The silvery glow of the moonlight splashed down on the dark woods that led to Ensmoire Forests. It bathed the trees and tried its best to illuminate their leaves. Dawn ran through the forest at a high speed. She didn't hear the dismayed screech of the birds and nighttime prowlers that jumped and scattered as she dashed with danger. As soon as she reached the forest, the mist surrounding it cleared her way. She shifted again and sprinted to her dragon amidst the trees that whispered as she whizzed past them.

Quetz, she called out.

​​

Dawn stay where you are. I am coming to you.

But she didn't listen. She was so riled up. She stormed, dried twigs crunching beneath her foot. The rage ran over her, destroyed her. She tumbled on the ground, got up and again stumbled falling on the wet mud, which turned into soft grass before she fell on it. She scrambled as her chest heaved. A flash of the excruciating moment passed through her mind when she was bitten by that werewolf. Nausea filled her throat.

Quetz appeared in front of her. He halted her with his wings and pulled her towards his body to tuck her like a baby. He sat down for her. She supported her back to him and curled her knees. He curled his wing around her and waited until she stopped crying.

Who made you cry? He asked as anger stirred in his sternum.

Daryn.

Who is that? A low rumble came out.

An asshole.

Bring that asshole to me and I will shred him into a thousand pieces.

Dawn flinched even imagining that. She chuckled at Quetz' protective feeling about her and said, No need. I won't even see him again and if I will, I will shred him to pieces.

That's like my Master, Quetz said proudly. After a pause he said, I think I am more handsome than that Daryn.

Surprised at his sudden, stupid question, Dawn chuckled lightly at her spiked, triangular headed, green colored fire breathing dragon and shook her head. You are a hundred times more handsome.

Quetz tittered. When she had settled and was lying peacefully, he asked her, Would you like to fly on me?

Dawn's eyes bulged. Stunned, she jerked straight up and looked at him with wonder. I would love to but—

But what?

I am scared, I will slide down your back.

Quetz tittered again. Step on my foot and hold the spike on my neck. I will take you on a safe flight. It will help soothe your mind.

Will you be able to take my weight and fly?

Irked at her question, he got up and spread his wings to the fullest. He gestured to her with his snout to step on his foot. Staring at him incredulously, she realized that Quetz had grown a foot taller. He was almost a foot taller than her. His features were more pronounced.

Her mouth fell as the inside of her stomach hardened with excitement. She climbed on his foot and held a spike on his neck tightly.

Are you okay?

She gulped and said aloud, "Yes!"

As soon as she affirmed, Quetz crouched and pushed his wings upward. He flung into the sky. Dawn yelled as the ground dropped and they rose. His huge wings whipped her for a while. Scared, she hid her face in his neck after holding it tightly for her life. With each powerful flap of his wings he continued to develop lift and thrust forward higher until he reached a height. After that the wings spread across to their fullest as Quetz glided in the air.

Look up.

Dawn removed her head from there and underneath she glimpsed the beautiful Ensmoire forest that was covered with swaying pink Whispering Eobens that reflected the moonlight, scattering it into blazes of pinks and reds. The undulating ground revealed more pretty pools that must be full with fish. And at the very last of the forest just where the mist bordered it, curved a broad, meandering river flanked by tiny hills and knolls. It sparkled like deep blue sapphire under the moonlight and winded outside the mist, which Quetz didn't cross.

It was simply breathtaking.

Where does this river go? Asked Dawn.

Into the sea.

That's were you entered these forests from?

Yes. Quetz turned to his right and then turned back. When they reached the spot where the dragon lived, he lowered himself on the ground gently and flapped his wings back. Dawn was mesmerized by the experience. Cheerful as ever, she patted his head said, Thanks Quetz. Next time I will bring a bridle and saddle for you. I want to fly on you.

I look forward to it.

That night Dawn came back home just before the sunrise. She took off her clothes and slid into her bed. When she woke up, it was way past noon.

Over the next two weeks, she had shoved that unpleasant experience at the back of her mind. However, now that she knew him, she noticed that the TV channels had covered his engagement with Maya. They even appeared on the Time Magazine front page as one of The Most Beautiful and Powerful Couple of the year. When she saw his photos, she literally drooled over him and thought that he was more handsome in person. Those pictures didn't do justice to him. His raven black hair that reached his neck, a square jaw and those deep ink blue eyes made him look ravishing hot. Dawn bit back a groan that was forming in her throat. Her hand went to her sweet spot and involuntarily, she started massaging it. She realized that she was so wet there that her panties were soaking. Shocked by her state, she gritted her teeth for being sexually affected by him. This was insane. She clenched her thighs to stop herself, but it was too late - she had come. A pained gasp escaped her lips.

She tossed aside the magazine in rage. After a few minutes, she focused on the work at hand – her first project with Azura's Company. She had already written the report much before its due time and thought of mailing it to him. However, she knew that the moment she would mail him, he would give her the next project or might ask her to make changes. So she decided to submit the report when it was due.

That week she added more articles to her blog. But the traffic on the site was next to nil. She didn't know what to do to get more visitors. Her profile was right – 'A twenty-three old young and dynamic market analyst with a penchant for correct deduction of the market.'

Cole scoffed when he read it. According to him that was the shoddiest profile he had even seen. "You better change it. I would personally advise you to write DW instead of Dawn Wyatt. Remove that age. It makes you appear like a teenager."

Disbelieving the way he snorted, Dawn stared at him. "What do you mean? I have one of the sharpest brains in market analysis."

"You know that. But the people out there, don't!" he pointed like an adult. "Hide your identity. Let them think you are a middle-aged man with tons of experience. Because the kind of field you are in – Heck! Even I wouldn't take advice from a twenty-something girl!"

Dawn raised her eyebrows at her fifteen-year old brother.

---

Ever since Daryn had had that encounter with Dawn, he was antsier than usual. He had clicked Dawn's pictures on his phone. A number of times he found himself masturbating in the bathroom watching her intoxicating luscious lips and that neck where he wanted to sink his fangs. His chest would shake with his growls. His mind would force him to shift. He had loped to the hills, and raced endless nights under the moon as heat consumed him. He wanted, no, he needed to be with her.

He wanted to get out of the engagement. The ring that he wore on his left finger was like lead. He disliked Maya's presence in his house.