Ariel glanced uncertainly at the ceiling.

“Dan?” she tried.

“How can I be of service?” a friendly, disembodied male voice responded.

Ariel spotted the small circular speaker. It was flat, and blended neatly with the ceiling. She only noticed it because of the lattice of tiny holes in the center.

“Can you increase the light levels?” she asked.

“There is a dimmer switch on the wall,” Dan replied cordially.

“Oh.” She touched the dimmer switch and increased the brightness of the hanging light fixtures.

She confirmed that the towels were in easy reach of the shower and then entered the enclosure. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner were laid out for her use.

“Dan, are there any cameras in this room recording me?” Ariel asked.

“No,” the computer system replied.

“You’re not programmed to lie, are you?”

“I have never told a lie,” Dan said.

Satisfied, she shrugged out of the shirt.

The shower had one of those spa-style, wide-spray heads, and she relaxed under the soothing drizzle.

When she finished, she toweled off and wrapped the fabric tightly around her body. She opened the door tentatively, and after confirming the coast was clear, she scooted across to the bedroom and locked the door behind her.

She picked out some undergarments and then tried on several jeans and blouses until she found something that fit her just right.

“Dan, I don’t suppose there’s any makeup lying around that suits my skin color?” she asked.

“Try the vanity mirror in the bathroom,” the computer system replied.

She returned to the bathroom and retrieved the makeup kit behind the vanity mirror. She was able to blend a few of the shades to match her skin color, and applied a light touch of foundation, then some bronzer. She finished the look by applying lipstick.

This is silly. Why am I making myself up?

Finally she climbed down the spiral staircase and with Dan’s guidance found Jett seated in the kitchen around a large table capable of seating twelve. The beautiful man had covered himself with another black and gold dress shirt. Too bad. She missed looking at that sculpted chest. The shirt seemed almost identical to the previous one he wore, except the sleeves were rolled down to conceal the tribal dragon tattoos on his forearms.

Jett met her gaze with fervent eyes, and the rest of the room immediately lost focus. There was only him, her, and nothing else. She froze, captivated. Was he using that strange compulsive power on her again? She didn’t think so… she didn’t feel like a vise was pressing down on her on all sides, threatening to choke her, as she had when he’d ordered her to follow him.

Those eyes continued to bore into her, and the fervent look vanished, replaced by tenderness. A sweetness he reserved only for her. Or at least that was the impression she had in that moment.

And then, just like that, his eyes became steely hard and he looked away. The rest of the room came back into focus.

She realized a previously unnoticed woman also sat at the big table, a few seats to his left. Ariel hadn’t noticed her before. The woman was dressed in a black cocktail dress, with green kohl highlighting her emerald eyes, and dark hair flowing down to her bare shoulders. She was extremely beautiful. Perhaps the most beautiful woman Ariel had ever seen.

Ariel felt a spike of jealousy.

“Sit,” Jett commanded. He beckoned toward the chair at his side.

Ariel approached. She noticed the white table cloth for the first time, its edges lined with intricate gold trim. The chairs themselves were made of ornately carved cherrywood, with silver and gold inlays at strategic locations on the headrests. Tasseled red cushions covered the seating areas.

She sat down on the cushion of the indicated chair, almost afraid to get it dirty. An insane notion, considering that she had just showered and changed into fresh clothes.

The beautiful woman sat directly across from Ariel, paying her no heed whatsoever.

“Ariel, this is my sister Gwendoline,” Jett said.

The jealousy that had taken root inside Ariel abated at those words. Sister.

However the woman barely spared Ariel a glance. “So this is your new slave?” Gwendoline asked Jett.

Yup. The jealousy was long gone. All Ariel felt now was indignation.

“She is my guest, not a slave,” Jett said.

“Really?” the woman said. “Isn’t that against our laws? You know better than to flout the rules. You must be an example for us all.”

“She was being hunted by the Blue Hurricane and Starry Oak prides,” Jett said. “She entered our territory only to escape them.”

“So she is a fugitive?” Gwendoline said. “Since when do the rules apply differently to them?”

“She knows nothing of our people,” Jett said. “Nor of the rules. I believe she was newly turned. Against her will.”

Gwendoline raised an eyebrow and seemed to regard Ariel in a new light. “Well, that’s unfortunate if true. But I can understand your interest in her, then. You were always one to shelter the broken. Taking in the strays, and the slaves that no one else wanted. I’ve always said you have a strong nurturing instinct, which is quite unusual for a man, though maybe not surprising given your position.” She turned her full attention on Ariel. “Is it true, Lion? The prides turned you against your will?”

“Call her Ariel,” Jett said.

Gwendoline frowned. “Is this true, Ariel?” She nearly spat the name.

“If by turned, you’re talking about how I have a mean-ass lioness waiting to claw out of my skin and mess shit up?” Ariel said. “Then yes, it was against my will. I was bitten.”

Ariel glanced at Jett and realized his eyes were blazing a fiery golden, as if he struggled to contain a sudden rage.

Even Gwendoline seemed taken aback. “Are you certain the lions did this to you? It is forbidden.”

“Of course I’m certain,” Ariel said. “How couldn’t I be certain? When you’re bitten by a lion, you kind of notice it.”

“Tell us how these events came to pass,” Gwendoline said.

Ariel leaned back, folded her arms over her breasts. She suppressed a shiver. “No, I can’t.”

“If I’m to help you, I have to know what happened,” Jett said.

“I guess so,” she said. “But… you won’t look at me the same way when you find out what happened. You’ll see me for the monster I am.”

“Trust me, nothing can be further from the truth,” Jett said.

She swallowed hard and attempted to send her mind back to that fateful day. A terrible cold swept over her, and she found herself trembling as she thought of the man who’d done this. She remembered everything up to the moment when he had bitten her, but had no recollection of the events that took place immediately afterward. Her memory resumed a few minutes later, when she recalled fleeing the site in animal form with blood dripping from her mouth.

“I—“ she began. “I was—“ She dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I just can’t. If you want to arrest me for violating your laws, then I guess it’s your prerogative to do that. But believe me when I tell you, what happened to me was against my will. I swear it.”

“And how long ago did the bite take place?” Gwendoline asked.

“It’s been five days,” Ariel said. “I think. Maybe seven.”

Gwendoline glanced at Jett. “Whoever did this to her must die. We’ll have to send a delegation to the prides, collect the perpetrators.”

Jett nodded. “Have you listened to the recording Dan made at the trailhead? When she was forced onto the mountain trail by the lions? I recognized Cliff Dawson, Alpha of the Blue Hurricane.”

“What was he doing in Starry Oak territory?” Gwendoline asked.

“Obviously, he hunted her all the way from his own domain,” Jett said. “He was trying to talk Ariel down. It almost seemed like he wanted to help her. Then again, who can tell with a lion?”

Gwendoline eyed Ariel askance. “I’ve listened to the recording. Judging from the behavior of the Alpha, my guess is the pride didn’t approve of the bite, and only one or two members were involved. Of course, until Ariel corroborates, we won’t know for sure.”

“There was only one man,” Ariel said. “I can point him out to you. His name was Logan. Logan Kane.”

“Dan, what do we have on him?” Gwendoline asked.

“Logan Kane is the son of Zachary Kane, Alpha of Bounding pride, based out of Colorado,” the computer system confirmed.

“Colorado?” Gwendoline said. “That’s a ways away. I suppose he was involved in an exchange of some kind. I’m not sure Blue Hurricane will be willing to give him up without a fight, since he’s the son of an Alpha.”

“Either way, we’re going to have to organize a trip into their territory,” Jett said. “To dispense the necessary punishment. With or without their cooperation.”

Gwendoline shriveled her nose. “Have you contacted the lions yet?”

“I’ve tried,” Jett said. “Dan tells me Blue Hurricane hasn’t been answering our calls and emails. Nor has Starry Oak.”

“Have you checked the surveillance feeds?” Gwendoline said.

“We don’t have cameras in their camps,” Jett said. “You know that.”

Gwendoline snorted. It seemed somehow uncomely on that extremely beautiful face. “I meant, have you checked the nearest feeds, watched for signs of coming ands goings from the pride camps?”

“We have,” Jett said. “Dan hasn’t picked up anything. Either the lions haven’t returned home, or they’ve been very careful to avoid our cameras. They’ve learned how to spot our surveillance over the years”

“Which is why I always argued we should be moving the cameras every few months,” Gwendoline said. “Or resorting to old fashioned patrols.” She paused, folding her arms beneath her breasts as if to fend off a sudden chill. “Their radio silence is troubling.”

“Yes,” Jett said.

“I doubt the vassals are ignoring us on purpose,” Gwendoline continued. “The lions know we’re going to send agents to investigate why they aren’t answering, and to punish whoever did this, if they haven’t already.”

“The lions know this, yes,” Jett said. “Though it will probably come as a surprise when they realize the dragon king himself is taking care of the matter.”

Gwendoline arched an eyebrow in disbelief. “You?”

He nodded. “I plan to visit the lions and find out why they aren’t answering, and then deal with this Logan Kane myself.”

“That is highly unusual,” Gwendoline said. “You’ll do a task ordinarily reserved for underlings? Become a common executioner?”

“She is my charge,” Jett said. “I will see her through to safety. My brother will sit in my absence.”

Gwendoline remained silent for several seconds, apparently stunned. Then she shook her head. “Why you? Why not anyone else? One of your advisers? Or a member of the White Sword?”

“The truth?” Jett said. “I haven’t been on an adventure in ages. It will be good to see the outside world again, even if that world is restricted to the territory immediately beyond the border of our city. It’s been years since I’ve seen the forest through anything other than a video feed...”

“An adventure,” Gwendoline nearly spat the words. “I wouldn’t call it that. More like a distraction.”

“Maybe I want a distraction,” Jett said. “Need one.”

Gwendoline eyed Ariel with appraising contempt. “What if it’s a trap? Some grand design dreamed up by the Orions or vampires to lure you from the safety of our great city? Or perhaps the witches themselves?”

Jett shook his head animatedly. “They couldn’t have known I’d be the one to find her at our borders.”

“Have you considered that it wasn’t exactly you they were hoping to catch?” Gwendoline pressed. “But any dragon? You showing up would simply be the icing on the cake, to borrow a quote from the modern age.”

That’s hardly modern, Ariel thought.

Gwendoline nodded at Ariel. “She’s probably in on it, you know.”

“I’m not in on anything,” Ariel said.

Gwendoline’s face contorted in rage and she raised an arm as if to backhand Ariel, even though there was no way she’d be able to reach her from across the table.

Jett raised a halting palm. “I somehow doubt her involvement. Ariel is the innocent in all of this. The victim. “

“Have you delved her mind with compulsion?” Gwendoline asked.

“A delving would destroy her,” Jett replied. “But there is no need. I believe her. And as for a trap, our security cameras would’ve detected any Orion or vampire intruders along our borders.”

“Would they?” Gwendoline said. “Would they really? You’ve grown confident in this modern technology of yours. Maybe a little too confident. Wired up our whole city to your Dan. And yet, a really good witch can easily get past a simple camera.”

“I’ve already made up my mind,” Jett said. “I’m going.”

Gwendoline opened her mouth as if to continue protesting but then clamped down, biting her lower lip. Finally she said: “You can’t go alone of course.” When Jett didn’t answer, she cocked an eyebrow in astonishment. “You’re going alone?”

“Not alone,” he said. “I’m bringing her.” He nodded toward Ariel.

“It’s too dangerous!” Gwendoline said. “Not to mention it violates every protocol in the book. Listen to me, brother. At least take a few of the White Sword with you. And maybe the witch.”

“No,” Jett said. “Alone is the best way. A larger group will attract attention. But myself and the girl? We’ll pass completely under the radar, especially if any hunters are out there, as you say. We can move faster, and with greater stealth, than a group. Besides, I’m slightly insulted you think it’s dangerous. You really believe someone of my power is in any peril out there?”

“You forget that you will be collared,” Gwendoline said.

“Even collared, I somehow doubt any hunter or lion will be able to best me,” Jett said.

Gwendoline took a deep breath and then exhaled in a loud sigh. “You’re not invincible, brother. No one is.”

Jett softened his voice. “I know this is your way of showing your love for me. I’ll be careful. I promise. But this is something I’ve thought about, and I want to do it. I need to. I’m a king. I need to see my vassals.”

Gwendoline smiled sadly. “It sounds more like some flight of fancy to me. And you do know your father won’t approve of you spending time alone with this… beast.” She glanced at Ariel and scowled.

“Yes, but it’s doubtful he’ll ever hear of it,” Jett said, giving Gwendoline a pointed look.

“Oh he will,” Gwendoline said. “Not from me, of course. But news spreads. Also, have you forgotten our First Rule?”

“You know very well that nothing will happen between myself and the girl,” Jett said.

Gwendoline pursed her lips as if not truly believing it. “Perhaps. But tell that to your father.”

“I’ll accept whatever punishment he inflicts on me,” Jett said.

Gwendoline shrugged. “You might not be too pleased if that punishment involves the girl.”

“It won’t,” Jett said. “My father might have some jurisdiction over me personally, as dictated by the binds of family, but not Midnight, nor the entirety of North America for that matter.”

Gwendoline bowed deferentially, spreading her arms.

“I will leave first thing in the morning,” Jett said. “Dan, inform my brother that he is to take my place here, starting tomorrow. And instruct the members of the White Sword to prepare for his arrival.”

“Gabriel is currently soaring above The Hooded Dale,” the pleasant male voice of the computer system replied from a hidden speaker in the ceiling. “I will inform him as soon as he returns from his flight.”

“Thank you,” Jett said. He glanced at Gwendoline and said with a formality that struck Ariel as a little cold, given that Gwendoline was his sister: “I have affairs to attend to, so unless there is anything else...?”

Gwendoline stood up and curtsied. “Thank you for seeing me.”

The sister left and a moment later Ariel heard the front door open and close.

The atmosphere within the house seemed to relax somewhat, and Ariel exhaled in relief.

But then she glanced at Jett’s eyes. Now that they were alone, the way he was looking at her caused her to feel butterflies in her stomach. There was definitely want there in those eyes. Want and need. A gold ring around his irises seemed to flare with sudden desire.

The tension ratcheted right back up.