A/N: Thank you for reading and the reviews! Glad to see you back, Redoak :)

…-…

Okay, I don't have a lot to say, mainly because I'm kind of mad right now.

At least, for once, it's not at Brath.

Though I am wondering about him…

First let me say that not a lot has changed in the war against the demons, mainly because it's only been about a day since Brath and I…you know.

I can feel my ears burning whenever I think about it because well, okay, so you probably figured, but I was a virgin and all. And now I'm not.

And well, this is where things get prickly.

So after Brath and I were done...what's that thing my mom used to say, romping in the sheets? Whatever, I don't need fancy phrases. After we had sex and then kinda cuddled—Brath got bored and his ADD attitude made me kinda grumpy, so that didn't last very long—I decided that I would take a shower. No biggie, not a weird thing at all, right?

Well, I left Brath sprawled out on my bed, mumbling something into my pillow as he pinched my butt—so romantic, right?—and headed down the hall.

Okay, so. This place was a grand hotel and all, but with all the adventurers and such coming through, the building got reworked a little bit. Like, Azerothians didn't understand why we had bathrooms in every room and when they reinforced the building with trees they kind of demolished half of the structure so that they could make room for more people. Which means we now have maybe two or three communal bathrooms per floor, which I suppose is still kinda nice. And reminiscent of what a college would be like. I'm guessing.

My mind was still awhirl with all that had just happened and how things were looking up, since Brath hadn't really been sleeping with that other dragon and how he seemed to have feelings for me too—I was still trying to tell myself not to start planning weddings or happily ever after scenarios since I've always heard that virgins can be kind of clingy and I didn't want to be like that to Brath and scare him off or anything—when I saw Eric heading my way.

Well, I figured that I needed to nip his crush in the bud and all, right? I mean, there was no reason to string him along when I was with Brath. However, even as I waved and opened my mouth to say, 'We have to talk about last night,' it happened.

First, his face got all happy to see me and he started to wave, too. Then, he just froze in his tracks. For a second, I didn't get it and then I saw his nose twitch slightly. And his face fell. And he just mumbled something I couldn't make out, pivoted on his toes and darted off down the hall.

So.

Instead of me telling Eric gently that I wasn't interested he…smelled Brath on me or something.

I feel so awful! I mean, I should have shot him down right when he kissed me! He'd looked so happy when he was walking up and then he was just so…dejected. For a second I thought I should have just stayed in my room, but then I think Eric was heading there anyway to talk to me, so that would have been even more awkward. If that's possible.

So, I mean, I knew what had happened and I was feeling kind of miserable. But trying not to, since, yay Brath, right? But then he was already being his jerkish self again and…

Argh.

Why can't life be full of sunshine and rainbows and bunnies and happy things?

Wow, that sounded kinda pitiful, even for me.

But I digress.

So I felt crappy, but figured that not much could get worse, so I headed down and took a shower. I was like halfway through scrubbing myself down when Neesera walked in. Remember the open baths in the Exodar? The inn still has shower stalls, but they aren't high enough to completely hide you—I think so that demons can't hide in them, honestly—and so when she saw me, she waved and came over into the next stall.

Now, I've never been huge on bathroom conversation, but I guess it was just a difference in cultures because as soon as Neesera's hair was all soapy, she started talking. And it made my stomach churn.

"So, Eric. He is a nice young man."

She paused when she saw me cringe. I explained myself, if only to get her brilliant gaze to quit boring holes into the side of my head. When I was done, she frowned and tilted her head, running a cloth over her horns as she spoke.

"I see." She tilted her head the other way, her wet hair falling around her shoulders crazily. "I think it is not your fault. I think this is all miscommunications, yes?" She nodded as though to drive home her point. "I think that if Clara and Nicolas had realized you and Brath were involved, they would not have encouraged Eric as they did."

Wait, what?

When I asked her to elaborate, she kind of shrugged a little, like she realized she'd said something she shouldn't have. "You see, some time ago, Eric mentioned that he thought you were pretty to Nicolas and I guess Clara was nearby to hear." She sighed. "Human men do not…I do not know how to say this without making it sound diabolical…they do not plot as human women do? To find mates for one another?" She paused, thinking over her words and I had to prod her to keep going. "Well, Eric said that he thought you seemed a bit close with Brath, but then Nicolas insisted it wasn't so and Clara pushed him to talk to you more."

At first, I was a little annoyed. I mean, if Clara and her jerky boy toy hadn't meddled, then Eric wouldn't have gotten rejected, right? Well, at the time, I had to agree with Neesera, though. Just a bunch of miscommunications and people meaning well.

However, then, I ran into the demon child.

What? No. Not in the shower. That would have been a really weird conversation.

I finished up and was heading back to my room, thinking maybe I would rant to Brath and then thinking maybe I wouldn't since he probably would eat someone. As I was walking past the stairway, who should be coming up, but Brath's little brother.

Well, it occurred to me that, you know, he was the one who had told Brath that he was supposed to be repopulating the black dragon race or whatever, so I kind of waved him down and did my best not to recoil from his direct gaze. I feel so bad, because like almost everyone else I've ever been afraid of, he's really nice.

He stopped to the side of the stairway so that he wouldn't be in the way and I leaned against the wall next to him. "I wanted to talk to you about Zaercia."

He cocked his head, his expression one of almost boyish curiosity. "You have met my older sister?"

Okay, side note. I should probably point out that dragons don't see incest the same way we do. And their families are kinda different anyway? So even if dragons are siblings, they could still be thousands of years apart age-wise and it's not super weird if they're involved and stuff? And of course, there's the whole multiple mate thing. But that doesn't really apply to this conversation.

Anyway, back on track.

I shook my head. "No, not yet." Even as he looked ready to say something else, his gaze wandering back to the staircase, I took in a slow breath. "Um, maybe this isn't my place to say and maybe this is just…I don't know. But, please. You can't expect Brath to repopulate the dragon species with her."

His gaze snapped back to me and I felt like a small animal trapped in a cage. Dragons have that effect on people. Doesn't matter if they're shorter than you or not. It's just…their presence is overwhelming. And this kid… I may not have magic, but I can feel his power. Everyone can. That's why they're so careful around him, I think. Why even Nicolas bends knee to him, so to speak.

I don't know how long we stood there staring at one another. I blinked first, in case you're wondering. And it was like he'd been waiting for that before he finally replied.

"I would never subject my dearest sister to that monster's touch."

Oh.

Um…wait.

He frowned as he looked me over more carefully and when he sniffed slightly, I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Was all of Azeroth going to know my business with a simple sniff or two?

"May I ask who told you that Brath was expected to mate with Zaercia?"

"Another dragon," I whispered, my deer-in-the-headlights look in place.

"Do you know who?"

"She was with Derres…"

And he'd never corrected her. For a second, the thought that he was Nicolas' mount and friend crossed my mind, but I didn't quite get how everything pieced together, so I just let it slip as the Black Prince's frown deepened. Before I could stop myself, I was blurting out, "Brath didn't want to. Be with her, I mean. He was saying that he'd rather…" I trailed off, deciding that his imagery against being with Zaercia was not something that needed repeating.

The young dragon abruptly started toward the stairs again and motioned for me to walk with him. I wasn't sure that I wanted to—I kind of wanted to go back to Brath and tell him the good news—but I felt somehow compelled to keep up with him.

"No disrespect to my brother," he said, seemingly forgetting calling him a monster just a few minutes before, "but Zaercia managed to avoid being corrupted. She and I are…unique. Our clutches are sure to be free from the old gods' influence. In time, we may be able to take our flight back to Azeroth without worry of their corruption destroying us again." He paused to look my way. "Brathrion was corrupted for centuries. I doubt he will ever be able to return to Azeroth. While he may be free now, it is only because he is beyond their reach. Were he to have children, they would carry that same corruption that drove our father to madness."

"Oh." I murmured. I know it wasn't what the dragon really wanted to hear because he got this kind of strained look, like he was trying really hard not to be disappointed in his company's conversational skills.

As we went up another floor he began talking again, more to himself. "It is odd. I sent word with Miss Clara to let Zaercia know that should she need any assistance, to tell Brathrion to mind his place and that I'd already spoken with him on attending to any other…refugees of our species."

"Wait, Clara brought the note?" I felt something tugging itself into place in my head, though it seemed more like a conspiracy theory than anything else. I didn't even have to look at the young dragon to know he was watching me expectantly. I tried to laugh it off, mainly for my sake. "I…it's just. Okay. Clara and her friends were trying to set me up with this other friend of theirs. And now I find out Clara was the one who probably told Zaercia and Brath that they were supposed to be with each other."

"You think they were working against your peculiar involvement with my brother?"

Before I could respond with a 'duh', a familiar voice interrupted our conversation and I looked up to see Derres coming down the stairs to meet us. He had a curious look on his face, though when I looked at the dragon next to me, he looked like he wanted to skin Derres. "Master Wrathion, what brings you back to Earth?"