n

n

nBianca hugged her mother. The whole thing was so overwhelming for her that she cried as she embraced her tightly. At first it was an attempt on her life and then those neotides tried to kill her mother.

nDawn fingered her hair gently.

"Don't cry Bia. All's well that ends well. I am standing here hale and hearty in front of you and more than that you are standing alive in front of me. There's nothing I want more.

" She kissed her temple. When Dawn had just come to Aztec, she had decided to come directly to the place where Samobian was being held. However, she was in for a shock when she saw Darius, who was shifting into a wolf and howling. She saw him running along with Brantley towards the forest at crazy speed. Via mental link, she asked Darius and what he told shocked her as hell. He said that perhaps Bianca had shifted for the first time and that she seemed to be in danger. After that Dawn had darted to the site on Quetz.

n

"I am so— so sorry that you had to see all this on your visit,

" said Bianca with her lips quivering.

n

"You needn't be Bia. In fact I am so proud that you managed the situation so well. Your real talent comes alive when you work under pressure. And over the past few days, you have shown your mettle. So cherish it. You are the real queen!

"

nBianca chuckled at the way her mother encouraged her. She hugged her tightly again. When she turned, Brantley was waiting for her. He was gazing at her with so much intensity that she thought she would melt right there. He held her hand, squeezed it and walked to their bedchamber. The moment he closed the door, he pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He picked her up and kissed her hungrily as he walked with her to the bed. Once they were both panting and were standing forehead to forehead, he said,

"I love you Bia, and I am sorry about Tymir. I should have killed him earlier.

"

nShe chuckled.

"No, I am glad that he was exposed. But this is a lesson for us. We can't trust anyone so easily, however old the employee is.

"

nHe nodded.

"Yes sweetheart.

" A moment later he said,

"Would you like to take a bath?

"

nShe laughed and instantly found herself scooped in the air. They kissed all the way to the bathroom. Her clothes were ripped apart and she was dropped in the bathtub gently. He placed her in between his thighs. As they talked about Samobian, he gave her a bath and she gave him one. They towel dried and went to sleep naked in the bed. Minutes later they were sleeping in each other's arms, their warm bodies entwined. Her hands were in his soft hair, and his on her back… possessively.

nAs Bianca drifted into deep sleep, she found herself in the desert once again.

nLittle Bia shouted,

"Grandfather!

" She rushed to him as he lay on the ground and blood pooled despite the fact that it was absorbed by the dry sand beneath him.

n

"Go,

" he said in a shaky voice.

nLittle Bia shook her head.

"No. I will take you with me. Mummy and daddy will be so happy.

" Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

nGayle brought his blood soaked hand on her face, staining her milky white skin with red.

"There's no time baby. Please go. I will—

" he struggled for air.

"I will come to you,

" he said in a hoarse voice.

n

"Gayle!

" a voice boomed from the trees he had pointed.

n

"Run Bia, run,

" he said as his hand dropped to his side and his eyes started becoming glossy.

"This is your chance…

"

nThe voice was nearer.

"Gayle!

" The man called him.

nBianca turned her face to see the man and saw his golden hair whipping across his face. He ran at unimaginable speed to reach them.

nShe heard a roar from the other side—a raged cry.

nThe man with golden hair came to her. He saw Gayle lying on the sand, gasping for breath.

n

"Take her… She is safe with you… Always will be…

" Gayle's eyes stilled, looking at her. His chest stopped moving.

nThe man picked up Bianca in his lap as a muscle ticked in his jaw. He closed Gayle's glossy eyes and muttered a curse.

nLittle Bia's shoulders raked with cries.

"Grandfather!

" He was her hero. He had saved her. She shouted as the man ran away from him with her tucked securely in his arms. She thrashed him on the chest.

"I want my G—grandfather.

"

n

"I am sorry baby,

" he said.

"He saved you, but—

"

nShe heard the roars and battle cries coming nearer.

"But what? And who are you?

" she asked even as her eyes remained focused on her grandfather.

nAll at once the man came to a halt. She looked in front of him. There were two men with gray wings standing to stop him.

n

"You can't stop us!

" he said.

nThe men came near him as they growled and bared those dirty yellow pointy teeth.

nScared that they would take her away again, she hid her face in his chest and he covered her head with his large hands.

n

"I don't want to go back,

" she whispered. They chained her. It was painful. They killed her grandfather. Her body shuddered thinking that.

n

"I won't leave you ever. I will always be there for you, sweetheart. I will always protect you,

" he assured her in a low voice and she closed her eyes, feeling safe, feeling sad, and inhaling him…

nThe men attacked him, but he dodged them and started running again.

n

"Now!

" he shouted.

nBianca heard screech somewhere above in the night sky. Slowly she looked up and saw a dragon, larger than Quetz, diving towards them. Excited, she looked at the man.

"Who are you?

" she asked.

n

"I am Brantley.

"

nThe dragon was pretty low, only several feet above them.

n

"Can you clasp your legs tightly around me, Bianca?

" he rasped as he ran to his dragon.

n

"Yes!

" she said. She grasped his waist as tightly as possible with her injured ankles, because from her experience with her mother she knew he was about to mount his dragon. She had grasped his neck with her little hands.

nWhen they were barely ten feet from the dragon, Bianca heard a crack very near to her. Blood spattered on her hands and it seemed to be coming out of his head.

"B—Brantley?

" she said with a shaky voice.

nHe stumbled forward as his eyes closed. She heard the dragon screeching and in one solid move, he swooped below and clutched the hands of his rider and flew away with powerful strokes of his wings. Bianca realized that even though the man with golden hair was unconscious, he had held her securely and firmly against his body. He muttered,

"I will always be there for you Bia…

"

nAxes and swords flung in their direction, but the dragon took the brunt of them. They fell against his jade green brilliant scales.

n

"Brantley!

" she cried.

"Brantley, come back!

" His blood covered his torso, her hands, her chest.

"Don't leave me!

"

nShe saw the ground disappearing beneath them.

"Take us to mummy!

" She pleaded the dragon.

n