You want me to do what?” Vox asked, gaping at Asim on the view screen with a confused frown.

“I need you to dispose of something for me,” Asim quietly explained.

“You’ve done it, haven’t you? You’ve finally killed Riley’s grandmother? I don’t blame you, but I’m not touching her dead body. The woman would probably come back to life just to haunt me,” Vox warned.

Asim heard Riley’s voice calling out to Vox in the background. He needed to keep this as quiet as possible. It wasn’t easy when he practically had Vox howling with delight at the thought of Pearl meeting a grievous end.

“Vox, Roam wants you to help with the egg coloring. I need to feed Sacha and change Pearl,” Riley called in the background.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Vox replied before he leaned closer to the vidcom. “I have to say, I expected you to kill Pearl a lot sooner. You two have been mated for what – almost three years now? I was ready to do the job myself on the first day I met her,” he said in a hushed tone so Riley couldn’t hear him.

“No, I have not killed my mate. I love her. This has nothing to do with killing anyone or hiding dead bodies,” Asim growled in frustration.

Vox’s expression drooped a little before he looked hopeful again. “Please tell me that you at least ate the damn chicken, then! That crazy feathered beast loves to get in the house and lay eggs when Tina and Viper visit. Roam’s been hiding them under my pillow for me. I didn’t find the last one until it was too late,” he said.

“I have not killed Pearl or eaten Ruby! They are both still alive and healthy. In fact, Pearl should be there any minute. I just want you to take something out and leave it in the woods,” Asim snapped before he remembered to lower his voice. “Jabir brought back some eggs from Earth. I want you to take them away and leave them in the forest. I’m hoping that they don’t hatch; but if they do, I’m hoping a predator will get them before they grow too large.”

“Eggs? Just boil them and eat them,” Vox replied with a disappointed expression.

“I can’t! I told you, they are Jabir’s eggs,” Asim growled.

Vox shrugged. “We eat Ruby’s eggs all the time, so what is the big deal?” he asked.

“This is the big deal!” Asim growled and held up Jabir’s picture book of dinosaurs. “If they hatch, all the dragonlings will want one. Do you want this running around your house?” he demanded.

Vox leaned forward and whistled under his breath. “I know Amber and Jade would love one, but I have enough teeth and poop in my house between Roam and the twins, I don’t need any more at the moment,” he said, shaking his head. “Are you sure they are these creatures?”

“I am pretty sure they are. Each of the eggs are big, green, and heavy just like the ones in this picture,” Asim replied, cupping his hands to demonstrate. “I can’t take the chance that they will hatch and eat Jabir or harm my mate.”

“I can understand that, but why don’t you get rid of them? Why do you want me to do it?” Vox asked with a frown.

“Daddy! I’s coloring the eggs on my own!” Roam yelled.

“That’s nice. I’ll be right there. Make sure you save a few for me,” Vox called over his shoulder.

“Lady Ariel made me promise years ago that I would not harm any creature that was brought to the retreat. I can’t break my word. I also can’t ask Mandra because Ariel and Jabir would be upset. If I upset them, then Pearl will get mad. I don’t want to make my mate unhappy with me,” Asim explained.

“I’m always making Pearl mad. It isn’t all that bad,” Vox grinned. “Pearl says I have a natural talent for irritating people.”

Asim bit back the groan threatening to escape. Pearl was right – Vox did have a natural talent for irritating others. He had three days to set his plan in action. He just hoped none of the eggs hatched before he, Mandra, and Ariel arrived at the palace.

“Pearl and I will babysit the younglings for you and Riley for a week if you’ll do this,” Asim finally broke down, resorting to bribery.

“A whole week? All three of them?” Vox asked, a grin slowly growing on his face at the thought of having his mate alone for a week. “What do you want me to do?”

Present Day:

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“Hiding eggs? What does this have to do with the wooden creature and your mate fighting with you in battle?” Brogan asked in disgust, interrupting Asim.

“Perhaps the creatures hatched and attacked the Sarafin king and ate him. The Sarafin waged war and the creatures ate them as well,” Barrack suggested.

Brogan nodded. “Possible… but what about Pearl? Where does she fit into the battle?” he asked.

“The creatures did not eat Vox. They did hatch though,” Asim interjected with an exasperated sigh.

“You aren’t going to go into more dirty dragon sex, are you? I have to tell you that the image of you and Pearl having hot sex together is not one I am enjoying,” Barrack admitted.

“I second that,” Brogan murmured.

They started to snicker but bit it back when Asim stood up and glared at them. They glanced at each other, trying to hide their amused expressions. Asim shook his head in warning.

“I’m ready to Taser your asses myself,” Asim growled.

Barrack raised his hands in surrender. “We apologize, old warrior. Continue on with your grand tale of…”

“Dirty dragon sex,” Brogan interjected under his breath.

“Of the great battle your mate won,” Barrack continued, trying not to laugh.

Asim groaned and ran his hands down his face. He never should have shared that. Pearl would kill him and the Twin Dragons if she knew.

“She did more than win the battle, she saved my life,” Asim grudgingly continued. “I will skip the details of what happened while trying to hide the eggs and continue with what happened after they hatched… and the trouble they brought with them.”