KholKohl felt something heavy on his arm. He blinked, raising his head to see Isabelle laying across his arm and chest. They'd made it to his family's hideout, but how? One of his siblings must have found them. The last thing he remembered was getting attacked, and his mind fell blank after that. “Don't wake her yet,” his sister, Desmonda said from the doorway. “She's been tending you nonstop for over a day.” Kohl nodded. “You're not surprised I'm in human form?” She brushed aside a tear. “I pick up on a lot of things, brother, just don't tell anyone unless I think they should know. Doesn't matter to me if you are half-human or half-Valiruc, you are still my brother.” “Thanks. Why are you crying?” He rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “Where is everyone? It's too quiet.” Even though they were in hiding, he would sense his family near or even hear the snores of his father or one of his brothers. Due to the Tryns, his family took turns sleeping and keeping watch. “Desmonda, the Tr
Isabelle“W-what?” Kohl's voice boomed through the chamber and made Isabelle cringe. His anger rolled off him in waves.She hadn't expected to blurt out that she was expecting a baby, but her nerves had been clawing on thin ice since she arrived on this planet.“That's not possible.” He turned a split-pea shade of green.Damn, she'd known he'd be shocked and surprised, but didn't think he'd have this reaction. “Actually it only takes one time.” Especially in our case.He met her stare and pain filled his gaze. “We have to get you back to Earth. Now.”“Why?” Was he ashamed that she was pregnant? Maybe it was taboo or something. “I'm sure your family and mine will accept our child. He or she won't be an outcast or unloved.” Not if I have anything to say about it.Without a word, he snatched her hand and led her out of the chamber down the corridor of caves.“Too tight, you're hurting me.” Why was he reacting this way? This was the worst scenario she’d thought of…he wanted
KohlKohl's heart hurt as if it had been raked with burning tongs until nothing remained. As protest, his body refused to shift into his dragon-form and he remained human. Probably because his wing had been torn and was healing. He hurled aside the larva delicacy with blood-wine sauce. The metal bowl hit the wall, then rattled against the cave floor. Inside his chamber, he paced. Was Isabelle all right? Had she had the abortion yet? His human mother had died while giving birth to him and he wouldn't sentence Isabelle to that fate. As a human, she wouldn’t survive the ordeal. He couldn’t live with himself if that happened. Guilty paraded in his mind. This was all his fault. He had been stupid by having unprotected sex with her. And he’d not have his child grow up without a mother. He would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen. His chest tightened at the memory of Isabelle’s hurt and angry gaze wh
Isabelle Isabelle took the time to read the last student's paper, then leaned back in her desk chair. She wrote the grade at the top with a smiley face and laid it on top of the pile of finished ones on her desk.Even though it was early release day and nearly dinner time, she was still at the school. Julia had called in sick and Isabelle told the substitute teacher she'd grade both classes’ papers.Everyone thought she was being nice and considerate, which she was, and normally she would have offered to help in any way she could. But this week she had an ulterior motive...to keep as busy as possible so she wouldn't dwell on Kohl and what a jerk he’d been when she was on his planet nearly a week ago.Vivid memories of him forcing her to leave plagued her mind. His harsh words. The way he'd looked like he couldn't stand her. Why was she so upset at his actions? Wasn't like they had even dated. And he lived in
Kohl Kohl barreled outside into the night. His dragon vision allowed him to make out shapes and a few colors despite the overcast sky. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the enemy.Through the darkness, he spotted a figure in the middle and he advanced cautiously, ready to fight.The Tryn had a human man by the throat, dragging the body behind him.Inhaling, Kohl detected his brother's scent of cedarwood and smoke. His heart hammered against his ribcage as he shook his head to process what he was seeing. His brother was a dragon, not a human. Dragons couldn't shift. This man couldn't be Taurian. It wasn't possible.A blunt force hit him in the back and the air left his lungs in a rush and pain burst across his shoulder blade, then another finger of agony twisted into his back, missing his heart by inches. Kohl groaned and twisted around, spotting another Tryn who held a piece of wood fence in
KohlIsabelle! Kohl’s heart squeezed like a giant fist...every fiber…howled her name. He glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her or one of her smiles that seemed to light the darkness inside him. Hell, he'd shout in joy if she rose from some safe place in her yard and tell him not to shout and wake the neighbors. Luckily, it seemed one set wasn’t home as cars were gone and the lights were out. But the flames didn’t stop chewing away at anything in their path. The earth foliage blackened and ash floated in their wake.The smell of charred pine needles filled his nostrils and left an acrid taste on his tongue. He’d lost her. The devastation made him feel as if he was buried alive under the weight of despair pressing down on him.It was all his fault that she got trapped between his enemies and him. He should've never gotten involved with her. Should've walked away when he first met her instead of spend
Isabelle Isabelle woke with a start. Oh crap, crap, crap—the alarm didn’t go off! She untangled herself from Kohl’s arms and scrambled to the bathroom. Late for class again!Where was her cell phone? While she jumped into the cold shower, she scrubbed her body and teeth, nearly slipping twice, but caught herself.What was she going to do when she was the size of a barn? Eventually, she’d have to tell Principal Cooper about her condition.She threw on a plain white, flowered dress with an Imperial waistband. Kohl leaned against the door frame, watching her.“You okay? Why the hurry?”“Some of us have to work for a living.” She gave him a wink and a smile. “Not all of us can be dragon prince.”He raised an eyebrow. “Well, this dragon prince would pay any amount of money to have you take off that dress and walk around naked all day. How much for you to come back to bed?”“More than you can afford.” She laughed.
Isabelle“Why do we have to go to your planet for the birth?” Isabelle panted as another contraction hit her. “What about the Tryns?”Kohl pulled up the couch cushions to find her wedding ring. Over the last month it had gotten too tight on her finger and he fastened a chain around her neck to wear it, but the lock broke last night in their lovemaking and she didn’t realize it was missing until this morning. “I can’t find it. We’ll have to hunt for it later.”“No way!” she huffed. “I’m not leaving without it.” They still didn’t know if she’d survive the birth, but she wanted everyone to know she was Mrs. D'Kohralx. Even though Kohl’s people didn’t wear rings, but kept each other’s scent on them, she liked her wedding ring of white gold and diamonds and sapphires in twinging hearts. Both symbolize her and Kohl and their twins.“Damn it, Isabelle. We can find it later.” He raked a hand through his hair.She tap
Isabelle“Why do we have to go to your planet for the birth?” Isabelle panted as another contraction hit her. “What about the Tryns?”Kohl pulled up the couch cushions to find her wedding ring. Over the last month it had gotten too tight on her finger and he fastened a chain around her neck to wear it, but the lock broke last night in their lovemaking and she didn’t realize it was missing until this morning. “I can’t find it. We’ll have to hunt for it later.”“No way!” she huffed. “I’m not leaving without it.” They still didn’t know if she’d survive the birth, but she wanted everyone to know she was Mrs. D'Kohralx. Even though Kohl’s people didn’t wear rings, but kept each other’s scent on them, she liked her wedding ring of white gold and diamonds and sapphires in twinging hearts. Both symbolize her and Kohl and their twins.“Damn it, Isabelle. We can find it later.” He raked a hand through his hair.She tap
Isabelle Isabelle woke with a start. Oh crap, crap, crap—the alarm didn’t go off! She untangled herself from Kohl’s arms and scrambled to the bathroom. Late for class again!Where was her cell phone? While she jumped into the cold shower, she scrubbed her body and teeth, nearly slipping twice, but caught herself.What was she going to do when she was the size of a barn? Eventually, she’d have to tell Principal Cooper about her condition.She threw on a plain white, flowered dress with an Imperial waistband. Kohl leaned against the door frame, watching her.“You okay? Why the hurry?”“Some of us have to work for a living.” She gave him a wink and a smile. “Not all of us can be dragon prince.”He raised an eyebrow. “Well, this dragon prince would pay any amount of money to have you take off that dress and walk around naked all day. How much for you to come back to bed?”“More than you can afford.” She laughed.
KohlIsabelle! Kohl’s heart squeezed like a giant fist...every fiber…howled her name. He glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her or one of her smiles that seemed to light the darkness inside him. Hell, he'd shout in joy if she rose from some safe place in her yard and tell him not to shout and wake the neighbors. Luckily, it seemed one set wasn’t home as cars were gone and the lights were out. But the flames didn’t stop chewing away at anything in their path. The earth foliage blackened and ash floated in their wake.The smell of charred pine needles filled his nostrils and left an acrid taste on his tongue. He’d lost her. The devastation made him feel as if he was buried alive under the weight of despair pressing down on him.It was all his fault that she got trapped between his enemies and him. He should've never gotten involved with her. Should've walked away when he first met her instead of spend
Kohl Kohl barreled outside into the night. His dragon vision allowed him to make out shapes and a few colors despite the overcast sky. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the enemy.Through the darkness, he spotted a figure in the middle and he advanced cautiously, ready to fight.The Tryn had a human man by the throat, dragging the body behind him.Inhaling, Kohl detected his brother's scent of cedarwood and smoke. His heart hammered against his ribcage as he shook his head to process what he was seeing. His brother was a dragon, not a human. Dragons couldn't shift. This man couldn't be Taurian. It wasn't possible.A blunt force hit him in the back and the air left his lungs in a rush and pain burst across his shoulder blade, then another finger of agony twisted into his back, missing his heart by inches. Kohl groaned and twisted around, spotting another Tryn who held a piece of wood fence in
Isabelle Isabelle took the time to read the last student's paper, then leaned back in her desk chair. She wrote the grade at the top with a smiley face and laid it on top of the pile of finished ones on her desk.Even though it was early release day and nearly dinner time, she was still at the school. Julia had called in sick and Isabelle told the substitute teacher she'd grade both classes’ papers.Everyone thought she was being nice and considerate, which she was, and normally she would have offered to help in any way she could. But this week she had an ulterior motive...to keep as busy as possible so she wouldn't dwell on Kohl and what a jerk he’d been when she was on his planet nearly a week ago.Vivid memories of him forcing her to leave plagued her mind. His harsh words. The way he'd looked like he couldn't stand her. Why was she so upset at his actions? Wasn't like they had even dated. And he lived in
KohlKohl's heart hurt as if it had been raked with burning tongs until nothing remained. As protest, his body refused to shift into his dragon-form and he remained human. Probably because his wing had been torn and was healing. He hurled aside the larva delicacy with blood-wine sauce. The metal bowl hit the wall, then rattled against the cave floor. Inside his chamber, he paced. Was Isabelle all right? Had she had the abortion yet? His human mother had died while giving birth to him and he wouldn't sentence Isabelle to that fate. As a human, she wouldn’t survive the ordeal. He couldn’t live with himself if that happened. Guilty paraded in his mind. This was all his fault. He had been stupid by having unprotected sex with her. And he’d not have his child grow up without a mother. He would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen. His chest tightened at the memory of Isabelle’s hurt and angry gaze wh
Isabelle“W-what?” Kohl's voice boomed through the chamber and made Isabelle cringe. His anger rolled off him in waves.She hadn't expected to blurt out that she was expecting a baby, but her nerves had been clawing on thin ice since she arrived on this planet.“That's not possible.” He turned a split-pea shade of green.Damn, she'd known he'd be shocked and surprised, but didn't think he'd have this reaction. “Actually it only takes one time.” Especially in our case.He met her stare and pain filled his gaze. “We have to get you back to Earth. Now.”“Why?” Was he ashamed that she was pregnant? Maybe it was taboo or something. “I'm sure your family and mine will accept our child. He or she won't be an outcast or unloved.” Not if I have anything to say about it.Without a word, he snatched her hand and led her out of the chamber down the corridor of caves.“Too tight, you're hurting me.” Why was he reacting this way? This was the worst scenario she’d thought of…he wanted
KholKohl felt something heavy on his arm. He blinked, raising his head to see Isabelle laying across his arm and chest. They'd made it to his family's hideout, but how? One of his siblings must have found them. The last thing he remembered was getting attacked, and his mind fell blank after that. “Don't wake her yet,” his sister, Desmonda said from the doorway. “She's been tending you nonstop for over a day.” Kohl nodded. “You're not surprised I'm in human form?” She brushed aside a tear. “I pick up on a lot of things, brother, just don't tell anyone unless I think they should know. Doesn't matter to me if you are half-human or half-Valiruc, you are still my brother.” “Thanks. Why are you crying?” He rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “Where is everyone? It's too quiet.” Even though they were in hiding, he would sense his family near or even hear the snores of his father or one of his brothers. Due to the Tryns, his family took turns sleeping and keeping watch. “Desmonda, the Tr
Isabelle“Kohl?” Isabelle waded in a circle in the river. No response. Even the travois was gone. Her breath hitched as fear crashed against her insides. Had a river monster taken him? Unconscious, he wouldn't be able to fight back. Along the riverbank, bushes sprouted bright violet flowers. A flock of birds with long necks and a brownish color flew overhead. A goat-like beast with three horns dipped its head to drink, but bounded off when it spotted her. She swam downstream in hopes of finding him. A shadow darkened the sky for a moment. What was that?Ahead of her, a massive emerald dragon swooped low. Its wings spanning as wide as the river's edge. Her heart hammered, and she couldn’t breathe. The creature looked twice the size of Kohl in his dragon form. And its tail was different with spikes on the end and longer. Did that mean it wasn’t part of his species…family?Wings that spanned the edge of either side of the river stirred up the water and gusts of air had her falling backwa