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)
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
Engrave their names in stone for all to celebrate.
Never ever forget the ones predestined as mate,
For the fiery beasts, while fierce, are honor bound.
Each match creates Wyvern’s protected ground.
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
“It’s about us. About all those fated to join with dragons,” Aurora said, with tears springing to her eyes.
“I’ve heard that a thousand times and never stopped to understand the meaning of the lines,” Ciel said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Wringing her hands, Lalani requested, “Teach it to me. I want to memorize this as well.” Brooks realized she’d missed learning this from her birth family.
Of course, they sang it with Lalani until she was confident she’d remember it. The chills remained as they rehearsed the tune. Finally, Lalani requested to try it on her own. Her beautiful alto voice was hesitant at first but gained strength and confidence.
He held his breath as Skye sang with her. The combination of the two voices was magical. Time seemed to stop in its tracks. When the last note faded away, a large man walked toward the gathered group, clapping his powerful hands together.
“How many freaking dragon shifters are there?” Brooks wondered. That had to be a dragon. He was massive.
Politely, the crowd joined in his applause. Brooks suddenly didn’t care about anyone else. Something kept him focused on the dragon. He was magnetic simply standing there. Why on earth did Brooks have the urge to touch him? Brooks lost track of everything going on when the dragon stopped and lifted his nose to capture a scent in the air.
Unable to stop himself, Brooks stood. The dragon shifter focused his entire attention on Brooks, who tried to stand his ground, not understanding what was happening to him.
Come. I am Rogan. And you are temptation incarnate.
Brooks’ feet moved as if by their own accord toward the shifter. When he stood in front of the magnetic dragon, Brooks couldn’t resist lifting his hand to brush away the red lock of hair that had fallen over the newcomer’s forehead. An audible sizzle and a burning pain on the back of his hand didn’t distract Brooks from the triumphant gleam in the shifter’s eyes.
“Mine.”
Exhausting all his willpower, Brooks pulled his gaze away from the dragon’s. He checked out his hand. The skin was vaguely red, but the shape hadn’t formed yet. He knew it would. Brooks had lived with his grandmother for too many years before setting off to find adventure.
“The Battlefield family. I was not aware they had a potential mate,” Rogan stated before suggesting, “We appear to be the center of attention. May I take you somewhere private where we can talk?”
“Brooks?”
Pulling his attention away from Rogan, Brooks focused on his grandmother’s proud face. “Hi, Grandma. Meet Rogan.”
“I have met the red dragon many times. He is very honorable. The Battlefield family is honored to provide you with a mate, Rogan.” Eleonore recited the traditional words of the founding family’s guardian.
“My thanks to the Battlefield family. I will guard and protect not only Wyvern and your family, but my treasured mate for all his life,” Rogan responded, power and commitment ringing from his words.
Rogan turned to press his hand to the small of Brooks’s back. Brooks stifled a moan of delight as the impact of Rogan’s touch struck him. He’d never experienced anything like that sensation of complete rightness blended with sexual heat. Rogan struggled to control his body’s reaction.
Our connection is strong, mate. I will help.
Brooks’s shoulders settled back down into place as something like a blanket settled over the fire growing inside it. It didn’t smother it. That sensual attraction still simmered, but at a level he could handle in public.
Shaking his head in amazement and relief, Brooks met Rogan’s gaze. Thank you. He waited to see the dragon’s reaction.
Rogan shook his head. I can’t hear you yet, Brooks. Soon, our connection will be stronger. I will fly us to a neutral spot away from the crowd so we can talk.
Glancing over his shoulder at the mates behind him who chattered happily as they watched how he and Rogan interacted. Was he part of them now? Rogan needed to do this away from observers. “Let’s go.”
“I will step away and change. Stay close. The bond will remain tight between us.”
In a few seconds, Brooks stood close to a freaking dragon. Sure, Keres, the black dragon, had carried him in his claws. That, he never wished to repeat. He’d screamed inside a million times as Keres had swooped through the skies. If the dragon had relaxed his hold for a split second, Brooks would have tumbled to a very excruciating death.
At that thought, he took a step back, only to be speared with a jolt of pain that shook Brooks to the core. His eyes closed as his body automatically dropped to a fetal position to protect himself. What the hell? The ground rumbled below his feet as the pain receded.