Thanks a lot, pal! Ariel responded drily. So, what should I do, oh knowledgeable one?

Mandra pushed into his living quarters tiredly. He could not go on much longer like this. His dragon was clawing at him to get to his mate. It needed to claim her. If it didn't claim her soon, he was not sure what he would do. The thought of forcing his mate to do what he wanted was so repulsive Mandra knew he could never do it. Her accusation that he was like the male who hurt her so badly still stung.

He tried to focus on finding his uncle but it did little to distract him. The information they were learning was proving to be graver than he originally thought. In addition, they still had not caught the traitor who poisoned Trelon's little mate. Now, there was information from Ha'ven, the Curizan's leader, that another attempt had been made on one of his younger brother's lives. Ha'ven wanted one of them to meet up with him to defuse a potential up-rising on his home world at the death of Ben'qumain and the rumor the Valdier wanted to go to war again.

Mandra poured himself a drink and took it out onto the balcony. He ignored the light drizzle of rain as it fell slowly soaking his hair and clothes. He leaned forward gripping the stone railing and stared out over the city with unseeing eyes. The nights were torture for him. To hold his little mate in his arms and not claim her was eating at him and his dragon. He glanced down at the amber liquid and wished it would give him some brief respite but he knew there was no amount of liquor that could drown the pain in his heart.

Mandra was so lost in thought he didn't hear the movement behind him. A hot breath of air swirled around him causing him to jerk in surprise. He turned slowly and stood stunned. In the middle of his living quarters was a small, rose and gold colored dragon staring at him. Its dark brown eyes looked soulful and a small cough called to him.

He set the gla.s.s down on the ledge as he moved slowly toward the delicate dragon. His eyes glowed with dark flaming eyes as he stared at his mate. He watched as a slight shiver ran down her body. Her eyes never left him as he moved toward her. She lowered her head and turned it slightly when he stopped in front of her. A soft cough rumbled from her before she rubbed her head gently against his chest.

"Oh mi elila, you are so beautiful. Just as I knew you would be," Mandra whispered tenderly.

He reached out his hand and ran it along her soft scales marveling at the texture of them. He felt his dragon's roar of triumph at his mate's willingness to come to him on her own. His heart swelled with pride at the courage it must have taken her to do this, to accept him and his dragon, and to fight her fear of all the changes.

Mandra whispered words of love as he stroked Ariel. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He vowed to protect her with his life and do everything in his power to make her happy. He would have promised her the moons and stars at that very moment.

He walked slowly around her, touching her gently as he ran his hand along her neck and shoulder. He chuckled when she tried to turn and b.u.mped into one of the small tables, knocking it over. She lifted her right wing and he walked under it, letting his fingers caress the thin membranes as it opened above her. He continued his exploration of her moving toward her tail. She twisted her long neck around trying to follow him as he moved down her body. A series of small coughs and rumbles told him she was enjoying his sensual exploration. Her tail curled at the end swinging up so that it wrapped around his open palm. He rubbed it between his hands before walking around the other side of her and beginning all over again. His hand lingered briefly on the edge of the narrow slit running under her body. A puff of smoke caused him to chuckle again.

"My dragon wants his mate," Mandra murmured in a deep, husky voice. "I am not sure how he will be able to accomplish such a thing in this small area but he is determined he will claim you tonight, little warrior."

Ariel shivered at the dark promise in Mandra's voice. Her dragon was just as determined to be claimed as well. When her dragon suggested letting her take over, Ariel had been afraid at first. It had taken a couple of tries before she finally let go enough so her dragon could complete the full transformation. Ariel was amazed that she was still inside. She felt the same on the inside just different on the outside. A little wilder, freer than she had ever felt before. She wanted to feel the full freedom of her dragon-form. Glancing out the open doors, Ariel decided there was plenty of room for her dragon to fit through it.

Can you fly? Ariel asked mischievously.

Humph! Can I fly? Watch me! Her dragon growled back indignantly.

Ariel utter a small gasp as her dragon used her tail to push Mandra back right before she moved quickly toward the open balcony doors. Ariel felt the cool stone under her claws just as she pushed off the balcony with a swept of her wings. A tiny scream left her as she felt the moment of weightlessness before she realized she was flying through the dark skies. A loud growl and the sound of breaking gla.s.s echoed through the night as she moved away from the palace, heading toward the dense forest.

Chapter 16.

Mandra ran toward the doors of the balcony shifting as he leaped onto the ledge. He growled as he watched his mate soar away from the palace. His dragon's roar echoed as he warned any others to stay clear of his mate. His tail flicked the gla.s.s balanced on the edge sending it to the floor of the balcony where it shattered, much like his control. His dragon would not be denied his claim. Mandra's huge wings fanned out, sweeping through the dark night as he quickly gained on his tiny mate.

Ariel called out for her mate to come to her even as she flew away from him. She was looking for a place where they could be alone but still have room to move without destroying his living quarters again. She flew upward enjoying the cool dampness of the night. The rain had stopped, leaving everything smelling clean and fresh. A light, cool breeze caressed the air and the two moons were visible. One moon was almost full while the other was just a sliver. They were breathtaking from up high. She flew through the clouds that were slowly dissipating. Ariel swept her wings up and down loving the feeling of freedom that it gave her as she soared high above the land. A light nip to her tail let her know her mate had caught up with her. She turned her long delicate neck to look over her shoulder and called out in joy, wanting to share this new experience with him.

"You are beautiful, my little warrior," Mandra coughed out to his mate.

"I can understand you!" Ariel giggled as she swung back around to look forward. "Oh Mandra, it is so beautiful. I never dreamed anything could be like this," Ariel breathed out in awe as she stared down at the shimmering diamonds of light reflected off a small river cutting through a meadow below them.

"Did you ever dream of this, my little mate?" Mandra whispered back right before his larger body covered her smaller one.

Ariel gasped as she felt her tail captured by Mandra's larger one. He twisted his tail around hers causing her to spin in midair until she was upside down. Before she could recover, he pulled her tail to one side at the same time as he used his front and back legs to grab hers. She found herself hanging in midair belly to belly with him. She was about to protest when she felt her mate claim her smaller body with his own sealing them together as one.

"Mandra," Ariel moaned.

"You are mine, Ariel. You and your dragon belong to me!" Mandra groaned out as his large wings pumped the air keeping them both suspended for a moment.

Mandra gritted his teeth as he felt his dragon claim his mate. His dragon refused to wait any longer. The sight of his mate's tail slashing through the air was more temptation than the huge male could handle. Now, it was only the strength of his wings holding the two dragons in place as the male took the female in the age-old dance of possession. The huge male grunted as he impaled the smaller dragon, pushing through the narrow slit and locking them together. Only when he was satisfied would he release her.

The male slowly began a descent to the meadow under them, his huge wings pumping up and down with the skill of centuries of flying. As they neared the ground, he released his mate's back legs but still kept her tail tightly captured in his. He let his huge legs touch the soft gra.s.s covering and pulled his and her tail back to help balance him as he landed. The position drove him deeper into her causing him to roar out. He leaned down and gripped his mate by the neck with his sharp teeth. He tasted the sweet taste of her blood as it flowed over his tongue. Pushing her back until she lay on her back in the gra.s.s, he began rocking back and forth driving deeper and deeper into her with each thrust.

Ariel tried to move but each time she did a deep growl from the huge male caging her smaller body forced her to remain still. Unable to stand it any longer, she folded her wings up using the claws at the center and tips to grip him and began rocking with him. The position locked the two dragons, one sapphire and silver, one rose and gold, together in a wild dance of mating that was as old as time. Mandra's dragon roar out fiercely as his mate gripped him. Her climax exploded around him, milking his seed into her womb with such greed his cry became hoa.r.s.e from the intensity.

Ariel murmured in her sleep. She was a little chilled and wiggled closer to the warmth of the huge body next to her. Something nudged her again and she mumbled in irritation at whatever was trying to wake her up. The next nudge was a little harder and Ariel did what she normally did when her alarm clocks went off before she was ready to get up... she smacked it.

"Ouch!" The deep voice next to her yelped in pain.

"What?" Ariel said jerking her head up and smacking the chin leaning over her. "Ouch! That hurt!"

"Yes, my little savage, it did," Mandra groaned as he rolled over onto his side.

Ariel looked wide-eyed at the huge dragon that was rubbing the tip of his nose with the end of one of his wings. His scales were shimmering and sparkling in the early morning light as it streamed down through the thin cloud covering. Ariel looked around the meadow where they were at in wonder. The knee-high purple gra.s.s swayed back and forth as a cool, gentle breeze blew through it. There was a small river to the far right and huge trees surrounded the meadow acting like a wall.

"Where are we?" Ariel asked swinging her head back around and b.u.mping into Mandra again. "I'm still a dragon!" She said startled.

Mandra affectionately reached out and ran his tongue along Ariel's jaw. "Yes, you are. Are you always so difficult... and painful... to wake in the mornings? I have noticed you do not enjoy waking early but this is the first time I woke you before dawn," Mandra chuckled.

"Be thankful I didn't have my baseball bat next to me. I go through at least two alarm clocks a week," Ariel responded sheepishly.

"If a 'baseball bat' is a type of club, your tail is sufficient enough," Mandra laughed with a quick lick to his mate's lips. "My dragon wants his mate again."

"Again? He took her... me... her like a hundred times last night!" Ariel whispered sleepily. "Tell him to go take a cold bath in the river, I want to sleep some more."

Mandra's dragon growled softly as he nuzzled his mate. She was his and he loved her, grouchy and all. Mandra rose up to look around the meadow. He raised his head, tilting it to one side and listened. A deep, dark menacing growl exploded out of him.

"Get behind me!" Mandra snarled dangerously. "Now, Ariel! Get behind me and prepare to flee if I tell you to."

Ariel rolled to her feet unsteadily and moved behind Mandra who stood up on his hind legs and opened his huge wings. He was looking up and back toward the palace. A movement in the sky above her startled a small squeak out of Ariel as a sleek black dragon came in fast. Only when he landed did Mandra sink back down onto his front legs and lower his wings.

"Creon, what is it?" Mandra growled out annoyed.

"Curizan skimmers have been sighted," Creon growled back. "I have not been able to contact Trelon. He and his mate are missing."

Mandra swung around to Ariel. "We must return to the palace, mi elila. It is too dangerous here for you."

Ariel nodded looking at Mandra with worried eyes. She felt her dragon's response to her mate's protective tone. Something very bad happened.

Ariel closed her eyes and wept in relief. It had taken over a month for Cara to recover but she was going to be alright. That afternoon, Cara had finally come back to them. Her little friend and surrogate sister had been trapped for three days in a cave before she was found and rescued. For Cara, that was essentially the same as burying her alive considering her fear of enclosed places. Cara had withdrawn so far into her dragon-form that there were doubts that she and Trelon would survive. It had been Morian who was able to finally get through to Cara. Ariel didn't know what Mandra's mom said but she would always be thankful for it.

"Mi elila, why do you cry?" Mandra asked huskily as he pulled her up into his arms. "Why are you sad?"

"I... I'm... not sad," Ariel sniffled. "I'm crying because I'm happy Cara is going to be alright and I'm going to be an aunt. I was just so worried about her."

Mandra brushed Ariel's long, blonde hair back from her face tenderly and kissed her lightly. "I was worried as well. I have a surprise for you. We must journey to the Curizan star system. I am needed there. You will go with me."

Ariel jerked back in shock. "We're going to another star system? In a s.p.a.ceship? To meet other aliens?"

Mandra laughed at Ariel's awe look. "Yes. We are going to travel in a warship, to other worlds, and meet more aliens."

"Oh my!" Ariel said raising a hand to her throat. "Will it be safe? How long will it take?"

"We will be gone several months. We have several stops to make before we meet up with Adalard. He is one of Ha'ven's younger brothers. We will be picking him up at one of the s.p.a.ceports along the way," Mandra said pushing the strap on Ariel's top to one side to kiss her bare shoulder.

He moved slowly up her neck. He was about to nuzzle his mark on her neck when he felt something breathing in his ear. Closing his eyes, he inhaled in deeply. Ariel had found another rodent to save. This one was a Kapu. The creature was long and narrow, covered in dark gray fur, had short legs, and liked to climb. Right now, it was climbing up the back of the chair he was sitting in and breathing in his ear. Mandra flinched.

No, right now it was licking him in his ear, he thought in disgust.

"You have a new pet," Mandra muttered in resignation as Ariel looked over his shoulder with a happy smile.

"Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen? He was on the balcony earlier. He was wet, dirty, and scared. I don't know how he got there but after a nice bath, warm milk, and some fruit peels he has been happy as a lark."

Mandra shot his symbiot a nasty glare. He knew exactly where the d.a.m.n thing and all the other creatures that kept 'appearing' were coming from! It was his fault, really. He started it back at his mountain home. How was he to know his symbiot would take it to heart? He thought if he found a few animals in need and brought them home to his mate, she would forgive him. Since then, his symbiot made several trips a day looking for creatures to bring back. So far, they had six Maratts, one Grombot, the Dagu, eight Agouti, the Kapu and three Degus. That was in his palace living quarters alone. He gave up trying to keep the d.a.m.n things out of everything. He found one of the Degus in the shower with him yesterday and woke with the Grombot curled up on his chest this morning.

"What about all the little ones?" Ariel asked as she petted the Kapu who was busy cleaning the inside of his ear.

"I will have them sent to Asim," Mandra said darkly.

His friend deserved it since it had been his idea in the first place to start bringing the d.a.m.n things to Ariel. He could take care of them and protect them while they were gone. It only seemed fitting for the mess Mandra was now finding his life in.

"Can I take some with us?" Ariel asked hesitantly looking at Mandra with pleading eyes. "I'll take good care of them."

Mandra shook his head. "They would not be happy confined to the warship. Let Asim care for them. They will be much happier there," Mandra replied, brushing a soft kiss across Ariel's lips in apology.

And so will I, he thought with a hint of relief.

A part of him wished he could see Asim's face when the new additions were delivered. He bet his long-time friend would not be so smug about his clever idea the next time he saw him. He wondered if he should warn him he was going to need more cages before he dismissed the idea with a grin.

Yes, Mandra thought gleefully, payback could be a b.i.t.c.h sometimes.

"Okay," Ariel sighed in regret looking at the small creature diligently cleaning Mandra's ear. Who knows, she thought as she kissed Mandra, I might find some new ones on our trip.

Chapter 17.

"When can we get off the ship? Can I check out the markets Zebulon told me about?" Ariel asked excitedly as she walked into the conference room off the bridge of the D'stroyer almost a month later.

"When were you talking with Zebulon?" Mandra growled out pulling Ariel closer when she went to walk by him to sit down at the table.

"What...? Oh, in the training room. I've been gaining weight and needed to work out. Zebulon was curious about what I was doing. I told him I was practicing different types of self-defense moves I had learned back on Earth and he wanted to learn so we've been meeting every day since we left Valdier to work out together," Ariel said wrapping her arms around Mandra's neck and laying her head on his chest.

Mandra bit back a jealous snarl as Zebulon, his head of security, looked at him with a cheeky grin on his face. That son-of a dragon-shifter was about to learn some ancient Valdier self-defense if he didn't get that d.a.m.n smile off his face. Mandra cursed the amount of time he was taken away from Ariel on the trip. This was their third stop and they would be picking up Adalard at this s.p.a.ceport.

So far, everything was going as planned. He had met with two of their informants who were strategically placed in his uncle Raffvin's inter-circle. They told him Raffvin was behind the abduction of the Sarafin king and two of his top men. Raffvin had sold the king and his men to a mining operation run by the Antrox, a stick-like species that used numbers as names and were renowned for their ability to turn a profit. Mandra had to bite back a grin at the idea of Vox being held captive by them. He was sure that was going to go over well. Vox was not known for his sweet temper or his willingness to follow directions.

"You can go but you must stay close. Either myself or Zebulon will be with you," Mandra explained with a grimace at the thought of Zebulon being alone with Ariel any more than necessary.

His mate had not been happy that she had been confined to the warship their last two stops. He did not want to draw attention to his meetings and his mate drew attention wherever they went. The men on the D'stroyer had flocked to her as soon as she arrived on board. They were fascinated by the dragon's mark on her neck and how his symbiot seldom left her side. Most of the men only knew a few couples who were fortunate enough to have found their true mate and none from another species. He found it was getting harder and harder to field the men's questions and requests to be allowed to go to Earth to look for a female of their own. He would need to talk with Zoran when he returned. After finding his own mate, it was difficult for him to deny others a chance at finding happiness as well.

Ariel sighed looking at Mandra. He seemed to have a perpetual frown on his face lately. She reached up and fanned his cheeks with her hands to get his attention. Over the past four weeks, she had seen little of him since he came to bed late and left early.

"I promise I will stay close to either you or Zebulon," Ariel said looking up into his flaming gold eyes. "Will I have Precious with me as well or is she going with you? And Mandra, you don't need to worry. I only have eyes for you."

Mandra sighed deeply and rested his forehead against hers. "I am sorry I have not had more time to spend with you, mi elila. I hope our return trip will not be so time-consuming."

"I know what is going on. I was in the military and was trained in the art of warfare. You don't need to apologize. Your world and your people must come first," Ariel whispered in understanding.

"Never," Mandra muttered softly. "You will always come first. I am thankful for your understanding. I do not like to think of you being a warrior on your world."

Ariel just shook her head and laughed. "Come on, big guy. I may be a warrior but I am a woman first. There is shopping calling my name and I will not be denied!" Ariel said with glee pulling out of Mandra's arms and twirling around in a circle.

Several of the men laughed at Ariel's look of excitement. She was unaware that a number of the men had volunteered to serve as her bodyguards, including Zebulon. All of the men had fallen in love with their commander's mate and would do whatever was necessary to keep her happy and safe.

Ariel stared in awe at the s.p.a.ceport. It was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. A clear dome covered the top portion of what was obviously a huge asteroid that had been converted into an island paradise for s.p.a.ce travelers. Creatures of all types and descriptions moved freely. Some were large, small were small, some hairy, some bald, some just flat out too weird to even describe. Mandra had to turn Ariel around more than once when she saw a huge blue creature that looked like a giant bowl of blue Jell-O slithering by them or a tiny, two-headed green lizard one with multiple arms. He gently put a finger under her chin to close her mouth on several occasions.

When she first saw the asteroid, she had thought it would be small and not much to it. The D'stroyer had docked at one of the airlocks on a lower level. There was a long, brightly lit tunnel with dark rock walls that shimmered as the light hit it. The tunnel led to a lift that held a good thirty people. It reminded Ariel of an extra-large service elevator. Once inside, the lift moved rapidly upward forcing Ariel to have to pop her eardrums as the pressure built.

It was when the doors opened that she gasped in amazement. She moved out of the elevator, stepping into the brightly lit dome city of the Iduna s.p.a.ceport. Colorful shops lined the narrow walkways that wound up to the top of the dome. Ariel could see other s.p.a.ceships docked above the dome. What looked like apartments or living quarters of different sizes and types were mixed in with the shops. In a way, it reminded Ariel of Paris back on Earth with the little flower boxes and apartments mixed with businesses. There were even statues and fountains sprinkled on the different levels and on the buildings.

"You are attracting a great deal of attention," Mandra muttered unhappily as several creatures turned to look at Ariel with interest. "Perhaps, you should...," he stopped when a hand smacked him hard in the middle of his chest.

"You will not be finishing that statement if you value your life," Ariel growled out in a low, dangerous tone as she stared wide-eyed all around her. "There is no way in h.e.l.l you are getting me back on that warship without a knock-down-dragged-out-tooth-baring-dragon-breathing fight. This is the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life besides you and I am going to enjoy every second of it."

Mandra sent a dark look to the half-dozen men following him when they all laughed. His mate looked like she meant every single word. He knew she was an excellent fighter so it would be a painful experience if he did try to get her to return to the warship. He also knew he could not deny her this experience. She was practically glowing with excitement.

"Very well," he replied moodily. "I have several things I must take care of. Zebulon and Precious will remain with you. Take this," he said handing her a flat disk, "it contains enough credits you should not have any issues buying whatever you wish."