I watched her read, her legs curled on the settee, pillows propped behind her shoulders. "Do you play chess?"She gave me another treasure I hoarded-her smile. "I play checkers.""Humph. Chess is the game of kings. I do not play a child's game."She innocently gazed around the room not looking at me. "I see no kings here."That was why I enjoyed her so much. She liked teasing me and keeping me on my toes, or talons depending on my form. "I shall teach you and maybe in twenty years, you shall be competition.""Twenty years?" she scoffed."It will take at least that long to train your human brain in the game of warfare.""Only if I may teach you checkers.""Humph, when you beat me, I shall learn your silly game."We moved to the table holding my chess set. The pieces were heavy gold and silver, the board black and white marble. I'd stolen it from a king in a faraway realm. The fool thought he'd captured a dragon. I challenged him to a game for my freedom. He'd agreed, and I won.

The days became weeks and weeks, months. Acasia fit into my world and blossomed from sexually shy to the erotic bride of my dreams. I knew she missed her family, but I didn't let that bother me. She entertained me, made me laugh, and sometimes vexed me. Overall, I was calmer. It was always like this once my bride settled.I'd caught Laryn entering my territory one night. I needed to be more vigilant with my shiniest treasure. I also understood his pain, so I didn't kill him."Why are you here, bastard blue child of Cookie Monster?" Tahr came up with the nickname after a trip to the earth realm. We all laughed after our own inquisitive travels when we discovered the reference. It stuck."I can't do this, Bastian. Not again. I'm lost." The words sounded as if they were retched from his gut.I swooped in beside him and stuck close as he glided through my territory. I had no doubt he'd steal Acasia if given the chance. But he came for company- anything to combat the grief and lonelines

I was away from Bastian and in the presence of another woman. It was difficult not to jump up and down with excitement but I acted reserved so I wouldn't scare Nikka away. Brunya had spoken aloud, and Bastian told me they could so I knew earth humans spoke. Another female named Mandy joined us. She was as excited to meet me as I was to meet her. She explained that she was a wolf and human mix and that Nikka was mountain lion and human. Since I now knew dragons shifted, I had no trouble accepting what she told me. I had so many questions about their realm, and Mandy patiently answered for about three minutes.She finally broke in when I asked about what Bastian called a cell phone. "So tell us about yourself. We've only just learned of your race and we've been dying to meet you. Honey, my mate, thought he could keep me away today. The man is seriously messed up in the head sometimes." She stopped talking and looked at Nikka before turning back to me. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll let you answer

I walked faster and climbed into the back of the car refusing to hand the child to Bastian. Twenty minutes later, we boarded a plane and about two hours later, entered another vehicle. Brunya was again our driver and took us to the realm divide. My eyes had rarely left the child's face. His breathing was shallow with fewer breaths than only an hour before. There was now a blue tinge around his small lips.Brunya opened my door before Bastian walked around. I watched him approach."Could crossing the realms kill him?" These were the first words I'd spoken to Bastian since leaving the baby's home."It's never happened, but I fear a delay. Turn around and hold him tightly." Bastian removed the tubing and handed the cylinder to Brunya. His arms wrapped around mine and like when we entered this realm, his feet walked me forward. I knew what to expect this time, and it wasn't as bad. The child jerked in my arms before its body stiffened. Dread filled me and then we were through. Jonathan'

I felt as if I won a major battle. Finding the sketchbook was heartbreaking and eye opening. Bastian's pain was so incredibly deep, and I would do anything to ease it. He needed to trust that I knew what was best. Stubbornness was the way of men and it didn't matter if they were human or dragon.We ate lunch in the library and I realized something else was wrong. He wouldn't look at me when he finally spoke."I am going away with Laryn. We will be gone a few days and you are staying behind."I calmly rested my fork beside my plate. "Where are you going?""We are raiding a neighboring realm."Fear made my voice tight. "And I have no say in this?""It is the way of dragons. A bride's place when her dragon goes hunting treasure is at the hearth. You will do as told."One step forward and one-hundred steps back when dealing with a pigheaded idiot. "When do you leave?""In an hour."I wanted to hit him, and I could tell by his refusal to look at me that he postured for the sake of