Not known for their magical proficiency, Erinna had not expected the gargoyles to have wards around their territory. It became clear that they were hiding a few secrets when she was not able to teleport directly into their kingdom.

It forced her to walk once she got to the border and in her current condition; she was not sure how far she'd be able to keep it up. Things would have been better if it did not involve any climbing but the Kingdom of Rock was set on the plateau of a mountain. Even from where she was standing, Erinna could see the rock outcrops that had given it its name.

The mountain had horizontal layers of granite rock that gave it a tabular shape. On top of it was a rock fortress that would have put even Silvercrest to shame. The walls were lined with what looked like statues but from her history lessons, she knew most of them would probably come alive come nightfall.

The silence that surrounded her, confirmed that all inhabitants of the kingdom were still sleeping. From her estimation, Erinna had about five hours before dusk breathed life into all the statue figures and they woke up to face the night again.

She had not even walked ten minutes towards the mountain when everything changed. A large shadow swept by her quickly, follow by two more. Erinna turned her eyes up to the sky and froze when she saw three shapes circling above her. Their wings, large tails and elongated necks told her what they were but her brain was refused to process the information.

Couldn't the archives have told her that the Kingdom of Rock did not just host gargoyles but dragons as well? That information could certainly have been helpful.

They roared at her, scorching hot flames exiting their mouths and landing around Erinna. At first Erinna thought the shield was what was protecting her but then she realized they were not actually aiming at her. They were directing their fire around her but not at her.

One of the dragons, the biggest of the trio descended, landing in front of her. The impact of its weight as it hit the earth caused a mini earthquake but Erinna could only gaze. For such a menacing creature, it was really mesmerizing. It had beautiful, iridescent red scales that revealed several bright shades as the sun hit them at different angles. It stood on its two hind legs, its powerful thick tail behind it. Its eyes were hard but intelligent as it glared at her.

"Trespasser." It hissed.

Not waiting for a response from Erinna, it shot back up into the air to join the others, the flap of its wings at takeoff blowing Erinna's hair into her face.

"Leeeeeeeeeave." The red dragon hissed at Erinna again, bearing down on her from its position in the air.

"I don't think she can hear you, dad." The smallest of the dragons said.

Their voices sounded like thunder around her and the whole ground shook around Erinna.

"Why is she not leaving? She should be scared. No human can stand my roar." The red dragon said to his son, sounding genuinely confused.

"Maybe we can just carry her out of the border?" The second largest dragon, red in color like the first one suggested.

"Or eat her. She looks nice." The smallest dragon said with pretty disturbing relish.

It earned him a smack that caused him to almost land head first onto the ground before he righted himself and flew back into the air.

"Papa." He whined.

"Do not 'Papa' me. Is that the way of the dragon?"

"No." The little dragon said, slumping his wings.

"Do we harm the women who bear us children?"

"No."

"Do we lay a hand on them?"

"No."

"Do we feed on pregnant women?"

"No."

"What do we do?"

"We protect them," the little dragon replied.

"And?"

"Dad it was a joke. I wasn't really going to-"

"AND?" His father interrupted in a booming voice that would have made lesser men weep.

"We worship the ground they walk on."

"Dad, he's only four hundred years old," the second largest dragon said.

"I don't care what he is! A woman gave birth to him, a woman raised him and one day a woman is going to carry his eggs. I have tolerated his quirks but to imagine that my son, my own flesh would say such a despicable thing about a pregnant woman. I'm ashamed."

The blue dragon hung his head and his brother put his arms around him. The brave face was gone and he was actually crying then.

"I wouldn't have harmed her. It was a joke, Kennan," the blue dragon cried into his brother chest.

The red dragon held his brother closer and glared at their father.

"I know that, Saph and so does, Dad. You did nothing wrong."

"Keep coddling him. He'll never learn."

"Can we actually deal with the situation at hand? We have a trespasser and I want to go back to mother," Kennan said.

At the mention of that, the red dragon immediately lost his anger. He turned back to Erinna.

"Why is she not fleeing?" He said in a low voice, almost as if talking to himself.

"I've been led to your territory. I'm looking for someone, a medium," she finally said.

All the dragons drew back in shock. Even Saph, the little blue dragon lifted his head from his brother's chest.

"Kennan," he whispered to his brother, terror and amazement in his voice. "Did she..."

"Yes she did," Kennan replied, sounding equal parts shocked.

"You are an animal whisperer, no mere human then," the large dragon said, a hard expression on his face.

"I am an elf but yes, I do talk to animals," she said, a bit confused at his change in mood.

He had seemed to defend her to his son but right then, he looked as if he thought eating her might not be such a bad idea after all.

"Kennan, Rafa, shift now," he commanded his sons.

A whirlwind picked up around them, making Erinna shield her eyes. By the time it settled, there were three naked men before her. She gulped and forced her eyes to not travel low. She had already seen more than she would have wanted to see.

She guessed the tallest man was the father. He was at least seven feet tall and he had powerful muscles that looked like they had muscles. His biceps alone looked bigger that two of Erinna's thighs and his chest muscles were not the exception.

His two sons were built the same way although it was clear they were still on the road to maturity. They were not the same size as their father yet but one day they would be.

One thing which truly distinguished them was their hair. Papa dragon as Erinna was calling him in her head, had red flaming hair that had a thousand various shades of gold, red and brown. It was truly mesmerizing and seemed to have a life on its own.

Kennan had the same red hair and shared his father's golden eyes but Rafa, or Saph, he was in a league of his own. Both his hair and eyes were an amazing, almost unreal sapphire blue. His hair literally crackled with electricity and life.

Erinna was amazed to suddenly have access to their thoughts. She had tried to read them when they were dragons but had failed. Could it be that the magic of their form had protected their minds from her?

With access to their thoughts, she realized why Papa dragon's attitude towards her had suddenly changed when he realized she could talk to them.

"We don't like your kind here," he hissed, none of them seeming affected by their nudity.

"I'm not who you think I am. I've never harmed anyone."

At least, not using her whispering abilities. There were animal whisperers who used their powers to take advantage of animals and make them do their bidding. The dragons were clearly shifters so Erinna did not know if they would be vulnerable to such manipulation in the same way as true dragons would be.

Papa dragon thought they were, hence why he had ordered his sons to shift immediately.

"I've never seen an elf," Rafa said, gazing at Erinna curiously.

"Shh, let father talk, Saph," Kennan gently said to his brother, putting an arm around him and pulling him into his chest.

"I've never seen dragons either, " Erinna smiled at the young dragon.

His lips lifted up and his dimples popped, nearly blinding Erinna. Good gracious heavens, he was beautiful, sickeningly and adorably so.

"You have given her a heart attack," Kennan whispered into his brother's ear, earning himself an elbow in the stomach from Rafe.

"I'm looking for someone and I've been directed to your lands," Erinna said.

"There are no people here."

"The one I'm looking for is here, a medium."

At that, all the dragons froze but their thoughts had already leapt to the forefront of their minds. They all thought of one name: Simon.

"His name is Simon," Erinna said, deciding to wing it.

She could only hope she was not digging herself a grave but given Papa Papa dragon's aversion for violence towards pregnant women, she was probably safe.

"How do you know about Simon? Who are you?" Papa dragon asked, no longer friendly.

He looked every bit the alpha male and only Erinna's confidence in her own ability to defend herself kept her from cowering. He was emitting a frightening amount of power and Erinna realized that in that moment, he was a dragon protecting his territory. Whoever this Simon was, he was important to Papa dragon.

"I am Erinna."

What was Vlad's relationship with these people? Should she mention him or would that do more harm than good for the elves?

"I don't want your name. Who. Are. You?" Papa dragon enunciated.

"Princess of the elves."

That had to be neutral. As far as she knew, her people had no grudge with dragons or gargoyles. She could only hope that they had not heard that her father had been dishonored.

"Dracula's wife then," Papa dragon sneered.

Erinna sighed. Not friends of Vlad's then.

"Yes, I am his mate. May I please talk to Simon?"

"I have heard of your husband, princess; a tormentor of women and killer of children. You will find no help for him here."

"You don-"

"I said no!" The dragon thundered, his eyes flashing dangerously and skin taking the reddish tinge of his scales as if he was about to dragon out on her. "Now leave my lands and never utter Simon's name with your lips again."

They all stared at her with uncompromising expressions. What could she offer them to change their minds? There were tales of dragons liking treasure but Erinna could not see Papa dragon dancing at the sight of some gold. He would probably take offense.

"I am sorry we started off on a wrong foot but I can't promise not to return. I will leave now to give you time to think. This can be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

To his credit, Papa dragon did not look tempted or even remotely interested.

Erinna sighed and turned to go back and reassess her options. She had not moved far when a gasp came from behind her.

She turned in time to see Papa dragon clasp his chest and drop to his knees.

"Papa?" Rafa's face had lost all color.

"It's your mother," the dragon gasped.

Erinna saw an image of a woman lying in a bed in the red dragon's mind. A very sick, very weak woman.

"I can help," Erinna said.

"I have no time for your games. Kennan, make sure she leaves," Papa dragon snarled and took to air.

"Can you really help?" Rafa asked Erinna after their father had left.

"I think so. Your mother is sick, yes?"

It was Kennan who replied that time.

"Dragons usually give birth to one or two eggs but my mother had six inside her. The birth was brutal on her and she can't heal because she's using what is left of her energy to nourish the eggs. She grows weaker by the day."

Being an expecting mother herself, Erinna's heart tugged with empathy for Kennan's mother. She was holding on and fighting for her children even at the expense of herself. It was a sacrifice Erinna could understand, she would take on anyone and anything for her baby.

"Take me to her, please. I will help."

It was no longer even about finding Simon.

"I cannot guarantee father will let you see Simon," Kennan warned.

"It doesn't matter."

Respect shone in the red haired man's eyes.

"We'll take her without telling Papa?" Rafe asked his brother.

"He'd never agree otherwise and you saw Mama. She can't hold on any longer."

"Okay."

Once his brother had agreed, Kennan turned to Erinna.

"I would let you ride me but you're pregnant and it might not be safe. Is it fine if I carry you?"

Fine yes, dignified, no. But it was not the time to care for that so Erinna nodded then hesitated.

"My mate will know if you touch me."

"Accorded mates," Kennan said.

"Yes."

"Then I will not touch you until I shift."

Kennan shifted then stepped closer to Erinna. He gently picked her up in his humongous hands and she braced herself for the burn on her hand but nothing came.

All too soon they were lifting off the ground. The sensation was too foreign and Erinna concentrated so she would not get sick all over Kennan. Rafa flew ahead of them, free as a bird, his majestic wings spread out and his beautiful scales sparkling.

When Erinna got used to the sensation of flying, she allowed herself to look around as they rose into the sky, flying towards the Kingdom of Rock. It was amazing how much more beautiful the landscape looked from so high above.

The flight did not last long and all too soon, they were landing. Kennan set her down gently in the courtyard of the castle.

"I have to talk to father first. Will you let me?" Kennan asked after he had shifted.

The area was deserted, not counting the stone statues lining the walls, awaiting for dusk. Could it be Kennan and his family were the only dragons in the place?

"Yes, I'll wait."

Kennan was gone for twenty periods, a period in which Erinna heard a lot of yelling and Papa dragon's enraged bellow. Once or twice, she contemplated intervening.

"You'll only make it worse. Papa is protective of Mama Tinoe, of all his mates," Rafa said.

"Mates?" Erinna asked.

Plural?

The blue haired boy nodded solemnly but offered no explanation.

After a while, Kennan came back to fetch Erinna. He did not appear harmed so she had to assume for all his temper and posturing, Papa dragon was not a violent man.

She was led through a various set of hallways until they reached a closed door. Kennan knocked then gently opened it. Inside the room was the woman she had seen in Papa dragon's mind.

She lay on a bed that was even much larger than the one she shared with Vlad. On either side of her was a blonde haired man and a brown haired woman. Worry was etched on their faces and it communicated their love more than the hands they were on her stomach, rubbing gentle circles.

On the floor, was a nest of some sort. It had a foundation of grass and wings but was lined with blankets and jewels inside. In the center was a black dragon and a lioness, curled around each other and lying on top of what looked to be really big eggs.

Papa Dragon kept glancing at the bed and the nest, looking like he wanted nothing but to join. His gaze was all protective, fierce and loving when he looked at the other inhabitants of the room but when it turned to Erinna, it was icy.

"I don't harm women, it is not the dragon way. But if you hurt my mate..."

"I understand."

"Forgive our mate, he has no manners," the brown haired woman on the bed smiled.

"I gathered," Erinna smiled.

The woman proceeded to introduce everyone. Her name was Catharine, the sick woman was Tinoe, the blonde man was Shawn, the dragon in the nest was Natasha, the lioness was Clarissa and Papa dragon was Uri. Erinna did not think she would be able to keep all their names straight, but she appreciated the courtesy.

"You are all mates? All of you? That's probably none of my business, forgive me for asking," Erinna blushed, berating herself for losing control of her brain to mouth filter.

"There is nothing to forgive. We are different people with different cultures and one day I would be happy to sit down and talk but Tinoe has been in pain for too long. Kennan said you can help?" Catharine asked.

Erinna nodded and stepped closer to the bed. Papa dragon- Uri, growled, the rumbling sound so deep and unnerving. Erinna hesitated but the handsome blonde man, Shawn Catharine had called him, rose up from the bed and held his hand, whispering something in his ear.

That seemed to help because Erinna managed to reach the bed without the fierce red dragon tearing off her limbs.

She sat down next to Tinoe.

"Hello, Tinoe. My name is Erinna," she said gently, in case the woman had missed the introductions.

Tinoe was pale and gaunt. She had lost too much weight and her cheekbones stood too prominently in the haunted face. When she opened her eyes, Erinna's heart broke at the sea of pain in there. But amidst the pain was determination and unbreakable will that Erinna could admire.

"My babies," she said weakly.

"The babies will be fine. But first, we have to worry about you. I'm going to siphon out any infection and then give you some of my energy. It will heal you and sustain you until you can produce enough of your own. Okay?"

Tinoe's eyes filled with tears but she nodded. The pain from Tinoe's body was overwhelming but not debilitating. It was certainly not the worst thing that Erinna had ever experienced so after ten minutes, she was fine. When she could breathe again, she healed Tinoe.

The whole room watched with bated breath as color came back to Tinoe's eyes. She exhaled and for the first time, it wasn't filled with pain.

"You...how...you healed me, you healed me," Tinoe said with tears in her eyes.

Erinna felt tears in her eyes and let them fall when the woman grabbed her, embracing her tightly. A peace that Erinna had not felt in a while settled inside her, a sense of calm and rightness. How could she have forgotten this feeling?

She withdrew for a minute and the bed was immediately filled with Tinoe's mates, even the black dragon and the lioness. Erinna moved to the eggs. They were all different colored and the size of a human head each.

She bent down and stroked them with her hands. She infused some of her energy in them, to hopefully sustain them and keep them well until they hatched but the moment she did, the middle one cracked. Then the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Erinna immediately backed away.

"I didn't- I swear, I didn't-" She began but no one seemed ready to burn her alive.

In fact, they looked happy as they all came to the ground, kneeling around the nest. Erinna did not know what to do with herself so she crept towards the door but Kennan was there.

"Don't leave."

She opened her mouth to protest but closed it. She was curious herself about what dragon hatchlings looked like. Surprisingly, the process took a short time. The babies were born in dragon form, already so active.

Erinna had tears in her eyes as she watched them interact with each of their parents. When Uri approached her, he had a red-scaled dragonling in his hands.

"I was wrong about you, Erinna of the elves, mate of Dracula," he said.

She did not know what to say so she nodded.