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she sighed with relief. It was the hardest part of getting dressed, and she had done it without a run.
    The dress she selected was understated, yet daring enough to push the line between her underwear and her outerwear. Fortunately she had chosen a matching color.
    “Alright. I am ready. Shall we go?” With a little digging she had found shoes in yet another drawer. They fit perfectly. Black satin stilettos that matched her bra, and also the trim on the dress.
    The possessive lust in his eyes was unmistakable. “I have been ready since I saw you in the cave, but yes. Let’s go.”
    The dress was a combination of cotton and satin. It was full enough to fall to her ankles and swirl when she moved, and swirl it did as she waited for Rikard to change forms and hover outside the balcony.
    Each flap of his wings blew the dress around her ankles and every now and then it flared up to reveal a hint of thigh. As he held steady, she jumped to his neck and settled astride it with a minimum of fuss.
    As soon as she was settled his heavy wings took them high into the sky. She could feel the power of his muscles under her and carefully kept herself from settling too tightly against him.
    One of the last things she wanted was to arrive in Realm aroused and flustered. Leaning forward and letting the ridge of his neck rub against her clit would do precisely that.
    The braids that he had placed into her hair were still in place and actually kept her from having her hair witch locked as they entered the portal into Realm two miles in the air. The bright shine of magic surrounding them warmed and welcomed them.   The silvery tunnel opened before them and she gasped at the feeling of power in on the other end of the portal.
    As they exited the gateway they came out into something that George had never seen. Over a dozen dragons were waiting for them, hovering in the air, and followed them down to the courtyard where her mother waited, standing next to a male that shared George’s eye colour.
    She had wondered where it had come from.
    Her dismount was graceful, a lifetime of climbing off dragons, and she stood in front of Rikard’s dragon form and did not leave it until he shifted to escort her.
    He stood beside her, formal robes swirling around him, and she marvelled at the outlay of magic that it must have cost to clothe himself. He held out his arm and she took it.
    As one, they approached her parents, stopping only a few feet in front of them.
    “Mom. I am glad to see you are in good shape after your ordeal.” She nodded to her mother and a wink was Arabel’s response. “Father. It is nice to have seen your face at long last.”
    “Daughter, I am Matthias. And I am your father.” He looked over her shoulder to the crowd of men that had transformed from their dragon shapes. “And as such it is my responsibility to make sure that you have the best possible mate of all of the candidates.”
    “It is with that in mind that I have called upon the males who are here today. They will compete for your admiration and for the right to be your mate. It is my right as your father to do this, and your duty as my daughter to comply.”
    George was not as surprised as she thought she would be. It seemed right and proper that they be given a chance. But… “ Rikard , will you join them in trying to win me?” Her gaze searched his. He was angry, but resigned.
    “I will indeed take all comers for your hand. No one shall part me from my destined mate.” He stood aside and gave her hand over to the keeping of Arabel . “Keep her safe for me lady. I will return when I have been victorious.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    Matthias was revelling in his role as father. He had complete control. “The first competition will be to race to the goblin territory and bring back one of their stones of illumination. We will be able to tell by the scent where you got it from.”
    “Are you ready?” The candidates nodded. “Then go!”