Unexpected Mate (Dragon Goddess #2)
Chapter One
T he scent of blood was thick in the smoky haze of the battleground. Casualties of both sides lay broken on the ground, their lives over far too soon—all because of Draven’s greed. This battle had been fast yet devastating. Incredibly, my team had managed to take out half of Draven’s men, even though they were drastically outnumbered.
Levi and Luke’s wolves lunged and snapped at the men who were circled around them. Patches of their beautiful furs were missing and charred. Levi’s twisted back leg dangled uselessly, and the skin that hung open at Luke’s throat revealed the mangled muscles beneath. Could his wolf heal that? Would he be able to speak? Would he be able to join the wolves as they howled their beautiful, melancholy song to the full moon? I furiously blinked back tears as I turned to search out my other mates scattered through the extensive clearing.
Mithraheal stood on a heap of corpses. His eyes were feral and blood red. Long white fangs dripped blood as he dropped into a combat stance, clearly preparing for a last assault. His enraged hiss sent chills over my body. I knew that few who heard that sound survived to describe it. But even this powerful vampire showed signs of struggling after the savage battle, his speed barely better than that of a mortal. Dark blood seeped from lacerations that should have already healed. How had they weakened such a strong blood driven?
Damien stood back-to-back with another man, blades drawn and pointed at the men raising their weapons. His clothes hung in shreds, his skin oozed maroon blood. A dagger was embedded in his leg, another in his back at the base of his spine, and a third in his chest mere inches from his heart. It was clear he had defended the nameless man as best he was capable during the vicious attack.
I tried to catch a better view of the guy, but his face was obscured. Yet even without seeing his features, I knew. This was my fourth mate, and Damien had tried to protect him. My unknown mate’s arm hung limp at his side. An inch-wide gash traveled from his scalp to his jawbone, the skin gaping in some sections, the bone and cartilage beneath visible like some type of macabre Halloween makeup. Blood flowed in a continuous stream down his leg from a brutal knife wound on his thigh.
The few wizards from my unit that remained standing were in far worse shape than my guys. As the mercenaries closed in on them, they couldn’t even find the strength to lift their weapons or teleport themselves elsewhere.
I wanted to stand and rush forward to protect my men. I begged my exhausted power to return and give me a final surge of energy to end this before more good men lost their lives. It made no difference. My body was desperately trying to repair the damage I had suffered, but the internal trauma was extensive. They had shattered my ribs with the savage punches I hadn’t dodged fast enough. A piece of rib had pierced my right lung, leaving me struggling to draw in a breath. My beautiful wing lay broken across the ground beside me, rather than tight against my back like the other. The unnatural angle twisted my stomach and compelled me to look away.
In choked anguish I watched the mercenaries prepare to slaughter the last of my team, and my mates. I had failed them.
Ear-piercing screams roused me from my tumultuous sleep. My throat was raw, my vocal cords burning like I had swallowed acid. I realized with a start that it was me who was screaming. My wild blonde hair clung to my tear-soaked face. The sheets tangled around me, soaked with my sweat, and I desperately struggled to free myself from them. The memory of my nightmare came rushing back, bringing with it the feelings of absolute terror and bone crushing sorrow.
I needed air, but the harder I tried to draw in a breath, the tighter my lungs seized. They refused to expand. The burning in my chest became unbearable as my heart rate climbed, the muscles jerking hard with each beat.
“Shh. It was just a dream, you’re safe.”
Levi’s voice washed over me with compassion. As Mithraheal finished untangling my body from the sheets that had threatened to strangle me, I sucked in lungfuls of air. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into the safety of Levi’s embrace. I pressed myself against him. My skin was still tacky from my tears and perspiration, and I felt our skin stick together … something I would have found hilarious if I hadn’t found such comfort in the feel of his skin pressed so tightly against my own.
He was alive. It was just a stupid dream created by my stressed out mind. The gruesome scenes from the nightmare continued their cruel playback over and over. Great wracking sobs shook my torso, clattering my teeth together. Too much anguish, too much pain. I couldn’t lose my mates.
Mithraheal moved in closer until his body pressed against my back, his arms encircling us, sandwiching me between him and Levi. An unusual gesture of affection since my men rarely touched each other. His cool skin against my feverishly hot skin was like paradise on earth, and my heart slowed its out-of-control rhythm.
I choked on a sob when I felt a warm, wet lick on my thigh. The weight of Luke’s massive wolf head quickly followed as he nudged his way into the embrace and dropped his head against my abdomen. When his silky fur brushed against my skin I tried not to picture the horrific images of his beautiful coat matted in blood. He whimpered, the sound powerful enough to vibrate my insides. I slipped my hand to his nape and plunged my fingers deep into his thick fur. I clutched him so tightly I worried I might hurt him, but my fingers refused to uncurl.
I never wanted them to move. I never wanted them to leave. They must have sensed this because once my breathing and heart rate were normal, and my sobs had turned into hiccups, Levi scooted us off the bed. Mithraheal quickly ripped off the sweat-saturated sheets that smelled of my terror. Moving with his vampire speed, he spread a large blanket across the mattress. Apparently no one wanted to waste time remaking the bed. Levi laid down in the middle of the bed on his back, gently stretching me out on top of him and never breaking our skin to skin contact.
The bed creaked and groaned as Luke’s wolf jumped up. He promptly moved to Levi’s side, squeezing in tight so my body was pressed against as much of him as possible. I threaded my arm around his neck, trying to hug him to me as my fingers stroked his fur.
Mithraheal’s face flashed in front of my own. He hadn’t even made a sound as he joined us in the bed. His fingertips were featherlight as they moved the hair from my face. The movement of his fingers tracing every curve of my face was tender instead of sensual. Slowly, he captured my lips with his own. The kiss was soft and sweet; a gentle reminder of his love. To my shock, he settled next to Levi, close enough that his arm could snake around my body. They surrounded me with their reassuring touch as I sank back into sleep.
I forced the awful nightmare from my head, determined to not think of it again.