Chapter One

Lizzy smiled as she saw Mia dressed in her costume for costume day in school. Mia smiled at her mom and flashed a smile…a smile that reminded her of someone, someone she didn’t want to be reminded of.

“Mom! See I am dressed as Daenerys Targaryen” she said and Lizzy smiled lovingly in return.

“It’s Daenerys, honey,” she said and Mia shrugged.

“Dae-ne-rays,” she said rolling the “r”  “Sounds exotic,” she said and Lizzy grinned. Mia had been the one from her past that didn’t bring her pain. The one thing that kept Lizzy sane.

She watched as Mia straightened her white wig that she had ordered from A****n, and her daughter looked every inch a princess.

“How do I look, mommy?” She asked and Lizzy grinned. Lizzy tried to ruffle the wig but Mia danced away, wagging her finger at her.

“You look like a queen,” Lizzy said and Mia smiled smugly.

“Good, because I am going to burn some guys with my dragons,” she said, making a pouty face.

“Mia!” Lizzy exclaimed and her daughter laughed.

“I am kidding Mom. Dragons aren’t real right?” She said and I chuckled.

“They aren’t. Now get ready to have your cereal, before you go to school” Mia giggled and ran to sit at the diner. Lizzy had pretty much made a living for herself after ... well, divorced by Xander.

She had gotten a job as a journalist, and things had been pretty good, she cried a lot sometimes but ever since she had Mia, things looked perfect for once. Of course, she didn’t tell Xander that she was pregnant and that she had a child. She had kept that secret to herself, he didn’t even deserve to know.

She helped Mia pour her cereal, the only thing she found ironic was how much Mia looked like Zander—like a feminine, miniature version of him. The only thing she had in common with Mia was her blonde hair. She had Xander's intense green eyes, the same nose, the same—-everything.

“Alright honey, eat up. We’ll be heading to school in an hour” Lizzy said as she handed Mia a napkin.

Mia nodded and dug into her food. Lizzy had some sort of gut feeling today. That she was going to see someone who she didn’t want to see ever again.

The truth was that Lizzy still loved him, still missed him, still missed his kiss——craved his touch. Mia once asked who her father was and Lizzy told her that her father was away on a long trip. But in reality, her father was miles away. She does pass by his company sometimes.

Mia yelled something like she was done eating from downstairs and Lizzy smiled and gathered the things she needed into her handbag. She double-checked the mirror to see if she was looking okay, and she grinned.

Still got it, baby.

She headed downstairs where Mia was waiting for her, jumping on her feet with energy.

“Can we go, mommy? I am so excited” she said and Lizzy smiled warmly.

“Alright Mia, let’s paddle it,” She said and took Mia’s hand and headed out of the house.

The ride to school was lively as usual. Mia was talkative as usual, filling Lizzy in on everything she needed to know.

“Do you know that Daisy said ghosts are real? She said one visited her last night?” She said and Lizzy chuckled.

“What did the ghost do to her,” she asked and Mia's eyes went serious.

“She said the ghost scared her because she was bad to her mom,” Mia said and Lizzy sighed. Mia was as sweet as ever, the best child a parent could wish for.

“Mia, listen,” Lizzy said, eyes fixed on the road. “First, you are a good girl and I love you so much. Second, ghosts aren’t real, it’s just fiction” Lizzy said and Mia's eyes lit up.

“Like dragons?” She said. Lizzy grinned as she drove past the school gates.

“Like dragons” she confirmed and Mia nodded happily humming “Pop goes the whistle”

Lizzy parked the car in the space she could find, the parking lot was filled up today. Costume day was a big event in Mia’s school this year. Mia had told her that a friend of hers had informed her that a rich billionaire funded it this year.

Lizzy took Mia’s hand as they went inside the school building. Mia bounced with each step, flashing her royal “Targaryen clothes” She even twirled her head letting the white-haired wig bounce.

Lizzy laughed at her daughter’s excitement and poked Mia in the back.

“Hey sport, can you slow down? It’s hard to walk with you trashing around” she said and Mia giggled.

“You are doing just fine Mom,” she said and continued bouncing. Lizzy sighed and walked down the hallway. She didn’t much know her way around his school so Mia was the one doing the actual leading.

Mia led her to a huge towering door and smiled at her mother.

“Here we are Mom, Hall of Costumes,” she said and Lizzy didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. Xander used to joke like that. She managed a small smile at Mia and pushed open the doors.

The hall was large and very wide looking to be able to contain a few thousand people. Mia jumped excitedly, clearly pleased to see so many people. Lizzy could see parents around with their kids, all in costumes. Mia suddenly fished something from her pocket and then handed Lizzy a dark mask.

“Here Mom, it’s mask day for the adults. I got you one” she said and Lizzy’s heart melted.

“Thank you, sweetie,” she said and put on the mask that Mia gave.

They found a seat pretty close to the front and Lizzy settled in. Mia grinned as a group of kids approached and whispered in her ear.

“Alright, mom. I have to do my last-minute practice. See you” Mia said and kissed Lizzy on the cheek. Lizzy grinned and waved, she watched until Mia was out of sight. But something caught her attention from the corner of her eye, something that even made her tear her gaze away from her daughter.

There at a corner was the man she dreaded seeing, the man who was all over in her wet dreams. Even in his cat mask, he looked pretty hot.

Xander.