by Riley Storm
Rane slowed. “You were asking about nefarious plans,” he countered. “And you know it.”
“This is quite nefarious, actually,” she said, noting the number of dragons present, and the way they were all spreading out through the crowd, talking to each other, but also to a great many witches. “Look at this. You threw a party but I see what you’re really trying to do here, mister.”
Rane’s face was filled with sheer innocence. “Whatever do you mean, my darling?”
She rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of her man. “Like I don’t think you’re trying to strengthen bonds between our two people. Perhaps form a few more relationships out of this. Maybe even a few hookups as well, to spread the word that your people aren’t all horrible.”
“You have a devious mind, love mine. How could you ever suspect me of doing something like that?”
Natasha just shook her head, knowing better than to keep going with that line of conversation. It was quite evident to her what Rane and his people were trying to do, but she approved of it. The witches and the dragons needed to come together, to learn to trust one another, to be friends.
It would benefit everyone.
“Can we dance?” she asked as the song switched.
Rane frowned, looking above her head. “Give me a few minutes first, will you?” he asked. “Then I’ll be yours for the rest of the night.”
Following his gaze, she glanced over her shoulder to see Rokh, the fire dragon and a few others that she didn’t recognize approaching. They must want to talk with Rane, she realized, understanding the tightness in her mate’s face. What about, she wondered?
“Sure, of course.” She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, waved politely at Rokh, and then headed back toward the table with the chocolate treats on it.
Chapter Forty
Rane
“Rane.”
“Rokh,” he replied, standing his ground as the trio of shifters nominally in charge stood across from him.
Besides the short-tempered fire dragon leader, there was also Liam, one of the only remaining members of the Jade Clan to make it through the portal, and Jarri, a frost dragon. They were the oldest shifters on Earth, and as such had sort of fallen into leadership positions.
“You did all this.”
Rane nodded at Rokh. “Yeah. I told you I would.”
“With a slight delay,” the fire dragon pointed out.
“I was framed for something I didn’t do, then attacked in the middle of the night and nearly died,” he said dryly. “I’m glad you were able to find it in you to wait another week so I could do a proper job.”
The fire dragon grinned. “And I’m glad you did,” he said, scanning the room. “You did a hell of a job, Rane. A hell of a job.”
“Thank you,” he said, feeling buoyed by the praise. Praise for what he’d done.
“We may have underestimated you,” Jarri, said, sticking out his hand. “I wasn’t sure that giving you the responsibility to throw something this big was the right thing to do, but I’m more than happy to have been proven quite wrong. On that account.”
Rane bobbed his head. “Thank you,” he said, repeating the phrase yet again, but still meaning it. This meant a lot to him as well. The past week had been busy, between seeing Loiner off, exploring things with Natasha, repairing his room, and also planning the biggest party Winterspell had seen in a long time.
But he’d done it, and he was getting the approval from those he sought it from most. Natasha, and the other dragons.
“You should be proud of yourself,” Liam, said in his trademark quiet tone that still managed to carry amidst the noise. “Don’t let anyone doubt your abilities again. Including yourself. Remember, not only did you do all this, but you managed to rid Winterspell of one of its worst members along the way. For all of us who had been forced to deal with Loiner, thank you.”
Rane laughed and shook the other dragon’s hand. “Trust me, it was my pleasure as well.”
They all smiled.
“You guys are all going to stay, right?” Rane pushed, smiling. “There are plenty of women out here. Just look around. I’m sure at least one of them will give you the time of day.”
Rokh glared at him, though the look held no animosity. “Your candor is appreciated as always, Rane,” he said solemnly, though the tone was betrayed by the corners of his lips curling upward in a small smile. “Maybe we’ll stay for one drink.”
“One drink,” Jarri agreed.
“Well then, I shall let you enjoy the party,” he said. “I must go ensure that some of the snacks survive for a bit longer.”
The others nodded and he left, going over and snagging Natasha’s arm as she popped another treat into her mouth.
“I believe I owe you a dance,” he said, leading her out onto the floor.
“Why, I believe you are correct,” she said around melting chocolate.
Rane grinned. He’d never seen anyone more perfect before in his life.
And she was all his.
Chapter Forty-One
Natasha
They sat around in a circle, plates on the table in front of them filled with the remnants of their dinners. She watched Rane for a moment as he fell into deep conversation with Damien about something from back home.
It was nice to watch the two of them talk about Dracia without getting dark and sad. She wanted them to remember where they had come from, to honor and cherish the good things that had been there, that it had given them.
Secretly, she hoped that Rane might write a book about the dragon homeworld, so that it would be preserved for all time, a record of what it had been like. But the wound was still too new for her to push that idea on him. He would come to it when he was ready.
“Can I ask you something?” Anna said, leaning in closer.
“Of course.” She looked over at her new friend. This was the first time the four of them had gathered together, and Natasha was over the moon at the idea of having a ‘couples’ friend. A pair where they could all get together and feel comfortable with each other, regardless of who was talking to whom.
“Have you felt…different, since?” Anna said, chewing on her lower lip.
Natasha grew serious. Whatever the other woman was asking, it was something that clearly meant a lot to her. “Different in what way? Since when?” she asked, wanting to be absolutely sure she understood.
You know what she means.
Maybe, but Natasha didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
“Since…him,” Anna said, glancing at Rane for a moment before her eyes returned to Damien and then to Natasha.
Natasha exhaled slowly. Maybe it wasn’t just her. “Stronger,” she said quietly. “My magic has come easier. I can do more. Much more.”
Anna nodded. “Me too. I…I was never all that gifted with my strength but now…”
“Now you’re brimming with it,” Natasha said. “You’ve vaulted up into the upper ranks. I’ve heard.”
Anna looked uncomfortable at the praise, but she nodded. “I don’t understand it though. I’ve never heard of this happening before.”
“Me neither,” Natasha agreed. “But the same thing has happened to me. When we were fighting Loiner,” she said. “Rane hit me with his lightning. I was able to channel that through my body and use that power on Loiner. That shouldn’t be possible.”
Anna’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know that!” she hissed.
“I’ve not really told many people about it,” Natasha said. “I…I didn’t know who would believe me. I should have thought of you, I guess, but…”
“But you didn’t know,” Anna finished. “I know. Same.”
“What does it mean?” Natasha wanted to know, sitting upright.
The pair of them had already discussed the other side-effects of falling for the dragons, including the bond that united them, the almost physical need to be close to one another, to feed off each other’s energy. It was so strong it wa
s nearly tangible.
Natasha had listened to Anna describe her similar feelings for Damien with great relief, happy to know that she wasn’t insane, that this was, in some way, normal when it came to being with a dragon shifter.
“I don’t know,” Anna confessed. “I’m not even sure how it or when it happened. I don’t get it.”
“Me neither. But it’s related to them, somehow,” Natasha said, nodding her head across the table at the two men.
“What are you two talking about over there?” Damien asked with a smile.
“Women stuff,” Natasha said. “You wouldn’t like it.”
The dragon shifter raised his eyebrows, but just shrugged when she didn’t elaborate. “Have it your way,” he said, returning his attention to Rane.
The two women shared smiles, falling back into a comfortable silence as they both considered the implications of their increased powers.
“Have you ever wondered if...you know, if we’re fully compatible?” Anna asked after a long silence.
Natasha almost asked what the other woman meant by that, when she saw Anna’s hand move to her stomach.
Oh. Oh.
“Why, are you…?”
“No,” Anna said with a smile. “I was just curious, that’s all.”
“It’s crossed my mind,” she admitted. “But…I don’t know. Everything seems like it should be but…who knows. Guess you’ll have to be the guinea pig,” she teased.
Anna’s face lit up. “Okay, but you have to tell Damien.”
The two of them laughed.
The men looked over at them with puzzled expressions.
The women just laughed harder.
***
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Thank you for reading Trapped by the Dragon. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review so that others might enjoy the adventure as well.
Next Book: Dragon’s Chosen Mate (Storm Dragons #3) – Out now!
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Other Books by Riley Storm
World: Winterspell Academy
Storm Dragons
Stolen by the Dragon
Trapped by the Dragon
Dragon’s Chosen Mate (Feb 2020)
World: Plymouth Falls
High House Ursa
Bearing Secrets
Furever Loyal
Mated to the Enemy
Shifting Alliances
Blood Bearon
High House Canis
Savage Love
Blood Mate
Moonlight Bride
Shadow’s Howl
Royal Alpha
High House Draconis
Fire Dragons Bride
Mated to the Water Dragon
Ice Dragon’s Caress
Earth Dragon’s Kiss
Claimed by the Dragon King
About the Author
Riley Storm
Riley is one of those early-morning people you love to hate, because she swears she doesn’t need caffeine, even though the coffee-maker is connected to her smartphone. She lives in a three-story townhouse by the good graces of a tabby-cat who rules the house, the couch, the table, well, basically everywhere. When she’s not groveling for forgiveness for neglecting to pet her kitty enough, Riley is strapped in to her writing chair coming up with crazy worlds where she can make her own decisions of when feeding time is and how much coffee can be drank without her friends—of which she has three—holding yet another intervention that they threaten to post on the internet.
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