From Enchantment, Inc. (the first story in the first volume):

I raced through the expansive lobby of Enchantment, Inc., pushing past gawking tourists and weaving among guests of the massive complex. Humans! Completely oblivious to my fear, and their own danger at the hands, and claws, of the goons who hunted me.

How could they see the soaring vault of the atrium's crystal ceiling, the lacy balcony railings of the three floors of boutique shops, restaurants, and theaters that overlooked the atrium lobby and not know that magic was involved? Enchantment, Inc. might exist in Las Vegas, Nevada, but it was owned, operated, and supported by the Realm of Faery, and I'd done the unthinkable. I'd defied a direct order from the Dark King.

My very existence was forfeit unless I managed to reach the top of the complex before the goons—trolls wearing human glamours—caught me.

I reached a bank of elevators and paused. Did I dare enclose myself in a metal box to reach the upper floors? I glanced over my shoulder, saw the grinning face of a hobgoblin, and thought better of it. Hobgoblins had an affinity for metal. If I stepped inside that car, I'd never emerge again. Not with my human form intact.

I dodged past guests waiting for the elevator and ran for the escalators instead.

By the First Egg! Why had I defied the king? What did I care if the construction of a rival's hotel / entertainment complex collapsed in an inferno of dragon fire?

If only I could shift into my natural shape, leave this human form behind! As a dragon, I could rise to the top of Enchantment, Inc. on powerful wings. In my natural form, trolls and hobgoblins, even the Dark King himself, were no match for me!

Unfortunately, I was a citizen of Faery and subject to the commands of the king and queen. When the king laid a geas on me, my magic could only obey. I could no more shift than one of the human tourists who crowded the atrium pointing out its wonders could.

My heartbeat drummed as I jumped on the escalator and wove through the other passengers, desperate to reach the second floor before the goons found me.

I glanced up and saw two of the trolls cracking their huge knuckles at the top of the escalator. Their glamours made them appear as very large human males. Bald, poured into dark blue suits that stretched across heavily muscled chests and shoulders, but I saw beyond the glamours. I saw their gray-green hides, tusks protruding from the corners of cavernous mouths, and thick, clawed fingers and toes.

I paused in my upward trajectory and glanced around for options.

There were none.

Wearing this frail human form, I couldn't jump off the escalator. I'd break an arm or a leg and the goons on the atrium floor would be on me in a flash.

I couldn't transform and fly to safety. The king's geas had seen to that.

I couldn't push past the people lining the escalator treads below me and run for the exit. There were no exits for me. The king's geas had also sealed all of the exits against me. I was trapped within this complex, and huge as it was, they'd find me eventually.

Heck, they'd found me now. The escalator was delivering me straight into their meaty paws.

I had to think, and quickly, the remaining escalator treads were disappearing faster than I cared to consider. Think! I might be trapped in human form, but I was still a dragon. An apex predator. Quick and agile and, above all, intelligent.

Trolls were none of those things.

A plan glimmered into being, and I stood straight, muscles loose and ready for action.

Smiling at the king's goons, I lagged behind the family stepping off the escalator just ahead of me. As the trolls stepped back to allow the man, woman, and three kiddies space, I ran forward two steps, dropped to the floor, and let my minuscule momentum carry me past the trolls heavy feet.

Rolling over, I lunged to my feet and ran, dodging between gawking tourists, narrowly avoiding pushing one young man over the railing and to his death on the atrium floor. Human remains splattered on the pristine marble floors would only enrage the already angry king.

The second floor of the complex held a myriad of food establishments. Anything a human could want to eat could be found here. From casual food courts featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza by the slice, to haute cuisine restaurants with fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silver flatware.

In a desperate attempt to lose the goons now hot on my heels, I barged into an Italian restaurant complete with red checked tablecloths and candles in chianti bottle holders and ran straight through, past surprised waitstaff and wide-eyed customers, to the kitchen.

As soon as I passed the swinging doors, the smell of frying meat, rich tomato sauce replete with onions and garlic, hit my nostrils. My mouth watered and my stomach growled. I hadn't eaten since last night, but couldn't stop now. Not when the goons would push through those same swinging doors in a matter of seconds.

I did manage to grab a piece of thick, crusty bread as I sprinted out the rear exit into the service hallways. These passages were used for catering and room service deliveries. No need for the guests to see the inner workings of the complex's food service industry.

The empty hallway gave me the opportunity to speed ahead without dodging humans. I stuffed the bread into my mouth and chewed as I rushed toward a bank of service elevators. A quick glance around told me I was alone. No hobgoblins to make this a mistake. Besides, I'd have to brave the crowded guest corridors if I wanted to make it back to the escalators.

No options.

I had to get to the infinity pool on the roof if I was to survive, and since I couldn't fly, I needed the elevator.

The doors slid open, revealing a waiter in black slacks and vest with a pristine white shirt and an empty service cart. He frowned at me, but shrugged and stepped off, moving to one side so I could enter the car unimpeded.

I turned to face the opening and, as the doors slid shut, saw the trolls lumbering down the hallway toward me.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I slumped against the car's walls and caught my breath. The car hurtled upward, bypassing floors of boutique shops and entertainment venues, heading non-stop to the rooftop access.

If I could just make it to the infinity pool, I could present my petition to the Queen of Air and Light who held court there. She was the Dark King's equal. If she blessed me with her favor, I could return to the Realm of Faery and my clan's aerie.

If I made it home, I'd never venture into the mortal world again. No matter what inducements Enchantment, Inc. might offer. I'd also caution my clan against signing up. Not without significant riders to the standard contract.

But first I had to survive.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open to the rooftop where the infinity pool and the queen's court waited…

…to reveal not one, not two, but six goons blocking my access to the queen and her court!

I'd made it to the roof, but my flight had been in vain. I was doomed.

With a frantic surge of energy, I plowed in amongst the trolls, screaming for the queen's attention.

"My lady," I cried. "My liege! I beg sanctuary!"

The trolls grabbed my arms, my shoulders, and pushed me back into the elevator car.

If the doors closed before the queen acknowledged me, my life was over.

"Please," I screamed. She had to hear me. The queen was my only hope! "Great Queen, I beg you!"

The doors slid shut and I slumped into the trolls' muscular and uncaring embrace, knowing that their musky stink and tusked faces would be my last perceptions.