"I'm ready." She sighed. "I can't wait to spend forever with you."

"Are you sure I can't change your mind about the other thing?"

Pauline nodded. "I'm too young for that."

Flame seemed to realize that Julie was still there. He gave her a sympathetic look. "I'll see you soon, Julie."

She nodded. He was finally leaving. She almost looked to the ceiling in order to say a prayer of thanks.

"I'll see you in a few." He winked at Pauline.

"I'll be counting the minutes." Pauline sighed.

"I'll be counting the seconds, honey." He kissed her, yet again. It was a wonder their lips weren't chapped and bleeding.

"Enough, you two. Go away," she growled at Flame. "Neither of you will die without the other."

Flame grinned. "I think I might. You'll need to resuscitate me when you get back to the chamber."

Julie groaned. "Kill me if I ever sound like the two of you."

Flame laughed. "No can do. Coal would kill me. He'll kill anyone that even looks at you funny. That male is smitten."

The thought both scared and warmed her. No, it scared her. "He's not smitten. We're friends...with benefits. That's all it is."

"If you say so, Julie." He winked at Pauline. Flame finally walked away. Pauline watched him until he was out of sight. She had a goofy smile on her face.

"You have it bad." Julie said as the shifter rounded the corner.

"Oh so very bad. I'm seriously in love. Like totally and utterly." The woman grabbed her chest and sighed. "Look at him. Just look at him."

"Um... he just left."

"You know what I mean. He's so d.a.m.ned hot and so sweet. Do you know that he won't let me do anything? He insists on cooking, cleaning... doing everything. I'm not allowed to lift a finger. The only thing he let's me..." She blushed. "Never mind."

Julie could imagine. "What's with this whole taking the plunge thing?"

Pauline sucked in a deep breath. "I've decided to mate him."

"What? You too?" Julie shook her head. "One week isn't nearly enough. You know that don't you? I don't care how cute he is or how gifted in bed he is, you can't possibly know him well enough."

"I don't need to know everything about him. I've never felt this way about anyone else. I don't have much to go back to but that's not the reason I want to stay. I love him... that's all there is to it. I was also a little skeptical of Lisa when she told me she was mating Scorch."

"His name is Scorch?" She could hear the disbelief in her voice. These dragon shifters had the weirdest names. Coal was the most normal of the lot. She only hoped it was spelled Cole and not Coal or that would be weird.

"Yes." Pauline nodded. "Fire dragons all have fire related names."

"I had noticed. You were telling me about Lisa."

Pauline made a noise of affirmation. "Yeah. I thought she was just using him. Each of us has a sob story. I was about to lose my house and you lost your job and had just become homeless."

"Don't remind me," Julie muttered.

"Point being." Pauline raised her brows. "Each of us had our own problems. We were chosen by the dragons because they hoped that they could help us as much as we could help them."

"I'm still not entirely convinced, but okay." Julie folded her arms across her chest. Pauline was young and innocent. She'd obviously led a sheltered life. Well, up until her parents had died.

Pauline licked her lips. "Remember how high and mighty Lisa acted?"

Julie nodded.

"She told us that her dad died and left her a billionaire, well, it's true that he died but he didn't leave her anything. All of his wealth went to to his young wife. A woman only two years older than Lisa. The dumb cow had her dad change his will while on his deathbed and not thinking clearly." She took a deep breath. "Can you imagine? Lisa was contesting the will but it was her word against the wife's. There was a good chance Lisa was going to lose. Especially since her dad's doctor was bonking the stepmom and is standing in as a witness. It was only a matter of days before she was kicked out of her own house. How horrible is that?"

Her eyes were wide and she used elaborate hand gestures while she spoke. "Poor Lisa cried when she spoke about her father. She blamed him initially but it clearly wasn't his fault. Anyway..." Pauline raised her brows. "My point is that I thought Lisa was using Scorch, since the dragons live decently..." She gestured around the opulent lair that was really more of a castle. "But I was wrong. She seriously loves him. They're already trying for a baby."

"This is getting more crazy by the second." Julie rubbed her face.

When she looked back up, Pauline's eyes were bright. "A tiny, little baby with big blue eyes and blond hair. He'll be so cute and-"

"Are you talking about your own baby or Lisa's?"

Pauline frowned. "Okay... maybe I was talking about mine. Mine and Flame's little one. I'm not ready though and he's not going to pressure me." She scrunched up her face. "No, he will put pressure on me. He won't be able to help himself. It's their instinct to procreate. That's why we drive them so mad when we're in heat... ovulating." She corrected. "I'm too young to have a baby though."

"Far too young. You're too young to get married."

Pauline nodded. "I'm too young for marriage but not too young to be mated, I'm taking the plunge. I'm ready. Flame is the guy for me."

Vomit.

These women were losing their minds. "Have you heard anything about Jo and Candy?"

Pauline's eyes widened. "Jo is also taking the plunge and mating her guy but Candy isn't happy at all. I've heard that she keeps demanding to be sent back. She's with some crazy king from one of the other kingdoms. He's a meanie so no wonder she's unhappy."

"Oh no! I'll have to ask Coal about her." Poor Candy. Julie hoped that she was okay. Coal had promised her that none of them would be forced or hurt. Was the same true for the other kingdoms? Her heart was beating fast. Her mind raced at a hundred miles a minute.

Chapter 15.

Coal watched as his brother walked from one side of the room to the other. His fists were clenched. His eyes blazing.

"Calm down," he growled. "I have things under control."

"Do you?" Blaze growled right back. He stopped and wheeled towards Coal. "Send her back. There is another hunt planned for next month. Thanks to you, Granite didn't get a female. Torrent has not had any success with his human, so chances are good there will not be a child any time soon. Neither of the dragon females is anywhere close to their heat."

"How can you be so sure?" His brother just looked at him, his face deadpan. Blaze had his sources. Spies that did his bidding. Coal ran a hand over his head. "What if your information is incorrect?"

"It isn't," Blaze growled. "Torrent's human is on her way back to Walton Springs as we speak. The male couldn't make her happy. The human refused to mate him. My sources tell me that she hit him in the face." Blaze laughed. "The male is p.i.s.sed. He has locked himself in his chamber and refuses to speak with anyone."

It was strange to see his brother smiling. Blaze hadn't looked this happy in weeks... months.

"Things are not as desperate as they were. There will not be a royal birth any time soon. You do not have to beg the female. If she isn't interested, send the human back. We do not need her. You do not need her."

To think that a week ago, he would have leapt at the chance. Any reprieve would have been welcomed with open arms. A chance to change Blaze's mind.

"Her name is Julie." He tried to keep the growl from his voice and failed. "Julie." He repeated, more evenly delivered this time.

"It doesn't matter what her name is. That female does not want children and she doesn't seem even remotely interested in you. I think she's a lost cause."

"No!" A snarl. His heart raced at the thought of sending her back. Adrenaline coursed. The need to protect and defend rose up in him. The need to smash his brother's smug jaw rode him hard. Julie wasn't going anywhere. Not while he was still breathing.

Blaze shook his head, looking disappointed. "You do seem quite taken with her. All the humans are the same. The next batch will be just as enticing, I a.s.sure you." His brother's features tightened. He clenched his jaw. "They all scent of heaven, taste of heaven and feel like heaven but they are not to be trusted. Let her go and hunt for someone else. I can see that you are becoming emotional about this particular one. It will bring nothing but heartache." His eyes took a faraway look. The male spoke from experience. "Do both you and her a favor and send her away. You will find solace with the next one."

"You haven't been with a female for at least a year, so don't give me that nonsense talk about finding solace in the arms of another. You've never told me about it. Who was she?"

Blaze looked at the ceiling. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily. "Yeah. I didn't take someone else after... after... things ended with my human. Not mine!" He quickly snarled. "I should've just taken a replacement. I'm pathetic. You don't want to end up like me. She was just a human. She was everything and nothing. It doesn't matter. I will never trust another human. They are all the same, fluttering eyes and deceitful mouths. I hope not to have to take one as a mate and yet it would solve all of our problems, so what choice do I have? I need to be sure that it's absolutely necessary first. You need to either mate that human and get her with child or take her back."

"I thought that there was no rush."

Blaze narrowed his eyes. "Either you impregnate her during her coming heat or I'm sending her back. I can tell that it won't be long before you start making rash decisions. You might end up mating her even though she is against having young. Where would that leave me? Where would it leave us as a kingdom?" He paused, closing the distance between them. His jaw was set. "We need to know if a royal child is a possibility and we need to know soon. Get her with child, Coal. Do not let me down. Our future is in your hands."

Coal gave a quick jerk of the head to show affirmation. He would like nothing more than to fill Julie's womb with his seed. To see life grow there. To raise children with this female but she was as timid as what she was fierce. Julie would need time. Like Flame had said, he needed to cherish her and to show her what she meant to him. He needed to prove himself as a potential mate. It wasn't going to happen overnight. It would probably take weeks, maybe even months, heaven forbid but it might take years. Days. He had a few lousy days. No way in h.e.l.l. He may as well forget it.

"Let me have until the next hunt." He blurted, his blood rushed through his veins.

Blaze shook his head. "You have until the end of her heat. I am doing this for you."

Coal roared in anger and irritation. Most of all, he roared in frustration. Maybe it would work out for them. Julie slept in the same bed as him but the agreement was that he wasn't allowed to touch her. They stayed in the same chamber. It was more than he had hoped for and more than she normally gave.

Coal would do everything in his power to make it happen. He could not fail. Blaze had tasked him with finding a mate this hunt and he would deliver. He had to. It was just a matter of convincing Julie that a life with him would be good. That a life filled with the laughter of children would be wonderful. His heart warmed just thinking about it.

Without saying anything more, he turned and left. Coal followed her scent and soon arrived in the great hall.

Julie's eyes were wide. She looked like she was afraid. He began to walk towards her. "Coal!" Julie yelled as she caught sight of him.

"What is wrong?"

Flame's female was with her.

"What happened to Candy? I heard that she isn't happy. Some b.a.s.t.a.r.d king has her." Her brow was creased. Her eyes were filled with concern.

"Torrent won the female but she didn't want to stay in the water kingdom so the male sent her home."

Some of the tension left her. "Oh, thank G.o.d. Did he hurt her or force her? What happened to her?"

He'd come to realize that Julie had trust issues. It wasn't personal. He had long since realized that. Coal held the air in his lungs for a beat. "No, he would never do either of those things. She wasn't happy. It is my understanding that she didn't care for him." He shrugged.

"You said that he's an a.s.shole." She turned back to the other female who nodded.

Coal had also come to realize that calling someone after that particular orifice was considered to be a slight. "He is a king. If you think I'm arrogant you should-"

"Is he anything like your brother."

"About the same."

"Pompous and pigheaded. Okay... I totally understand why Candy walked out. So he wouldn't have hurt her?"

Coal shook his head. "No. He is a male of honor."

"It's good to know that she was allowed to leave." Julie smiled. "It gives me hope." Then she shook her head. "Not that I'm ready to leave just yet, although, it seems like there's something in the water so maybe I should." She chuckled like she'd just told a joke.

Flame's human smiled as well. "Drink the water. It's delicious."

"No d.a.m.ned way." Julie shook her head. "The water is dangerous."

"You've been drinking our water." What was Julie talking about? "There's nothing wrong with it," he added.

"See." Pauline grinned. "Listen to Coal."

Why did he get the feeling that they weren't talking about the water? Not really. "What is this all about?"

"I need to go." The other female had a faraway look and a sparkle in her eye. "Flame is waiting for me. I don't want to keep my future mate waiting."

"That's great news." Coal smiled. "You've decided to take the plunge."

"Don't remind me." He could hear her heart race.

"You're afraid. Don't be... Flame is a strong, fast male. You will be fine. He is going to take excellent care of you," Coal said.

"I know he will." Pauline huffed out the words. "I'll see you guys soon. Keep drinking the water." She skipped away.

"What was all that about the water?" Coal locked eyes with Julie. The color of melted toffee. Beautiful. His breath froze.

"Oh no you don't." Julie punched him on the arm. She yelped and nursed her fist. "You're like a rock. I can't even smack you."

Coal released a sigh. A whole group of males were watching. Several of them sn.i.g.g.e.red. If they stayed here, there would be bloodshed. He was in no mood to be judged. Certainly not by his subordinates although he couldn't blame the males for finding the exchange amusing. "Come with me." Coal took her hand.

Julie pulled away. "Where to? I thought you said we weren't staying in your apartment. You promised to show me around." She looked around the room. The human didn't even notice the other males, or the interest they were showing in her.

The closest male had his gaze fixed on her... Coal looked down. His blood began to boil inside him. Heat infused his veins. His teeth sharpened. Julie was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Yes, blue jeans... that was what they were called. They fit her perfectly, as did the shirt. Her stunning b.r.e.a.s.t.s were showcased. Her a.s.s was showcased. She was showcased to perfection.

Coal snarled in the direction of the group. Several males averted their eyes. Good. He was on the verge of roasting their orbs right there in their sockets.

The closest male put his gaze back on Julie's chest. The p.r.i.c.k was working on Coal's last nerve. "She is mine!" He roared. They all backed away. Three left the room at a speed.