Choosing the Dragon

by Rinelle Grey

  © 2018 by Rinelle Grey

  www.rinellegrey.com

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  About the Author

  Blurb

  As if her ex-husband showing up out of the blue wasn't traumatic enough for Rylee, the jerk knows about Calrian, and he told her father. Now her dad wants her out, and Rylee has nowhere else to go. She and her son could soon be homeless, if Rylee can't find them a new home.

  Calrian wishes he could help her, but aside from offering her his support, there's nothing he can do. He might be a dragon shifter prince, but he knows little about the human world. The best thing he can do is find his clan, then maybe he'd have a home to offer Rylee.

  With no one to rely on but each other, Rylee and Calrian must work together, or risk losing everything.

  Choosing the Dragon is Part 3 in the Dragon Shores Serial.

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  Chapter 1

  Rylee’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Eric standing so innocently next to her father. Her whole body felt weak and trembly. This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t believe it.

  Except, she could. She could imagine the sob story Eric had given her father about how lonely he was and how much he missed her. And from there it was a small step to imagining her father ignoring her wishes and bringing him here.

  None of this should have surprised her.

  She should have been prepared for it. And a few days ago, she might have been. While she’d hoped that being so far away would mean Eric wouldn’t bother her again, she’d been expecting him to show up eventually. One of the reasons she’d moved away from the city had been to escape his constant attempts to convince her to come home, alternatively begging and threatening.

  Which strategy would he try today?

  “Just give me a chance, Rylee, please?” Eric repeated, his voice sounding desperate. “I promise, whatever I did to hurt you, I’ll fix it. I miss you and Rowan so much.”

  He was going with begging apparently. But Rylee wasn’t fooled. She saw the hard glint in his eye and the sideways glance he gave her father, as if hoping he might come to his aid and convince her to back down.

  Every move Eric made was carefully calculated to achieve his aim—control over her again.

  “I’ll leave you two kids alone to talk,” her father said. “I’m sure you have a lot to say to each other.”

  “I have nothing to say to him,” Rylee said flatly. “And I can’t believe you ignored my wishes like this, Dad. You knew I didn’t want to speak to him.”

  “Come on, Rylee. Can’t you give me a chance,” Eric begged. “At least give me an explanation. You left without even telling me why.”

  Of course she had. If she’d openly told him she was leaving him, she never would have been able to escape. But it wasn’t as if she hadn’t discussed her feelings with him on several occasions since then. Eric was well aware she considered their relationship over.

  “You hear him out, Rylee,” her father ordered. “You can’t refuse that. He deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.” Then he turned and walked away, leaving Rylee staring at Eric, painfully conscious of Calrian’s presence somewhere behind her.

  Her link to him was strong, probably because they’d been on the verge of making love. She could almost feel his closeness throbbing through her body. But instead of concerning her, the connection gave her the strength to straighten her back and repeat herself. “I have no wish to discuss anything with you. Please leave.”

  She shouldn’t have added please. She knew from experience that he’d jump on any sign of weakness. Which he did.

  “You don’t really mean that, Rylee,” he said, his voice wheedling. “I just want to talk. Can’t I come in?”

  The very thought of him inside her home made Rylee’s skin crawl. “Not a chance. The only reason I’m even listening to you is because I’ll never hear the end of it from Dad if I don’t, but this is the last time. Say what you came here to say, then leave, and don’t come back.”

  Standing up to Eric to his face felt both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. The emotions heightened when Eric’s polite exterior slipped, and his words became demanding. “You can’t do this, Rylee. I deserve to see my son. You can’t take him from me.”

  “Rowan has no wish to see you,” Rylee said firmly. “I won’t let you bully him any longer. This is over, so you might as well just accept it.”

  Her bold statement destroyed the last pretence of calm Eric had managed to maintain. “You have no hope of keeping him from me. You can’t offer him anything. You have no job and no real home. He’ll be much better off with me. Anyone can see that.”

  His threat turned Rylee’s blood cold. She wanted to believe that if this went to court she would be able to explain the emotional damage being with Eric would cause for Rowan. The emotional damage it had already caused. But the truth was, she had no proof of that. No one else would back her up. It was clear her father wouldn’t.

  It would be her word against Eric’s, and she knew how good he was at lying. She was scared he’d convince a judge as easily as he’d convinced her father.

  For a moment, she felt like giving up. Could she really maintain this? Had she really thought she’d be able to escape from Eric?

  But giving up wasn’t an option. Giving up meant going back, and that was about the worst outcome she could imagine, for both her and Rowan. She refused to be intimidated. She would find a way to do this, to make it work. It was true, she had no job, but she was working on that.

  Money wasn’t what was most important. “Money and fancy houses mean nothing. Rowan’s happy here. Happier than he’s been in a long time. And I’m his mother. He wants to be here. If this goes to court, that will count.”

  Eric’s face reddened at her defiance, and she could see his jaw moving and clenching. The expression sent a shiver up her spine. She knew from experience that meant he was close to losing it.

  He took a step closer to Rylee, and his voice dropped low. “And what about the fact this his mother has hooked up with a virtual stranger and invited him into her house? That’s not going to look good for you, Rylee.”

  Rylee’s heartbeat ratcheted up another notch at Eric’s words, and her face heated. How could he possibly know?

  In her heart, she knew it wasn’t any of his business. There was nothing wrong with her being with someone. But in reality, her father would agree with Eric. If he found out about Calrian…

  “What are you talking about?” she demanded, but her voice shook.

  “I saw him, Rylee, in your house last night. And the night before. I know you’re hiding it from your dad. What is he going to think when I tell him?”

  For a moment fear blinded Rylee. Her father would be furious. He wouldn’t even begin to understand. If Eric told him…

  The fact that he was once again threatening her, determined to get his own way, made her feel helpless for a moment.

  “Do you wish me to rid you of this nuisance?” Calrian’s voice in her head was calm, as though getting rid of Eric would be a simple matter. Which for a dragon, it probably was.

  Even though Ryle
e couldn’t answer him, his words and presence gave her courage. She knew there was nothing wrong with their relationship. It was beautiful, and she wouldn’t let Eric damage that memory.

  She straightened her back and stared defiantly at Eric. “My father will know you’re making things up. You have no way of knowing what I’ve been doing. Unless you’ve been spying on me…”

  Even as she said the words, Rylee realised the truth of them. She didn’t need the self-satisfied smirk on Eric’s face to put two and two together.

  The man who’d been sneaking around the trees her father had warned her about, that hadn’t been Calrian. She should have realised it earlier. Calrian had been too weak to move that much.

  It had been Eric.

  “I have photos, Rylee. I’m pretty sure your dad will have no problem believing me. He knows how deceptive you can be. We’ve had a nice little talk about you this morning. I haven’t told him about your visitor yet, but I will if I have to. You can’t escape from me that easily.”

  His words sent a shiver up Rylee’s spine.

  Eric’s threat had the ability to destroy everything she’d been working towards. She’d hoped that staying here with her father would give her the chance to save up some money, but if she had to find another place to live, it would be impossible. The few hundred dollars she’d saved would all be gone.

  But giving in to Eric would be no different. She had no hope of creating a new life for herself and Rowan if she let him blackmail her.

  What did it matter if she could never afford the bed and breakfast she’d been dreaming of? That didn’t even remotely compare to Rowan growing up in a happy home. They’d get by without much money. There was no way she was going back to him.

  She lifted her chin and glared at him. “Are you trying to blackmail me? Do you really think that’s going to work?”

  She could see the change in his expression. Some of his confidence slipped, and his mouth twisted in a sneer. “You’re not naive enough to think he’s going to stay around, are you? He’s going to realise quickly enough that you’re nothing but a failure. The only good thing you’ve ever managed to achieve was marrying me, and now you’ve thrown that away.”

  Rylee told herself that he was just trying to make her feel small. That was how he kept winning, by trying to convince her it was all her fault.

  But the words hurt. They always had.

  Maybe because, deep down, she thought them too. She’d never achieved anything in her life.

  Why did she think that was going to change now?

  Chapter 2

  Rylee had given Calrian no sign she wanted assistance. She couldn’t reply to his dragon speech question, of course, but if she wanted help, she would let him know, wouldn’t she? He didn’t want to interfere if she didn’t wish him to. This was her business, not his.

  But when Eric called her a failure, he couldn’t stay silent any longer. Fury built up in him that anyone would try to make Rylee feel inferior.

  Because he could see it was what this man was trying to do.

  Calrian had seen his type before. Now he understood Rylee’s concerns about dragon mating. No one would want to be stuck with a jerk like Eric.

  Calrian took a deep breath, pulling his anger under control before he stepped out of the bedroom door and quietly took up a place behind Rylee. “How dare you insult Rylee,” he said, glaring at Eric. “She is one of the kindest, bravest, most successful people I know.”

  Eric stared at him for a moment, his eyes widening a little. Calrian was at least a head taller than he was, and certainly more muscular. Calrian hoped he felt intimidated. He deserved to.

  Eric’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but he recovered quickly. His lips twisted in a sneer as he said, “You certainly have him fooled, don’t you, Rylee? I didn’t think you were good enough in bed for that.”

  This man just didn’t know when to quit. Calrian glanced at Rylee, searching her face for some indication of what she wanted. He would throw this man out forcibly if that was her wish. But not without some indication from her.

  Her face was bright red, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Just go,” she said to Eric, her voice pleading.

  “You’re telling me to go? You’re my wife, Rylee. He’s the one you should be telling to go.”

  Her request was enough encouragement for Calrian. “The lady just asked you to leave,” he said, his voice flat. “I suggest you do so before I have to make you.”

  Eric raised a haughty eyebrow. “Was that a threat?”

  “Take it however you want,” Calrian said unfazed. “But know this, I will defend Rylee to my dying breath. Make very sure you are prepared to do the same before you challenge me.”

  Calrian’s glare must have convinced the man he spoke the truth, because Eric took a step backwards. He glanced from Rylee, to Calrian, then back again. He gave an uncertain laugh. “Where’d you find this guy, Rylee? Is he for real?”

  Rylee looked at Calrian, her expression a mixture of gratitude and awe. Then she glared at Eric. “Do you really want to find out?”

  Eric eyed Calrian one more time, his head shaking almost involuntarily. He took a few more steps back before saying, “You’ve made a mistake threatening me. You haven’t heard the last of this.”

  He turned and walked away, but any feeling of satisfaction Calrian felt was marred by his parting words. Calrian wasn’t sure if he’d helped or made the situation worse.

  Rylee closed the door behind him and then sank against it, her whole body shaking.

  Calrian couldn’t help himself. The need to comfort her, to protect her, overwhelmed him. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be all right. I won’t let him bother you ever again,” he said firmly.

  She started crying then, great gulping sobs that made Calrian’s heart constrict. She clung to him as if he were her only safety in a storm.

  Not knowing what else to do, Calrian held her, murmuring words of comfort.

  Eventually, her tears subsided, and she pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Sorry for falling apart like that. He just…” She trailed off, waving her hand as though Calrian could guess what she meant.

  Which he could. “He is not a nice person,” he said flatly.

  Rylee gave him a wan smile at that. “No, he seems to know exactly how to press my buttons.” She broke off then, staring at Calrian. “It was very nice of you to come to my defence. To say such kind things about me.”

  “I meant every word,” Calrian said firmly. Rylee needed someone to tell her, that much was clear. Her ex-husband certainly wouldn’t, and he suspected her father never had either. She deserved to know.

  But Rylee was shaking her head. “I’m not brave,” she said. “Not successful either.” She turned away from him as though embarrassed by that fact.

  Calrian took her shoulders and turned her back towards him, staring into her eyes. “Standing up to a man like that was most certainly brave. Bravery isn’t about not being afraid, it’s about doing what you know is right even when you are afraid.”

  Rylee gave him a half smile at that. “Have you been reading motivational posters?” she asked, her voice holding a note of teasing.

  Calrian had no idea what she meant. But he wasn’t going to let her laugh this off. “It is the truth, Rylee. Every warrior knows it. Do you think I felt fearless when I faced Ultrima in battle? No, I was terrified. But I knew it was the right thing to do, and it had to be done. So I did it.”

  An inkling of understanding crept into her eyes. “But you weren’t afraid standing up to Eric here today. He stood no chance against you.”

  “No, I wasn’t.” Calrian shook his head. “I wasn’t the one who was brave today. You were.”

  He could see the war on her face, an understanding of the truth battling with her lack of belief in herself. The truth might not win this time, but if Calrian repeated it enough, eventually it would. Because Rylee was strong. He coul
d see that in her. She could never have survived what she had if she were not.

  And he wanted to help her realise that. Because that truth was far stronger than any enemy she would ever face. It would give her the strength to do what had to be done, no matter how hard or terrifying it was.

  She was shaking her head, her mind refusing the see the truth. “I stood up to Eric because I had to protect Rowan, not because I’m brave. But Eric’s right, I can’t give him all the things he could have if I went back. And when Dad finds out about you, we might not even have a home here anymore. What am I going to do then? Eric’s right, I’m a failure.”

  It was going to be hard for her to fight through these insecurities. Calrian could see that. But he would not let her continue to belittle herself.

  “In my clan, success is not a measure of how much gold you have, or how nice your home is. It’s about earning the respect of your clan members and, even more importantly, of yourself. It is a goal that can take us a lifetime, but it is a far greater treasure than any physical jewel.”

  Rylee was staring at him, her eyes wide. For a moment, he thought she’d gotten it, that she understood. But then she shook her head and smiled slightly teasingly. “I thought dragons were supposed to hoard great piles of gold? That’s what all the stories say.”

  He wanted to push her to accept the truth, but he knew deep down that she wasn’t ready yet. He had to take comfort in the fact that she’d taken the first steps on that journey and accept that it would be a long road.

  So he returned her smile slightly ruefully. “Some dragons have collected rather a lot of wealth, it is true. Some even guard it jealously. But they do not usually earn the respect of their clan members for it. In fact, many of them end up leaving over the problems it causes.”

  Rylee grimaced. “I guess that means you don’t have a stash of gold hidden somewhere to fulfill all my dreams then.” She was teasing, but there was a note of disappointment in her voice.