Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Any news on the smoke?” Rogan asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing. I’d like to believe we knocked back their operations when we decimated that storage area,” Khadar stated.
“But you don’t.”
“No. They’re biding their time. An attack has followed each mating.”
“You expect another now,” Rogan guessed.
“Yes. If I’m right, it will be soon. I’ve upped my patrols. I hate to admit I’d gotten lazy from using all the cameras and sensors from the past.”
“And the chatter on social media. Some people can’t keep their plans to themselves,” Rogan said, shaking his head.
A housekeeper emerged from Khadar’s mansion with a tray. The green dragon leapt to his feet and took the heavy item from her, setting it on a table. “Thank you, Louise. We’ll wait to dive in until our mates join us. Could you bring us two beers from my stash?”
“Of course, Khadar.”
With all the factories and breweries closed, the previously manufactured beverages were in limited supply. “We have a group of men working on relearning the old ways to brew beer now,” Khadar stated when they both had bottles in their hands and had sampled the concoction inside.
“Beer? No way.” Brooks jogged to Rogan’s side and started to climb up on his lap. He caught himself and hurried away.
“Come back, mate. I’ll share.” Rogan held out his bottle and scooped Brooks up. Sitting his mate on his lap, he patted Brooks’s thigh. You are fine, Adventurer. We are with friends.
Aloud, he said, “Let me see. Do I even recognize the mate stealing my beer?”
Brooks grinned at him and turned his head in each direction to show off Lalani’s talent. “You look different, Rogan, now that I can see you.”
“Rascal,” Rogan growled before turning to the hairdresser. “Thank you, Lalani.”
“I’m glad to help. I noticed that one section of Brooks’s bangs are turning red at the roots.” She leaned forward to peer closely at Rogan. “It’s exactly where your streak is. How is that happening to Brooks?”
“I had one mate in the past who had a pink streak appear in her blonde hair after we’d been together for several years. Perhaps it’s just contact with my magnetic personality,” Rogan joked. Brooks tensed at the reminder he’d had other mates, making Rogan wish he could erase those words.
“Can that even be possible? Have you always had that streak?” Lalani asked in fascination.
“I don’t ever remember not having it. If you check that spot on my dragon form, you’ll discover there’s a few black scales in the same place.”
From the fascination blooming in Brooks and Lalani’s eyes, they couldn’t wait to check for that. “My bond with the mate with the pink streak was the strongest I’d ever experienced until Brooks came along and blew that to smithereens.” He was glad to see the corners of Brooks’s mouth flex upward.
“That’s fascinating,” Lalani said. “Brooks’s is going to be deep red—like yours, Rogan.”
“You’ll be twins,” Khadar stated nonchalantly.
Lalani glanced back and forth between Rogan and Brooks—one man massively muscular, and one lean and fit. She covered her mouth as she tried to hold in the laughter that threatened at her mate’s suggestion that these two could ever be twins.
“I think it’s better if we don’t suggest we’re siblings,” Rogan recommended.
That statement pushed Lalani over the edge of controlling her mirth. Her giggles were infectious and soon everyone joined in. Rogan rejoiced in his mate’s relaxed enjoyment. It appeared that Brooks was adjusting well to his new life.
A few minutes later, Lalani said, “I have to go to the bathroom. Brooks, would you like to come in with me and use the facilities? Maybe see my room?”
“Yes, please.”
Brooks waited in the hallway for Lalani to return. Checking out his surroundings, he spotted precious paintings and other pieces of art lining the massive passage. Was that…?
Brooks walked closer to see a portrait of Khadar. Dressed in old-fashioned clothing, he looked almost exactly the same as in the present day. How old was that painting?
“He’s very regal, isn’t he?” Lalani asked. “He said his eyes changed once while he was posing, and the artist was terrified of him forever.”
“That’s awesome. I wonder if he did that on purpose.”
“I never thought of that. I’m going to ask tonight. My room is through here. It’s kind of babyish. Is that okay?”
“Of course. It’s great you have a space for yourself,” Brooks commented.
“They’re pretty overwhelming, aren’t they? The dragons, I mean.”
“Definitely. Can you imagine being Skye with two?” Brooks asked.
“No way. She’s happy, though. I mean really, really happy. It’s great she has them to take care of her. Here’s my room.” Lalani led the way into a beautiful room. “We could play a board game or put a puzzle together.”
“That sounds fun. This is a beautiful room, Lalani.” Brooks glanced around, noting the oversized furniture like he had in his room. He spotted a worn dragon stuffie in the crib. “Is that yours?”