"Land somewhere!" I shouted over the wind.

"It's not safe," my mother said.

"I don't care. I have questions for you."

"I'm sure you do, Evelyn, but we're not landing here. We have to get a safe distance away from the Guild. Do you realize what you've done?" Mother asked.

"Yes. I know what I did. I saved all those girls."

"Yes, you did. You also killed all the Watchers. Agnolo will not take that lightly."

I let out a scream and fell from Draco's back. Closing my eyes, I held out my arms as my body plummeted toward the hard ground below.

"Evelyn!" Draco yelled.

His scaly body dived toward me, the massive claws reaching for me. A flash of green then brown zipped by me. He pulled his wings in, seeming to become even faster. He stretched his talons, the tip of a claw skimming my stomach. He narrowed his eyes and flapped his mighty wings once more, shooting toward me. My mother screamed, and he roared as his claws wrapped around my body, pulling me up as he let his wings out. He missed the ground by mere inches. We were so close my fingers skimmed across the grass. He dodged trees while heading toward the skies above.

"What were you thinking?" he asked.

"I wasn't. I needed to get away from her."

"Evelyn! Don't do that again!" Mother shouted at me.

"Of course, your majesty."

"Don't act like that, Ellie."

"God, mother! I finally did something good. I did something on my own, and you still manage to scold me!"

"I'm trying to keep you alive, Ellie. Please, just listen to me. I've dealt with them much longer than you have."

"Why can't you let me fix things? They want to kill you, father, and James. Let me fix it."

"Do you know what they want us all dead?" she asked.

"Because you married dad."

"That and the fact I defied them. I killed one of the Guild leaders. I was Agnolo's prized assassin, and I abandoned them."

"So?"

Draco placed me on the ground as he landed beside me. Queen Joselyn, my mother, slid from his back in all her grace. The skirt of her gown blew about her ankles as the wind whipped about us on the mountaintop. Her hair flowed freely as the crown that sat atop her head caught the sun's shine. It gleamed, making her seem more magnificent than ever. My heart pulled in a million different ways. I wanted to do things on my own to be sure they were safe, but I knew I'd need her. I always needed my mother. She was the strength that I required. She was my guiding star. She was what I wanted to be when I was queen.

"I only do what I do because I love you, Evelyn. You are my precious daughter. The product of the love your father and I have for each other. You are the embodiment of everything I sacrificed to have a life. I know you don't understand and think I'm being overprotective of you, but it's because I want to see you grow to be a mighty queen. I want to see you unite kingdoms and inspire our people. You are a special girl, Ellie," she said.

I sighed heavily and ran into her arms. "I know. I'm sorry, mother. I just want to keep everybody safe. I'm scared. I'm so scared."

Tears streamed down my cheeks, staining my mother's beautiful satin gown as I pressed my face into her chest.

"Oh my sweet girl, I know. You're more like me than you could ever possibly know."

I sniffed very unladylike. "Am I?"

"So much, Evelyn. Your stubbornness and love of others is why I am where I am now. I refused to do what the Guild willed me to do and started making my own decisions. I was about your age actually. Her husband sold my best friend to a foreign prince. It was then that I decided I had to start making things better for others and myself. I fell in love with your father. It's unfair what they do to girls. They expect us to give up everything for them. Our lives are expendable. I couldn't live like that. Something is different about us though."

"What?" I asked.

"You decided to save everyone else. Not just yourself.

"I felt so bad for all those girls. They all seemed so sad."

"They are. Growing up with the Guild makes, you realize that you miss your family and friends so very much and there were many who never saw them again. I was lucky to be sent back to England, others would never go to their own countries."

"Do you ever regret your decision?" I queried.

"Not for a moment. I knew it would be dangerous, honestly, though, I thought after I killed a leader I'd be left alone. I never meant for you to become involved."

"I understand."

"Ladies, as much as I am happy you are finally seeing eye to eye, perhaps we should hurry back to Scotland."

"Back to Scotland? Why aren't we going to France?"

"The girls will be fine," Draco said, lowering his body for us to climb on.

"Are you sure?"

"Completely. They are protected by dragons."

"Your secret will be out!" I said.

"It's being explained to them that they must keep everything they see a secret as they would being an assassin."

I nodded as Draco dove off the cliff of the mountain. We soared over the ocean, watching dolphins leap from the water beside us. It didn't seem to take much time before the cliffs of Scotland were looming before us. My heart leaped to my throat at the thought of seeing James again. I didn't think I'd miss him nearly as much as I did.

"Mother?"

"What?"

"How do you know about the dragons?" I asked as we flew above the treetops.

"Your father and I have had suspicions for quite some time now. Long before you were born, we made a progress to Scotland. It was shortly after we wed. There were rumors that the Scots were using a new kind of weapon. An ancient beast. I saw a dragon while visiting the old king."

"Is that why you are marrying me off to James?"

"No. We do want to unite our countries, and of all the suitors we've met with he seemed to be the best suited for you."

"Why can't I make my own decisions?"

"Do you not love him?" my mother asked.

"Yes. Of course."

"Then there's no reason to argue about it."

"I'm not arguing, mother. I'm simply curious."

"We were looking out for you, Evelyn."

Sighing heavily I nodded and just watched the horizon waiting for the castle to appear.

The large stone structure rose high above the small town below. I could see people bustling about the castle grounds. Doors to Draco's barn stood wide open as if waiting for him. He shimmered out of sight, landing softly near the castle. He carefully walked around the servants who went about their daily chores; none of them even turned when went past.

The dark, coolness of the barn was a welcome relief from the sun. I slid off Draco and ran to the closet at the back. A red damask gown trimmed in black fur hung as though it waited for me. I hurried out of the dragon armor and into the heavy gown. I welcomed the weight on my shoulders and hips. I never thought I'd miss wearing a gown so much. Slipping into the red satin slippers left for me, I also tucked a gold and ruby tiara amongst my curls. I stepped out, watching my mother as she talked with Draco.

"I'm going to find James."

She nodded as I ran from the barn. A few of the servants stopped to stare at me. Probably wondering where I came from.

I burst through the doors of the kitchen, looking around wildly.

"Princess Evelyn?" the cook asked.

"Where's the prince?" I asked

"I believe he went hunting."

"Where?"

"To the north, I believe."

I ran through the kitchen, up the hall, and out the front door. I stood there for only a moment before horses appeared in the distance.

"James," I whispered to myself.

I ran across the lawn toward them.

"Evelyn?" I heard someone call.

"James!"

"It's her!"

A black steed broke from the group, galloping toward me. It stopped a few feet from me; James was already sliding off before he stopped completely. We ran toward each other, not stopping until we were in each other arms.

"Where have you been?" he asked, holding my face in his hands.

"I'm sorry I left like that. I had to protect you. All of you."

"Don't. Don't ever leave without saying goodbye. I feared the worst!"

Tears streamed down my cheeks again as I pulled his face down to mine, pressing my lips to his. I kissed him repeatedly. I didn't care who saw.

"I love you so much, James."

"I love you, too, Evelyn."