We got dressed and went to the kitchen for lunch.  Ripley was making sandwiches.  I immediately went to him and gave him a hug, “do you want some help?”  “No,” he answered, “I want you to go sit down.  I am almost done.”  I went to the table and sat down next to Aris.  A few minutes later Ripley brought a plate of sandwiches and two bags of chips.  “Are you hungry?” he asked me.  “A little,” I answered.  “I can make more if this is not enough,” he told us.

“So, if I stop offering to help, would you start asking me to help?” I asked them.  “No,” they both answered in unison.  “Should I stop offering to help?” I asked, “sometimes you sound annoyed when I offer.”  “Do not stop,” Aris told me, “It is one of the things that I like about you.  It is part of your personality.  Your giving nature.”  “I just like telling you no,” Ripley commented, “but that too.”  I kicked him under the table, smiling.  I took a sandwich and some chips, as did they.  I wasn't very hungry.  I ate everything on my plate, then pushed it away, done.  “Are you sure that you do not want another?” Aris asked, as if, I would regret not eating more.  “I’m sure,” I answered.  He actually ate a third sandwich, more than usual.  When they were done there were four sandwiches left.  Ripley took them and put them in a container for later.  Aris helped him clean up then we went to the hot tub room for a cigarette.

“Are you getting in the hot tub?” Ripley asked.  “We can,” I answered, “do you need to?”  “I do not want to impose,” he said, looking at Aris.  “I think it would be good for Jade,” Aris said, “join us, if you will.”  After we finished our cigarettes, Ripley went into the changing room and came back in some swim shorts.  Aris and I changed and we all got in the hot tub.  It was soothing for my tired, still achy muscles.  “This feels so good,” Ripley commented.  “Doesn't it?” I agreed.  Aris never commented on it, but it has to feel good to him too.  “It does,” he told me.

“Is it your back hurting again?” I asked Ripley.  “Actually, it's my whole body,” Ripley answered.  “You're not getting sick, are you?” I asked, concerned.  “No, this is from sparring with the kids,” he answered, “They get pretty rough sometimes.”  “You sparred with the kids?  I bet they loved that,” I said, my heart warming.  “They really get into it,” he looked at me, “now I have to recuperate for a few days.”  “Did any of them win?” I asked.  “Oh, they all won,” he answered, “that is why I hurt so bad.  Besides, I do not want to discourage them while they are young.”  I took his hand under the water.  What a beautiful soul.  “I would like to watch sometime,” I told him.  He smiled, then leaned his head back and closed his eyes.  I did the same.

“It is time to get out,” Aris said.  My eyes flew open.  I must've fallen asleep again.  I slowly stood up.  “Are you okay?” Aris asked me.  “Just really tired.  I was asleep,” I answered.  We all got out and put our robes on.  Aris sat in one of the chairs and I sat on his lap.  He gave me a lit cigarette.  “Jade,” Aris got my attention, “Rip and I will still be traveling tomorrow.  You will be staying with Max and Lia.  We will leave in the morning and be back by dinner time.”  “I really would like to go with you,” I told him.  “You would be really bored,” he told me, “and Ripley and I would be distracted.”  “Bring Antony to babysit me,” I suggested.  “They will all be here to watch over you,” he told me, “Besides, Nathan could arrive as early as tomorrow.  I want you to be here to welcome him.”  I saw a look quickly pass over Ripley's face.  It was rapidly replaced with an unreadable expression.

“What does welcoming him entail?” I asked.  “Just a greeting,” Aris answered, “and making sure he and his people are fed and shown to their accommodations.”  “What is he like?” I asked.  “Honorable, fun-loving,” Aris started, “I believe that if you give him a chance, you will really like him.”  “Okay,” I reluctantly agreed.
We parted ways with Ripley, who was going to handle arrangements for their trip tomorrow.  Aris led me back to the bedroom.  “Why am I so exhausted?” I asked, taking my robe off, “Am I going to be like this every time?”  “No,” he answered, “The first time is a big change.  The mark is finished.  Now we are going through the transfer of power, which makes me tired too.”  “Is it going to be done today?” I asked, getting into bed, “You have your trip tomorrow and Nathan is coming.”  “It will be done today,” he answered, laying down next to me, “I am pushing it to go faster.  That is why we are so tired.”  I got no resistance from him when I put my head on his chest this time.  I fell asleep almost immediately.

“Jade.”  I didn't want to open my eyes.  “Jade!”  No, leave me alone.  “Jade!!!” it was a yell this time.  I opened my eyes and sat up.  Aris was still asleep.  Great.  “Jade, come with me.”  I looked up to see Nathan, at the foot of the bed.  He, again, was looking down below my eyes.  I looked down at my exposed breasts.  I pulled up the blanket and tried to put pajamas on.  For some reason it wasn't working.  “What do you want?” I whispered.  “Come with me,” he said again.  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I told him, “I don't know you.”  “I have something amazing to show you!” he wasn't giving up.  “No,” I resisted, “I don't know you.”  “You know me well enough to show me your breasts,” he pointed at me.  I looked down and pulled the blanket up again.  I don't know if I want to sleep naked anymore.  “Come with me.  It will only take a minute, then I will bring you right back,” he told me.

“I don't have any clothes,” I protested.  “What?  This is your home,” he didn't believe me, “oh, you do that thing that Yaris does.”  I just stared at him.  “Try now,” he told me.  I put on my pajamas that I used to sleep in before I knew Aris.  “No wonder he has you sleep naked,” Nathan muttered.  “Huh?” I heard that.  I got out of bed.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door.  I looked back at the bed.  I was still laying asleep, in bed, with Aris.  He pulled me down to the back entrance of the cabin.  To the window next to the door.  “Yaris will not permit you to go outside without him, so the next best thing,” Nathan said, then opened the window curtains

I just stared in amazement, not believing my eyes.  A giant violet eye stared back at me.  I couldn't stop staring, even as it moved to the right of the window.  Then I saw what looked like shiny white scales moving to the right.  Then it was gone.  I dropped down to the floor.  “Did it see me?” I was shaking.  He crouched down on the floor in front of me.  “Yes, she saw you?” he was smiling, excited.  “Where did it go?” I asked horrified.  “She took off flying.  She is happy to finally meet you,” he answered.  “What is it?” I asked, still quaking with fear.  “A dragon,” he answered, “your dragon.”  I took a couple of deep breaths, “so, it's not going to kill me?”  “No,” he answered, “well, she may lick you to death.”  I stood back up and looked out the window.

“What do we do?” I whispered.  “She can hear even if you whisper,” he whispered back.  “What do we do?” I asked again.  “Do you want to go out there?” he asked.  I nodded my head yes.  “Invite Yaris so that he can go out with us.”  “How do I invite him?”  “Just call out his name.”  “Aris!!!”  A minute, or so, later Aris snuck up behind me.  “She wants to go outside,” Nathan told him after they hugged.  “I will come out with you,” Aris took my hand and changed our clothes to the white snowsuits with ornate embroidery.  “Put your hair up Jade,” he tucked the remaining hair into my hood.

We went outside.  Now there were three dragons.  Two white and one black.  Aris led me to the larger white one, who had orange eyes.  “You could not stay home, could you, old boy?” Aris hugged it, “I have missed you too.”  When he was done hugging the dragon he took a step back.  “Axel, I would like for you to meet Jade.  Jade this is Axel,” Aris introduced us.  I was still a little scared.  They were massive.  Larger than the female, but even she was giant.  “Can I touch him?” I asked Aris.  ‘Yes' Axel answered.  I stepped forward and put my hand on one of the large white scales.  He was warm to the touch.  The scale turned a really light orange color.  I smiled at him, “Your scales.”

“Jade, we need you to meet Crystal, time is running short,” Nathan said.  I stepped back.  Nathan took hold of my upper arm and pulled me to the white dragon with violet eyes.  Her head came down low and she looked directly into my left eye.  Images started rapidly flashing before me.  I got light-headed and felt myself falling.  No one caught me, to my surprise.  “Did it work?” I heard Nathan ask.  Aris hovered over me and opened my left eyelid.  “Yes,” Aris answered, “Her eye changed colors.”  “So, when do we do this?” Nathan asked.  “Can it wait a few days?” Aris asked, “she is stubborn.  She chose Ripley as her second.  I just mated with her last night.”  ‘We will make it work,’ it was a female voice, Crystal.  “The lady speaks,” Nathan agreed, “I will still be here tomorrow.  They will go back into hiding for now.”

I heard some deep grumbles in my head.  “We will abide by Jades wishes,” Nathan stated, “I will not have her hating me.”  ‘We will not have her hating us either,’ Crystal spoke again.  “We will be off then,” Nathan stated.  “That is fine,” Aris told him, “I will tend to Jade.”  I felt myself being picked up and carried indoors, then upstairs, then the dream ended.  And I slept like the dead.

“Jade,” Aris said softly.  I woke with a start.  I sat up with a slight headache.  I rubbed my temples with my thumbs, my back still to him.  “Are you okay?” he asked.  “Just a headache,” I told him, thinking about how I hadn't had a headache in a long time.  “Can I see your eyes?” he asked.  I turned around to look at him.  He examined my eyes.  “Yes,” he smiled, “They are still beautiful.”  “Still hazel?” I asked.  “Yes,” he answered, “You do have some violet flecks in them now, but that may fade.  It looks like she withdrew her hold on you when she left.  She will be back though.  It will be fine.”  He started rubbing my temples.  I felt the headache lessen until it was gone.  “Better?” he asked.  I nodded my head yes.

“We are going to the main cabin for dinner, then staying the night there,” he told me, “As I said before, you will stay there tomorrow while Ripley and I are gone.  Nathan expects to arrive late morning or early afternoon.  Do you have any questions?”  “Not right now,” I answered sleepily.  I think your excuses are bogus, I wanted to yell, but didn't.  He smiled at me, “It is very important that you are here to greet Nathan.  You will understand why when he arrives.”  He paused for me to speak.  I didn't.  “Trust your skin on what to wear,” he went on, “and wear all of your jewelry.  You do not want Nathan's cousin, Nicole, upstaging you.  She will do her best.  Especially when she finds out that I have marked you.  Just try to steer clear of her.”  Now I am babysitting his cousin too!  Aris' former girlfriend!  “She was never my girlfriend and you are staying away from her, not babysitting her,” Aris explained.  I still didn't say anything.

“Now, we have just enough time for a shower before dinner,” he changed the subject.  “That's good,” I agreed, “I think I need one after that conversation.”  I got up and he followed me into the bathroom.