The Bride Hunt Box Set: Books 1-3

by Charlene Hartnady

  Without saying anything more, he turned and left. Coal followed her scent and soon arrived in the great hall.

  Julie’s eyes were wide. She looked like she was afraid. He began to walk towards her. “Coal!” Julie yelled as she caught sight of him.

  “What is wrong?”

  Flame’s female was with her.

  “What happened to Candy? I heard that she isn’t happy. Some bastard king has her.” Her brow was creased. Her eyes were filled with concern.

  “Torrent won the female but she didn’t want to stay in the water kingdom so the male sent her home.”

  Some of the tension left her. “Oh, thank god. Did he hurt her or force her? What happened to her?”

  He’d come to understand that Julie had trust issues. It wasn’t personal. He had long since realized that. Coal held the air in his lungs for a beat. “No, he would never do either of those things. She wasn’t happy. It is my understanding that she didn’t care for him,” he shrugged.

  “You said that he’s an asshole,” she turned back to the other female who nodded.

  Coal had also come to realize that calling someone after that particular orifice was considered to be a slight. “He is a king. If you think I’m arrogant you should—”

  “Is he anything like your brother.”

  “About the same.”

  “Pompous and pigheaded. Okay … I totally understand why Candy walked out. So he wouldn’t have hurt her?”

  Coal shook his head. “No. He is a male of honor.”

  “It’s good to know that she was allowed to leave,” Julie smiled. “It gives me hope.” Then she shook her head. “Not that I’m ready to leave just yet, although, it seems like there’s something in the water so maybe I should.” She chuckled like she’d just told a joke.

  Flame’s human smiled as well. “Drink the water. It’s delicious.”

  “No damned way,” Julie shook her head. “The water is dangerous.”

  “You’ve been drinking our water.” What was Julie talking about? “There’s nothing wrong with it,” he added.

  “See,” Pauline grinned. “Listen to Coal.”

  Why did he get the feeling that they weren’t talking about the water? Not really. “What is this all about?”

  “I need to go.” The other female had a faraway look and a sparkle in her eye. “Flame is waiting for me. I don’t want to keep my future mate waiting.”

  “That’s great news,” Coal smiled. “You’ve decided to take the plunge.”

  “Don’t remind me.” He could hear her heart race.

  “You’re afraid. Don’t be. Flame is a strong, fast male. You will be fine. He is going to take excellent care of you,” Coal said.

  “I know he will,” Pauline huffed out the words. “I’ll see you guys soon. Keep drinking the water.” She skipped away.

  “What was all that about the water?” Coal locked eyes with Julie. The color of melted toffee. Beautiful. His breath froze.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Julie punched him on the arm. She yelped and nursed her fist. “You’re like a rock. I can’t even smack you.”

  Coal released a sigh. A whole group of males was watching. Several of them sniggered. If they stayed here, there would be bloodshed. He was in no mood to be judged. Certainly not by his subordinates ‒ although he couldn’t blame the males for finding the exchange amusing. “Come with me.” Coal took her hand.

  Julie pulled away. “Where to? I thought you said we weren’t staying in your apartment. You promised to show me around.” She looked around the room. The human didn’t even notice the other males, or the interest they were showing in her.

  The closest male had his gaze fixed on her. Coal looked down. His blood began to boil inside him. Heat infused his veins. His teeth sharpened. Julie was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Yes, blue jeans … that was what they were called. They fit her perfectly, as did the shirt. Her stunning breasts were showcased. Her ass was showcased. She was showcased to perfection.

  Coal snarled in the direction of the group. Several males averted their eyes. Good. He was on the verge of roasting their orbs right there in their sockets.

  The closest male put his gaze back on Julie’s chest. The prick was working on Coal’s last nerve. “She is mine!” he roared. They all backed away. Three left the room at speed.

  “Leave,” he snarled again. Smoke blew from his mouth as he spoke. The lessers scuttled from the room and his temperature went down to bearable levels.

  “Was that really necessary?” She raised her brows.

  “Yes,” he couldn’t help growling. His blood was still boiling. “They were looking at you. We are going out.”

  “Out where?”

  This female. He looked down at her and took in her flushed cheeks and wide eyes. He followed her tongue as it slipped over her bottom lip.

  She choked out a laugh. “You’re thinking about sex. Again.”

  “It cannot be helped. You are a beautiful female. You should not wear such clothing.” His eyes drifted lower. “I can see your breasts.”

  She hit him again. Her hand made a slapping noise as it connected with the side of his arm. “No, you cannot. I’m completely covered. I even put a tank top under my shirt so my … boobs would be properly covered. What the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting all jealous.”

  Jealous?

  No.

  Never.

  Maybe. Just a little bit. Ok, he was very jealous. Just the thought of those others looking at his female made him angry. “You are mine to protect. It is instinctual, not emotional.” Was it? Of course it was. “It would be easier to do so if you were more covered. Maybe naked in my bed would be the best.” He moved towards her.

  “No.” She put a flat hand on his chest and kept him at arm’s length. “You said we could go out. I feel like it. Are we going to fly?” Her eyes widened.

  Coal felt pride surge. “Yes. I like going to … come, I’ll show you.”

  Her expression turned serious. “No more of this jealous shit.”

  “I will do my best.”

  “Fine,” she huffed. “We are also going to discuss your brother, more to the point, what your brother said. What the two of you discussed.”

  His heart raced. He didn’t want to tell her about his task or the ultimatum put forward by Blaze today. She would be mad and it would hamper any chance they might have. No. He would tell her as much as he could and no more.

  Her heart leapt wildly in her chest as they swooped down. The view was amazing from up there. The descent was faster than she would’ve liked, yet at the same time, it was exhilarating. After watching him fly the other day, she knew it was a damn sight slower than it would’ve been if Coal was alone.

  She screamed as the ground drew nearer. It was a small strip of rock. Not more than seven feet wide. A natural bridge that spanned between two peaks. It looked to be about a hundred feet long. It was breathtaking. He continued to descend towards the middle section of the strip. Surely he didn’t mean to set her down there?

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” her voice had a quivery edge.

  At the last moment, Coal stopped descending. The ground was no more than a foot or two away. Julie exhaled. He wasn’t going to put her down after all. Thank god because that small slab of rock was not safe. It was long and narrow. There were no railings or handholds. There was nothing but a narrow walkway in the middle of nowhere. It seemed man-made but she knew otherwise. There was no way a human could have made it up here.

  His wings flapped slowly. Too slow to carry his enormous bulk, yet they continued to hover. Why weren’t they leaving? He drifted down an inch … two. What?

  Her foot touched the ground. Again he waited until she was standing securely before releasing her. Julie wanted to hold onto his massive talon but she was afraid of toppling over the edge. There was sheer cliff on either side of her.

  “Oh god,” she murmured. Too afraid to talk too loudly. Too afraid to breathe. She moved to h
er haunches. There was at least two feet on either side of her. Happy days! It felt like the earth was pulling her in both directions at once. That if she looked left or right or even up for that matter, she would be pulled off by the sheer force of gravity. Surely there wasn’t enough space for Coal to land and to shift?

  “Are you okay?” Coal’s deep voice washed over her. It made her hold on to some sort of sanity. Do not panic. Do not lose it.

  Julie shook her head. Her eyes were focused on the ground at her feet. She breathed in deeply and breathed out again. Don’t lose it.

  Coal touched her arm and she yelped.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that you were afraid of heights?” he asked. He was directly in front of her. She could see his feet in front of her much smaller ones. His huge feet. If she wasn’t so petrified, she would laugh. Big feet. big … you know what. She couldn’t believe she was picturing him naked at a time like this. It didn’t calm her down at all, not even a tiny bit.

  Then she realized that he’d asked her a question. “I didn’t know that I was afraid of heights before. Then again, I’ve never been this high up or this close to the edge before. To two edges.” There was panic etched into every word. She chewed on her lower lip. Every muscle was tensed and ready but she had nowhere to go. Adrenaline surged through her, but there was nothing she could do.

  “Look at me,” he said. He appeared so calm.

  She shook her head. “If I move, I’ll fall.”

  “You won’t fall.”

  “Oh yes I will. I can’t move. I need to stop talking now. I might fall,” her voice quivered.

  Coal chuckled softly.

  “Don’t you dare,” she whispered. “This isn’t funny.” She swallowed thickly. “I can’t believe you brought me up here. We’re going to die … scratch that, I’m going to die. Now change back into a dragon and get me the hell off this thing.” Definite panic but it wasn’t to be helped. A breeze ruffled her hair. It was probably cold up here but she couldn’t feel anything. She was too damned scared.

  His hand cupped her jaw. “Neither of us is dying. Not today at least. I’ve got you, Julie. I would never let you fall.” His voice was deep and soothing.

  Her heart slowed down just a smidgen. “Okay. Fine. Can we go?”

  “No.” Coal tilted her chin and she felt her eyes widen. “Please no. Please.” Her eyes met his. Dark and stunningly beautiful. Those gold flecks held her captive. Like a few golden stars in the night sky.

  “That’s it.” He smiled. “I would not allow you to fall but if you did, know that I would catch you.”

  “You would?” she exhaled.

  His gaze warmed her, as did his words.

  She felt herself tense back up. They were just words. Using every ounce of willpower she had, she lifted her hands and clutched his wrists. “I hate it up here. I’m so afraid.” Her eyes stung with the need to cry but she held back the tears. Don’t show weakness!

  “Hate is a strong word. It is beautiful up here.” He turned his head to the left and seemed to scan the horizon.

  Julie couldn’t move. Not even one muscle. “It’s too scary,” her voice was high-pitched. She held onto Coal with all she was worth.

  “Sometimes we need to face our fears in order to see the beauty, to experience it.” He loosened her grip on his arms.

  She whimpered as he pried her hands from around his. “Please,” she begged. Panic welled.

  “Don’t fight me, female,” Coal said, his voice a deep timbre. He gripped her hips and whipped her around.

  Julie screamed long and hard. It felt like the floor disappeared. She was free-falling, he’d let her go and she was …

  “Julie.” Coal wrapped his arms around her. The hard ground was still beneath her. Oh thank god. She was breathing heavily.

  Heat suffused her cheeks. “You didn’t let me go.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it, no.” Her back was against his chest. His legs were on either side of her. His strong arms tightly around her.

  She let out a breath. “You have me. I’m safe.”

  “You’re finally starting to get it. Yes, you are safe. I had planned on rutting you here but—”

  She elbowed him. “Don’t you even think about it!”

  “I could taste you.” She felt him shrug, could hear the humor laced in his words.

  “No freaking way! We will sit here quietly for ten seconds. Then you will carefully take hold of me and get me the hell out of here.”

  “First, we will admire the view. You had some things you wanted to ask me and I have some things I want to ask you.” He choked out a short laugh. “At least we won’t be interrupted out here.”

  “Oka—” Her breath froze in her lungs. “Wow! Why didn’t you build your lair here?” Her heart-rate picked up all over again but only because of what she was seeing.

  He laughed. “It would not have worked. There are various requirements for a lair. This only met one of them and you’re looking at it.”

  Glorious. Amazing. Stupendous. She wished she’d done better at school. Maybe she would be able to come up with plenty of other adjectives to describe it. “I feel like I’m on top of the world, like I’m looking at everything. A bird’s-eye view. A window from up in heaven.” All the clichés wrapped up together wouldn’t be enough to describe it.

  “It is one of my favorite places. No one else has ever been here. You are the first human.”

  “I must be crazy, but thank you for bringing me here.” Her eyes stung all over again. Probably just the breeze blowing in them.

  “Thank you for trusting me enough to actually open your eyes and see. To experience.” He hugged her tighter. His massive body radiated warmth.

  “Talking about trust. Why the hell didn’t you tell me that I’m about to start my … heat?” Coal didn’t seem like the type to try and trap her. Like Flame said, he was a prince. He could probably have his pick. Not thinking about that now. She was having sex with him. She didn’t want to think about him with someone else.

  “You are days away. I was going to tell you, I swear. We can use the covers if it will make you feel better. Dragon seed is potent but does not live long within a female. It is imperative that a male rut a female during her heat. Two days before would be more than enough but we will start using coverings now.”

  “We must. I don’t want kids.”

  She felt him tense. “You have already said that many times. We will use the coverings. I’m fine with it,” his voice was gruff but not in a good way.

  “You don’t sound fine.”

  “I am fine.” He released his hold on her. “I think that we should go back now.”

  “I’m only just starting to relax and enjoy myself.”

  Coal pulled her back against him. It felt good to be in his arms like this. Safe … and not just from falling. “I’m glad that you are staying,” Coal nuzzled into her neck.

  “Just for two weeks.”

  “I wish that you would give us a chance.”

  “There is no us, Coal. We have sex and that’s it.” It wasn’t entirely true. “I consider you to be a friend,” she added, feeling stupid saying it.

  “We are more than just friends. It’s more than just sex and you know it.”

  “Stop. Let’s just enjoy the scenery. I don’t want you getting angry with me and leaving me here or tossing me over.” She choked out a laugh but it wasn’t funny. She didn’t mean it. Coal wouldn’t do that to her.

  His breathing picked up. She didn’t need to look into his eyes to know that she had hurt him. “What happened to you, Julie?” His voice was thick with emotion. “Why do you struggle to accept that someone actually cares for you?”

  “Nothing happened. I know that people care.” When they want something. “I know you think you have feelings for me but it’s not true. You want a mate and offspring. Any of the five of us would’ve done. When I leave in two weeks, you’ll bride hunt the next group of girls and pick someone else.” She swallowed
hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. She was thirsty. Yup, that was it. “I’m sure whomever you pick will jump at the chance to become your mate and give you lots of dragon babies.”

  “But not you?”

  “No. I’m a free spirit. I want to see the world and experience life and …” She looked around her as she spoke. The words sounded like, well, just words. Julie paused for a beat. “You want to know why I don’t trust? Well, I grew up in an orphanage and in foster homes.”

  “Does that mean that you didn’t have parents?” Coal’s voice was deep. His chest rumbled against hers as he spoke.

  Julie nodded. “Yeah. I had a mom but she didn’t take very good care of me. I was taken away at an early age. I don’t …” She paused to lick her lips. “I don’t remember anything about my time with her. I went to the orphanage when I was four.”

  “So young.” Coal slipped a hand under her shirt and stroked the skin on her belly. It was comforting rather than sexual.

  “It was tough. I’d just start to feel at home and I’d be shipped off to the next family. It’s hard to form bonds and have any type of trust in anyone growing up like that.” She sighed. “I don’t like to think about it or to hash it up. I hate moaning about what a tough life I’ve had. I’m fighting for a better future. I need to do it on my own two feet.”

  Coal inhaled deeply. She heard him swallow thickly. One of his hands cupped her jaw and tilted her face towards him. He lowered his head and looked her deep in the eyes. “It is not moaning. It’s talking, confiding. I am honored that you told me about some of your past. I have huge respect that you do not feel sorry for yourself.” He clenched his jaw. “I admire you, Julie. I have a better understanding of why you are the way you are …”

  She frowned.

  “I don’t mean that in a bad way, so please don’t hit me or curse at me,” he smiled. “You are amazing.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. Soft and careful like she was made from delicate porcelain.

  She should push him away. Julie wasn’t one for the mushy stuff. It felt nice though. Like maybe he cared. She sighed as he deepened the kiss. It was intimate. It was special. It touched her. Coal pulled away. He used his thumb to trace her lower lip. More of the same intimacy. His eyes shone with emotion. “I could have taken more than one of the other females during the hunt. I chose you.”