Ember was exhausted, yet she was too excited by everything that she had learned to even try sleeping. Brendyn had assured her that she would have no trouble falling asleep and insisted that she give it a try. Remembering that she had left the backpacks in the walled garden, she had run outside to grab them.

That was when she had seen the dragon. She froze just outside the door and stared at the creature in shock. There was a big difference hearing about them and seeing one in person. The thing was huge and looked like a monster looming in the darkness. The same kind of monster that she was going to become.

It was the scariest thing she'd ever seen, but when she saw it raise its hand to grab her mother, she'd totally freaked. Fury and fear had merged, which was a very bad thing, or so the mage had told her. Very strong emotions could force a change, and that was why she needed to learn to control them.

Control was the furthest thought from her mind as she rushed toward the dragon with fire flashing in her eyes. Claws sprang from her fingertips as she snarled a warning. Instead of heeding it, the dragon grabbed her mother, wrapped his wings around her and turned his back on Ember.

Incensed and consumed by the need to protect her mom, a guttural, animalistic roar burst from her chest as she blasted her father with dragon fire again. "Princess, no!" Brendyn commanded sternly from behind her as his hands curled around her shoulders. "Stop before you hurt her."

The mage's words penetrated the haze of fury clouding her brain, and she gasped in shock at what she'd done. If her father hadn't grabbed her mother, she could have killed her. "Mom," she whimpered brokenly as she was turned, her trembling body wrapped in a warm, comforting embrace.

Mired in a miasma of guilt, the girl clung to the mage and cried as if her heart were breaking. She barely noticed the hand tenderly stroking her hair or the soothing words he whispered to reassure her. What she did hear was her mother arguing with the dragon who snorted and growled his responses.

Turning her head, tear-filled eyes saw her mom standing on the balcony and giving her father hell because he wouldn't let her come down to her. "It's not safe for you to be near me, Mom," she said brokenly.

Her mom leaned over the balcony; concern etched all over her face as she demanded, "Are you all right, baby?"

"I am now," she admitted as she turned around and looked up at her father. Oh, boy. She'd thought he'd looked scary before, but man had she been wrong. The look he was giving her was so full of fury that she instinctively backed up until she was pressed tightly against Brendyn for protection.

The mage stepped in front of her and said in a placating tone, "Nay, my liege. I know that look well, and you must not do what you're thinking."

"What look?" Her mom demanded as she stood upright to glare at her father. As if she too understood it, she protested, "Dammit, Dragan, it was an accident. You are not going to punish her for it."

Peeking around the man physically protecting her with his body, she saw her father snort smoke and fire in response, his fierce expression never changing as he stalked toward her. "D… Dad?" Ember asked warily. A flash of something that looked very much like tenderness shown in the dragon's eyes before it was ruthlessly squashed.

Oh, crap. She'd had it now. Her heart hammering wildly with fear, she took off running in a mad dash for the entrance to the great hall. The dragon couldn't get to her inside the castle, and Brendyn had shown her some pretty cool places where she could hide until her father wasn't as angry with her.

"Ember."

She skidded to a stop in the center of the room because her mom was standing at the top of the stairs. It was too dangerous to be near her, so she turned toward the hallway that led to the kitchen. An ominous creaking sound had her looking back over her shoulder to the arched wall of stained glass overlooking the courtyard.

Much to her shock, it wasn't a wall at all. It was a pair of massive doors big enough to allow a dragon to enter the three-story great room. Because that was exactly what her furious father was doing. While she stared at him in astonishment, her mom rushed down the stairs and wrapped her arms around her from behind.

"You're scaring her, Dragan," she admonished. "Stop it. I don't want Ember to fear you."

That brought her father up short. He folded his arms over his chest and tapped one very large clawed foot impatiently as he glared at them both in frustration. It was such a human pose and so familiar from the many times she'd seen her friend's dads do the same thing that it brought a smile to her face.

"You look like a dad n… ow!" She gasped and bent over double in pain.

"Ember! Baby, what's wrong?" Her mom asked anxiously as she knelt down beside her.

"It hurts, Mom," she choked out before she sank to her knees clutching her ribs. It felt like they were shattering into a million pieces. "It hurts so bad."

"Dragan, do something!" Her mom insisted urgently as she rubbed soothing circles on her back.

When Brendyn appeared on her other side, she stared into his fathomless black eyes and panted, "What's happening?"

"Nothing to be alarmed about, my princess," he said soothingly and offered her a reassuring smile. "Your dragon is trying to emerge so just relax and let her loose."

"No," she growled and shook her head. "Can't… hurt… Mom," Ember bit out from between clenched teeth as the pain spreading through her limbs felt like it was ripping her in half.

The mage looked over her head to her mother. "My lady…"

"No," her mom refused. "I can't leave her like this. She's in pain."

"There is nothing that you can do for her," he pointed out reasonably. "As long as she fears for your safety, Princess Ember will fight the change. The longer she fights, the more painful it will become. Please, my lady."

 

***

 

Dragan knew what needed to be done. It was what his father had done to him, but he also knew his mate would have a fit if he did it. Torn between upsetting her and helping his daughter, the pleading look the child gave him settled the issue. He growled in frustration before moving across the hall to gently lift her into his arms.

Turning carefully, so his tail didn't destroy the furnishings, he carried Ember outside and flew straight up into the air. The girl shrieked, whether in fright or pain he didn't know, and clung tightly to his arm. He wished he could communicate with her so she'd have some warning, but until the shift occurred, it wasn't possible.

Once he had reached an acceptable height, he leveled off and flew toward Turquoise Lake. Better to be safe than sorry because he knew from experience that water provided a softer landing than the ground. Depending on the height of the fall, that is. From this height, either one would prove fatal.

When he reached the lake, he released his hold on the girl and watched her plummet like a stone, her scream echoing in the valley below them. Following closely in a slow dive, he saw the change occur, watched with paternal pride as the dragon emerged, and her wings unfurled, catching the wind beneath them.

It was a glorious sight to behold.

Then she caught a downdraft that sent her tumbling end over end, her wings flopping helplessly in the strong wind. Dragan swooped down, caught the smaller dragon in his hands and flew them back up to a higher altitude. 'Can you hear me, little one?' He asked hopefully.

Her head snapped up, reptilian eyes wide with emotion as she nodded confirmation. 'I can hear you,' she confessed tremulously, and he could feel her excitement.

'You did wonderfully until the downdraft caught you,' he praised. 'Try to stay above the top of the mountains this time.'

'This time?' She yelped before he released her again. Her scream of terror turned into a squeal of joy as she caught the wind and flapped her wings experimentally. 'I'm flying! Ohmygosh. I'm really flying!'

He laughed right along with her, staying close in case she got into trouble again. 'That you are, little one.'

'Can I show mom?' Ember asked hopefully as he flew up beside her.

"Absolutely,' he agreed and led the way back to the castle with his daughter right by his side. They did a slow fly by and saw his mate and mage watching them from the courtyard. Brendyn was clapping his hands and shouting encouragement. His Ainsley was jumping up and down in excitement, cheering their daughter on.

Ember turned her head toward him, a huge smile revealing the rows of sharp teeth. Eyes so like his own sparkling with excitement, she said, 'Coolest dad ever.'

The compliment bathed him with happiness, so he laughed and teased, 'You say that now, but be warned, little one. Learning to land isn't all fun and games.'

'Ohmygosh. How do I land this thing?' Ember asked nervously.

'There is a reason why the south terrace is as large as a football field,' he admitted. 'It helps to have plenty of space when you come in like a bowling ball.'

'Dad!' She wailed anxiously.

'You'll do fine,' he said confidently, but if she didn't, he'd be there to catch her. 'Just remember to reduce your speed, bend your knees for impact, and tilt your wings slightly back to keep from pitching forward.'

'Umm, what?'

Dragan chuckled and replied, 'Just watch me and do what I do.'

'Okay,' she agreed hesitantly.

He went in for a landing slow and low, dropping lightly to the ground with practiced ease and running a few steps because she would need to. His daughter had flown overhead watching, and she circled the terrace to fly in solo. Completely focused on her every move, he guided Ember in with gentle words of encouragement.

She did just fine right up until her feet hit the ground and she stumbled, rolling head over tail halfway across the terrace before she slammed into his legs. His daughter lay in a bedraggled heap at his feet, a blindingly brilliant smile on her face as she beamed up at him with pride. 'I did it, Dad!'

An answering grin covered his face when he confirmed, 'That you did and with nary a broken bone.' He lifted the little dragon to her feet and much to his surprise; she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Dragan's eyes misted, and his chest was so full it felt like it was going to explode.

His daughter had stolen his heart as easily as her mother.