Her fantasy world deepened, and he couldn't help but feed it. "So, your daddy was a dragon. And what of your mother."

She rolled her eyes. "Dragon, too, of course. It is the only way to make one."

"Of course, it is." Had to admire the depth of her delusion.

"We will make some fine dragonlings to carry the family name."

Choke. What? "Slow down, moonbeam. We won't be making nothing because you seem to have forgotten I'm not a dragon."

She leaned down and sniffed. "You smell like one."

"What I smell like is a man on the run whose skin hasn't seen anything but lakes and rivers in weeks. Let me assure you, I am most definitely not a dragon." Or daddy material.

Curiosity shone in her gaze as she cocked her head. "Then what are you if not dragon?"

"I'm what happens when science goes wild. The man the world knows as Parker-"

"You know Parker?"

"Unfortunately." He grimaced. "He's my uncle."

"What?" She jumped to her feet, a grip on his shirt pulling him up after her, impressive given he wasn't a lightweight. Although, he should note that he wasn't as heavy as he used to be. A lack of proper meals did that to a man. "You're related to that whoreson? I didn't know he was a dragon. I thought he was some kind of low-born lizard."

"Not right on either account. He's a wolf. My aunt married outside the family. Apparently, she had a thing for dogs."

Her lips pursed. "I can see you have interesting lineage. You may not want to mention that to my mother or aunts. We need them to think you're a suitable mate if this is going to work."

"I am a freak, not suitable for anything, let alone being someone's mate." He grabbed hold of her wrists, noting the fine bones, and pried her fingers from his shirt. She might be strong, but he was happy to note that he proved stronger.

What he couldn't have prepared for was how dirty she'd play. She grabbed him by the junk, firmly too, and leaned up to snap, "You will not speak of yourself with such disparagement anymore. Have some pride in your genes."

"Even if they're not mine?"

"You're not making any sense. Of course, they're yours. Dragons are born, not made."

His turn to shake his head and resist an urge to punch her for squishing his balls. Bayou born and bred didn't mean he was an asshat who hit girls.

"All of what you see is science-made, except for the cock you're squeezing. That's all me." And me was not exactly hating being touched. How long since he'd been this close to a woman?

"You can impress me with your virility later once I've claimed you before witnesses."

"You lost me."

"Good thing I'm smart enough to think for us both. Just do as you're told, and it will all be fine. Better than fine. I think we shall do quite well together. Unlike that idiot Harold, you smell nice, and you're handsome, too." She patted his cheek.

Yeah, so a part of him wanted to snort and mock her calling him handsome. But...

Another part of him practically rolled on its back and purred. Fucking purred. It was utterly emasculating.

"For the last time. I'm not a dragon."

"Fine. You're not. We can discuss what you are later. We should get out of here before I have to deal with my cousins. This building is in their territory, which is why it's so much fun to pop in for a visit and leave them a present."

The girl he'd called moonbeam took a step away and dug into a pocket. She pulled out a figurine of a pretty princess in some yellow frock, holding up an index finger. The detail was incredible. The fact that she was leaving it to taunt even more astonishing.

"Do you often screw with your cousins?"

"Every chance I get."

Sshe is perfect. Devious and sexy. The most deadly of combinations.

Sporting a pleased smirk, she stepped back from the tiny effigy. "Now that I've left a calling card, time for you to change so we can go."

"I don't have a shirt. These things make it kind of hard to find one that fits." His wings rustled, and he noted how her gaze followed the play of muscles across his bared chest. The ends of a scarf, wrapped around his neck, dangled down. Winter fast approached, and he needed to move west to stay ahead of it.

As time marched on and he lost touch with his humanity, the more he noticed how temperature affected him. Cool temps put him right to sleep-and chapped his skin. He now traveled with lube, the good kind that doubled for when his hand got used during extra-curricular activities.

Hot temperatures made him relax and smile. He likened it to a big joint, and just like with Mary Jane, he got the munchies, too-for raw meat.

No matter the weather conditions, though, he remained alert. It was the only way to ensure survival. Whether sleepy or high, if he had to spring into action, he went from relaxed to adrenalized in an instant.

"I wasn't talking about putting a shirt on. With a body like that, I say show it off. But we can't walk around while you're in your hybrid form. You shouldn't even be playing in the city limits wearing it." Her eyes widened. "Are you a rule breaker? A trailblazer? Justice warrior?"

"No."

"A shame." She seemed almost disappointed.

"I am dangerous to be around, though, so you should probably leave and forget you saw me."

Again, she uttered that enchanting laughter. The chime of bells in the wind, the sound tickled across his exposed skin, warming him despite the cool evening air.

"Forget you? Never. Now that I've found you, you're mine."

Mine. How nice that sounded. But it also reminded him of his time at Bittech. "I belong to no one."

"You say that now...but you'll change your mind." She smiled and winked. "I guess if I'm going to claim you, I should know your first name because it seems a little odd for me to call you by your last."

"You can call me Ace." The name of the monster that did Bittech's dirty deeds.

She rejected it. "That is infantile and won't do at all. Do you have another name? A more proper one that Mother might approve of?"

As if he cared what her mother thought of him. He wasn't even sure he cared what she thought. Except...he kind of did. She was the first person to truly speak to him in a while. He'd stopped calling his family, unable to listen to their pleas to come join them despite the danger he'd bring. Unable to deal with their belief that Sue-Ellen was fine and didn't need rescue.

Sue-Ellen wouldn't be fine until he got her away from Parker.

Instead of replying, he turned the query back on her. "What's your name? Seems only fair you spill first since you're the one keen on knowing."

She tossed her head, the movement causing her hair to undulate in a wave of silver. "My name is Aimi Silvergrace, daughter of Zahra and Tobin. My mother is the Contessa for the Silver Sept."

"Sounds like you come from money."

"I do. We're rich. Filthy rich, and I should warn that my mother prides herself on being an upper-class snob."

"Mine makes the best crab chowder in the bayou."

"She can cook? A peasant endeavor, but intriguing. When we visit, we shall allow her to cook for me."

Allow? And what was with the "When we visit?" There was no we. "I thought I'd made myself clear. I want nothing to do with you."

She shot him a gaze that said without words what a foolish boy he was. "You want me."

"Do not."

"You are a horrible liar. My whole family is going to eat you alive."

"This might sound like an odd question, but to be clear, do you mean that literally?" Because the more he chatted with Aimi of the moonbeam hair, and even more flighty ideas, the more he was convinced she was fucking nuts. He should also note that he had more than one aunt who would eat their guests and bury their bones. His aunt Tanya was famous for her Frenemy Soup.

"The only one who will actually eat you will be me." She licked her lips, and the wink left nothing to the imagination.

He might have shuddered-because of the cold. Nothing else.

She's right. I am a shitty liar.

She clapped her hands. "Enough idle chitchat. We can indulge in that later at the house. Change back to your human guise and let us get moving. I'm curious to see how you appear. You're not ridiculously hideous, are you? Then again, I guess it doesn't matter that much. We could always screw in the dark. Or you could wear this face." She patted his cheek. "This face is handsome. But it should only be worn in private." She gave him a harder tap. "And I mean in private with me. Now, stop playing and change. I am sure you are taxing your strength holding this form for so long."

"I can't change."

"What do you mean you can't?"

Nothing like having to admit his deficiency. He rolled his big shoulders. "Like I keep trying to tell you, I'm broken. Actually, according to Bittech and the doctors there, they 'improved' me. They took a simple swamp gator from the wrong side of town and made me into some kind of super breed. There is a catch, though. This is the only thing I can be now. This hideous monster shape."

Not ugly, beautiffful. His inner self took exception, and his wings fluttered, an outward push by his reptile half. The pushes were getting harder and harder to control, and at times, he wondered why he bothered fighting at all.

"You cannot change?" Her fine brows pulled tight. "At all?"

"Nope. This is me, moonbeam. Not a guy you should be bringing home to meet Mom. I am nothing but a mistake."

Chapter Four.

He didn't say it for pity, more as an apology, but Aimi couldn't understand why he persisted in his belief that he was a mistake.

There was undoubtedly something different about him, something exotic that came from more than just the incredible beauty and control he had over his hybrid shape. Only the strongest could maintain a half-shift for any length of time. It almost made her giggle with glee at her fortuitous finding of him. Who would have thought her middle-of-the-night wanderings would bring her in contact with an eligible male?

A strong mate that will not only get my mother off my back but also send my sisters and cousins into total green meltdown.

A sweet victory.

Except he didn't seem keen on hooking up. She doubted it had to do with her looks-it wasn't vanity that said she was pretty. The mirror said it, too.

She detected no mark on him, no prior claim, so it wasn't as if he couldn't accept Aimi as his mate. And she'd not imagined the erection.

He is attracted to me but thinks he's not worthy. Understandable. She was pretty freaking awesome. She forgave him his awe. "I told you before, I won't tolerate you denigrating yourself. It is unseemly in a dragon. And I think we should address the fact that your attitude indicates you believe the world revolves around you. Not anymore it doesn't." She tilted her chin and angled her nose in the air as her mother had taught her. "I am the center of the universe. More specifically, your universe." She fixed him with a stare. He was also her ticket out of the house and from under her mother's rule. First, though, she needed to properly claim him in front of witnesses.

She grabbed his hand and tugged him in the direction of the door leading to the rooftop stairs. "Let's go."

"We can't go. At least, I can't. I rarely travel the streets like this. Too dangerous." Silver bullets were a bitch to heal from.

"I admit your hybrid shape might make it more complicated to pass unnoticed, but only until we reach my car a few blocks away."

"And where do you plan to take me?"

"Home, of course. It's about an hour's drive from here. The condo would be closer, but nobody's there right now. Besides, if we go to our house in the 'burbs, I'll wager my Aunt Xylia has something to help you. Just don't trust anything from Waida. She tends to add little extras." Sometimes, those extras refused to leave. Not everyone wanted a third nipple, and Uncle Jerome never forgave his sister for that.

Her future mate planted his feet and refused to move to the rooftop door. He was so adorably stubborn. She'd have to talk to her mother about breaking him of that habit. Not that her mother had had much luck with Aimi's father. Her mother had tried to cage Aimi's dad, but he refused to stay home safe with the hoard-and she meant a real hoard. All dragons had one, the size of it determined by their dwelling. Mother's was massive. Aimi had one started, but it was starting to outgrow her closet. She'd have to bargain for more room.

Or I could just move out with my mate. Get their own place in the city. With extra bedrooms for her treasures.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

A heavy sigh blew past her lips. "Again with the word 'no.' World. Me." She punctuated the words with a swirl of a finger around her head. Poor, simple guy. He'd learn. Speaking of which... "Hey, you still haven't given me your name. And don't give me something foolish again like Ace. That's for gangsters, not someone who is about to join with the Silvergrace family." And father a few babies that would finally get her mother off her back-"When are you going to stop being so picky and settle down with a dragon lord and ensure the continuation of our line?"

Guess what, Mother. You're about to get your wish.

"My real name is Brandon. Does that work for you, moonbeam?"

She smiled. "It does, although I prefer Brand. It's got more presence. I also find your nickname for me acceptable. What's less acceptable is your stubborn refusal to obey."

"It's not stubborn. I am not a dog to be ordered around."

"You don't like orders, then fine. I am asking you to come with me." She struggled but managed to utter, "Please."

"Still not happening. Up here, no one can see me, which means, no dodging bullets."

"But dodging danger is what makes life so entertaining. It also keeps us fit."

"Bullets make holes."

"You'll heal."

"I'd rather not, which is why I'm going to stay here, and you're going to leave." He gave her a little shove. "Vamoose." Another nudge. "Adios." A wave of his hand. "Don't let the door hit you on the ass."