I sleep with Mika and wake to the sound of my wrist com beeping. It's very early morning, and I open the message in a holographic window. The message is from Taylon. Attached is a readout of my experiment results. My eyes open wide at the sight.

I lean over and kiss Mika on the cheek. He stirs in his sleep and reaches out to grasp my hand, trying to pull me back into the bed.

“Don't leave,” he groans. “Stay with me.”

“I have to,” I say, kissing him again.

I flick my wrist com, and the nanotech outfit I wore to the lab yesterday appears on my body. I grab food from the kitchen and hurry out the door, trying to forget about last night. I ride my scooter and motor through the airways of Arcadia to the lab. Inside, Taylon is examining the readouts of my experiment on a holographic screen.

“I came as fast as I could,” I tell him.

“This could be it, Joon.”

“I know,” I say at a whisper.

“Your brother Sysko sent word that they have begun the search for possible human brides. Their science team believes that the females with dragon genes will activate their mates’ thrall.”

“And why does he believe that? That information was not included in the Tales of the Ancients.”

“Direct observation. A human female has activated Sysko’s thrall.”

“Sysko found a mate?” I say, pulling rubber gloves onto my hands.

I remove my petri dish from the terminal and take it into an adjoining laboratory to a table.

“The synthesis must be added to a carrier to create an inoculation. Once the inoculation is formulated, it must be tested on live subjects,” I mutter to myself.

“We can possibly test it on Academy students,” Taylon suggests.

“Male subjects are a less than ideal sample…”

“How else are we going to test it?” he asks me.

“I have an idea,” I say. “Tell me about Sysko and his new human mate.” I drip measured droplets of synthesized material into the carrier agent. After the compound is mixed thoroughly, I draw it into a syringe.

“What are you going to do with that?” Taylon asks.

“I'm just getting it ready for drug trials. What does the human female think of having a thralled Draxos male at her attention?” I ask. “Has she accepted my brother yet?”

“She has…reservations. From what I understand.”

“She’s not dying of love for Sysko?” I say, putting the syringe into the pocket of my lab coat.

“Sysko is a great man among the Draxos, but to humans, he is an alien invader.”

“Alien invader?” I mouth and then shake my head. “The Draxos saved that planet from being absorbed into the cyborg collective,” I say dismissively. “The human female should be grateful to my brother, the Admiral. Besides, can she not feel the pull of her thrall?”

“From what I understand, that's part of the problem. She feels very little. For such an emotional, short-lived race, they seem to be far less sensitive to such things than the Draxos.”

“It could just be that they are from completely different worlds,” I say. “I want to speak to my brother, but it sounds like he has his hands full. Could you send him a message telling him that we had success and are moving to the next phase in development of the widespread inoculation?”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to go home. I must attend to my mates.”

I arrive home with the syringe still in my pocket. My mind shifts to Sysko’s mission as I walk through the front door of the palace. It appears as if the research from the library of Remotis was correct. My brother’s human mate evoked his thrall. I am cheered knowing that my brother has found a way to bring additional breeding females into our race.

I don't envy the human girl her transformation. But in these times, we must find our strengths so we can continue to battle the insidious spread of the Archon Empire.

My mates greet me in the sitting room, and I try to relax with a mug of wasp honey mead. My heart pounds in my ears with excitement. I can't wait to share my success with my mates. But before I can say anything, Donte stands and asks for everyone's attention.

“While you were gone, Joon, we discussed what we believe should happen next in the mating ritual. We know that having five mates is a challenge for you. We’ve all fighting our thrall. And the time for patience is clearly coming to an end for all of us.

“Time is of the essence, but we want to help you get used to being with more than one of us at the same time. Since the mating ritual requires that we climax together and bite you all at once, we suggest that you practice first with just two of us. After that, we will commence the claiming ritual. Is that acceptable to you, My Queen?”

“I appreciate that you taking charge of this. I've been so busy I feel like I haven't given you the time you deserve. I want to bring an end to all of our suffering. I’m suffering too. I want you all to know how much I care about each of you. And I think you’re right. I need practice before the final event.”

“We’ve decided Donte and Uri will share you,” Flume says. “Because they are the biggest and it will give you the best impression of what it will be like with all of us,” Flume explains.

“That's reasonable,” I say.

Sitting between all of them makes me realize how much I want them all, together. I love them each so much, each in their own way. Being with all of them would be five times as wonderful as being with one. My heart bursts with anticipation, and I finger the syringe in my pocket.

“So, when do we start?” I ask them, grinning like an idiot.

“After our evening meal, Donte and I will join you in your chambers.”