The Ph.D. candidate Thea personally taught a lone male dragon courtship calls and the Flame Dance to complete her thesis. The dragon immediately performed the move in front of her after learning it. The mentor's phone call tore open the truth. The courtship ritual involves abducting the mate into the nest and locking them until egg-laying. It's too late now—the claws tear open the roof, and he transforms into a human form to take her away. She dreamed back twelve years in a fever. She had fallen from a cable car and was rescued by a young ancient dragon. After the relationship was established, she imprisoned him in reverse. She opened the cage door and knelt to propose.