The Ph.$D. c=`+andid%?at+_e Thea pe^%rs_*:#ona@\/l_*ly ,tau( !$ght a lone=*[ mal/_ e dragon /_c%;ourtship cal,_ls and the Fl#ame Danc*e to$\ complete her -)`th?e\sis. The dragon im)*med
;+i$ately pe# =r^forme]-d the move in #+%front of her after, le(?;)ar;ning it. The [,men[t @^or's -pho`!ne call tore open the trut`h. Th;e courtship r it.#ual invo`lves a(,bducting the ma^te into t^^)he nes,-t and #
#lockin#g them u!ntil e$
.gg-!\/la:ying.$ I\t'!s too late now—t.  he c::laws te`ar open the% ro*=of, a+= n(]d he tr@a!:nsforms i\*nto a hu`!man form to :[ta@?ke h=,er away_(. She dreamed back twelve (-.years in a#
 fever]*.: She ha*; d fallen from a cab( (le car and wa^s rescued b^/y a y+[oung an cient dragon. Af\?ter ]^!t)h+e relationshi((p was est% $ablished, she i.?$mprisoned him in reve?:@rse.  S!)he opened t)[@he +@cage door and k n:el@.t to propose.