Torel was discovering that life with a bright, curious partner had advantages he’d never considered. He was back in his favourite chair reading over his notes, but this time he had Haley in his lap and they were reviewing the information together. It had started because he wanted to show her where the computer’s translation errors occurred, but they had continued because her questions and insights brought the data into focus in new ways and helped to raise new avenues for him to explore.

“I don’t understand something, though. If your people have been to Earth before, why isn’t here any record of it? A glyph, or a scroll, or even a legend? And where is the vessel they arrived in? I can accept that somehow there’s no surviving record of your people’s arrival, but how have we missed finding a spaceship? Those things aren’t small.”

“That’s a mystery we might never solve, though there are two competing theories that both make sense. The first is that the ship crashed, and the survivors found a way to destroy all traces of their existence so they could blend in without affecting the development of your world. It could be lost in the depths of one of the oceans, or deliberately dumped into a volcano. There’s no way to know.”

Haley was drawing patterns across his bare chest with her fingers, a move that was making it increasingly difficult to think straight. “And the other theory?” she asked.

“The ship didn’t crash at all. It stayed in orbit while at least some of the colonists went down to the surface, likely to obtain raw materials for repairs or to acquire food or water. Our technology was far less sophisticated back then, and life on a colony ship was not easy. The second theory postulates that some of the colonists choose to stay and live among the humans. The ship and the rest of the colonists continued on their way, only to meet with catastrophe later on.”

“The second theory sounds more likely to me.” Haley gave him a sultry look that heated his blood. “We humans are very enticing.”

“I don’t know about other humans, but you, my otama, are enticingly beautiful and intelligent. Whatever you choose to do when we get to Pyros, I know you will be successful at it.”

Her golden eyes gleamed with pleasure. “I think I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to write those articles I talked about, the ones that might help inform both our races about the other.” She straightened up. “And then I’m going to write a book about it all.”

It was a good idea, one that would counter some of the fear humans had about his race and their intentions. “Who better to write it than someone who had her own doubts and concerns? Later, I will introduce you to Prince Joran and his mate, Maggie. Once you have them convinced of the value of your plan, you should have no trouble getting all the resources and information you need.”

She blinked at him. “You know the Prince and Princess well enough to ask that kind of favour?”

It belatedly occurred to him he had never actually told her his full job title. “I might not have mentioned it before, but the reason I am the Chief Medical Officer of the royal flagship is because I am responsible for the health of the royal family.”

You really are an overachiever, aren’t you?” she leaned in and kissed him. “That is for being so sweet and supportive of my idea.”

He laughed and kissed her back. “And that is for making me think about my research differently. We make a good team.”

“Yes, we do. It would appear the Gods knew what they were doing, after all.”

He didn’t bother to answer in words, but he made sure his feelings were clear to her through their link, which was now even stronger than before.

He picked up his tablet and started reading again, only to be interrupted a few seconds later.

“Tor, what the hell is that? I swear it looks like—” she pointed out the window.

“It appears the Romaki prince is on his way back to the ship. Interesting. I wasn’t aware they were able to fly outside a planet’s atmosphere. I’ll have to ask him about that, it must have something to do with their magic.”

“That’s a dragon! I mean, I knew that’s what he was, but… dragon!” Haley declared in shock.

“Well, yes. Did you not read the information I called up for you about his species?”

“No. I was busy reading through your stuff and jumping to conclusions,” she reminded him.

“Ah, yes. You recognize the shape, though? Interesting. Vadir suspected humans had come across the Romaki before, based on your legends. Your reaction lends weight to his theory.”

She leaned towards the window, her eyes widening yet again. “Is that a second dragon?”

Sure enough, there were two Romaki winging their way toward the ship, their massive bodies dwarfing the shuttlecraft following them. “It would appear so. It looks like your friend Aria is about to be reunited with her sister.”

“Shit. She’s not going to like this. That’s her baby sister flapping her big, scaly wings out there.” But he could feel her joy and delight flowing into him.

“You don’t seem concerned.”

“I’m not. Piper has been waiting for years to break away from her sister. Aria raised her when their mother died, and she has always been a bit overprotective.” She gestured to the dragons and laughed. “She’s a freaking dragon. Aria is going to have to let her go, now.”

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, marvelling again that this beautiful female was his. “Aria may let go of her sister, but I will never let go of you.”

She leaned her head onto his shoulder and smiled. “You better not. You promised me we’d be together until we return to the flames that birthed us, remember? I’m hoping that day is a very long time from now.”

“As do I, my love. As do I.”

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