Odessa

I pulled on his long braids. His startled reaction told me he really didn't remember. Creed's eyes searched my face, reading every emotion that I could give him. He tried to read me, but none of it registered to him. My dragon continued to call to his, he responded to mine with such intensity, frustrated that his human form couldn't find me.

All the times we had kissed, he didn't remember the little gestures I used to entice a kiss. Tugging on his hair, he finally bent over and met me while I stood on my dirty toes. He really didn't remember, his eyes continued to stay open. I wasn't afraid. I was going to carry on the love that we both had for each other and push it back into him. If he had to relearn everything we had done, I would take the time and patience to do so, because he was worth it. He was my mate and I wouldn't give him up so easily.

I closed my eyes, his lips inches from mine, his head jerked back only for me to push harder on my toes, finally meeting his lips. His lips didn't move. They stood still until I pecked his lips slowly, massaging them like the very first time we shared our first kiss on the cliff.

Creed's body relaxed. It came closer to mine and his muscular torso met my body. Arms encircled around my waist and a sweet hum left his lips. His tight squeeze had me arching my back, his kiss now more furious and confident, the same kisses from the Creed that I knew. "Odessa," he growled into my mouth. My fingers held onto his bearded cheeks, my legs wrapping around his body. "My Fawn," his lips let go, forehead touching mine.

"You forgot me," I whined, kissing his cheek again. "You promised."

"My heart didn't," our dragons purred against each other, feeling the warmth we shared. "My heart never forgot."

"You're still in trouble." I kissed him again. He laughed, putting his fingers through my hair.

"I'll take any punishment you wish," he whispered into my ear. I giggled, hugging him tightly.

"It's just so sweet." Princess Sadie stood behind us. "It's like a fairy tale!" she sniffed. Seth stood beside her, completely naked. I whipped my head around, covering my face with Creed's shoulder, who only chuckled.

"I'll give you a fairy tale when we get home, baby," Seth slapped her butt, pulling her in tight. "I'll be your prince charming, too." Sadie shook her head, now holding his hand.

"No, you will always be my bad boy, and I like that," Seth smirked, kissing her lips.

"Told ya she would be of some help." Willa fluttered down along with Orion, who had a scowl on his face.

"You put her in danger, Willa. You and your pesky words." Orion's skin and wings are still dark. I've noticed when he becomes angry or upset, the colors on his body transformed. "What would the Black Dragon have done if he found out his mate had been kidnapped?"

"But she wasn't," Willa crossed her arms. "Now everything is hunky-dory now and we can head back." Orion scoffed, giving her a look that only Willa would know. Her eyes widened, a mischievous grin settled into her face. "Uh oh," she snickered.

"I apologize she escaped, Alpha Creed," Orion bowed. "It seems the women conspired against me."

"She came when she knew I needed her." Creed held me close. "And I needed her." Orion pursed his lips, holding out his hand. Creed and Orion clasped each other's forearms in agreement. "Well, now that you have beaten the prick, how about we celebrate? Party in the Light Kingdom!"

There was a hushed silence as King Orion announced a large party at the palace. The dragons of the tribe, whom I had never seen, looked over to Creed, begging for him to say something to them. He looked indifferent towards them as if seeing them not for who they really were. The entire tribe had been under a spell for most of his life, some forty-some-odd years, and he could not let go of the faces that taunted him most of his life.

One by one, warriors walked up to Creed, a line formed instantly, all of them kneeling before him, crossing their arms in allegiance. Creed stared down at them, having a hard time forming words. Once a crowd of warriors had formed, all of them followed suit of the first. Their softened eyes, their hearts no longer tainted with the black magic that was now dead.

"We are sorry, Creed." Creed held onto me like a lifeline. He wasn't sure what to say. "We, we see all the wrongs we have done to you, but know this: we would not have treated you the way we had if we were not cursed by the magic." Creed sighed heavily, looking away from the warriors. He searched for something. Maybe it was for a sign or a prayer to some gods. I couldn't be sure.

"I know it was magic," his voice was stern, not the way he talked to me. "But I spent many years alone in exile, being tortured not by my brother but every warrior here. I am not a good enough dragon to forget that. That means I would not be a good enough Alpha to run this tribe." Many whispered, gasping that the strongest dragon here would give up such an opportunity.

"Forgive me, but doesn't that make you the most suitable to be the Alpha? Knowing that you are not perfect, that you will have hard feelings towards your tribes, men. We are willing to take punishment." Creed rose from his hand, stopping the warrior from speaking.

"I cannot punish you for something you did unknowingly. Adam had his claws at all of us. I cannot punish you for what you had no control over." The warriors slumped their heads, the tribe now in low hushed whispers.

"I will help find a suitable alpha. Until then, I will help rebuild the tribe. It is what mother would have wanted." The tribe looked to Creed. They still saw him as an alpha. I could feel the loyalty already forming with all the dragons.

"You can be Alpha," I whispered to him. "If you want to, you can. I'll follow you wherever you want to go." Creed's thumb pushed away a snowflake on my cheek.

"The only place I want to be is with you. You are my happiness. I will gain no joy being a leader and not spending every moment with you." I hummed, leaning into his chest. "I just want peace, and you are my peace. I'll will just be a faithful warrior to the next Alpha."

"Would you mind terribly if I offered your dragon tribe haven until winter is over? No offense, but your tribe looks like a bunch of brawling dragons knocked it over." Orion tutted as his foot kicked over several bowls and plates. It was true, everything was destroyed. The only thing left standing was the massive archives building Amora had pointed out to me and a few small tents.

With Creed's permission, the dragons packed everything they could in bags so they could fly both the children and their most precious things back to the Palace. Orion had set up a refugee camp for those that had been attacked by rogue vampires and witches over the past few weeks. It would be large enough to hold the entire tribe of dragons that would like to remain as close to nature as possible.

The rogue situation was getting out of hand. Orion and Sadie continued to talk about a possible large war, starting soon. The vampires were taking out the small packs, tribes, and territories before making their biggest moves on the kingdoms. The obvious use of black magic was apparent. Vampires move at impossible speeds and, despite them having low numbers, can wipe out a space clean in seconds.

Both the Light and Moon Kingdoms were frantic, trying to store up enough food, shelter, and having their soldiers and warriors prepped for a war that could happen any day. "We should make haste," Orion spoke to the dragons. "Nightfall is approaching and having a bunch of Vampires running rampant because the moon is out will not favor us well with such a large group."

"We will head back then," Sadie and Seth ran over to Orion. "We have the magic powder with our parents. The witches there are going to see if there is a counterspell we can use when dealing with dragon's blood." Sadie gripped Seth's hand, leaning on his arm.

"You are tired. Let me carry you home," Seth tried to scoop up Sadie in his arms. "I need to heal someone, then you can carry me?" Seth pursed his lips, nodding.

"If you must." Sadie ran to the forest before shortly coming back out again, almost fainting. She tripped, but Seth caught her quickly.

"Baby," Seth picked her up, nuzzling his nose into the crook of her neck. "You are resting for a week, no buts." Sadie couldn't comprehend what Seth was saying. She just lulled her head back and forth until she finally fell asleep. "Until then," Orion nodded to both of them. Seth then transformed into a gigantic wolf beast, running towards their home.

"My Fawn," Creed walked up to me as I stood next to Willa. "I want you to meet someone." Creed's hand landed on the small of my back, pushing me towards the edge of the woods. The sun was setting, so the woods looked much darker than I had liked.

"I want you to meet my father." I smiled, looking deeper into the darkness. Sadie must have come inside to help his father.

"Where is he?" I jumped excitedly. I was so happy to finally meet Creed's father, see the man responsible for giving me such a wonderful mate. As he walked out, he was as tall as Creed. They had the same facial features. His beard was longer, his eyes tired and his robe was covered in blood and dirt.

"I am Apollo," his voice rattled. I greeted him with a smile. Just like his son, I didn't find him frightening.

"I'm Odessa, Creed's mate." Apollo's warm smile had my dragon purring. I walked up to him, giving him a hug like he was my own father. "It's so nice to meet you. I'm so happy Creed has you now!" His smile faltered, looking at his son, then to me.

"It is, I'm happy to know tha' a part of meh lives." Apollo's voice hung low, the air heavy from his words. "And ya can call meh Da.""

"Well, Da,"" I laughed. You are coming back with us, right? Willa said they were going to do a mating ceremony for us," I beamed back at Creed. It was going to be a surprise, but telling his father at the same time sounded better. "Eh?" Apollo looked at his son. Creed shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, Willa got me all dressed up. Once we get back and everyone puts their things away, we are having not just a party to celebrate Creed beating Adam, but to do our ceremony as well! It will be a lot of fun. Please say you will come!" Creed's father looked down at me, giving me a small smile. "Pleeeease!" I begged. He chuckled.

"I see why yer so smitten. She's lov'ley." Apollo sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "A guess 'nother dah won' hurt." I grabbed Apollo by the waist, giving him a hug. Creed and Apollo gave the same laugh. It was funny how they had almost the same mannerisms and they had never met once before.

"Is everyone ready to go? I'm ready to get this party started!" Willa flew up into the air fist-pumping the air. Amora screamed and whistled.

"Hell yeah! Let's go! Bring on the ambrosia!"

"After your punishment," Orion half-whispered, joining her, hovering above the ground."

"But is it really punishment?" She threw a hand on her hip towards Orion. "When I actually want it?"