Page 6 of Devoted to the Dragon

When Fennik first came, I was so hopeful. I let him get close. Closer than most. And for a moment, I believed it was finally time for me to awaken as an omega, that my horde was coming.

But they didn’t come.

Then in a single night, all of my guard but Fennik died when ferals turned Frenzy into a massacre. After that, all I could think was that he would die too and leave me. I couldn’t bear it, so I created these canyons and valleys between us to protect us.

He reaches across the distance and pulls me into his arms, his voice dropping. “You’re mine. You’ve always been mine. No matter how much you deny it.”

His lips brush against my neck, down the collar of my satin blazer. The scruff is as I imagined, the raw burn lighting a trail straight to my center. It’s sweetened by the soft brush of his lips on my neck. He has never been so bold, and I close my eyes, taking in the comfort of being in his arms.

But before I’ve had my fill, I force myself to pull away. Giving in to him will only lead to more heartache for everyone. With strained detachment, I reconstruct those carefully crafted boundaries between us.

Even to my ears, my voice is cold when I give my commands. “Begin evaluating the newest wolves as soon as they arrive. Determine their loyalty to the Council and their reasons for wanting this assignment. I’ll train them as always, but the guard remains unchanged.”

I let my dragon take over. I’ve barely gotten my blazer off and my dress over my head before the shift begins. My muscles ache with the welcome heat of the change. I sprout wings and claws as scales take my skin.

“We’re not done talking about this.” Fennik’s growl of disappointment follows me as I launch into flight with a burst of fire.

Chapter 3

Fennik

Even in a world of wolf shifters, it’s a marvel to watch a five-foot woman change into a twelve-foot iridescent white dragon and leap into flight.

She is stunning. Magnificent. Powerful. And she’s pissing me off.

The dragoness unleashes a blast of blue fire into the sky and roars. It isn’t a war cry but one of heartache. I watch as she flaps her leathery wings, twisting up into the sky. The morning sun makes the spikes on her back sparkle like jewels before I lose her in the clouds.

My wolf chuffs, frustrated and confused. Randi is our mate, but she refuses to acknowledge it. I know she feels it. If Randi works half as hard as I do to keep her hands off me, then I know she is in agony.

She waits for a horde that may never come when I’m right here.

I roar in frustration, half wolf and half man, unable to rein in my form. I’m so far gone that I contemplate going to Vandera to see if she can make me a pair of wings. As it is, I wish I could spank Randi’s ass for getting into the fray last night and then flying off this morning.

Being capable as a warrior is not enough reason for her to battle ferals. Their bites are dangerous. She worries about the wolves, yet she is the last known dragon. My tenderhearted dove is rare for more than her hide. Her scales protect a soft heart.

One of those scales alone holds enough magic to power Vandera’s wards for our entire shifter territory. Randi is a walking target, something she forgets here in the sanctuary of the Moon Lake Valley. Here, the wolves have formed an unofficial pack around her. For that same reason, others wish to control her.

I turn away from the lake and my infuriating mate to head back to my truck just beyond the clearing. Despite taking my skin last night, my wolf wants the freedom to roam. It’s a thinly veiled desire. What he really wants is to go back to our mate and patrol the lake, watching the sky. Ignoring him, I pick up the pace.

Halfway down the mountain road, my Bluetooth picks up an incoming call. I expected it at some point, but Jesup is earlier than anticipated, which means it’s worse than I thought.

“Councilman Jesup, to what do I owe the early-morning call?”

He gets straight to the point instead of a greeting. “The omega did not make it through the birth of the child. An alpha. I assume you’ve heard?”

There is no sense in playing coy. “Yes.”

“Yeah.”

The one word from my old packmate is heavy with the makings of regret, and I tense in anticipation of what he has to say. I’m a voting member, but Jesup is second in command to the Alpha King, who rules all five territories joined through the Wolf Council. Whatever he’s about to ask is coming straight from the top.

“It’s a mess here, Nik. The birth has forced the Alpha King to convene the Council early. The official summons for the council meeting should arrive with the Council’s messenger and the newest batch of prospects for the guard. You’ll be expected.”

“When?” I sigh, resigned. The council meeting is necessary, but I’m not sure what we can do that we haven’t already tried.

I turn off the mountain pass and take the winding road into the valley.

Jesup’s deep voice rumbles down the line. “Not long. Less than two weeks. Just a heads-up: he has sent orders through the messenger for both the witch and the dragon.”

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