Page 46 of Silent Jay

I shifted into my human form, leaving a collection of scales that protected my junk and preserved my modesty. Wiggles would like that.

The minutes stretched by, and the sun began its trek down the skyline. I wanted to go to my mate, but the invisible boundary into water dragon territory held me back. Bending the rules was one thing. Breaking them could start an actual war. A blue dragon circled lazily above me, and movement in the trees let me know an unshifted dragon joined the two already grounded.

Two specks appeared on the beach, and I narrowed my eyes, shifting them into their dragon slits to see better.

My mate walked at Rehan’s side. A patterned throw made of blue and silver material covered her shoulders, occasionally exposing a silver bikini. I shifted my eyes back and scowled. Not my colors.

Of course, he came with her. He marked her, too. I seethed, glaring at both of them until they came to a halt.

Rehan took her hand, pulling her slightly behind him so she couldn’t step past the invisible border. “How dare you summon my mate.” He puffed out his chest, flexing his broad, bare human muscles.

I puffed up my chest. “She's my mate. I won The Hunt, not you!”

Rehan snarled. “You marked her after rejecting her. Get the fuck out of here.”

“She’s barren.” I pointed at her, half-hidden behind Rehan. “She’s defective...” Pain shot through my heart, repeating what my dad said, but I needed the water dragon to lose interest. “Useless. Give her back to me.”

Rehan snarled and lunged for me. I stepped forward, happy to have someone my size to take my anger out on.

Honey skin, surrounded by a spray of soft black hair, slid between us. Wiggle’s hand landed on my chest, and I pulled my punch. My anger instantly cooled, though I gritted my teeth to see her other hand on Rehan. My mate perfectly straddled the barrier between water and fire territory, holding back two grown dragons like it was child’s play.

I feckin’ loved it.

“Squeak,” she snarled.

She pushed back against us, though neither of us budged an inch. However, neither of us growled anymore. She lowered her hands and pulled a phone in a blue and silver case off her hip. Her fingers flew over the screen before Rehan’s pocket chimed, and he drew out his device.

He’d given her a way to communicate.

My world tilted.

I hadn’t given her anything. She’d been in my room, her own stuff lost, and I hadn’t lifted a finger to make her more comfortable. What was I doing?

Rehan placed his hand on her shoulder. “Love.”

I clenched my fists. “She’s not your love.”

Rehan growled, and Wiggles stepped out from between us, shaking her head. She typed again, leaving me out of the conversation.

I wouldn’t stand for that.

With a thought, I heated the air around her fingers. She dropped the phone with a sharp squeak, and my tail grew long enough to flick her device to me.

Wiggles lunged toward me, and my heart raced. If she came to my side of the border—before I could even finish the thought, Rehan pulled her back to water territory.

Good thing, too. If she came to me, I’d fly her out of here before Rehan blinked.

“Let him read it,” Rehan murmured into my mate’s ear, though he didn’t kiss her.

I smirked seeing that. She was mine; he could hold her hand as much as he wanted, but my mark should shock the feck out of him as his did to me.

Check, beach-yacht.

Rehan snuggled her into his side, and she willingly rubbed against him. Instead of growling at them, I studied her last message.

Jay:He’s just pissing you off. I need a blood sample and a scale from him. We’re not going to get a better moment.

I narrowed my eyes and scrolled up.

---