I felt a jolt flow through me as I stood still like an idiot, not kissing him back. That jolt sparked something inside me as I slowly returned the kiss. Milton pulled me closer before suddenly breaking away and taking a step back. Suspicion filled his eyes as they met mine.

Without warning, he picked me up, climbed onto the balcony above us while still holding me, and then climbed to the next balcony until we reached the roof. I was slightly out of breath and I didn’t do anything.

“What—what are you doing?” I demanded in a non threatening voice. Great. Just great.

Milton looked down at me in amusement. “I believe, Emily, that there are things you are not telling me.”

He was practically a stranger and I couldn’t ignore the fact that he had just picked me up and climbed onto the roof of our hotel building. I could only stare at him like the moron I was.

He smirked, “Exactly.”

In the next instant, he ran toward the edge of the roof and jumped off. I was too shocked to scream which, I’m guessing, was a good thing.

We landed, somewhat painfully, on the back of a dark and massive dragon. It was deep black and had slick blackish red spikes and horns. His eyes were ocher like Milton’s.

Milton was still holding me like a baby. I gave him a pointed look but he only grinned down at me.

Milton was not what I was expecting.

We soared higher into the sky to my dismay and shot straight toward the mountains just east of here. It was a quiet flight. In about ten minutes or so we landed in an inconspicuous cave and dismounted.

I felt a bit wobbly on my feet. Milton steadied me and guided me to a small boulder where we sat down.

“Tell me, Emily, when were you planning on telling me about your dragon?” His voice was soft but firm.

I felt my eyes widen a fraction but I quickly looked down at my hands to hide it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said in a haughty voice.

Milton gently turned my face toward his and when our eyes met I felt the same jolt of something hit me. Just as soon as it did, he looked away.

“That jolt you feel comes from the deeper part of us that is connected to our dragons. I feel it, too.” Milton’s eyes were wide and excited. “We are now bonded, Emily.” Amusement filled his voice.

There was that word again. Bonded. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Of course not,” My eyes popped open as I heard Allie’s voice fill the cave. I looked up to see her sleek dragon body coiled like a snake’s. “I was afraid that this would happen.” Her voice was harsh.

“Allie…what do you mean?”

Milton pushed himself into a more comfortable position and wrapped a strong arm around my waist like he did this every day. I wanted to pull away but I felt a sudden urge to stay where I was.

“You two are bonded now. It can only happen when the moon is full and the humans’ dragons are near. It is a lot more complex than it sounds. I will explain in greater detail later.” She sounded extremely bitter. “In turn, their dragons bond with each other.”

Chase, Milton’s dragon, settled down uncomfortably. “The only difference is that your thoughts are yours and yours alone.” His voice was deep yet comforting.

Sudden comprehension dawned in my mind. Chase could hear Allie’s thoughts and vice versa. Yet I could not hear Chase’s thoughts and I doubted that Milton could hear Allie’s.

“What does this mean?” No one seemed keen on answering that particular question.

Allie and Chase shared a look. I tried listening in but was unable to. I frowned at the two of them.

Allie met my gaze and sighed, “Now is not the time, Emily. Milton, your father must never find out. Pretend to be wary of her. Treat her as you would any commoner. He must never find out.”

Milton flinched at her demanding voice. “Understood, but may I ask why?”

Chase let out a sigh that filled the cave with warm air. “Death will follow if he finds out.”

“Your bond could bring about your death. What has happened between us are only stories to the outside world. Be careful.” With that, my beloved Allie left the cave.

Chase gave us an annoyed look like it was our fault that he was now bonded with a dragon.

Milton rose to his feet. “Come,” he offered me his hand which I accepted. “We must hurry back before we are found missing.”

Chase dropped us off a few yards away from the deck then departed just as swiftly and silently as he came.