Page 5 of Dragon Rivals of New York

I recognize the poorly disguised feeling. It’s been years since any of the Silver Horde dragons have found mates. After centuries of wars and low birthrates, we’re the smallest of the nine hordes. All of us are now over twenty-three, except for Otto, and we know our mates aren’t among us. Not anymore.

It’s part of why our Ra’a needed this peace. We need more interactions with the other hordes, and the trade the Gold Horde does with the other nine is the key to getting that.

“Alright, alright,” Cyrus laughs. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 3

Sora

“Where’dyougo?”Finleyasks, tapping my temple. “This is my bachelorette party! We’re supposed to be having fun, not scowling like you just saw a cockroach.”

“Sorry.” I give my best friend a soft smile. “Jethro came to see me earlier.”

“Shit, he told you, didn’t he?”

“And he was right to do it.” I scowl at her. “How could you keep that from me?”

“I just didn’t want you to feel pressured into another marriage.”

“But what if the priests are wrong and I don’t just forget that you’re a dragon, but I forget you? What if—” Tearschoke my voice.

“Oh, hey.” She pulls me into her arms. “That won’t happen.”

“How do you know?”

“Because no fucking god or goddess is going to keep me from being your friend.”

My laugh is watery, but her smile is genuine, and for some unknown reason, I believe her. We’ve been through too much for me to forget her completely.

“I’ve looked at the old records of humans who’ve rejected their mates,” she adds. “They all seem to have maintained relationships with other humans who became dragons. You might not remember Jethro, but I’m confident you’ll remember me and my sister.”

I nod, swallowing down the seed of worry that persists.

“Do you think… What do you think you’ll do?” Finley chews on her bottom lip. She’s tried really hard not to convince me one way or the other, maybe too hard, considering she kept a big piece of information from me. She's biased, though. I know she wants me to accept Jethro. She's so happy with her fated mate, she assumes I will be too.

“I don’t know.” I guess I have one week to figure it out.

“It would be fun to be dragons together,” Finley tentativelysays.

“I know,” I sigh. That part of it isn’t what scares me.

I have no desire to be married ever again, and mating a dragon is essentially the most binding marriage ever. When I got divorced, I swore I’d only have one-night stands for a good long time.

My community growing up told me sleeping around would make me an undesirable slut who no one would want to marry. Marriage was the highest goal, the ultimate life purpose. Better not do anything to mess that up.

Well, I’ve been married, and all it made me feel was small.

I don’t need another man sucking me into his life and lies, wearing me on his arm like an accessory while fucking whoever he wants behind my back. Yeah, no thanks.

Not that I really think Jethro would do that, but I didn’t think Manny would either.

Yeah, I’m not getting married again. Even if they say they’re my fated mate.

Fated mate.A man who will suffer if I choose to stay single. Guilt rides me like a tick embedded in my scalp. Shame follows close behind. I’m being selfish. Again. Just as I was taught marriage was the highest aim, I was also taught selfishnesswas the greatest sin.

“I won’t bother you about it anymore. It’s your choice,” Finley says.

My choice. But is it really? If I choose to stay single, I’m hurting someone else. If I mate with him, I’m hurting my own fragile convictions.

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