Kian started dinner, relieved he’d convinced Everly to stay. She had been very close to running off and leaving him. The thought of it made every muscle in his body tense. He couldn't lose her.

He had never been at a loss for words before. He was the Commander of armies and the leader of the House of Flames. But trying to find a way to explain to his tiny human mate that he was a dragon from another world left him speechless.

He didn’t want to give her a heart attack, which was something he’d heard could happen to humans who had a terrible shock.

He started grilling the hamburgers on the stove. Everly walked through the kitchen with a stroller, headed to the back door. Ember and Everly were both bundled up for the rainy weather.

“I'm going to take Ember for a walk before dinner. I need some fresh air and some time to think.”

He glanced out the window and noticed it had stopped raining. “I just want to get outside while it's dry.”

“That's a good idea,” he said. “Dinner will be done in about thirty minutes.”

“We’ll be back soon,” she said.

He opened the door for her to push the stroller out. He watched her walk off down the trail and disappear in the trees. His sense of protectiveness gripped his chest.

He wanted to follow her and force her to come back inside. But he told himself he was being ridiculous. He was just anxious because she had almost left him today.

He closed the door and shook his head. He couldn't start acting like that with a human girl. It would just scare her off even more.

She was taking Ember for a brisk walk in the cool spring air. It would be good for both of them and increase their appetite before dinner. He flipped his hamburgers as the vent sent the steam out of the kitchen.

Cato walked in the room and sat at the table with his computer.

“I don't know how to tell her, Cato,” Kian said. “I'm afraid that it will scare her so much she’ll leave. But if I don't tell her, she’ll leave. I need your advice.”

“Like I told you in the ship, I suggest you take it slowly. Drop small doses of information over time. That will help her get used to the idea. When the full picture is revealed, it won't shock her as badly.”

“I know you’re right. But I want to tell her everything. I want to be honest with her. She is my mate and it doesn't feel right lying to her.”

“It is not a lie,” Cato said. “You're just not telling her everything all at once.”

“A lie of omission is still a lie.”

“It's not exactly a lie of omission,” Cato corrected. “You are protecting her from shocking information.”

Kian sighed and his shoulders slumped. He checked his hamburgers again and put slices of cheese on top, watching them melt.

“I suppose you're right.”

“The girl is your mate. She is clearly attached to you and to Ember. She might be afraid, but her attraction and desire for her mate will keep her connected to you.”

“The last thing I want is to string her along and make her feel as if she is bound to me against her will,” Kian said, scooping the cheesy burgers onto a plate.

He popped the buns out of the toaster and cut slices of lettuce from the drainer in the sink.

“She is the first Dragon Soul to be mated with a dragon here on Earth. It is going to be a difficult transition for both of you. Having anxiety about it will not help you.”

“You’ve always given me good advice, Cato,” Kian said.

“I try.”

“Is dinner done?” Dax said, bounding into the kitchen.

Kian prepared a hamburger for him. Otherwise, he would eat the meat by itself with his hands.

“Yes, dinner is ready,” Kian said, sliding a plate across the marble counter to Dax.

Aiden entered the room and looked around. “Where is Everly?” he asked.

“She took Ember for a walk outside,” Kian said, looking at his watch. He realized she should have been back by now. “I will call her,” Kian said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

He dialed her number and listened to the ring tone. After five rings, he began to grow concerned.

“Maybe she left her phone upstairs?” Dax said, sitting at the table and taking a huge bite of his hamburger.

“Humans carry their phones everywhere,” Aiden said.

“I should go check on her,” Kian said, sliding his finger over the phone and ending the call.

He shoved his phone in his pocket and stormed out the back door, feeling of rush of panic in his chest.

Something had told him he shouldn’t let her walk off alone. He couldn't quite place what it was. But the fear was real.

As his heart began to pound harder, he picked up his pace and ran down the path in the direction he’d seen her go.

He flung open the door of the gazebo and found it empty. When he didn't find them in there, he hurried back outside and ran up to the hillside that led down into the wild prairie beyond. The rolling hillside was drenched with rain, and the sky threatened to open up at any moment.

“Everly,” he yelled. “Everly!”

He looked around, panting, panic growing in his chest. Then, he spotted Ember’s stroller on its side down the hill in the meadow. He ran down there, the tall weeds slapping against his pants, drenching the fabric. He came to a halt, finding the stroller empty. He looked up, terror hitting him as his heart slammed.

“Where is she?” he asked. He smelled the air and the unmistakable scent of vampires lingered all around.

“Oh no,” he said.

The shields at the edge of the property did not extend this far. He should have warned her. What had he been thinking?

The vampires shouldn’t know of their existence. At least, that's what they had believed. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have made such a horrible mistake? Everly was a Dragon Soul and vampires fed on Dragon Souls to increase their power.

He growled at himself, fisting his hands as the dragon burst out from inside him. He bounded into the air, following the scent of Everly and the vampires. He activated the mental link between he and his crew. A garbled yell echoed to all of the other dragons.

“What are you saying?” Cato demanded.

All he could do was send back another animalistic scream.

“Is Everly gone?” Aiden asked.

As Kian followed the fading scent, he tried to calm down enough to tell them what was happening.

“Vampires,” he finally was able to say inside his frantic mind. “Vampires have taken Everly and Ember.” He growled. “We must find the vampires responsible and rip them to shreds.”