Chapter 1
Brooks had discovered that gatherings had become the norm in Wyvern these days. Sheltered together from the craziness he’d experienced himself outside the protective mountain ring around the ancient city, the Wyverns had grown closer as they had to work together to survive. These town-wide celebrations were a uniting break from hard labor.
He glanced around, looking for people he recognized. A drawback from being away for so long, he struggled to match the young friends from his memory with the older faces around him. When he caught sight of Skye, he headed her way. He’d like to make sure she was as happy as she appeared.
“Hey, Skye. Can I join you? I’ve been wondering how you are.”
He smiled at the group as they glanced up. To his delight, Skye nodded enthusiastically and patted the ground near her.
“Brooks, I’m glad you’re here,” Lalani greeted him. She was a familiar face as well. His grandmother loved the dragon’s mate and met with her often.
Settling between the two women, Brooks caught up with the latest news. Skye, as usual, didn’t say much. He was tickled when she cared enough to ask him anything.
“You’re staying in Wyvern?”
“It’s safe here. There’s a lot to do, so I can keep busy. I’ve been working on the passageways under the old town. I’m feeling like a tunnel rat. My grandmother insisted I come today to interact with people,” Brooks shared, before shaking his head and adding, “I hate to say, I’m getting itchy to travel around. I’m not used to hanging around the same place.”
“Your grandmother is so happy to have you here,” Lalani observed.
“I know. I’m not climbing the walls yet. Just trying to decide what to do long term,” Brooks assured her.
Skye patted Brooks on the shoulder. Immediately, two warning growls made him freeze and raise his hands to show he was harmless. Ardon and Oldrik were obviously very protective of their mate. He watched the blue dragon claim Skye, placing her on his lap.
Brooks chose the wisest move when dealing with a jealous dragon. He excused himself and shifted to the other side of Lalani. Keeping his eye on Skye, he suspected they were talking mentally. She seemed thrilled with her mates. Brooks was pleased for her.
Like something that special would ever happen for him.
A tune Skye hummed under breath sparked interest as almost everyone recognized it. Brooks had always called it the Ode to Wyvern. It was a song all Wyverns learned as a child. Ciel began to sing, and the group joined her, including the dragons. Suddenly the words took on true meaning. Chills went down Brooks’s spine.
Wyvern. Oh, Wyvern, we reached you in a battered state.
Will your mountain barriers guard us from those who hate?
Seeking sanctuary, the families dared to make a deal.
Winged creatures and Guardians allowed us to heal.
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
Engrave their names in stone for all to celebrate.
Never ever forget the ones predestined as mate,
For the fiery beasts, while fierce, are honor bound.
Each match creates Wyvern’s protected ground.
All hail those who are selected!
All hail those whose fate is sealed!
“It’s about us. About all those fated to join with dragons,” Aurora said, with tears springing to her eyes.
“I’ve heard that a thousand times and never stopped to understand the meaning of the lines,” Ciel said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Wringing her hands, Lalani requested, “Teach it to me. I want to memorize this as well.” Brooks realized she’d missed learning this from her birth family.
Of course, they sang it with Lalani until she was confident she’d remember it. The chills remained as they rehearsed the tune. Finally, Lalani requested to try it on her own. Her beautiful alto voice was hesitant at first but gained strength and confidence.
He held his breath as Skye sang with her. The combination of the two voices was magical. Time seemed to stop in its tracks. When the last note faded away, a large man walked toward the gathered group, clapping his powerful hands together.
“How many freaking dragon shifters are there?” Brooks wondered. That had to be a dragon. He was massive.
Politely, the crowd joined in his applause. Brooks suddenly didn’t care about anyone else. Something kept him focused on the dragon. He was magnetic simply standing there. Why on earth did Brooks have the urge to touch him? Brooks lost track of everything going on when the dragon stopped and lifted his nose to capture a scent in the air.
Unable to stop himself, Brooks stood. The dragon shifter focused his entire attention on Brooks, who tried to stand his ground, not understanding what was happening to him.
Come. I am Rogan. And you are temptation incarnate.
Brooks’ feet moved as if by their own accord toward the shifter. When he stood in front of the magnetic dragon, Brooks couldn’t resist lifting his hand to brush away the red lock of hair that had fallen over the newcomer’s forehead. An audible sizzle and a burning pain on the back of his hand didn’t distract Brooks from the triumphant gleam in the shifter’s eyes.
“Mine.”
Exhausting all his willpower, Brooks pulled his gaze away from the dragon’s. He checked out his hand. The skin was vaguely red, but the shape hadn’t formed yet. He knew it would. Brooks had lived with his grandmother for too many years before setting off to find adventure.
“The Battlefield family. I was not aware they had a potential mate,” Rogan stated before suggesting, “We appear to be the center of attention. May I take you somewhere private where we can talk?”
“Brooks?”
Pulling his attention away from Rogan, Brooks focused on his grandmother’s proud face. “Hi, Grandma. Meet Rogan.”
“I have met the red dragon many times. He is very honorable. The Battlefield family is honored to provide you with a mate, Rogan.” Eleonore recited the traditional words of the founding family’s guardian.
“My thanks to the Battlefield family. I will guard and protect not only Wyvern and your family, but my treasured mate for all his life,” Rogan responded, power and commitment ringing from his words.
Rogan turned to press his hand to the small of Brooks’s back. Brooks stifled a moan of delight as the impact of Rogan’s touch struck him. He’d never experienced anything like that sensation of complete rightness blended with sexual heat. Rogan struggled to control his body’s reaction.
Our connection is strong, mate. I will help.
Brooks’s shoulders settled back down into place as something like a blanket settled over the fire growing inside it. It didn’t smother it. That sensual attraction still simmered, but at a level he could handle in public.
Shaking his head in amazement and relief, Brooks met Rogan’s gaze. Thank you. He waited to see the dragon’s reaction.
Rogan shook his head. I can’t hear you yet, Brooks. Soon, our connection will be stronger. I will fly us to a neutral spot away from the crowd so we can talk.
Glancing over his shoulder at the mates behind him who chattered happily as they watched how he and Rogan interacted. Was he part of them now? Rogan needed to do this away from observers. “Let’s go.”
“I will step away and change. Stay close. The bond will remain tight between us.”
In a few seconds, Brooks stood close to a freaking dragon. Sure, Keres, the black dragon, had carried him in his claws. That, he never wished to repeat. He’d screamed inside a million times as Keres had swooped through the skies. If the dragon had relaxed his hold for a split second, Brooks would have tumbled to a very excruciating death.
At that thought, he took a step back, only to be speared with a jolt of pain that shook Brooks to the core. His eyes closed as his body automatically dropped to a fetal position to protect himself. What the hell? The ground rumbled below his feet as the pain receded.
Mate. Our bond is tight. Are you okay?
Brooks forced himself to open his eyes and had to steel himself not to retreat again. Gorgeous red eyes the size of platters were inches away from him. The pain had receded when the dragon stood close. What would such a glorious beast feel like? He scrambled to his feet.
Curious, he reached out to run his hand over the dragon’s scales and saw Rogan close his eyes in delight. That obvious delight from his touch helped Brooks’s heart stop pounding in his chest. Feeling braver, Brooks stroked over the beast’s jawline and heard what sounded like a rumble in his mind.
“You purr?”
Of course not. Ask me something with your mind.
You purr?
Still a no. Are you ready to go for a ride?
You won’t let go? Brooks wanted, no needed, to check.
Let go?
Keres flew me, Skye, and Derek back to town.
A blast of anger made Brooks flinch. My apologies, mate. Keres did not know you were a mate. He would have treated you with greater care if he had.
A shadow passed over them, making man and beast look up. The black dragon landed a distance away and dipped his wings before shifting to go talk to the others. He did not approach them.
Climb up on my back, Brooks. Hold on to my neck. Rogan bent his front leg to provide a step for Brooks.
Unsure how to not hurt the dragon, Brooks hesitantly followed his directions. He must have been thinking too hard about being careful, for laughter sounded in his brain.
You are precious, mate. I can survive direct blasts of fire. You will not damage my scales.
You’re eavesdropping. I’m sure you’d rather I be cautious than rip scales out. Brooks didn’t enjoy being the source of amusement for the dragon.
My apologies, mate. I didn’t mean to offend you. You’re enchanting. I appreciate your wish to care for me. I feel the same way.
Made it, Brooks announced as he settled into place. He wrapped his arms around the dragon’s neck.
Then we go.
The dragon’s bulk below him tensed, and the powerful creature launched himself into the air. Brooks tightened his arms and pressed his face to the side of the dragon’s neck to lessen the wind whipping around him. When he dared to open his eyes, the view astonished Brooks. Sitting here contrasted entirely from dangling within the claws of the black dragon.
Warm reassurance emanated from the dragon, calming his nerves and smoothing out the fear he remembered. This was awesome. As they passed over the city center, he noticed all the people waving. The dragons had helped so much since the loss of technology. The citizens honored them once again and sought their aid and protection.
Scanning the ring of mountains in front of him, Brooks asked, Which one is yours?
The red one, of course. I will land at the base, and we can talk.
A roar sounded behind them. Brooks turned as one with the dragon to spot what came up behind them. A huge black beast powered by thunderous flaps of his wings. Keres.
Hold on tight, Brooks. Change of plans.
He didn’t have to tell Brooks twice. Hopefully, he wasn’t strangling Rogan as the dragon increased his speed and altitude. They raced through the air toward the top of the mountain before them. Brooks could see a faint redness of the exposed soil in scattered spots. It loomed ahead of them.
An abrupt roll to the left caught Brooks by surprise, and he used his muscles in his legs and arms to cling to Rogan. A blast of pure heat flamed by where they had just been. Rogan didn’t return the attack. Brooks knew without him, the dragon would have met Keres straight on. He was a liability.
Never! Hold on. I have a secret.
Brooks didn’t think he could plaster himself closer, but he tried. A wall of water loomed in front of them. Rogan flew straight toward the cascade and the rock face. The dragon’s nose disappeared into the water. Brooks took a quick breath as the water swallowed Rogan’s massive head. The deluge over his head made him close his eyes.
Then a wave of heat rolled over his skin. Brooks’ eyelids flipped open to see Rogan flying through an open circle of flame. Instinctively checking behind him, he saw the fiery entrance narrow to hug the dragon’s scales after Brooks had passed through. The dragon’s muscles bunched as he put on the brakes. Brooks turned around to see a solid slab of stone loom in front of them. There wasn’t time to scream. Figuring this was it, Brooks turned his face into the dragon’s scales.
Brooks. You’re safe. Keres can’t reach us here.
Brooks forced his hands to relax before sitting up. “I’m never flying on a dragon again.” He was done.