10 comments/ 20409 views/ 43 favorites Winter Passion Ch. 01 By: lostangelkira *Author's Note* I know it's been a while since I've posted anything. Life had other things in mind for me. But now that things are going very well for me, I've been able to get back to writing. I plan to finish up on Paradise Threatened, and I'm also working on a few other projects that will be gracing this site soon, hopefully. For now, here's the first chapter of a new series, set in the same universe as my first story posted here, 'Red Hot Love'. I hope you enjoy. ******************************** "Niri! Supper time!" she heard her younger sister call from the back door. "Coming, Anna!" Niri shouted back, plucking the last bunch of snowberries. She hefted the heavy basket into her arms and carried it back to the modest one story farmhouse she lived in with her parents, grandfather and three younger siblings. "Thank you, darling," her mother said as she came inside, handing off the basket to her mother to put into the cold pantry. Shutting the door behind her, Niri stomped her feet on the thick mat, dislodging the packed snow before taking them off and setting them aside. "Oh, and Xander is joining us for dinner. Such a charming young man...I'm surprised he hasn't asked to marry you." "Xander's a good friend, nothing more," she told her mother as she helped set the table. "Besides, he's the son of a Lord. Lord of Berias, to be exact. I'm just a simple girl, the daughter of a farmer. He can have any lady he wants, one people will respect. Can we not talk about this now?" "Of course," her mother said. Hearing laughter from the living room, she walked in to see Xander come inside, grabbing up Anna and her little brother, Billy, before sitting on the couch, right beside her papa and grandpapa. She sat beside him, giving him a smile. For being the son of a Lord, he was down to earth and humble. He was quite muscular and had the face of an angel, straw blonde hair falling to his shoulders. Xander had told them that his father had thought it would be good for Xander to come live with his aunt and uncle and help out on their farm. They'd met as kids and had been friends ever since. Though, Niri kind of wanted him to notice her as something other than a friend. She didn't have much to offer in looks; she was fit and healthy, but in spite of the many diets and home concoctions, she couldn't slim down past a size 16. Her butt stuck out like a sore thumb because of her wide hips. Her face was well proportioned, but very plain, her dry, dull brown hair pulled back into a ponytail every day. She was nothing like the girls Xander courted; thin, elegant...beautiful. There wasn't a single guy in the village that was even interested in courting her. Her dad had tried setting her up with sons of family friends, but none of them came back after the first date or declined because they had found fiancés. Sometimes she wished she lived across the ocean in Domacra, where the old traditions weren't so heavily enforced. Because of the constant wars between the southernmost nations of Tetramia, many towns and cities were unable to keep electricity for more than a month or two at a time. And with the dragon flights owning most of the land, they were under their fairly strict rule. So many were killed in battle, arranged marriages were still very commonplace, couples her age starting families to keep their lines alive. There weren't many girls that complained about it, though. The Sapphire dragon flight ruled these lands and their king had a law concerning unwed girls. Any who turned 20 and was neither promised to a man or married, would be summoned to the Great Dragon Shrine overlooking the town. There, a representative of the flight chosen by the king would look over each girl, and those chosen would be taken back to the Flight's keep and presented to the mighty dragon king. Those that were not chosen were considered cursed and banished from the village. So far, it had been nearly two months since her 20th birthday and no summons. "Dinner's on the table," her mother called, pulling her from her thoughts. Xander sat between her and her dad. Whenever he passed a dish to her, his hand would brush hers briefly. She couldn't stop blushing each time it happened, heat flooding her upon contact. "You look great," Xander murmured to her, giving her a brief smile. "Thank you," she replied politely, her face growing redder. Nothing else was said during dinner and not long afterwards, Xander headed home. Barely ten minutes went by after he left when there was a knock at the door. A young courier was on the porch. He handed her a thick envelope and disappeared. Shutting the door, she opened it to find the one thing she was dreading; summons to the Dragon Shrine. She walked into the living room and handed her dad the letter. After looking it over, he stood up and hugged her tight. "I'm sorry, dearest," he whispered to her. "I tried..." "I know you did, dad," she told him. "I better get some sleep." "Your mother and I will pray for you," he said as she pulled away from him to go upstairs. Niri managed to get a couple hours of sleep, but she still felt exhausted. Her mother helped her get ready to be presented to the king's representative. She'd tried to talk her mother out of it, that there was no way she'd be chosen. Her mom ignored her pleas and continued to fuss over her. They finished just before sunrise. Her father took her into the village, ending up in a long train of vehicles heading for the shrine. Two priests led everyone in as they arrived, fathers standing behind their daughters in the gigantic main hall of the temple. Statues of dragons from each flight stood watch over the space, circling them all. There were twenty-five girls including Niri. As they got in line, the king's representative entered, in human form, wearing shimmering blue dragon scale armor, no doubt made from his own shed dragon skin. He and another, smaller male looked over each of them carefully. They whispered to one another for nearly twenty minutes, constantly looking at her. Everyone tensed when the representative cleared his throat. "We've decided to take all of you," he said. "Take time to say goodbye. When you're done, please go through here." He gestured to a door, taking up watch beside it. Niri was first through, having already said goodbye enough. The two males stared at her as she exited out onto a large terrace. It was shielded for the most part from the wind, but it was still quite cold. Ten minutes went by before the rest of the girls came out. When the last one came out onto the terrace, the representatives followed, shutting the door behind them. As everyone turned to face them, they shifted into their dragon forms, the smaller of the two was maybe fifteen, sixteen feet tall when sitting and at least twice as long, the other was double that. The large dragon conjured up a large basket, setting it down in front of him. Everyone filed in, huddling together in the bottom of the container as the dragon picked them up in his forepaws as he slowly rose up into the air, the smaller male following. "What do you think they'll do with us?" a waif of a girl asked nervously, shivering in spite of the heavy cloak around her. "I've heard when the king chooses you, you become a part of his harem. And if you can't take him or you refuse, they serve you for dinner," another replied in a monotone voice, no doubt she was in shock. "I've heard that they tie all the girls naked to slabs and every male in the flight mates with them until they become pregnant, in order to increase their numbers and take over the rest of the continent," another said through her tears. Niri tried to huddle in closer, but the other girls backed away. Many of them glared at her. "I don't get why they chose you," one of the prettiest girls from their village snapped, "You look absolutely atrocious, and clearly you have no self control." "Maybe they thought she'd make a good snack," another girl said, causing everyone to bust out laughing. "Or perhaps our transport has a thing for pigs," the first girl added, renewing the laughter. Niri turned to face into a corner and curled into herself as best she could; both to keep warm and to keep the others from seeing her cry. Hours passed one after another, everyone quiet as they kept each other warm. Niri ended up falling asleep in her corner for a while, waking up with a start when the basket touched down, everyone startled. As they stood and stretched, she noticed night had fallen, the stars amazingly bright. The howling winds and bitter cold hit them hard as they got out of the basket, stepping out onto a cliff close to the top of a very steep, very icy mountain. Both dragons shifted back into their human forms and led them into the large cavern before them. Everyone was smart enough to keep quiet as they were led through the twisting maze of tunnels, moving deeper and deeper into the mountain. At least thirty minutes had went by when their guides came to a stop in front of a pair of gargantuan solid wood doors, carvings of dragons in flight adorning them. The smaller male slipped in through a small door nearby and not long after, the huge doors were pulled open, swinging in. Their other guide started to lead them into the huge hall, scores and scores of dragons lounging along the walls and in alcoves running several feet up. Seated on a pile of cushions against the very far wall, was the largest dragon Niri had ever seen. She'd seen a few of the Sapphire guards before, and none of them held a candle to the flight's King. He could easily hold all twenty-five girls in one paw, and probably still have room left. As they approached the king, the other dragons moved closer, curious about the new arrivals. Niri noticed a few pairs of dragons with young ones running around them or finding a perch somewhere on the adults. "My lord!" the representative announced, bowing low when they reached the foot of his throne. Niri had the presence of mind to mimic him, knowing that she might live if she showed respect. "I have brought more maidens from Solara Village. I hope they are to your satisfaction." "Well, let's have a look at them," the king said, his voice surprisingly soft for such a large creature. Niri remained right where she was while the other girls moved back out of fear, leaving her directly in front of the king. She couldn't help but tremble as he lowered his head to the floor, looking at her from her eye level. "Hmm...you're probably the first maiden sent here that isn't scared of me." "With all due respect, Your Grace," she said, her voice shaking slightly, "I'm utterly terrified." "Yet you show great courage in the face of your fear," he responded. "And great respect for me." He moved a little closer to her. "A friend of yours has told me about you. He was most definitely right about you." *A friend?* she thought to herself. Just as she was about to ask him who he was talking about, she noticed something lodged in between a few of the scales right between his eyes. It looked painful. Her concern taking over, she stepped closer to him, leaning on his snout. "What are you....ungghh!" he grunted as she yanked out a long, thin, very sharp piece of stone out of his face. Tossing it to the floor, she quickly ripped the sleeve of her dress and pressed it against the wound to stop the bleeding. "So that's what was causing those migraines," he murmured, looking over the shard. "I've been miserable and in pain for months. Thank you." "You're welcome," she told him with a smile as two attendants brought bandages. Niri taped a dressing into place, removing a couple of scales that were barely hanging on. He hissed a little, but he stayed still. "You're all set." Out of the habit she developed when she tended to her siblings, she kissed the great blue dragon on the end of his snout. When she realized what she did, she stepped back, muttering her apologies. The king laughed, the bass rumble echoing throughout the cavern. "There's nothing to be sorry for, young one!" he boomed, nudging her towards a seat near his throne. "Have a seat." She did as she was told as he leaned over and examined the other girls, attendants having to hold them in place. He chose five girls to be taken to his chambers, the rest were to be kitchen help or housekeepers, unmated males given permission to court the women, stressing the fact that if they say no, it meant no. Once he'd assigned everyone else, he turned back to her. "Could you please tell everyone your name?" he asked her. Standing back up and her face breaking out into a heavy blush, she cleared her throat. "My name is Niriana," she said loud enough for it to carry through the cavern. "But everyone just calls me Niri." "Niri, I'm assigning you to the hatchery. You will tend to the eggs, care for the newborns until their parents come to retrieve them. Also, you'll help watch the children and help with their education." Everyone nearby gasped and started whispering excitedly. "No maiden has ever been given this honor because I've never trusted any of them with our precious young ones. But understand this; you ever betray my trust...I'll personally punish you, if not kill you." "I wouldn't dream of it," she replied. The king smiled. The other girls glared at her, clearly not happy with the special treatment she was getting. "Good," he purred. "Attendants, please show the girls to their quarters so that they may rest. Food and drink will be brought as well. Tomorrow, you'll be shown around the Keep and the day after that, you will begin tending to your duties." After another bow, Niri turned and followed the attendant, saying nothing and watching which way they went carefully in order to find her way when she was alone. A few turns and the attendant pushed open a door to a lavish room. It was decorated in deep blues and golds. The bed was large enough for her whole family to sleep comfortably and made with soft, cotton sheets. The carpet on the floor was soft to the touch. There were two other doors, one a closet, the other a bathroom. "Food will be brought shortly," the attendant said, giving her a warm smile. "There are clothes in the closet that should fit you well. If not, use this." She handed her a smooth gold stone that filled her palm. "Squeeze it and one of us will come to help you. Good evening." "Thank you," Niri said, moving over to the bed as the attendant shut the door behind her. Setting the stone on the table, she sat down on the edge of the bed. It was just right for her; soft, but firm enough she wouldn't wake up with a sore back. Not five minutes went by when she heard arguing just outside her room. As she moved towards the door, she heard a male voice arguing with the female that had brought her here. "Sire, you can't go in there," the attendant said, her voice muffled by the door. Just as she was about to reach out and open the door, it was slammed open and Xander stormed into her room. "Xander?!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" "Did they hurt you?" he asked her, ignoring her question and looking her over. "Did they do anything to you? Damn it all, you weren't supposed to receive the summons." "I'm fine," she told him, backing away from him. "Xander, what the hell are you doing here?" He averted his eyes, looking at the floor. Realization dawned on her...there was only one way he could be here. "You're one of them, aren't you?" Sighing heavily, he finally met her eyes. She gasped when she saw that his formerly hazel eyes were a brilliant gold. "Yes. My father is the chief advisor to the king," he answered as she sat herself on the bed. "My true full name is Xandarias Frostrider, Son of Marlos Frostrider. I'm so sorry that you had to find out this way." "And when exactly were you going to tell me?!" she shouted at him. "I've known you since I was six and you couldn't trust me, your friend, with a secret like this?! What else have you been lying to me about, huh?! How old are you really? Hmm?!" "Niri...I wanted to, but..." "But what? What could keep you from telling me something like this? Out with it!" "I love you," he blurted. "Wow, I thought you were better than that, Xander," she said, tears coming to her eyes. "But it's true," he replied, "I begged my father to not send you a summons. I told him how I felt about you. I don't know why he did this." "At least you can see your family!" she shouted at him, "I've been taken away from mine, never to see them again. And you barge in here and drop all this on me and expect me to believe that you love me. Look at me; no one wanted me before. What makes now any different?" "Niri..." "Go away, Xander. I can't stand to be near you right now." He opened his mouth to say something else, but the look she gave him shut him up and he left without another word as an attendant brought food and drink. When she shut the door behind her, Niri sat at the table and dug in. She knew there wasn't one male here that would ever touch her, even Xander. No doubt he heard she was being summoned and pitied her. Pity wasn't love. When she finished off what was brought, she found a comfortable nightgown in the closet, used the bathroom, bathed and crawled in between the sheets. She cried herself to sleep. Winter Passion Ch. 02 The next morning, breakfast was brought just as she woke up. Afterwards, she got dressed and the female from last night arrived. "Good morning," she said cheerily, "Did you sleep well?" "Yes, thank you." "Excellent. Today, I'll show you around the hatchery and the main rooms of the Keep. Don't worry if you don't remember how to get around right away. It takes most of the girls a few months to keep from getting lost. Follow me." She followed her out the door and to the right, further down the corridor. She stopped at a T intersection in the corridors. "If you turn right and follow the hall, you'll end up in the kitchens, which are connected to the Great Hall. The doors in that hallway are storage and the kitchen help's quarters." They walked on for several yards, coming to a three-way fork. "The far left corridor leads to the infirmary. If you get hurt, even just a scratch, you go the infirmary. Same goes for the young ones you care for. Your first aid knowledge will be helpful, but the king would expect you to bring them to the infirmary anyway. The middle fork leads to the hatchery, you'll spend the better part of your day there. And the right fork goes down to the soldier's barracks. The boys can get a little rowdy, but they treat females well and they know the meaning of no." The female led the way down the middle passageway. It sloped downward gently, getting warmer as they went. Niri wiped sweat out of her eyes before rolling the sleeves of her dress up. "I suggest you wear something light that breathes well while you work," her guide told her. "We wouldn't want you fainting from the heat. There are a few small openings to the outside that will allow some air in, but not a whole lot." A few minutes later, the hall leveled out at another three way fork. Continuing through the middle passage, they entered a huge cavern filled with sand. There were four small clutches of eggs around the room, pearly blue and dusted with the golden sand. A large female dragon was lying along the wall towards the back, her belly severely distended. "This is the incubation room. The sand was brought by the bronze dragon flight from their desert home. It's always the perfect temperature to keep the eggs warm. The left fork leads to the nursery, where the newly hatched are kept for the first night, to make sure they're healthy. The right fork leads to the classrooms and the day care center." As they moved towards the closest clutch, four females and a male in human form nearly ran them over, heading for the female. Niri ran after them, stopping near her head. Her breathing was shallow and she was in a lot of pain. Hearing someone else approach, she looked behind her to see Xander, and two other males, one in their dragon form. The blue male sat beside her, fraught with worry. "I came as fast as I could," he panted, nuzzling her neck briefly. "You ok, love?" "Something's...wrong," she grunted, pushing with everything she had, "It's time, but...nothing's happening." Niri got up and went around to where the first male and the attendants were, the male examining her carefully. "She's dilated, but for some reason, the eggs are stuck. If she can't lay, her and the eggs will die," the male said, pulling off the latex gloves he'd been wearing. Niri remembered something like this happening with her mother when she was pregnant with her brother. "I have an idea," she said aloud, getting the doctor's attention. "I don't know if it'll work on a dragon..." "Something's better than standing around and watching her die," he interrupted, "What is it?" "Three of you," she said, turning to the attendants, "start massaging her belly. If the eggs aren't in the right position, doing that may move them into the proper position. The last of you and the doctor...go and get the biggest irrigation syringe or turkey baster you can find, a bowl and pestle, muscle relaxants, lightly boiled mint leaves, um...blackberries, a bit of ginger root, a plate of nuts, fruit and cooked meat for her, and fresh snow." Ten minutes later, she had everything assembled before her, the food given to the female to eat. While she was eating, Niri quickly ground up the powerful muscle relaxants the doctor brought until it was a fine powder. Two bowls of snow were brought in, one given to the female's mate to give her to eat for water and for her forehead, the other left in an indent in the sand, melted down and warmed perfectly. She mashed a chunk of ginger with the boiled mint and blackberries. Once it was ground as fine as possible, she mixed it in the warmed water, turning the water black. Filling the huge syringe with the powdered medication and packing it by depressing the plunger, she set the tip of the syringe in the bowl and pulled back slowly, dissolving the powder with the liquid mixture. Once it was filled, she shook it well, mixing it completely. The rest of the mix in the bowl was handed off to the male. "Have her drink that, it'll help boost her immune system," she explained. "Why did you mix the pills with it?" Xander asked. "Liquid is easily absorbed and the combination of ginger and mint will help her body fight off infection and allow the medicine to be absorbed," she told him as she inserted the end of the syringe into her dilated vagina. She depressed the plunger hard, making the female moan in discomfort. Niri took a large, empty bowl and held it just under her, to catch the mix when it runs out in case she needed to do a second injection. The female gasped and let out a sigh. "Everybody...m...move," she stammered, rolling on her belly when they were out of the way. The female laid a clutch of seven eggs effortlessly. Once the last egg was out, the female dragon carefully laid back on her side again, her breathing deep and even as she curled her tail around the clutch. While she was resting, the doc examined the eggs carefully. "All of them are thriving wonderfully," he sighed, wiping his brow. "You did good, Lania." "Thank you, miss..." Lania started, looking at her. "Niri." "We are in your debt, Miss Niri," Lania's mate replied. "I'm relieved to know that our young are going to be in capable hands." "You are welcome," she told them, bowing deeply. All of them left the incubation room to give the pair some time alone. "Niri, wait!" Xander called out as her and her guide reached the top of the slope from the hatchery wing. She stopped and turned to face him. "Niri...I know I hurt you terribly by hiding from you. I'm so sorry. Do you think we could have lunch together and talk?" "I'm not ready to forgive you yet," she replied. "I'm sorry, but it's too soon." "Ok. But know that I'm not going to give up trying to make you mine. I love you so much, Niri. I don't care how long it takes for you to see that. I'll wait for you. And thank you for helping my sister." "Your sister?" she asked. "I never knew you had siblings. Why didn't you tell me?" "My dad made me keep it secret," he replied. "Believe me, I wanted to tell you everything. But he insisted that I not say anything. It tore me up inside to lie like that. But if I would have, I wouldn't have been able to see you again." "Even if that's true, Xander...I just can't bring myself to believe you right now." "I understand," he said softly, stepping close to her and cupping her cheek in his hand. She couldn't help leaning into his touch, letting out a slight sigh, heat roaring through her body. He backed her up until her back was against the wall, pulling her hair away from her face. Xander let out a soft purr as he leaned in and kissed her briefly on the cheek. She looked up into his dazzling gold eyes, her heart starting to beat double time. He surprised her by kissing her on the lips. Her first kiss...and it was perfect. He took his time and when she finally parted her lips enough to let him in, she nearly fell to the floor. Xander kept her on her feet, his agile tongue probing every inch of her mouth skillfully. When he pulled back, she was breathless, her face flushed a bright red. He gave her a smile and after a quick peck on the cheek, he led her back to her room and bid her farewell. Lunch was waiting on the table for her, along with fresh flowers. After eating her fill, she tried to think of something to do. Finding a bookshelf filled with books next to the windows, she pulled a book down and settled in a comfortable chair by the window to read. Some hours later, there was a knock at the door. Marking her place in the book, Niri set it on the small table next to the chair, got up and answered the door. Even in human form, the king was a very large male. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, Ms. Niri," he said, taking hold of her hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles. "Not at all, my lord," she replied, bowing low as she stepped aside to let him in. "Please, call me Nova," he told her, taking a seat by the window. "Sit." She nodded as she walked over and sat back down in the chair she'd been reading in. "I've overheard from one of my attendants about you and your friend, Xander," he began. "Look, it's my fault you're mad at him. I'd forbidden him from telling anyone about what he is. If he did, I don't think your village wouldn't have been too friendly towards him." "Well, you'll be happy to know that I'm not exactly mad at him for that," she answered. "What I'm mad about is that he had the nerve to spring on me that he loves me. I've known him for years, practically thrown myself at him. He never once showed me he cared for me as more than a friend. I never had one man actively try to court me or get to know me in that way because I'm not as thin or as pretty as the other girls in the village." "Looks aren't everything," he told her. "You're a very brave and very kind young woman. I just heard about what you did for Lania Snowmantle. You saved her life and the lives of her seven children. That's pretty amazing." She blushed heavily. "I couldn't let her die. What kind of person would I be to not try and help her?" "I can see what Xander sees in you," he said with a wink. She blushed heavily. "I'm curious...how are the other girls?" "They're doing very well, surprisingly. A lot better than the other girls that have been brought here. The ones that were brought to my chambers last night were terrified, but when they saw what I'm really like...whew, they wore me out. And I hadn't had any female company for nearly three years. The ones helping out with cleaning and cooking love working here. Four of them have actually started dating a couple of the younger males. This is why I request the unwed maidens at 20. More often than not, women that aren't engaged to be married or married by your age will go the rest of their lives slaving to make a living all alone, no loving husband, no children. This way, they get a chance at an easier life, a happier one." "I appreciate it," she replied, reaching over and squeezing his hand lightly. "I really do, but I'll still miss my family." "Don't worry about that," he told her. "Perhaps I can arrange for them to visit every once in a while." "Really?" "Absolutely. We've brought in the families of women brought here for their mating ceremony all the time." "You don't know how much it means to me to know I'll be able to see my family. Thank you." "It's nothing," Nova told her with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go spend some more time with my ladies." She blushed heavily, making him chuckle as she walked him to the door. As he left, a young dragon loped down the passage, stopping in front of her. A basket was held in its jaws by the handle, a cage with a beautiful white, red and gold bird sitting in the basket. The dragon set it down at her feet. "Hi," the dragon greeted her in a young male voice. "My brother, Xander, asked me to bring this to you. He said it's to thank you for helping Lania earlier, and a token of his love for you." "Thank you very much," she told him sweetly. "Would you like to come in?" "Sure," he said, bounding in and jumping up on her bed. As she shut the door, she picked the basket up. Setting it on the table, she set the cage out of the basket. In the very bottom was a copy of her favorite book. When she opened the book, there was a pretty blue and gold bracelet laid flat inside it. Taking the bracelet from the book, she put it around her wrist. Touching it, she discovered it was made out of dragon scale. Niri then turned her attention to the bird. It was the size of a falcon, its long tail feathers poking out between the cage bars several inches. Opening the cage and placing her hand just inside, it climbed on. Pulling it out slowly, the bird looked at her and cooed. It let her pet it and ate up the attention. "What kind of bird is this?" she asked the young dragon. "I've never seen anything like it." "It's a Winter's Flame phoenix," he answered. "It's extremely rare. Every spring, it'll burst into flames and be reborn from the ashes. It's very magical and loyal to anyone that captures it fairly. My brother spent years trying to catch it." "He did?" she asked as the phoenix walked up to sit on her shoulder and pick in her hair. "Uh huh. He told me he was trying to catch it so he could give it to the girl he wanted to mate with. Do you like my brother?" "Xander...has been a very good friend. I never knew he cared that much about me." "Oh, he can't stop talking about you. He's made himself sick trying to impress you." He got up and walked to the door. "I better go. I don't want Mama worrying." "Alright," she said, opening the door. "What's your name?" "I'm Kratos," he answered. "My name is Niri," she told him. "It was nice meeting you, Kratos." "Same here, Ms. Niri," he said as he walked out the door. Before she shut the door, he stopped and turned. "Ms. Niri, would you join us for dinner in the Great Hall tonight? I bet Mama and Papa would love to meet you." "Ok," she replied, giving him a pat on the head. He grinned and bounded out into the hall. Later that evening, Niri dressed in a beautiful gold and green dress she found in her closet, fitting a touch snugly, but still comfortable. She refastened her bracelet and brushed her hair. She'd definitely have to ask someone about the shampoo and soap she found in her bathroom. It made her dry hair soft and wavy. Even the color had improved. And the soap made her skin smooth and cleared her complexion very well. She felt good about herself for once in her life. As she went to leave for the hall, the phoenix flew across the room and landed on her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek. She laughed a little and after setting it back in its cage, she left for dinner. When she arrived, it looked like everybody in the Keep was already there, attendants starting to set the tables. "Niri?" she heard Xander ask from behind her. She turned around to see him in human form, wearing a green sweater and a pair of blue jeans. Even in the most ordinary clothes, he was still gorgeous. "Wow. You look fantastic tonight." She blushed. "Thank you. And thank you for the gift." He breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that you like it." "Your little brother told me how long it took you just to catch it," she started, "And the king told me that he'd forbidden you to talk about who you really were. Xander...I've been a little hard on you. I'm sorry." "It's ok," he replied with a grin, "Maybe we could have lunch tomorrow, just the two of us?" "I'd like to, but I don't know if I'll be able to. I'm supposed to start working in the hatchery tomorrow." "Actually, I'm scheduled to help out in the hatchery as well. Males rotate duties here in the Keep and it's my turn to assist with the children. We'll be working together for the next month." "That'll work," she told him. "I can't wait." "Great," he said, "Now, I'd like to introduce you to the rest of my family." Winter Passion Ch. 03 That month was the best month of Niri's life. The kids adored her and she loved teaching them. Even the problem children respected her enough to do as she asked, which in turn caused them to behave better for their parents. Xander was great with the kids and when they were on break, he was all over her, extremely affectionate and sweet. As the end of the month drew near, Xander went to the king to be permanently placed in the hatchery. The king granted his request. But with the holidays drawing near, Niri couldn't help but feel a little homesick. She missed her family. "Niri?" she heard Xander ask while he was turning the last egg in Lania's clutch. "You ok? You haven't seemed like yourself for the last few days." "It's just...Christmas is a couple weeks away," she said in a soft voice. "I miss my family." "I can't imagine not being with my family at this time of year," he replied. "I'm sorry you were taken away from them." "Thank you," she said, smiling. "But I do like it here." He smiled a little. "So, who's turn is it to teach the children this week?" "It's Aria's turn, but after today, she's giving the kids time off until after New Year's." "That means we're done for the day," he grunted as he got to his feet. "Ugh, I swear...this sand gets lodged in places you didn't know you had." "You're telling me," she laughed as he helped her up. "Say Niri...we've got a week or so of free time...would you like to spend it with me? We'll do whatever you want." "Sounds great to me," she replied, "The first thing I want is to soak in a nice, hot bath." He grinned. "Follow me." Taking her hand in his, Xander led her out of the hatchery. But instead of going to her chambers, he led her up the corridor and hung a right. They climbed a long, steep set of stairs. When she started getting winded, Xander took her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs. She laughed and punched him playfully. Setting her down at the top, she punched him as hard as she could. He laughed a little while rubbing his shoulder. Placing his hand against the small of her back, Xander led her down the hall and hung a left. Going up another short flight of stairs, he opened a large door on the left side of the corridor. "Are these your quarters?" she asked, tensing and looking at him warily. "Yes, but don't get the wrong idea," he told her, gently nudging her inside. "Like I said, we're going to do whatever you want; nothing more, nothing less. I want to prove that you can trust me. I promise you, nothing will happen if you don't want it to." "Ok, Xander. I trust you, I really do." As he shut the door, Niri took a look around the room. It was set up just like hers, just bigger. His bed was a large crater filled with pillows, large furs draped over the top. "Bathroom's this way," he told her, going across the room and opening a door. "How's about losing the sandbox we collected?" "Bathe together?" she asked, getting nervous. "Trust me," he said, "It won't be a problem. Go ahead in. I'll join you in a minute." "Alright." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed into his closet. Niri went into the bathroom, her eyes going wide. His bath was a small pond, steam rising off the water. There were showers in the far corner of the room, walled off by thick, frosted glass. Towels were stacked in a tall cabinet. Grabbing a thick, fluffy towel, she set it on the edge of the bath. Watching the door, she quickly shed her clothes and tossed them into a hamper by the towel cabinet. Niri sat at the edge of the bath and slid into the water, letting out a sigh. It was the perfect temperature. She found a ledge next to her and sat on it, the water up to her shoulders. "You in the bath?" she heard Xander shout from the bedroom. "Yes!" she called back. He walked in, wearing nothing but a towel around his hips. Grabbing another towel, he set it on the far end of the bath and slid in, still wearing the towel. Pulling it off, he rung it out and set it on the edge away from the fresh one. He grinned at her. "Told you it wouldn't be a problem," he said loud enough for her to hear. "True," she laughed. After wetting her hair, she realized she forgot soap. "Soap's in the basket to your right," Xander told her. She looked to find a small basket to her right, filled with soaps and shampoo. "Thank you," she told him. "Xander?" "Yes, Niri?" "How come you're always in your human form when you're with me?" "I'm like this around everybody. Part of it's because I'm used to being this way around you." "And the other part?" "Niri...I'm quite a bit older than you. I fought in the last part of the Third War. I was captured in the last major battle and tortured. It was only for a day, but it felt like an eternity. I've...got scars." "Could I please see you?" He hesitated for several minutes before nodding. Xander let his human form fall away. As a dragon, he was a little smaller than Lania's mate. His scales were a brilliant sapphire blue, a pattern of gold rings scattered all over his body. Xander wasn't kidding about the scars. She could see two pairs of scars running down each of his sides. He had one down his face; starting at the base of his left horn, going around his left eye and down to the end of his snout. He stretched and she saw the thick bands of scarring around both his forepaw's ankles. She could see another long scar running down his belly. Niri swam across the bath to him. Sitting beside him, Niri ran her hands down his front, along the scar. "Xander..." "It's ok, Niri. I'm just glad I survived." He moved a little deeper into the bath and turned around so he was facing her again. She reached out and stroked his snout, getting a purr out of him. Xander then changed back into his human form and sat beside her. He turned and planted a kiss on her lips. She returned the kiss and when she pulled back, he took hold of her shoulders and turned her around. Before she could ask what he was doing, he ran his fingers through her hair, combing out the tangles. Then he added shampoo and started to work it into a rich lather in her hair. She allowed him to continue washing it, finishing with a very nice rinse. "Mmm...that was fantastic, Xander. Do you mind if I return the favor?" "I would love it," he purred, turning his back to her. Niri gave him the same treatment he just did to her, pulling a low, contented purr from his throat as she massaged his scalp, running her hands through his thick, blonde locks. Once his hair was rinsed, Niri grew bold and grabbing a washcloth from the soap basket, she lathered it and started washing him, starting with his neck. He jumped a little with surprise, but his purr cranked up in volume as she moved to his shoulders, kneading the knots of tension out of them. He laughed as she got under his arms and down his sides, then went back up and washed his arms. Taking a deep breath, she got him to turn and face her. Getting more soap onto the cloth, she started washing his chest. As she worked down his front, his breathing got a little fast and ragged. She swallowed hard as she ventured further south, finding him very aroused. Shoring up her courage, Niri wrapped her hand around his base and stroked him lightly. He moaned at the contact, his erection jerking in her grip. He whined a little as she released him and moved on to clean his legs and back. Curious, she had him turn back around. "Xander? Could I..." she started, her face flushed a deep red with embarrassment. Unable to say it out loud, Niri moved closer. "Could you stand up for me? I want to see you; all of you," she whispered in his ear. Xander let out a soft groan as he slowly got to his feet on the ledge, water cascading down his body. She knew he had a great body, but actually seeing it was a whole other thing in itself. When she finally looked at his crotch, she gasped. His erection was long, thick and proud. It bobbed slightly as he stood there, looking down at her. Niri placed her hand around the base of his arousal and gripped him lightly. She tightened her grip slightly and stroked him again, marveling at the softness of the skin. After a couple of strokes, she noticed the clear fluid leaking from his tip, making it easier to stroke him. Niri smiled at the gasps and moans coming from Xander. He was at her mercy...and she enjoyed it. Xander's head kicked back as he thrust into her hand. Moving closer to really look at him, a bit of his lubrication dripped onto her nose. On reflex, she licked it away. It was sweet and tangy, like a piece of fruit. Growing bold, Niri leaned forward a little and licked the head of his cock. Xander jumped like he'd been shocked, letting out a loud groan, running his hands through her hair. She opened her mouth and took the head of him into her mouth, sucking lightly. "Oh yeah...," Xander purred, his hands stroking her hair. "That feels amazing...more...please..." Hearing him beg spurred her on, taking him deeper and deeper, eventually taking every inch of him with no trouble at all. Xander trembled, trying to keep himself still for her. When she started playing with his balls, he couldn't take anymore. "Niri...I'm about to lose it...either pull off or prepare to swallow," he gasped, rocking back and forth on his heels slowly. She wanted to taste everything he had to offer, so she took him as deep as she could and swallowed, tightening her throat around him. Xander gave a couple quick jerks of his hips, holding her head against him tightly. His cock swelled slightly and as she pulled back to where his cock head was resting on her tongue, he came powerfully. Niri swallowed quickly so she didn't choke; it was more sweet than it was salty. She found she liked the taste of it. Xander slowly sank to his knees once he was finished, panting heavily as he rested his head against her shoulder. When he managed to look her in the eye, his golden eyes were practically glowing. "You don't know how long I've wanted that," he purred. "Just to feel your touch would've been enough. What you just did...that was amazing." "You're welcome," she told him with a smile. "I really enjoyed doing it. I didn't know the power a female could have over a male." Xander laughed deeply, the sound echoing throughout the room. "Hon, just the promise of sex will have a male wrapped around your finger." He picked up the washcloth she'd used on him. "Now...how's about I return the favor?" She blushed and said nothing, unsure of what she wanted to do. Xander cuddled up close to her, tucking his face against her neck. It made her giggle and squirm as he kissed her throat, her chest crushed to his. Niri gasped as her nipples grew hard, stimulated by the friction. She tensed up when she felt his hand move up her side to cup her breast and give it a gentle squeeze. "You can trust me, Niri," he murmured as he met her eyes, kissing her tenderly. Her fear subsided slightly and she relaxed in his arms. He took it as a sign to continue. After a deep kiss that left her breathless, he started moving down her body. "What are you—ohhh..." she started to say when he closed his lips around her left nipple and sucked. Niri buried her hands in his hair as Xander lavished her with his tongue, her legs opening on their own accord. He purred as he pulled her body flush with his, his hips falling in between her legs. "Gods...I never knew," she sighed as Xander moved to her other nipple, rubbing his new erection along her stomach. Niri undulated under him, pulling his head as close to her as possible. When he pulled off of her, she moaned her protest. Xander chuckled as he pulled her up out of the bath, setting her on her feet. Wrapping a towel around her, he held her to him, drying her off. Taking the towel back, he dried himself off quickly. Once they were both dry, Xander pulled her back into his arms, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he took her out into the bedroom. She giggled as he tossed her into the mound of pillows that made up his bed. He playfully pounced her, being careful not to hurt her as he settled his weight on top of her. "Shall I start from where I left off, my dear?" he purred, his golden eyes gleaming. "Yes," she gasped, jumping slightly when she felt his hand move up the inside of her thigh. He moved slowly, careful not to scare her. His fingers rubbed her sex gently, making her moan loudly. She moved her hips in rhythm with his hand, feeling herself grow wet. "You are gorgeous, Niriana," he said as he moved down her body, kissing her stomach, moving lower. She propped herself up on her elbows, her heart beat quickening as he kept going down until she could feel his hot breath on her dripping slit. He looked up and smiled at her before taking his tongue to her swollen lips in a broad, wet stroke. "Xander..." she moaned as he dipped his tongue inside her. A deep growl reverberated in his throat as he assaulted the little node of flesh that made her tingle when she tightened her thighs. She spread her legs wider, welcoming his probing fingers as they made their way deep into her. Niri gasped and moaned, feeling a slow tightening in her lower belly, her nether region growing more and more sensitive to his touch. She thrust her hips towards his face, desperate to keep in contact with him. "Oh, Xander...I'm..." "Let it come, Niri. You'll be ok, I've got you. I love you," he told her as he took a brief break, catching his breath. Just when she thought she was about to lose whatever it was she almost had, he dove back in, sucking that little nub at the top of her sex while plunging his fingers as far as they would go. A few strokes and the tension that had tightened in her released, a tidal wave of pleasure crashing through her. Her back arched as she screamed out in ecstasy, Xander not letting up for even a second. When she finally settled back down, he stopped, moving up her body, his arousal probing at her swollen slit. She gasped as his cock head pushed inside. It stretched her a bit more than his fingers had. As he pressed forward, she was stretched open wider, feeling some discomfort as her body tried to adjust to his intrusion. He stopped and went still after an inch or so, panting heavily. "I'm sorry for the pain I'm about to inflict on you," he told her as he pulled back. Before she could ask what he meant, he lunged forward. Something inside her broke as he drove himself to the hilt inside her, the pain a burning sting, like she'd been stung by a dozen bees at once. She clawed at his back, leaving shallow cuts in his skin. "Xander...it hurts," she sobbed. "I know," he whispered to her, his muscles twitching erratically. "Shh...it'll be alright." He ground his pubic bone against hers gently, his cock rubbing against a very sensitive spot. She tensed up, moaning lightly. The gentle ministrations continued until the pain was gone, her walls clinging to him a tiny bit looser than before. Xander pulled back slowly. Niri tensed up, scared of feeling the pain again. "Niri, relax," he murmured to her, running his hands all over body, "It'll be easier on you. I promise you...if it still hurts, I will stop. I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally." She looked up into his eyes. He smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears and kissing the tip of her nose. "I love you." She relaxed, tickling his sides. He laughed, squirming a little, tickling back. Niri squealed from his attack. Caught off guard, Xander lunged forward, burying himself deep inside her again. Niri clung to him again, but not from pain. The feeling of being filled felt delicious, the tension from before starting to build at the same pace as before. But this time, it felt ten times better. He repeated the stroke again and again, getting faster and harder each time he filled her. "Xander..." she purred, tipping her hips up and throwing herself into him, trying to get him deeper. "Mmm...if only I'd known earlier..." "Grrr...Yes, this has...been too long in coming," he growled, pulling her tight to his body. Kissing her roughly, he rolled onto his back, Niri now straddling his hips. Without hesitation, she took over, leaning forward slightly as she set a rough pace. She knew it wasn't her place to take charge like this, but she was so close to that blissful precipice again...she didn't want to lose it. Xander clearly didn't mind her actions, pawing her breasts, blue scales starting to replace his skin. He sat up and took her right nipple between his lips, sucking it feverishly, a low, growling purr filling the room. Her cries overshadowed his growls as she rolled her hips, feeling his arousal grow longer and thicker inside her, the head nudging the neck of her womb. He sat back a bit and groaned, his face elongating into a snout. "Oh god...Niri," he groaned, a sharp jerk of his hips burying him in her womb. She couldn't hold back any longer; she came with a scream that had to have been heard by half the Keep. She slowed her movements, resting in his arms as he continued to give small, gentle thrusts into her. As her heart rate slowed, he leaned forward until she was on her back and took over, keeping his rhythm slow, gentle. "Here it comes, Niri...mmmm," he purred, finally releasing into her, setting off a small orgasm for her as well. As Xander rolled again to where she was lying on top of him, Niri felt something cold and wet land on her back. She sat up quickly, startled by whatever it was. "Snow?" she asked, seeing tiny white flakes fall around her. Looking up at the ceiling, she saw that it was snowing, but there were no openings to the outside or a window open. Xander chuckled, waving his hand and making the snow disappear. "Sorry about that," he told her, nuzzling her throat, "Sometimes, my abilities get away from me." "It was nice, but thanks for making it stop," she told him. "Not exactly something you want to be in when you're naked." "Cold doesn't bother me, what with being a blue dragon and all. But I get your point." He grabbed one of the large fur blankets that got tossed to the side and pulled it up over the both of them. Niri cuddled close to him, stroking his chest lightly. "Is this better?" he asked, running a taloned hand through her hair. She nodded, kissing his chest absently and looking up at him. "I can't believe that I finally found someone." "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you before," he murmured. "But I'm here now. And I'll never let you go." Winter Passion Ch. 04 "I'm surprised that Nova let me come with you to see my family," Niri said as their carriage stopped in front of her house, her wearing a brand new, royal blue dress, a lovely set of sapphire earrings set in her earlobes and a modest necklace around her neck. "He didn't want to freak out your family by just sending a messenger," he replied. "We've had a few...unpleasant experiences in the past with doing that." He helped her down and out, offering his arm to her. She smiled, placing her arm through his. Stopping on the front step, Xander knocked twice quickly, as was his custom. Her mother opened the door. "What brings you by today, Xander?" she asked as she opened the door. Her voice had little of her usual cheer. When she really looked at who was in front of her, her jaw fell slack and her skin went white. "Niri," she asked, her voice mostly gone from shock. "How..." She didn't get to finish what she was saying; crumpling as her eyes rolled back into her head. Xander moved quickly, catching her effortlessly. Niri followed him in, guiding him to the back of the house, where the spare room was. He laid her out as she came to. "Oh god, Niri, did they...did they send you back?" her mother asked fearfully. "No," she answered, sitting next to her, "I'm here with Xander to invite you up to the Dragon's Keep for Christmas, so that we can spend the holidays together." "Wait...Xander's one of the keep's couriers?" she asked. "No. Xander is the son of the Sapphire Flight's lieutenant," Nina replied. "He's a dragon." "There's no...." her mother started to say when Xander shifted partially. "I tried to keep Niri from being summoned to the Keep," he told her. "My father forgot the promise he made to me to keep her off the list and that's why she received the summons." He smiled as he shifted back and pulled Niri to her feet, kissing her cheek. "But something good came from it. I finally got to show Niri the real me, not have to hide from her...or hide my feelings for her anymore." "I knew it," her mother said, slowly sitting up. "I knew from the way you looked at her whenever you were here. It's good to see that you two are happy together." "Honey, I'm back from the market!" her father yelled from the front of the house. "You better have a seat, dear!" she shouted back. 2 hours later... "Wow," her parents gasped as they stepped into the Keep's main hall. "This is amazing." "Welcome to the Sapphire Flight's Keep!" a booming voice called from the other end of the hall. She looked to see Nova with three of his women walking towards them. "Mom, Dad...this is Nova, King of the Sapphire Flight," she introduced, Nova giving them a bow. "My lord, these are my parents; Joseph and Mina Carver." "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, reaching out to shake her father's hand and kissing her mother's hand. "Your daughter has won the hearts of the Keep's children and because of her home remedies and practices, she's kept infant and mother mortality rates down. Rest assured...your daughter is well loved here and will always be taken care of." "Thank you, your Grace," her mother said, nearly about to burst into tears. "We've always wanted nothing but the best for her. She had her heart stomped on so many times by the village and she longed to have her own family... Thank you for giving her the one thing she's ever wanted." "Come, let me show you around," she said with a smile. "Hey, how about after lunch, we go into the village on the northern side of the mountain to do a little Christmas shopping?" "Sounds great to me," her mother said with a grin. ***** That afternoon, as they walked out of a small candy shop, Niri laughed at a story her mother was telling about something that happened after she'd left. She stopped to hold the door open for Xander, who was carrying a mountain of packages. "Thank you so much, Xander," she said as he unloaded their packages into a carriage. "What's next?" Before he could answer her, there was a screeching roar from above, a wave of heat washing through the streets. "Get back inside!" he shouted, guiding them back into the store. "What's going on?" she asked him, scared as he looked out the windows of the shop. "The Onyx Flight, they're raiding," he replied. "Damn, this is the third time this month. Something's up." "I've heard the Onyx Flight is the toughest of the Dragon Flights," Niri said as Xander pulled her close. "They've produced some of the most powerful warriors in history." "They are very formidable," Xander agreed. "But over the last few decades, their lands have been poisoned by waste from the sprawling human cities near them. Most of their young don't survive and those that do are sickly. It's tragic." "Why don't the other Flights help or better...why not just move the whole Flight?" Niri asked. "The King of their Flight is much too proud," Xander replied. "Sampson, the former King of the Onyx Flight stepped down, he's gotten very ill. His son, Brutoc, has taken charge and he's determined not to lose their ancient homelands. Even if it kills them with the poison leaking into the water and earth of their swamps." Hearing quiet outside, they stepped out and got into their surprisingly untouched carriage. "It's terrible," Niri thought as they passed by grieving families, young maidens like herself having been snatched by the raiding black dragons. "I hate to see what happens to those girls." Xander pulled her up against him, comforting her with his touch. About five minutes from the ground entrance to the Keep, their carriage stopped suddenly. "What the--," Niri started to say when the ground shook and a deafening roar sounded. Xander jumped out of the carriage. Niri looked out to find a huge black dragon blocking the road. "What do you want, Brutoc?!" he shouted at the massive form in their way. "Our Flight has honored our treaties and harbor no ill will towards you and your kin! Why do you raid our towns?" "Our lands are failing more and more quickly by the day," Brutoc replied. "We are in need of new mates. All the females in our lands are unhealthy, unsuitable for giving us young." "Then send an envoy to discuss having a representative of your Flight go with ours to view those brought to us by the laws of our lands," Xander replied. "It's at least better than what you've just done!" "None of the other Flights have lifted a paw to help us save our home," Brutoc growled. "The treaties and laws give all of you an excuse to just leave my Flight to die. I won't allow it. My Father would want me to do everything I can to save what we have." Niri had stepped out of the carriage for a little air and to stand with Xander, she just felt uncomfortable without him near. The other dragon stared at her as she moved towards Xander. Without warning, Brutoc took off, snatching her up in his forepaws before taking to the sky. "Niri!" Xander shouted, changing and taking flight. He caught up quickly, being that he was a smaller dragon than the massive black dragon carrying her. Brutoc lashed out with his tail, catching Xander in the shoulder with it. It hit with such force, it split his shoulder wide open, blood pouring from the wound. Xander hissed from the pain. Growling, he let loose with a rush of blue flame, the rush a bitter cold instead of heat. Brutoc managed to dodge it, getting a light burn to his right flank. The black dragon then slowed. But her hope was dashed and her heart pounded when Xander went to strike Brutoc in his side. He quickly flipped, dropping her in order to latch onto Xander with all four sets of claws. As she fell to the earth, she watched helplessly as the black dragon shredded Xander's wings and clawed his sides until it started to rain with his blood. Brutoc tossed Xander and then swooped and caught her easily. She wept and struggled in the dragon's hold as she watched her love drop to the earth like a stone. Her anger had her lashing out at Brutoc to no effect, which fed her anger further. "Stop your infernal squirming or I'll go back and make sure that he's dead," Brutoc snapped. Her strength had flagged as she complied, but her tears would not. They flew for hours and hours, the landscape changing below. She watched the mountains pass under them, giving way to sweeping plains before giving way to dark willow trees and dark, brakish water; swampland. The sun had fully set by the time they landed at the mouth of a huge cave. Brutoc placed her into one of several cages stacked outside the cave. Once she was locked in, he took a large ring fastened to the top of the cage in his mouth and proceeded inside. The cavern spiraled down deep into the earth, the passage pitch black for several feet. Eventually, the darkness gave way to a soft glow. The glow proceeded to get brighter and brighter until the passage leveled out. Torches lined the walls down here every few feet. They passed by closed doors and open entrances to other caverns. Her heart broke as they passed what had to be the Onyx Flight's nursery. There were only two clutches in the entire expanse; four eggs each. The eggs...they were only half the size of the eggs she cared for in the Sapphire Keep. At the back of the cavern, a male watched helplessly as a female laid only two eggs...and stopped breathing. He laid next to the female, curling his tail around the small eggs, his massive form trembling, no doubt from shedding tears. Brutoc kept going, a heavy sigh coming from him as they left the male to grieve in private. The next cavern they came to had about a dozen young dragons playing. The young ones were clearly suffering from malnourishment, their ribs clearly visible, even from a distance. A few sat along the edges of the cavern, clearly not strong enough to join in playing. They kept going until they reached a huge set of double doors. Brutoc muscled one of them open. Inside was the entire Flight, enjoying a very slim meal. There were so few of them left. "This is all that is left of our Flight that is well enough to do anything," Brutoc told her. They went to the opposite end of the hall and through another door. This section of caves was very lavishly decorated, indicating this was the King's wing of their Keep. He finally set her cage down in what had to be the King's chamber. As she was let out of the cage, she slowly walked over to a huge depression towards the back of the cavern, filled with pillows. There was a shifting amongst the pillows as the Onyx King moved to look at her. He was very sickly; his scales were falling off in places, his skin paling to gray instead of being black. "Who have you brought to me, my son?" the king asked. "This is Niriana," Brutoc replied. "I have brought her here to help us get better." "Niriana...," the king said, clearly thinking. His head then snapped up and he snarled in anger. "You kidnapped a Sapphire Keep dragon's mate?! Are you still leading raid parties into their lands?!" "Father...I had to...," "No you did not, Brutoc!" the king roared, followed by a fit of coughing. A human female around 30 years of age came rushing in, going to the King's side as he laid back down. "Easy, Sampson," she murmured, pulling a large green and black jar from a bag at her hip. "Don't strain yourself. Brutoc is only doing what he can to save the Flight." "At the cost of destroying our treaties and what few ties we have left to our bretheren," he sighed as she rubbed a dark green ointment along Sampson's throat and what she could reach of his massive chest. "We need to send representatives to request aid." "Every time we've sent them, they never come back and when we ask what happened, the other Flights say they never had anyone from our Flight show up. Clearly, they're killing our envoys and denying they saw them because they want us dead." "Brutoc, there has to be a reasonable explanation to all of this," Sampson replied. "Send someone you know and trust to go seek aid from the other Flights. And as for Niriana here, you need to send her home." "Not until she helps us," he replied. "You'll have the entire Sapphire Flight out for our blood. That will definitely have them set to destroy us. Don't be so foolish, boy." "But...," "I volunteered, King Sampson," Niri interrupted. "He no doubt heard of me from some of the females from the nearest village to the Sapphire Keep and asked me to come help find the cause of the sickness spreading through your Flight and try to find ways to fight it. I did leave without telling anyone though. So if I can send a courier with a letter explaining why I left, they won't come here looking to fight." "Oh," Sampson said, clearly a little surprised. "Very well. Brutoc, she'll stay with you and your mate while she's here. Give her anything she requests and take her where she wants to go. And thank you, young one." "You're welcome, sir," she replied, bowing to him. As she turned to leave, the female clearly wasn't thrilled with her being there and started talking to her mate in quiet tones. As they left and headed down the corridor, Brutoc changed into his human form. He was a giant of a man at seven feet tall. He was quite handsome, but no one would ever hold a candle to her Xander, to her anyway. "Why did you lie?" Brutoc asked softly, leading her off to the right of the door leading to the dining hall, down a narrower corridor. "Especially after what I did to your mate." "When I saw your nursery...your children," she replied, "It broke my heart. Your Flight is suffering and I want to find out why. I can't just sit by and watch innocents die from something that could be fixed." "Thank you," the male said. "I'm sorry for what I did to your mate." "You were only doing what you thought was right," she sighed. "I just hope he survived." "Xander Frostrider has been through more pain and suffering than any dragon," Brutoc said, opening a door to their right. "He'll be ok." A human female around her age turned as they walked in to what must be his private quarters. Leaving her spot in front of a small stove, she ran and hugged Brutoc tightly. "I'm so relieved to see you come home ok," she sobbed. "Please don't do that to me again." "I won't go anymore, Talia," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "Father was cross when he found out I led another raid. I won't be going again." Niri smiled at the affection the male showed to his mate, comforting her. When she was done, she pulled away and looked at her. "Who is this, Brutoc?" "I'm Niriana," she told her, holding out her hand, "I've come to help the Onyx Flight with this issue of pollution in the swamps." "You're...you're a mate to one of the Sapphire Flight, aren't you? The teacher and healer?" Niri nodded. "I'm surprised that so many people have heard of me." "News is spread through the Flights very quickly," Talia said. "I just wish there was better news to come out of our Flight. But enough about that for tonight. I've got dinner ready. We'll eat, then you can rest and we'll do what we can to help you with your investigation, Niriana." "Ok," she agreed, "but please call me Niri." They both nodded. After dinner, Niri took the time to write a letter home explaining what happened and not to worry about her or come after her for now. Brutoc rang for a courier and by the time she had the letter sealed and ready to deliver, a young dragon with a messenger satchel was waiting outside. "Please get this to the Sapphire Keep as soon as you can," she told the messenger, placing the letter into his bag. "As you wish," he replied, loping off once he had his parcel. Niri felt much better knowing that her family wouldn't need to worry about her. Tired, she let Brutoc lead her to a spare room. There wasn't much to it, but that was fine with her. Flopping onto the bed, she fell asleep in her clothes. *Messenger* Just as he was about to head up the main entrance to the Keep, Miranda, the King's human mate and their queen, stopped him. She smiled at him. "Sorry if I startled you," she told him. "I just need to give you a letter that's heading for the Sapphire Keep as well. Orders for imports." "Of course, Your Grace," he replied, lying where she could easily reach his bag. "Thank you," she said sweetly, snapping his bag closed. He nodded and ran up the main passage, taking flight once he cleared the cavern. *Miranda* As the messenger took off up the main passageway out, she let the smile drop from her face, frowning as she headed for the Keep's kitchen. The smallest of the young dragons kept out of her way. She was glad the little whelps had learned from the last time they got in her way. Though she was tempted to go over and kick them anyway, see how far they went. Once in the kitchens, she went over to the main roasting pit, the fire blazing extra hot. She took out the letter that Niriana had written, opening it. After reading it, she grinned and tossed it into the fire, watching to ensure that the letter was nothing but ashes before heading back to her private chambers.