Page 5 of The Sapphire Dragon's Missing Mate

“Drier than you.” She chuckled, and just then, the door clapped open and in came her mate, carrying a couple of huge bags of groceries, the other two kiddos by her side.

“The roads are getting bad,” she said. “I probably should’ve gone out earlier.”

Her mate grabbed one of the bags and told her about the bucket. The kids listened to their sibling tell them the tale of roof-repair magic their mom had done.

I had assumed the roads already were shit and hadn’t planned to drive anywhere in this rain. It was still good information to have. Knowing this, I was doubly happy that everyone was hunkered in for the night. After graciously accepting their offer for a cup of cocoa, I headed back out into the storm and back to my cabin in the hopes that I could stay in there until the storm let up. Knowing this place, that wasn’t going to happen, but a guy could dream.

When I was little, I loved to watch storms through my bedroom window. I learned someplace that electricity didn’t play well with glass and got it into my head that behind the window was the safest place to be. And it was safe, as long as the lightning didn’t actually strike the house or a nearby tree. It just wasn’t the super-hero armor I thought it was at the time. So I settled back in my chair.

With all the wind and falling black walnuts, I thought someone was at my door a few times. They never were. Still, I got up and checked each time, not wanting to leave someone out there if they needed something. My phone was currently working, but that didn’t mean everyone’s was and, if they were at my door, they must mean it.

I expected to find no one there, just like I had the past couple of times. Instead, I swung it open to find myself staring into the eyes of the sexiest man I’d ever met. His eyes were the color of sapphire, something I didn’t even think possible, and a dimple on his chin had me forgetting I was supposed to be greeting him.

“I’m looking for the management.”

I stared.

He asked again.

“Oh yeah, I suppose that’s me, Arvin. What can I do for you?”

“I’m Stone, and I was flying, and the storm…my dragon preferred I come down here and look for a room.”

“Room. Yes. Dragon.” Was I making sense? Of course not. How could I be expected to think with this dragon god standing in front of me.

“Excellent.”

Lightning struck a tree not far behind him and I instinctively yanked him inside. The tree didn’t fall in our direction, but it could have.

“I’m sorry. I got distracted. Can I help you find someone?”

“Yeah, the storm can be distracting.”

It so was not the storm.

“I was hoping you had a vacancy.”

Right! He already said he wanted a room. “Oh no. I’m sorry. We’re all booked up.”

He turned to leave.

“No. Stop. Don’t go out there. It’s only going to get worse.” And something inside me told me I’d regret it the rest of my days if I let him walk out that door. It didn’t make sense. He was some random guy—a shifter at that. We probably had nothing in common and, yet I felt an undeniable pull from him.

“If I can fly ahead of the storm, I might be able to—”

“Stay here,” I blurted out. “Stay here.”

“I thought you had no cabins left.”

“I don’t. I mean, we don’t. I mean…it’s dangerous out there. You can stay in my cabin. It’s fine and no charge.” I didn’t want him to think I was attempting to fleece him out of money.

“I would pay.” He set his bag down. That was a good sign, right?

“Let’s not worry about that now. Let’s get you settled in. It looks like this storm is going to be a doozy.”

Chapter Five

Stone

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