Ariel walked Jett, hand-in-hand, to the periphery of the Blue Hurricane camp.

“I almost can’t believe you’re leaving,” Ariel said. “I’m going to watch you march away into these woods, and my mind won’t be able to comprehend that you’re gone. I won’t cry until tonight, or tomorrow.”

“It’s better that way,” Jett said, squeezing her hand tightly. “I couldn’t bear to watch you cry.”

They reached the perimeter and halted to face one another. The pride watched some distance away from within the camp.

“This time, the goodbye is going to be so much harder,” Ariel said. She lowered her voice. She was familiar with the range of lion hearing by now, and knew there were a few who would hear even at that distance if she spoke at full volume. “Cliff seems confident in my ability to control my animal, but I know I’ll regress. Maybe I’ll do it on purpose, so he calls you back. Make it seem like I can’t control it.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Jett said, also lowering his voice. “He’ll know you’re faking it.” Jett’s fiery eyes momentarily flashed with anger. “He’s threatened to put you down if you continue to lose control. So be on your best behavior.”

She pressed her lips together, and suppressed a slight quiver she felt in her chin. “All right.” My dragon. My lovely dragon. I can’t bear to let you go.

“Chin up.” Jett placed his thumb and forefinger underneath her chin, and tilted her head back. “I’ve made up my mind.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, not daring to feel a shred of hope, lest she be utterly disappointed.

“I’m abdicating my throne,” Jett said. “I’ll tell my brother and sister I’ve lain with you. I’ll tell everyone. And then I’ll be banished.”

Those words tore at something inside of Ariel, and she felt aghast.

“No!” Ariel said. “Don’t do this. You can’t give up your people on my account.”

“It’s what I want,” Jett said. “I realize I can’t live without you. I’d give up everything for you. I’ve ruled Midnight City long enough. It’s time for another to take my place. I’m sure my brother will be glad to be king. And if he refuses the burden, Gwendoline will readily assume the throne, I’m sure.”

“You can’t…” Ariel said. “It’s too much of a sacrifice.”

“I can and I will,” Jett said. “Haven’t you realized by now? I’d give up my kingdom, and my very dragon, if it meant staying with you. And that’s what I’ll be doing, in essence.” He fingered the collar at his neck.

Ariel’s lower lip quivered and she hugged him tightly. “You mean more to me than the world. I know I’d be lost without you. But I can’t do this to you. I can’t. It’s not right. I’d rather go with you to your kingdom, and force myself to live among your people, than make you live here.”

He pulled back to look into her eyes. “No, Ariel. I thought about what you told me earlier. And I’ve realized you’re right. My people won’t accept you, not really. Sure, they’ll put on a fine act of it, but inside they’ll be full of resentment and contempt. It will undermine my rule. Make me appear weak in their eyes. They’ll talk behind my back. I’ll be the dragon with the human mate. The dragon king who flaunts the very law he helped enact and enforce. I’m better off simply abdicating and accepting banishment.”

“Why does life have to be this way?” Ariel asked. “Always giving us the tough choices. Having to pick between the places we live in, or the lovers we want?”

“It’s not a tough choice,” Jett said. “Not at all. Choosing between having you in my life or out of it? It’s an easy choice. I’ll take you every time.”

“You’re too good to me,” Ariel said.

“And you’re good to me,” Jett said. “As well as good for me. More than you know. You make me feel alive. Free. Now listen: I’ll be back in four days. If the lion pride doesn’t accept me, then we’ll leave them and find somewhere else to live. Now that your animal is under control, we can stay in the city if we want to. Or maybe we’ll start a camp of our own somewhere, and it’ll be just the two of us.”

“Oooh, I like the sound of that,” Ariel said. “Just me and my dragon, getting all smelly and fending for ourselves, alone together in the woods.”

“You like it when I’m smelly.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and stared into her eyes.

“Oh, I do,” she said, planting her own hands on his hips.

They swayed from side to side, holding each other like that, staring into each other’s eyes. The camp, and the pride members that had come to see them off, faded away, and only she and Jett existed in that instant.

Jett leaned forward and planted his lips against hers. The kiss was slow, deliberate, as if he wanted to prolong the moment for as long as possible. She returned the kiss with equal slowness, but hers had an edge of desperation. She couldn’t help but feel that it was the last time she would see him. She wanted to believe his sweet words. She really did. But he was a king. Once he was back in his kingdom he’d probably fall into his royal routine and forget all about her. She’d been living in a fantasy world all this time, imagining that she could have a dragon king all to herself. This beautiful man, who was gorgeous both inside and out, would probably be walking out of her life forever in only a few seconds.

She increased her tempo, kissing him fervently now, more passionately, and Jett returned her touch with equal heat. He, too, must have realized this could very well be their last kiss, hard as the thought was to bear.

Ariel heard someone’s throat clear a ways behind her, reminding her that the pride was watching.

But she didn’t care. And neither did Jett, apparently. They continued their prolonged kiss.

The throat cleared again.

Finally, the two broke apart.

“If you don’t return, at least I’ll have something to remember you by,” she said, trying to make her voice sound playful as she echoed the words he’d used after their last parting kiss.

“I will return,” he said. Then he stepped forward suddenly and gripped her roughly by the shoulders. His voice hardened: “I will return. I have a few loose ends to tie up in my kingdom, and then I’ll be back.”

She nodded. “I believe you.” Do I?

“I have to let you go now,” Jett said. “If I kiss you again, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself. These lions are getting antsy. Do you smell it? If I delay any longer, who knows, maybe they’ll transform and try to forcefully drive me off.”

She glanced over her shoulders at the pride members who had gathered to watch them go.

“I don’t think they would do that,” she said. “But if they did, I’d fight by your side. No one harms my dragon.”

He laughed, a boisterous, booming sound that seemed sourced from the very essence of his being, springing up from the depths of what made him who he was.

She frowned. “Why are you laughing? You think it’s funny I would protect you? You think I couldn’t do it? You’d be wrong.”

“I know you could,” Jett said. “It’s just, well, you bring me such joy. Everything about you. I was laughing because you assumed these lions would cause me harm. That’s essentially impossible.”

“Oh really?” Ariel said. “You’re collared. Don’t forget that. Your powers are limited.”

He nodded. “You’re right. It’s possible one of them would get lucky. Still, I have half a mind to hold my ground here and let them come. I’d fight for you, Ariel. If these lions didn’t mean so much to you, I’d probably do just that.” He sighed. “You know what we’re doing, don’t you?”

“Delaying the inevitable,” Ariel said.

Jett kissed her one last time, fervently.

Ariel arched her back, standing on her tiptoes. She started lifting her hands to wrap around his head, not wanting him to go, but he abruptly ripped away. It felt like her heart was being torn from her chest.

She reached out and grabbed his hand, wishing she could hold onto him forever. He stepped back, but her grip lingered on his, forming a lifeline that stretched precariously as he continued to retreat.

“I want you to promise me you’ll be careful when you go out into the woods,” Jett said. “Watch your back. And make sure you’re always escorted.”

She nodded. “Okay, I promise.” She knew the pride was still worried there might be Orions somewhere out there. “I’ll be careful.”

“You have my sat-phone number,” Jett said. “Or at least, Cliff does. If anything goes wrong…”

“I know, call you,” Ariel said.

Her hand finally dropped from his, severing the lifeline; her arm flopped lifelessly to her side.

She watched him back away. There was sadness in his eyes, yet also hope. Finally he turned around and continued on his way. At first his steps seemed staggered, as if he was forcing himself to take each one, but then he steadied, walking with the graceful, kingly ease she had come to know so well.

She was unable to control the low caterwaul in her throat as he continued his retreat. She had lied to him earlier about her mind not comprehending his departure. She comprehended it very well. And before he was gone, she started weeping softly.

Jett paused in the woods. Ariel felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe he would come back for her and battle the lions after all. While the pride had become like family to her, Jett was more than family. Much more. She was ready to fight at his side.

But he didn’t come back. Instead he quickened his pace and in moments was gone.