by Cara Wylde
A MATE FOR THE DRAGON GIRL
A VALENTINE’S DAY NOVELLA
Copyright © 2017 by Cara Wylde
All rights reserved.
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Emma Griffin
E-mail: [email protected]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
MORE VALENTINE’S DAY NOVELLAS
THE ALMA VENUS UNIVERSE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHAPTER ONE
London was hidden away in fog. It was almost too stereotypical for Astrid. She’d never been to London before, and she was both overjoyed and amused at how it had greeted her so perfectly. The tops of their skyscrapers were obscured by low hanging clouds, and the lights from the Eye created an aura in the misty air. It was something out of a Dickens novel, or a scene from a Ripper documentary.
Unfortunately, however, she wasn’t here for the sights, as much as she would have loved to get lost in the maze that seemed to pop right out of the Arthurian countryside to take back over the metropolitan sprawl the industrial revolution had created across the land. There were dragons in that tale, weren’t they? The white dragon versus the red dragon, and all sorts of prophecies about the king of the country. With a name like Pendragon, King Arthur had to be a shifter. Her Alpha, Eric Drekinn, had never confirmed her suspicions, and didn’t care for her fantasies enough to help her find out.
Perhaps, she’d have some time in between her visits to Harington Pharmaceuticals to do some research on the matter, and solve the childhood mystery that had been feeding her imagination since she learned how to read.
Astrid walked down the street, her heels clicking with authority against the wet pavement. She had always liked the feeling it gave her, to create tiny thunderstorms out of the cracks beneath her feet. With an expert sway of her hips and a well-practiced arch in her eyebrow, it could give her the confidence to do and say anything to whomever. “As it should be,” Eric would say, “they’re ants to us.” She chuckled as she remembered her Alpha’s words. Eric’s ego was too inflated for his own good.
She moved down the street, taking turns and studying her surroundings, remembering the directions outlined on the GPS before she left the wi-fi of the airport. Harington Pharmaceuticals was the largest facility of its kind in the city, and its name had been all over every news network in every language. If she couldn’t find it, it would be her own fault, and Viggo, her brother, would laugh at her for days to come. She didn’t like the idea of stopping to ask for directions and risking to get caught in longer conversations she would have to weasel her way out of. Men tended to offer to show her the way themselves, and conveniently walk by a place which always seemed to have the best coffee, then insist on buying her one. Women would stare in awe and envy.
This was too important to delay.
The antidotes that Harington Pharmaceuticals had discovered ten years ago were paramount to the happiness of a lot of people. Relationships between humans and shifters were difficult without them. Astrid had had human boyfriends, but the relationships were shallow at best. They didn’t understand the bond between shifters and their mates, so Astrid had let them go. For a female dragon-shifter, such as herself, it was difficult to find the right man. Shape-shifter males, no matter the shifter species they belonged to, didn’t usually want to mate with another shifter. They wanted to start families and have heirs, and female shifters were unable to bear children. So, they preferred human females who they could turn into hybrids thanks to Harington Pharmaceuticals’ antidotes. What were female shifters left with, in this case? Well… with very few choices.
Astrid had very quiet opinions on finding a mate. She didn’t want to stress over it. None of her relationships had ever come close to the true idea of fated mates, so she had never found herself in the awkward situation of discussing turning her guy into a hybrid so he could have the same lifespan of dragon-shifters, the same powers and abilities. Dragons were the shifter species with the longest lifespan. They could live for thousands of years. They were almost immortal, so when they thought they found a mate, they had to be absolutely sure they wanted to spend eternity with them.
“Such complications,” Astrid whispered to herself as she stopped to study a particularly modern-looking building.
The only reason why she was thinking about mates and hybrids was because she was on this business trip for her Alpha, which required her to visit the laboratories of Harington Pharmaceuticals that produced the antidotes for the five types of shifter venom: wolf, bear, dragon, fox, and eagle.
The fact that Valentine’s Day hearts and lights lined every shop corner Astrid passed was just perfect. She could think of no more fitting or ironic backdrop to her thoughts than being surrounded by the factory-made version of love. She sighed and wondered whether she would ever have a chance at something real, one day, whether she would ever find a man who wasn’t completely intimidated by her beauty and power.
She crossed one last street and saw the hulking building that dominated the skyline in the distance. It was as if it seemed to have a soul of its own, looking down upon everything surrounding it. Astrid hadn’t met the Haringtons yet, nor caught sight of them on news reports, though she heard their name everywhere. The ominous loom of the building matched her trepidation at imaging what the Harington family was truly like. She knew only one Harington: the bride of her Alpha, Eric, and her brother, Viggo. Lily Harington was an amazing woman! Her femininity, inner strength, and ethereal beauty had convinced the two dragons, one Alpha, the other one his Beta, to agree to share her love. Now, the three of them had two sons together. Astrid couldn’t help but wonder whether Lily’s brother, James Harington, the man she was going to see today, was just as smart, strong, and determined as she was.
Astrid reached the main entrance of the building.
“Name?” the man behind the security desk asked.
“Astrid of Clan Drekinn,” she said confidently, holding the man’s gaze.
She could tell he was used to seeing shape-shifters every day, so her appearance didn’t quite intimidate him. She knew some humans still harbored old prejudices from times long gone, but her clan was a powerful one. In fact, Clan Drekinn had been the first to support the research on shifter venom. Even today, Eric was the main sponsor of Harington Pharmaceuticals.
“Purpose of visit?” he asked, checking off her name.
“I have an appointment with James Harington,” she said, letting her eyebrow curve into an elegant arch.
Astrid was sure the security guard knew about this appointment, and she didn’t appreciate him making things so difficult for her. She very much preferred walking into buildings and rooms without anyone asking her a single question. On the other hand, she had to admit it was a good thing the facility was well protected.
The guard double checked by taking the phone and calling James’s secretary. When the chirpy feminine voice at the other end of the line told him it was fine to let Astrid in, he finally pressed the button to unlock the gate in front of her. He watched her as she walked through the gate.
Astrid made sure to add an extra swing in her hips. It wasn’t for him. It just made her f
eel amazing when she knew people were watching. She smiled to herself as she walked across the campus.
The front doors opened automatically, and Astrid stepped onto the immaculately clean white granite floor, her heels clicking even louder here. The various waiting areas around the grand foyer were equipped with expensive-looking plush chairs and white, simple tables. A small coffee bar occupied an entire wall, and it was populated by employees in both casual wear and lab coats, fighting off the bags under their eyes with huge cups of coffee.
A short, cute woman sat behind a desk. She was dressed in a mint-colored pantsuit and had a sleek, black microphone and earpiece attached to her cheek. She typed like a Grand Prix racer, and didn’t miss a beat as Astrid walked up to her desk.
“Hello! Miss Astrid?” the woman asked, not looking away from her screen as she clicked through something with her mouse.
Despite her intense gaze, her voice was just as chipper as it had been over the phone, when she had talked with the security guard.
“Yes,” Astrid said.
The woman nodded and clacked away on the keyboard.
Astrid liked the secretary’s efficacy, but it made her feel a tad uncomfortable. The dragon-shifter never wanted to appear fidgety, or like she didn’t know what to do with her hands. That was why she always had a phone, a purse, or a drink with her. Everything she did, she did with a purpose. Even standing and waiting.
“You can have a seat over there,” the secretary said, pointing to a waiting area off to the side. “Someone will be down in a minute to take you up to Mr. Harington’s office.”
Astrid walked over and dropped into the seat, crossing her legs sharply and very purposefully, looking at her phone and texting Eric that she had arrived. He wouldn’t care, of course, and most likely ignore the text, but she needed to look busy. This was her first time representing her clan, and she wanted to make a good, powerful impression. Both James Harington and his father, Councilor Arthur Harington, were used to dealing with either Eric or Viggo, and Astrid felt like she had to impose herself as best as she could. She was no Alpha and no Beta. Also, she was a woman.
She tapped the tips of her sharp, dangerous fingernails on the edge of the table and waited with a long, loud sigh. It was all for show. Sighing was like the more adult form of yawning. You seemed more intellectual when you did it.
“Miss Astrid?” came the cool, practiced voice of a young man dressed in a dark, elegant suit.
Astrid cocked an eyebrow and studied him for a second. He wasn’t the man she was supposed to meet. His hair was black, and his eyes were an interesting shade of hazel.
“Mr. Harington is ready for you now.”
She nodded and got up without a word, letting the click of her heels on the stone floors do the work for her as she followed behind the page sent to fetch her. It was hard for her to admit she was feeling a bit nervous. While she didn’t care much for Arthur Harington, the Councilor, the idea of James, the young, quiet billionaire genius with an eye for new medical marvels was, at least, a little fascinating.
Astrid was led up an immaculately clean elevator that dinged on the penthouse level of the building, with a gorgeous view of downtown London. The sea of fog quickly ebbed, however, when Prince Charming himself seemed to walk through the expensive looking oak double doors. His blonde hair sat in perfect waves across his head, framing his face and bringing attention to his vibrant blue eyes. His jaw was a sharp line and speckled, only slightly, with evidence of a growing 5 o’clock shadow.
Astrid reminded herself she was there on business, and ogling the man in charge of a medical development that had already changed the world wasn’t the best way to start.
***
James was late. He got up late when his alarm didn’t go off. He knew he shouldn’t have trusted his phone to get the job done. When he checked it, he noticed the battery had died because he had plugged it into the wrong outlet. Again. One day, he’d remember to be more careful and organized, maybe the day his father actually went through with his threats for real reprimands for wasting time and sleeping in.
His father knew it wasn’t out of laziness. There were few with James’s drive in any capacity of work. While in school, he got up every morning at 5 AM to make sure he was out on the track and done with his two-mile run by 6:10 AM. Then he would be in the shower and out, ready to go to his 8 AM class by no later than 7 AM. The little free time he had after classes was dedicated to homework and research. Even as a young child, James had known he would inherit his father’s company, but not the respect his father had from his partners and employees. He had to work hard to earn it. He had to prove himself. That didn’t bother James in the least. He liked a good challenge.
So, it was unfortunate that he was already running late on the day he was set to meet with a representative of one of the most important dragon-shifter clans in Europe. Dragons were proud and noble, and they didn’t like to be left hanging. Also, Harington Pharmaceuticals needed Clan Drekinn’s financial support, so the last thing James wanted to do was to piss off Miss Astrid.
This was his one true flaw, the only one he was willing to admit and own up to: he stayed up late, glued to his notebooks, to his computer, to his calculations. It was nearly impossible for him to go to bed before midnight, and his work required him to be ready and up by dawn.
James combed his hair while swirling mouthwash between his cheeks for the second time, ignoring the burn and remembering how the box said to do it for thirty seconds at least. He wanted to look and smell perfect. He had never met Astrid before, but he expected her to be just as intimidating as Eric and Viggo, his sister’s mates. He hadn’t interacted with a lot of dragon women, and that made him feel excited and nervous at the same time. In truth, he hadn’t interacted with many women, regardless of the species, in the past few years, busy as he always was with supervising the work in the laboratories.
He forwent the tie, instead putting on one of his more expensive sport coats and a well pressed, collared shirt. He threw on a dazzling gold watch to not appear too dressed down, and then rushed out the door with his leather briefcase in hand. He used his phone to call for a ride, and bustled past the doorman with a curt, but not entirely impolite, nod.
“Please try to get there in ten, would you?” he asked the driver. According to the schedule on his phone, the representative should be arriving any minute.
They seemed to be hitting every single traffic light as they moved through the city, and James did his best not to get too worked up. He didn’t want to come in hyped up on high blood pressure, sweating bullets, and looking like a maniac. He could salvage his delay with a handsome face and a bright smile. So, he closed his eyes and tried to remember the yoga breathing he’d learned when his most recent ex-girlfriend forced him to go to classes with her. It was the one good thing he had gotten out of that relationship.
“Lots of traffic today, sir,” said the driver.
James ignored him. It was his own fault they were driving to the facility at rush hour. He took out his phone to call his assistant.
“How are you today Mr. Harington?” came the chime of her voice.
“Hi, Julia. I’m running a bit late. If our sponsor gets there before me, please see to it that she’s well taken care of,” he said into the phone, trying not to sound as ungodly stressed out as he was.
“Yes sir, I’ll see to it. Anything else you’d like me to prepare?” she asked.
“Just make sure the paperwork is in order and everything’s been scrubbed from top to bottom. This is, practically, an open house.”
“Yes sir.”
They exchanged goodbyes and hung up. He took more calming breaths. According to his GPS, they were less than 10 minutes away. But the longer they sat in traffic, the higher up the minute count went. Eventually, the traffic let up enough for the car to squeeze through a small opening and dart ahead, just catching the end of a yellow light.
They whizzed in front of the back entrance to the build
ing. James would not be seen walking in late through the front door. He called for them to send Astrid up while he took a few more breaths and made himself presentable in the elevator. He watched methodically as the lights dinged and dinged, one floor at a time. Eventually, the doors opened, and he all but burst out, throwing his briefcase to the nearest person and walking through the double doors and into the lobby of the top level.
James had expected a woman, since his own sister had called the day before to let him know neither Eric, nor Viggo would be able to make it to the meeting. Still, her appearance took him by surprise. He had to hold in a breath and release it slowly to mask his reaction. Astrid was tall, slender, with long blonde hair and golden eyes that seemed to shine in the low daylight. The lean muscles of her arms and legs were visible in beautiful cut shadows underneath the tight, black dress she was wearing. She was the epitome of feminine beauty! James had never seen such a mesmerizing woman in his life!
“Hello, Miss…?” he hesitated, unsure if he was addressing her correctly. He offered her his hand, hoping it wasn’t too sweaty.
“Just Astrid, please.” she said, with a slightly furrowed brow.
James felt himself turn red.
“Astrid. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m James Harington. Apologies, my start today was not what I was hoping for.”
“It’s quite alright,” she said.
Her accent was like a shot of amber whiskey, smooth and wonderful. It went straight to his head.
“Shall we get started then?”
“After you.”
***
The biggest problem when it came to shape-shifters was their females’ inability to have children. It meant a life of pain for many of them. Eric had once said that, as much of a curse as it was to be a woman in a world that men did not want to lose control of, it was even worse when that woman was also a shifter. For some female shifters, being unable to bear children was not something which bothered them because, in time, they had gotten used to the idea. Astrid was still unsure of how much it affected her. She had days when she’d watch her Alpha’s two sons play, and wish she could have her own one day, and then there were times when she didn’t care that much for children. However, it did suck that it made it so difficult for her to find a shifter mate. They all wanted kids. She couldn’t blame them, but she was open to the idea of adoption. Unfortunately, shape-shifters, especially Alphas, were more likely to want kids who looked like them, who had their genetics and personality traits, and adoption didn’t offer them the ego boost they needed to look at the product of their work with pride and joy. Not all men were that way; Astrid didn’t want to generalize.