Chashan wished Penelope was not so thorough. If she hadn’t found any of Eric’s relatives, the Preor would only have had to negotiate with Earth authorities and he’d been told they were easily intimidated. But the ship had located someone with blood ties to the bay-bee.

He stared down at the datapad and fought his dragon’s desire to burst free and kill Eric’s only other relative. “You are sure this is accurate?”

Penelope snorted despite her lack of nose. Or lungs. Or body. She was a collection of electronics that sounded more and more human every day.

“Penelope…” He did not have the patience for games. He’d spent time worshipping Khaza’s body during the Sael Ealaa until they were both sated and exhausted. He’d thought to fall into a mindless slumber.

Eric had other ideas and woke them many times.

“On my honor as a Preor—”

“You are not a Preor.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t sure why he argued with a computer.

“I have submitted a petition to the emperor,” Penelope snapped.

May Syh save them, then.

“The Preor dragonlet, Eric sen Nuva, has one human relative based on the closeness of their genetic code. She lives within Tampa and is in transit with warriors Triem and Radoo.”

“You already summoned her?” He growled and mentally cursed.

“The third fleet both on the surface and in orbit support the claiming of Eric sen Nuva.”

“I suppose you spoke with Esteemed Warrior Jarek and War Master Taulan on our behalf, as well?” Chashan now understood the frustration of other males who dealt with Penelope often.

“No, I did.” Khaza’s lyrical voice soothed the rough edges of his nerves and Eric’s soft giggle calmed him.

“And when, shaa kouva, did you have time to speak with the warriors?” He turned to face her and quirked a single brow.

“I sent messages to their mates. From dam to dam, I asked for their assistance.” She straightened her spine and tipped her chin up the slightest bit. Determination shone in her gaze.

“My life is no longer my own, is it?” he grumbled and shook his head. “I am to be managed now.”

The other mated warriors complained of being managed by their human mates. Khaza might be Preor but it seemed she’d learned much from the humans. His mate merely grinned and padded forward until she reached his side. She curled against him, her weight familiar, and he stared into the wide eyes of his son.

“Healing Master Chashan, the short flight approaches the tower. Triem and Radoo will escort their guest to Conference Room 1 on the first floor.”

“Understood.” He placed a single finger beneath his mate’s chin and encouraged her to tip her head back. He brushed his lips over hers with the gentlest of kisses. “I will return shortly.”

Khaza shook her head. “I’ll go with you.”

“Stay and care for our dragonlet, shaa kouva. I will not be long. I would feel better if you were here within our aerie.”

She pressed her lips together until they were white and he thought she’d object. But when she opened her mouth to speak, Eric cried out for attention.

Thank you, shaa senvai.

Khaza lifted Eric to her shoulder and rubbed his back. “You will comm me when your task is complete?”

“Without hesitation,” he happily agreed.

His mate gave him a brisk nod and stepped from beneath his wing before retracing her steps and disappearing into the nursery. Then he left their apartment and strode down the hallway toward the elevator. He disliked the metal boxes that took them from level to level, but he understood their necessity. Humans did not have wings. Neither did female Preors, though Khaza was one of the few.

The moment he stepped into the elevator—alone—Penelope spoke to him. “War Master Taulan gave Radoo a small collection of diamonds and gemstones to give to Eric’s relative. Khaza told Carla of Erica’s condition and desires, and Carla told Grace who told War Mistress Lana, and the females agree that this relative might be paid off with the appropriate number of stones. The young dragonlets Shanas and Lorrasyh were happy to destroy half of their nursery to create the stones with their fire.”

Chashan just bet the twins were happy. He doubted their parents were, though.

“It is the War Mistress’ belief that the relative will accept payment for a dragonlet?” Chashan had never heard of such a thing, but he knew some humans were greedy for credits. The stones created by Preors’ fire were worth many credits on Earth.

“Yes.” There was no hesitation in Penelope’s speech, which mean Lana had not hesitated either. He released the breath he had not realized he’d held and relaxed a little. He would complete this meeting and return to his mate…

And son.

* * *

Less than thirty minutes after entering Conference Room 1, Chashan strode out of the space. Radoo’s collection of stones was lessened by half and Eric’s ant had relinquished all rights to the bay-bee to Chashan and Khaza.

He was a sire now. Truly the sire of Eric sen Nuva—human by birth but Preor by heart.

He could not wait to share the news with his mate. Chashan strode down the hall toward the elevators but changed his mind and stopped. He spun in place and broke into a run, racing toward the doors and the sky beyond.

The warriors guarding the exit moved aside, shoving the doors wide with his approach. The moment the sea’s salt-tinged air filled his lungs, Chashan took flight. He beat his wings, once, twice, and on and on. He put distance between his body and the sands below, going higher as he circled Preor Tower. Flying to his aerie took more energy, but was faster than waiting for that metal box to carry him to the correct level.

He pushed harder, his dragon’s strength joining him. It urged him on, anxious to hold their mate and dragonlet close. It had craved offspring as well, but like Chashan’s other half, found happiness with Khaza alone. She was their very reason for breath. His love for Eric was different yet no less strong and deep.

Chashan made another circle and spied their balcony with the removable metal railing and the few plants his mate had hung to remind her of Preor.

She would toss him off the balcony if he destroyed her precious greenery, but he didn’t know how he could land without tearing them down. Perhaps she would forget once he gave her his news.

He flapped his wings and changed his course, adjusting his approach until… Until he tightened his wings against his body and tumbled onto the balcony.

Of course, he tore down her plants with him. Dirt and leaves covered him, continuing to rain down from the few pots that stubbornly clung to their ties.

The back door slid open and he was met with his mate’s heated glare. She had one hand propped on her hip while she gently held Eric in the other.

“Chashan joi Khaza Nuva, what—”

He ignored the beginning of her grumbles and held up a datastick. “Eric is ours. Truly ours. The human released him.”

Khaza snapped her mouth closed, eyes wide while she gasped. “He…”

Chashan pushed to his feet, flapping and stretching his wings to see if he’d broken anything as he’d fallen. A small tightness and dull ache, but not the piercing agony of a shattered bone. Good. He did not have time to be injured. “Eric is ours.”

She closed her eyes and gently laid her lips to Eric’s forehead. “Ours. He is our son,” she whispered. “I am his dam and you are his sire.”

She repeated the words as if she could not believe them. His strong, gentle, yet fierce mate.

Chashan nudged her back and pushed the door closed once he stepped into their aerie. He did not hesitate to draw Khaza into his arms, Eric snugly between them when he wrapped her in his wings. She shuddered and leaned against him, his mate taking strength from him.

Then it seemed another took strength from him as well. Eric released a roar that rivaled any Preor warrior’s bellow.

Followed by a stench so strong he thought he’d die from the smell. “By all that breathes fire, what is that?”

It did not take him long to learn that it was his son. A son he’d wanted for over a century. A son he would love twice as long. A son… who truly needed to learn how to walk and use a cleansing chamber because disgusting things came out of a human body.

* * *

* * *