Page 6 of Dragon Rivals of New York

Finley adjusts the ridiculous tiara her sister Jeslyn forced her to wear, then grabs my hand. “Come on, let’s not think about it right now. Let’s dance.”

Two steps toward the dance floor, and I stop. Six men grab all of my attention. They grab everyone’s attention. I’ve been out with Midas and Cyrus before. The dragon king and prince have an aura about them that demands people look and take notice. But seeing six dragons together at one time is more than overwhelming.

Every person in the small club turns to look at them. One woman has the nerve to step a little closer, eyeing Jethro in a way that lights a fire in my gut. I want to scratch her eyes out for looking at him. Huh, that’s definitely a thought I’ve never had before. But I guess I’ve never seen him around another woman before.

“Cyrus!” Finley yells, launching herself at her fiancee.

But my gaze catches on the taller, broader man just behindJethro. All the air swoops out of my lungs. He’s even bigger than Jethro, which is saying a lot, since Jethro is built like a linebacker. But somehow he’s the polar opposite of Jethro, too. His hair is dark and cut close to his scalp, and he’s got a frown on his face that feels so natural I get the impression he always wears it.

He’s too far away to tell what color his eyes are, but there’s an intensity to his gaze that makes my knees weak. A flame sparks to life in the middle of his irises. I’ve seen Jethro’s eyes do that a few times. At first, I thought it was a trick of the light. But when I found out he’s a dragon, I learned it’s just a dragon thing. It happens most when they’re feeling strong emotions.

The man stops mid-stride, staring at me like I’m the only one in the room.

I’ve only felt an attraction this intense once before. With Jethro. Finley and Jeslyn have explained that it’s common between mates. So… why am I feeling this way about a new stranger?

“This is Kyro,” Jeslyn says, motioning toward the man I can’t stop staring at. “Otto and Damian.”

I pay no attention to the other two men as Kyro steps closer and holds out his hand to me. Before I can take it Jethro cuts between us and pulls out a chair for me. “Sit, Ara’ha.”

His voice is less playful than normal, eyes on the other manrather than me.

A growl rumbles Kyro’s chest. “She’s not your Ara’ha.”

The term is one I recognize. Jethro’s used it with me since that first night. He told me it’s an old dragon word for mate. He’s always liked how it sounds. I have to admit, the way it rolls off Jethro’s tongue is addictive. Almost as addictive as hearing the gruff, guttural way Kyro says it.

The massive new-comer steps up to Jethro, squaring off with the man who’s supposed to be my mate. Jethro crosses his arms in front of his wide chest. “And why not?”

My stomach sinks, sensing what’s about to come from the stranger’s lips.

His gaze sweeps to mine, a look of wonder on his face. “Because she’s mine.”

Shit.

The entire party is staring at us now. Yeah, there’s always doubt in a relationship, even a fated mate one. How am I supposed to know which man is telling the truth? Or could it really be possible for me to havetwofated mates?

“Dragons only have one mate,” Midas says, as if he’s making a law rather than stating one. Kyro stiffens and glares at the king of the Gold Horde.

“There’s never been a triad before.” Cyrus’s expression is thoughtful as he looks between the three of us, his arm still wrapped around Finley. The two of them were a surprise to everyone, too. Dragons don’t recognize their mates until the mate is twenty-three, but Cyrus knew Finley was his mate when she was seventeen. He had to wait years for her because no one thought it was possible for him to know when she was that young. Turns out things work a little differently when a dragon is mated to a human.

“Are you sure?” Jeslyn asks, looking between the three of us. It’s not clear if she’s asking Cyrus if he’s sure there’s never been a triad or Kyro if he’s sure I’m his mate. Or is she asking me?

The tense energy bouncing between the three of us makes me sweat. I’m not a dragon. I don’t have the same senses about these things that they do.

“I’m sure,” Kyro says plainly. His stance is confident and unwavering.

“I’ve been sure for the past year,” Jethro levels at the man. “Doubly sure when I had my cock—”

I backhand his chest and step in front of him when Kyro steps forward, looking like he’s ready to knock the living daylights out of Jethro.

“Dance with me,” I say to Kyro, unable to think of anythingelse to defuse the tension, and kind of wanting to get to know him. Not that dancing in a loud club is the best way to get to know someone.

His face falls. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“I can attest to that.” Finley raises her hand like one of my students and laughs.

“When did you dance with him?” I glare, hating the way my blood is boiling as much as it was when that woman was making eyes at Jethro.

“Woah, chill.” Her smile is a little too knowing. “It was last year. When Cyrus was being an ass.”

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