Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Dragons were naturally greedy creatures who guarded their possessions fiercely. It surprised him that with Ardon, the triad seemed to mesh well. He attributed that to the time he’d spent with the bronze dragon over the last eons. Oldrik did have to remind himself to focus on Skye’s needs instead of his own.
Once on two feet, Oldrik walked forward to wrap an arm around his mate’s waist. Ardon took a position, standing by her other side to protect her. With the mating bond new, the other dragons would keep their distance from Skye. Dragons could be touchy if another got too close, especially in the beginning.
“Welcome!” Khadar greeted them.
Oldrik could tell Skye recognized the young woman next to him. His mate playfully nudged him, signaling to him she was happy. “We’re close, Blueberry, if you wish to go to her.”
Skye immediately shrugged off her backpack and unzipped it to remove the sketchbook Lalani had given her. Walking forward, she pulled herself into public talking mode as she held out the tablet of paper. “Thank you. There are some sketches inside. I can take them out if you would rather.”
“Oh, no. You keep it. I’d love to see your drawings,” Lalani said. “I’m so glad you came. Can I introduce the other mates to you?”
“Yes, please.”
Lalani turned and waved the others forward. “This is Aurora. She’s Drake’s mate. He’s a gold dragon and the leader of the horde. This lovely lady with the violet eyes is Ciel. She belongs to Argenis, the silver dragon. And I am Khadar’s, the green dragon.”
“Aurora, Ciel, and Lalani. I’ll do my best,” Skye told them. “Oh, I’m Skye.”
“I love your eyes. Mine are just dull brown,” Aurora said with a generous smile that set Skye at ease.
“No way. Yours are very expressive.” Skye noticed everyone’s hair appeared to have recently been cut. Their bangs didn’t poke their eyes and the length was precise and neat. “My Da… My mates tell me you’re a hair stylist.” She reached back to drape her hair over her shoulder. “I have a chunk missing. Could you help?”
“Definitely. I was cutting hair under that tree.” Lalani turned and pointed to a massive oak a short distance away. A stool along with a small table sat in the shade. “Will your Daddies come with us over there? I remember how tight the mate bond was in the beginning.”
“Daddies?” Skye said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought that’s what you started to say. We all call our mates Daddy by their request. I shouldn’t have assumed that fit for you as well.”
Skye glanced over her shoulder at Ardon, who had joined them. How do I answer that?
“Skye hasn’t gotten perfectly accustomed to our ways. Give her a bit of time to adjust. She probably has some questions you could answer,” Ardon suggested.
“Of course. You should have seen me when I got here. And I was the first new mate in forever. I loved it when Ciel showed up. And then Lalani. We can’t wait to get to know you,” Aurora assured Skye.
“The dragons were hanging out over there in the chairs while I cut hair. Do you think that’s close enough not to cause Skye harm?” Lalani asked.
“We can definitely try it and move the chairs into the shade if needed,” Ardon assured her before addressing Skye. “That is if you’d like to have your hair tidied up a bit?”
Thank you, Daddy.
Of course, My Treasure.
Skye nodded and smiled at Lalani. “Please.”
Oldrik joined them and walked to the tall stool Lalani had commandeered as her hair-trimming chair. He boosted Skye into the seat and kissed her lightly. “We are just over there. Call if you need me.”
Thank you!
Skye held her breath as her mates walked the short distance away. She could feel slight pulls on the bond when they sat in the closest seats. I’m okay.
“You talk to them in your mind?” Ciel guessed.
“I’m not good with words,” Skye confessed.
“I’m going to spray some water on your hair so I can get a straight line, Skye,” Lalani warned before spritzing her tresses.
“Can you communicate mentally with me?” Aurora asked.
Skye tried and found the path blocked. “You’re shielded. I’ve never spoken to anyone mentally before. They’re different.”
“No kidding! None of us woke up and thought technology is going to end, and oh, by the way, you’re now mated to a dragon. Or in your case, two dragons.” Ciel pointed out. “Are you happy?”
Nodding, Skye considered her handsome mates and smiled. They both looked at her to make sure she was okay, as if they knew she was thinking about them. She waved, and they relaxed.
“Are you all?” she asked.
“More than I imagined possible,” Aurora shared. “They tell us fate matches a dragon shifter with one mate each lifetime. I would pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, but every time I do that, I get spanked.”