Page 54 of Surge of Storms

I sigh. “That’s wrong. Malikay is wrong. Do you know in all his lifetimes he’s never gotten a female dragon?”

He knows that. He’s an Awakened Dragon. He’s done this dance every lifetime with Malikay, and every lifetime they’ve failed, according to Zane. They have to realize how stupid continuing to do the same thing is. Hell, theyshouldbe reminding Malikay, since he doesn’t remember his past lives, and informing him that this needs to stop.

He stiffens. “Yes, but…”

“So, his method doesn’t work. None of the females like it. They don’t want dragons who steal mates and scare them, they want mates who are kind and gentle.”

“You would have me if I were… kind and gentle?”

Wow. This isn’t easy.“Not me. I have my harem.”

“Then, this is the only way.”

“No.” My mind is scrambling. “We are training dragons at our base to have an easier time in this new world. When the females awaken, we will bring them here to keep them safe. Over time, the females will get to know the males and perhaps choose some for their own harems. You could be one of those males, if you walked away from Malikay and the things he’s teaching you.”

“You will have more females here?”

“Yes.”

He looks thoughtful for a moment before his expression changes, and he says, “I shall have you, and you will see what a good mate I will make for you.”

As he reaches for me, I step back, suddenly nervous. But I don’t have to be. He jerks back a second later, and his gaze locks over my shoulder. I feel my men come to stand beside me before I even see them.

“Listen to her,” Zane says gently. “You have never had a female before because you follow Malikay and his like. You are in a bundle with rotten apples. They will only make you rotten too. This is a chance to separate from them and experience a good lifetime, maybe even one with a mate. Notmymate, but a mate.”

In response, Kek steps back and shifts back into a salmon dragon. Within seconds, Granger has separated from us and changed into the storm dragon. They face each other: a dragon less than half Granger’s size, and Granger, a massive beast humming with power.

The salmon dragon doesn’t even hesitate; he flies away. But I don’t take a deep breath until he disappears from view.

“Malikay has really brainwashed them, hasn’t he?”

Evander stares out after the dragon. “One thing they rarely tell you about evil people is how charming and charismatic they are. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be so dangerous.”

His words linger over all of us as Granger shifts back, and we head into the base. I wrap my arms around myself, the dragon’s words ringing through my head.They’re really never going to give up.

TWENTY

Granger

The colorsof the sunrise are lively and beautiful, oranges and reds dancing together, and yet, I don’t share their joyfulness. The events of the night before keep playing in my mind. I see Kek speaking to Sam. Speaking about her like she’s something to possess. An object without a mind of her own.

I replay the moment he came toward her, and feel his sense of ownership. He truly believes if he can just get his hands on her, she’ll belong to him, heart, body, and soul. No one should ever think they can own another person like that. Kek’s version of love is kidnapping and rape.How can he not see it?

And how can I live knowing that every moment those dragons draw breath, Sam is in danger? The notion fills me with rage unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. I truly want to be the badass dragon that everyone seems to think I am, so I can watch them burn.

Granger, Aydan says my name loudly in my mind.

I shake myself from my thoughts.What?

Whatever you’re thinking about, you need to stop.

Why?

Look around you, man.

I do, and it's the first time that I realize the clear sky has faded away, replaced by dark gray clouds, threatening to storm. Fuck. It happens so damn fast. This power is a blessing and a curse.

A storm dragon must always be aware of his thoughts,Zane says.Dark thoughts bring dark clouds.

---