"You poor little thing!" Ariel said sitting up next to the bed on the floor cuddling a tiny Maratt against her bosom. "Did that big ole bed scare you when it fell? You have to be more careful. You could have gotten hurt, sweetheart," Ariel said brushing the soft fur of the shivering creature.

Ariel looked up at Mandra with her big brown eyes filled with worry. "I think you scared her," she said in an accusing tone.

Mandra's eyes had popped open in disbelief when he heard the soft, feminine voice talking as if nothing had happened. He stared in shock at the beautiful face looking up at him as if half his living quarters wasn't in shambles because of her. He was about to let her know about his displeasure when a roar came from his living area followed by more shrilly squeals.

"Oh no!" Ariel said scrambling to her feet and thrusting the shaking Maratt at Mandra. "Protect her while I go rescue the others."

Mandra's hands opened on instinct to catch the little ball of hissing, spitting rodent as he watched Ariel fly out of the room screaming she was going to have dragon for dinner if anyone hurt her babies. Mandra looked at the creature who was trying to escape then up at his brother for help as he tried to figure out what to do with it. His first thought was to change and gulp it down but he didn't think that was what Ariel meant when she handed it to him.

Creon and the guards with him looked at him in a combination of amus.e.m.e.nt and confusion. It wasn't until he heard Ariel's scream that he rolled off the bed thrusting the furry creature into his brother's hands with a word of warning to not let anything happen to it. He charged into his living quarters skidding to a stop when he saw three dragons snapping at all the Maratts and Grombots running for cover. His mate was swinging her hairbrush like a sword at them and screaming for them to get out.

Mandra cringed when he saw his dining table flying through the air and crashing into his sword collection. Three of his prized carved chairs were in pieces. Where his couch had been was now a pile of shredded filling as one of the dragons tried to get to several of the furry little rodents that had burrowed down into it looking for protection. Mandra was about to growl out a warning at another dragon to be careful of his prized gla.s.s lights over the shelf housing his collection of ancient scripts when it all came crashing down in a shimmering rain as the dragon lunged for a Grombot that flew through the air into Ariel's out-stretched arms. She swung around and popped the dragon on the nose when it snapped at the creature almost taking her arm off.

Mandra's symbiot lunged at the dragon in fury. The dragon went flying through the special crystal etched doors he got from the Mazaran star system leading out onto the balcony of his living area. When another dragon came toward Ariel, his symbiot attacked again throwing the guard out the huge double doors leading out into the corridor. Ariel in the meantime, was gathering as many of the creatures as she could under the skirt of her gown while the Grombots were hanging from her shoulders to the point she could barely stand under their weight.

"ENOUGH!" Mandra roared.

Everyone froze as the dark menace in his voice washed over them. "Get out!" Mandra snarled at the one guard left. The guard was fighting to get control of his dragon. "Get out before I kill you for coming near my mate."

Mandra looked at Creon and jerked his head indicating he wanted Creon to get everyone out. Mandra saw Creon fighting his laughter as he looked around what was left of his living quarters. Mandra growled at a couple of guards who looked at the creatures hanging from Ariel with hunger.

"Good luck, brother," Creon said as he fought back a chuckle. "I thought I had the difficult female but I think we are tied."

"Just... get out," Mandra growled in a low voice.

"I will. I will," Creon said looking at the huge double doors. One was missing and the other was hanging c.o.c.keyed on its hinges. "I would close the door behind me but you seem to be having a problem with them," Creon said with a chuckle as he set down the squirming Maratt which ran straight to Ariel.

Mandra growled and took a menacing step toward Creon who moved quickly away laughing loudly. Mandra stared for a moment at his brother's departing back. He was afraid to look around again for fear the reality of what happened would prove to be worse than he thought. It wasn't until he glanced back at his mate that he began to appreciate how absurd the situation really was. It was hard not to when the small female was standing there biting her lip and looking so uncomfortable all of the sudden.

"Uh, Mandra," Ariel said looking everywhere but at him.

Mandra let out a deep breath before responding. "Yes, little one?"

Ariel's cheeks turned a dark red as she glanced at him briefly before looking away again. "You don't have any clothes on," she whispered looking down at the Grombot that was trying to get her attention.

Mandra looked down. He didn't have a st.i.tch of clothing on as he had still been in the bathing pool when he transformed. He looked around his normally meticulous home. The doors leading into it were destroyed. None of his prized furniture survived. The doors to his balcony were either cracked or totally gone where his symbiot had flown through it then tossed the guard out of them. His prized collection of ancient weapons and scripts littered the floor and his home was crawling with things he normally ate.

Mandra looked at the little human that came into his life just that morning and wondered where in the h.e.l.l she came from that this kind of destruction followed. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't think of a single thing to say. He winced as more items fell making a loud crashing sound as it hit the hard, marble floor. Instead, he just shook his head and turned on his heel. He moved toward his sleeping area trying not to groan at the destruction to his bed. Pulling some clothes out of the hidden panel in his bedroom wall, Mandra quickly dressed. The first thing he needed to do was get rid of all the creatures running around what was left of his home. All the creatures, that is, except the infuriating female. Then, he needed to fix the door leading into his living quarters. Once it was secure, he was going to go back and finish kicking his older brother's a.s.s for finding the female again.

Ariel moved cautiously along the edge holding on as best she could to the narrow lip where the stones connected. She was leaving this planet as soon as she found Trisha and Carmen. If she couldn't find them, well, she was leaving anyway. She didn't belong here. After Mandra came back into the living area he had scooped up all her little babies and put them back in their cages. Then, he had the nerve to call several of the guards who had been in the room before to take them out. He ignored all her protests saying he would not have any animals in his home. He told her food did not belong running around in the place where he lived. Ariel had tried to stop him but he simply picked her up and locked her in the bedroom. She pounded on the heavy door but no one came to help her, not even the gold creature who had become her friend. The tiny bits of gold on her tried to calm her but she had finally demanded they get off her. They belonged here, not where she was going. The little pieces tried to send her images of Mandra's fury over the destruction of his home but all Ariel could think of was this was Eric all over again. She wouldn't, couldn't go through that type of rejection again.

No, it was better to get out while she could, Ariel thought.

She bit her lip to hold back a cry of pain as the rough stone cut into the tips of her fingers. She was almost to the next balcony. This was definitely not one of her smartest moves but she was committed now. She didn't dare to look down. If she didn't fall or pa.s.s out, she would surely lose what little food she had eaten earlier. She was on a narrow ledge about six inches in width and holding onto a lip no more than a half inch wide six stories up. It was the only thing keeping her from falling. She had put her dirty pants back on and one of Mandra's shirts. She had to lock the tiny bits of gold in a small clothing panel in the wall. She didn't want it to know what she was doing because she knew it would alert Mandra to her escape.

A gasp escaped Ariel as her foot slipped and she started to lose her balance. She gripped the crack in the stone tighter. She tried to compensate for the slip, but there wasn't enough rock exposure for her hold onto and she felt herself falling backwards. Ariel reached frantically for a better grip on the narrow cut between the stones but it was too late. She closed her eyes and let out a scream as she felt herself falling into empty s.p.a.ce. For a heart-stopping moment, she wished she had one more chance to change the outcome of her life before everything went blank.

Mandra ground his teeth together as his symbiot walked silently beside him as if he didn't even exist. It was p.i.s.sed at him. It wanted him to return Ariel's little pets back to her. Even his dragon wasn't talking to him. Mandra didn't know whether to be happy about having a bit of peace or angry that they were mad at him! It wasn't his fault that his home was in shambles. It wasn't his fault that six of the warriors were in medical. Well, it was partially. Two of the warriors his symbiot put there. The other four Mandra was responsible for when they tried to eat his mate's pets. He finally ordered Jarak to find a safe place for them until he could decide what to do with them.

Now, he needed to get back to his mate and see if he could calm her down. His heart was heavy as he listened to her pounding on the door begging him not to hurt the little rodents. He shook his head. If that wasn't enough, his mother had cornered him and explained his mate was a vegetarian! How in the h.e.l.l was he supposed to care for her if she didn't eat meat? If he claimed her and she survived the transformation, how in the h.e.l.l would she react when her dragon wanted to eat the things she considered her 'babies'? Mandra ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He did not understand this female! She was such a contradiction. One moment she was strong, fierce, and dangerous and the next moment she was delicate, fragile, and caring. She cared for the tiny creatures with her heart shining in her eyes yet could fight like a warrior when threatened. How was he supposed to get her to trust him if he took what she cared about away from her?

With a heavy sigh, he knew he wasn't going to be able to do it which is why he finally ordered Jarak to take the creatures to his mountain home. He contacted his long-time friend, Asim, who managed his home there and explained the situation. He needed him to care for and protect the tasty little treats, not eat them. Asim had looked at him with amus.e.m.e.nt as he a.s.sured him that he would protect the creatures with his life. Now that was taken care of, Mandra could focus on repairing his living quarters and claiming his mate, not necessarily in that order.

He was walking through the garden area back to the main part of the palace where the living quarters were when his symbiot sent a wave of distress to him. Mandra jerked to a stop looking around him trying to discover what had upset it. His eyes followed it as it suddenly transformed into one of their largest flying birds. It launched itself upwards just as a scream pierced the air.

Mandra looked up and actually felt a brief flash of dizziness even as his dragon roared out in fear and denial. He transformed between one heartbeat and the next, pushing upward as fast as his huge wings could take him. He watched as his symbiot swooped up catching his mate's falling body around her upper arms in midair. Even though he knew she was safe from falling to her death, he needed to hold her in his arms and feel for himself she was alright.

Give her to me! Mandra demanded reaching out his front claws to gently take her from his symbiot.

Mandra twisted his head down to stare into the pale, still face of his mate. She was unconscious. Her soft lashes like dark crescents against her pale cheeks. The tiny dots that caressed her across her nose stood out against her white face and her breathing was erratic. Mandra flew back up to the balcony of his living quarters landing on it gently as he transformed back into his two-legged form. He pushed through the opening where the broken doors had been removed. His living quarters had been cleaned of the destruction and all the destroyed furniture had been taken away leaving it bare. He moved toward his sleeping quarters only to stop with a curse when he remembered his destroyed bed which had not been removed yet. He turned moving down the hall to one of the guest bedrooms with his symbiot following closely beside him.

"What am I to do with you, little one?" Mandra asked in a shaky voice. "You have caused me more terror in one day than I have ever felt before."

Mandra laid Ariel's limp body down on the bed in his guest room. He ran a shaky hand down along her cheek until it rested over the dragon's mark he had given her just hours before. Sitting down next to her on legs suddenly too weak to support his body, Mandra picked up one of her tiny hands in his larger one and pressed a kiss to her palm.

"What have you done to yourself?" Mandra asked in dismay as he looked at the b.l.o.o.d.y tips of her fingers. "Am I so repulsive you would rather die than remain with me?"

"No," a horrified voice said behind him. "No, you are not repulsive and you must never think that!" Morian said moving swiftly into the room.

Mandra turned to look at his mother with unshed tears glittering in his eyes. "She almost died trying to get away from me. How can I believe any different, Dola?"

"Mandra, you have to be patient," Morian said gently touching her son's cheek as she stood beside him. "She is frightened. This is a strange world to her. She told me so earlier. She does not understand the feelings she has when she is around you."

Mandra looked into his mother's eyes. "Did she say this to you as well?" He asked hesitantly.

Morian smiled and nodded. "Yes. This is what frightens her the most, I think. She does not understand how strong the feelings are between true mates. She will need to be rea.s.sured. I have talked to your brother Zoran. He has told me much about what he has learned from his mate and he is still learning. The females do not understand what it means when you claim them. Their males do not do this," Morian explained as she looked down at Ariel's pale, relaxed features.

"I think she is afraid to trust me, Dola. I did not handle her as I should have. She cared for the little creatures she had and I took them from her when she begged me not to," Mandra said brushing a strand of pale golden hair away from Ariel's face with tender fingers. "I sent them to my home in the mountains. They will be cared for and protected there. I was on my way back to tell her that," Mandra whispered.

Morian smiled down at her son and nodded. "Then, she will forgive you. Just accept her and guide her. She is like the wild creatures she cares about. It will not be easy," Morian said with a glimmer of humor lacing her voice. "I think you have already discovered that."

Mandra felt a sharp bark of laughter escape at that understatement. "Yes. I just hope it does not get too difficult. I am not sure I can survive any more frights such as I have had today," Mandra said.

"You have survived the first day and so has she. Tomorrow will be better," Morian said kissing Mandra on his forehead before moving away. "Though, if I were you I think I would not leave her alone."

Mandra nodded absently. "I won't. Thank you, Dola," Mandra murmured as his mother left the room.

Come heal our mate, Mandra whispered to his symbiot who was curled up next to him on the floor. I fear it will take all three of us to protect this one, my friends.

Ariel moaned softly as she slowly came awake. She looked around in confusion trying to remember where she was and how she had gotten here. Her head jerked around when she felt a pair of strong arms pulling her close to a hard, warm body. Ariel frowned as she tried to remember how she could have ended up in Mandra's bed and in his arms but her mind seemed to be filled with cotton.

"Where am I?" Ariel asked confused. "What happened?"

"You fell off the ledge outside my living quarters," Mandra replied gruffly as he ran his hand over her hair tenderly.

She bit back a terrified cry as she remembered the awful feeling of weightlessness and terror as she lost her balance. Her heart sped up and felt like it was about to explode out of her chest as she fought the memory. Ariel struggled to sit up but Mandra just pulled her tighter against his hard length.

"Let me go!" Ariel whispered fiercely as she also remembered why she had been on the ledge. She had been trying to get away from him.

"I cannot," Mandra whispered back sadly. "I cannot let you go, Ariel. You are my true mate. You belong with me."

Ariel turned her head until she was looking into Mandra's sad, dark gold eyes. "What does that mean? Why do you think I belong to you?" Ariel asked confused.

"It means I would give my life for you. Without you, I will die and possibly you will too. A Valdier warrior can only find his true mate when the three parts of who he is accepts the female making them whole. You do that for us, Ariel. My symbiot, my dragon, and I all want you, accept you."

"No you don't. Not really," Ariel whispered with a slight catch in her voice. "You don't understand," she said as she turned her head away from him Mandra reached up and gently turned Ariel's head back toward him. "I had your pets taken to my mountain home where they will be cared for and protected until I can take you to them. I know they mean a lot to you. My dragon feels bad for upsetting you when he tried to eat them. He promises to behave around the creatures that are in your care for now on," Mandra promised quietly.

Ariel looked into the solemn eyes gazing at her and saw only rea.s.surance that he was speaking the truth. At that moment, Ariel knew that Mandra was slipping under all the defenses she had set up to protect her heart.

How could I not love..., Ariel stopped the sudden thought floating through her head and frowned before chastising herself. Just stop right there, Ariel! You don't even know the guy! Why on Earth, or wherever in the h.e.l.l you are, makes you think you could fall in love with him? He isn't even human! No, her heart argued back, he is an alien who can turn into one s.e.xy a.s.s dragon. Ariel groaned in frustration as her brain and her heart argued back and forth. s.h.i.t, now she was p.i.s.sed off with herself!

Mandra, seeing Ariel's dark frown, reluctantly released her. She had not forgiven him. She did not want to be with him. His mother must have been wrong about the human female feeling anything toward him. Mandra quickly got up off the bed and moved toward the door leading out into the hallway.

He paused at the door not turning around. "There is a dinner tonight to welcome you and your friends to our world. My mother has made arrangements to have the dressmaker come. I will leave you until later," Mandra said quietly before he walked out the door.

Chapter 11.

It had been over a week since she fell off the ledge and woken in Mandra's arms. So much had happened since then. Ariel was still having a hard time understanding everything that was going on both around her and inside her. Ariel's mind floated as she remembered what her stubbornness almost cost her. She flushed as she thought about the consequences of that incident. Since waking up in Mandra's arms amazed at still being alive, she had shared a bed with him each night at his insistence. She had protested but Mandra was adamant. He would not do anything she did not wish but she would be at his side.

Ariel sighed as she looked out over the mountains where Mandra had brought her the morning after the dinner. His home was only about an hour from the palace but it seemed like another world. It was so beautiful here she never wanted to leave.

Mandra's mountain home was breathtaking both inside and out, Ariel thought as she moved to sit down on the terrace, just like him.

It was small in comparison to his living quarters at the palace but still huge compared to what Ariel was used to. Ma.s.sive mountains with snow on the peaks surrounded the home which was located on the higher end of a long meadow. At the end of the meadow was a large lake with a small island in the center of it. Several natural waterfalls fed into the lake on one side while a small river cut through the mountains to the west. Enormous, dark red trees covered the south side of the lake and up each mountain until they couldn't go any further because of the steep rock face. The meadow itself had an ocean of knee-high purple gra.s.s that seemed to change color as it rocked back and forth with the gentle breeze cutting through the mountain pa.s.s.

Mandra's home was made from the thick trees and rocks surrounding them. It reminded Ariel of Mandra, strong and solid. It was a single story structure with an open floor plan that revolved around a large living area. There were huge windows from floor to ceiling that let in an abundance of light while giving a view of the mountains, lake, and forest surrounding it. The floors were a polished wood and there was a large stone fireplace in each of the eight main rooms, including the large, airy kitchen.

Ariel turned her head toward the sun and closed her eyes enjoying the warmth. She had stolen the long-sleeve shirt Mandra had draped over the railing of the terrace as he worked and put it on when she first came out earlier. While she had been slightly chilled, the real reason was she liked the way his scent clung to the soft material.

She opened her eyes and sought out the man that was causing all the confusion inside her. He was building an enclosure for her so she would have a place to care for all the animals that somehow seemed to be showing up every day since she arrived.

Some of the animals had minor injuries, some more severe. For those with severe wounds, Mandra brought in one of the healers from the palace. The healer looked at Ariel's wide, pleading eyes and shook his head with a sympathetic glance at Mandra who stood glaring at him with his arms crossed daring him to deny his help. The healer showed Ariel how to care for the wounded deer-like creature. The problem was where to keep it until it could be returned to the wild. Asim suggested building a small fenced in area and shelter for it not far from the house. Ariel's cry of delight and the huge kiss she gave Asim was enough of an incentive for Mandra. When he agreed with Asim, Ariel turned a shy smile on him before giving him a kiss too. The kiss she gave him still sent shivers through her. It wasn't a deep, pa.s.sionate one. In fact, she barely brushed her lips against his but it was enough that she hungered for more.

Ariel bent down to pick up one of the little Maratts who was still with them. Most of them had been released back into the wild. Ariel found out the Maratts and Grombots that she had confiscated on the warship were considered a delicacy to Valdier dragons. Because of this, over time they had become almost extinct. They were usually found on the Earth's equivalent of the black market where they were sold illegally. Mandra a.s.sured Ariel that the region to the north where they transported them three days ago was remote enough they should be safe. It was also filled with their natural food source, a type of flowering plant, so they would do well. He and Ariel were the only ones to know where the location was since he did not want to take a chance of them being captured again.

Ariel looked at the one in her arms. It had a small wound on its leg from the fight in Mandra's living quarters so Ariel kept it along with four other Maratts who were also recovering. She rocked it gently against her as it burrowed closer and closed its eyes.

Ariel's eyes followed Mandra as he moved around the newly formed structure. She studied his strong, proud features as he talked to Asim who was pointing to something on the shelter they were building. Today he had his hair tied back at the nape and without his shirt on she could see the light glow of sweat across his wide, bare shoulders. Her eyes followed the path down his back to wear his pants hung low on his hips. Ariel couldn't resist licking her lips at the way they hugged his a.s.s and thighs. A pair of dark brown boots finished off what he was wearing. All Ariel could think about was how much she wanted to take each piece off of him one at a time.

She was puzzled about why he was so distant to her. He held her tightly each night but during the day it was almost like it pained him to be near her or touch her. It wasn't like he wanted anyone else near her either. She had spent some time with Abby and Trisha before she attended the dinner. At the dinner, though, Mandra had thrown dark warning looks at any male who tried to come near her. She had spent most of the night people-watching.

What really confused her was he never touched her except at night when he thought she was asleep. At first, Ariel thought he regretted being stuck with her. That was until she caught the look of hunger and longing in his eyes on several occasions before he covered it with a blank mask. If she didn't know better, she would think the big lug was afraid of her breaking his heart.

A nudge on her elbow shook Ariel out of her deep thoughts. She grinned when she saw the huge golden symbiot was in the shape of a bear-like creature today. She loved it when it changed shapes. She never knew what to expect.

"So, you like me too, huh?" Ariel asked letting her fingers brush over the thick, golden head. "Well, I like you even more. You know what? We need to give you a name. How about Precious?" Ariel asked with a small laugh. "You can be my Precious." The creature sent a wave of warmth through her before sending additional small threads of gold up her arms.

Ariel laughed and shook her head. "It's a good thing all the gold you put on me doesn't weigh that much because I wouldn't be able to stand much less walk with all the necklaces, bracelets, and armbands you've covered me in."

Ariel talked nonsense to the golden symbiot for another half hour before she moved into the house to make lunch. She knew the men would be hungry from all the work they were doing. She liked the fact that she could still see them even from the kitchen area. She didn't know why Mandra didn't just live here all the time. She would never tire of the view, especially if Mandra was a part of it.

Ariel finally gave up kidding herself that she what she felt wasn't love. Over the past week he had shown her how sensitive and caring he could be. He was also protective and attentive and s.e.xy and... Oh, h.e.l.l. He was just s.e.xy and he turned her on in a way Eric never did. The fact was Mandra was nothing like Eric in any way, shape or form. There was nothing to compare between the two so she didn't even attempt to try. Mandra had her heart in the palm of his hands. Maybe it was time she showed him.

"Why do you not tell her how you feel?" Asim asked holding the board in place for Mandra to attach.

Mandra glanced at Asim before shooting a glance at where Ariel was sitting on the terrace. "She does not want me," Mandra replied gruffly nailing the board into place.

Asim chuckled. "That is not what I see. She never takes her eyes off you. She reminds me of the creatures you sent here. At first they stared at me in fear waiting for me to pounce on them and gobble them up. But, within a few days I had to practically beat them off of me. Once they knew I would not hurt them, they wanted to be with me."

Mandra looked at the man who was like a second father to him. Asim had been his father's personal guard when he was young. When his father was killed, Asim approached Mandra to see if he would accept his services. Mandra knew Asim looked on him as the son he never had. Mandra suggested Asim could help him here. Together, they built the main house that Mandra used and a smaller one for Asim. Asim guarded this area, protecting those living in the small village not far away and reporting any suspicious activities to Mandra.

"You are mistaken," Mandra said looking back at Ariel again.

She was sitting with her eyes closed and a small Maratt against her bosom. A swell of desire and need rushed through him so fast his breath caught. He wanted to see her sitting there with their child against her breast instead of a rodent. The desire to claim her fully was eating away at him and his dragon. He would have to claim her soon or it would become too dangerous for both of them. He hoped she would come to him on her own free will but it did not look like that was going to happen. He looked away as a shaft of pain lanced through him at the thought of hurting his mate even more than he already had.

Asim shook his head. "No, I am not. Look for yourself. Even now she gazes at you," Asim said under his breath.

Mandra lifted his eyes back to Ariel and locked gazes with her. He looked deeply into her eyes and saw... hunger. He watched her for several moments before Asim clearing his throat dragged him back to the present. He looked down at the board in his hands and realized he was gripping it so tight there were actual grooves formed into it.

"Now do you believe me?" Asim chuckled as he tugged the board out of Mandra's hands.

Mandra let a slow smile curve his lips. "I am going to claim my mate," Mandra said with a gleam in his eye and a thread of steel in his tone. "She is ready."

Asim chuckled as he nodded. "I will clean up here. You go to her. May the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses be with you, my friend."

Chapter 12.