Chapter 20

TWENTY

A knock at Kai’s door preceded Darian’s entrance. His friend’s expression wavered between amusement and sympathy. “The human scientist has requested access to the eastern mountain range. Should I arrange an escort?”

“No.” Kai pinched the bridge of his nose. “She’ll only refuse it. What’s her current location?”

“The library. She’s been researching our historical records of seismic activity.” Darian’s lips twitched. “I may have arranged for extra guards to patrol that area. Purely coincidental, of course.”

“Of course.” Kai’s tone suggested it was anything but.

“You could try talking to her. Without the growling and posturing.”

“I don’t posture.”

Darian’s raised eyebrow spoke volumes. “Shall I list the number of times you’ve ‘happened’ to fly past her research sites? Or how you’ve memorized her daily schedule? Or perhaps?—”

“Enough.” Kai’s eyes flickered gold in warning, but Darian merely grinned.

“The great Dragon King, reduced to stalking around his own palace like a lovesick hatchling. Your father would be?—”

“If you say ‘amused,’ I’ll demote you to dungeon guard.”

“I was going to say ‘proud.’ You’ve finally found something you can’t simply command into submission.”

Kai slumped into his chair—a distinctly un-kingly gesture. “She’s so... frustrating. Brilliant and fearless and completely immune to normal courtship protocols.”

“Ah yes, because nothing says ‘be mine’ like snarling and hovering.”

Before Kai could respond, his communication crystal hummed. Gerri Wilder’s cheerful face materialized in the air.

“Well, well.” Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “I hear you’re having trouble wooing your mate.”

“I’m not—” Kai stopped, realizing denial was pointless. “How do humans typically handle courtship?”

“Usually not with dragon-sized displays of dominance.” Gerri’s laugh filled the room. “Human women, especially independent ones like Quinn, need to be courted, not commanded. Show interest in her work. Ask questions. Let her teach you about her passion.”

“I am interested in her work.” Even if he didn’t understand half the technical terms she used.

“Then show it. And for heaven’s sake, stop having your guards shadow her everywhere. She has noticed, by the way. Called it your ‘not-so-subtle surveillance squad’ just this morning.”

Kai winced. “I’m trying to protect her.”

“Try protecting her sanity instead. Give her space to breathe. Court her like a human, not a dragon.”

“And how exactly does one court a human?”

Gerri’s grin widened. “Well, for starters, flowers are usually more effective than territorial growling...”

An hour later, armed with Gerri’s advice and Darian’s barely contained laughter, Kai found himself in the palace gardens, studying the local blooms. According to Gerri, Earth women appreciated flowers as romantic gestures.

“Not those,” Darian called out as Kai reached for a cluster of luminescent blue blooms. “They’re mildly hallucinogenic to humans. Unless you want her seeing three of you...”

“That would be her nightmare,” Kai muttered, moving to another patch.

He finally selected a bouquet of crystal-petaled flowers that resembled Earth roses, their centers glowing softly with stored sunlight. Perhaps a bit obvious, but Gerri had stressed the importance of “classic romantic gestures.”

Finding Quinn proved easier than working up the courage to approach her. She sat cross-legged on the library floor, surrounded by ancient scrolls and modern data tablets, her dark hair escaping its usual neat bun. The sight of her so comfortable in his domain made his dragon purr.

“I brought you...” He cleared his throat when she jumped at his voice. “These are...” The flowers suddenly seemed ridiculous in his massive hands.

Quinn blinked at the bouquet. “Are those bioluminescent?”

Not quite the romantic response he’d hoped for.

“Yes. They’re called Starlight Roses. They’re native to the northern peaks and—” He broke off as she reached for the flowers with academic interest rather than romantic appreciation.

“Fascinating! The petals appear to be silicon-based rather than carbon-based. The crystalline structure is remarkable.” She pulled out a small device and began scanning the blooms. “The light emission suggests some form of natural energy storage. Do they photosynthesize differently than Earth plants? The implications for evolutionary adaptation in high-altitude environments are incredible!”

Kai stood frozen, wondering if he’d somehow managed to turn a romantic gesture into a scientific expedition.

“The cellular structure is unlike anything I’ve seen,” she continued, completely oblivious to his intentions. “Do you think I could take a sample? For research purposes, of course.”

“They’re meant to be... decorative,” he managed.

“Oh.” She finally looked up, really looked at him, and her cheeks colored slightly. “Oh. These weren’t for... I mean, you weren’t trying to...”

“Apparently not successfully,” he said dryly.

A small laugh escaped her, surprising them both. “Sorry. I get a bit carried away sometimes. They are beautiful, though. Even if their scientific implications are more exciting than their aesthetic value.”

Progress, of a sort.