Page 39 of Surge of Storms

I have to say, I still don’t completely understand all this dragon business, but I’m trying to understand it. If I’m going to be a dragon, I need to do it right, and everyone knows that knowledge is power.

Hours pass as we fly back towards home. It’s strange how playful the dragons are, but maybe it’s because they were asleep so long. Zane and Irvyss take every opportunity to play in the water. They wrestle and fight, jumping on each other like children in a pool. Pegid, Radem, and Kodan soar straight up as high as they can go, then plunge back down. They do spins and tricks, while we look on in amusement.

Who knew dragons could be so much fun?Aydan asks.

Zane answers.Well, they are with large alpha dragons. They have nothing to fear right now, especially with Granger here. It is an honor amongst all dragons to be under the protection of a storm dragon.

No pressure at all, right?Granger jokes.

Sam circles around him.You’ll live up to the expectations. I know you will.

Up ahead, we spot our first view of the coast. We’re almost home. And then? Then, the real fun begins as we begin to balance things with a base full of strange dragons.

FOURTEEN

Samantha

It’s beendays of rounding up dragons, and I’m standing outside with my men next to me. Specter Inc. is busier than I’ve ever seen it before. In all directions, male dragons have shifted into naked human men, and the staff is helping guide them into this new life. Tables of food are set up in the grass, and the male dragons swarm them, eating their fill until they’re ready for the next step. Zane had made it clear that the way to a dragon’s heart was through his stomach, so if we wanted them calm and friendly, food needed to be in large supply.

But my favorite area was where they have tents set up for putting on clothes. The staff is doing their best to show them how to dress and what goes where, but half-naked dragons keep emerging from the tents, sometimes with underwear on their heads, other times with the shredded remains of clothes dripping off their forms. It’s hilarious.

I guess Zane isn’t the only dragon who hates clothes.

“So, what’s it like to be surrounded by male dragons?” Granger teases, but I suspect there’s a little jealousy underneath his words.

I flash him a smile. “Different. I don’t know what I expected, but none of them smell horrible, like Malikay and his dragons, but they don’t smell good either.”

“See any you want to add to your harem?” he asks.

I laugh and pull him into my arms, running my hands through his hair. “Absolutely not. The four of you are more than enough for me.”

Zane laughs too. “She would never choose a beta male. We have nothing to worry about with these tiny men.”

Granger looks a bit calmer. “Still, there’sa lotof dick here.”

“So much dick,” Aydan mumbles.

“There’s no safe place to look,” Evander adds on, gesturing at a guy who is currently scratching his sack.

Zane laughs again. “I forgot how strange you are about penises and toes. Your people must cover up every inch of flesh, for reasons no one knows.”

I pull out of Granger’s arms and kiss Zane. “You havenoidea how funny this whole thing is for us.”

Near us, two dragons bend over and their butts touch. Aydan and Evander flinch, and I start cracking up. Yup, I’m sure balls are on balls right there, but the dragon men don’t seem to care, so why should we?

Many of the dragon males look my way pretty regularly, but they avoid eye contact when our gazes meet. I’d be bothered, but I prefer this to Malikay and his gang. These dragons seem to be terrified to be near me. I wish the asshole dragons were.

Although I’m sure it doesn’t help that my men haven’t left my side.

“I should check on Miu soon,” Zane says, practically purring the cat’s name.

“How’s it going with her?” Granger asks.

The cat has started doing better, letting us pet her, letting us play with her, but she is a moody little thing, friendly one second and angry the next. I wonder if that’s just her personality, or if Zane can really “love” the moody out of her.

Zane lifts up a mangled hand. “Better. She just needs more time to warm up to me.”

Granger’s gaze darts from his hand to his face. “What makes you say she’s warming up to you?”

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