Skylar pulled off her shift as Laura handed her a new shirt. "This should fit you. You change into that and then I'll help you fix your hair."

Skylar blushed and patted her curls. "It gets frizzy when I'm nervous."

Her friend grinned and ran a hand over her hair, pulling at a ringlet and letting it bounce back. "You don't have to be nervous, Sky."

"Another Alpha is coming, and I don't need to be nervous? I have to face not only Leo, but an Alpha I've never met before."

She pulled the new, clean shirt over her head and pulled a brush through her hair. It didn't help with the frizziness, in fact it made it worse, but it gave her something to do.

"Hey, hey! You're going to pull it all out if you do that," Laura chuckled, pulling the brush away from her. "Let me do it." She began pulling the brush through her hair in a much gentler motion. Laura was only a few years older than Skylar, but her touch felt amazingly maternal.

"Thank you," Skylar said, staring into the mirror over the vanity. Laura's caramel eyes met hers, and they were full of support and love. Skylar had never had a female friend before, and she liked the closeness and trust there. She'd do anything for Laura, just like Laura had her back today and for the last week.

"We could do something different with your hair, rather than just the braid if you want," she offered.

Skylar thought of how she always wore her hair back at the castle, and thought something familiar would be nice. To demonstrate, she grabbed it and twisted it up at the back of her head. "Something like this would be nice, I think."

"Perfect! Let me go grab some pins and then we'll get it all up. You have a lot of hair, so I might need to steal some of Fiona's," she teased before dashing off and leaving Skylar alone, staring at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were a little puffy since she'd hardly slept at all the night before, but they were bright and alert. She could see her dragon reflected in them, nearly as anxious as Skylar.

The blue dragon wasn't as nervous as Skylar, but that was only because she was more confident in their ability to survive without the protection of Orion and the clan. Of course, she didn't want to leave Orion, but she felt they could survive without him. Or that they could at least evade capture. Skylar didn't agree. She was terrified, and she didn't have any faith in this new Alpha.

She ran her fingers through her hair to try and tame the curls, regretting running a brush through it like she had, and sighed when there was little success. She needed Greta. Her nurse was the only one who had ever been able to keep her curls from escaping their assigned positions.

There was a knock on the door and Skylar spun to look at it, wondering why Laura would bother knocking on the door to her own room, when Percy stuck his head in.

"Hey," he said, looking a little troubled.

"Hello," she greeted him slowly, narrowing her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" She was glad Percy knew exactly why Kellan was coming today, and what would possibly happen to her. Percy's betrothed or not, Laura was not the official Beta female yet, so she didn't know that the reason the other Alpha was coming was so he could help decide what needed to be done with Skylar. It was part of the reason she didn't understand Skylar's nervousness today.

She lowered her lashes before glancing back up at him as he stepped into the room. She noticed how comfortable he was in Laura's space, even so comfortable as to go take a seat on the edge of the bed when there were two perfectly good chairs only four feet to his left, and she was slightly scandalized by it. She knew she had been in Orion's room all those nights ago, seeing him on a different level, but nothing had happened between them. Nothing like that anyway. But the aura around Percy... Skylar didn't want to think about it. She knew it was silly, but she'd grown up in a world where people who were courting hardly touched before their wedding day. To think about being in the other's room was out of the question. Once again, she thought about her late-night visit to Orion's room and realized it was strange custom. She'd learned more about Orion that night than she had the entire time she'd known him. The late-night discussions were a great way to get to know your future spouse.

She felt the blood rush to her cheeks at the thought. Orion wasn't her future spouse. He wouldn't be her future anything once Leo had his way. For now, he was just her friend, her protector. And that wasn't likely to last much longer.

She looked back up at Percy and realized that he was waiting for a response. What had his question been again?

Oh, right. "I'm as good as I'm likely to get, I think," she offered.

He nodded his head once and ran a hand over his face. "That's fair. One of the border patrols just flew in. He saw Kellan and his family in the distance. They'll be here soon. Within the hour, I'd guess."

The blood that had rushed to her face from embarrassment drained away as if someone had pulled a plug. "So soon?"

His face twisted in turmoil. "I'm sorry, Skylar. I don't want this to happen any more than you."

She shook her head and pressed her lips together. She couldn't answer him without her voice shaking.

"Orion is trying to talk Leo out of sending you away. To hide you from Kellan, just for a little while longer."

"He is?"

Percy nodded. "He's a wreck. I've never seen him so desperate before."

Oh, Orion. Her hero till the end. For how much she'd disliked him in the beginning, thinking of leaving him, of never seeing him again, it broke her heart.

After feeling his arms around her last night, after letting him hold her, she'd never felt anything like it. She didn't think a simple hug could ever make her feel so warm, so safe. He was gentle and kind, just like Victoria had said the first night she was here and Skylar hadn't believed her. How wrong she had been.

"Alright let's get your hair- Oh, hello, love," Laura danced back into the room, wielding a handful of pins. Her face lit up at the sight of Percy and she walked over and planted a kiss right on his mouth, in full view of Skylar. Skylar watched as Percy's tense posture relaxed when Laura touched him, how the stress seemed to leave him. Ever since he'd proposed, the pair of them had been more relaxed, as if their dragons understood that they would soon be mates. Skylar hoped she would be able to stay long enough to see their mating ceremony, although she doubted Leo would want her around for another week.

"Good morning," Percy whispered against her lips and she giggled. He pulled back but kept a tight grip on her little hands. "Is Skylar ready? They're almost here."

"Oh, so soon?" Laura turned to glance at Skylar. "Well, we'll fix your hair, get some food in you, and have you on your way, then."

She ran her gentle fingers through Skylar's mane and twisted it up behind her head. "Like this, right?"

"Yes, like that." All the times Greta had done her hair in the same way came rushing back to her. Greta's gentle hands and friendly chatter came rushing back. Skylar sighed and wished for her now, not that she didn't appreciate Laura, but Greta had been there for her all her life. She needed that kind of bond now.

Laura coaxed the pins into place and put her hands on her hips proudly. "There. You look lovely."

Skylar smiled at her in the mirror. "Thank you." She picked up Jonathan's necklace, clasped it behind her neck, and stood up to face Percy.

"I'm ready."

"Uh, uh, not so fast," Laura chided. "You need to eat breakfast first!"

Skylar shook her head and put a hand on her stomach. "I'm too nervous to eat. I couldn't keep anything down."

"Honey, you don't need to be nervous," her friend assured her. "Kellan is a good man." Once again Skylar wished Laura knew what was about to happen.

She looked over and met Percy's eye, the silver orbs filled with trepidation, but also a lot of support. He stood up and held out a hand to her. "C'mon, they're almost here. We don't want to keep them waiting."

"Never." Skylar pulled on her royal upbringing and gently grasped his elbow. Percy hesitated but then caught on quick fell into step next to her. She took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and pulled her shoulders back. Kellan was nothing more than a king, and she was a princess. She had dealt with kings before, this would be no different. She could do this.

Her dragon squared her shoulders, ready for anything as they walked with Percy to the Square. Laura stood at Skylar's other side, glancing at her frequently. Skylar was sure that she was radiating tension, but it was helping keep her on edge and alert. She couldn't afford to relax in this situation.

At the landing pad, she could see the Alpha family standing together, looking up at the sky. She focused on Orion immediately, even though his back was to her. She was so attuned to him, like there was a string connecting them. She knew that no matter how big a crowd was, she'd be able to find him in it. The intense feelings scared her a little, but she also wanted to welcome them. She wanted to be around him always, and every part of her being balked at even thinking that the number of times she'd see him again were so few that she could count them on her fingers.

She looked up in the sky and saw the four shimmering figures approaching. Her hand spasmed on Percy's arm and he reached over to squeeze her fingers reassuringly. Her heartrate picked up rapidly and her stomach flipped over, but not in the exciting way it did with Orion was around. No, this felt like her stomach was trying to climb out of her body through her mouth.

As if Orion sensed her, his head turned to the side and he glanced back to meet her eye. His golden gaze held hers for no longer than a second, but it gave her more comfort than any of the times she had been told it was going to be okay. From the look in his eye, he hadn't given up. Orion was the kind of man who didn't give up until his last breath, so if he believed in something, she knew he was going to fight for it. And he believed in her, it seemed. Her dragon hummed happily, the relief a welcome adjustment to the constant stress they'd felt for the last week.

The four dragons came closer, and they were imposing creatures, especially the one in the lead. He was a deep blood red and even over the distance separating them she could sense his power. The dragon to his right was a deep blue, only a few shades darker than herself. She flew with a grace that said she was meant for flying, just like how Orion said Skylar herself was. The dragon to the leader's left was a glittering emerald green, dark and slightly ominous. And the dragon bringing up the rear, she was a dark purple, a lovely, beautiful color. Skylar and her dragon knew this was the female to whom Orion had been promised, the female who would become his mate. And fury boiled within them, a possessive anger that she'd never experienced. Skylar had known about her all along, but now that she was here, and a tangible thing, now it seemed real.

The dragons descended to the landing pad and the Alpha family of the Western Clan waited patiently for them, while Skylar, Percy, and Laura waited fifty yards behind them. The three of them weren't nearly as calm as the four that waited ahead of them. Skylar swallowed her heart as it jumped into her throat.

The Eastern Clan Alpha family landed with loud thuds and the slight shaking of the ground. The first thing she noticed was the red dragon's front right leg... or lack thereof. It ended right below the elbow in a clean removal. Scars ran up and down the side of his neck and up into his face, serving as evidence of the battles the dragon had fought, and from the looks of it, there were many. He was nearly as intimidating as Leo's black dragon, and he would have been if there wasn't a kindness, a fairness, that radiated from him as well as his power. Not the anger that rolled off Leo's dragon in waves. But, he was still the one who was going to decide her future, and that was scarier than anything Leo could do.

The dragons shifted, leaving a very attractive family in their place. The Alpha, Kellan, stood in front. He was as tall as Orion and Leo, but leaner, rather than the bulky like the other Alpha's. His sandy brown hair was clean cut, with just a hint of curl, giving his square features a harsher look. The female at his side was small, with fiery red hair a petite figure. The young male, presumably their son, was a spitting imagine of Kellan, except his hair was lighter, almost blond. Their daughter, Cassie, was positively lovely. Her red hair had the slightest wave to it, and it framed her perfect features in such a way that Skylar liked her even less than she already did. Everything was perfectly proportioned and symmetrical. Big, round eyes and a full mouth with angular cheekbones and cheeks that were just round enough that they gave her a slight innocent look. But, while the insecure part of Skylar disliked her for those reasons, it was the way she stared at Orion that brought the anger bubbling to the surface.

Cassie's eyes were locked on Orion and they were filled with possessive victory, like he was a prize she had won, rather than one that was given to her. She'd done nothing to earn him, other than have the right parents. Skylar's dragon wanted to tear her apart from looking at her male at all. Skylar was on the same page.

She watched as they all greeted one another, smiles all around. And she was fine, she had her dragon, her heartrate, and her breathing, all under control. At least she did until Orion leaned forward to greet Cassie with a kiss.

<><><><><><><><>

"Kellan, it's good to see you, old friend," Leo greeted him. The other Alpha's smile was genuine, but there was a definite tension etched in his face. His letter had been vague, but Kellan had known Leo long enough to sense when something big was happening. He wouldn't have moved up their visit if he hadn't thought Leo was serious.

"You as well," Kellan grinned, shaking his left hand firmly. He grinned at Victoria, whose belly looked as though it'd pop if she was poked too hard. "Victoria, you're as lovely as ever."

He shook her hand as well, not daring to get too close another female when his mate and her mate were right there. They were civilized, but their dragons were not. They wouldn't appreciate anyone else near their mates. Penelope stepped forward to embrace Victoria with a huge smile.

"It's been too long. I didn't even know you were expecting," his mate shot a pointed look up at him and he held up his hands in surrender, but smiling down at her.

"I suppose I didn't think to mention it," Kellan defended himself.

Victoria laughed. "Males don't think like we do, apparently."

His lovely little mate shook her head and chuckled in agreement. "Well, savor it, because once they're out, it goes by so fast." Penelope looked up at Jed, who was staring at Leo's son, Orion. Kellan wanted to intervene between the two young males, but knew that all of their greetings would be like this until they truly bonded as friends. Right now, they were future Alphas first, so their dragons would force them to size one another up with a staring contest before things could become civil between them.

"Jed," Orion greeted shortly, with a nod of his head.

"Orion," Jed replied in kind. Kellan's son held out his hand, and the other young male took and shook it once in a firm motion. After that, the tension in the air nearly vanished. Except for the constant tension that always surrounded Orion and his dragon. The boy had never been able to relax fully, or take things easy. Kellan hoped that once he and Cassie were mated, his dragon would find ease and be able to have fun for once with a person he loved and trusted.

He glanced over at his sweet daughter, who was completely and utterly focused on her betrothed. Orion smiled at her, but it seemed forced in a way it hadn't before. The young male seemed like he had a lot on his mind, and Kellan thought more of it should be on his future mate.

Orion looked around and seemed to realize that all of the greetings had been done except for his and Cassie's. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand, bowing slightly to her.

"Hello, Cassie," he said softly, and he stepped forward and kissed her cheek. Kellan looked on in approval, but spun around in surprise when a roar erupted from behind them.

He turned and saw the future Beta of the clan, Percy, and a female he'd met before, crouching on the ground next to a convulsing female figure. He could hear her growling from here, a dragon's growl. She appeared to be losing control of her dragon and Kellan glanced at Leo, who was frowning furiously.

"Skylar?" Orion said quietly, slightly panic in his voice. Kellan looked over at the boy and saw more emotion etched on his face for this unstable dragon than the female who would be his mate. He was going to let it slide before Orion took off at a run over to her.

"Orion!" Leo snapped at his son and Kellan growled when he saw the hurt look on Cassie's face. They weren't mated yet, so any attention he showed another female would hurt his daughter and Kellan could not stand for that.

The convulsing female had fallen to the ground, and Kellan watched angrily as Orion pushed Percy out of the way to cradle her.

"Skylar, Skylar, what's wrong?" he was asking as Kellan, Leo, and the others marched up to him. Leo was fuming, Kellan was irritated, and Orion appeared oblivious to it all. Kellan couldn't see the female Orion held, his back shielded her from view, but he saw a wisp of red hair appear over the young Alpha's shoulder, from the female he so blatantly cared for in front of his betrothed.

"I'm-I'm-," a hoarse, slightly husky voice said quietly. And then she seemed to realize what was happened and shoved herself ungracefully out of Orion's arms. She landed on the ground with an undignified thud and scrambled to her feet. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Orion rose to his feet, but all of Kellan's attention had been diverted to the female. She was staring at her feet, her arms wrapped around herself for protection. Fear and stress rolled off her in waves, and she wouldn't meet anyone's eye. But underneath all that, he could sense her strength, her power.

Kellan stepped forward as the breeze shifted and her scent washed over him. He froze, taken aback. It was different, not as new, or as fresh, but the same base sweetness and honeydew smell she'd been born with.

He needed to see her eyes. It couldn't possibly be her. She was gone, dead. They'd given up. "Look at me," he snapped at her. A growl erupted from Orion in her defense and Kellan turned on him.

"Control yourself," the Alpha snarled at the young male, whose golden eyes burned in fury. He kept glancing at the red-headed female and Kellan realized he had never seen the young Alpha so distracted. Orion had always level head and focused, always been older than his years, and he never lost his cool. That he'd do it now for this female, it set off alarm bells in Kellan's head. His dragon didn't like it at all, because it implied that this boy would betray his daughter.

Kellan pushed all that aside for a moment and focused on the young female dragon before him. "Look at me," he said in a gentler tone.

He saw her glance at Orion before raising her head and giving him a stern look. In fact, she looked down her nose at him, if he wasn't mistaken. But the eyes she looked at him with were the ones that had been burned into his head for twenty-one years. The eyes he hadn't seen since that awful night, the one he had tried so hard to erase from his memory. His baby daughter's eyes. It felt like his breath had been knocked out of him.

He knew that Penelope saw it at the same moment he did. He heard her gasp and felt her heartbeat increase through their connection. She stepped toward the young female, who had taken on a defensive posture. She seemed to accept her fate at the moment, because her gaze was unwavering and she gave Penelope a suspicious glance as she closed the distance between them.

"Kiara?" she whispered, reaching up to touch the girl's cheek. The female jerked her head away from Penelope's reaching hand and his mate retracted it immediately, a hurt look on her face.

"Have we met?" the female asked in a sharp tone.

Kellan stepped forward. "You wouldn't remember, I suppose. You were so young," he whispered. He couldn't look away from her, suddenly doubting everything. What if this wasn't her? He looked over at Leo, who was staring at the scene without emotion. But if Leo had suspected this, it would be cause for him to summon them with such urgency like he had. It only led Kellan to wonder how long they'd had her without alerting him. And the way Orion seemed attached to her... it made him think they'd had her longer than since he received the summons.

He needed to know for sure before he accused anyone of anything. "There's only one way to tell for sure," he lifted his hand. The spell he'd placed on her that night, the one that would keep her warm, would still be in place. He'd never gotten the chance to take it off.

Everyone watched as he whispered the counter spell. He immediately felt it take effect, and so did the female. She gasped and her eyes glowed bright blue for a moment as the magic left her. When the spell was lifted fully off, she simply looked terrified. Kellan didn't miss how she looked to Orion for comfort.

"Wh-what did you do to me?" she asked, wrapped her arms tighter around herself.

Kellan shook his head in awe, forgetting Orion and his irritation. It was her. They'd found her. After twenty-one years, after giving up all hope, they'd found her.

"It is you," he said, a lump forming in his throat. Penelope was already crying. "Kiara."

He watched as her face flushed with anger and she took a step back. Her brilliant blue eyes flashed in warning. "Stop calling me that. My name is Skylar! Now someone tell me what is going on!"

Penelope held out her arms. "Sweetheart, we've been looking for you for twenty-one years, since you were taken from us."

Kiara—Skylar—looked at them like they were insane, like she couldn't comprehend what was happening. She was looking between all of the Western Clan members for help, but they all shrugged. They could no longer do anything for her, since she wasn't one of them. She was a part of the Eastern Clan, under Kellan's rule, and his whatever he said would go. Poor thing, Kellan thought to himself. So confused, so lost. Everything would be explained when they brought her home, where she belonged.

"I don't understand." Skylar looked like she was about to bolt.

"Skylar," Leo snapped impatiently. "Meet your parents."