Outside, when they were half-bathed in shadows, the three Dragonites look intimidating enough, but in the well-lit inn they are positively terrifying. Not that I will give them the satisfaction of knowing how unsettled they make me.

I wouldn't be surprised if their leader, Mr Grumpy, wasn't half giant. Not that his identical twin henchmen are much shorter. If you are into tall, dark and brooding then I guess that you might find them handsome.

Ignoring the sullen warriors, I throw my arms around Darish. Now that it has come to it, I really don't want to leave him. "Thank you, Darish. You have been such a good teacher and friend to me. I-I wish that we did not have to say goodbye."

Darish kisses my forehead. "I wish that I could accompany you. However, I believe that our paths will cross again."

I quickly brush away a few stray tears, not wanting anyone to see me upset and then with my head held high, I walk out into the night, towards the unknown.

Taking care, I climb up onto the huge dragon and Kai makes a discontented sound under his breath. Seriously, what is his problem? If anyone should be upset, it's me!

The power in the behemoth is undeniable as we launch up towards the star-studded sky. I lie against the dragon's warm, scaly neck and sing softly to soothe myself. He vibrates beneath me, just like he is purring.

"Do you have to make that noise?" Kai grumbles.

I push myself up on my elbow and turn my head to look at him. "You do not care for my singing?"

"I prefer silence." His stance is rigid, as if prepared for battle.

"Perhaps you could move further away," I suggest peevishly.

"I want to keep an eye on you."

I throw my arms up in exasperation and in a voice laced with incredulity, ask, "What do you expect me to do? Jump?"

He just glowers in response. Turning my back on him, I try to ignore the brooding hulk of man. Some hero! Thanks a bunch, Cosmos.

.....

I awake with a start. One side of my face is warm, while the other is chilled with a cool breeze. It takes a moment to remember where I am. Oh yes! On a dragon, lucky me. And my companion, or should that be captor, is a massive warrior with an ego to match.

Opening my eyes, I find to my mortification that my pillow is said warrior's thigh. I scrabble away. "I am really sorry... Er ... Did you get any rest?"

"A little, though it is distracting having your face in my lap," he responds with a sneer.

Any further apology dies on my lips. Practically bristling with indignation, I once again turn my back on him and stare steadfastly ahead. My discomfort is added to by a rather insistent bladder, which soon commands all my attention.

It is an enormous relief when the dragon lazily spirals down and lands by a small stream. Mr Grumpy jumps down. However, I make the mistake of standing up and realise just how high up I am. Woah! This dragon is so much bigger than Roth.

"Hurry up!" he calls up, irritation evident in his voice. "We will not stop long, for I want to make it to my homeland before nightfall."

Sitting on the edge of the dragon's shoulder, I start to slither my way down. Admittedly, not my most glorious descent. Mr Grumpy jumps up in the air, surprisingly agile for such a huge figure, grabs one of my ankles and yanks, sliding me down all seven plus feet of his body.

His lip curls. "You were too slow!"

I don't merit him with a response and quietly fume. Arrogant so and so. God, I would so like to wipe that smirk off his face.

When I start to head off towards a small stand of trees, he grabs my arm and demands, "Where do you think you are going?"

"I need some privacy."

"What do you need privacy for?"

"Really! Does the term 'call of nature' mean anything?" He is really starting to vex me now.

"I will come with you," he insists.

"No!" I exclaim, horrified.

"Then we stay here."

"Is this how you get your kicks?" I close my eyes and take a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "Fine!"

He half marches me to the trees and thankfully releases his grip as we reach them. Out of the corner of one eye, I catch the slightest movement and dart under the shelter of one of the trees, straight into the arms of a dryad.

"My child, what strife burdens you?"

I point at the wall of muscle and armour running towards us with alarming momentum. "He does."

"Well, he will not be able to enter my bower." The dryad watches passively as Kai charges on bellowing in fury.

I'm so disappointed. "I was expecting a hero, one of Elysium's greatest warriors, not an overbearing, arrogant male."

The dryad gives an enigmatic smile. "Perhaps that is what makes him a great warrior."

I respond with an unladylike 'harrumph' and then bid the dryad farewell as I set off to find a nice secure bush. Feeling so much better, I head back to the river and wash my hands.

Kai's dragon dives down into the water. He is gorgeous, unlike his rider; a magnificent creature with crimson red scales. He splashes over and lays a large, flapping fish at my feet.

"Is that for me? That is so kind of you, but I can't eat it raw."

The warning trickle of smoke from his nostrils has me quickly leaping backwards. A gout of fire engulfs the bank and delicious scents waft up. I scratch behind his ear and kiss his scaly cheek. Then I bend and wrap sections of the cooked fish in large leaves.

Glancing up, I notice one of the twins watching me intently. "Hi. Er. Would you like some?" I offer up a parcel.

He wanders over and holds out a large, warm hand to help me up. In the distance a roar of 'WHAT!' sends several birds scattering into the air.

"You had better climb up." The Dragonite winks at me.

I take his advice and no sooner am I in place on the dragon's back than Kai comes storming in our direction.

"I thought that this was supposed to be a quick stop," the other twin remarks and is rewarded with a glare which would surely have scorched a normal person.

Kai is beyond grumpy. I can practically feel the barely contained fury rolling off him in waves. Turning to face him, I chance my luck and offer him a water flask. "Here. You look hot."

He ignores my offer and demands, "Where did you go?"

"I told you that I needed privacy."

"You had me running around on a whim?"

"I would hardly say that a call of nature is a whim. Nor giving a lady privacy unreasonable."

"I do not care for your sensibilities." He grabs my shoulders and grips so hard that it is bound to leave bruises. "You will NOT pull a trick like that again. You will NOT leave my side without my say so. UNDERSTOOD?"

I am getting rather fed up of being bossed around by all these domineering men. First there was Nero, then Cosmos, then Morpheus and now him.

"Treat me with more respect and I will be a more reasonable captive," I respond with icy calmness, even though I can feel my own anger starting to bubble up.

"Respect is earned, princess," he responds, purposely putting a derogatory emphasis on the word 'princess'.

"I could not agree more, lord Kai." I under emphasise his title.

He narrows his eyes. "I should spank you."

I wonder if I have chosen the wrong guy to tangle with. "Does it give you pleasure to cause others pain?"

"I am nothing like you elves." He spits out the word 'elves' like it is some horrible disease. "The only pleasure I would gain would be teaching a recalcitrant child a lesson."

The dragon beneath us rumbles a low warning growl. Kai releases his grip on me and settles on sullenly glaring at me.

Lord Kai

.....

Lucifer watches the dragons flying towards Babylon, smiling in satisfaction that they have the girl. "What a foolish move to leave the protection of Alfheimr."

He feels a presence approaching. It is Dawn, his favourite mistress. "Enter," he calls out before she can knock.

The move disarms many, but not Dawn. The striking Dragonite woman sashays over to him.

He addresses her without looking away from the mirror. "According to my sources in the White Palace, everyone is walking on eggshells around mother and the king is also in a foul mood. Elven forces must surely be on their way to recover the princess."

"Lord Kai is Queen Seraphina's most trusted and favoured warrior. If he has the girl, then you can be assured that he will deliver her to Babylon."

"Tell me, is he the sort to be turned by a pretty face?"

She rolls her eyes. "Certainly not. He is more discerning than most."

"Good. Lord Nero is a useful ally, yet not where the girl is concerned. He seems to have fallen under her spell."

Dawn cocks her head at the image of Kai and Elissa and replays their interaction. "Hmm. I cannot tell whether he wishes to strangle or bed her." She grins. "Or maybe both."

Lucifer's jaw clenches. "I will be glad when she is here in Avalon."

..............