When Aiden and Winnifred arrived back at the mansion, Cato took them down into the spaceship in the basement. Aiden gave Cato the containment unit full of ashes and Cato put it on an analysis plate.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Cato said.

“The man who contacted me to buy my painting turned out to be an elder vampire.”

“Was this the same vampire who attacked our compound?” Cato asked Aiden.

“It was him. The same one who attacked me out on the island. I’m fairly sure he’s dead now.”

“We’ll know soon,” Cato said. He turned to Winnie. “And he had a negative reaction as soon as he bit you?”

“Yes,” Winnifred said. “He screamed and started clawing at his neck. He asked me what I had done to my blood. And then Aiden cut his head off.”

“The last time I cut off his head, he was still blinking. This time he was clearly dead. I incinerated his body just to be sure.”

“Very interesting,” Cato said, pulling out a syringe. “I’m going to take a sample of your blood,” he explained to Winnifred. “Aiden could you bring Everly and Aria downstairs? I would like to get a sample from them as well. I want to see if there are any similarities between them, and if it is something that is not found in a typical human or Dragon Soul blood sample.”

Aiden nodded once and left the basement, hurrying upstairs to find Everly and Aria. They were sitting in the living room with Ember.

“Ladies would you join us downstairs? We're running a rather interesting experiment.”

“Oh?” Aria asked. “What is it?”

“Come downstairs, and we’ll explain everything.”

They followed Aiden down to the ship, finding Cato had extracted a sample from Winnifred.

“So, what is this all about?” Everly asked, putting Ember in her baby bouncer in the ship basement.

“It seems that the blood of a mated Dragon Soul is deadly to vampires. Even elder vampires,” Cato explained.

“Really?” Aria said, her eyes glowing with hope. “Does that mean we could go out by ourselves?”

“It is a distinct possibility,” Cato said. “A vampire bit Winnifred earlier today and we suspect he died from it.”

Everly and Aria both gasped. “Oh Winnifred,” Everly said, reaching out to her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Aiden was there to protect me.”

“We want to make sure that it was because of the blood,” Cato said. “Aiden decapitated and incinerated him.”

“But he was poisoned,” Aiden insisted. “I’ve decapitated this vampire before. Even with Aria’s song, I could not take him down. This time I did.”

Cato took samples from Aria and Everly and began the analysis with his computer.

“Bethi,” Cato said addressing the ship AI. “Analyze and cross reference these samples for similarities and differences in human blood and the blood of unmated Dragon Souls.”

“Analysis commencing,” Bethi said.

“How can you possibly run an analysis on human and Dragon Soul blood?” Winnifred asked.

“We have access to all human databases,” Cato said. “Any knowledge or information the human race has previously recorded is at my fingertips.”

“Oh,” she said. “You really are good with computers.”

Everyone chuckled and waited with rapt attention as Bethi worked on the problem.

“Unknown antibodies identified in provided samples of mated Dragon Soul blood. This antibody is not present in any other sample available.”

“Very interesting,” Cato said.

“That settles it, then,” Everly said optimistically.

“There’s still the possibility that the antibody is present in other humans or Dragon Souls but is unidentifiable by human technology.”

“Oh,” Everly said, becoming crestfallen.

“Don’t lose hope,” Cato said. “This is a good start. I must run more analyses and do further research. But for now, I remain optimistically cautious. I would suggest that you ladies continue to stay behind the perimeter of the shields or to go out with an escort. I’m working on this problem, and I hope to find you a solution very soon.”

“Thank you, Cato,” Aria said. “I hope you find the answer we are all looking for.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could go shopping by ourselves, and leave the guys at home?” Everly asked Aria.

“Seriously…”

“Although, your mate has excellent taste in clothes, Winnifred,” Everly said.

“I can’t say the same thing for mine,” Aria quipped.

That was something that Aiden could definitely agree with. Everly and Aria left the basement, taking Ember with them. Aiden felt a rush of pride at Everly’s acknowledgement of his taste, especially in front of Winnie. He’d helped Everly with her look when she needed to build her confidence. He was glad to have helped her.

“I know what I saw,” Winnifred said to Cato.

“I agree with you. One hundred percent. But we can’t take any chances. Cato will find the answer soon,” Aiden said.

“I hope so. It would be good news for everyone,” Winnifred said. “Now we just have to figure out how we’re going to get all of my stuff moved up to the mansion today. I’d like to sleep in your bed tonight.”

He grinned.

“I have an excellent idea.”

Half an hour later, Aiden was flying through the sky, holding a storage container in his talons. Under his stealth mode, no one could see him or the container. He set it down in the backyard of Winnifred’s house, landed beside it, and shifted into his human form.

Winnifred had wanted to come with him to help, but he thought it best to do it himself. He could easily pack up her things and be home before sunset.

He quickly got to work in the privacy of her backyard. It was at the end of the street, surrounded by trees and he doubted anyone could see his activity. If anyone got a peek over the fence, all they would observe would be a very strong man carrying furniture.

When he’d loaded everything up, he dropped into stealth mode and shifted, gripping the storage container with his claws. He beat the air with his massive wings and took flight, gliding above the town as the sun glowed against the mountain.

It made him think of the lovely day they’d spent together, and he knew they would have many more. He made it back to the mansion at dusk and set the storage container in the front yard near the garage. The guys came out and helped unload her things, putting her personal things in his bedroom, her painting supplies in her new studio, and the rest of her furniture was stored in the container on her instructions.

“That is the fastest move that has ever happened in the history of the world,” she said, fisting her hips as he closed the door of the storage unit.

“I aim to please,” he said.

She threaded her arm through his and laughed. “I know you do,” she said seductively.

He kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear. “I can’t wait to spend the night with you in my bed.”

“Me either,” she said, turning to wrap her arms around his neck.

They kissed each other softly as the moon began to rise over the mountain.

“Come in for dinner,” Kian called from the front door.

Winnifred and Aiden sat at the big kitchen table with the rest of the family. Kian had cooked homemade ravioli noodles, stuffed with ricotta cheese and Italian sausage. He topped it with a creamy marinara sauce and sprigs of parsley. Dinner was served with crunchy garlic sourdough toast, and the family feasted on the meal together. Even Ember tried a little bit of the ravioli.

“Do you cook like this every day or is it just for special occasions?” Winnie asked.

“Every day and for special occasions,” Kian said. “This is definitely a special occasion. Congratulations, Aiden and Winnifred, we are all so happy for you. Everyone is thrilled to have another member of the House of Flames. Winnie, welcome to the family.”

“Welcome,” everyone cheered, holding up glasses of wine, beer, and water. Ember held up her sippy cup of apple juice, squealing with delight.

“Even though Aiden and I don’t always get along,” Dax said. “I’m happy he found his mate. And that his mate is such a great girl.”

“We’re ecstatic to have another woman in the house,” Everly said. “We need to balance out all this testosterone.”

“Do dragons even have testosterone?” Winnifred asked.

“We do,” Cato said. “But it is not exactly like human testosterone.”

“Exactly. We girls need to even out dragon testosterone,” Everly said pointedly. “That’s much worse. You’ve seen the mating impulse, you know exactly what I mean.”

Everly and Aria laughed to each other knowingly, and Winnifred joined them. Aiden was happy to see the women all getting along, if not a little intimidated by what they might do if they got too organized. He smiled and shook his head, knowing that it could only be good for all of them. Because that is what women did for a home and a family—they brought love, peace, and comfort to a men’s hearts. That was what their Dragon Soul mates had done for the House of Flames.