Dragon My Crazy (Possessive Monsters #12)

Chapter 1

Elana

I adjusted the décolletage of my dress again, trying my damndest to ignore the dozen or so pairs of eyes latched onto me like leeches on a fresh wound.

You know that saying, “if looks could kill”?

Well, their looks could actually kill, considering they were all super-powerful wizards. They were also my ex-husband’s buddies.

Despite having been invited for the last decade or so, this was my first time actually attending the Monsters his jaw was clenched so hard I half-expected to hear his teeth crack.

I turned slowly, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wineglass. The air thickened, charged with tension that made my skin prickle.

Dragons. Always so damn territorial.

“What happened to staying out of my territory, Emmett?” The edge in Desmon’s voice was unmistakable.

Emmett just grinned. “And how is my dear brother doing?” His gaze flicked to Carly, Desmon’s mate, his smile widening. “And my beautiful sister-in-law?”

A wisp of smoke curled from Desmon’s nostrils, but Carly, ever the diplomat, placed a hand on his arm, and the smoke stilled.

“We are doing wonderful as always,” she said, her voice warm but firm. “And how are you?”

Emmett’s grin didn’t waver. “Good. Good.” His eyes gleamed, sharp as any predator’s. “Especially now that my daughter has finally arrived.”

Daughter? The egg had hatched!

I squeezed Meera’s hand, and she squeezed right back.

A few months ago, Meera had shown up at the estate with a live dragon egg she’d rescued from illegal underground trading.

Since Desmon hadn’t wanted Carly to get attached to it in case the rightful dragon parents wanted their egg back, I’d been the one to care for it.

The egg generated its own heat but still needed physical contact to grow strong and healthy.

I’d spent so much time with it that I’d secretly cried when Desmon returned the egg after finding out that Emmett was the rightful owner.

Graham, Meera’s gargoyle mate, was suddenly there, standing between Emmett and Meera, a mix of protectiveness and jealousy plain on his face.

I didn’t blame him. Emmett had once asked Meera to join him and raise his child with him.

But it was clear to everyone who knew her that Meera was madly in love with Graham and she’d never even entertained the option.

Emmett chuckled at the surly gargoyle’s arrival. “Great, both of you are here, so I don’t need to say it twice. I was hoping you’d consider being Melantha’s godparents. You were both paramount in getting her home to me.”

Oho! Now that was an interesting turn of events. Both Meera and Graham were shocked but accepted gracefully.

“Wonderful. I’ll contact you to arrange a visit soon.” And that was when the dragon turned to me. “And you are the mother of Desmon’s wizard, are you not?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. He already knew the answer; we’d met several times, so why go through the charade of asking the question? Emmett was up to something, I just knew it.

“Yes?” I said tentatively.

His voice dropped to a low purr, and suddenly the air between us felt almost suffocating. A frisson shot up my spine as he leaned in closer.

“Mmm, yes. I can taste the magic rolling off you.”

His gaze locked onto mine, and a predatory gleam filled his green eyes, turning them a molten gold for a single heartbeat.

My skin prickled with awareness, and my brain screamed for me to run.

It almost felt like he was sizing me up.

The question was, was I prey? Or was I a treasure for his hoard? Or maybe both.

Combined with his words about my magic, it couldn’t possibly be a good thing. I’d spent my life being used by men whose only interests in me were my body and my magic. Dragons were no different. Probably worse.

I was old now so it couldn’t be the first.

His next words hit me like a fireball to the face. “You shall help me raise my youngling.”

What. The actual. Fuck.

My jaw hit the floor, and as I gathered it back up, my shock turned to contempt. I was facing yet another man thinking they could tell me what to do. I thought not.

“Excuse me? What happened to asking nicely?”

The smug dragon’s smile faltered for half a second. “I am a dragon. I do not need to ask. You shall be Melantha’s governess.”

Oh, hell no. As much as I wanted to meet this little dragon whom I’d cared for as an egg, I wasn’t planning on kowtowing to this uppity dragon’s demands. How dare he order me around like some magical nanny?

I was rather proud of myself at the cackle that spilled from my lips. It sounded downright unhinged, like straight-up villainess material. “I shall be no such thing.”

Emmett must not be used to mere mortals telling him no, because the look on his face was priceless.

I wished I had the foresight to snap a photo with my phone.

If he thought I was just going to roll over and accept everything he said because he was an oh-so-powerful dragon, then he had a big surprise coming.

Desmon’s hand landed on the table hard enough to make a point. “Get out of here, Emmett.”

Emmett’s grin returned, a look of smug satisfaction. “Nice catching up with you too, Desmon. Until next time.”

And just like that, he was waltzing back to his table, and I was able to breathe again.