Treasured by the Dragon
Stonefire Dragons #13
Jessie Donovan
Mythical Lake Press, LLC
Contents
Stonefire Dragons Series
Overall Dragon Reading Order
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
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
The Dragon’s Choice
The Conquest
Author’s Note
Also by Jessie Donovan
About the Author
Copyright
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Books in this series:
Stonefire Dragons
Sacrificed to the Dragon (SD #1)
Seducing the Dragon (SD #2)
Revealing the Dragons (SD #3)
Healed by the Dragon (SD #4)
Reawakening the Dragon (SD #5)
Loved by the Dragon (SD #6)
Surrendering to the Dragon (SD #7)
Cured by the Dragon (SD #8)
Aiding the Dragon (SD #9)
Finding the Dragon (SD #10)
Craved by the Dragon (SD #11)
Persuading the Dragon (SD #12)
Treasured by the Dragon (SD #13)
Captivating the Dragon / Hayley & Nathan (SD #14, TBD)
Treasured by the Dragon Synopsis
If someone had told Dawn Chadwick that she’d be attending a play put on by children on a dragon-shifter’s land a year ago, she would’ve said they were mad. However, her daughter Daisy has slowly worn Dawn down about her prejudices and she ends up volunteering to help with the play. She’s to assist a recluse dragonman with the special effects. What she didn’t count on was her daughter’s meddling.
Blake Whitby prefers working in a lab to being around people. He’s a rare white dragon with a black spot, and the attention from a young age has made him hide from others. However, he’s always had a weakness for children and agrees to help them with their play. What he didn’t count on was meeting a beautiful human with a sense of humor and a heart-warming smile. His dragon wants her, but Blake holds back. At least until two kids make holding back impossible.
While Dawn agrees to the mate-claim frenzy with Blake, there’s no guarantee their pairing will work. And when Dawn’s family threatens her happiness, Blake has to stand by his mate and fight for the family he never knew he wanted.
The Stonefire and Lochguard series intertwine with one another. Since so many readers ask for the overall reading order, I’ve included it with this book. (This list is as of September 2020 and you can view the most up-to-date version here on my website.)
Sacrificed to the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #1)
Seducing the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #2)
Revealing the Dragons (Stonefire Dragons #3)
Healed by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #4)
Reawakening the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #5)
The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons #1)
Loved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #6)
The Dragon Guardian (Lochguard Highland Dragons #2)
Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #7)
The Dragon’s Heart (Lochguard Highland Dragons #3)
Cured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #8)
The Dragon Warrior (Lochguard Highland Dragons #4)
Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #9)
Finding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #10 )
Craved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #11)
The Dragon Family (Lochguard Highland Dragons #5)
Winning Skyhunter (Stonefire Dragons Universe #1)
The Dragon’s Discovery (Lochguard Highland Dragons #6)
Transforming Snowridge (Stonefire Dragons Universe #2)
The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons #7)
Persuading the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #12)
Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #13)
The Dragon Collective (Lochguard Highland Dragons #8, 2021)
Short stories that can be enjoyed any time after Winning Skyhunter/The Dragon's Discovery:
Meeting the Humans (Stonefire Dragons Shorts #1)
The Dragon Camp (Stonefire Dragons Shorts #2)
The Dragon Play (Stonefire Dragons Shorts #3)
Semi-related dragon stories set in the USA, beginning sometime around The Dragon's Discovery / Transforming Snowridge:
The Dragon's Choice (Tahoe Dragon Mates #1)
The Dragon's Need (Tahoe Dragon Mates #2)
The Dragon's Bidder (Tahoe Dragon Mates #3)
The Dragon’s Charge (Tahoe Dragon Mates #4, Nov 12, 2020)
The Dragon’s Weakness (Tahoe Dragon Mates #5, Jan 2021)
Chapter One
Dawn Chadwick did her best to drive and sing along to the music playing on the car stereo without thinking about her destination for the evening—a dragon-shifter's clan lands.
A quick glance over at her eleven-year-old daughter, singing and bobbing her head to the music, making strange hand motions in the process, reminded her of why Dawn was driving to Clan Stonefire in the Lake District. Daisy was to be the star of a play featuring both human and dragon-shifter children.
It wasn't the first time her daughter had been to Stonefire. No, earlier in the year, her class had taken a field trip and then later participated in a summer camp of sorts. The first time signing the permission form had been the hardest for Dawn. But in the end, she'd decided it was better to expose her daughter firsthand to the dragon-shifters instead of relying on hearsay like Dawn had done her whole life.
And ever since Daisy had returned from her first field trip to Stonefire, she'd talked nonstop about the dragon-shifters and a new friend she'd made. True, Daisy had gotten up to a bit of mischief during her visit—sneaking off with her new friend to see a Stonefire teenager in his dragon form—but her daughter tended to find trouble on occasion. And Daisy really did try to do better, although her hyper energy levels made it difficult sometimes for her to think about the full consequences of her actions.
Daisy required patience in abundance, and lots of love. Some parents couldn't handle children like her daughter, such as her ex-husband and Daisy's father, who'd left them rather than deal with the challenge.
The bastard.
No. Tonight is about Daisy. Nothing else matters.
The song ended and Daisy bounced in her seat. "Since I can't ask are we there yet again or else you'll turn around and drive back to Manchester, how many more times can we play that song before we get there?"
Dawn couldn't help but smile. Daisy was nothing if not inventive when it came to finding loopholes. "Not even one more time. Look up ahead. Do you see those tiny lights in the distance? According to the sat-nav, that should be where Stonefire's front gates are."
Daisy leaned forward. "It's so different in the dark. Not even during the camp did we drive around at night. I wonder if they put up some sort of torches, or special color-changing lights, or something to greet us. That would be way better than regular old lights."
Dawn laughed. "Probably not. After all, we have to save the special stuff for the play, right?"
D
aisy leaned back in her seat and tapped her legs with her hands. "That's right. And you're going to help Mr. Whitby with the special effects. He's a little shy, so maybe don't be too stern. Or serious. You can always make me giggle, so maybe you should make Mr. Whitby giggle."
Dawn bit her lip a second before replying, "I don't think dragonmen giggle."
"Oh, I'm sure they do. Freddie’s done it before, even if he denies it. They really are just like us, Mum. So don't be afraid. No one will eat you or anything. They're nice."
Through Daisy's enthusiasm, Dawn had learned to give them a chance. Still, seeing a person with flashing dragon eyes would be a little strange to someone like her, who'd never been around a dragon-shifter before. "I'm going to try, Daisy, like I said. Just remember you've spent more time around the dragons than me. I need a bit of time, too, to get to know them."
Daisy bounced a little. "So many of them will be there tonight. You'll get to meet everyone. Mr. MacLeod, Bram, and even Kai, who is the security-type guy who pretends to never smile. But I made him do it once before. So he does smile, but only if you're really special."
"Then I'll try to be really special." She rounded a curve in the road and gasped at the site of the giant metal gate, which was lit by a giant flame torch on either side. The word "Stonefire" was on the top of it, spelled out in metal.
Daisy clapped her hands. "See? They do like torches. Maybe someone heard me asking about them and put them up. I can make more suggestions. If I didn't have to remember all my lines, then I'd try to think of some things to tell Bram. But the lines will be hard enough."
Dawn pulled to a stop in front of the gate. "Don't worry, Daisy-love. You've been trying so hard and practicing constantly. I know you'll do fine."
Before her daughter could reply, the gate opened, and a voice from some speaker said, "Drive inside and take the first left. Park in front of the large building there."
Daisy clapped her hands. "That's the Protector building. It's their fancy word for security. Maybe you'll meet Kai, that serious dragonman. He's really tall, and handsome, but he has a mate. So don't fall in love with him, Mum. His mate won't like it."
She cleared her throat and glanced over at her daughter. "I'll try not to."
Her daughter completely missed Dawn's sarcasm. "Good. Oooh, there he is! Standing right in front of the building. Look at his muscles, Mum. He doesn't need to be in his dragon form to snap someone in half!"
"Daisy Mae, people simply don't snap someone in half."
She parked the car, turned off the ignition, and gently took Daisy's wrist to keep her from bolting from the car. "Now, remember that tonight is special. Everyone is looking forward to the play that you've all worked so hard on. You need to be on your best behavior, like you promised, so that it goes off without a hitch. Okay?"
"I know, Mum. I won't go wandering, I promise."
Even though her daughter tried to follow directions, it didn't always happen.
Still, Dawn smiled, released Daisy's wrist, and said, "Good, because I need you to introduce me to everyone until you have to go get ready for the play. I'll be lost if you disappear."
Daisy's eyes widened. "I can do that, introduce everyone. I've memorized so many people's names. I haven't met them all yet, so maybe I can surprise them. Yes, that will be a fantastic game to play. Keep track for me, okay, Mum? See how many I get right."
She snorted. "I'll do my best. Now, let's not keep the eagle-eyed dragonman waiting."
Daisy undid her seat belt and was out of the car before Dawn could do more than blink. Quickly, she followed suit and caught up to Daisy, who stood in front of the one she'd called Kai.
He was quite tall, hovering at least six inches above Dawn, and wasn't smiling. His eyes appeared to take everything in, and nothing got past him. She didn't know how anyone would want to try and defy him looking like that.
The dragonman was definitely a little intimidating. Dawn hoped some of the others would be less so or her evening would be a long one.
Doing her best to calm her heart rate, she forced a smile and said, "Hello. I'm Dawn Chadwick, Daisy's mum."
The dragonman grunted. "I'm Kai. Now, follow me. I'll take you to the great hall, where everything is happening tonight."
He turned and walked away, clearly expecting them to follow. Daisy whispered loudly, "We have to keep up. Come on, Mum."
Daisy took her hand and pulled her at almost a run. Dawn, never the runner, struggled to keep up.
So much for looking cool and collected for when she encountered nearly an entire dragon clan. She only hoped they understood that being Daisy's mum meant handling everything by the seat of your pants.
Blake Whitby frowned at the empty stage as barely a few puffs of smoke erupted. There should've been more, much more, according to his calculations.
His inner dragon—the second personality inside his head—yawned and spoke up. It's enough smoke for a children's play. I don't know why you're spending so much time on this.
You're the one who said we needed to get out more. This is me trying, although your other request for finding a mate isn't going to happen.
It doesn't have to be tonight. But tinkering, and calculating, and the other boring rubbish you like so much isn't enough for me. You can have that during the day, but I want sex at night.
Blake mentally sighed. Again with the sex? Don't you remember what happened last time we tried to find someone to occupy you?
His beast huffed. Don't act as if it's merely for me, and it wasn't that bad. You should be happy since I didn't get any sex in the end anyway.
Right, tell yourself it wasn't embarrassing.
However, it had been that bad. The female had refused to do anything until she could see his dragon form and take a picture.
Which Blake had refused.
He was a white dragon with a black spot, which was extremely rare. Almost like the unicorn of dragons, especially since his black spot was more iridescent than plain black.
Every female—not to mention quite a few males—wanted to see and touch the spot for luck or to make a wish.
Granted, it was better than when he'd been younger and everyone had teased him for it, calling it the dirty spot.
To avoid the attention, both good and bad, Blake preferred working by himself and living alone in a small cabin just outside Stonefire's main living area.
Only because he loved volunteering with the children at school, hoping to encourage them to study the sciences, had he ended up helping with the children's play.
Which meant he needed to get it right. Especially since he'd been paired with a human volunteer who would probably be of no help at all.
His dragon grunted. Stop assuming the worst. Just tinker with whatever you need to make more smoke come out, and then it'll give us more time to peruse all the human females coming tonight. They won't care about our spot or want to touch it for luck. It can just be sex, and more sex, until we pass out.
With a sigh, Blake walked back toward the small area being used as his base for controlling the special effects. We can fly and hunt tomorrow instead. You like that.
If we do any more of that, I'll be too fat to fly soon.
I don't want to talk about this anymore. Now, be quiet so I can finish this on time. Otherwise, we'll disappoint the children.
Since inner dragons treasured children, it was one way to get his beast to stop talking about mates and sex. Fine. But once the play is over, I'll be back.
Blake doubted his dragon would stay silent that long, but he didn't argue.
He retreated to the room being used to control the special effects. As he adjusted the various settings, time flew by. Only when Tristan MacLeod's voice—he was one of the teachers in charge of the play—blared from the in-room speaker did he snap out of it. "Blake, your human volunteer is here. Come meet her in the great hall."
Since the speaker system in the small room wasn't two-way, Blake reluctantly turned from his computer and exited the r
oom. It'd been a long time since he'd met an adult human who wasn't mated to one of his clan members. Some of them went lust-crazy over dragon-shifters. Even if Blake wasn't the fittest of the males on Stonefire, he did his fair share of flying and had enough muscles.
Not that he cared. They seemed to attract unwanted human notice.
His dragon grunted. Good. Dragons like attention. I wish you'd embrace it.
Blake picked up his pace until he reached the small door that exited into the biggest room inside the great hall. As he hovered there, he scanned the crowd for the little human girl named Daisy—it was her mother he was to work with—and finally spotted her curly blonde hair. Someone was in the way of the adult with her, but they finally moved, and Blake drew in a breath.
Daisy's mother had lovely blonde hair to her chin, a smile that could warm any dreary day, and a little experience in her gaze that told him she wasn't some brainless teenager looking for a quick score.
His beast huffed. Then go talk to her.
His dragon's words snapped Blake out of his trance. I will. But just because she's pretty doesn't mean anything. She's Daisy's mother, and I won't risk hurting her. Not when that human child seems to be so important to all the dragon teachers and Bram.
Why do you assume we'd hurt her?
I don't have time for a ready-made family. We're on the verge of a breakthrough in our latest project, which will help protect the dragon-shifters.
Treasured by the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 13) Page 1