Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Rimi looked at the crowd in amazement. “Thank you all. Elenore....” She had no idea what to say to the elderly woman.
“What the he… heck, Grandma.” Brooks corrected himself as he spoke.
“Brooks made me promise not to let anything raise my blood pressure. Whacking that scoundrel with the book seemed to be an effective way to solve two problems simultaneously. Oh, dragon feathers. That jerk’s hard head tore the binding.”
“We’ll find an expert to fix it, Grandma,” Brooks assured her, taking the heavy volume from her hands.
“We’ll need to. I trust the dragons will stick around for hundreds of more years. The future Battlefields will need to know their commitments,” Elenore said proudly. “Speaking of dragon assistance, Brooks, could you sweet-talk Rogan into going to pick up your cousin Amber and her family? She would be perfect as the next Guardian for our family.”
“Grandmother? What are you telling me? Is something wrong with you?”
“Heavens, no. At least nothing more than was wrong with me last week. Just planning ahead, Brooks.” When Elenore noticed everyone eavesdropping on their conversation, she added, “Oh, my. I’m interrupting the celebration. We’ll talk later.”
“We will,” Rogan assured her with a nod.
Their dragons had arrived with a flurry of commotion and worry, along with the volunteer authorities. The latter immediately secured Evan’s crew and their still unconscious boss. Elenore and that book packed a wallop.
“Are you okay, Snowflake?” Keres asked, wrapping his arms around her after everything settled back to a joyous celebration.
Rimi nodded and hugged him hard. “I’m okay. Wyverns protected us.”
“Of course they did. The pact was never designed to be a one-way street, but a symbiotic relationship where we take care of each other. That’s how Wyvern has survived all these years.”
Mom! Dad! I’ve found a horde that has an opening. Well, it’s the second one I’ve found. The first one was definitely more predatory than I wanted.
Slate? Are you okay? Rimi could sense an underlying sense of pain from her son even from the long distance away. Had that first horde hurt him? Her mom instincts jolted her into readiness to kick some dragon booty. Keres bristled beside Rimi. She patted his chest to calm her mate as the other dragons headed their way to find out what had put the black dragon on edge.
Wiser, but okay. I don’t need you to go ninja on them. I’m going slower with this second group.
Smart, Slate. There aren’t many new dragons born. Remember, they need you as much as you’d benefit from them.
Come home and visit? Rimi suggested.
Someday, Mom. Dad, take care of her, Slate requested with steel in his voice that made Keres smile.
Will do, Slate. Thanks for messaging us.
Slate? Rimi wanted to ask a million more questions, but her son had cut the connection.
Looks like we’ll have to make another one, Snowflake. I’m up for practicing.
Rimi blushed, remembering how good their lovemaking was together. When the mates laughed at her expression, she knew they had no doubt something intimate was going through her mind. Already, they knew her too well.
“Come on, Rimi. Let’s go get a slice of pizza. Angelino is cranking them out tonight,” Brooks suggested, taking her hand to tug her away from Keres. The others swarmed around her and they whisked her into the crowd.
Rimi smiled over her shoulder at Keres, who laughed at the mates’ antics. The other dragon shifters slapped him on the back, having fun as well. He was part of the horde. They hadn’t given up on him and wouldn’t now. Losing herself in the celebration, Rimi didn’t pause to compare her previous existence to her life now. Keres had rescued her, and she saved him. The creators of the pact between the dragon and Wyverns couldn’t have known the impact of their agreement. But the dragons would continue to protect the citizens from all forms of evil, no matter what happened in the future. Only the luckiest of the citizens would experience a fated mate bond.
Rimi spotted a lopsided dragon drawn on the back of a teenager’s hand as she leaned against a nearby pillar. The young woman watched the dashing male dragon shifters celebrating with their mates. Could a dragon shifter’s love await her in a few years?
Only if fate smiled upon her.