Page 39 of Dragon Flames
—just in time to see a massive mouth descend. Fangs bigger than I am tall gleam in the dim light, and a wave of heat ripples in the air.
Before I can do so much as blink, it snatches the wolf out of midair. There’s a sharp yip of pain, then a splatter of blood, a crunch of bones, then the beast swallows. I can’t help but wonder if he’ll get indigestion.
When the creature lifts its head, I realize it isn’t a beast, but an honest-to-fucking-goodness dragon.
Bright blue eyes gaze down at me, the color shimmering like flames.
Familiar eyes.
“Preston?!” I breathe his name, my eyes feeling too wide as I stare up at him in awe.
He’s absolutely colossal…and simply gorgeous, his blue scales almost glittering under the light. The dragon very gently lowers his head toward the ground. His pupils constrict into narrow slits, the blue color gently swirling like the crystal-clear waves of a beach as he patiently awaits my judgment.
That’s when I notice the silence.
I jerk my head up and discover the rest of the room is now empty except for the rubble littering the floor, the building barely standing.
All except for the three dragons gazing down at me.
I should be fucking terrified, but a sense of calm sweeps over me now I know my males are alive and whole.
Safe.
Curls of smoke rise from the black one with dark eyes that whirl like shadows. I would recognize Darius no matter what form he took. I glance at the green dragon, awed at his massive size and the way his scales glimmer like jewels in the sun, and just as stunning.
My beast purrs her approval at seeing our males in their primal forms.
Mates who will protect and keep us safe no matter what the future brings.
I lean down and press my lips to Preston’s scales, the heat of him tingling against my skin, then I run my hands over the warm, stone-like texture of his scales as I straighten.
I turn to face the other two, and I’m immediately enveloped in the strong arms of Darius, the scent of fire and ash surrounding me. Still pissed at him, I pull away…only for him to tighten his grip on me, his hands clutching my hair.
“Just give me a moment,” he grumbles against my neck, releasing a shuddering breath. “Please.”
Thepleaseis barely a breath of air, and only then do I realize he’s trembling. Against my will, I soften, a little disturbed to have this strong, indomitable man unraveling in my arms. It triggers my protective instincts, and I wrap my arms around him.
Once I touch him, my anger melts away as I remember that all three of my mates could’ve been seriously injured. I lean back and smack his arm. “Don’t youeverdo that again! You and the others rushed into a situation without proper backup. You could’ve been hurt. What do you think happens to a female who’s lost her mates?”
His expression softens as he gazes down at me, his eyes heating in a way that nearly makes me swallow my tongue. I step back and scowl back at him. I refuse to be swayed from my anger. “What are you doing? Stop that. I’m still mad at you.”
“That’s the first time you’ve admitted that we’re your mates.” His voice is a low, sexy rumble, his eyes intent as he stalks my every move like a hunter shadowing his prey.
A spark lights up my body at his blatant lust, no longer curbed and hidden by good manners. A flush heats my cheeks as my beast lifts her head, and a wave of hunger rolls through me. The beast wants to claim her males, so no one will dare try and take what’s theirs again.
I battle the impulse, shaking my head to banish the irrational thought, and carefully back away. “I should see to the women. They’ll need—”
“I will handle them,” Preston interrupts, waving me away. “I know the proper channels. I know who to trust to make sure they’re safe and not handed back to their families.”
I had been so distracted by Darius that I missed when the other two changed back to their human forms or where they found sweats. Despite being disappointed that I missed watching them shift, my shoulders wilt in gratitude at his offer. “Thank you! I should help—”
“I will handle the attendees.” Elias bows, determination brightening his eyes, the light hitting his blond hair until it gleams. “I promise you, they will be punished in the ways of the dragon.”
“The dragon way?” I tip my head, eager to learn more about my dragon ancestry.
“The pursuit of justice and vengeance—we maintain the balance among the other races. When a problem arises that they can’t solve, they call us.” Elias shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“And you never thought to investigate the missing women?” My question is sharp, but I refuse to apologize. I don’t understand how no one noticed or cared when hundreds of women went missing.
