Genesis (Cain and Abel #1)

Interlude

As Abel slept, he dreamt, and the dream was a vision . . .

Thousands of years ago, Eve and her beloved mate Adam were embarking on the Dragonae Marriage Quest in preparation of their wedding. Each dragon pair who was betrothed was required to set forth from Eden and retrieve something for their Dragonae Clan. Eve and Adam were supposed to find a shiny red fruit called an apple that the daughter, Abigail, of the clan leader desired. Abigail had only heard of these mythical fruits from legends told to her by her nanny. She was obsessed with the idea of finding an apple and believed it would bring her eternal beauty and immortality. Thus she demanded day and night that her father get her an apple. Believing that the two young lovers, Eve and Adam, were the only ones with enough courage, intelligence, and tenacity to find an apple that would please his daughter, the Dragon King of Eden bade them go forth and capture a specimen of the elusive and medicinal fruit. The Dragon King told them of their mission at the Matching Ceremony as the village initiated the dragons who were newly of age into the pack of Elite Warrior Dragons. . . .

"Who do you think we will be matched with?" Eve whispered to Amos as they stood in line together before the female and male dragons divided up and entered the Great Hall through separate entrances.

"I don't know," Amos mumbled. His eyes shifted nervously among their peers. Eve reached out and smoothed his scales. "Maybe each other," he said in a low tone, his voice slightly cracking on the final word.

Eve and Amos had been friends for fifty years, ever since she had rescued him from the bullies who harassed him. She knew how sensitive he was to criticism, and so she had to tread lightly, even though the thought of marrying him twisted her stomach in an icy cold knot.

"Maybe. We'll see. You never know how these things will work out," she said, trying to sound upbeat.

"Eve, whatever happens, I hope we can be friends. I need you," Amos said, finally meeting her eyes. Eve looked away instantly in spite of her promise to herself seconds ago that she would be careful around him.

"Nothing you could do would ever stop me from caring about you," Eve said, hoping that she had placed enough emphasis on "about" so he would not hear it as "for."

"Okay, Dragonae, it's time to meet your match!" an ebullient female dragon called. "Line up! Line up!"

Eve lined up so she was sandwiched between two gorgeous female dragons. Immediately self-conscious, Eve rolled back her shoulders tried to look more polished and put together than she really felt. She could feel someone's gaze on her from the male's line, and sure enough when she looked over, Amos was staring at her with a weak smile. He gave her a half-hearted wave, which she returned before looking straight ahead as the doors opened onto the Great Hall. The latest inductees into the Dragon Clan of Eden waltzed into the room, passing through candlelit hallways, with each of the young ones carrying a torch. Looking over at Amos one last time, Eve noticed his torch had gone out. No surprise there; Amos was incapable of controlling fire. She tore her gaze away once more and focused on her role.

It was less easy to ignore Amos's uncontrolled and lingering fury over the rejection of Eden's Dragonae when, later that night, the young dragon Amos was deemed unsuitable for marriage to any of the other dragons. It was the last night Eve would see Amos for many years.

But Eve would know that for some time, because she and her new fiancé immediately set off on their quest for the mythical apple.

As Adam and Eve soared over the clear blue tropical waters, Eve watched the dolphins and wondered how she had been lucky enough to get here. Most of the Dragonae were paired off to a mate with no choice in the matter, but Eve had had her eye on Adam since they'd been children.