She stayed crumpled on the ground so long she lost track of time. The sun had already made its way past noon and well into the afternoon. She wiped her gritty eyes and allowed the seductive call of the pool wash over her. Standing on shaky legs, she shed the rest of her clothing and dove into the cool, crisp water, dividing the surface with a fluid, swan-like motion.

She allowed herself to sink to the bottom and doubled in on herself again. Her dragon begged for release; she wanted to emerge and play in the rippling water. But Jazz suppressed the change, knowing full well that once the dragon took over, she’d be powerless to reign it back in for a while. It would require time she didn’t have.

Like a petulant child she emerged from the pond and searched out her remaining clothing. She briefly ran her hand through her short, brown curls and shook the excess droplets from it. Knowing the frizz was coming, she found her bandanna and re-wrapped it best as she could and headed off down the path toward home.

She stopped cold in her tracks when a dark silhouette stepped from the cover of foliage, standing firmly in her way. She didn’t recognize the man, but she sensed the dragon shimmering beneath the surface. She opened her mouth to demand her let her pass, but a familiar voice floated toward her.

“My, my, we’ve been a naughty girl, haven’t we?” it whispered. “He won’t be happy to hear about your tryst.”

“Who is ‘he’ and why are you here?” she demanded and suddenly a blow to the back of her head rendered her unconscious.

* * *

Damien paced the parlor’s marble-tiled floor, anxiety eating a hole in his stomach. It was well after nine p.m. and Jazz had yet to make an appearance. Sera had acted shocked to see him when he’d shown up earlier, but in her eye’s deep recesses, Damien saw a flicker of knowing that told him she’d expected him.

She’d welcomed him into her home and lavished him with attention until he wanted to slit his own throat. After an hour of gibberish, he’d finally worked up the nerve to ask for Jazz.

Sera had graciously excused herself to fetch the girl and never came back. He’d been alone ever since. That had been four hours ago. He’d fought the urge to leave; to head back to the pool and find her. He was fully prepared to drag her back to Sera’s kicking and screaming if need be. He’d make her talk to him if he had to camp out on her doorsteps until she broke down and heard him out.

Now, a gnawing fear had taken root in his belly. Something was wrong, he could feel it. And when Sera stepped into the parlor doorway, he knew the stricken look on her face confirmed his fear.

“What’s happened?” he demanded and closed the distance between them. At six-feet-six-inches tall, he towered over the Elder and he used his height to his full advantage. “Where is she?”

Sera’s eyes filled with tears and a cold ball of steel bloomed in Damien’s stomach. Had something happened to Jazz? Was she dead? No, he refused to think such thoughts. He reached out and grabbed the woman’s upper arms and shook her gently. He used every ounce of self-control not to rattle her teeth.

“Talk to me dammit!” he roared.

“She’s, she’s - she’s gone,” Sera stammered between sniffles and sobs. “According to Bridget, Jazz never came back from her walk.” She raised her eyes to meet his dead on. “She never came back from your meeting.”

Damien didn’t miss the accusatory glare and he growled low in his throat. The mere audacity of the woman angered him beyond belief.

“I love her,” he admitted between gritted teeth. “I would never hurt her nor would I allow anyone else to.” He lowered his head until his eyes were level with hers. “I certainly don’t appreciate the doubt.” His voice rumbled with his dragon undertone. He knew his eyes had lit with emotion as his vision had changed. The Elder immediately bowed her head, whether in shame or fear, he couldn’t tell.

“I’m sorry,” she finally admitted. “I’m just so afraid for her.” Her eyes rose to his once more. “She and Bridget are the only family I have. They are my daughters. It doesn’t matter whether Jazz is biologically mine or not, I’ve raised her,” she declared and squared her shoulders. Damien couldn’t help but admire her strength and spirit. She had been the one to whisk Jazz to safety all those years ago, so he owed her a great deal.

Had the girl remained at the royal estate, Draken probably would’ve either had her killed or exiled. Considering their females were in short supply, exile would’ve been the more rational action.

Damien released Sera’s arms and sighed heavily. Rubbing his hands together to keep them from trembling, he coughed to clear the rising fire in his throat. He winced when he realized how close to edge he’d been and with an Elder at that. As new Prince and heir to the Water Elementals, he couldn’t afford to alienate anyone, especially the dragons’ ruling council.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I know you love her, I do too,” he admitted softly and tried not to welter when she pinned him with her best protective mom glare. He’d never met his own mother, but he knew from watching Jazz and her own all those years ago, the maternal instincts of the Dragoness was a potent and deadly thing. He could only imagine how far Sera would go to protect Jazz and Bridget.

“I knew it,” Sera confessed, but not triumphantly. Her revelation was filled with resignation more than anything. “Is that why you came? Are you here to claim her as your mate?” she asked, peppering him with her excited questions.

Damien only managed to nod the affirmative when he suddenly found himself enveloped in a very tight and very uncharacteristic embrace. He awkwardly patted Sera on the back.

Sera pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Damien shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other; not really sure how to react to such a feminine action.

Suddenly Sera’s eyes widened owlishly.

“She thinks you’ve chosen someone else,” she blurted and set about pacing the parlor floor. “She may have run away,” she stated. “Then again, I can’t see Jazz running from anything. She’s the bravest woman I’ve ever met. I just don’t understand,” she mumbled as she paced.

“Mother!” a young woman called and rushed in to join them. “Mother, we just received this,” she informed and shoved a gnarly sheet of paper into Sera’s hands.

Damien’s gut seized with fear. Looking over the Elder’s shoulder, he instantly recognized the emblem adorning the letterhead.

“That son-of-a-bitch,” Damien spat and turned toward the empty fireplace. He waited for Sera to finish reading the note, but knew what it said. He’d been afraid of this very thing the moment his father had died. It was why he’d taken so long before coming for Jazz. His faction was in upheaval, one dragon fighting another. They were like rabid dogs seeking out the weakest members.

His father had been right all those years ago, there had been a coup in place. He was just wrong about Jazz’s parents being involved.

“I can’t believe this!” Sera declared and turned on Damien. She waggled the note under his nose. “Did you know about this?”

Damien steeled himself to tell Sera the truth whether she wanted to hear it or not.

“I suspected a coup,” he confirmed. “The four factions are at war and Jazz isn’t the only one caught in the middle. I just never thought he’d be involved.”