***Please notice the title before you get too upset at Alana's (initial) answer, and enjoy! I've been excited to write/publish this chapter from day one. ^_^ ***

* * *

CHAPTER 11: A Deadly Engagement and Long-Awaited Wedding

Ethan took a deep breath. "Alana Tarihowen, will join your soul with mine as the strands of this braid are joined? Will you marry me?"

For a few glorious seconds, the look on Alana's face was pure, unadulterated bliss. She reached out and touched the braid with the tips of her finger and she looked like the happiest woman in the entire world...

But only for a few seconds.

Then her face fell.

She retracted her hand slowly as she met his eyes. Her eyes and their bond were filled with both longing and sadness; yearning and sorrow. She bit her lip and took a long, slow, trembling breath. Then with more hesitation and reluctance than he'd heard in his entire life, she uttered a single word:

"No."

* * *

It was just before sundown as Kendra bowed low in respect before entering through one of the large double doors that led into Illuminar's grand cathedral. The sheer size and scope was incredible. Its highest was point hundreds of feet tall, and that was just on the inside. Even the lobby's ceiling towered 100 feet over her head.

It looked like a seven pointed star when seen from above, and the points of the star were nearly 200 yards in diameter. At night, a massive bonfire was lit on each point to illustrate how Illuminar's light shone through even the deepest darkness.

Every inch of the temple was made from the most expensive marble in the ten kingdoms. The only things not made from solid gold were the items made from silver. The walls were adored with majestic stained glass windows, magnificent tapestries, and opulent paintings. The size and grandeur were designed to impress Illuminar's majestic and supremely powerful nature into all visitors.

It worked.

There was barely a whisper in the lobby, though over a hundred people were scattered throughout the space. Everyone spoke in hushed and reverent tones that barely carried to their intended recipient

Kendra walked through the lobby and down a hallway so grand it would put most palaces to shame. The hallway led into the main sanctuary, which was arranged in a huge circle. Up above, a massive circular stained glass portrait of Illuminar looked down through the domed ceiling.

She smiled at the thought of Him watching down on her. If He was half as wonderful as she thought -- as everyone said -- then He would be with her on her quest. She looked around the edge of the rooms until she saw a lantern hanging above a confession room. She entered and sat down on the marble bench inside the tiny room.

"Bless me father, for I have strayed from the light. It has been... many days since my last confession."

"Tell me my child," A voice came through the thin fabric screen.

"I have killed many men in the service of the Emperor, long may he reign."

"Long may he reign," The priest echoed.

"I have harbored anger and bitterness in my heart for--" She stopped as she heard the sound of movement from the other side of the fabric. There was the sound of whispering, then receding footsteps, then silence.

"Hello Kendra." A familiar elderly voice came through the fabric screen.

"Luminar Kossel." She grimaced and then added with no humor. "Strange coincidence meeting you here."

"There are no coincidences where Illuminar is concerned. I was in my prayers this morning when Illuminar told me to keep watch for a soul who has lost her way, for she would visit us here this evening."

"Uh-huh." Kendra tried unsuccessfully to keep the skepticism out of her voice.

"My child, must we continue this dance every time?"

"Only until you explain how you always know I'm coming. I hadn't decided myself until an hour ago."

"I answered that question before you asked."

Kendra leaned back on the stone bench and exhaled heavily. "I'm sorry; I just have trouble believing Illuminar cares enough to send an angel to tell you I'm coming."

"If Illuminar doesn't care enough to help His servants, then why would you come to seek His blessing?"

Kendra sighed; how did he always know? She checked her mental defenses and only after confirming they were as strong as ever did she reply. "How did you know?"

"Illuminar."

She dismissed that explanation out of hand. "You must be the most cunning and skilled telepath in the ten kingdoms to read my mind like that."

"My child, may we skip our usual dance just this once. I'm not getting any younger you know."

"You're also not getting less cryptic," Kendra retorted.

"Privilege of the elderly," Luminar Kossel said with a chuckle. "We talk and the young must listen because to do otherwise would be impolite. Now, what can I do for you my dear?"

"I was hoping for..." She sighed again. "For a blessing."

"Oh?"

"Didn't Illuminar tell you all this?"

He chuckled again. "My dear, He doesn't work that way. To tell us everything would rob us of the joys of discovery. Now, what would you like this blessing for?"

"I'm going hunting again," she fingered her dragon tooth necklace.

"Ah, let me guess; a steel grey dragon and his wood elf companion."

"I thought Illuminar didn't tell you everything?"

There amusement in Luminar Kossel's voice as he responded. "He doesn't; I keep up with the news and have a little common sense. So why ask for the blessing now?"

"I've been out of the game for a couple years now, and a little extra help would be good."

"In all that time, have you formed a single human connection?" Luminar Kossel asked. "Have you done anything but hide in dingy taverns, eavesdropping for the latest news without ever interacting with anyone unless forced?"

Kendra opened her mouth to respond, but no reply came to her. How did he do that? How did he always know?

"I thought so," he said. "Do you know Saidow's favorite trick for entrapping unsuspecting souls?"

"I know you're about to tell me."

"The Book of Light says, 'pity the man who falls with no one to help him up'."

"Fortunately, I'm not a man."

He ignored her comment. "Loneliness has a way of eroding the soul. Get thee some friends Kendra; life is better when shared."

"I know." Kendra let herself slouch on the stone bench ran her hands through her jet black hair. At her mentor's insistence, she never fully trusted anyone, even Falkaan himself. The only exception to that rule had been taken from her by... She touched the largest dragon tooth on necklace again. She missed having someone she could fully trust.

"I understand what you're saying and even agree. I just don't know where I could find someone like that. My former occupation doesn't lend itself to trusting anyone."

"Then you're in luck," he said. "Illuminar has a message for you."

"I know, walk the path of light and don't stray into the darkness."

"That too; but this is a more personal message, meant specifically for you."

"Oh?"

"Illuminar told me to tell you something." Luminar Kossel said. "He said that one day soon, someone will save your life. In fact, they will kill you once and then save your life twice."

"Wait, what?" Kendra frowned. "How does that make sense? They're going to kill me, then save my life twice?"

"My dear, I'm merely relaying the message," Luminar Kossel said. "Illuminar also says that the one who kills you and then saves your life twice will be someone you wouldn't expect. He wanted you to know that this person -- whoever they are -- is worthy of your unconditional trust. They will be a true and trustworthy friend no matter what happens."

Kendra blinked several times and realized her mouth was hanging open.

"I don't believe it." She said simply. "In what world would the great God Illuminar Have a personal message for me? Doesn't He have bigger problems and more important people to take care of?"

"That's a matter of perspective," Illuminar Kossel replied. "The greatest things in the world are often created from the ordinary lives of ordinary people; it's from there that great changes are wrought. Besides, He's big enough to care about everyone without neglecting world events."

She shook her head. "If He cared so much about us, then He wouldn't have let the world go to shit."

"Or maybe the fact that the world has 'gone to shit' proves He does love us."

Kendra snorted derisively. "In what universe does that make sense?"

"Again, perspective my dear," he said calmly. "Assume for a moment that Illuminar is exactly as powerful as we believe Him to be. Couldn't He stop all the pain and suffering with a snap of His fingers?"

"That's my point."

"Yes, but at what cost?" he countered.

"I don't follow."

"It's as if Illuminar -- by virtue of His great power -- had a will-breaker ring on every creature in the world. He could use that control to prevent every evil deed from ever happening... but what would that make Him?"

"A tyrant; will-breaker rings are banned for a reason."

"Ah, that's the rub," Illuminar Kossel said. "If He allows people to use their free will for nefarious deeds, we curse Him for allowing evil. If He prevents the evil by limiting our free will, we curse Him for being a tyrant."

Kendra rolled her eyes. Same old Kossel; always preaching. "Yeah, I don't see it that way."

"Few people do," Luminar Kossel said kindly. "But back to the matter at hand, Illuminar does care about you. And He did have someone deliver a message directly to you because He cares."

"I would love to believe that." Kendra said with complete honesty. The idea that a benevolent, all-powerful being was watching out for her personally and cared for her personally was wonderful if she could realistically believe it, she would have.

He continued. "When this person -- someone you wouldn't expect -- saves your life, just remember this: they are your best chance in this life for true friendship and someone you can trust implicitly."

"Truly?" She asked, though she didn't believe it was possible. It just seemed too good to be true.

"Truly," he said, but then his voice grew serious. "But He also gave a warning with the message. If you squander this chance, you may not get another. Don't waste it."

* * *

If Beth felt like walking to Ethan's ravine in the forest had taken a long time, it felt like walking back to Arcanum took even longer. She had initially enjoyed the hues of purple that made up the Astral Plane. Now -- after over a week there -- she never wanted to see that color again.

During the long walk, she'd occasionally removed Aharown from its scabbard -- which was now secured to her belt -- and swung the blade around experimentally. It felt natural in her hands, like the hilt had been made for her, yet it felt almost unnatural to swing it; like it wasn't meant for her. It hadn't felt that way when she'd cut the dark halo off Ethan's head. But now, it just didn't feel right in her hands.

"It knows," Gabriella observed.

"What?"

"Aharown knows that it has served its purpose in your hands, and it's awaiting its new master. That's why it doesn't feel quite right in your hands anymore. I felt the same after I used it to cut you free from the tendril."

"That makes sense in a strange kind of way," Beth said as she returned Aharown to its scabbard. "Who is the new master?"

Gabriella looked back at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Right, you can't tell me." Beth sighed; why was she so cryptic all the time? It was very frustrating.

As sunset drew near, Gabriella led her to one of the tall spires that dominated the center of Arcanum. She entered one particular spire which was heavily guarded at the bottom by over a dozen soldiers and half as many mages. Gabriella led her through the massive steel-reinforced oak door and up a long spiral staircase.

They went up a veritable mountain of steps. Every so often, they would reach a small landing, each one with several more guards. Finally, they reached the top and walked through a wooden door.

Her Jaw dropped.

They were in a library, but not just any library. The room was very large, nearly as large as the audience room in her father's estate. Every inch of the walls was covered with book shelves. The fading like of dusk through the windows above plus a few ornate chandeliers were enough light to read.

The shelves were filled with dusty old tomes bound with thick leather covers. Most of them were very large and the room had an ancient feeling to it. Something about the books seemed to scream 'ancient, mystical power'. It was like stepping into a room where some great force lay dormant, merely waiting to be called upon.

"Where are we?" Beth whispered.

"The Arch-Mage's library."

Beth's mouth fell open again. The blonde teenager looked around the room in awe. She'd heard stories about this library. It was supposed to contain books with the most powerful spells and enchantments in the Ten Kingdoms. It was said that anyone other than an Arch-Mage would have to pay a king's ransom to spend even an hour in this room.

To be here now...

She wanted to read everything. She was extremely well versed in magical theory, having read everything she could find on the subject. However, she was extremely short on practical application and couldn't do much more than move her mana around. But the theory, the knowledge; it was like...

Like...

There were no words.

She deeply wished that she could be in her body again so she could smell the books. The smell of a good book was one of her favorite things in the world. Unfortunately, she was dead and without a body right now.

"Yes, but not for long." Gabriella answered her thoughts.

"Oh?"

"You'll see." The luminous woman smiled. "For now, there's something my Lord would like you to read."

Beth's face split into a wide smile. "What?"

She led the teen over to a solid table that had a single book laying open. Beth looked at it, and it seemed to be describing what the Astral Plane looks like when astral projecting. It seemed clear to Beth that the writer had only heard of the astral plane, and had never actually visited it.

Near the end of the page, it read this.

"Of the many skills that a mage of our kind doth learn, it behooves for them to master this one. For verily, it doth become a truly powerful skill for a mage who's possessed of its learning. The manner of commencing the feat of astral projecting is thus. First, you must entirely--"

That's where the page ended.

Beth looked at Gabriella. "I can't read the rest."

"Of course you can dear, you just need to turn the page."

"But I can't. My hand goes right through anything I try to touch."

Gabriella reached down and gently pushed the book so that it slid an inch on the table. "You can do the same, it merely takes concentration and practice."

"But how?" Beth asked, then rolled her eyes. "Wait, let me guess; you won't tell me?"

"So certain are you?"

"Will you?"

Gabriella chuckled. "You'll never know unless you ask."

"Will you please tell me how to turn the page?" Beth asked politely.

Gabriella bowed. "Absolutely, I would be delighted to."

"Really?'

"I do like helping people you know." She nodded. "Now, the trick is willpower and concentration. You need to concentrate on the idea of making your fingers solid. The more of yourself you try to make solid at one time, the harder it will be. Best to start small with only one finger.

"Okay. I can do that. What next?"

"That's it." Gabriella smiled. "It's that simple. Now you just need to practice, which you can do now. I need to leave until morning anyway."

"You're leaving?"

She nodded. "I also have two assignments to complete, but I will be back tomorrow morning."

"Okay, and you're sure I can do this?"

"Absolutely positive." Gabriella smiled. "And my Lord promises that learning this skill will allow you to save Ethan's life several times over the next several days."

"Really?" Beth cocked her head to one side. "Being able to turn a page?"

She nodded. "Now, I must depart. I need to bump someone's elbow and deliver a message before dawn."

"Bump someone's elbow?"

Gabriella nodded with a twinkle in her eye, then turned and walked out of the room.

Beth sighed then turned back to the book. She poked it with her finger, which predictably passed right through it.

"Willpower and concentration huh?" The blonde teen mused to herself. That didn't sound too hard. If all she had to do was concentrate on making her finger solid, she didn't think it would take long.

She stared at her finger for a moment, trying to think only about it being solid, then poked the book again. There was the briefest, fleeting moment where her finger felt solid, then it passed right through the book.

She frowned.

She took another few moments to clear her mind, then stared at her finger willing it to be as solid as marble. Then she reached out and tried to move the paper again. This time, she didn't even feel the book's resistance as her finger passed right through it.

She tried again, this time concentrating with all her might the entire time. The page wiggled slightly before her she was momentarily distracted by the words on the page, after which her finger passed right through it. It seemed the trick was maintaining full concentration the entire time.

She sighed.

This could take a while.

* * *

"No?" Ethan repeated Alana's answer to his proposal. "I thought..."

"You thought right, I just..." Alana's eyes appeared to be watery. "I'm sorry, but we can't. Not right now. I want to but..."

He stood up, and she opened her mouth to speak, then closed it and turned away toward the sunset. She leaned against the ship's railing and stared at the beautiful colors. Unsure what to do, he waited several seconds and then joined her.

"It wasn't supposed to happen this way," she said, still not looking at him. Her hair hung at just the right angle so he couldn't see her face. "I was supposed to meet a nice elven man, fall in love, then we'd be bonded, have lots of children and live happily ever after. That's what happens in all the stories."

"Of course, those stories can get pretty hairy in the middle."

"True." She said, then silence fell for several moments.

"Why?" he finally asked.

She finally turned her face toward him. She wasn't crying, but the corners of her eyes looked moist. "Lord Borden. You have so many enemies already, and if he finds out you married me a week after Beth died..."

"Oh." He had completely forgotten about Beth's father. "I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, that could look... that could be bad."

"It just occurred to me when you--" She smiled; it was a pained smile, but genuine. "--when you asked me to marry you." She opened her arms for a hug, which he gladly gave.

He held her for a minute, then they parted and both turned toward the sunset. They watched with his arm around her waist until the sun had sunk beneath the horizon. The sky slowly turned from a mosaic of red and orange to the somber grey-blue of twilight.

They didn't speak.

There was nothing to be said.

Ethan felt like he was Charlie Brown, life was Lucy, and Alana was the football; every time he'd get close to her, life snatched her away. He pounded his fist into the railing, which startled her.

The look on her face was at once heartbreaking because of its sadness, yet encouraging because she truly understood how he felt. He glanced at their bond and discovered... something else under the emotions he expected.

"Lord Borden isn't the only reason, is it?" he asked.

Alana glanced around the Argo, and then replied telepathically. *Not really.*

*Then what?*

*It's... um, it's a sort of complicated topic involving my parents."

*I thought they died,*

*They did, but um...* She trailed off, then said aloud. "What's going on with those two?" She nodded her head toward Anthiel and Raklan on the main weatherdeck, who appeared to be having an argument.

As if on cue -- possibly even like she had been waiting for a break in conversation -- Rachel climbed onto the weather deck looking concerned.

"Hailey's not back yet," she said running her hands through her flame colored hair.

Ethan glanced at the sky, which was fast abandoning twilight and becoming night. "Do we know where she is?"

"She said she had an errand to run and that she'd be back after dark," Alana replied.

Rachel grimaced. "Something's not right. I should never have let her out of my sight."

"Oh?" Ethan and Alana said at exactly the same time. They exchanged a glance, then an amused smile.

"I swear you two were made for each other," Rachel smiled and rolled her eyes at their synchronous response. Then a more serious expression covered her face and she turned toward Ethan. "You weren't around most of the time she was on the Argo. She was certainly happy to escape being a slave, but she was hiding something."

"I agree," Alana added. "I ran into her in the hold just before we left for the market and she kept telling me..." her cheeks grew slightly pink, "that's not important, but she was evasive."

"She was in the hold?" Rachel asked. "Let me guess, she wanted a weapon?"

"A knife," Alana nodded.

Rachel frowned, folded her arms, cocked her head to one side and stared off into space.

"You're thinking something Rachel, and you're usually spot on," Ethan said. "Spit it out."

"When she left, what direction did she head?" Rachel asked Alana.

"Toward the Arena, why?"

Rachel nodded. "Did she say why she wanted a knife?"

"Something about the city being dangerous, why?"

Rachel took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "Arcanum does have some seedy areas. But except for petty theft, the market and docks are mostly crime free. They're actually quite famous for that."

"Uh-oh," Ethan growled under his breath.

Rachel nodded. "Did you notice how she would throw murderous glances toward The Arena when she thought no one was looking?"

"Revenge?" he asked.

"I think so."

He growled. "It never goes smooth; why does it never go smooth?"

"It gets worse," Rachel added. "Her former owner is the son of the magistrate and she's still legally your slave. If she kills him, you'll be held partially responsible for not keeping better control of your 'property'."

He let out a frustrated growl. "Please tell me that's all the bad news for today."

He caught a flicker of emotion over his bond with Alana, then she exchanged glances with Rachel. Neither of them said anything.

"For heaven's sake, just tell me."

"Elder Goman told me that Lord Delmar is trying to turn humans into dragons to use as soldiers. By all accounts, he's making some headway."

Ethan let loose a stream of expletives that would've made a sailor blush. "It would be easier to assault Mordor head-on and throw the One Ring into Mount Doom than deal with all this shit."

Alana and Rachel looked confused.

"It's from-- nevermind." Ethan sighed. "We can't let her kill him. The magistrate would flay her alive."

"Not to mention us." Anthiel said as she joined them on the quarterdeck.

"Does anyone know where the champion lives?" Ethan asked. "Does anyone even know his name?"

"I don't remember the name, but he lives on a large estate just off the Arena," Rachel answered. "My father took me to meet a previous champion years ago and he told me champions are given the mansion near The Arena to live in."

"We'll never make it in time," Ethan looked over toward The Arena and recalled their first trip to Arcanum. It took a long walk to get close.

"We can't, you can." Rachel said.

Alana poked his folded wings.

"Climb to the top of the crow's nest and take off from there," Anthiel suggested looking at the sky. It was now quite dark as twilight had faded into night. "It's dark enough now that you shouldn't cause a panic."

"How will I know what building?"

"It's the only large building near The Arena," Rachel replied. "Look for the largest, most ornate room with the best view. That'll probably be where he sleeps."

"May Illuminar speed you on your way... and be careful," Alana said.

Ethan nodded and turned to Rachel. "Can you hold onto this for safekeeping?" He held out the engagement braid, which she took and tucked into a pouch on her belt.

Ethan sighed and made for the ratlines. Not long after he was perched on top of the crow's nest. He stretched out his hand and his war hammer landed in it. It didn't seem prudent to confront an armed woman hell-bent on revenge without a weapon of some kind, and his spear would be unwieldy indoors

He glanced down at Alana. She was still on the quarter deck and was looking back at him with a mixture of worry and pride.

*What?* he asked telepathically.

*You rush headlong into danger for people you barely know. You're the best man I've ever met and I love you for it. Just make sure it doesn't get you killed, okay?*

He smiled. *I'll be fine. Hailey only has a knife and no one will be looking for me.*

Alana nodded, then he spread his wings and took off into the night.

* * *

It was already twilight by the time Kendra left Illuminar's Grand Cathedral. Her talk with luminar Kossel had given her plenty to think about. In her entire life, she had only had a single friend. Just one, and a dragon had taken him from her years ago.

The idea of really trusting another person...

She sighed wistfully; that would be heaven.

She would love to know even a single person whose motives she wasn't constantly second guessing. To be able to let her guard down, to be able to sleep deeply and peacefully instead of keeping one eye open... As she glanced around the entrance, the scores of happy couples with their families jumped out at her. To be able to trust someone like that... to be able to have that...

It sounded like heaven on earth.

Unfortunately, she didn't live in heaven; she lived in the real world were--

"Lady Arant," someone called.

Kendra turned fast enough to react but slow enough not to attract suspicion. Falkaan only used her real last name when he needed to send an urgent message to her. A youth, probably not yet out of his teens, ran up struggling with a long box that was nearly as tall as he was, and about eight inches square. He was wearing the uniform of a city currier.

"Lady Arant, I have a package and a letter for you," the currier said, offering both. Kendra took them and tipped the currier for his services, then he ran off.

The letter said:

"Our bird returned to the roost earlier today. He also acquired a seed from the Arena Champion, who apparently has an excellent taste in feed. Perhaps you should inquire where we could find such excellent feed from him. I have sent a gift for you to present to the Champion in exchange for such information. --Falkaan"

Kendra smiled as she read the coded message. So the Dragon was back in Arcanum, and he had won a slave from The Arena's champion. Falkaan was right; a closer inspection of the Arena champion's estate could prove useful.

She checked the corner of the box. Her jaw dropped as she saw the small image of a stylized bow burned into the wood.

She blinked

A Dragon Slayer.

He had sent her his Dragon Slayer.

If Falkaan had sent it by currier, he must suspect the dragon would show up tonight. Give how rare and powerful they were, most people could save gold their entire lives and never be able to afford half of one.

To trust it to a currier...

Falkaan almost had a sixth sense about his quarry. It's what made him the best tracker on the entire Praetorian Guard, not to mention other organizations that weren't spoken of in polite company. She was never able to figure how he did it, but he was unerringly accurate in his predictions about his quarry's movements.

She suspected he knew some enchantment or spell he used to get this information, but was never certain and he deflected every question she'd ever asked about it.

If he thought the dragon might show up at the Arena Champion's estate, it probably would. Plus, now she was armed with a weapon equal to fighting a dragon.

She smiled.

* * *

Ethan spent as much time gliding silently and as little time flapping as he could. But even so it only took a few minutes for him to reach The Arena. He flew quite high the entire time, hoping to stay out of sight of the people below. The view from up there was just as breathtaking as from the Argo, possibly more so.

One sight stood out among the rest. The massive building shaped like a seven pointed star with a dome in the center. Torches and bonfires adorned the outline of the structure, making it look like a blazing sun in a sea of blackness. Something about it looked vaguely religious and he wondered if it was a temple or cathedral.

Thanks to his incredible dragon night vision, finding the mansion was easy. It was the only large building close to The Arena and almost looked like a castle. He circled it several times looking for a likely window or balcony. Eventually, he settled on a corner balcony on the third floor that looked larger and more impressively decorated than the rest.

He circled a few more times, waiting until none of the guards were looking before swooping in and landing on the balcony. He landed as quietly as possible, and waited for the shout of the guards.

Thankfully, none came.

He crept toward the windows. One of them was already open, so he peered in.

Hailey had tied the champion spread-eagle to the bed with what looked like expensive scarves. He was gagged and struggling with all his might, but she had done an excellent job and he couldn't move much. Hailey herself was tracing the tip of a large knife over his chest, leaving a faint line of blood behind.

"Hailey." Ethan called as loudly as he dared while he climbed in through the window.

Both the champion and Hailey snapped their eyes toward him. The Champion instantly started trying to shout through the gag, probably pleading for Ethan to release him. He was so thoroughly gagged, it came out as muffled grunts. Hailey had a look on her face that Ethan had never seen before.

It was pure, unadulterated rage.

Not the 'I'm-going-to-lose-control-and-break-something' kind of rage though. It was a quiet, deadly, and calculating rage that simmered and bubbled like the lava of a volcano before erupting. It was hot in its intensity and powerful in its strength.

"Hailey, what are you doing?"

"Correcting a karmic oversight." She hissed.

"That's not your job Hailey, leave that to the law."

"There is no law for bastards like this," she poked the champion with the tip of her knife, drawing a few drops of blood. "His father is the Supreme Magistrate and he's rich as creases." she put the tip of her knife by his throat. "He can ignore the law, but he can't ignore me,"

There was feral intensity to her voice; a passionate undertone that belied the apparent calm in her words. It was the ultimate 'silent but deadly' tone of voice, at a level he'd never seen before.

He took a step forward.

In response, she applied a little pressure to the man's neck with her knife-point.

"I'd stay there if I were you."

"Okay," he stopped mid-stride. "But you don't want to do this."

"No, I really think I do," she growled.

"Then why haven't you?"

Hailey faltered for but a moment, then her resolved returned.

"Think about it Hailey, how long were you here before I showed up?"

"Ten or fifteen minutes," she replied.

"That's ten or fifteen minutes in which you could've killed him, but didn't."

"I wanted him to suffer first."

Ethan sniffed the air. There was the stench of urine and shit in the air, and a quick glance at the champion's groin revealed the source. "He has suffered; he's literally scared shitless."

"Not enough, it'll never be enough."

"What did he do? What's so horrible that he deserves this?"

Hailey worked her mouth, but no sounds came out. It seemed like she had so much to say that she didn't know where to begin. "He's... He... I..."

Hailey's face was still a mask of rage, but tears were beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. There was a massive well of pain behind the rage.

Ethan relaxed his body language and took a deep breath, hoping to calm her down. "What did he do?"

Hailey trembled and her hands started shaking. She removed the knife from the champion's throat, and it was also shaking like a leaf in the wind. Though, whether it was from rage or some other emotion he couldn't tell.

"He..." Hailey took a deep breath, then lifted her shirt enough that Ethan could see a long, slightly jagged scar running across her stomach.

It was right over her womb.

"I was five months before he found out," she spat, pointing the knife at the champion threateningly. "Apparently, pregnant slaves don't work hard enough, so he had..."

Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she sniffled. Her whole body was shaking with rage and sorrow.

"Are you happy now asshole?" she touched the point of her knife to his chest, and he scrambled to get as far away as he could, which wasn't very far. "That baby was all I had left of... of... and you..." the venom in her voice rose with her anger. "You murdered my baby because it was inconvenient for you. How. Dare. You."

"What he did was unforgiveable, but you can't just kill him," Ethan said.

"Oh, I wish that's all he did," Hailey's voice suddenly became quiet and deadly again. She put the knife to the champion's throat. "I'm going to take the gag off. If you cry for help, if you utter a single sound without my permission I'll stain the sheet red without a second thought. Understand?"

The champion nodded and Hailey pulled the gag down.

"Now, tell him what else you did," she hissed.

"I, I don't know what you--" he stopped abruptly as she pressed the knife a little harder against his neck.

"Oh yes you do."

"Hailey, maybe you could..." Ethan started to say, but stopped when Hailey moved the knife a fraction of an inch, making a tiny bead of blood appear on the champion's neck.

"Tell him what you did the last time you lost in The Arena. Now," Hailey hissed again.

"I... I was upset and... and... I took a few of the servants to bed. That's all I did, I swe--"

"Liar," Hailey snapped.

Quick as a flash, Hailey pulled the knife away from his throat, stuffed the gag back into his mouth and stabbed the knife into his leg. It only went in a couple inches, but the champion howled in pain -- or that's what he tried to do, judging by the muffled sounds coming through the gag.

Ethan took a step forward to stop her, but Hailey wrenched the knife out of the leg and returned it to the champion's neck. He stopped squirming almost instantly and Ethan froze.

"Tell him how you raped half the maids," Hailey hissed, the vitriol in her voice dripping with venom. "Tell him how you tortured those poor girls; tell him."

Hailey pulled the gag back out of his mouth, grabbed his hair, and twisted his face to look at Ethan.

"I might've been a little rough, but I--" the champion whimpered, but Hailey twisted his hair tighter and pressed the knife harder into his throat.

"You arrogant, self-righteous bastard," she said slowly and clearly with a voice that was still shaking. "Do you even remember the one ones you killed? Do you remember Ketera? How about Silvette? Torana? She was the kindest, sweetest girl I've ever met and you... you..."

In his entire life, Ethan had never seen someone possessed of such rage, such fury, and such raw, unfiltered wrath. He had heard stories of the avenging furies from mythology that would strike vengeance upon wicked men. Somehow, he doubted even his own dragon-powered rage way back in Lord Borden's vault could compete.

And he wasn't sure she was wrong.

Given what the champion had done, he had half a mind to encourage her, but still... cold-blooded murder? There was no doubt he deserved to die -- none whatsoever -- but if Hailey killed him right now, in this frame of mind...

"Hailey, you don't want to do this," he said.

"Give me one good reason."

"You'll never forgive yourself."

Hailey laughed. "There's no need to forgive myself taking out the trash."

"What about your baby, is this what it would've wanted?"

"I guess we'll never know."

"What about the father?" Ethan asked. "What would he want?"

"I..." Hailey trembled slightly and bit her lip.

"What was his name?"

"Jason. His name was Jason," she said. "He uh..."

"What was he like?" Ethan prompted.

"He, he was a yoga instructor and the best man I ever met," a slight smile crept onto her face. "He could turn anything into a joke and he was the worst tease, but in the best way."

"Oh?" Ethan said, trying to keep her talking.

"Yeah. He called me Slick and I hated that nickname; but the way he said it was so endearing, you know?"

"Sure," he nodded. "How did you meet?"

Hailey looked down and didn't quite meet his eye. "I um, he caught me picking his pocket. He said I could keep the wallet if I used it to buy him a drink."

"I thought he was joking, but that was the best date I ever had. I slipped out when I thought he wasn't looking. That's when I realized he'd lifted my wallet. He left a note on the back of his card saying I could get it back on our second date."

"Wow, that's quite a story," he smiled in spite of the situation.

She seemed to be calming down; her hands weren't shaking so much and her body language was more relaxed. The champion had a look of disgust mingled with fear, but at least he was smart enough to stay silent.

"Yeah, he was... he was something else." Hailey smiled; while the smile was genuine, it was also filled with pain.

"Hailey, what would Jason want you to do here?"

She looked down at the champion, who was still bound. Her rage had fizzled out, but she was still angry. She looked at the knife, then at the champion, then back at the knife. She reluctantly removed it from his neck and let it hang loosely at her side.

"He wouldn't want me to bloody my hands for scum like him," she admitted. "He always said I had artists' hands, and they should be used to bring beauty to the world."

Ethan weighed carefully. Hailey was clearly feeling much saner, but was also still teetering on the edge of rage. He took a cautious step toward her and she didn't react badly.

"Can you get out of here the way you came in?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Why don't you go back to the Argo, I want to have a few words with this asshole."

Hailey nodded again, then slowly walked towards the balcony and out of sight. Once she was gone, Ethan turned back to the champion. With Hailey gone, his demeanor changed entirely. Even while tied to the bed, he sneered at Ethan like he was pond scum beneath his noticed.

Ethan decided it was time to wipe that smug smile off his face. He leaned over the bed until his face was mere inches away from the champion, and then deactivated the disguise gem.

The Champion blanched.

"Listen to me," Ethan hissed, allowing a slight sibilance into his speech. "You are the worst kind of scum imaginable. I have half a mind to finish what Hailey started. But you won't get away with it. I'll notify the law and you will pay for your crimes."

The Champion recovered his composure slightly, sized Ethan up, then scoffed. "Dragon shit. That bitch didn't have the balls to kill me and you don't either. Just wait until my father learns about this. He'll have your ship and crew hauled before the court and you'll be forced to watch everyone you love die, except Hailey; I have special plans for her."

"GUARDS!" He shouted,

Ethan jumped back from the bed and reactivated his disguise gem; he couldn't be discovered here.

The champion smiled wickedly. "I'm going to tie her up and find her best friend Vienne. See, most people don't think I know, but I do. I'll make Hailey watch while I--"

Those were his last words.

The Champion's speech was abruptly cut off by Hailey's knife embedding itself in his skull. Ethan whipped around to see Hailey standing on the balcony with her throwing arm outstretched.

She stood there as if turned to stone.

Outside, Ethan could hear the sound of armored feet running. He ran to the balcony.

"Hailey, Hailey!" He said as he gave her a slight shake. "Snap out of it!" she seemed frozen, her eyes staring unblinkingly at the Champion's corpse.

"I... I didn't..." she barely got the words out; she was clearly in shock.

Ethan weighed his options. There was no way he could fly while carrying Hailey and she was in too much shock to leave herself. He had maybe a few seconds before the guards burst into the room.

If he was discovered here, it would put everyone on the Argo at risk, including Alana. If he left, Hailey would be at the mercy of the guards. As awful as it was to leave her behind, he didn't think he had another good option.

Either she was caught, or they both were.

* * *

Kendra found a roof near The Arena Champion's estate and hauled herself up onto it. She pulled the Dragon Slayer out of its box and -- not for the first time -- marveled at the craftsmanship that went into each one. She ran her hands over the surface of the bow and caressed it lovingly.

This one was special.

Unlike most Dragon Slayers which were made from wood, this one was made from dragon steel. It wasn't cool to the touch like steel; it was almost warm. She smiled at the number of dragon scales that must have been melted down and forged together to make a bow of this size. Given the price of dragon scales, it probably cost a king's ransom to make.

It was incredibly light; easily as light as a wooden bow, perhaps lighter. It just felt right in her hands, like it had been made specifically for her. There were only a handful of smiths in the Ten Kingdoms who could work dragon scales into dragon steel. Fewer still could then forge the dragon steel into something useful. Their complete mastery of their craft certainly showed.

She activated her strength-enhancing leather vambraces and strung the Dragon Slayer bow. It wasn't easy even with the added strength of the enchantment. It would've been impossible without them, and drawing or shooting the bow would be equally impossible with their aid.

She pulled out one of the arrows and hefted it in her hand. They were made of tempered steel and weighed far more than a regular arrow. Without a bow like a Dragon Slayer and its powerful enchantment, they were simply too heavy to be useful.

At the back of the arrow, there was a short crossbar just in front of the fletching. This would ensure the arrow didn't just pass completely through the dragon, which would allow it to heal the wound. The sharp barbs that faced backwards on the arrow's head would make it very difficult -- and extremely painful -- to remove by pulling it out the way it had entered.

She slipped the arrow's tip through the rectangular slot in the center of the Dragon Slayer -- which allowed for the rear crossbar to pass through -- then knocked the arrow, sat down, and waited.

She didn't wait long.

A few minutes later, she heard a shout from the Champion's estate. Less than a minute later, a man jumped off the third floor balcony but he didn't fall. Quite the contrary he rose in a jerky up-and-down motion that Kendra would've recognized in her sleep.

It was a dragon flying with a disguise gem.

She raised the Dragon Slayer, took careful aim at its black heart, and let the arrow fly with a smile on her face.

* * *

Ethan's left shoulder felt like it had exploded and been dipped in molten lava at the same time. Moving his left arm or wing made white-hot jets of pain shoot through is whole body. That was a serious problem because he was a hundred feet above the cobblestone street.

*Ethan! What happened?!" Alana's panicked voice rang out in his head.

Too preoccupied with the pain to answer, he let out a strangled scream of pain as he dropped like a stone towards the unyielding streets below. It didn't take a genius to realize that unless he did something, he would become chunky salsa when he hit the pavement.

He had already lost half his altitude.

With a monumental effort, he gave his wings an almighty flap, slightly redirecting and slowing his fall. It dramatically slowed his descent, but the pain in his arm and wing doubled... and that was before he hit the steeply-pitched roof of the building below him. He saw stars even before the impact.

CRASH!

He hit the steeply-pitched roof traveling almost straight down. Unfortunately, the arrow that was still embedded in his shoulder twisted around in the wound like it was the devil's own pitchfork heated to red hot by the very fires of hell itself.

He was only dimly aware of rolling down the roof. On instinct, his good arm and legs scrambled to grab something -- anything -- to slow the tumble. It didn't do any good; his claws couldn't get any purchase.

He fell over the side of the roof into a pitch black alley, and then completely blacked out form the pain.

* * *

*Ethan! Ethan!* Alana's voice shouted through his head.

*Ow, not so loud,* he managed to reply. His entire body felt like a heavyweight champion's punching bag after a long training session. His head felt especially awful, thanks to Alana's constant mental shouting. Though she had woke him up, so he was grateful for that.

*Thank Illuminar! What happened?*

*Arrow... hit, as I was... was flying back.* Ethan screwed up his eyes trying to focus through the pain.

He was lying on his face in what appeared to be an alley, the handle of his war hammer laying under his face quite painfully. The alley was only a few feet wide and quite dark. Any movement at all, even just inhaling, hurt. He didn't seem to have any broken bones; at least, nowhere other than his shoulder.

He looked at his shoulder.

A steel arrow was embedded up to a steel crossbar which had prevented it from going straight through. He briefly considered trying to pull the arrow out, but discarded that idea because it was painful to just breathe. Thankfully, he wasn't bleeding too badly.

There was a pause, then Alana said with more fear than he had ever heard in her voice. *Describe the arrow.*

He did, another moment's silence -- which he assumed was her relating what he'd said to Rachel -- then she responded. *Holy mother of Ithlan... You have to get out of there; NOW!*

*Why?* he said as he struggled to his feet. The long steel arrow stuck out behind him, making it painful to turn, breathe, or even just stand. The arrow's own weight sticking out of his back meant it pulled into the already excruciating wound.

*Because that's a Dragon Slayer arrow,* she replied. *The emperor's personal guard uses them to hunt dragons. No one else is allowed to use them by law, and they are relentless. They'll be there any moment.*

*Where should I go? I can't...* Ethan glanced at either end of the alley and winced as the movement delivered a fresh round of searing pain to his shoulder. *I can't make it back to the Argo like this, it's too far.*

*Go to Illuminar's Temple and ask for santuary.* she replied. *it's your only chance.*

Ethan took a single step and nearly screamed in pain. His motion had jostled the arrow, once again making his shoulder feel like a medieval torture device. He stumbled to the ground, jostling it even more. He clamped down on his jaw as hard as he could to avoid screaming in pain. Even then, he let out a growling croak.

*That's the building... it looks like, like... like a sun from above right?* He grunted with the effort of getting the words out clearly, even though they were sent telepathically.

*Yes, and you have to hurry.*

Ethan gave up on trying to walk on two legs and instead settled for walking on all fours; or rather three of the four legs. It was all he could do to not let his left arm drag on the ground. The arrow jostled slightly less while walking this way, especially if he was careful.

A quick glance backwards revealed his warhammer lying in the alley behind him. With some effort, he summoned it to his uninjured arm. Not sure what else to do with it, he carefully transferred it to his other hand. It didn't hurt too much to just hold the warhammer in that hand, and he figured he might need it if he ran into a dragon hunter.

A minute later he had made to the end of the alley. He'd almost blacked out from the pain twice.

The alley opened onto what looked like a fairly main road. Despite the lateness of the hour, the streets where still fairly busy and he instantly attracted a lot of attention. His disguise gem was still active, but a man crawling on all fours with an arrow sticking out of his back and a war hammer in hand did draw a lot of attention.

He tried to remember what direction Illuminar's temple was in, and headed off that way. There were hushed whispers and people started walking around to avoid him. They stared the whole time, but no one got close.

"Help," Ethan gasped. "Please help."

No one did.

They just stared.

He would've given them the finger if he could. However, his other arm couldn't take the weight and they probably wouldn't understand the gesture anyway.

Stupid world.

*Are you okay?* Alana's voice rang out in his head.

Ethan took a particularly bad step and winced as pain shot through his whole upper torso. *I have an arrow in my shoulder and the emperor's dragon hunters are trying to kill me. How the hell do you think I'm doing?*

*I'm sorry, I didn't... I didn't mean...*

*No, I'm sorry for snapping like that.* He hung his head and soldiered on. He winced as he took another bad step. *You didn't deserve that... forgive me?*

*Always,* she replied. *Rachel, and I are on the way. We'll be there as soon as we can, but you have to get to that temple. And stay off the main roads; you don't want to attract attention.*

"Now you tell me." Ethan thought, then made for what looked like a side street.

It was going to be a long night.

* * *

Taloni woke from her sleep with a strange, almost disembodied ache in her left shoulder. A quick check revealed that her shoulder was fine, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong somewhere.

She brushed her honey-blond hair from her face, closed her eyes, and looked at her bond with Ethan. They'd only bonded three days ago, but it felt like much longer. She could already feel a tiny presence in her mind that hadn't been there before. She knew it was him, but only rarely could she get a sense of what he was feeling.

It was hard to be sure, but it seemed like he was in serious pain. The emotions were so fleeting -- and so hard to feel -- that she almost felt like she was making it up. However, when she thought about that pain in her shoulder...

Something was wrong.

She sat up in her bed looked around. Most of the other unmarried women who didn't have family in the camp were quartered here. Prayla was there too, snoring so loudly a passer-by might have mistaken the sound for a camp of lumberjacks working midday.

She grabbed her copy of the Book of Light -- which no one had ever tried to take from her since it was written in the Fey language -- and headed outside.

She sat down near one of the torches, opened it up to the book of songs, and began to pray for Ethan and read in equal measure.

* * *

It took Kendra fifteen minutes to find the spot where the dragon had crash-landed. She was hoping to find an injured dragon -- or better yet a corpse -- but had no such luck. She did find a trail of blood drips and smudges though, and immediately set off following it.

She tracked it onto the main road, but the trail turned onto a side street rather quickly. The trail of blood slowly thinned and then nearly stopped altogether.

She cursed the extra time she'd taken to hide the Dragon Slayer in one of her hidden caches. She couldn't be seen walking around with it, but the time taken to hide it might have allowed her prey to escape.

"Illuminar, please help me find him." She prayed and then stopped short.

While the blood trail had been weaving a winding path, it was unmistakably headed in the direction of...

She did some quick mental calculations. Given how long it had taken her to reach the blood trail, and the likely speed of an injured dragon, if she hurried she could intercept it off before it reached Illuminar's temple and was given sanctuary.

She ran.

She concentrated on her breathing as she pushed herself harder than she'd done in a long time. The whole time, her dragon-tooth necklace bounced up and down against her upper chest. Her legs began to complain, but the gentle bouncing of the necklace was all the motivation she needed to keep going.

That damn dragon was going to die.

A couple minutes later, Kendra arrived in the large plaza that surrounded each of the seven entrances to Illuminar's temple. The seven entrances were positioned in between the seven points of the star, and the area between those points created seven large, triangular plazas.

She scanned the crowd, but -- as expected -- didn't see the dragon or his disguise gem form. She grimaced and looked around for an easily-climbed building to get a better vantage point.

Twenty seconds later, she was perched atop a single-story building that aligned with one of the seven points of the temple. She scanned the two enormous plaza's visible to her. They were still mostly full of people despite the relative lateness of the hour.

Evening services had probably just let out.

After several minutes of looking, she spotted what she was looking for. On the far side of the right hand plaza, a cluster of people had drawn away as one from something that was slowly moving toward the temple.

She smiled.

She activated her strength-enhancing vambraces, jumped off the roof, and rolled through her landing to come up running. Less than a minute of threading through the crowd later, she arrived at the source of the disturbance and scowled. It was some kind of jester act with midgets.

She grimaced and ran back to her building lookout. As it turned out, that lost time had cost her dearly. No sooner had she returned to her single-story perch, than she spotting another disturbance at the far end of the other plaza. Even from this far away, she could hear the gasps and cries of shock.

The disturbance was well over halfway to the temple.

She swore and leapt off the building again. As she ran, she pulled out a throwing knife, determined to let it fly the moment she had an opportunity. She didn't need to wait long. There was a good twenty foot circle where no one stood. In its center was a man with a Dragon Slayer arrow sticking through his shoulder.

Kendra smiled, drew back her arm, and whipped the knife forward, determined to finish the job that the arrow had started. The moment before her knife released, someone in the crowd jostled her elbow, upsetting her aim, but only barely. She spared a moment to glare at the woman who had upset her aim. She looked young with extremely old eyes, and hair that almost glowed it was such a bright color of blond, or maybe white.

The razor sharp knife whirled through the air toward the dragon.

* * *

Despite the pain, Ethan allowed a small smile onto his face as he neared Illuminar's temple. He had just forty more feet before he would enter it.

His right leg exploded in agony.

He howled in pain, but it came out more like a roar... and he was a dragon. As one, the crowd took a fearful step back and then many of them turned and fled.

The pain was too much and he fell onto his right side. A quick glance revealed a throwing knife sticking out of his leg. Fortunately, the blade was aligned with the direction of the muscles, so while it hurt like hell, his leg still worked. He looked around for the knife thrower.

She was hard to miss.

The recently thinned crowd had stepped away from her too. She looked... dangerous. It wasn't just the arrow in his shoulder or the knife in his leg that convinced him of that either. There was something about her posture and bearing that just screamed 'lethal'.

She stood perfectly relaxed, yet coiled like a serpent ready to strike. Her eyes were as cold and dispassionate as the arctic wind and looked just as ready to kill. She was neither tall nor short, thin nor muscular, pretty nor plain; she just 'was'. Everything about her appearance seemed designed to blend in. She was the kind of person you would see in a crowd and completely forget moments later.

At least under normal circumstances; right now she was pretty damn unforgettable.

Her jet black hair was tied back in a ponytail and her skin was heavily tanned, but not in a bad way. Her lips were curved in a wicked smirk as she drew another throwing knife seemingly out of thin air.

Ethan did the only thing he could think of; he hurled his war hammer at her hoping to distract her.

It didn't work.

She merely leaned out of the way before standing back up and cocking back her throwing arm for another throw. He called the hammer back to his hand, and it reversed course in mid-air moments before it would've hit the ground. The hammer slammed into the back of the woman's left knee, causing her to lose her balance and drop to the ground.

Ethan summoned all of his will power, every last reserve of strength, and every ounce of fortitude. He yanked the dagger out of his leg, dropped it, and began sprinting toward his last hope of salvation: the massive double doors leading into Illuminar's temple.

One of his claws gained purchase on the cobblestone and he took off like a shot -- a very painful shot. It felt like his shoulder and leg were about to fall off. His thigh burned like a white dwarf star and only took the abuse for moments before giving out.

"Sanctuary!" he shouted as he leapt forward with his good leg and flew through the air. He crashed into the side of the massive double doors to Illuminar's temple and slid inside.

He saw stars.

He was vaguely aware of being dragged forward by his good arm. The entire world was spinning around him as he hovered on the edge of consciousness. The pain dragged him toward the abyss; his will to survive clung desperately to the waking world.

It was a whole minute before the world began to make sense again. He could hear an argument from somewhere nearby. A woman's voice was trembling with rage, but was met with a calmer voice that sounded like an older man.

"I demand you release him to me!" the woman shouted.

"Kendra, you know all those created in Illuminar's image are entitled to sanctuary in His--" The man replied, but the woman cut him off.

"Illuminar's image my ass. He's a fucking dragon!" the woman shouted.

Ethan opened his eyes. Someone had dragged him inside the temple and he was lying on the floor just out of sight of the argument. He craned his neck to get a look. The woman -- Kendra -- was speaking to an elderly fellow dressed in priestly robes. Kendra saw his head and moved toward him, but the old priest blocked her.

"Can he speak? Can he reason?" the priest asked. "That he sought and asked for sanctuary proves both, therefore he is made in Illuminar's image and will be granted sanctuary."

"Kossel, I don't care if you're a Luminar. If you don't get out of my way, then I swear I'll--"

Kendra's word died on her lips as Luminar Kossel's body language changed instantly. Even from behind, he suddenly seemed larger, more imposing. The air seemed alight with a powerful tension, as if some great force was being restrained.

"You'll what?" he said in a quiet, deadly tone.

Somehow, the old man's words came across like a threat. Kendra took a small, involuntary step back as the priest's arm fell to his side. It wasn't a threatening gesture, but his words had quite the effect on her. She glared at the priest and Ethan before turning and storming away

The priest stared after her for a moment, shook his head, and then turned toward Ethan. "Hello there my young friend. Don't worry, you'll be alright."

He groaned as he tried to pull himself up.

"Rest easy son, you've had a busy day," he glanced at Ethan's wounds. "You're fortunate to be all in one piece."

"Thanks Obi-Wan," He smiled wryly, recognizing the Luminar's words mimicked the famous Jedi sage from the original Star Wars. He then let himself drop back to the floor, grateful he didn't have to move.

"Rest." Luminar Kossel said as he touched his hand to Ethan's head. Suddenly, sleep didn't seem like such a bad thing and his eyelids felt like they weighed a solid ton. He closed his eyes and let the pain and exhaustion carry him into the waiting arms of Morpheus.

As he drifted off, he could've sworn he heard Luminar Kossel whisper: "Obi-Wan Kenobi; Obi-Wan. Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time... a long time."

* * *

Hailey laid on the floor of her prison cell exactly where she had fallen when the guards had thrown her in. She hadn't gotten up or readjusted herself to be more comfortable. In fact, she hadn't moved at all.

She laid there with her eyes alternately screwed tightly shut and wide open. In both positions she was trying to chase the image of the champion's lifeless eyes from her vision.

They wouldn't leave.

Why wouldn't they leave her alone?

She had been halfway across the room when he died, but she could see them. Something behind them had disappeared. She had snuffed his life out like a candle in the wind. That's what she wanted, what she'd worked towards for so long; why didn't she feel better?

Instead of feeling elated he was dead, all she felt was a void in her soul; a great emptiness. It was like someone had taken a giant spoon and scraped out her insides. She felt hollow, lifeless; like an empty shell.

Why didn't she feel better?

Those eyes, those haunting, lifeless eyes wouldn't go away. It was like someone glued them to the inside of her eyelids or attached them in front of her face. Everywhere she looked -- eyes open or eyes closed -- they were there accusing her.

What had she done?

She could feel a tear form in her eye, but she knew it wasn't for the bastard. Maybe it was for herself? She thought about Jason, the baby, and everything else she had lost.

Jason...

What would he think of her now? She was a cold blooded killer and he had been...

The tears started flowing faster and she couldn't stop them.

What had she done?

She tried to imagine Jason; his smile, his infectious laugh, his light and carefree personality. But this time she couldn't imagine him smiling at her. Not after what she'd done. She thought imagining his face would give her some satisfaction, some reprieve from her demons. She was wrong.

It made them worse.

She finally understood what they meant by digging that second grave when you seek revenge: it's because murder is the gateway to hell. For the first time ever, she wished she could turn the clock back and be a slave again.

There was a soft knocking on the door to the prison cell.

She ignored it.

She ignored everything.

She heard the door swing open but didn't move. Someone entered and she heard the sound of sloshing water, but she still didn't budge. Someone nudged her with their foot, but still she remained as she was.

Whoever had entered sighed. "Ah, let me guess: you've just killed someone in cold blood for the first time."

She turned.

It was an elderly fellow with gray hair, a wispy beard that probably would've been white if was clean, and very sad eyes. His clothes were threadbare and judging from the chains on his feet, he was a prisoner too.

"How did you know?" Hailey whispered.

He raised his eyebrow, then jingled the chains around his ankles. "You need to talk about it, right now."

She shook her head.

The elderly fellow knelt down by her head. "Look at me. Really look."

She did. He had a faraway look in his eyes. It was the haunted, lonely look of someone who given up on life; of someone whose spirit had all but died, but their body soldiered on. He looked almost empty; lifeless. He looked like she felt. He looked like his insides had been scraped out too.

"Now," he said wearily. "Do you want to end up like me?"

She shook her head.

"I know you wish you could go back and change it." He spoke as if he could read her soul; as if he'd been in her position before. "When you realize you can't, you'll look for something -- anything -- you can do to make up for it."

"Can I?" she asked.

"Not in this place." He shook his head then glanced toward the city. "Maybe out there, who knows? I'd give my life for a chance to make even a small difference in the world."

He looked at her.

She looked back.

"Will it get better?" She asked.

"No." He shook his head. "Nut in time you'll learn to live with it. That time will come sooner if you talk about it."

She nodded. "Okay."

* * *

"Ethan. Hey Ethan. Wake up sleepy head." Alana stroked Ethan's scaled face as he made sleepy noises. She marveled at how smooth his scales were no matter which direction she stroked. They were curved and seem to fit together so that even when her hand was going the 'wrong way', it was still smooth.

"Hey, wake up sleepy head," she whispered.

Ethan stirred, leaned his face into her hand, and gave a soft sigh. On a dragon, it came across as more like a low growl but without any menacing quality. It almost sounded like a cat purring. He blinked several times.

She beamed at him. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You should stay a while."

He groaned. "Sounds like a plan. Where are we?"

"Illuminar's temple; you're safe." She replied looking around at the small, but clean marble room. It was made from the same white-ish marble as the rest of Illuminar's temple. Above them, a delicate lamp in the shape of a sun held several candles that gave the room a soft, almost romantic glow.

Ethan flexed his newly healed arm and leg, moving as if to get the kinks out.

"The healers tended your wounds and cut the arrow out of your shoulder,"

He nodded and sat up on the bed. "Remind me to say thank you."

"I will," she bit her lip. "I thought I'd lost you."

"Yeah, I thought I was a goner."

"What happened?" Rachel asked from behind the wood elf.

He explained about the night's events up until he'd passed out. They both listened intently and Alana couldn't help but notice something.

"This Kendra person sounds eerily similar to someone we know," she mused.

Who?" Ethan asked.

"Serif," Rachel replied. "Just the way you describe her and the feeling you get from her. Do either of you get that from him?"

Alana nodded. "A little, especially when Raklan gets out of hand."

"Hmm, I wonder--" he began to say, but the door opened and he fell silent.

Luminar Kossel walked in with a smile on his face. He was definitely older -- maybe late fifties or early sixties -- but also clearly in very good shape. His balding head was covered in a small round cap and the long white robes he wore had a blazing sun on the front.

"I hear congratulations are in order." He beamed.

"For what?" Alan said confused.

"It's always worth celebrating a wedding." Luminar Kossel said as if it was self-evident.

"Who's getting married?" Rachel asked with a very confused look on her face.

"That would be our young dragon friend here and..." He glanced back and forth between Alana and Rachel, before settling his eyes on Rachel. "...I would assume you, as he's already bonded to this lovely young woman," he indicated Alana before making a thoughtful sound. "A dragon with two wives; you don't see that very often."

Ethan and Rachel glanced at each other and both started laughing.

Luminar Kossel smiled, and then joined them by chuckling. "Apparently I was mistaken," he turned to Alana. "Congratulations on your wedding my dear."

"I'm not... I mean we're not engaged or anything."

"And yet Illuminar asked me to come down here and perform a wedding that has apparently been long awaited and much anticipated."

They all stared at him.

"You don't want to be married?" Luminar Kossel asked the couple.

She glanced at him and felt her cheeks get slightly warm. "I would, I just mean that there are... obstacles."

"Unfortunately, yeah." He agreed.

"Like what obstacles?" Luminar Kossel asked.

They briefly told him about their bonding, Beth's death, and what Lord Borden's reaction would be if they got married a week after Beth died. He listened patiently until they were done.

"I see," he said when they had finished. He then turned around, closed the door to the room, and turned back to them. "Better?"

"Huh?" Ethan and Alana said at the exact same time.

"I won't tell Lord Borden, and I assume you three won't either," he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper and said with a twinkle in his eye. "I'll even whisper the ceremony to prevent any of Lord Borden devious spies -- who also happen to be priests -- from finding out."

Everyone chuckled.

Alana looked at Ethan, unsure what to do. *Thoughts?* she asked telepathically.

*He makes a good point but... Well, but nothing; he makes a good point.*

She beamed.

"Ethan, let me ask you a question," Luminar Kossel said. "Illuminar told that right before you came to this world, you asked for two things. What were they?"

"Um..." Ethan closed his eyes and cocked his head to one side as if thinking. "I was really upset about my life and I wanted... I said -- I wasn't really talking to God, just wishing out loud -- but I think I asked for a fresh start and the perfect woman for me? Or something like that?" he opened his eyes and shrugged.

Luminar Kossel spread his hands, gesturing to the temple around them as if to indicate the new life he had here. Then he pointed both hands to Alana.

"No... no way," Ethan breathed. "That's impossible."

Luminar Kossel raised one eyebrow.

Alana felt her heart swell as she got choked up and her eyes got watery as she looked at Ethan; her Ethan. Her sweet, wonderful Ethan. "Really? You really asked for that?"

"Yeah." He nodded and telepathically said to her: *How could he have known?*

*I suppose he could be a powerful psychic and he read your mind,* she replied. *But true psychics are rare and to be that powerful... I don't know.*

"Alana," Luminar Kossel said. "Illuminar also mentioned you asked for two things right before you met Ethan. What were they?"

"Um..." it was her turn to think back. She had just finished infusing her trees with mana for the day. I had been hot, sticky, and she'd realized that unless something changed, she was going to be doing this for the next two hundred years; give or take.

She had sighed, looked up to the heavens -- to Illuminar -- and she'd said... she'd said...

"I think I asked for a family, like a really big family. I wanted some sisters and a man who..."

Her jaw dropped.

"A man who?" Luminar Kossel prompted.

Alana's brain seemed to have locked up. She could feel the thoughts running through her head, but she couldn't grab hold of them. It wasn't possible, and yet... And yet... It was just an idle wish to Illuminar. She hadn't lit a prayer candle, given alms, or gone to a service. She had just let her deepest wish pour out, thinking He would never answer.

"Alana, a man who what?" Ethan asked tentatively.

"I wanted a man who was different than everyone else, who would be the best man I'd ever meet."

"You got your wish," Rachel said. "A man's mind in a dragon's body, who does everything he possibly can to help others, even when it costs him dearly."

"I... I don't believe it." Alana looked at Ethan, then at Rachel. She'd asked for sisters too. While Rachel wasn't exactly a sister, she was certainly the closest thing Alana had ever had to having one. Plus, she could easily see herself getting close with Taloni.

*This guy is either the real deal; or the world's greatest master manipulator and a psychic taboot,* Ethan said telepathically. The awe in his thoughts mirrored the feelings coming over their bond.

"It sounds like you both asked Illuminar for the deepest, most desperate desires of your heart and He answered your prayers," Luminar Kossel said. "To be sure, it didn't look quite the way you expected; but answers to prayer rarely do."

Ethan and Alana stared at each other.

"You're telling me that Illuminar cares enough to haul Ethan to the Ten Kingdoms from worlds away, just so he could meet Alana?" Rachel asked.

Luminar Kossel just smiled at her, and then turned to the happy couple. "Now, about that wedding..."

Ethan nodded and stood up.

"Oh, here," Rachel pulled out the engagement braid from a pouch on her belt and handed it to Ethan. He turned to Alana.

"Please," The wood elf held out her wrist as she felt like her heart would burst with happiness.

Ethan fumbled with the spell for a whole minute before he managed to magically fuse the ends of the braid together to form a single continuous braided bracelet around her wrist. She couldn't help but smile as she looked at it. She was officially engaged to Ethan.

Engaged!

Her heart felt like it had inflated to fill her entire body. If you could die of happiness, it would've been a funeral instead of a wedding.

"Ethan, please take your beloved's hands," Luminar Kossel said.

Ethan's scale-covered fingers gently grabbed hers and pulled them up. It was insane; totally insane to even consider marrying a dragon. The only thing that dragons loved more than imposing their will on others is power, as Drousin had both said and demonstrated countless times.

But this was Ethan.

Her Ethan.

She looked into his cat-like eyes and the sight melted her heart. He adored her; she could see it in his gaze and feel it over their bond.

Luminar Kossel cleared his throat. "Do you Ethan, with full knowledge and consent; take this woman, Alana, to be your wife in the covenant of marriage? Do you swear to keep and provide for her all of your days, committing to treat her with honor, love, and respect in all circumstances to the best of your ability, and allow only death to separate you?"

There was a moment, an infinitesimally small moment between when the Luminar finished speaking and Ethan hadn't opened his mouth to reply where time seemed to stand still. For that precious moment, she and Ethan stared into each other's eyes as their hands were joined. Words were completely inadequate to describe how they both felt.

"I do," he said emphatically. "I definitely do."

Luminar Kossel turned to Alana. "Do you Alana, with full knowledge and consent, give yourself to this man -- er, dragon -- Ethan, to be his wife in the covenant of marriage? Do you swear to follow and obey him for all of your days, committing to give yourself only to him and to treat him with honor, love and respect in all circumstances to the best of your ability, and allow only death to separate you?"

"With all of my heart, I do," she said, and she had never been happier to commit to anything.

Ever.

"Then by the power vested in me by the Great God Illuminar -- Blessed be He -- I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ethan, you may kiss your bride."

Ethan put his hand on the small of her back and tugged her forward. Her entire front pressed up against him as he drew her close. She was acutely aware of how small she was, and how much taller he was. She was also aware of his powerful muscles pressed up against every inch of her.

She waited with baited breath as she remembered that she had never kissed a man before. What if she wasn't good at it? What if he didn't like it and didn't want to kiss her again?

She couldn't meet his gaze anymore and looked down.

He touched the underside of her chin with a single finger and slowly, but firmly pulled her chin up. She didn't resist his gentle pull. He traced his finger up her cheek, back towards her ear, around its pointed tips, and finally through her hair to rest his hand on the nape of her neck. His light touch sent shivers down her spine, which somehow ended in her loins.

He was about to kiss her.

Oh God, he was about to kiss her.

Her breath caught in her throat. Why was she this nervous? There was no reason to be this nervous. It was Ethan.

He pulled at the nape of her neck, drawing her face inexorably closer to his. She didn't resist; she couldn't even if she wanted to. He was strong, muscular, and held her by the back of the neck. He was utterly in control of her, and she had just sworn to follow and obey him.

That turned her on so much.

Why did that turn her on?

She sighed as his face inched closer, time almost seeming to slow down. His hand drew her face ever closer to his, and she realized he wasn't going to kiss her; he was going to make her kiss him. She felt a familiar itch between her legs at the thought.

Their lips met, and any hesitation or reservation she felt completely disappeared. It was wonderful. His lips were soft but she could also feel his smooth scales around her lips. Ethan's tongue played with the inside of her lips, and on instinct she opened her mouth to admit it. His forked tongue caressed the inside of her mouth and swirled over her own tongue.

It was heavenly.

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling her body up against him as hard as possible. She wanted to be closer, to feel more of him. Without meaning to, she began to gently rock her hips against his, each motion sending little jolts of pleasure through her body.

In the background, she heard Luminar Kossel say something to Rachel about leaving. After which there was the sound of footsteps, a door opened and then it closed. They were completely alone.

*Ethan*

*Yes?*

*We're newly married and completely alone in a room with a bed.*

Ethan growled; it was a low throaty growl that was dripping with primal lust; it almost made Alana begin dripping herself. He picked her up with their mouths still pressed together and nearly threw her onto the soft bed, breaking their kiss.

He stood over her, disguise gem off and cock out. It was so long, and the shaft was as thick as her wrist. Of course, she was a wood elf so her wrist wasn't that big; but still, he was huge. She couldn't imagine how something so big could possibly fit inside of her, but she was determined to try.

Ethan slid one of his claws out, reached down to put it between her breasts, and in one smooth motion sliced it down the front of her dress. She yelped in surprise and made to cover her newly exposed breasts and pussy as the dress fell away in two halves. She had never been so glad it was self-repairing.

"Move your hands," he commanded.

"Yes sir," she meant to say it sarcastically, but something went wrong. Somehow, it had come out full of reverence and deep respect as she obeyed her husband. She couldn't figure out why, but it just felt right to address him that way. She even liked the way it sounded rolling of her lips.

And then there was the fact that he had ordered her to remove her hands. For some reason, the fact that he had given her a command made her want him all the more.

* * *

Ethan wasn't sure where this new commanding streak had come from, but he was glad it had come. Alana slowly let her hands drift away from her breasts and pussy. They drifted upward and she crossed them above her head, fully exposing her naked body to him for the first time.

It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

No exceptions.

He thought it was almost a crime against nature to have kept such a perfect body hidden for so long. If someone had created an image of the ideal woman from his imagination, it would've been Alana. Her hourglass figure, deceptively long legs, and the magnificent sensuality of her pose turned his cock into a rod of granite.

The look on her face was a combination of a rapturous smile -- a perfect smile -- and a woman possessed. The lust on her face and the feral intensity in her eyes spoke of long-repressed desires she was desperate to have met. Her hair was splayed out on the pillow under her head, framing her face in a sea of chocolate brown waves.

Every inch of her skin was absolutely flawless and looked sun-kissed. It was like she spent her life in pursuit of the perfect suntan, yet she achieved it without effort.

Her body was amazing.

On her left shoulder -- long hidden by the dress she always wore -- was a small, round birthmark slightly larger than a quarter. It was dark grey-brown and looked vaguely like tiny dragon scales. Oddly, this 'flaw' didn't detract from her beauty; it only enhanced it.

And there was a lot of beauty to behold.

Her breasts rose as two small, hills against the backdrop of a flawless chest. She arched her back to give them more prominence as his eyes roved over them. Their peaks were small, but perfectly shaped and surrounded by an areola that God Himself must've designed.

Her waist was narrow, so narrow that Ethan was pretty sure he could fit his long fingers around it if she sucked in her gut. Lower still, her hips flared out to complete the ideal hourglass figure. She seemed to catch his gaze going lower, and spread her legs to give him a better view.

Her pussy was completely bare, except for a thin layer of nearly transparent peach fuzz. Her inner folds glistened with moisture and were naturally spread apart as if in invitation. Ethan was no stranger to porn and had slept with a few women in his life. Even so, he had never seen a pussy that was in the same league as the sublime perfection in front of him.

He sat down on the bed next to her. She moved so he could sit, but the moment he had, she pressed her body up against him. She sat up and he pulled her into another soul-searing kiss. She kissed him with abandon, seemingly not content with the full body contact and a French kiss. Without breaking the kiss, she twisted around and slid one of her slim legs across his lap so she was straddling him.

Time seemed to lose all meaning.

For a near eternity, they kissed and caressed each other until they had to stop or risk asphyxiation.

"Hi." He said as he touched her cheek with the back of his hand.

* * *

"Hi yourself." Alana replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and stroking the horns that gracefully spiraled like an antelope's out of the back of his head. Down below, she could feel his cock brushing against her stomach. Looking at it, it just seemed too large.

*Are you sure it will fit?* she biting her lip.

*Yes.* he replied without hesitation.

She felt her heart soar at the thought of finally having him inside of her. Her arousal made her hyper aware and she could feel her pussy producing more wetness to prepare for him. With her whole body and soul, she ached, she longed to fully unite with him; finally. She opened her mind and let those desires wash over their bond.

He growled in desire.

The wood elf could feel his cock grow slightly at her yearning. It was now making more than just light brushing contact. It was huge. If he would fit inside of her, he would fill her up completely. She shuddered in pleasure at the thought.

*May I please... sir?* She wasn't sure why she added the 'sir', but somehow it felt right to do so. She thought about sinking down slowly, her weight forcing his cock to spread her pussy lips so she could welcome him inside of her. Finally.

*Absolutely.*

He stroked his hands across her back, triggering a little zone on either side of her spine that drove her absolutely crazy. His long forked tongue came out and began alternately teasing her right and left nipple. It was a feathery touch, but it felt like heaven to Alana and she never wanted him to stop.

She reached down and touched his cock. It was the only part of his whole body -- except the lips -- that wasn't covered in scales. She gave it one gentle stroke, then got up until she was crouched with Ethan's cock at the entrance to her pussy.

*This is it,* Alana thought.

*No, I think we're just getting started,* he winked.

She chuckled, took a deep breath, then started to sink over Ethan's cock. It pushed her nether lips wider than she imagined possible. She had barely taken half the head and it was already getting hard to go down further.

She let herself sink a bit lower, pushing him a little deeper. He was stretching her so wide it almost hurt. She tried to sink down a little more, but it actually started to hurt.

*Holy mother of Ithlan; you're huge.* She thought

*Are you okay?* he asked.

Alana nodded.*We are so doing this, even if it takes me all night.*

*Stop if it hurts though.*

She nodded.

The pain had subsided, so she let herself sink a little lower. It hurt again, but not as much. She let herself sink a little lower. Her nether lips were stretched to the utmost, to the point she felt like she would split in half if his cock spread her any farther. However, they didn't and she finally felt the head of his cock enter her virgin pussy.

It felt like she had a massive log between her legs. The sensation was simultaneously exquisite and slightly painful.

*By Illuminar that feels amazing.* She thought to Ethan.

*You aren't kidding.*

She let herself sink a little further. Some primal part of her brain relished the exquisite sensation of being stretched to her core. Ethan was forcing her inner walls apart as she slowly sank down and it just felt right. It felt right because she loved Ethan with all of her heart, and that primitive part of her brain loved having his cock spread her.

She felt it hit upon a barrier inside of her and she stopped. She loosed a breathy exhale as she relished the sensation of him inside of her. She didn't want to go farther just yet, so she slowly gyrated her hips so his cock applied pressure in new ways and new places.

*Yeah, I'm not going to last much longer if you keep doing that.* Ethan thought to her.

*What makes you think I want you to?* she sent a massive wave of arousal over their bond, while simultaneously French kissing him and more vigorously gyrating on his cock.

The effect was immediate.

Ethan groaned in pleasure as she swirled the head of his cock around in her pussy. His pleasure flooded over their bond and sent Alana's already heightened state of arousal into overdrive. The flood of sensations wiped out the last of her trepidation, and with it, all of her tension.

Her pussy finally relaxed fully and the pain completely disappeared. He seemed to sense it because he grabbed her hips and literally pushed her down. She felt his cock stretch her hymen to the limit, then it broke.

She was his.

He had taken her offered virginity, and that thought seemed let all of the tension drain from her. Her legs turned to jelly. With Ethan pushing her hips down, she felt his cock nestle up against the entrance of her womb mere moments later. It felt like he was so far inside that he was nearing her breasts, but of course he wasn't quite that deep.

Alana had never felt so full in her entire life.

Full of life, full of love.

Her life seemed complete.

Without conscious effort, she felt herself begin to rock her hips. With every new motion, his magnificent cock sent shudders and shivers throughout her entire body. It felt right for her to pleasure him so. All thought of her own pleasure melted away. She just wanted to make sure he enjoyed himself.

She gazed at the magnificent dragon in front of her. What else could she do but pleasure something so far above herself? He was such a majestic creature and she owed him her unquestioning devotion and obedience...

Wait, what?

She shook her head trying to clear it.

It was no small feat with Ethans' cock sending wave after wave of intense pleasure to her brain, and other places...

Her nipples felt harder than diamonds and her pussy imitated a waterfall. She could actually feel her wetness dripping out of her as his cock moved inside of her. Her legs were jelly and her arms like limp vines; yet still she rocked. She didn't think she could've stopped even if she wanted to.

She didn't want to.

She felt a powerful need welling up deep inside of her; the need to pleasure her master...

Wait, what?

Her master?

She shook her head trying to clear it again, but the waves of pleasure flooding over her didn't make it easy. Somewhere deep down, she knew a shift had taken place; a shift in her mind, a shift in her heart, a shift in her very soul.

She felt like she belonged to Ethan.

Not like a wife belongs to her husband; it was more than that. Yet it was also something less than how a slave belongs to their master. She felt like Ethan 'owned her', but not in a bad way. For some reason, she found that very comforting and loved the idea. She knew he would recoil at the thought, but that's how she felt.

She sighed as she continued her tender ministrations. He was deep inside of her; his wings had come out and spread around to completely envelop them. They were completely alone, inside their own perfect little world. Their mutual pleasure had reached a crescendo, but she felt no need to go over the edge. His holding her like this was just perfect.

She wanted to be his, truly and deeply his.

The Dragon had other plans.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt the dragon's compulsion try to make it more than that; to make a true master/slave relationship. The Dragon -- not Ethan, but the Dragon -- wanted to dominate her and make her his slave.

She refused.

The Dragon's will seemed to be made of the finest steel and it wouldn't budge; but then neither would she. She would belong to Ethan because she chose to belong to him. He would 'own' her because she chose him as her 'owner'. She would be his helper, companion and lover; but never a slave.

Despite The Dragon's best efforts, she would not budge on this point. She had once heard that only one in ten million could ever match willpower with a dragon and not fail.

She didn't fail.

The Dragon, seeming to sense a battle that it couldn't win. It finally ceased trying to influence her and retreated. Finally free to enjoy her wedding night, she gazed deep into Ethan's eyes as her passion built to an even higher plateau.

* * *

Ethan simply couldn't believe what was happening as he stared back into Alana's eyes. He'd had sex before, but this... this was something else. She had completely relaxed into him as she continued her slow, gentle rocking. There was something there -- a deep, implicit trust perhaps -- but whatever it was, it was absolute and completely without hesitation or reservation at all.

"Please sir, please make love to me," she whispered softly with a deep and abiding reverence in her voice. At the same time, she gently squeezed her pussy muscles around his cock, heightening his already insane arousal. How he hadn't already gone off a dozen times, he'd never know.

"Why are you calling me sir?"

"Because it feels right... sir," she sighed back. The way she said it was so careful, so innocent. It was full of love, honor, and a level of respect he had never heard in anyone's voice.

Ever.

"Please sir, please make love to me." She leaned back slightly, indicating the direction she wished to go but leaving it totally up to him. He smiled and, without sliding out of her, laid her back on the bed.

She slid her hands around his neck, cradling him softly as she also wrapped her legs around his hips. His cock had slid halfway out as they adjusted positions, so she nudged him forward and into her. However, she did it gently enough that he could've completely ignored her. He didn't, and pushed forward slowly but firmly.

"Thank you sir," she moaned as his cock spread her pussy wide again. The admiration and devotion in her voice was absolute.

She was so incredibly tight and wet. It was like sliding inside a vise lined with frictionless bearings. He glided back and forth slowly, taking his time with long, slow, deep strokes. She sighed in rapture every time be bottomed out, and looked disappointed every time he drew back for another thrust.

As he admired her body, her birthmark stood out to him again. It looked even more like tiny dragon scales up close. He touched it gently with his finger. It felt not unlike his scales, though much softer.

Then she said something that drove all thought of it out of his mind.

"I'm yours," she breathed. It was simple, innocent declaration that was completely devoid of guile. He wanted to ask what she meant, but didn't want to spoil the moment.

*I meant exactly what I said,* she answered. *I'm yours. I'll go where you go; I'll stay where you stay. I will follow you anywhere; to the ends of the earth, to the depths of Saidow's lair, or the courts of Illuminar Himself. I'll be by your side no matter what comes, and no matter what other women you bond to.*

*Alana...* He stopped thrusting.

She gently nudged him with her legs, asking him to continue so he did.

*I can't wait for you to make love to Taloni. She is such a wonderful girl and I know you will take care of her and all the rest of your wives, just as you've taken care of me.*

*All my wives? How many do you think...?* He cocked his head to one side, quite confused.

*As many as you would like.*

As Ethan stared into Alana's eyes, he noticed something had changed. The fire in her spirit hadn't diminished one bit. He knew she would never take any crap from him, and could see that in her eyes.

Yet at the same time there was a new softness; a new acceptance. She looked ready to follow him in anything; in everything. She had decided to trust him completely; to put her faith in him so fully that she would do what he asked, when he asked it. It was scary to see that kind of devotion, yet it was coupled with a level of love and respect that the only word he could think of to describe it was reverence.

As he rocked back and forth inside of her, he realized she truly intended to make good on her word. She would follow him no matter what. Her mind was made up, and he knew there was no changing it; she was just too stubborn and strong willed.

"I do have one request," she murmured as her body fell limp. She seemed to be overcome with pleasure, and yet she hadn't had a single orgasm.

"Name it," he couldn't think of another appropriate response for the level of trust and devotion she had just expressed. He began to thrust a little faster; her pledge had lit a fire in his chest and his balls ached for release.

"Please sir, if Taloni is okay with it, could I be there when you take her to bed for the first time?"

"You want that?" Ethan blinked in surprise but didn't slow down his thrusting. She began to sigh and moan with increasing frequency.

"More than... than anything," her breathes became fast and shallow as she arched her back in pleasure. "But for now, please sir... please make love to me?"

"As you wish," He picked up the pace even more.

Alana's small breasts began to bounce rhythmically as he plunged his cock deep into her body. She was soaked with a light sheer of sweat and was panting. The arousal over their bond reached height he'd never felt before.

"Thank you sir... thank you, so... so much for..."

Her expression of gratitude was cut off as her pussy clenched tighter than he thought possible. Her whole body had seized up so badly it almost looked like she was in agony... then her entire body began spasming completely out of control. His balls begin to boil, ready to release their potent seed into her fertile womb.

Their bond was thrown wide open as her orgasm reached its crescendo. All of her love, all her devotion, all the deep respect and admiration she held for him hit him full force in a single moment.

That pushed Ethan over the edge instantly.

He fired off round after round of cum into her waiting womb. Her pussy almost seemed to milk it out of his cock and draw it deeper into herself. She pulled at his neck and pushed with her legs, seemingly trying to draw him as deep inside of her as possible.

Unbidden, the image of her Alana pregnant with his child came to mind.

For once, Ethan and the dragon were in full agreement. He imagined his sperm making their way to her waiting womb, finding their target and bringing new life into the world. He would breed her, and when she was heavy with child, everyone would know he had claimed her fully.

He imagined her birthing an infant girl into the world, and felt a tiny bit of his mana flow into his cum, giving him a sudden primal assurance she would begin that journey tonight.

He growled in triumph as she opened her mouth in a soundless scream. Her breathing was sharp and irregular, her sighs and moans played a symphony that spoke of untold heights of pleasure. He continued thrusting through all of it, willing the woman beneath him all of the pleasure her small frame could handle.

His wish was granted.

It seemed her orgasm never ended, or perhaps another one began each time the previous ended. She had long since been reduced to a whimpering puddle of exquisite Elven beauty. He continued to thrust inside of her until he felt her thoughts -- few though they were -- begin to fade. It looked like she was on the edge of sleep, either from pleasure or exhaustion.

He stopped and started to pull out, but she whimpered in protest. So instead, he folded his wings, pulled her close, and rolled over so she was lying limply on top of him. As if on instinct, she snuggled into him and then he felt her breathing patterns change, signaling she'd gone to sleep... with him still inside of her.

He panted as the endorphin high receded and he realized he was completely exhausted. His eyelids suddenly felt like they had ten-ton weights attached to them. He wrapped his arms around his wife and let sleep take him.

His last thought before he drifted off to sleep was a silent 'thank you' to whatever or whoever had brought her into his life. He couldn't have imagined a better woman, or one he loved more deeply.

* * *

CHAPTER 11 EPILOUGE

Alana woke in the dead of night, panic starting to seep into her mind at what was going on.

Something was wrong.

She could feel her mana subtly shifting inside of her. Most people wouldn't have noticed, but she had spent years honing her control over her own mana to improve her enchanting. Despite that, her mana was shifting without her moving it. She tried to affect her mana, but it didn't listen to her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move it.

She had no control over her own mana!

She was just about to panic when the tiny mana disturbance settled. Then, she felt something that she had never felt before. It was almost like an extremely faint "pop" in the mana around her stomach. It was so tiny, so subtle that she almost missed it. One moment it was a microscopic maelstrom, but the next it was calm. Then something infinitesimally small began to draw minuscule amounts of mana from the Ether.

Something that wasn't her.

Suddenly, she could move her mana again, all except for tiny area deep in her midsection. It took her several seconds to realize what that meant. When she did, her emotions instantly went from panic to euphoria.

*Ethan,* Alana prodded him both mentally and physically. *Ethan, wake up.*

"Hmm, what?" he said sleepily as he awoke.

"You're going to be a father," she said with a huge smile.

TO BE CONTINUED...

***NOTE: I finally cleared one of the major projects on my plate, which freed up much more time for writing. I'll try to post a new chapter at the end of every month. I make no promises, but so far that seems like a sustainable pace.

Also, thank you all for the encouraging comments; I can't tell you how much they mean to me. ^_^ ***