Mate Of A Dragon Villain (Skeleton Key)

by Mandy Rosko

  Sneak Peak! Alpha, Alpha Bites Book 1

  Garret Maxwell lifted his head at the sound of that panicked scream, as did Jax and Dane, their ears twitching in the direction of the noise.

  Garret looked at them. "They've found her. Move!"

  They did. They ran with him, but they weren't as fast. He was the fastest of his men, especially now, and he tore through the trees and shrubs. Branches snapped off as he charged through the woods in his most powerful shape, his tail whipping out behind him as he ran to his woman.

  Dennis had found her. That cock-sucking asshole was going to pay. If she were hurt or dead, Garret wouldn't let him die, not even when he begged for death!

  Dane and Jax called out to him, but he ignored them. His human mind meshed with the animal within him He was on a mission. They both were, he and the beast inside. The scent of his woman and Dennis was getting stronger. Not just them, but others as well. Dennis had brought more of his pack of bastards to help him take out one girl, like cowards. They'd come through here, and he could still hear the frightful shrieking.

  They were playing with their prey before they decided to kill her.

  The sound of her screams sent his animal into a frenzy. It was as strong and powerful as if someone had thrown blood into his face and Garret was allowing it. He didn't fight it. If it pushed him faster and made him more dangerous, then so be it.

  He roared as he spotted Dennis and his men. Laurence, Dennis's beta, was inches away from piercing his puny claws into Garret’s woman's chest. Pathetic they may be, but humans were as soft as warm butter. He would spill her blood all over the ground, and it could kill her. Garret was suddenly flying. In what seemed like slow motion, Laurence turned, his eyes widening, as if he honestly had not seen this coming.

  Dennis roared and tried to rush at him, but Garret was faster. He ran through Dennis's wolves and leapt at Laurence's throat.

  The beta had no choice but to lift his arms and claws to fend off the attack.

  Garret crashed into him and they tumbled to the ground, rolling and snapping their teeth at one another.

  Kill him. He was going to fucking kill him. Garret could smell his woman on this piece-of-shit beta, and he was going to rip his skin from his face and body if that's what it took to remove the scent.

  Then he'd force the flesh down Laurence's throat and make him choke on it.

  Garret's woman screamed again, stealing his attention away from Laurence. Jax had arrived. Big and imposing—bigger than Garret even—he had his wings spread out over her body protectively as Dennis and his men attacked. It kept her safe from the claws and teeth, but it also kept her from running.

  It was good to have a dragon in his pack. It really was.

  It was a mistake to look away from his opponent, however, as Laurence lifted his muzzle and clamped it down on the side of Garret's throat.

  His fur was thick enough to prevent the teeth from doing more than pricking him, but that wild, animalistic need to fight and kill, to defend himself, returned with a vengeance. Garret's already large teeth lengthened in his mouth, becoming sharper and stronger. Spinning, he twisted until his throat was away from those smaller teeth, and then he bit down hard on Laurence's muzzle.

  The beta yelped and cried out, but Garret didn't let him go. He tasted blood in his mouth and the frenzy increased. He would bite the top half of his face right off!

  Something slammed into his side, pushing him off Laurence, and he landed hard. Aside from skin and fur in his mouth, he had not taken Laurence's nose with him.

  He rushed to his feet. Dennis stood between him and Laurence. Laurence was ignoring the woman now. Good. Garret risked another glance to the side. Dane was there, in his alpha bear shape, and he was doing an excellent job of keeping the fight between Jax and the others fair. He noted his woman still safe under Jax's wing. She was on her belly, arms over her head, but still clearly alive and safe. He could hear her heart hammering beneath all the noise, and he zeroed in on it until he could almost see it in his mind's eye.

  Garret glared at Dennis. "I will ruin you for this." His words were only somewhat slurred by his overly large teeth.

  Dennis snarled back at him, his large teeth snapping. "You already did."

  Garret opened his mouth and roared, a noise that shook the birds from their nests and would put Dane to shame. He slammed his fists down onto the ground before he lunged.

  Dennis shocked him by not meeting him head-on. Instead, he dodged to the side. At first, Garret thought it was just the man's cowardice coming through. No, Dennis was making a run for Jax and his woman.

  She lifted her head from her arms, her hazel eyes flying wide as she noted the beast that charged to her. Jax was too busy fending off the betas that snapped at him, and he would be taken off guard.

  Garret chased Dennis down, claws kicking up dirt, grass, rock, and pine needles as he launched himself at the other alpha.

  He didn't have time to get his momentum going, and he couldn't catch Dennis like this.

  He was almost on top of them!

  "Jax!"

  Jax looked over at the alpha that charged at him with all his body weight, and Garret noted the way the dragon braced himself. It wouldn't be enough.

  Garret snapped his teeth, and by some miracle, he caught Dennis's tail, bit down hard enough that he almost took it right off when he pulled back.

  Some of his teeth popped out of his mouth but his adrenaline pumped so high he felt no pain. Dennis howled as he was yanked back, losing most of the skin and fur on his tail.

  He veered off to the side.

  Garret spat his teeth out, and the fur and skin and blood. That had been gross, even for him.

  Dennis yowled as he climbed to his feet, looking back at his tail, and then at Garret, his muzzle crinkling in pain and rage. He sneered when Garret spat again, as if the taste of Dennis on his tongue disgusted him.

  It did, and Garret was glad Dennis took the hint.

  Dennis called out to his men, who had stopped their attack.

  "Fall back."

  Laurence growled, his hackles raised high. "No."

  The hair on Dennis's back, and what was left of his tail, stood up as he roared at him. "I said fall back!"

  Laurence cringed, practically giving Dennis his belly right then and there.

  The betas, who were still too close to Garret's woman for his liking, spread out, eyes still on their target. Glowering and growling, they fell back to stand behind their alpha.

  "You should stay, Dennis," Garret said, and now his monstrous voice was slurred thanks to a lack of some of his teeth. They'd grow back in a few days, but for now, with his adrenaline plummeting, he was throbbing in pain, could taste blood, and he wanted to fight. "We could end this right now. I might even make it quick for you."

  He wasn't going to make it quick.

  Dennis snarled at him. "If I ever see her again in my territory, I'll rip her apart."

  "Not your territory!" Garret yelled, then he roared until his throat hurt, spittle flying from his maw.

  Laurence, coward that he was, trembled even as he glared. It would be wonderful if he started to cry, but he didn't.

  Dennis didn't blink.

  He turned his back on Garret and walked toward the darkness of the trees. He did it so calmly and quietly, as if Garret and his men posed no threat at all.

  The insult of being disrespected like that nearly sent Garret into a flying rage. He moved to chase after his enemy and finally put him in his place.

  "Garret!"

  Jax's voice stopped him.

  He glanced over his shoulder, and Jax glared at him.

  He wasn't the strongest, even as a dragon, but Garret trusted his judgment; that's why he was second-in-command.

  Garret glanced down at his woman, who was still trembling. There was the faint scent of urine in the air, and Garret was pretty sure it hadn't come from Laurence when he'd roared at the man.

  Garret released a lumbering
growl, before rolling his shoulders and forcing himself to be calm.

  So many years of searching for her, just to find her like this, and so close to his home, too.

  If he'd waited until tomorrow, been patient enough to wait for a decent hour to reveal himself, he wouldn't have heard her screams for help. Dennis would have reached her first and Garret would have been too late. All this would be new to her. Not a good first impression, especially for a human, and Garret was so big, and Jax was bigger and had scales and wings. Garret wondered what this human woman was seeing as she looked at him.

  She was still on the ground, her face and body dirty, and her amber-brown hair was in a knotted mess with leaves and twigs sticking out at odd places. It might have once been in a bun, or some other hairstyle, but he couldn't tell. She trembled more violently as Garret approached.

  He did look like the creatures that had just attacked her. His arms were long, long enough that when he bent down to run on all fours, his top side was taller than his back side. Her entire head could easily fit in the palm of his hand, and each of his claws were as long as her fingers, though much sharper and thicker, of course.

  Then there was his face and muzzle, like that of a wolf, only one from nightmares.

  He thought perhaps she'd be less frightened if he made himself appear as a real wolf. Then he could make himself look almost cute to the human eyes, especially if she happened to be a dog lover.

  That had been the original plan. After he found her, he was going to show her his wolf shape, and prove to her that he could be trusted and sweet and protective of her. He'd planned on showing her this monstrous-looking shape only after she trusted him, when she, hopefully, would not fear him. Now it was too late.

  "No one will hurt you," he said.

  She tensed, her hazel eyes flying wide so he could see the whites all around them and a ring of bright blue. That didn't seem so common. He hoped she also had an uncommon sense of forgiveness after this, but she would learn to trust him. Even now, she must be feeling the pull between them as the mate of an alpha.

  He certainly felt it for her. She was beautiful.

  He held out his hand to her, but she flinched away from it as she continued to stare and say nothing.

  He didn't appreciate the way she continued to hide under Jax's wing.

  He looked to his friend, and Jax got the message and removed his wing.

  A light squeak escaped her throat when she realized the protection she'd been using was leaving her.

  "I will not hurt you. You are safe now."

  His woman turned her attention back to him. She pushed herself to her wobbly knees, but still did not take his hand. She only looked at it.

  "What's your name?"

  She swallowed. Her heartbeat was quick, but it was proof she was safe, that she was here with him. It soothed the beast inside.

  "Miranda Swanson."

  Nice name. Garret had known her last name, but her father had lied about her first name. Of course, he'd suspected that. That's why he'd had such trouble finding her when the man vanished.

  "Is this real?" She reached out and tapped lightly on the dark padding of one of his fingers before pulling back, observing, as though waiting for Garret to vanish in front of her.

  Or attack.

  "It's real. Please."

  He wanted her to touch him again. That light tap had jolted him in the best possible way. Warmth radiated through him. His mate was looking at him, was curious about him, and the beast within him was willing to curl in front of her and present his belly, as though to a beloved master for a pleasant scratch.

  There had been no mistake. The searching had been worth it.

  She touched him again, this time holding on to his finger and allowing Garret to help her to her feet. She was not a willowy girl, but she was lighter than air. He reminded himself again and again that her human nature made her small and fragile. It wasn't preferred to have a human mate, but this was his mate, and Garret would have to take extra care around her. He didn't want to break her.

  Dane suddenly hissed, catching his attention. "Garret, look."

  Dane pointed with one of his claws, and Garret glanced down.

  A bright splotch of blood seeped through the thin material of the ugly teal dress she wore. It was blooming outward, spreading and becoming darker at the center.

  "What?" Miranda looked down, saw the blood at her hip, and swayed on her feet. "Oh."

  Her knees lost their strength, but Garret caught her before she fell. She was so small in his large hands, and suddenly so pale.

  He'd thought the smell of blood was from the injuries he'd given to Laurence and Dennis.

  Garret stared at his mate, an alien sense of helplessness freezing his muscles for a half second before he snapped himself out of it. He looked to his men. "Move!"

  They started to run with him.

  Other Books by Mandy Rosko

  Alpha Bites Series:

  Alpha Book 1

  Alpha Bear Book 2

  Alpha Dragon Book 3 Coming Soon!

  Things in the Night Series:

  The Vampire's Curse Book 1

  The Legend of the Werewolf Book 2

  The Dragon and the Wolf M/M Novella

  The Shepard's Agony Book 3

  Things in the Night Box Set

  Dangerous Creatures Series:

  Burns Like Fire Book 1

  A Shock To Your System Book 2 M/M

  As Cold As Ice Book 3

  Howling For You A Novella

  Let Me Play a Trick on You A Novella Coming Soon!

  Woodland Creek:

  Bite Me

  Others:

  The Princess' Dragon Lord

  Sold To The Enemy

  My Angel Lover, Have Mercy on Me M/M

  Mate of the Wolf

  Night and Day Series:

  Night and Day Book M/M Book 1

  The Calm Before the Storm M/M Book 2

  All Hell Breaking Loose M/M Book 3

  Book 4 Coming Soon!

  Contemporary Romances:

  Arrangement With A Billionaire

  Book 2 Coming 2017!

  Medieval Romances by Rizzo Rosko:

  Lady Thief Book 1

  Lady Deception Book 2

  Copyright

  Smashwords License Statement

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Copyright Mandy Rosko 2016

  Cover Art by Jennifer Munswami

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author Mandy Rosko lives as a hermit and she works in Ottawa, Ontario. Every once in a while she peels herself away from writing and Internet surfing to socialize with real people. She loves videogames, Sailor Moon, and her dog. She’s hard at work on her next novel.

  @Rizzorosko

  mandyroskoromance

  www.mandyrosko.com