DPOV

My heart was breaking for her.

In the course of a few weeks, her life had been turned upside down. I could see she had trouble reconciling all of it in her head. Her Dragon father, her powers, me being a danger to her.

I wanted to stay here. God, I wanted to stay, hold her the entire night and every night to come. But me being around her made her more unstable. I couldn't take the chance. I had to leave her. But what kind of life would she have? She wasn't human, even if she looked the part. Lissa would age. Would she protect Lissa's children? Would she protect Lissa's children's children? Would she live a millennium, and always have to say goodbye to her friends, to her lovers?

But accepting a life in the Dragon world - accepting a life with me or even with her father in her life - meant the binding spell would break, sooner or later and we had no idea what the ramifications would be.

"I should go, this is a lot of information to take in, to process."

I got up from the bed and was making my way towards the door when Rose's hand grabbed my arm.

"Don't leave. I am not sure of anything right now, but I do know I don't want you to leave."

"Rose, if I stay…"

"I know, and I am asking anyway."

Her eyes looked up at me pleadingly. I could see tears just under the rim. She was fighting hard to stay strong, but she needed to me to do it. How could I refuse?

I pulled her into my embrace and held her tight. I was stroking her hair and whispering things in an ancient Dragon language. I felt her sob, her body needing to release some of the tension.

"I am here, Roza, for as long as you need."

She looked up at me with glistening eyes. But just as I had expected from Rose, it wasn't just pain and confusion in her eyes; there was also something… else. Something stronger.

"What if I need you for a while?"

I knew I shouldn't make promises I couldn't keep, but I promised anyway. I brushed a stubborn strand of her hair behind her ears and ran my fingers through the locks until they reached the ends and the strands fell back in front of her shoulders.

"As long as you need."

A small smile pulled at her lips, and now I saw definite cheekiness in her eyes, but also a bit of fear. She took a deep breath.

"What if I need you forever?"

For the first time in my life, I was actually considering it. I was considering spending the rest of my life with one person, and I didn't feel fear as I had expected. I imagined long mornings of sleeping in together and leisurely afternoons on the sundeck with her small form pressed firmly against my scales. What I didn't imagine, the image I always had when I thought of a future shared with another, was me turning into my father and hurting the person I was with. But somehow I didn't have that nightmare with Rose. Because me hurting her like that simply seemed impossible. I didn't know how my father turned into the man he did, but I knew I would have to be a completely different person and stop loving Rose before I could even contemplate that. And I never saw that happening.

I looked over to her arms and felt the softness of her skin beneath my large hands. I had this urge to mark her skin, to let my flame run over her flawless tanned skin and mark her as my own. I knew the specifics of claiming somebody, but I never knew there was this physical urge, probably because I had never felt it. But I wouldn't claim her unless she wanted me too. No matter how much I loved her and wanted her, it would be her choice.

But hadn't she just given me her permission by asking me to stay with her forever?

I was about to reply to Rose when I heard a bell and a small scream following that bell.

We were both on immediate alert. Gone was the fragile girl whose whole world had been turned upside down and she was replaced by the strong warrior my Roza was.

She took one look at me before moving past me at record speed despite the small space and hurried into Lissa's room.

I followed her a few steps behind.

But the room was empty. The bell was across the floor, and a chair was flipped.

Rose moved past Lissa's room and into the common room and rushed to the side of a girl lying on the floor. I could hear her breathing and saw the rise and fall of her chest. She just appeared to be knocked out. The door was wide open, and I could hear several footsteps going down the stairs.

Rose looked at me, and I nodded as we started our pursuit.

They only had a small head start, and I could hear Lissa's cries as they moved her through the stairs. It only took them moments to realize they were being followed and they placed several men in our path to slow us down. Now normally I would simply wipe them away with a brush of my wing, but here in the confines of the stairs, I had to fight while in human form. Not that that would be a problem, humans meant nothing to me in terms of strength, but it would cost us precious time.

I engaged the one closest to me and dodged his attempts to attack me. I punched him in the stomach, and he fell forwards grabbing his abs and losing consciousness on the way to the floor. I had just enough time to see the pure poetry of Rose dispatching her assailant. I saw some things I'd taught her, but there was also something uniquely Rose about the way she gracefully took down a man twice her size.

After another two each, we were able to continue our pursuit. But by the time we got down to the courtyard, we could see a coach traveling at high speed towards the edge of town and into the open fields that lay beyond it.

Rose looked up at me in panic, but I quickly changed forms. I didn't even take my clothes off and when my body grew too large for the human clothes to tolerate they ripped and fell to the ground, all but one piece that got stuck on my scales.

I bend down a little, so Rose could climb on. But I noticed she didn't. She was staring at me with her eyes wide and her mouth open. I realized she had never seen the transformation and I could only imagine what it looked like to her. But we didn't have time for that. She seemed to realize this too as she shook herself out of her trance and climbed on. I was in the sky within seconds.

I tried to ignore how good and right it felt as she was sitting on my back. I tried very hard to focus on Rose's friend riding into the distance with her captors and not fantasize about our future together and long flights with Rose in that exact spot.

It wasn't long before I was flying over the carriage. Lissa's captors didn't notice us. I knew most humans wouldn't. To them, there wasn't any reason to look up. All there was in the sky was the sun. And I doubt these captors knew there was a Dragon in the palace the moment they kidnapped Lady Dragomir. Besides, it was dark outside, with my brown scales I blended into the night perfectly.

"What are you waiting for Comrade, attack them or something."

"Can't. We have to wait for the carriage to slow down and stop. If I come too close, I can spook the horses and the carriage with Lissa inside can flip. And if I simply attack the carriage at this speed the same thing can happen. We have to follow them until they stop."

I heard her groan, but she didn't disagree with me, so we followed the coach from high up in the sky. Actually, it wasn't a bad night for a leisurely flight. There were only a few clouds and a clear moon. The pace of the horses could never match my speed as a Dragon, so it took little effort to keep up with the coach. I was more gliding the air currents than I was actually flapping my wings.

I saw a house in the distance, and the carriage had set a course towards it. I felt Rose stiffen on my back.

"Dashkov."

I had no idea what she meant by that, but I guess she knew something about the place I didn't. The coach had come to a stop, and I tiltled my head a little to look at Rose, asking the silent question if I should just pick Lissa up with my claws as she came out. But Rose shook her head.

"Land nearby, I need to see what he wants with her."

I obeyed and landed in a field a little away. She climbed off.

"I think you would be more help inside if you were human."

Yeah, I could see that. I wouldn't fit through the door otherwise.

So I transformed back and again her eyes widened in amazement, then her cheeks started to blush.

I looked down at myself and noticed why she was blushing. I was completely naked. I had a small piece of ripped clothing draped over my shoulder where it had stuck to my scales, but it did nothing for my modesty.

She turned around.

"Can you put some clothes on, please?"

I chuckled a bit. Humans were such prudes. She had seen me naked before, why was this such a big deal? Besides she would have to get over it. Because I'd only brought one set of human clothing and most of it lay ripped on the courtyard back in town.

"I don't have any more clothes."

She turned around, took a good look at me and tried not to let her eyes linger on certain areas too long.

"Okay, alright then. Maybe it will give us the element of surprise? I suppose this house doesn't get invaded by naked men too often."

She allowed herself a smile before her face became serious, and her mind focused on the task at hand; saving her best friend.

She started to stalk to the side of the building.

"Do you know this place?" I asked her.

She nodded.

"It belongs to Viktor Dashkov. He is ruling in Lissa's stead until she comes of age in a few months."

She motioned me to follow her, and she skillfully and gracefully climbed the wall in one of the lowest points and was climbing her way to an open window. There wasn't a guard in sight.

"Lissa and I come here often. I know all the good places to get in… or out as was mostly the case. That window leads to the kitchen and is right over the oven, so it is always open to let the warm air out. Lissa always found it hot to climb out, but it never bothered me."

She stilled her movements a little as she pondered what she just said.

"And now I know why."

Although if Lissa could also climb through, obviously humans could tolerate the heat physically - but Rose wouldn't even think it was hot because of her Dragon half, even with the binding spell, rudimentary things like that can't be blocked. I think a lot of things will start to make sense to her now.

She climbed in through the small opening, and once inside she opened the window completely so I could climb through. Even when it was fully open it was a struggle to fit my six foot seven human frame through the window and as I rather ungracefully tried to shimmy through, Rose was chuckling from the other end.

Once I was safely on the floor, she stalked the hallways, hiding us in nooks and corners to evade potential guards, although I hadn't seen any. The place seemed rather deserted. She seemed to know where she was going so I simply followed her.

She stopped at a large oak door that was a little ajar. There were people inside, and Rose stopped and listened.

She pressed her ears as close to the opening in the door as she could without exposing herself to the people inside, but I doubt she needed to. I could hear them from here just fine, and I figured Rose would too.

"Viktor? Why am I here? Are these miscreants with you?"

It was Lissa's voice. She sounded strong, and her voice held authority, but I could detect fear as well.

"Oh Vasilisa, these aren't miscreants. These are loyal employees of mine, that will do anything I ask as long as I pay them. Good help is very hard to get these days, and I don't appreciate you insulting them. As to why you are here. Well, I heard about your plans, and I knew I had to intervene."

I heard a small growl emanating from Rose, but otherwise, she remained silent.

"Are you… going to get rid of me?"

Rose stiffened beside me, and I knew if this man's answer would be yes, that she would storm in, no questions asked.

"Oh no my dear, I would never hurt you. I plan to keep you secluded. Not here, of course. We are merely stopping here for some supplies for the long trip. I have already moved Natalie and her maidens to your new home. Natalie was so happy to learn she was going to have a high-ranking female companion. I am sure you will be very comfortable there and far away from boring politics. You will write a statement saying you don't feel up to the task of ruling and have appointed me as your regent."

"You want my power? That is why you took me? I thought you were my friend, grooming me to be a good ruler once the time comes? How can you take that away from me?"

"Because my dear, I simply cannot let your naivety destroy what I have built. I have plans for this country, and I will not let you ruin that. People need strong leadership. The common folk don't know what is best for them and letting them have a say in how things are run will destroy this country, and I will not allow it."

Rose had heard enough, and she didn't think twice. Maybe she should have before she opened the doors with a loud bang. I had no choice but to follow.

When we entered the room, there were two men that were poised to attack us, one man that was holding Lissa down and one older man standing before them all. By the look of his clothing and the air of arrogance and importance, I suspected this was Viktor Dashkov. He wasn't pleased to be interrupted. He did raise an eyebrow when he took in my attire, or lack thereof, and I saw the men he hired look at each other, not really knowing how to handle a naked man. Although one of them did look more appreciative than the others.

Three men were nothing to me. I could take them down easily. Also Rose would be able to handle some of them as well. Either Viktor had been right that it was hard to get good help, or most of his guards were already in their new accommodations. I suspected a little bit of both. Of course, he'd had more men to retrieve Lissa, but a few of them lay unconscious back at the palace.

The two men attacked me seeing me as the bigger threat, which in truth I was. But two humans weren't really a problem for me. They were on me trying to tag team to get any punches or kicks in. Even the ones I couldn't block hardly fazed me and I saw one of the guys that had punched me was nursing his hand. I always forgot how fragile humans were. I knocked the first one out, by throwing him across the room and into the stone wall. I made sure he was still alive, but otherwise focused on the other ones. The man that was holding down Lissa let her go so he could join the fight. I told Lissa to run and get away. She looked back a moment to the other side of the room where I saw Viktor try to leave and Rose pursuing him.

"She will be fine. Just get yourself to safety. I will be right behind you."

It took me a few more moments before I had dispatched the other two men and I was about to head to Lissa when I felt it.

My head turned around fast to the direction where I felt it come from and I knew it was the direction in which Rose had been running.

The air was heating up. As a Dragon, I was in tune with all sources of fire. The sun, actual fire, and other Dragons, or in this case hybrids that had an internal flame. And hers was blazing.

I ran outside to see if Lissa was safe. She was a safe distance away from the source of the inferno, so I focused on Rose. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her. She was standing in a field of corn no doubt having followed Viktor, who had been trying to get away and hide.

I could faintly hear their voices, and it didn't seem like they were having a polite conversation.

All the while the fire inside of her was building and expanding. I knew I would have to act soon or I would lose her. The spell wouldn't be able to bind this much power, and it would break.

I heard the shift in Viktor's voice go from angry and condescending to downright fearful.

And at that moment I knew I was too late. The heatwave hit me and pushed me back. I had to close my eyes and shield my face so I wouldn't go blind from the brightness.

It took a few moments for the light to dissipate and the inferno to return to simmering.

When I was able to open my eyes again, I saw a small figure in the distance. The cornfield was gone, and in its stead was ash in a hundred foot radius around the small figure. Rose.

I walked towards her, ignoring the coals of burned corn at my feet. I was a Dragon; the heat doesn't touch me.

I was expecting the worst. I heard stories of hybrids losing control, and there was nothing left of them but ash. At least Rose was still there, and I could hear her breathing. She was on her knees and naked. The fire had burned off her clothes. There were still a few flames dancing on her skin, but she didn't seem to notice.

In this moonlight she was beautiful. Her form was illuminated by her own flames that almost seemed to be soothing her. The only thing that made her less beautiful was the pure look of anguish and pain on her face. She wasn't even looking at me. She didn't seem to notice I was there. All she was looking at was a bit of ash on the ground. It had a slightly different form than the burned corn, and I realized this must be Viktor. There was barely anything left of him and one good gush of wind, and he would be scattered across the lands.

I kneeled down next to her.

"Roza?"

She looked at me when she heard her name and my heart broke as I saw her tear stained face.

"Roza, are you hurt?"

I looked her over but found no evidence she had sustained any damage from the inferno.

She held her hands up to her face and was staring at them. I didn't know what to do; she seemed to be in shock.

The wind picked up and blew the remnants of Viktor across the field. Rose whimpered as she stretched her hands towards the ash as if she could make him whole again if she found all the pieces.

I knew that that wind wasn't a normal gush, but created by the wings of Dragons and when I turned around, I saw Adrian and Christian standing a few feet back.

"We felt the inferno and came to check."

Both of them were looking at Rose, wondering what the hell was going on.

"Cousin, is she?"

Apparently, Adrian figured out that Rose was a hybrid and I nodded at his question.

"What do you need?" Christian asked.

"I need to get her to my grandmother, but I need someone to take care of Lady Dragomir. Take her home and keep her safe."

Christian seemed eager to accept that task; information I filed away to think about later.

I picked Rose up and transformed so I would be able to fly the distance. She ended up perfectly cradled in my claws as I took to the skies. Adrian followed me as Christian stayed behind. I saw Rose look back one more time towards the circle of ash before she lost consciousness.