Isabelle“Kohl?” Isabelle waded in a circle in the river. No response. Even the travois was gone. Her breath hitched as fear crashed against her insides. Had a river monster taken him? Unconscious, he wouldn't be able to fight back. Along the riverbank, bushes sprouted bright violet flowers. A flock of birds with long necks and a brownish color flew overhead. A goat-like beast with three horns dipped its head to drink, but bounded off when it spotted her. She swam downstream in hopes of finding him. A shadow darkened the sky for a moment. What was that?Ahead of her, a massive emerald dragon swooped low. Its wings spanning as wide as the river's edge. Her heart hammered, and she couldn’t breathe. The creature looked twice the size of Kohl in his dragon form. And its tail was different with spikes on the end and longer. Did that mean it wasn’t part of his species…family?Wings that spanned the edge of either side of the river stirred up the water and gusts of air had her falling backwa

Isabelle“W-what?” Kohl's voice boomed through the chamber and made Isabelle cringe. His anger rolled off him in waves.She hadn't expected to blurt out that she was expecting a baby, but her nerves had been clawing on thin ice since she arrived on this planet.“That's not possible.” He turned a split-pea shade of green.Damn, she'd known he'd be shocked and surprised, but didn't think he'd have this reaction. “Actually it only takes one time.” Especially in our case.He met her stare and pain filled his gaze. “We have to get you back to Earth. Now.”“Why?” Was he ashamed that she was pregnant? Maybe it was taboo or something. “I'm sure your family and mine will accept our child. He or she won't be an outcast or unloved.” Not if I have anything to say about it.Without a word, he snatched her hand and led her out of the chamber down the corridor of caves.“Too tight, you're hurting me.” Why was he reacting this way? This was the worst scenario she’d thought of…he wanted

Isabelle Isabelle took the time to read the last student's paper, then leaned back in her desk chair. She wrote the grade at the top with a smiley face and laid it on top of the pile of finished ones on her desk.Even though it was early release day and nearly dinner time, she was still at the school. Julia had called in sick and Isabelle told the substitute teacher she'd grade both classes’ papers.Everyone thought she was being nice and considerate, which she was, and normally she would have offered to help in any way she could. But this week she had an ulterior motive...to keep as busy as possible so she wouldn't dwell on Kohl and what a jerk he’d been when she was on his planet nearly a week ago.Vivid memories of him forcing her to leave plagued her mind. His harsh words. The way he'd looked like he couldn't stand her. Why was she so upset at his actions? Wasn't like they had even dated. And he lived in

KohlIsabelle! Kohl’s heart squeezed like a giant fist...every fiber…howled her name. He glanced around, hoping for a glimpse of her or one of her smiles that seemed to light the darkness inside him. Hell, he'd shout in joy if she rose from some safe place in her yard and tell him not to shout and wake the neighbors. Luckily, it seemed one set wasn’t home as cars were gone and the lights were out. But the flames didn’t stop chewing away at anything in their path. The earth foliage blackened and ash floated in their wake.The smell of charred pine needles filled his nostrils and left an acrid taste on his tongue. He’d lost her. The devastation made him feel as if he was buried alive under the weight of despair pressing down on him.It was all his fault that she got trapped between his enemies and him. He should've never gotten involved with her. Should've walked away when he first met her instead of spend

Isabelle“Why do we have to go to your planet for the birth?” Isabelle panted as another contraction hit her. “What about the Tryns?”Kohl pulled up the couch cushions to find her wedding ring. Over the last month it had gotten too tight on her finger and he fastened a chain around her neck to wear it, but the lock broke last night in their lovemaking and she didn’t realize it was missing until this morning. “I can’t find it. We’ll have to hunt for it later.”“No way!” she huffed. “I’m not leaving without it.” They still didn’t know if she’d survive the birth, but she wanted everyone to know she was Mrs. D'Kohralx. Even though Kohl’s people didn’t wear rings, but kept each other’s scent on them, she liked her wedding ring of white gold and diamonds and sapphires in twinging hearts. Both symbolize her and Kohl and their twins.“Damn it, Isabelle. We can find it later.” He raked a hand through his hair.She tap