"And the one you fought at the end, it was a dragon, like you?" He might have been falling, but he couldn't help but catch parts of what had happened between Aimi and the red adversary.

The other dragon was gone. Just ashed into flakes and blown away.

That was a red dragon, not as lovely as me, of course. Nor as talented, given I won the battle. Was it him, or did the silver dragon do a fist pump? Or was that claw?

It should have terrified him the kind of power she had. It should have, at the very least, inspired a scratch of his balls-which was totally less satisfying in this hybrid shape, given they were tucked inside with a good portion of his cock. Traumatizing when he'd first seen it, and he'd gone into a minor depression over them shrinking his dick.

I am pleased to announce I am still just as big as ever. Make that bigger.

"I say we ditch your family and go do this thing on our own."

Okay. Her reply came immediately.

That seemed rather easy. Then again, perhaps she said yes for a reason. Ditching the Silvergrace girls on board now would save them from getting involved. Great plan. However, it still left Aimi in danger. I need to keep her safe.

Or he could trust that she was even tougher than him and not likely to be happy if he did anything to cut her out of the action. Chivalry warred with her happiness.

Protecting her would piss her off. It said he thought her incapable of being his partner. Thing was, he knew she could handle it. Probably better than he could. Look at how well she'd handled the attack. No tears or hysterics, no wild flailing with a frying pan or using silver buckshot. Aimi fought, no weapon but herself. And she'd won.

Only an idiot wouldn't want her playing on his team.

Still, he had to try. "Are you sure you want to ditch them? I thought you wanted your sister and cousins to tag along on this birthday party mission."

More glory and reward for us if we handle it ourselves.

Good point. Funny how his agreeing didn't seem strange at all. Then again, who wouldn't want more rewards?

Speaking of getting something valuable, he flipped to his back, letting his wings flutter and fan the air so he could see Aimi coasting alongside him on the current. He couldn't deny how nice he found it.

It wasn't the first time he'd flown with someone, but he preferred to forget about the rabid freak Bittech tried to pair him with. A few missions with that psycho reptile-a failed version of Brandon, as his uncle liked to remind him-had been enough to make him see the merit in putting down rabid pets.

Flying with Aimi proved interesting, first because he felt kind of small beside her. Yet, at the same time, he didn't get an impression of overwhelming weight as she skimmed over him, her frame casting a shadow as it blocked starlight.

"I don't think I ever did get an explanation of how you can be so big. I've seen some people defy the laws of science, especially the bear breeds, those are some big dudes, but their bears are even bigger. But you, you're the size of a-"

Say house, and I will eat you.

"-house. Let me know what time you're dining and I'll drop my pants." It was probably the most brazen thing he'd said to a woman in years, perhaps ever. Rude. Crude. And for some reason, he thought it ridiculously funny. So he laughed.

To his surprise, she sent him mental chuckles, and in that moment, he realized an interesting thing. Aimi might be a dragon, but she was still the woman he'd met, too. What she could become did not take away from her droll sense of humor and single-mindedness. He found himself rather in awe of her, and in lust. He also totally coveted her. A silver prize to start my hoard. I shall find her jewels to enhance her beauty. Fine silks to caress her body.

What the hell? He shook his head.

Is there a problem, Brand? she asked.

Yeah, there was because he now couldn't help but think of her in terms of possession, as in keeping. When did that start to happen?

Probably because she kept insisting he belonged to her. He just couldn't figure out why she wanted him.

What does she see in me?

He'd forgotten about their link and so could have punched something in embarrassment when she replied, I see a sexy hunk of treasure.

Chapter Twelve.

Sexy hunk of treasure? Who the hell said that? What am I, in seventh grade? No wonder he flipped around and ignored her.

Problem was, he totally pushed all her buttons. He was sexy. Very hunky, and a treasure she wanted to worship with her mouth and tongue.

The things I want to do to you. And he pretended as if she weren't there.

No. Not happening. Have you forgotten the lesson about the world?

"Yeah, about that." Brand flipped onto his back again, showcasing the rippling muscles of his chest, the way his pants hung low on his hips. She might have gotten a little hung up on the vee.

He had a nice vee. Drool.

Want it.

Oops, she might have projected that thought, because his eyes widened. Then he grinned.

"Then come and get it."

A challenge? She might have slobbered some more. He truly knew how to tease her.

She swooped low and reached out to grab him, only to have him dart out of her grasp.

He also taunted. "Too slow."

I am just warming up. I don't want to end things too quickly.

"But fast and furious can be fun. I still remember the feel of you on my fingers."

The distracting reminder of the pleasure caused her to wobble. He did it on purpose to stay out of reach. No more. She would show him.

Banking left, she went to snare him again, only to have him bob at the last second and pop up behind her, giving her tail a yank.

You did not just yank my tail! she mentally squealed at him.

"I did. And I'm doing it again." Tug.

Such disrespect. He'd pay for it. She narrowed her gaze on him. He laughed and beckoned her before sweeping away. With a trilling cry she couldn't contain, she went after him.

Anger didn't put the fierce smile on her face; the chase, the adrenaline, the pure fun of being outside made her grin-which she should note also resembled the I'm-gonna-shred-and-eat-you face.

Chances to fly free didn't come often, not with all the rules and permissions. This wasn't a flight in the sunlight, but with a quarter-moon shining, and with the stars, it was bright enough to fly.

Wheee. Might as well enjoy it while she could. Mother would freak. Then again, when didn't she freak?

But she'd have more important things to lose her mind about than the fact that Aimi had flown after jumping out of a plane.

The Crimson Sept had moved against them. The question was, had that dragoness worked alone with her wyvern minions, or was this just the beginning of a larger movement?

Whatever the reason, Aimi wouldn't tolerate anyone coming after Brand. My mate.

They kept to the higher skies, avoiding the spots of light scattered below. Every so often, they found an uninhabited patch of land, wide fields, and forests. They took a chance and skimmed low across treetops, Brand sometimes awing her with how deep in the woods he'd dip. Brand's hybrid figure could move with sharp grace, his smaller size giving him an intriguing maneuverability.

They flew for hours, some words spoken between them but, for the most part, just hovering close, a comforting camaraderie between them that sometimes turned electric when he would come close and run a finger down her scales. She could feel his admiration. She thrived on it.

Dawn fast approached, and she knew they couldn't fly forever. The lights of a city beckoned over the plains, the arid land they'd traversed giving way to civilization.

She alighted, and after a moment, he joined her. "Why did we stop?"

Because we can't just coast into the city.

"Why not?" He cocked his head.

Because someone will see us.

"Yup. They might. And they might even take a picture that will probably grace the cover of a newspaper with a headline like, 'Dragons are stealing your pets.'"

We do not eat cats and dogs. She couldn't help an indignant reply.

"Then you're missing out." With his expression flat, she couldn't tell if he joked or not.

We should find some clothes.

"Speak for yourself, I have pants."

Not for long if you keep antagonizing me. She bared her teeth, and he laughed.

"You want me naked, then you just need to say the word, moonbeam."

Actually, she did want him naked, but her wishes to do decadent things to his body would have to wait. By now, the plane would have completed an emergency landing-or crashed. Officials would be crawling all over it, checking off the passengers on the list, noting a few were missing.

It might be difficult to explain how she and Brand had survived, but knowing her mother, she'd bribe some official, Adi would fudge some records, and everything would work out. Of more importance, they needed to get to that party with his sister tonight. For that, she needed her human body and clothes.

I'll be back. I need to go shopping. Before he could reply, she took to the skies, and he quickly followed, trailing her as she scouted until she found what she needed. A clothesline. A quick dive and she snared a dress from the line, the pins holding the garment snapping at the hard yank.

Alighting a few hundred yards away, it took her only a moment to change into the oversized dress that had probably once graced a discount rack at a big box store. Her mother would be appalled. How Aimi wished for a camera so she could send her a picture.

She smoothed the skirt down and turned to address Brand, who stood sentinel over her. "Did you have to be such a gentleman?"

"Are you complaining because I respected you?" The confused look returned, more adorable than ever.

"Would it have killed you to maul me while I was trying to dress?"

"Mauling would have led to other things. We don't have the time, and we are also lacking a bed."

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Back on the plane. I've had enough adventure for the moment. I'd take a little bit of quiet now before we dive back into it tonight."

Ah, yes, tonight's mission. They'd rescue his sister, and he'd show his proper appreciation. In bed. "You're right. Time's a wasting. Shall we go hitch ourselves a ride?"

"No riding. I'll fly."

"It's too dangerous. Lots of guns out here, and quick trigger fingers."

"It wouldn't be the first time I was shot."

"Don't make me break your wings."

"Don't make me put you over my knee."

"You do realize that's not a threat."

"I know." He smiled. "And we don't have time for that either right now. We have to get moving."

"Flying won't be enough. And you're tired. We need to hitch a lift."

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not exactly hitchhiking material." His wings fluttered.

"America loves green reptiles. Look at Kermit still going strong decades later."

"Kermit can sing. I can't."

"You're right. You can't be a Muppet frog because that would make me a pig. This is probably wrong somehow"-her nose wrinkled-"but I am so craving bacon right now."

"Your mind is a fascinating place."

"So is my bed, so come on, let's go find one." She took a few steps, only to have Brand scoop her into his arms. "What are you doing?"

"Carrying you. In case you hadn't noticed, your feet are bare, and the ground is rough." Chivalry. How adorable.

"Your feet are bare, too."

"But I'm not walking." He flapped his wings and rose, taking her with him. "I'll drop you close to a service station. There's got to be one close by. You should be able to snare a ride from there."

"Not without you, I'm not." She wouldn't let them get separated, especially not after the attack. This was a direct strike against the Silvergrace family. It didn't matter their goal appeared to be Brand, a rival Sept had attacked and tried to steal. That was grounds for war.