Dragon Betrothed

by Amelia Jade

  Someone he needed to see.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Rose

  “I’m so happy you’re alive,” she said. “When I got that first message, I thought you were done for.”

  They were sitting in the car. Neither of them had spoken until long after the truck had disappeared back up the mountain. Her eyes were glued to the road, wondering when she would see Stoen come back down it. How long would it take for him to find Santis and kill him?

  Or what if the worst came to pass, and it was Santis that came back down the road and killed the both of them? Fleeing was useless, she knew that. If Santis won, he’d track them down and kill them just for spite now.

  “You care about him.”

  Teddy’s response hadn’t been at all what she expected. “What?”

  “Stoen.” Teddy was leaning back in his chair. Every few minutes he’d adjust his position, trying to find somewhere that wasn’t hurting him.

  “What about him?”

  “You care for him, Rose. I can see it. In the way you look at him. The way you talk to him.”

  “Of course I care for him. We’ve been through a lot together.” She gripped the steering wheel tightly as she spoke, thinking back to the past week and all that had occurred within it. Her life had been changed, that much was certain. With the discovery of Stoen’s true nature, his other side, and the conflict she’d found herself entrenched within, she knew she could never go back. Then there was Stoen himself. Their relationship.

  “This is more than just that, Rose. You know it is. I’ve never seen you like this around someone. He’s important to you. Very important.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  “Did you tell him that before he left?”

  Rose hesitated. Again. Just like she had with Stoen, unable to force out the words.

  Teddy groaned. “Please tell me you told him you loved him before he left?”

  “I…”

  “You didn’t, did you? You let him go off into a battle that he might not come back from, and you didn’t tell him? What’s wrong with you?”

  Rose cringed, but she was made of sterner stuff and wasn’t about to let her brother boss her around like they were kids anymore. She had her reasons. “You don’t know everything that’s gone on between us!”

  “Whatever it is, it hasn’t stopped you from caring for him,” Teddy observed casually. “So it shouldn’t stop you from confessing your feelings either.”

  “He proposed to me on our third date.”

  “I knew that already. And you rejected him, then moped about it for months, didn’t you? While you were out hiding from these assholes?”

  Rose looked away. “He spied on me. He paid Correll to stalk me and take pictures of me so that he could ‘ensure I was safe.’”

  Teddy chewed on that. “Okay, that’s a little much. Did he admit to it?”

  “No, I discovered it.” She sighed. “But he was upfront about why, and there were no perverted pictures or anything like that. Just…proof I was safe, I guess. But it still gives me the shivers.”

  “People make mistakes, Rose. Especially when it comes to someone they care about deeply. I…I get shifters a bit better now, after being around them for so long.”

  “So long? It was like, a few days.”

  He snorted, then winced in pain. “That’s just when they realized we were related and dragged me away from the others and started beating me. They caught me nearly a month ago.”

  “Oh.” The news of the length of his captivity wasn’t helping her feel better.

  “Don’t mope for me; you couldn’t have known. Besides, we’re not talking about me.” Teddy pointed out his window, up into the mountains. “We’re talking about Stoen. Your man.”

  “He’s not my…” Falling quiet, Rose realized she couldn’t complete that sentence. Not without lying to herself and to her brother. “Shit.”

  “That’s what I thought. Hey, what are you doing?”

  Buckling up her seatbelt, she looked over at him. “Strap in.”

  “Ohhh, no. We’re not doing what I think we’re doing, are we?”

  The supercar came to life around them, though it didn’t sound nearly as healthy as before. Spinning the wheel, she got them oriented in the proper direction, and then the acceleration slammed them back into their seats as the Vulcan raced forward.

  “There’s a pretty sharp turn up here,” Teddy said, hands on the door and edge of his seat, gripping tightly.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve taken a defensive-driving class before. And I’ve been in one high-speed pursuit already in the past few days. I got this.”

  The cars were a little different, but she declined to inform him of that trivial matter. They raced up the mountain, saying little until Teddy pointed at the side of the road. Nothing seemed to be there, no break in the tree line, but she slowed anyway, and suddenly there it was.

  “I’m sorry!” she shouted.

  “You better be!” Teddy yelped as the car moved onto the dirt road, something it was not meant for.

  “I was talking to the car!” she hollered back.

  The hypercar was bouncing wildly. Rose knew it likely wasn’t coming back from this, but she needed to get to Stoen, to tell him how she felt before it was too late.

  I’m coming. Just hold on.

  Bursting out from under the tree canopy Rose shrieked and spun the wheel sideways, hammering on the brakes at the same time. The car spun, feeling like it was going to flip up onto its side at any moment, before coming to a halt less than ten feet away from a body lying on the ground.

  The dust wasn’t even settling before she was out of the car. “Stoen!” she yelled, running to the first body. Not recognizing the face—it wasn’t Stoen or Correll—she dropped them and ran over to the other pair.

  “No, Stoen,” she cried, dropping to her knees next to him. “Please. Don’t be dead. Wake up. I need you to wake up.” She was shaking. Instinctively she tried to gather him in her arms, but he was too big, so she was forced to settle with his head in her lap. “No, I’m sorry. I…Stoen?”

  The big man’s eyes were blinking open, the light gray blending in perfectly with the sky above. “Rose?”

  “Stoen!” she cried, kissing him hard.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked groggily. “I thought I told you to get to safety.”

  “You did, but I didn’t listen. I had to tell you something.” She kissed his forehead, stroking the sides of his face over and over again.

  “What’s that? What’s so important that you risked your life to come up here?” He glanced behind her. “What did you do to the car?”

  She giggled. “Screw the car. I came up here for you!”

  “For me?”

  “Yes, for you, you big dummy. I needed to tell you that I love you.”

  Instantly she felt better. Happier, lighter, just better.

  Stoen reacted much the same way. His face lit up. Beaming from ear to ear, he pulled her face down to him, kissing her again, harder this time and more intimately despite the public setting.

  “I love you too,” he said.

  “I should have told you earlier. I was just…I was scared, Stoen.”

  “Me too,” he admitted softly.

  “What? What were you scared of? That you might be misinterpreting your feelings?” That was her biggest worry.

  “No. I know how I feel. I was scared of messing things up with you for a second time.”

  “Third,” she corrected.

  Stoen closed his eyes, his lips fighting a smile. “Right. I was scared of screwing up a third time. I just wanted to get it right. To do right by you.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Mostly I want you to be happy,” he explained on the exhale.

  “I am happy. With you. So you can stop worrying.”

  They kissed once more. Then another question popped into her head. “Why are you lying on the ground
?”

  “I was tired.”

  Beside them Correll groaned and sat up, favoring the left side of his lower chest and stomach. “Ow. What did I miss?”

  Stoen started laughing. Rose couldn’t quite explain why, but she joined in as well, and from over near the car she could hear Teddy wheezing his muted laughter as well.

  Correll just looked back and forth between the trio. “What the hell is so funny?”

  Rose laughed harder.

  Everything is going to be okay.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Rose

  “Well I’m glad that’s over.”

  Pushing open the doors she led the way out of the courtroom as behind them officers and bailiffs remanded four men out the side door and off to jail to start their sentencing.

  “We’re grateful for your help in this matter,” Stoen said, speaking formally.

  Rose knew he was referring to the dragons and their gratitude for her exposing the graverobbers, thus allowing their other fallen comrades to rest peacefully.

  “I’m just surprised at the speed of the courts,” Teddy said, coming up on her other side.

  Stoen took her hand as they walked. She smiled and gripped it tightly, glad as always for his reassuring presence. Although Rose could live on her own, she was finding that the intertwined life they had begun to lead was just as fulfilling. More so, in many ways.

  “I may have had a thing to do with that,” Stoen admitted.

  Shaking her head, she pointed at the exit. “Come on, I’m sure I don’t want to know more. Let’s just appreciate that the last of the scumbags are going behind bars for a very long time.”

  The trials had taken place two weeks after that final, frantic fight in the mountains. Four days of process, and the sentence had been handed down. Just like that. Teddy was right—it had been extraordinarily speedy. Rose didn’t want to hear how Stoen had gotten it done, but she was glad he had. With them all off the streets and incarcerated for a long, long time, she finally felt like maybe her life could regain some semblance of normalcy.

  That would be tough no matter what she’d gone through, but with the added knowledge that Stoen was a dragon shifter, and the fact that they were bound to one another in a way she was just starting to discover, Rose knew she would never again be “normal.” There were some perks though. He was filthy rich, stupidly hot, amazing in bed, and most of all, he was just fun to be around. There was rarely more than ten minutes at a time that went by without him making her laugh, smile, or feel good about herself. He was just that sort of guy.

  “Where we going?” Correll asked, bouncing up to join them.

  “Nowhere,” Stoen growled.

  Rose elbowed her mate. “Play nice.”

  “But he’s—”

  “No but’s. Tell him he’s welcome.”

  Correll leaned forward so she could see him around Stoen’s bulk. “Thanks, Rose!”

  “Anytime, Correll. Though you do bring up a good question. Where are we going?”

  “Wherever it is, one of you is driving,” Correll grumped. “My car still isn’t fixed yet.”

  Stoen snickered. “Sorry, cuz. Had to do what had to be done. It was a nice car though.”

  “Was,” Correll emphasized. “I still can’t believe you thought ramming a wolf with it was a good idea.”

  “Don’t look at me!” Stoen exclaimed, pointing at her. “It was Rose’s fault.”

  “What? Hey! It was not!”

  “I saw you hit Martin with it,” Correll reminded her. “And I know Stoen didn’t drive it up the mountain.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Teddy said as she swung her gaze around, looking for an out. “I could barely walk.”

  “Dammit.”

  The entire group laughed. Stoen held open the door and they all exited into the bright sunlight.

  It was a new chapter in her life, but it was one she was going to truly enjoy. No matter what the quirks.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Rose

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “You’ll see,” Stoen said cryptically, as he had ever since telling her to dress up and come with him that morning.

  After that he’d given her as long as she wanted to get ready, which was also unusual. No chivying her along, asking her to speed up. Rose had been told to dress up, and so she had, taking her time to do so. It all smelled unusual, and her curiosity was driving her up the wall.

  “Tease.”

  Letting go of the steering wheel he grabbed her hand. “You know it. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that.”

  “Yes, yes you will.”

  Another cryptic answer. Just what the hell was he planning? Were they going to a show of some sort? What was the occasion? It seemed a little early for that; it was only two thirty in the afternoon, but what else could it be? Wherever they were going it had a dress code, because he was wearing suit jacket and a button-up, which was not his style either.

  Looking around as they made another turn, she frowned. “Hey, I know this neighborhood!”

  A spot opened up on the side of the road ahead of them and Stoen guided the SUV into it with ease.

  “Let’s go!” he encouraged, popping open his door and hopping out.

  Rose was shaking her head as she followed him, unable to contain her own sense of enthusiasm and giddiness. Whatever it was that was planned, he was excited about showing her. The mood was rubbing off and she hopped from the SUV and quickly met up with him on the sidewalk, linking arms.

  “When will I find out where you’re taking me?”

  “Soon,” he teased, setting off at a brisk but manageable pace for her. “Reallllly soon.”

  “Like how—oh. That soon.”

  They stopped in front of a store. The window displayed various loaves of bread, rolls, and fresh bagels too. She frowned, trying to place why coming to a bakery would be such a big deal. Then it hit her.

  “Stoen, this is where we first met, isn’t it?”

  He grinned, holding the door open for her. “It is.”

  Following him inside she looked around. “Right here is where you bumped into me.”

  Stoen nodded, unable to contain his enthusiasm now. “Where we first said hello.”

  “After you spilled my freshly cut loaf of bread all over the ground.”

  “Seriously?” Stoen blinked rapidly, his mouth all scrunched up. “That’s the memory you associate with this place? A scattered loaf of bread?”

  “It’s good bread,” she countered, sticking out her tongue at him.

  “I can’t argue that.” He fiddled in his pocket. “But I was hoping that maybe we could associate some different memories with here as well.”

  Rose gasped as in the middle of the crowded bakery her man got down on one knee.

  “Rose Pridham. Since the day I laid eyes on you, in this exact spot, at this exact height come to think of it, I haven’t stopped loving you. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather spend my life with than you. Will you do me the honor of not running away this time, and also of marrying me?”

  She let out some horrid combination between a giggle and a sob, too overcome with emotion to care and yet horrified at the same time. “I’ve never been much of a runner, Stoen.” She winked at him and extended her arm. “My answer though, is yes. One hundred percent, now and always, yes.”

  He slipped the ring on her finger. It was cool to the touch, much chillier than expected.

  “It’s made from quicksilver,” he explained as he stood, the words covered by the rising buzz from the crowd around them. “It’s a part of me.”

  She admired it, the light flashing off it, reflecting around the store to a smattering of admiring sounds from some of the other women.

  “Come here,” she ordered, leaping into his arms to kiss him.

  Stoen spun her in a slow circle while the crowd of onlookers ch
eered them on.

  “This is much better than a concert,” she whispered into his ear.

  Stoen sagged slightly. “How long are you going to hold that against me? It was like five months ago!”

  She waggled her finger against his back. “As of today, I plan on holding it against you for the rest of your life.”

  Stoen kissed her on the cheek. “About that. There’s something you should know.”

  She stiffened. “What does that mean? That sounds kind of ominous.”

  “Oh. No. Just that you might want to consider your comment about the rest of your life.”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t you think eight-hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge?”

  ********

  ********

  This concludes Dragon Betrothed, Quicksilver Dragons Book 3.

  To get a bonus scene between Rose & Stoen, click the link below.

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  I hope you enjoyed the adventure.

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  Want More of These Characters?

  Hey!

  Thanks for digging in to my back matter for more books to read. I’ve written a number of series now, in three main worlds. All worlds have an easy and convenient to read introduction, with a number of stories in it that will drag you right into the world.

  The Outsiders

  Ancient Dragons have been awakened to fight a monstrous enemy from out of this world. But they have one condition first: They must be allowed to find their mates.

  Dragon Temptation (Crimson Dragons Book 1)

  Cadia

  In this world shifters and humans live apart. Will imaginary barriers prevent real love? Not sure where to start? Try reading:

  Frost Dragon (Dragons of Cadia Book 1)

  Genesis Valley