A Ph.D. candidate taught a lone male dragon courtship calls and the Flame Dance to complete her thesis. He performed the move for her immediately. Her mentor's call tore open the truth—the courtship ritual involved abducting the mate into the nest and locking them until egg-laying. It was too late. He transformed and took her away. She dreamed back twelve years—she had fallen from a cable car and was rescued by a young ancient dragon. She reversed their roles, imprisoned him, opened the cage door, and knelt to propose.