Erica had been given a warrior’s service, turned to ash with dragon’s breath and scattered in Syh’s winds as any other Preor who’d lost their life in battle. Her fight had simply been of a different type. It hadn’t been one of claws, fangs, or blades, but with heart and body.

Now, back at Preor Tower once more, he wondered what his mate hid from him. She’d been keeping a secret from the moment of Eric’s birth and he kept his mouth shut until they were alone in their suite that evening. Though not alone since she still hadn’t released Eric into anyone else’s care.

Which made his unease grow. She was very protective of the human boy, possessive even. More than one of the human-Preor mates offered to care for him, but Khaza brushed them all away. As if she was his dam and wouldn’t tolerate…

Chashan’s heartbeat stuttered and then picked up an uneven beat. He watched his mate pad through their apartment, moving with careful, determined strides toward one of their empty bedrooms. Except, when he caught up with her, he realized it was not empty. It’d been decorated—swathed in soft colors and furniture meant to contain dragonlets.

She held a bottle in her hand and lowered into a chair that moved—an Earth rok-ing chair. She cradled Eric close and eased the tip of the bottle past his lips. The male sucked greedily, eyes closed and pleased snuffles escaping his small body.

Then his mate… his mate lowered her head and kissed the boy’s forehead, whispering against his soft skin. “Eat well, shaa senvai. Grow big and strong like your sire.”

Chashan closed his eyes for a moment and sought their connection. He made sense of her swirling emotions and the snippets of her thoughts he managed to catch.

“Khaza?” he rasped. “What…”

She didn’t raise her head when she spoke to him. “I made a vow, shaa kouvi. As Erica gave him life and I saw her thoughts, I made a bloodvow that I would raise him as my son. I am his dam and you are his sire.”

Why had he not seen the change in her before? Because he was too broken by the loss of the female’s life. He’d been too ensnared by duty to see his mate’s behavior.

“He is human, Khaza.” He went to her, slowly and carefully so he didn’t disturb the bay-bee. He knelt at her feet, bringing him closer to his mate’s bowed head and the feeding infant. “He is governed by human laws. We cannot simply keep him.”

“His dam wished to become a Preor mate. Her mate would have claimed him as his own and he would have become a Preor dragonlet.” She finally lifted her eyes to him. “He is now as he would have been had his dam lived.”

Chashan narrowed his eyes. “I do not like it when you make sense.”

That earned him a grin, a sparkle of happiness that’d been missing for… It’d been gone from the moment they realized her heat had not ended with a dragonlet in her womb.

“Shaa kouva, are you taking Eric because we have not…” He licked his lips, unsure how to ask his question without hurting her.

“Shhh…” She reached for him, delicate fingers trailing over his cheek. He turned his head and nuzzled her palm, breathing deeply to draw her scent into his lungs. “If Syh wished us to have a dragonlet before this moment, we would. Eric is not a substitute. He is a gift. A gift from Syh and I will not relinquish him without a fight.”

A soft sound from Eric demanded their focus. His bottle was empty and Chashan took it from Khaza once she withdrew it from the bay-bee’s mouth.

Chashan kept his attention on her as she laid a cloth on her shoulder and then placed Eric on her chest.

“Carla showed me how to care for him and Melissa and Grace made sure we have the necessities.”

“We will replace their credits.” He knew when he’d been defeated.

She shook her head. “No, they are…”

The Knowing gave him her thoughts. “The items served their purpose for others and are no longer needed.”

Khaza nodded. “Hand-me-downs. They still have life and can serve us. Then we can give them to another. It is a human custom.”

“We’re not human.”

“But Eric is and we will tell him when he is older. He is our dragonlet, but he will know of his dam and his people.” She had that stubborn tilt to her head and glitter in her eyes.

“Very well, shaa kouva. Very well.”

“Penelope?” he called out to the computer. “Please confirm the existence of any other relatives of the human female Erica. Report in the morning.”

“Acknowledged.” The computer’s response was a whisper. As if it knew Eric eased toward slumber and needed quiet.

“You will allow him to stay?” Khaza’s question was equally soft.

“Shaa kouva,” he murmured and it was his turn to cradle her face. “You are the sky beneath my wings. You are the very breath in my lungs. You are the sun that greets me every morning. Syh has not given us a natural dragonlet, but I agree that he has given us better. He has given us a dragonlet that needs us. He will stay. You are his dam. I am his sire. It is done.”

“And if any object?”

“They will learn that they made a mistake. A deadly one if they persist.” Now that he’d said the words, his dragon looked at the bay-bee with possessive eyes as well. Eric was theirs.

The bay-bee released a soft sigh and ceased moving. A glance showed that Eric had fallen asleep. “Let’s put him in his bed, shaa kouva, and then I can care for you.”

Wide eyes met his. “I am well. I don’t—”

“Shaa kouva, you are the dam of a newly presented dragonlet. We are following some of the human customs, but we will not neglect the Preor.” He cupped her elbow and assisted her to her feet. “Lay Eric to rest. It is time for the Sael Ealaa.”

“The ceremony is only performed after the dam’s body has healed.”

“It is a thanks to the dam for the pain she endured and I wish to perform it now.” He gently took Eric from her hands and went to the crib. He carefully laid him to rest. “Penelope, monitor Eric sen Nuva and alert us if he cries.”

“Acknowledged.”

“I didn’t endure pain, Chashan,” his mate tried to object.

He pulled her close, not stopping until their bodies were aligned, and he curled one wing around Khaza. He stared at the sleeping dragonlet and lowered his head to rest his cheek on his mate’s crown.

“You have endured a dam’s worry from the moment of Eric’s first breath. His dam asked you to make a vow and you have done nothing but fear losing him. Or am I wrong?” She said nothing and shook her head. “Then I should perform the Sael Ealaa. It is not birth that makes you a dam, Khaza. It is your heart.”

And as he said the words, he knew them to be true. They rang in the room and echoed in his soul. Eric sen Nuva was theirs.

And he would perform the Sael Ealaa in thanks.