Zorander was buckled in his seat with Cloven and Drayce near him. He couldn't help but chuckle at their grim faces, conveying his sons' frustration and fear. Yet, every once in a while, a hint of a smile would play across their lips, and he knew they were thinking about the prospect of babies—their children.

It was a grand feeling to know his progeny would carry on his name and also a heavy burden, because he was also responsible for the training of a new life.

But he could see the annoyance his boys felt with their women, and he understood it. Zorander understood the fear behind it. They weren't angry as much as they were afraid. Afraid of losing their wives, afraid of the dragons trampling or mauling them while protecting them. The dragons meant well and their only goal is to protect the rider, but in the process, many women had been injured or lost their lives by the well-intentioned beast.

The dragons spiritually and emotionally are tied to the warlords. That is how the commanders receive the scaly dragon patch on their shoulders and warlords receive a tail the same color as their dragon. The dragons meld with their partners in an almost symbiotic manner, and once a warlord becomes with child, the dragon feels responsible for the baby from the time of gestation and will do anything in its power to protect the mother and the child.

Zorander and his sons conveyed all of these things to the women, not once, but many times. They had been warned to never go into the clouds on a dragon if they were pregnant. It just wasn't safe. At all. Most men kept their pregnant wives away from the barn during the whole of their gestation.

He couldn't understand how—not just one—but all three of the women took the warning so lightly. How could they plan a Christmas trip to another planet and not tell the men?

He chuckled to himself. There was a part of him that knew exactly why they did it. They wanted to go Christmas shopping, riding their dragons, and they most certainly didn't want the men issuing orders, keeping them inside and away from the beasts they loved.

The men were riding in the military transport today because the dragons couldn't get them there quickly enough. And with the delicate situation of the women, it would be safer for them all to ride the transport home, as well. The soldiers would bring the dragons back to Trexotera.

The rockets rumbled and the transport shook, leaving the launch pad. The transport should reach Diviljak within five minutes. There was a possibility they would get there even before Artemis and the girls, but the timing would be close.

A voice came over the earpiece, "Zorander. Zorander Quinn?"

Zorander responded, "Yes, Captain."

"We're setting course, sir. We shall arrive at the center square in Diviljak in four minutes and forty seconds."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Feel free to move around the cabin, but we'll be descending in three minutes and thirty seconds."

"Thank you, sir."

All the men undid their harness seatbelts, stretching out in the chairs. Drayce leaned back, his legs straight out in front of him crossed at the ankles, with his hands laced over his chest. Sighing loudly, he shook his head. "I just cannot fucking believe this woman of mine did this. We have discussed it over and over and over. I mean, almost ad nauseam, because I knew we were trying for a baby and I didn't want the stress or danger. And, yet, she still did it.

Cloven nodded. "You know full well I had discussed this with Wish, as well. We weren't planning on getting pregnant." Cloven shrugged, obviously proud of his prowess. "It's not like we were doing anything to stop it, either. I guess we just thought, with her birth control only lapsing for a short time, that it would take longer than this to conceive. But like Drayce just said, I wanted her to be aware of the risk. I just don't get it."

Zorander cleared his throat. "You, men, are going to find out that even though you think you have your girl under control and she's minding, there are going to be times when they assert their independence. It's just normal, and you deal with it—one incident at a time. It doesn't stop; you'll see."

Zoroander shook his head, laughing. Although he didn't have to discipline Gossamer as much as they did their wives, he would have never guessed that after thirty-two years of marriage, he would still be tossing his wife over his knee. Nor would he have guessed that both of them with gray and white hair would still enjoy a good punishment and he'd still have to use a heavy hand with her, even at this age.

"You do realize that Cloven and I don't find that encouraging, right?"

The old man chuckled and said, "No, I'm sure you don't, but I'm not so old I forgot how much fun it is—and how annoying—to discipline your wife. As much as it is a vexation, it is also very enjoyable."

Drayce flushed with embarrassment, and Zorander smiled in response. "Trust me, Drayce, there's no need to be embarrassed. We're all men here, and we enjoy the same things. You all heard my reaction after we rescued Gossamer from Alistair's hands. I swore I wanted to tear her ass up. I blistered her good, but she knows that as much as I love her, I'm not going to tolerate disobedience, and I'm betting you two are the same.

Cloven got up from his seat and raked his hand through his dark hair. His eyes were black as coal, and he gritted his teeth tightly. "I swear nobody gets under my skin as Wish does. I love that woman so much it hurts some days, but she makes me so angry, I could just spit. She knew—I told her time and time again that Orchid could kill her if she was pregnant. Why wouldn't she listen?

"Because she's a strong, independent woman, and you married her for that reason." Zorander pointed his long finger at his burly boys. "I want each of you to listen to me and listen to me well. Those women are fragile, and they love you completely. They trust you not to hurt them, to not go overboard, and that you will not take your anger and frustration out on them. Do not fail them by ruining their trust. You need to be gentle but firm with your discipline. She is carrying your child. You can paddle their asses, and I'm sure you will, tonight. But, if necessary for the duration of her pregnancy, you can start a punishment journal, keeping a tally of all punishments owed to her once the baby is born and she is healed.

"A journal?" Cloven's head tilted a bit in confusion

Zorander nodded. "Yes. Purchase a leather bound book or start a spreadsheet program on your computer. As part of her punishment, you demand that she mark what the continuation of her punishment will be after the baby is born. It gives you the ability to forgo it for now, but holding her accountable and showing consistency.

Drayce said, "That is a very good idea, Father. I like this. Yes, I'm going to start a spreadsheet tonight, and I may actually pick up a leather-bound journal while we're in Diviljak.

Cloven shook his head. "I'm not sure I'm taking the time to stop at any stores. I'll just feel better when Wish is at the house."

"I hear you, brother. I hear you. I feel the same about Satin, and I'm sure Artemis is beside himself with his wife sitting on a dragon in space right now."

For the rest of the trip, Zorander shared stories about Gossamer and her pregnancies. It wasn't long before the captain came on. "We will begin descent in twenty seconds. Everyone, please buckle into your seats. Diviljak is just outside your window."