I wake in the night and leave my palace without telling anyone. I spent the entire night tossing and turning, thinking about my neglected research. My experiments are still running at the lab, but I’ve been too distracted by my mates to even check it.

My curiosity won't be turned down, and I feel like I'm on the edge of a breakthrough. All thoughts of my mates and the dates I'm supposed to go on disappear from my mind when I arrive at the lab.

I hurry to my terminal and dig into the readouts before I even make it into my chair. The findings are surprising. I’ve found sequences in the human genome that are in fact dragonoid. These genes suggest a prehistoric link between our species.

I also find a cluster of dormant genes the military scientist was unable to locate. The expression of these dormant genes is being repressed by a total lack of transcription factors, which are required for genes to express.

If I could isolate the proteins that could alter gene regulation using the appropriate transcription factors, there might be a way to activate the dormant dragonoid genes.

I dial my computer into the dormant DNA, searching for a common transcription factor protein between all the dormant dragonoid genes.

I also want to study exactly what expression these genes would take. For example, would it give humans a recessive dragon tail? I scratch my chin, thinking about the implications. If these genes could tell us what they do, it could give us a clue as to how the two species could mate. What form would the human take? Would she become a dragon?

The biggest question is what is the protein needed to regulate the correct transcription factors. In other words, what will activate the dragonoid transformation in a human?

I’m excited by my findings and quickly send my data to my brother’s shipboard science officer.

"We were supposed to have a date today," I hear Mika’s voice say behind me.

I swivel on my chair to look at him, reminded of the time. My stomach grumbles and my brain itches. I've been sitting in this chair all night and need to stretch my legs.

"You're right."

I stand for my chair and follow him out of the laboratory. The cool ocean breeze blows across my tired face, waking me up. I fabricate a pair of nanotech sunglasses and slide them over my eyes. Mika takes my hand and we begin walking toward the center of the Arcadia Academy campus.

"There's an Air Spree game today at the Academy arena," he says. "I thought we could watch the game and get a bite to eat."

"I would like that," I say, growing more excited by the prospect of a date. It was just what I needed. I'm glad he came to find me.

We walk across the Academy campus to the arena, order two gow meat stuffed loaves, and two cups of wasp honey mead from a vender and find a comfortable spot at the top of the bleachers.

Air Spree is a popular game among the Draxos, especially on Academy campuses. I know Mika played on the Air Spree team for the Academy of Bones before he graduated.

As the players take the field, I notice the game is between Arcadia and the Academy of Bones. We'll be rooting for opposite sides!

"Did you know that my school was playing your school today?" I ask him, nudging him in the arm with my elbow.

"I didn't until I looked it up this morning. After you weren’t at the morning meal, I decided to find you and see if you wanted to go.”

"I'm sorry I disappeared last night."

"You're a busy woman with an important mission. I don't hold that against you."

“Attending to everyone has been hard for me.”

“You’re good,” he tells me with a smile, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

The players run through the ritual of tapping each other on the shoulder before the game begins. A singer steps on the field to intone the Arcadia fight song and then the game begins.

The dragons take their positions on the field and the air spree puck is launched into the air. The dragons charge for the ball and the first possession goes to Arcadia. I stand in my chair and cheer along with the rest of the crowd. When I sit, I smirk at Mika.

"That never would've happened if I was playing," he says, taking a sip of mead.

“That’s what I like about you, Mika. You are confident and bold, but you aren’t demanding and aggressive.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Of all my mates, you seem best able to handle the thrall.” I sigh and bite my meat loaf. “Unlike Uri, who seems to have another outburst every day.”

"It's all that fire dragon aggression," Mika says over the roar of the crowd.

When the crowd quiets down, I ask him. "Why is it so much easier for you?"

"I doubt it's any easier for me than anyone else. But I'm only twenty-five. I thralled at my first tournament."

"It is pretty amazing," I say.

I never would've expected it. But I'm glad it was you. Even if I have to share you with four other dragons."

“I wish it weren't this way either. If I had my way I would just have one mate. Or none at all."

"None at all?" Mika asks me, raising an eyebrow.

"I still have so much work to do, finding a cure for the plague. And now, I also have a mission from my brother. The new mission is just as important to the survival of our species. Having one mate, let alone five, is distracting me from my work."

“That sucks," he says, placing his hand over mine.

"I might be an accomplished scientist, but I just became an adult myself. I've been working all my life for one goal and that was finding a cure for the plague. Now I have males fighting in the dining hall. Yesterday I went to Umbria and met Reese's parents, the King and Queen. It’s a lot of pressure for me. I don't know how to handle it."

"Well, what I always do when I get stressed about school or whatever is watch a game, drink a glass of wasp honey mead, and try to relax," he says.

The catcher from Arcadia has the puck and charges toward the goal. I stand and scream for him to keep going. The crowd is chanting the Arcadia fight song and I'm swept away in the energy of the crowd. The catcher makes the goal and everyone cheers. I sit, feeling my heart lighten and the stress begins to melt away from my shoulders.

"I think you're right, Mika. This was exactly what I needed."

I gobble down the rest of my lunch and we watch the game, cheering for our teams. The Academy of Bones takes the lead for half a round and the crowd grows restless. But Arcadia takes possession of the puck and draws ahead in the very last seconds of the game. I expected Mika to be disappointed, but I think he's just happy that I enjoyed myself.

We leave the arena with the rest of the crowd. The anonymity and the crush of bodies brings me back to myself. It isn't such a big deal, I think, all the things that are pressing down on my shoulders. Not when I have someone like Mika to remind me what is important in life. Fun, friends, loyalty.

“I had a wonderful time today, Mika. I only wish we had a private moment together before we return to the palace. I’ve given the other males so much of myself.”

Mika pulls me under the bleachers where the light falls over the ground in stripes of darkness. He encircles me with his arms and looks down into my eyes. His golden skin and halo of golden hair brighten the gloom.

“I only need for you to feel happy,” he says, caressing my temples with the pads of his thumbs. “We have all the time in the world to be together.”

“Don’t you want me?” I ask, confused.

He smiles at me and kisses me gently. His youthful energy doesn’t seem to make him rush. It makes him careful and sensitive. He brushes his lips over mine, kissing my cheeks. I can feel his mouth smile against my flesh. The sensation makes me smile as well as I tilt my head back, giving him room as he explores my neck with his tongue.

“I don’t want you. I need you.”

We are deep under the bleachers, in a dark corner. The din of people is all around. Mika slides his hand under my skirt as he presses me to his hardness.

“I need you, Mika,” I gasp between kisses.

His fingers slide up the slit between my legs, pressing through to thump against my top most pleasure button. I groan and he claims my mouth. My climax comes almost too quickly, but I’m overwhelmed by the situation of the public place and the energy of the Air Spree game.

As my body throbs between my legs, Mika brings his fingers to his lips and sucks the juices from his hand. I bite my lip as I watch him savor the taste of me.

“I should give you more,” I say, rubbing his shaft with my hip.

“No. This is all I need,” he says, holding me close. “I’m taking you home to get some rest.”

As we drive back to the palace, I tell him how happy I am that he is my friend.