I am woken by Zane gently shaking me. Ugh, I need some coffee before I can even think about moving. I snuggle back under the blanket, but being the bully he is, he won't let me go back to sleep.

A mildly guilty look flashes on his face and he enquires, "How fares your head this morn?"

"Fine thanks. I don't suppose that you have any coffee?"

He gives me a bemused look. "Cough tea?"

Darish hands me a cup. "Have some spiced tea. It is refreshing for the soul."

I sit up and sip at the tea, which is pleasant enough, although it doesn't quite live up to its delicious scent and lacks the hit that coffee gives. At the same time I stare absentmindedly at my wrists. They are perfectly fine, only I could have sworn that the rope had cut into my skin.

The events in the dark alleyway rush back and threaten to subsume me. My breath comes in shaken rasps, but I steel myself. I refuse to be a victim.

I get up and throw my arms around Zane and have to stand on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you so much."

Zane hugs me back, squeezing so tight that he lifts me off the floor. I hesitate for a moment when it comes to Darish, as he is so reserved, but I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that I hug him too. He pats my back rather awkwardly. Not a hugger then!

"I want to set off soon. You might want to wear those blue skinned trousers under your dress," Zane suggests.

I quickly get ready and soon we are all stood outside the large Bedouin style tent. Zane calls out a word of command. The whole thing collapses and repeatedly folds in upon itself before disappearing into an unassuming wooden box, not dissimilar to a music box.

I just stand there with a mouth wide enough to catch flies. "How? How is that possible?"

"How else would you go camping?" Zane locks the box and pockets the small ornate key, then walks towards Roth.

The dragon is of a similar size and colour to an old fashioned London double decker bus. As I am contemplating how best to get on, Darish simply bounds up a bit like Legolas and makes it look oh-so-easy. Thankfully Zane lifts me up so that I can scramble onto Roth's back leg and with his good arm, Darish takes my hand and pulls me the rest of the way up.

Roth's scales are surprisingly smooth and warm, but I don't like the look of the large ridged spikes along his spine. Zane points out a gap between spikes, "Elle, sit here. Oh, and you may wish to hold onto me."

Roth unfurls his large wings and angles them back. The muscles in his back legs bunch, like loaded springs and he launches into the air, causing my stomach to lurch. I grab onto Zane and can feel his abdominal muscles moving under my fingers as he chuckles. As Roth gains height, the town shrinks beneath us and the buildings become like dolls houses.

Zane calls over his shoulder to me, "It is safe for you to loosen your death-grip."

Roth turns in a lazy circle and heads in the direction of the rising sun. With stunning views all around, I reckon that flying on a dragon might be the way to travel. Far below us, a green river winds it's way lazily through a deep gorge.

Finally it opens out onto a large turquoise lake and without warning Roth folds his wings and plummets down, leaving my stomach behind. I scream and once again I grab hold of Zane. Just as it seems like we are about to plunge into the fast approaching water, Roth banks and gently touches down on dry land.

"You did that on purpose." I glare at Zane.

Zane smirks and jumps down effortlessly. He holds out his arms, saying he will catch me, but I sulk and insist on scrambling down by myself; admittedly it is not the most graceful descent.

Once we are all off, Roth charges into the water and splashes around, reminding me of a puppy, a giant one at that.

Zane gestures for me to stand back and places the wooden box on the ground. He turns the key and the lid springs open. The tent magically unfolds and erects itself, just leaving Zane the task of knocking the tent pegs into the soft ground.

Curious, I poke my head inside and can't believe that everything is as it was before, even the kitchen area with the cast iron pot bellied stove and all the wooden furniture are in their rightful place; there's not even a book out of place in the bookcase.

I go back outside and walk over to the others. It is beautiful here; the mountains and cloudless sky reflect in the expanse of mirror-like blue/green water before us. There is no sign of another soul or any habitations.

"Wow Zane, this spot is amazing and we certainly aren't going to get any visitors."

"Good." There is the hint of a growl to his voice.

I start to fret. "He's not going to find us, is he?"

Putting a fatherly arm around me, Zane reassures, "Dragons fly about three times faster than a horse can gallop, not withstanding that it would take days to cross the mountain pass. We are completely safe. Now how about a swim?"

When I shake my head, Zane shrugs and removes his shirt, revealing broad shoulders and rippling muscles. His back is a work of art, literally with the image of a large red dragon intimately entwined with a naked woman blazoned across most of it.

Zane catches me staring and smirks. "Like what you see?"

"Hahaha. Well you certainly have an interesting choice in tattoos."

"The images is by Ishtar's grace," he insists, suddenly serious. "It is not of my own choosing."

"Ishtar?"

"The goddess of fertility, love and war. In the ceremony of adulthood we enter the sacred fire and Ishtar gifts us with a sign of our calling."

"And yours is to be a lover?"

"All in the servitude of my goddess." Zane winks.

"Do you also believe in Ishtar?" I ask Darish.

Darish elegantly raises one eyebrow. "Believe? Curious expression, I am aware of her. We wood elves follow the great earth mother, Gaia."

I don't know where to look as both of them strip off their clothes. I mean it is very warm today, but not that hot!

Zane starts running towards the lake and Darish sets off in pursuit at a surprising speed, his sleek form overtaking Zane despite the head start. Gracefully diving in, he is treading water when Zane reaches the lake side.

"What took you so long?"

I hear Zane exclaim, "Damn that elf!"

Leaving the men to their swim, I take a stroll and within ten minutes find myself back at our campsite. We are on a small island in the centre of the lake. The guys are mucking around in the water and Roth is chasing fish. I can't help smile at their antics and cautiously approach the bank.

Zane calls for me to join them and when I refuse, he starts splashing water at me. I manage to dodge his attempts until Roth joins in. Using the tip of his wing, the dragon sends a huge wave over me and I scream as I am drenched in shockingly cold water.

Feeling like a drowned rat, I wipe away the hair plastered over my face. Zane laughs heartily and even Darish smiles. I purse my lips and put my hands on my hips, but can't maintain a straight face and end up laughing with them and blowing a kiss to Roth.

My dress is stuck to me like a second skin, so I peel it off and lay it out on the grass to dry. The sun is blisteringly hot and although I feel a bit self conscious dressed only in my white undergarments, I sit on the bank and dangle my feet in the cool water.

Zane swims over and pulls himself partially out of the water. He looks up at me with mischief sparkling in his dark blue eyes. When he slides a hand up my leg, I narrow my eyes. He can stop any funny business right now. I am not given time to react when he grabs hold of me and pulls me into the river.

Memories of last summer, ones that I have tried so hard to forget, break free. The way the floor of the boat lurched beneath my feet. The tortured sounds of metal deforming and people screaming. The lights flickering on and off before failing and plunging us into utter darkness. Greg grabbing my hand as we desperately tried to fight against the force of the water rushing in, only to have him ripped away from me. Then utter hopelessness as the water rose over my head.

Somehow, I have no idea how, but I survived and came to floating in the dark water. I managed to swim over to the river bank and then frantically clawed my way up the slippery side. I was alive, but was all alone in the dark.

A voice saying 'I have you' brings me back to the here and now. Blinking, my eyes refocus on the bright surroundings. Falling onto all fours, I retch, as strong arms support me.

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