Page 53 of Surge of Storms

To my surprise, after a moment, Evander reaches over and smacks my ass. “Now, when this mission is over… the four of us are more than willing to service you in any way you like.”

“Promises, promises,” I say, but I’m smiling.

We go back to staring at the shiny pile of solar panels. My fingers drum on the bottom of the tent, and I wiggle around, feeling restless. And, okay, a little horny.

“You know, you boys could stand to get me shiny things. That’s apparently what I need.”

“More jewelry has already been ordered,” Evander says, amused.

I squeal. “For real?”

“We all picked it out together,” he admits.

I grin at all of them. I was kind of teasing, but it’s nice that they know what I need, even if I sometimes don’t. “My hoard of treasure is just beginning.”

Granger laughs. “You’ll need plenty of gold and suits of armor.”

“It’ll be like a real-life quest in one of our games. Anyone who tries to take my hoard will be burned to a crisp by the ferocious dragons that guard the treasure.”

Granger sighs. “I miss video games.”

I sigh too. “Video games are so nice.”

Evander looks at us. “Okay, so now I need to add gaming computers to your list of wants?”

I grin. “Only if you love me.”

Evander chuckles and leans over to kiss me. It starts out as a light kiss and then deepens and deepens. When he finally breaks away, he says, “Fuck it… maybe we should–”

“He’s here!” Zane exclaims.

We all turn to the solar panels. I’m about to say I don’t see him when I catch movement in the sky. The little dot comes closer and closer until the salmon dragon appears. He’s carrying another solar panel, which he gently drops onto the pile. Then he lands on the ground and shifts into a naked man with long, brown hair.

I take a deep breath and slide out of the tent as the man inspects the pile on the ground, sniffing around, probably hoping to catch my scent. To see if I’d taken an interest in his offering. I’m not exactly nervous. My men are right behind me, they won’t let anything bad happen to me, so this isn’t a risk. Still, I feel uneasy. But I guess I’d be crazy not to.

“Hello, Kek,” I greet him.

He spins around, squatting in a warrior’s stance before he spots me and rises to his full height. “Female.” His head cocks, and I get the sense he’s scenting the others. “Alphas.”

I nod. “I waited out here because I wanted to talk to you.”

He cocks his head. “Why? To mate?”

I shake my head quickly, taking a step back. “No. Just to talk.”

He draws himself up taller. “My pack would make a fine harem. We are four dragons strong and we will get you with child.”

“Here’s the thing: I’m not interested. I have my own harem. I have men I love dearly. There’s nothing you, or your pack, can say to get me to make you my harem. You need to accept that and figure out a different purpose in life.” I draw in a deep breath, then keep going. “I wanted to talk to you because I want to make it clear that the violence and destruction needs to stop. It’s pointless and terrible. You can do better things with your life.”

He studies me. “Eventually, you will see we are strong and mighty. Or, we will find a weakness in your harem and take you for our own.”

It’s like talking to a damn door.“Is that what you want? To steal a female who doesn’t want you?”

For a second, he looks worried. “You will learn to want us. When you see how well we care and provide for you and our young.”

“No,” I say. “I will never learn to want you. Stealing me would make me hate you. All this violence and destruction is making me hate you. This has to stop. If you want the chance to find a female, a different female, your behavior has to change. Females don’t want males who act like you.”

Kek shakes his head. “Malikay said that what we are doing will show you. That as long as you are with your alphas, you will not see our potential, but if we get you away from them, you will be happy with us.”

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