As his muscles regained strength, Dom leaned down and kissed Lana, long and hard, sealing himself to her once more in an unspoken promise that he would forever protect her and be by her side. And then, summoning his energy, he slowly came out of her and stood, striding to the bathroom so he could clean up and quickly rejoin his mate.
“If I had known this is what mating you would be like, I would have done it sooner,” she said, stretching out on the bed and then shifting onto her side to get a better view of Dom as she watched him.
“I think everything happened the way it did for a reason,” he said, coming back to the bed and pulling the sheets around them and then wrapping himself around her. He glanced at the clock on the side of the wall. In an hour or so, the kittens would need feeding. But for now, there was time to simply relax and be with his mate.
For a moment, Lana pondered what he said, then nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’m just fortunate I got you in the end,” she said with a smile.
“On the contrary, I’m fortunate I got you.”
“Are you always going to be this grossly romantic, amethyst dragon?” she asked, nestling into him as he wrapped his arms around her more tightly.
“Yes. You’ll just have to get used to it I guess,” he said, placing a kiss behind her ear, making her giggle.
For a long while, they remained there, snuggling and enjoying each other’s company. Life would resume soon enough, with its lists of to-dos and plans to be made. But it would be far different than before. Now there was purpose, a reason to fight knowing there was a special someone out there who loved and understood him and who wanted to be by his side just as badly as he wanted to be by hers, more than air itself even.
Dom leaned over and set the alarm on his clock, then held Lana as she snored lightly, her long breaths rhythmic and untroubled. Then he closed his eyes and felt darkness slowly overcome him as he drifted off.
And for the first time in forever, he slept peacefully.
Epilogue
A few months later, Dom was sitting with a much older Spot, looking out at the moonlight, when he saw a shadow pass over the window.
Lana stirred in bed, and Dom waved a hand, sending peace to her.
The past few months had been bliss, and now his mate was expecting and he wanted her to rest for both her and the baby.
Citrine was settling into the mansion, though not yet showing any interest in finding a mate, and the dark oracle had disappeared to who knew where.
He’d been able to tell Lana about what had happened with Thurston the day he’d saved her and been able to share more of his secrets as time had gone on. And she had enjoyed getting back into designing, which had been easier now that Dom with his money could give her backing better than anyone had before.
He grinned as he stroked Spot, glad his treasure could be used to help someone he loved.
Ruby and Sapphire had come to visit as well. Sapphire’s mate was very pregnant now, and the other dragons had caught up, except for Alistair and Bridget, who seemed in no hurry to settle down. Zach was unbearably overprotective now that Erin was expecting, and Ruby and Faye seemed happy and content.
All in all, Dom felt he was living some kind of fantasy, a life he’d never dreamed possible. And it was all thanks to finding Lana and rescuing her in that tower. All thanks to being awakened. Who knew this world would be able to offer him everything the other world hadn’t been able to?
He heard a soft tap at the window and slowly stood, looking around suspiciously. He tied his robe tighter around his waist and walked to the window, listening for noises.
A rock hit it, tapping it and making Lana stir, and Dom scowled, looking out to see who it was. When he locked eyes on the figure standing on the lawn, his jaw dropped.
“Aegis?” he said to himself quietly, unable to hold in his shock.
Aegis waved for him to come down, gesturing impatiently, and Dom looked over at his mate. He owed Aegis a debt and couldn’t really ignore him, but he didn’t want to cause her any worry or trouble. However, she was peacefully sleeping, so he risked sneaking away just for a moment.
He had to figure out what the emerald dragon could possibly need.
Dom set Spot down and crept quietly down the stairs and out the front door, shutting it as softly as possible behind him.
Aegis walked forward to meet him, and they both sat on the front steps, a few feet apart. Aegis still looked tired, maybe even worse than before, and his hands were twisting some piece of paper or fabric, a habit he’d had even back when Dom had run into him in the old days.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” Dom asked, only semi-sarcastically. The man had helped him save his mate, after all, even if he’d done it for his own selfish motives.
“Don’t think so low of me, Dominic,” Aegis sneered. “And stop pretending we don’t read thoughts.”
“I prefer speaking,” Dom said. “Anything else feels underhanded.”
“As if that ever bothered me,” Aegis said, leaning against a pillar.
“I remember a time when being a total villain might have bothered you,” Dom said, eyeing him thoughtfully.
Aegis shrugged. “That was a lifetime ago. Literally now, isn’t it?” He put his hands behind his head and rested on them.
“So seriously, why are you here? I need to get back to my mate.”
“You mean the mate you have because you owe me?”
“I would have figured out a way,” he replied.
“You’re just lucky she never agreed to have the ring on, or even pulling it off wouldn’t have ended it,” Aegis said.
“I know. That’s what happened to Bridget and Alistair. They both agreed to the ring but didn’t know what it—”
Aegis waved a hand. “I care little about such petty things.”
“Taking a mate isn’t petty,” he said.
“Anyway,” Aegis said, keeping his tone even. He was clearly trying to sound casual, but his body was tense, his brow slightly furrowed, his lips pursed. “I have something to ask you. A favor in exchange for the one I did for you. Is it true you see dead people?”
Dom was speechless. “Where did you hear that?”
“It’s been a rumor for a long time. When I ran across you in the old days, I remember you were an outcast for some reason or another. Always trying to stay alone. That would be a good reason. Most people wouldn’t understand.”
“Right,” Dom said. “They wouldn’t. But what about it? What if I could?”
Aegis took a deep breath. “Then I would ask you to use your powers for me as I used mine for you. Have you ever seen Opal?” The emerald dragon’s eyes glittered as he stared out at the night, and for a second, Dom caught his breath at the emptiness in the other man’s gaze.
“No,” he said honestly. “And I think I would have. I’ve seen echoes of everyone we knew that has passed. Some that I had no idea had passed until I saw the echo.”
“Echo?” Aegis asked.
“Something like a ghost, but it only speaks once, one last message, and disappears.”
“Maybe she echoed to someone else,” Aegis said. “You didn’t know her personally.”
Dom shook his head. “She would have appeared to me. She was a dragon.” He leaned back on his hands. “Why do you ask? Are you still looking for her? I thought you gave up long ago. That’s what I heard.”
“You don’t give up on something like that,” Aegis said. “You just try to move on. Live. Distract yourself. Because if you have to wonder where they are, what they’re doing, if someone is hurting them, you’ll go insane. But she made her choice, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Still, at times, I wondered if she was dead. And then I remembered about your powers, and…”
“And you decided to ask me.”
“Yes,” Aegis said, standing and brushing off his pants and pulling his cloak back around him. He looked out at the grass waving in the darkness and the forest bathed in moonlight. “But you haven’t
seen her. That means she’s still out there.” He sighed. “I’m not sure if that’s the most beautiful or hideous thought in the world. That she’s out there and I can’t find her.”
Dom was silent. He couldn’t imagine Aegis’s grief. He hadn’t known how much the dragon had cared. Apparently, despite his caustic personality, the poisonous emerald dragon had possessed a heart at one time.
Too bad that heart was broken now and seemed to have no bearing on his terrible choices.
“My choices are fine, thank you very much,” Aegis snapped. Then his face softened. “Thank you, though, for what you told me. At least now I know. She’s out there. That means there’s hope that someday I could find her.”
His face looked oddly beautiful as it turned wistful, and Dom found himself almost hypnotized by how perfect the emerald dragon looked in the moonlight when his face wasn’t marred with misery and stress.
But then, with a small shrug of his powerful shoulders, Aegis was back to his normal, dark self. “No, I know better than to hope for that.” He started to walk forward and gave Dom one more look. “Do tell me if you hear anything from her, will you?”
“Do you want me to look for her?” Dom asked.
“Can you do that?”
“I don’t know,” Dom said. “I’ve never looked for someone I didn’t meet. I don’t know her voice.”
“Sometimes I think I’m forgetting as well,” Aegis said. “Sometimes I wake up physically aching to hear her voice.”
Dom swallowed, uncomfortable in the face of the other dragon’s pain. “I will look for her.”
“I don’t expect much,” Aegis said. “If Opal doesn’t want to be found, no one will find her.”
“What are her powers?” Dom asked.
“I’m afraid I would like to keep that to myself,” Aegis said, walking slowly away. “But do let me know if you hear.”
“I will,” Dom said. “And thank you.”
Aegis shrugged, and he changed into his dragon and took off into the night.
Dom walked back inside, shut the door, locked it, and headed up to his mate. After what had just happened, he wanted to hold her. He got on the bed on top of the covers and snuggled in against her.
She stirred.
“Dom, what is it?”
“I love you,” he said. “So much.”
She grinned and pulled him close. “You, too. Now go to sleep.”
Warmth washed over him. She was everything. She was carrying his child. And it didn’t matter if it was a boy or a girl, just like it didn’t matter that Spot had turned out to be a girl rather than a boy. No matter what, he would love their baby.
And no matter what, he would try to help Aegis find Opal. Everyone deserved the kind of love he’d found with Lana.
He put his hand over his mate’s softly curved belly and kissed the back of her neck. And then he went to sleep, dreaming of the future, so beautiful on the horizon.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed Dom and Lana’s story! Can you guess who is next? It might just be someone everyone has been asking for since he first showed up…despite his semi-wicked ways. And I think I have a few twists no one will see coming.
If you loved Dom and Lana, and can’t wait to see Aegis, let me know in a review!
Also, make sure you are on my newsletter so you can know when the next book is out!
http://eepurl.com/bgG7Kf
Thanks again for all of your support with my newest dragons. If you enjoyed this one, please help me by leaving a review so others can find it!
Sincerely Terry
Looking for something to read while waiting for the next dragon?
I have three awesome boxed set options for you, both put together because I’m so grateful for what you’ve done for my dragons. Both are on sale for only .99 and you can get them in KU! A deal since they are usually 3.99 or 4.99!
If you haven’t read my other (menage) dragons, then here’s your change to do it on the cheap.
Double Dragons Boxed Set
If you haven’t read my other (menage) dragons, then here’s your change to do it on the cheap! Plus, it contains the couple you see in a cameo in Onyx Dragon!
Three sexy pairs of shifter enforcers find their curvy mates in this danger-filled, sensual series!
Tiger Protectors Boxed Set
If you’ve read my dragons but not my tigers, this one is for you!
Three sexy tiger shifter brothers are on the prowl for curvy mates. Also included is the bonus, a sexy book starring their dragon bosses!
Bear Haven Boxed Set
Bear seeking Mate: Curves preferred
Four full-length, fast-paced shifter romance novels! Enjoy these big, growly Montana men as they find the perfect curvy mates for a happily ever after!
These sets are only for a very limited time, just for my fans! Don’t miss them.
Thanks,
Terry
Terry Bolryder Reading List
A Note From Terry
Most of my series go by species. All of my books are standalone, but if you want to read them in order and see characters reappearing, here is my list of how the order for each species. So just choose your favorite shifter!
Bears
Bearstone Park Series
A billionaire tech mogul, a movie star, and an Olympic snowboarder come back to Bearstone Park and find unexpected but wonderful mates.
Bearllionaire
Bearlebrity
Bearthlete
Beary Sexy Boxed Set: All three brothers in one
Soldier Bear Series
These ex special-forces fighting bears are about to find curvy mates in beautiful, remote Bearstone Village.
Big Bad Bear
Big Sexy Bear
Big Strong Bear
Bear Haven Ranch Series
These rancher bear brothers need to find mates to keep the family land. Luckily, three curvy city girls are about to arrive just in time.
Mountain Bear
Rancher Bear
Wild Bear
Mountain Lion
Bear Claw Security
These sexy ex-special forces soldier bears are ready to protect in a whole new way, as bodyguards of the exclusive Bear Claw Security.
Bear to the Bone
Bear-ly a Hero
Bear to the Rescue
Bear-ly Human
Bear to the End
Polar Heat Series
A matchmaking papa bear sets his three bear shifter sons up with women on a Caribbean island.
Bear-ever Yours
Some Bear to Love
One in a Bear-l-lion
Remem-bear Me (Dad’s book)
Polar Heat Boxed set (Savings!)
Dragons
Dragons of New York (Menage)
Dragons work in pairs, the fire-breathing enforcers of the shifter world and rescuers of anyone in distress. And these sexy dragons are about to find mates:
Double Dragons
Desired by Dragons
Destined Dragons
Tiger Protector Series (Spin-off of Dragons)
Three tiger brothers trained by dragon shifters work to bring evil shifters to justice while finding the perfect curvy mates.
A Tiger’s Bounty
A Tiger’s Treasure
A Tiger’s Destiny
A Dragon’s Heart
Awakened Dragons
These powerful, newly awakened ancient dragons are stronger, more vicious, more powerful, and ready to save humankind, if only they can decide to be heroes rather than villains…
Onyx Dragon
Sapphire Dragon
Ruby Dragon
Diamond Dragon
Amethyst (this book)
Lions
Lions of Pride Island
The hot royal family of shifters is ready to find mates!
King of Rock
Prince of Fate
Protector of the Pride
Wolves (The Alpha Series)
&n
bsp; Alpha Games Serial (Complete story with boxed set)
An alpha female returns home to the pack mates she left and finds herself choosing between three alpha males in this paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder
Alpha Games Boxed Set
Alpha Rogue Serial (Novellas with cliffhangers between volumes)
An MMA fighting shifter meets his match in his exciting paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder.
Alpha Rogue Boxed Set
Alpha Contender Serial (Novellas with cliffhangers between volumes)
A average human woman finds out she’s a desirable female alpha and ends up in a mansion with ten possible suitors in this paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder.
Alpha Contender Boxed Set
Ultimate Alpha Boxed Set (One huge series)
Ultimate Alpha Boxed Set
Alpha Defender
When alpha wolf Thor finds an acquaintance on his doorstep needing his help, will he take the mysterious person in, or step aside?
*Stars Thor from Alpha Contender Series*
Alpha Defender on Amazon
Wolf Protectors Series
Three hot, wolf shifter brothers run a martial arts studio and divide their time between training to be the toughest around and winning over their sexy, independent mates. All in KU!
*Stars Asher from Alpha Contender Series*
Alpha Champion
Alpha Hero
Alpha Protector
Amethyst Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 5) Page 16