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He doesn t mean to kill me. He s mumbled something about me being his empress, so that means a bit. He also wants to have more kids with me, but only one at a time.

Regis turned and looked behind them. I think I see why. There is just one of you and what looks like twenty of them.

There are more around the world. Dragons of all types.

Kay smiled at Regis. They are coming. You may want to welcome them to your home.

Regis sighed. This is a busy night.

Hang on to your butt. It isn t over, Kay whispered. Oh, can I take Ira flying?

Ira s eyes got wide. Can she, Mom?

Regis and Kay looked at each other. Kay said, I have helped you get through this life; I am not going to stop now. I just have some things I need to tell Ira, and I would like to do that in the air.

Fine. Don t drop her.

Kay smiled, winked at Vega, and reached for Ira. I would never drop my big sister.

Ira wrapped her arms around Kay s neck, and Kay muttered, Now I just have to remember how to do this. She stepped away, flapped her wings, looked at Ira, and said, Here we go.

She propelled herself skyward, and Ira let out a Woohoo!

and they were on their way to the city, laughing together and flying low over the manors and residences.

At one point, a phoenix was flying next to them, an Asian dragon and thunder beast caught up, and then more dragons in their human-sized form joined them.

Kay whispered to Ira, The first dragon parade this world has seen, and the last with me in it. She did a loop-the-loop to Ira s excited squeals, and then her cuffs started humming. Okay. Gotta go back now.

Ira said, Awe, look at them all.

Kay looked around and grinned. That s your dad. Our dad.

A glittering dragon about seventeen feet from nose to tail.

Ira whispered, Wow.

That s his small form. His big form is really big and not necessary for this. Her bands throbbed, and she muttered, He wants me down fast; we are going to go fast. Hang on again.

Ira nodded, and they angled for the ground with a focus being on the dark blue face Kay knew so well. She passed over him so close that his hair ruffled, swooped up, and landed daintily. She set Ira down. Thanks for flying with me, big sis.

Ira hugged her and then growled. You had better be nice to her and let her come to visit.

Vaayu murmured right behind them, We will negotiate for time. Perhaps once every twenty years.

Five.

There was a soft laugh. Ten. She can come back every ten years for ten days. I will be with her during those visits.

Kay exhaled and slowly straightened. She pulled her wings in and turned, curtsying deeply.

I had no idea you could bank so quickly. He touched her jaw and made her look up at him. The golden dragon. The seers have been going mad trying to figure out who you were. An infection on a new colony.

She blushed. I m sorry. They needed help.

They did. You could have asked me.

You simply would have recalled your men.

You had spoken of it several times in the court.

She remained in the curtsy. You said you would have recalled the dark elves and destroyed the light ones who had risen against them.

That would have stopped my parents from being able to reunite.

It would have stopped Ira from returning.

They had to come back. She blinked away the tears.

He smiled and gripped her shoulders, making her stand on her own feet again before he folded her into his arms. I hope you are as fierce for our other children.

She stared at him and whispered, Why?

Because your heat burned for eight days, and you begged me to cool you. You gave me energy to keep me going, which was thoughtful. He feathered a kiss over her lips. I feel the need to repay you.

Kay blurted, Why are you being nice? Why are you the emperor?

My great-uncle abdicated, and the generals fought it out. It took ten years of endless challenges, but I was the winner.

She swallowed. How many dead?

No one that will be missed. His hand circled her neck.

Images of him holding her that way against the wall flooded her mind. Her body started to wake. It had been a while.

Look at me, golden dove.

She flicked her gaze to him, and his pale gaze caught her and held her. Why? You never wanted to be emperor. He would have named you heir if you had whispered it.

I know, but now it is my position, and as long as you come with me, I will be a good emperor and take care of my people.

She licked her lips. If I don t?

He pulled her in close. If you run again, dove, I will pull worlds apart to find you.

She nodded and pressed one hand to his jewelled breastplate. I am done running. I just need to see them every now and then. I have an interest in their survival.

You are proud of them.

I am so proud of them. The omegas fought so hard for survival and independence. One of the elves is about to start to push for a change in policy so that the omegas can be their own people or at least own their own assets.

That really bothered you, dove?

It is frustrating. I can smell gemstones beneath the soil; I can carve them out of rock with my bare hands, but I don t own anything that I have. I can t grow my hoard, and it is so frustrating.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear. You will have your treasures. I am changing the laws.

Kay rubbed her cheek along his. You are?

I am removing the death sentence from golden dragonesses as long as they register and are restricted. If there is an instance of them seeding a world not designated for it, they will be punished.

Got it. I did the one, and I am done.

He paused. I think I found the family you have been taking care of. It seems to have been curated.

She smiled. You found the Rathmussens. I missed your face, so I took care of them. No one here thinks it is weird that they are dark blue.

He stroked her neck slowly. You missed me?

I did, Vaayu. Oh, can I use your name?

He chuckled. You and only you can speak my name. The women s quarters are empty, and my chamber has been renovated to accommodate room for a little dove that needs a nest.

I am afraid I gave my tendency to need a safe space to our female descendants, but since the males are also branches of our tree, they understood on a basic level and compensated for them.

He moved his hand from around her throat and hugged her. You took good care of our children.

She sniffled and said, I tried.

He held her as the tears coursed down her cheeks, and she felt him watching the steady influx of the local detachment of their lineage. His presence had pulled them together.