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Her mate was a djinn, and I think she loves him. Regis figured it out and smiled at Avor. I wasn t aware of her emergence, but her life has brought you all here today.

Avor said, If we had still been together when she appeared, she would have been bound, much as the emperor has done it now. No full form, no mating flights.

Regis looked to Win. That is why they developed the smaller form.

Win blinked. Oh. So, it was a compulsion that I had. What was pushing it?

Avor looked at her and grinned. You could have been a dragon. The children you have will need to be watched. The restriction will need to happen, and if they want open flight, you can go to the moon to do it. Somewhere horny males can t get them.

Win stared. The moon?

Dragons are space flyers. Atmosphere is not required.

Win swallowed. What would happen to a female dragon where you come from?

She would have a few flights, and when she had signs of her first heat, her wrists and neck would be bound so that a full shift wasn t possible, but her wings would still be at her disposal.

If she got loose?

Destruction. A female dragon with a mate can destroy a world in five generations.

Win swallowed. Understood. I will focus on passing the magic along.

Avor smiled. Sensible.

Alexi chuckled. Niko, you are going to have to choose something else.

Avor cocked his head. You are a beta?

Alexi nodded. He has altered me a little with dragon fire, but Win is under a compulsion.

Avor blinked. A moment please.

He flexed his wings and flew over to Vaayu. He spoke for a moment, and then Regis blinked as her son-in-law appeared next to her.

He smiled kindly at Win and spoke softly. Win s other mates were nearby, and they watched as Vaayu took her hands, and his eyes glowed bright. Win glowed in turn, and they both stood silently as power flowed between them.

Win s face broke into a smile, and she took a deep breath. Thank you.

Her mates stepped forward, and Wellyn said, Are you all right?

She beamed and looked at Alexi. I am going to offer you a better option.

Vaayu released Win s hands, and she nodded thanks to him as he stepped back.

Win and Alexi stepped away and had a conversation.

Niko asked, What is she offering him?

Vaayu smiled. She can change him into a lesser djinn. Pewter skin, hair gold and silver. They are very pretty and have more power than the average being born to this world.

Niko paused and closed his eyes. Alita smiled.

Avor said, He is discussing it with the dragon.

Alita nodded. The dragon is in favour, but Niko has to break out of the fantasy images.

Vaayu nodded. Avor, I need to discuss something with you. Regis, you as well.

Avor and Regis walked with Vaayu, and when they were a solid distance away from the others, he put a barrier up around them. Vaayu looked to Avor. She was a timebomb.

Regis blinked. What?

She was programmed to make a dragon. The Stronghold put it in her. If they ceased to provide a signal, she would make a dragon who could make females.

Regis looked around the area. There are enough males here to make that a disaster.

And they would overtake the population and leave the elves as the magical species in control.

Regis raised her brows. Really?

Vaayu said, There are no djinn born to this world, aside from my descendants. We can control dragons if we must, but it is a bloody mess.

Regis winced. So, you mean destroy.

Yes. When their population surges, there is only the dragon form and the consumption of all living beings around it. Locusts.

Regis swallowed. The size of military planes. Oh god.

Avor wrapped an arm around her. Without enough elves to pin the dragon energy to, they would consume this planet.

Vaayu said, You need to be aware of the behaviour of those who the Stronghold confined for any extended period of time.

Regis nodded, thinking. Her eyes went wide. Elaheh.

She looked around and saw the woman hanging back to the side and out of the crowd. Can you tell by looking?

Now that I know what I am looking for. Yes. She pointed toward the newest elf to cross her threshold.

Vaayu s eyes widened. This is going to be an exhausting night.

He walked toward Elaheh, and Regis went with him. Kay saw where they were going and joined them.

Elaheh looked resigned as they surrounded her. So, what did they put under my skin?

Vaayu looked at her closely. A curse. Win was a kill switch. Elaheh is a bomb.

Kay reached for her, and Vaayu held her back. We need to plan this.

Elaheh looked at him. Can I just let it go?

What?

Let all the energy in my body go. I can do that, and it should purge the curse, right?

You are going to kill yourself, Kay stated baldly.

Well, my second question was, can anyone jump-start me after that energy is gone? I don t want to live with any part of them in me.

Vaayu frowned. Will you explain?

Only if I have to, so if I wake up, I will explain.

Kay was about to reach for her, but a huge gout of energy shot skyward, and Elaheh slowly fell back with the light draining from her eyes.

Vaayu said, It s gone. She s empty.

Kay nodded and reached out but found Vaayu next to her, and they both poured energy into Elaheh rhythmically until she coughed and wheezed. Kay lunged in and lifted her in her arms. Oh, sweetheart. Why did you do that? How did you do that?

I did it all the time in the parlour. They kept bringing me back. She muttered, It s easy to let it go. Energy doesn t want to stick to me.

Vaayu nodded. There are specialists at the palace that can help you.

So, I get fixed, and I come home?

No. You will remain with us for ten years until the next visit.

Elaheh swallowed. What happens if I don t go?

You continue to have unstable energy that you can t properly focus. Your life will not be long. Vaayu looked at her, and he was grim.

Kay swallowed. I don t want to force you into any situation, but the court is amazing, and the libraries are astonishing. You can easily spend the rest of your life learning something new every day.

Elaheh smiled. Can I still help Ira with her homework?

Vaayu sighed. There are methods of communication. If she needs help with her studies, we can assist her.

Kay smiled. We?

She is my sister-in-law.

Elaheh looked over and smiled. She s also right behind you.

They turned around, and Ira had tears in her eyes. You are leaving?

Not quite yet, Ira. Elaheh opened her arms, and Ira darted to her.

Regis smiled and thought that this was going to be the first separation for Ira on the same night she met her father.

Ira looked up at Elaheh. You feel different.

Elaheh chuckled. I am the only person here wearing day casual. The denim is probably messing with you.

Ira giggled.

Vaayu lifted his fingers, and Kay grabbed his hand. Let her have those clothes for tonight. Court stuff is very pretty but very drafty.

Regis laughed and leaned on Avor, feeling him behind her without looking.

The party was continuing, and more people were arriving. The party continued until sunset the following night when the emperor and his guards and the ladies who were leaving left in the same wave of light that had graced the area the previous day.