Page 14 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

“It has to be another dragon family,” Saul Taufua said. “Have there been any new reports of births outside our territories? Asia? Africa? Anywhere?”

“No.” I rested my arms on the table, feeling the weight of this dilemma sit heavy on my shoulders. For years I’d studied the population problem and I still hadn’t been able to solve it.

Each generation saw fewer and fewer fated mate pairs necessary for breeding. For the past two centuries, there’d been no new dragons born.

While it was always rare to birth a dragon, this recent development was further proof that Earth no longer wanted our help. We were dying long before She deemed it so.

“There were rumors of a human and dragon pregnancy,” Margret said quietly. “But it didn’t come to pass.”

“It wouldn’t,” I agreed. “We couldn’t survive if humans were our fated mates. They die too soon. We’d have already been wiped out as a species if our hearts passed when theirs did. And even if it were possible for a human to breed with a dragon, chosen mates aren’t the solution. We’ve tried.”

Humans weren’t the only species we’d studied chosen bonds with, but those others were few and far between due to our special… equipment.

Shifters were more accommodating to our bodies in their sexual human form, but our monstrous size in animal form set us apart and made relationships difficult.

To this day, there’d only been a few fated mate pairs outside our species and they were mostly for female dragons. Interspecies breeding had special challenges.

I hated to admit that gye-lyongs still made me shiver, though I’d sent the last chicken shifter father and dragon mother a baby shower gift a few centuries ago.

For other dragon clans, that might not be a big deal, but guardians needed size and strength to fulfilltheir prophesied role. Because without them, there was nothing to keep Earth in check.

Like now.

The compound groaned as the tectonic plates beneath the foundation shifted. The reinforced concrete and steel framework absorbed the movement of the earthquake.

I’d helped design and erect this building myself, needing it to be strong enough to protect my hoard, so I didn’t worry about it falling.

But the dragons around me sat wide-eyed and stone-faced as if a spirit had entered the room.

“Why has She forsaken us?” Daniel asked. He was ancient—older than my parents would be if my father had survived the death of his fated mate—but he looked so childlike in his pain.

I held none of that innocence.

It was a bitter root that’d taken hold in my soul, twisting and squeezing as it grew.

I’d been Her steward, devoting most of my existence to helping my family ease Her through the never-ending fires and turbulence that flowed from the heart of this planet.

Always gentle. Always guiding. Lonely in this service. We’d given Her everything.

Yet She punished us.

Finally, I understood Malachy’s rage.

But it was too late.

“We’re not to blame,” I spoke to the representatives, feeling the comforting weight of my dragon’s wings settle on my back as I recalled Lucan’s words. It was time to let this go. “Earth does what She wants, and She apparently no longer needs our help.”

“You’re just going to roll over and accept that?” Cain growled. “Not the MacAlisters. We’re dragons. Superior to any species. It’s our birthright to—”

“It’s your pride that will be your downfall.” I stood. My beast exerted enough dominance to remind Cain of his place at my table.

He hissed through clenched teeth, “And you are not without fault,” but he lowered his eyes in submission.

I didn’t let the comment rile my beast further.

It wasn’t worth the fight.

My job was done. They’d been told the truth and given time to prepare. I could rest in peace.

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