“I never disappear,” Alec protested. “I always have you in sight.”
Lucy laughed and stood. “That’s what you think.” She gave him a saucy look and strode down the beach with an exaggerated swing to her hips. Alec lifted his head to watch her progress. She talked briefly to the other women then jumped into the surf.
“Your mate doesn’t look cowed,” Leo teased.
“Thank the fates,” Alec said with a laugh. “My life was way too boring before she tried to steal from me.”
Leo nodded, remembering the surly leader Alec had been before Lucy arrived at the Crown Jewel.
“How was your homecoming?” Alec asked.
Leo sat up at the sobering topic and reached for the drink beside him. “As good as it could be. Once everyone realized that Tee really is my true mate, they relaxed. I think they’ve accepted her.”
“That’s good,” Alec said. “If you want to stay here instead of returning to the casino, I’ll release you from your service.”
Leo looked at his friend and saw the offer was genuine. “Thank you. But we want to return. Tee has already contracted an architect to draw up the reservation’s resort plans. Our future is there, not here.”
Alec nodded. “Then there is something I want to talk to you about.”
Leo turned at his serious tone. “Tell me.”
“Jane called.”
Leo nodded. In both their absences, Jane was running the Crown Jewel. Alec had promoted her to a full share lieutenant, and in the weeks he and Tee had been gone, she hadn’t called them once. That she would reach out to Alec himself meant it was something serious.
“She reports that there is an ice dragon from the Russian fold who seeks a meeting.”
“Who is it?”
“Nico Romanov.”
Leo whistled under his breath. “Romanov, as in Romanov Oil and Exporting?”
Alec nodded.
“What does he want?”
“To invest.”
“In the casino?” Leo was doubtful. “He wasn’t interested in the Crown Jewel before,” Leo said. “Why would he be interested now?”
Little was known about the enigmatic ice dragon except Romanov had somehow found an inroad in to the human controlled, Russian oil bureaucracy and made billions. The one time he’d met the reclusive Romanov, the dragon hadn’t struck Leo as being the bright-lights, big-city kind. More the deep-woods, deeper-secrets kind.
“He says he’s not interested in the casino,” Alec said.
“What then?” Leo asked, liking the scenario less and less.
“I don’t know.” Alec gave him a raised-brow look that conveyed his suspiciousness too. “I was hoping you had an idea.”
“The Russians and I aren’t chummy,” Leo said. “It’s that whole fire and ice thing.”
Alec sighed. “But I’m the King of the ice dragons, too. We fought hard for their allegiance. Ignoring his request will have repercussions throughout the continent.”
Leo thought over Alec’s words as he watched Tee and Gretchen set aside their paddles and enter the water. The clear ocean waves lapped over them, and he wanted nothing more than to go join them in the swim. Maybe find a secluded spot with Tee to act out his earlier fantasy.
“We could have Darius handle him,” he suggested.
“I don’t doubt Darius’s ability,” Alec said. “But I don’t want to put him in a bad position with his old alliance.”
“You think Jane can handle Romanov on her own?” Leo asked.
Alec looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. I’d like to give her a chance, but I wanted your opinion.”
Leo slumped back in his chair. “A guy like Romanov can cause a lot of damage before you know what his real intentions are.”
“Agreed.”
“I’d like to think on this,” Leo said.
Alec laughed. “Please, you just have your mate on your mind.”
“Can you blame me?” Leo stood and smiled at his friend. “She’s so much more appealing than a surly ice dragon.”
“Go on.” Alec waved him away.
Leo walked down the beach, noting the moment Tee sensed him approaching. He jumped into the water and lifted her off her feet, separating her from his sister and Lucy.
“Hey, you.” She smiled in welcome. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to come down here.”
“Not long,” Leo said with a husky laugh. The water lapped warm around them, and he shifted her into his arms and walked further out, away from the others. Tee’s brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and she smiled up at him, content to go wherever he took them.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, I think you know.” Leo turned her in the water and Tee wrapped her long legs around his waist. “Use your spidey senses.”
“I don’t need my spidey senses.” She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. The kiss was slow and seductive and everything he’d ever dreamed. Here she was, his mate. His Tee, no longer somewhere out in the world waiting for him to find her, but here in his arms.
“You.” Tee rested her forehead against his, using the one word which had become a message of deep love between them since their camping trip.
“You,” he replied, happiness in every pore. “Forever, you.”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Leo and Tee’s story! I truly hope you enjoyed your time with my Dragonshifters. If you’re ready for more, Alec and Lucy’s story, The Luck of the Dragon, is available now, and Jane and Nico’s story is coming soon.
If you loved this book, one of the best things you can do to help me get the word out is write a review. Amazon.com is where I sell the majority of my books, but a review in any venue would be most welcome. I read every review and appreciate every single one. If you still have energy, rating it in Goodreads and/or adding it to lists and shelves would be great (links next page). Thank you in advance!
It was my keen wish to write a strong, contemporary Native American heroine for Leo. I researched extensively and took a seminar with the wonderful Regina Paul (@reginapaul) on writing Native American characters non-stereotypically. To this point, it is important to say that blood testing the tribe for the tribal roll membership is fiction and purely a construct of my imagination.
I also owe a huge thanks to my agent, Jill Marsal, and my amazing editors at Entangled Publishing: Kate Fall, Therese Ramin, and Candace Havens. Last, but by no means least, I thank all my readers, especially my rockin’ Street Team (Must Love Dragons) who make every single day sassy and opinionated fun!
About the Author
Susannah Scott writes dragon-filled paranormal romance and lives with her family in Southern Missouri. She loves connecting with readers through social media—and almost always replies—so pick your favorite venue!
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Also by Susannah Scott
Luck of the Dragon
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