Love and Dragons

Chapter 1

Grrr, you nevers gives me want I want.

Zoran Reykill paused, his mind filled with a grumble of discontent that seemed to echo in his thoughts.

The words were so hushed that he questioned their existence, wondering if they were mere figments of his imagination.

Shaking his head in frustration, he narrowed his eyes and recentered his attention on the screen in front of him.

With a determined expression, he clenched his jaw and returned to the beginning, carefully scrutinizing the first paragraph of the report he had only managed to read halfway.

You never listens to me!

He let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head in annoyance.

He gently massaged his temple, trying to ease the tension that was building up.

Once again, his train of thought was abruptly interrupted by the grating voice, causing him to lose his focus.

As he pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration flooded his senses.

The throbbing along his brow steadily increased, intensifying the persistent sensation.

He dropped his hand back to his desk, leaned forward, and began reading the monthly financial report with unwavering concentration.

He only made it to the second line in the report before the sound of his dragon’s grumbling and loud sigh broke his concentration for the third time in less than a minute.

“What is it? Can’t you see that I’m trying to get this report finished?” he growled.

I want—

The pause intensified the throbbing in his head, making it feel like a relentless drumbeat.

The past week had been filled with his dragon's huffing, puffing, and erratic behavior.

It was driving him crazy! He had tried to drown out the cacophony of discontent bubbling within him.

His brother, Kelan, was incessantly pestering him for the financial reports from the previous month, adding to the pressure of his impending deadline.

The delay, which he had brought upon himself due to his procrastination, had escalated further with the sudden departure of his son, Zohar, just the previous day.

Zohar, Bálint, and Jabir had embarked on their first inaugural interplanetary journey without him and Abby alongside Vox and Roam.

He didn’t worry about the boys on a spaceship or being away.

His concern stemmed from the trouble that was inevitable with Vox around.

He couldn't ignore the mischievous gleam in the Sarafin King's eyes as he mentioned they would have an absolute blast. He hoped that Vox had used a metaphorical expression rather than a literal one.

At least James not with them.

Zoran chuckled at his dragon’s reflection. True… and Leo. That would have been a disaster.

With a deep sigh, he closed the screen in front of him, rose, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window that offered a breathtaking view of the palace's vast gardens.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to release the knots of tension that had built up.

Then, he tilted his head from side-to-side, feeling the satisfying cracks in his neck.

His attention was drawn to a movement in the gardens below, and a wave of tranquility washed over him.

Abby.

Abby looked up when her name whispered through his mind.

Her expression softened and her lips curved into a smile when she saw him standing in the window.

She was holding their two-year-old daughter, Aurora, in her arms. She leaned in close to Aurora's ear and whispered softly.

With a joyful expression, Aurora lifted her gaze towards the window, releasing a contagious giggle as she playfully waved her chubby hand towards him.

Zoran chuckled, a warm and jovial sound, as he raised his hand to return the wave.

Abby struggled to hold on to Aurora as she squirmed in her arms. Abby gently placed Aurora on the ground.

Aurora, with her boundless energy, was the epitome of a lively and innocent toddler.

He grinned as Aurora started walking towards him, but her attention quickly shifted when his mother and young sister, Morah, suddenly appeared.

He chuckled when he realized that he had already been forgotten as Aurora transformed into her dragon form and playfully bounded towards her grandmother and Morah.

He unconsciously released a soft, rumbling sigh, a mix of yearning and an unidentifiable emotion.

“What’s wrong, my friend?” he asked in a gentler tone.

I want do something special for my mate.

Zoran's brows furrowed in a deep frown. His dragon wanted to do something special for Abby? They flew weekly, occasionally even twice a week if they had the time and energy. What else could his dragon want?

“Like what?” he asked.

Something.

Something? That doesn’t give me a lot to go on, he dryly replied.

Something special.

Zoran pondered over the request his dragon had made, considering different ideas that might help his dragon feel better.

It dawned on him that ever since Aurora was born, life had become a monotonous cycle of balancing work and taking care of his family.

Time for flying was often limited for him and Abby, as they were frequently interrupted for one reason or another.

He lifted his hand and felt the steady thump of his heart beneath his fingertips.

Lost in the chaos of his daily routine, he acknowledged that he hadn’t given as much time to his dragon as he should have.

Did Abby’s dragon feel the same way? he wondered, staring down at his beautiful mate.

“You’re right. I think it’s time for you to do something special for your mate,” he murmured, watching the group disappear deeper into the garden with a thoughtful expression.