Page 1 of Kidnapped Forced Mate

Chapter 1 - Stryder

“Las Vegas?” Felix snorts, his voice entering our minds in a withering tone. “Really?”

I glance at Styker, my twin brother, the lips of my dragon peeling back mischievously as I grin. He appears somewhat reserved, a nervous huff escaping his lips with a trail of smoke following. His perky shoulders shrug diffidently, but I decide not to take his inhibitions into account.

We’d both agreed that we wanted to do something nice for Felix before his big day. Coming to Las Vegas was my idea. It was either this or spending the night at Draco’s Italian villa. All it took was a round of heads or tails to decide where we’d be going to celebrate a surprise bachelor party.

I turn forward, flapping my wings and soaring over the group of male dragon shifters before making a sharp one-eighty overhead and spearing toward the bustling nightlife.

It will be fun, I promise Felix, through the telepathic mind link. It’s a solemn oath I take quite seriously as we glide down behind the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

The others follow suit, only Felix remaining hesitant as he slowly gets to his dragon paws on the lush, manicured lawn behind the hotel. I close my eyes, my dragon wings retracting behind my shoulder blades while the rest of my body morphs into human form. Opening my eyes again, I sigh with relief as the others dust their collars and straighten their sleeves.

Everyone seems excited. All except for Felix, who warily rakes his gaze up the back of the tall building. When I stroll forward, noticing the way his brows are furrowed.

“Surprise!” I smirk, crossing my arms as I stand beside him.

“This place has changed a lot since I last visited,” he observes.

“That’s why I chose it. We figured you needed a night out. Some time to unwind before you’re tied down for eternity.”

Felix turns his face to me, a look of contempt in his narrowed eyes. “You make it sound miserable,” he frowns.

“Is it not?” I scoff, a shiver running through me at the thought alone. “Imagine being bound to one woman for the rest of your life. It gives me chills.”

“Wait…” Felix’s frown deepens. “I thought you were eager to have a mate picked for you.”

“Oh, I’m elated, Brother,” I dismiss, pointing my thumb over my shoulder toward my twin brother. “Stryker and I are excited to be tied down for the rest of our lives. Like you, marrying a human and everything.”

“You’ll be surprised, Stry–”

“Spare me the lecture, Brother,” I interject, patting him on the shoulder to avoid being caught in my lie. “Let’s just enjoy the night.”

A wide grin spreads across my face as I lead the way into the hotel. We make a quick pitstop at the reception to confirm the reservation we made earlier that day, before heading to the casino.

As soon as the large doors open up to the casino floor, we’re flooded by the sound of jazz and chatter abuzz in the vast room. We’re immediately greeted by a pretty waitress with a flash of red hair tied in a firm bun and a keen eye for Stryker. As we follow her to the bar, I nudge my twin brother in the ribs.

“You have an admirer already,” I chortle, taking a seat at the counter.

Stryker rolls his eyes and scoffs. “We’re here to celebrate Felix, remember?”

“Who says we can’t have fun, too?” I wink, propping my elbows on the counter and resting forward. Trips like these to the mortal world, always end up with being twisted in silk sheets with a human admirer. Their names are often forgotten by the morning, while their fragrance lingers on my skin even after I head back to Aurora Island in dragon form.

Knowing how tonight will inevitably end for me, I decide to enjoy the moment and give my brother, Felix, a night to remember. After all, he’s the one getting married to his human mate, Sierra, tomorrow.

Even though I can’t understand what all the fuss is about, I’m happy for him.

“Your drinks, Sir…” the waitress simpers as she begins serving us filled whiskey glasses.

I can barely contain my amusement, smirking slyly as I watch her sneaking glances at Stryker. I wish Felix had captured her attention, but the night is still young, and the bar is only the beginning.

We still have the casino and club on my itinerary. Besides, redheads were never our type – Stryker and I.

Discreetly removing a bag filled with dragonclaw, I sprinkle some of the crushed herb into my drink and give it a quick swirl with my forefinger while passing the bag to Stryker. The intoxicant moves down the row as the other Aurora Dragon members add a touch of amplification to their mild liquor, ending up in Felix’s hand when he leans forward and shakes his head.

“I’ll pass,” Felix rejects, sending the almost empty bag down the counter.

I catch it deftly under my palm, raising a brow at the man of the hour. “Come now, Brother. It’s you who we’re here to celebrate. A little fuzziness on a night like this will do no harm,”

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