Healed by the Earth Dragon Prince: Dragon Shifter Romance (Elemental Dragon Warriors Book 4), стр. 43

She is asleep in my arms, but my stav is still buried deep inside her. I struggle to remain still for I know she needs rest.

A strange scent fills my nostrils, and I jerk my head toward the balcony. It is another Drakarian—a male. But who would come here?

Carefully, I pull away from my mate. She wakes, turning to me in concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone is here,” I tell her, stepping between her and the door. Whoever this intruder is, he will not be allowed anywhere near my mate.

“What?” She sits up and pulls the blanket from the bed to cover herself. “Who? How do you know?”

I growl. “I can scent him.”

Her eyes are wide with fear as they peer into the darkness, so I move to reassure her. “I do not know who it was, but he is gone.”

No sooner do the words leave my mouth than the wind carries another scent into the room. Alarm bursts through me. Several Drakarians are nearby. I hurry to the balcony window.

An orange-red colored Drakarian lands outside. I flare my wings, shielding my mate behind me. “Stay back, Anna!”

When the male’s red eyes meet mine, I recognize him immediately. It is Varus’s personal guard, Rakan. “Why are you here?”

He cranes his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Anna. “We have come because you took the female. Her friends were worried. I did not believe you would take her against her will, but I heard her crying out as you were mating her roughly just now.” His features twist in disgust. “How could you do such a thing? I never believed you would—”

Anna moves to my side and takes my hand. “He wasn’t hurting me,” she snaps. “How dare you spy on us?”

His jaw drops, but he quickly snaps his mouth shut. “But I heard you crying out as if—”

“Human women like to be vocal when we mate.”

He blinks at her as if he cannot believe what she has just said. “Our females are—”

I know he probably means to tell her that our females stay silent during the mating, except for occasional growls. However, she cuts him off mid-sentence. “I’m not Drakarian. I’m human.”

He bows low and when he straightens, guilt marks his expression. “Forgive me. Your friends were worried and insisted that we check on you.” His gaze shifts to mine. “I did not believe you would ever harm a female, but when I came upon you while you were mating, your mate was so loud, I thought you had hurt her.”

She rolls her eyes and places a hand on her hip. “Well, he didn’t. So, you can report to my friends that all is well.”

He smiles nervously. “You can tell them yourself. They have all come.” He gestures outside.

I retrieve her robe and shield her while she wraps the fabric around her form. We head to the balcony, and I search the sky, noting all the Drakarians in flight overhead.

“You can come down,” I call out. “It is all right.”

“Yes,” Rakan adds. “They were just mating. Very loudly.”

It is difficult to suppress the smile that tugs at my lips as my mate growls at him. Her cheeks flush deep red in embarrassment and anger.

Varus and Lilliana are the first to land, followed by Raidyn and Skye, then Llyr and Talia.

My nostrils flare and I arch a brow at Llyr. He and Talia smell strongly of each other. “Are you two mated, finally?”

He wraps a possessive arm around her and grins. “Yes.” The fate mark on his chest glows proudly against his blue scales.

“Are you two together now?” Talia asks.

Anna hugs me tightly and nods. “Yes. He’s wonderful,” she adds, and my hearts fill with pride that my mate is so pleased to be mine.

Varus arches a brow. “You should have contacted us when you left. My mate was worried for her friend.”

Raidyn steps forward. “Mine, as well.”

“Forgive me if I do not inform you of my every move,” I snarl. “Especially when it has to do with my linaya and kingdom.”

My parents land next to Varus. My mother’s eyes shoot instantly to Anna. Her gaze darts briefly to my chest and the glowing fate mark, then she smiles. She opens her arms and embraces Anna warmly. “Welcome to our family, my daughter.”

I swallow against the lump in my throat as my father hugs her as well. He places a hand gently atop her head as he used to do to me and my sister as children. His eyes are bright with tears as his voice quavers. “We have been without a daughter for so long. I am sorry that you will never know our Rajila. She loved her brother. Fiercely. Seeing him so happy, I know she would have loved you as well. Welcome to our family, my daughter.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs. “I was worried that you wouldn’t like me because I’m... different.”

My mother takes her hand, squeezing it gently. “As long as you both are happy. That is all that matters.”

Anna leads everyone inside and down to the first floor. Lilliana, Skye, and Talia each take turns holding and cooing over the camali and her fledglings. I’m surprised Callie allows this, but when her green eyes meet mine, I recognize the intelligence behind them. She knows they mean her no harm and is more interested in the commotion disturbing our normally quiet nest.

Varus leans closer and arches a brow. “Is it safe to allow them to handle the camali so casually?”

“I am not sure it is wise,” Raidyn mutters under his breath.

“I was thinking the same,” Llyr adds. “Do they know that camali are highly skilled predators?”

As if in response to his question, the camali flexes its claws against Talia’s arm while she murmurs loving words to the creature. But I note that Callie is careful not to puncture Talia’s fragile skin.

“My cousin had one as a child,” I tell them. “They are only dangerous if threatened. If anything, Callie