall with pale eyes. Does he belong to a cult?”

“Dad!” she said, rolling her eyes. “Come on.”

“Just kidding,” he said. “But it is time to go. Everyone is here.”

“Right,” Enya said, and took his arm.

Everything about the wedding looked normal. It was just her best kept secret that her future husband was not human.

Cole was waiting at the end of the aisle, and Enya's eyes focused on him right away. He looked so handsome and so well put together. Alexander and Nicholas stood behind him in nearly identical suits. Perhaps it was because she was looking for it, but she could see the flash of yellow eyes from her dragon lover.

She blushed as they walked down the aisle.

If someone had told her a year ago that this would be her life, she would have laughed. She was supposed to be dead, not happy and married. Dragons had changed her entire life.

When they reached the end of the aisle, her father placed her hands in his. He lifted her veil, kissed her on the head, and then stepped aside.

Cole smiled at her, squeezing her hands.

“Hi,” he said. Enya blushed.

“Hi,” she replied. “How are you?”

“Oh, you know, I have this thing today,” he said with a smirk. When they returned, they would have a proper dragon wedding, and she was sure that it would be glorious and beautiful. But this, here and now, was the type of wedding she had always dreamed of.

The priest cleared his throat, and they both turned to him. In yesterday’s rehearsal, the words hadn't felt real. But now, as he spoke, Enya felt them hit her right in the heart. This wasn't just rehearsal. This was real.

Enya felt her heart rate rise, and she squeezed Cole's hand for support. He sent a tiny bit of magic, almost as a question, but she just smiled, and shook her head. She wasn't ill. She was happier than she had ever been.

No one said a word. Everyone in the congregation could see that they were clearly in love. The way he looked at her, the way she turned to him. She felt so in love and connected. Enya had always felt unsure, alone, and out of step. But it had turned out that was because her soul mate just wasn't on Earth. She had been looking in all the wrong places.

“Enya,” the priest turned to her, solemnly. Enya trembled, raising her chin. “Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” she said, looking into his yellow eyes that she had come to love so much. He was the most handsome man that she had ever met.

“Cole,” said the priest, turning his gaze upon the dragon prince. “Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”

“I will,” he said. They had already been through so much, and in a lot of ways, had already honored those vows.

“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?” The priest turned to the congregation.

“We do,” they chanted.

The rings were the bit of dragon lore that Cole had worked into their Earth wedding. Alexander passed over two intricately carved golden and platinum rings that were stronger than any metal found on Earth. They were made for their hands and their hands alone.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Cole whispered, as he slipped the ring over her finger. He had never been timid or afraid, but in this moment, he was overcome with emotion.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” Enya said, putting the ring on his strong hand.

“Enya and Cole, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Cole, you may kiss the bride.”

Cole swept her down and kissed her, and Enya felt her heart race.

Happily-ever afters did exist, and she finally had hers.