Dragon Protectors: Shifter Romance Collection

by Lola Gabriel

  “No,” Sawyer replied. “That’s not true.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Northmen have a witch,” she went on. “Her name is Cerys, and she transforms certain mortals into dragons, but they must have the right gene.”

  “What gene is that?” Anders asked skeptically, not wanting to crush her hopes but highly doubting that Sawyer had found a solution to a centuries’ old problem. But why? Why does that surprise you? She kills dragons. She’s more powerful than immortals.

  “Don’t laugh, okay?” Sawyer glanced up at him, water droplets falling into her earnest brown eyes.

  “I would never.”

  “Royalty,” she answered. “If someone has royal blood, they can be changed.”

  “Why would I laugh at that?” Anders demanded.

  “Ruby says I carry the gene,” Sawyer told him. “She saw it in my palm.”

  “I’m not surprised in the least,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her lips sweetly. “You will always be my queen.”

  “Maybe your dragon queen,” she murmured, placing her head on his chest to hear his heart beating through his shirt.

  “Are you sure this is something you want to do? I mean, I’m fairly sure it can’t be undone. Unless, of course, you have found someone who does that, too.”

  Sawyer slapped his chest. “Don’t mock me, Anders.”

  “I am doing the furthest thing from mocking you, Sawyer!” he chuckled, his grip on her tightening. “I am awed by you like I have never been by anyone in my life. You take my breath away.”

  She chuckled. “Yes,” she said. “I’m sure I want to do this. Why should you guys be the only ones allowed to live forever?”

  “Touché.” Anders said. “So, what’s next? Do you want to come to New York, or should I relocate to Nashville?”

  “That depends… Can I bring my dog to New York?”

  “Of course,” Anders said as a smile spread across his lips at her simple request. He felt his body respond to her closeness as it always did, a surge of heat rushing toward his crotch. She arouses every part of me, mind, body and immortal soul. “You know what dragons really like to do?” he whispered.

  “What’s that?”

  “Have dirty sex in muddy, rainy fields.”

  Sawyer laughed. “I think I’m going to really enjoy being a dragon,” she joked, grabbing his rear and thrusting her hips against his.

  “I can’t wait.”

  And Anders realized that he meant it. The thought of living another day without Sawyer was insurmountable.

  He wanted his dragon queen.

  Misty Woods Dragons Epilogue

  The blow to his face was stunning and defeating, the boxer falling to the ring in an unceremonious and unmoving pile. Nora gritted her teeth, turning her head slightly as a spray of blood seemed to spill, slow motion from the opponent’s gaping mouth. His mouthguard turned pink with the punch, and the crowd roared in approval.

  That’ll do it, she thought grimly, resisting the urge to bolt from her chair and escape what she was witnessing. After the violence she had seen, it was still difficult to watch Ansel fights, even though they were consensual and sponsored.

  “TKO for Ansel Williams!” the master of ceremonies intoned through the speakers and Nora exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath for a long while. All around her, the din was deafening and causing her head to pound.

  Slowly, her husband lifted his head and locked his eyes on hers, a lazy grin appearing on his face.

  It’s over, he told her silently. I’m officially retired.

  Nora was certain she had never felt a greater feeling of relief, even after escaping Jerome. Now, they could return to their life in Chelsea, living like normal people in the upscale English neighborhood without the constant feeling of sick which embraced her when she was forced to watch the gruesome displays of medieval torture the men inflicted upon one another in the ring.

  Are you sure you have dragon blood?

  The question was wry, and for a moment, Nora thought Ansel had asked, but it was her own thought.

  She was the gentlest dragon that ever was.

  “Come on, Nora,” Louis urged from her side. “Let’s get back to his dressing room before we get mobbed in.”

  Nora nodded at the old trainer and allowed herself to be whisked toward the back of the arena as the onlookers rose to swarm the ring in congratulatory fashion.

  “How do you feel?” Louis asked when they made their way into the confines of the staging area, away from the noise.

  “Relieved,” Nora confessed. “I know that’s probably selfish but…”

  “It’s not easy being the wife of a boxer,” Louis replied, smiling warmly at her. “The constant fear that your husband will come home permanently damaged.”

  Nora couldn’t tell him that was the least of her concerns. Nothing could hurt her husband. Ansel had proven that firsthand. She simply did not have the stomach for the blood, not anymore.

  “You must be happy to be rid of him, too,” Nora joked, collapsing onto the loveseat and staring at the man.

  “I will never be rid of him,” he answered sincerely and Nora knew that was true. Louis had been a permanent fixture in Ansel’s life, a father figure to him when King Rui had cut him off from Misty Woods.

  The door opened and the noise from outside spilled into the back room as Ansel slipped inside, his eyes shining with warmth and happiness.

  “All done!” he cheered and Nora jumped up to embrace him, kissing his mouth warmly as he wrapped his well-toned arms around her waist.

  Nora melted against his sweating, excited body, feeling the race of his heart through his chest.

  The kiss went on so long, Louis had to clear his throat in embarrassment, and the couple reluctantly pulled apart, staring at one another with adoration.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Ansel announced, reluctantly pulling back to wipe his still-damp brow with the towel slung around his neck.

  “You do?”

  Ansel glanced at Louis who grinned.

  “I’ll be right back,” Louis stated, apparently noting his cue. He disappeared into a sea of waiting reporters outside the dressing room door who were just waiting to speak two words with the new world champion.

  “Ansel, we’re going to be late,” Nora chided him softly. “And you know how your father hates being left waiting.”

  “He’ll have the others distracting him,” he chuckled. “Anyway, we’ll fly over there soon. I want to show you something first.”

  “Ansel, we have worked very hard to win your father over after everything. This is an important night for everyone.”

  “Is it? All I know is that we’ve been summoned to Misty Woods,” Ansel remarked dryly. “I promise, we won’t be late. We’ll tell him that we were working on starting our family if he gives us any problems.”

  Nora’s mouth gaped open.

  “What?” she choked. “What do you mean?”

  As if on cue, Louis returned, struggling with a cardboard box as security handled the door for him.

  Nora eyed the box warily.

  “What is this?” she demanded as Louis carefully put the package on the floor.

  “Sibling envy,” he replied, a boyish smile on his face as she eyed the box nervously. “I want us to give dear old Dad something to swoon over as much as he does Audren.”

  “Ansel…we haven’t talked about children,” she gasped, looking embarrassedly at Louis. To her surprise, the trainer laughed.

  “I don’t think that human children are what he had in mind,” the trainer snickered and suddenly, there was a yelp from inside the box.

  We never had to worry about human children, Nora thought, reaching to undo the flap of the box. We can’t have mortal babies together.

  A Saint Bernard puppy leaped from the inner folds and Nora screeched with delight as the dog lunged for her.

  “You got a dog?” she laughed as her face was filled with kisses. />
  “Why should we be the only ones without some canine love in our lives?” Ansel demanded, and Nora giggled. “I’ll be home more now, and it’ll be good to have someone to go on runs with me while you’re in your workshop.”

  “I agree,” she replied, smiling up at her husband. “But tonight, of all nights, Ansel? We have to…”

  She trailed off and glanced at the trainer.

  “It’s all right,” Ansel replied. “Louis is going to babysit tonight while we deal with our family affair. He’s used to cleaning up my crap, right Louis?”

  Louis nodded, his eyes shining with affection as he stared at the ridiculously happy animal.

  “This guy and I will bond in no time. I might not give him back after tonight.”

  “Oh, now I don’t want to go,” Nora complained wistfully. “Can’t we stay home and play with him?”

  Ansel laughed.

  “We could,” he agreed. “But then we won’t be able to show up Cass and Brooklyn. Our kid is so much cuter than theirs. Hold still. I want to take a picture.”

  “Cheese!” Louis and Nora called, hugging the mutt.

  As they released the slobbering beast, Nora found herself staring at her husband, a strange pang in her heart.

  He’s retired now. He’s committed to a dog. Maybe It is time to think about having children.

  “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Williams! I have no idea why he won’t stop crying!” Kirra announced, her face contorted in confusion. “He just started and wouldn’t stop!”

  Brooklyn shook her head and reached for her screaming toddler, rocking him as his face turned purple with rage.

  “He’s two,” Brooklyn replied flatly as Cassius snorted, adjusting his tie in the full-length mirror. “He’s probably upset you didn’t separate his grapes according to size.”

  “I no like grapes!” Audren howled, tears streaming down his indignant face. “I no like nothing!”

  “I don’t like anything,” Cassius corrected calmly, turning away to take the child from his wife. “And you’re being rude, Audren. Apologize to Kirra and your mother for shattering their eardrums.”

  “NO!” the child raged and his mother pressed her fingertips to her temples.

  “Cassius, it’s too late to bring him to Misty Woods,” Brooklyn said nervously. “He’s going to be like this all night.”

  “If you’re suggesting we leave him here, I hope you have made proper funeral arrangements,” Cassius replied as Kirra discretely left the couple to discuss the impending night. “Father would not have invited us if he didn’t want Audren there. You have to know that.”

  “Then your father can deal with his incessant screaming!” Brooklyn grunted, raising her voice to be heard over the boy’s caterwauling.

  “He’ll pass out by the time we get there,” Cass assured her. “Get ready.”

  “What is this all about tonight?” she asked again, and he shrugged.

  “I have no idea,” he replied. “But it must be important for him to invite all of us.”

  “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Brooklyn mumbled, more to herself than her husband but Cassius chuckled.

  “I think he’s mellowed a little bit now that he has a grandson. Who knows? Maybe someone else is with child and he’s having a celebration.”

  “Like who?” Brooklyn demanded, spinning away from the window where she was staring into the Coral Sea.

  Pendulum Island, their private key, had become a sanctuary to her and leaving always felt like a chore. Leaving to return to Misty Woods was almost painful, but when King Rui summoned, there was little the brothers could do to refuse.

  “Maybe Estrella,” Cassius joke and Brooklyn gaped at him.

  “Please tell me you’re kidding!” she cried, trying to envision King Rui as a father to an infant. He’d already had six sons, all whom he had ruined in various ways.

  “Of course I’m kidding. My stepmother may play meek, but there’s no way she would allow for that to happen. She’s smarter than we give her credit for.

  Audren seemed to be calming in his father’s arms, his red eyes drooping as they spoke.

  Who can blame him? The sound of Cass’ voice always has a hypnotic effect on me too. Brooklyn watched her husband with their small son, a familiar warmth flooding her veins.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, a half-smile toying on his lips. “Should I call Kirra to come and get him.”

  Brooklyn bit her lower lip and nodded, her eyes glittering.

  “We have time, don’t we?” she murmured.

  “For that? Of course we do. No doubt that Marcus and Addison will be the last to arrive anyway.”

  They stood at the drawbridge, Marcus shaking his head in disbelief.

  “Would you look at this place?” he gasped. “I don’t even recognize it!”

  “I have nothing to compare it to,” Addy reminded him, glancing around, overwhelmed by the opulence of the castle. “I mean, except for all the other castles I’ve been to.”

  Marcus grinned at her and reached for her hand, noticing the sweatiness of her palms. Their private jet had made incredible time, and now they were early for whatever insanity lay beyond the freshly laid stone.

  “There’s no need to be nervous,” he assured her, but even as he said the words, he was not so sure why King Rui had asked them to Misty Woods that night. He had told them nothing but Marcus could not release the idea that their lives were going to change dramatically after that evening.

  The question is, is it going to change for the better or worse? Marcus thought worriedly, but he did not allow himself to think of it anymore.

  Any danger they faced was in the past. He knew that all his brothers were going to be in attendance, even though he did not see any of them as they stood, staring at the revamped castle before them.

  Marcus had no idea when the renovations had happened but the crumbling structure he had last seen was merely a memory now, the stone refaced and enforced to create a glorious, imposing white front.

  The drawbridge was no longer functional, laying flat and inviting in stained mahogany over the dry moat, welcoming with a row of potted plants leading toward a spring of fresh ivy vying to climb the walls beyond.

  He could not see past the majestic entranceway, Addison’s reluctance matching his own as they debated their next move but Marcus could sense that more luxury waited for them inside.

  What else should they expect once they crossed that bridge? It seemed unfathomable that his father would set a trap for his sons, but who could ever really be sure what the old man was thinking? Stability was not his strong suit.

  “Are we going inside?” Addy asked, and Marcus realized they had been standing in silence for a long moment.

  “I’m not sure,” he admitted, reaching for his phone. “Let me see if Max is there.”

  If he was going in, he wanted to ensure they were not alone and there was no one better to see them through whatever lay ahead than Max.

  “I’m not going!”

  “You have to go!” Max grumbled, pacing over the dock as Poet shook her head defiantly.

  “It’s a trap! He’s going to try and kill me!” she insisted. “I am not going back to England with you!”

  “Poet, it’s been two years! He’s over whatever homicidal tendencies he was suffering. I think he’s got something really important to tell us,” Max insisted. “Please, I know it sounds incredible but…”

  He trailed off and she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

  “What?”

  “Ever since I started going back there, he seems changed. I don’t know if it’s Estrella that’s been good for him or if he’s just getting accustomed to the fact that he can’t control everything in the world, but…”

  “Forgive me if I don’t share your enthusiasm for the man who wanted my head on a platter.”

  “I am asking you to trust me, Poet, not my father. No one will let anyone hurt you; I promise. Not me, not my brothe
rs and not their significant others.”

  Poet eyed him warily. “They’re all going to be there?” she asked suspiciously. “You’re not just saying that to make me come?”

  “You can call anyone right now and ask them yourself.”

  Poet grunted and looked out into the morning sun glinting off the water.

  The Island of Luxe seemed like the only safe spot, near her royal father and Max, surrounded by security.

  But she didn’t want to hide from Rui forever.

  “I believe you,” she mumbled. “But if there’s any sign of trouble—”

  Max’s phone chimed and he offered her a wide smile.

  “Here,” he said, offering her the cell. “It’s Arabella looking for you.”

  She glanced at the device and sighed heavily as she scanned the text message.

  “All right,” she agreed reluctantly, reaching to respond to her sister-in-law’s text. “I’ll go. But only if everyone else is going to be there.”

  Arabella dropped the cell on the table and peered at Titus, gnawing on her lower lip.

  “She’s as worried about tonight as I am,” Ara offered. “Your father has done a great job instilling the fear of God in everyone.”

  Janus barked as if to concede with her assessment and she reached down to absently pat the dog on his velvet head.

  “You probably have the least to worry about out of anyone,” he replied, laughing. “Poet has good reason to be afraid.”

  “I have just as much a reason to fear your father,” Ara replied. “And I’m not a princess!”

  “You’re my princess,” he told her tenderly, reaching to pull her into his arm, brushing aside a piece of hair from her face. “Have I told you that lately?”

  Ara smiled weakly, shifting her eyes downward and Titus stared at her with concern.

  “What’s on your mind? Are you that worried about going to Misty Woods tonight? If it’s that big a deal, we’ll stay in South Africa, Ara but you don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”

  She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, to tell him that it was not the trip to England which was weighing on her mind so heavily.