Must Love Dragonsl (Space Dragons Seek Mates Book 1)

by Michelle Ziegler

  Maddie passed Ellen who was making out with her husband. At some point in life Maddie had thought wolf shifters hot. If she’d only known.

  Maddie wished Ellen all the happiness in the world.

  She smiled to herself. She felt happy. This was happy. Crap, she was Fae drunk.

  Nudging her, Maddie followed with Kal to continue past and towards the door. She smiled to herself, it was nice to see that anyone she’d be leaving behind would be fine. Except Donnie. But right now, that might not be something she could control.

  Maddie could see the door in front of her, so close. The strobe lights behind them and less hypnotic, her head seemed to clear a little. Kal grabbed up her hand, the warmth of their connection flowing through her. Yup, she was good with this.

  As they walked past the bouncer out onto the street, Maddie snuggled into Kal.

  “Mate. I know what you are thinking.”

  She smiled. “Kal, I highly doubt that.”

  He stroked her back. “You may not be able to connect with me well yet, but I can still feel your emotions.”

  She shrugged. Secrets weren’t healthy for a relationship, anyway.

  “Fine then. Tell me. What am I thinking?”

  They stopped.

  “Aside from the fact you smell like sex, you also smell of longing. You aren’t happy with leaving that human behind, are you?”

  Maddie swallowed. That really wasn’t right, but he nailed the longing part. She just wasn’t sure what it really was. Her mom mostly.

  “I don’t regret leaving him. I do wish that maybe things would have been different. I wish he was different and not still waiting for me. But, mostly I just want to say goodbye to my mom. We wouldn’t leave without her, right? I mean without saying goodbye?

  “We will wait as long as needed, my love, my mate. The benefit of being a dragon is I can fly wherever my brothers might wander off to. We are stronger together, but they would understand.”

  She nodded. What was her problem really? A moment ago she was happy and carefree and now, well not so much.

  “Let’s just walk home. Thanks for coming out with me.” Maddie started to tip over. All right, not quite sober, but at least the Fae magic wasn’t still clouding her judgement.

  Moving forward, she leaned against Kal. The heat of the day still lingered on the concrete, while the air cooled more rapidly. The flashes of images from Kal’s planet surfaced.

  “Kal? What’s your home like?”

  She leaned closer.

  “Our home, you mean.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder.

  “Are you cold, my love?”

  Maddie nodded.

  “Yes. And yes. Our home.”

  Heat radiated out from Kal’s hand, filling her and covering her body.

  “Better?”

  She was better. She could get used to his strange magic.

  “Our home. It’s beautiful. Different, and the air is thicker with magic. Earth doesn’t come close to the amount of magic we have. It’s warmer too. Much warmer.”

  Kal paused.

  “Maddie? Can you protect yourself? I mean, other than turn me into a chicken?”

  She nodded. Tapping into their shared connection, she tried to feel what he felt. Anger. Fear. Protective.

  “We’re being followed. Whatever you can do, do it.”

  Allowing Kal to push her along, they ducked into an alley and waited in the shadows.

  Three figures came to the mouth.

  “We know what you are, alien.”

  Kal stepped out, Maddie tried to grip his shirt to pull him back, but there was no controlling him.

  She wrinkled her nose at the stench of the nearby dumpster as her own fear started to unravel within her. Clutching her hands to her stomach, she watched. Remaining hidden, she tried to cast a protection spell, something that wasn’t entirely her thing.

  “I don’t think you have any idea what I am. Who are you?” Kal asked.

  “Give us back the girl and we won’t hurt you.”

  Kal grunted. “I won’t give her back. And I don’t think you will hurt me.”

  The three figures moved back.

  “If you hurt us, I guarantee you’ll make everything much worse. Tell us where you’re from.”

  Kal didn’t turn to Maddie; he started walking forward.

  “How about you leave that being my business and you will all live to see tomorrow. I’ll be gone soon enough and it will no longer be your problem.”

  Maddie couldn’t make out the third body. He or she kept just out of sight around the side of the building. She definitly didn’t recognize the others.

  Silence followed. A few cars went down the street, but there wasn’t much going on downtown on a weeknight.

  “Kal?” she whispered.

  In her head she could hear him.

  Stay hidden. I’ll be right back.

  Maddie faded into the background as close to the wall as possible.

  Something whizzed through the air past Kal.

  What was that?

  She hoped he heard her.

  “Shooting darts at me isn’t a good choice.”

  A feminine voice called back, “then don’t give us reason. Return the human and tell us where you’re from. Our boss can be very generous.”

  Another whizzing. Kal roared, and he took off toward the entrance.

  “I told you not to do that.”

  Maddie could see his shift starting as he breathed a wall of fire out in front of him. All she could see was the scattering of three bodies.

  A second later Kal’s dragon form came up to her. She stared into his eye, large, orange, with large slits for pupils. Scary, if she didn’t know it was Kal.

  Get on.

  Maddie looked at his extended leg and stepped up. She jumped to get atop his neck and squealed as her skirt rode up. God, if they weren’t being attacked this would be embarrassing.

  Maddie looked around at the small space where Kal nearly touched both walls. How the hell were they getting out of this?

  Hang on. Kal’s voice filled her head.

  She studied his neck and had no idea what the hell to hang on to.

  Maddie conjured up a bit of rope around his neck just as he jumped and sunk his massive claws into the wall of the building.

  Clenching her thighs around him, she held on. Crumbles of stone clanked to the ground as they climbed.

  Great. She’d have to come back and magic that shit away tomorrow.

  They climbed up and onto the roof.

  The building wasn’t that tall, and it took only a second. Kal probably could have jumped had he had more space. Once on the roof, he pushed up, meeting the sky and took off into the night.

  “Who were they?”

  The dragon grunted. Apparently he didn’t know, making being chased more scary. They knew about him, but he didn’t know them. He didn’t know he was being hunted.

  10

  If she stayed here much longer, Maddie would have to paint the ceiling. Her nerves wouldn’t let her sleep, so instead she stared up at the blank white canvas.

  Who the hell were those guys last night? Something had seemed familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Her magic etched the scene over and over in the air, but she finally stopped obsessing and let the images fade. This wasn’t helping. Her mother would be helpful right now.

  Things hadn’t been the same last night. Kal had been protective, cautious. He was almost afraid this morning when he needed to go find his brothers. Maddie had wanted to go with him, but he’d felt she would be safer here. Or at least safer away from him and his brothers.

  Stretching, she kicked off the covers. It was no use. She couldn’t go back to sleep.

  Sitting up, Maddie moved slowly. Her body was sore from all the working out she’d done with Kal. Maybe she’d bother finding a scale and see if she’d lost any weight. Maybe on her new planet the gravity would be less and she’d weigh less there. So many hopes.r />
  Rolling her eyes, she laughed. She could deal with going to another planet, why not? But, Maddie still hadn't wrapped her head around being mates, married, never alone again. This was the best time of her life. What would it be like to wake up to him every day? Was this all a dream? Maybe she’d hit her head, and this was all made up.

  The images though. Everything felt so real. The dream of his planet, they weren't hers. But they too were real. She knew it all was real.

  What should she do to kill time? Not leave. Kal had been insistent. Fine. She’d listen. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen horror movies before. Or read books where the heroine did something dumb and got herself kidnapped. No. She’d just stay. Fine. But, lordy. Mundane. Without him everything was meaningless.

  Padding down to the kitchen, her stomach growled in a reminder of how hungry she was. Daydreaming, she grabbed up some bread. She’d miss bread, or at least Earth bread. Finding some peanut butter and jelly she made what she hoped wouldn’t be the last sandwich she ever had.

  Spreading the knife over the soft surface, she smiled. Her mother’s annoying talents finally paid off. This house was exactly what Maddie needed, for now anyway. Maybe the rest of Kal’s brothers would come knocking. Maybe they wouldn't. She had no idea what being mates meant for the rest of his warriors, pack, no -warriors. Whatever.

  Maddie somehow knew them though. Images of their planet, of each one of them, all there. Was this part of mating? Maybe she’d siphoned his memories along with his powers? No. This seemed like something he would have wanted to share.

  Holding out her hand, she let flames slide through each finger. This was just weird. Holding a finger to the bread, she watched as it browned. That was handy.

  This was her new life. The knowledge that floated around in her head.

  When he wasn’t making her body come at the snap of his fingers, he made her mind curious and wonder. He made her laugh. He was her peace.

  Another planet. Sure, why not? There wasn’t much here for her, anyway.

  Maddie swallowed. Another planet. Okay. That sounded a little more strange, a little less like a vacation and more like she’d lost her mind.

  Swallowing down the dry bite, she doubted herself again. What if she was dreaming this all up? Witches, shifters, vampires, goblins, freaky Fae people. Aliens? Uh. That one had her mind stretched a little thin.

  “Mom?”

  The room temperature droped a few degrees as her mother shimmered into existence.

  Sure, now the woman came when called.

  “Yes, dear?”

  Maddie rubbed her temples.

  “Mom? This whole Kal thing. He’s real, right?”

  Her mother's ghost shimmered in and out as she milled about.

  “Oh yes, dear. I’m pretty sure your body can tell he’s real.”

  Maddie’s face heated. “Yeah. Okay. Right. But what about this whole space thing?”

  Her mother paused. “Oh that. Yes, yes. Of course. He’s really not from here.”

  Rolling her eyes, she stood. “Mom. I get he isn’t from here, but what does that mean?”

  Her mom started to bob again and shimmer in and out before stopping.

  “I mean, Maddie, sweetheart. He’s from another world. One much more complex than even our own. You’ll live for an eternity there, or well, much longer than your mind can grasp. Their magic is so much more than even yours.”

  Right. Okay.

  It’s real. She’d be leaving. From the corner of her eye, Maddie caught her mother's ghost going from corner to corner, crossing the room, circling back.

  “Mother? What’s going on? Please settle down. I won’t leave if you don’t want me to.”

  Her chest tightened.

  Okay. Maybe she’d have to come up with another solution.

  “No. No. Dear, you have to go. It’s uh. Well; promise me you’ll do as I say and he will come for you.”

  Tilting her head, she glared at her mom. “I’d ask if you were drunk, but I know that’s not a ghost thing.”

  She suddenly noticed her mother wringing her hands.

  “Mom? Are you okay? You’re a ghost. You shouldn’t be stressed out.”

  Maddie’s mom stopped in front of her, taking on a mostly corporeal figure.

  “Sweetie. You don’t understand. Kal is meant to be yours, but with him comes one more hurdle. One that I have tried to see any other way around. There is none. If all goes as planned, you will come out stronger. If all does not go as planned, well, we best never think that way. In all the variations of the future, Kal has never failed.”

  Maddie’s heart pounded to the beat of sheer panic.

  “Mother, now you’re just scaring me.”

  Her mother nodded. “Yes. Okay. Good. That means you’ll listen.”

  Maddie reached for her mother's hands. They weren’t quite human, but as she let her magic flow, her mother appeared more and more alive. Perhaps whatever it was wouldn’t be too bad, and if it was, at least she got to hold her mother’s hands one more time.

  “When they come for you, don’t use your magic. Or well, attempt to not use it much.”

  “Mother? Who is ‘they’?”

  Her mom nibbled her lip. “You’ll find out soon enough.” Her eyes darted to the door.

  “Madeleine? Forgive me, but this is for your own good. And, just remember he will come for you. It’s best these people don’t know your true powers.”

  Maddie tried to pull her hands away from her mother, her words scaring her. What the hell. She couldn’t pull away as if her hands were somehow glued to her mother’s in an electric current. Within a few seconds Maddie suddenly felt drained and stumbled backwards.

  “Mother? What did you do?”

  Trying to raise an arm, she grunted in the effort. Maddie didn’t even have the energy to be scared anymore.

  Her mother’s face blurred in and out of focus.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. This is the best way to protect you. Your magic will return to full strength soon enough. I had Mrs. Webber cast a transfer spell for me. You know how weak she is though, but I needed to. They are of little threat to you being weak. You will need to protect Kal and his brothers, and you will. But right now, you need to protect you, first.”

  “Who is ‘they’.” Sinking to the floor, Maddie suddenly didn’t see the point in standing. Maybe a nap. Naps were good.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  She peeked, trying to open her eyes.

  “Is that them, Mom?”

  Maddie couldn’t be sure, but she was pretty sure her mother nodded.

  So tired.

  “Trust me. Trust in Kal.”

  “Yeah. Sure, mom. Suck my energy. I’ll trust you.” Maddie was so damn tired though. Honestly, she didn’t think she could panic right now if she wanted to.

  Getting up failed once, twice, and then, nope. She rolled over onto all fours and started to crawl.

  Another knock.

  Impatient much? She’d get there when she damn well got there.

  When had that damn door gotten so far?

  Fumbling at the lock, she pulled it open with a creak.

  “Hello?” she asked.

  Blinking at the brightest damn sun, Maddie fought to see against the light streaming through.

  “Maddie? Are you alone?”

  She blinked again. His voice. So familiar.

  So tired.

  Maddie nodded as she slid back down the door propping her up. Her arms shook in exhaustion. Nope, she wasn’t staying up. That was fine. The floor was now her friend.

  “Maddie? On my God! What did that monster do to you?”

  Her head rolled back and forth. Who the hell was at her door? The voice it was so familiar.

  Oh, right. Light bulb moment. “Donnie?”

  She tried to focus on the dark blob at the door, looking up into his face.

  “Of course it’s Donnie. Who else would it be?”

  Her head was really heavy. Ma
ddie fought against her will and the weakness in her muscles as her heavy head lolled to the left. Then she pulled her head to the right. Well, this wasn’t going as planned. Wait, what was the plan? Was there a plan?

  “Maddie. Come here. Are you drunk?”

  What had he just asked? Everything was static.

  “What? Drunk? No. So tired.”

  Muffled voices in the background had her trying to force herself to focus. Stupid witches. Think Maddie. Think. When in doubt just repeat shit you’ve heard, right? She giggled. Okay, maybe she was drunk.

  “Donnie? Are you alone?” Her words might have had a bit of a slur. She’d curse at her mom later.

  “What? No. Why would I be alone to come face to face with a monster? I’m here to save you.”

  Save? No.

  “No. No. I don’t need to be saved.”

  Unwelcome hands wrapped around her and started to pull her up.

  “I beg to differ. The son of a bitch alien has done something to you.”

  The words took a few seconds to process.

  “No. Well, maybe. In bed.” She started to giggle again. Fuck. What had her mother done?

  So tired.

  “Don’t drop me, okay?” was all she said as her legs buckled.

  Surprisingly, he didn’t. Maybe she should have given Donnie more credit.

  That elicited a snort from her. Ha, ladylike.

  It didn’t matter. Donnie still couldn’t hold a candle to Kal.

  “Ha. Candle.”

  Donnie gripped her harder and although it felt wrong, Maddie couldn’t stop laughing.

  “What? What candle,” Donnie asked.

  Maddie stopped laughing and couldn’t hold her head up. No more jokes. She needed to save the energy she had.

  “Someone help, already,” said Donnie.

  Maddie heard another person, someone she didn’t know.

  “What the hell is wrong with her? Is she even going to be able to help us?”

  A few grunts and groans before Maddie felt someone else lifting her feet. Kal wouldn’t need help. Her eyelids felt so heavy. Maybe she should just sleep. Yes, sleep. Her mother said not to use her magic, anyway. Although, right now she wasn’t even sure her mother had left any magic at all.

  Her feet lifted, someone grabbed her butt, and then she was sitting. That was rude. Leaning over, she sort of sat, sort of leaned. What the hell?