“Guess he’s still sore about the collars,” Titus said, looking in the same direction.
“He’ll get over it,” Liam said, giving Titus a hug and clapping him on the back. “Good to see you again.”
“Thanks,” Titus said. “You, too.” He turned to Bree as Magnus approached with a woman on his arm to join Liam and his mate. “Bree, this is Kate, Liam’s mate. And Lindy, Magnus’s mate.”
Bree liked the other women immediately, and the six of them were all talking when a door opened on the right and Aegis poked his head out, accompanied by a dark-haired man who had to be Citrine. Bree remembered Aegis mentioning him on her first day at the castle.
“We’re ready. If you could all come in here,” Citrine called out.
They all filed into the room and sat in the six chairs in front of the desk, while Citrine, Aegis, and a beautiful woman with pale, blue-purple eyes and dark hair sat behind it.
“This is my mate, Opal,” Aegis announced proudly. “And we have some news.”
“Oh?”
Aegis’s hand went to his mate’s stomach, and she practically glowed. “We are going to have a child.”
Titus sat up abruptly, looking around at the other dragons. “So it’s possible.”
“Of course it is,” Aegis said. “You should meet my godson. He was born between a gem dragon and a human mate. I would think that metal dragons are no different.”
“I assumed as much,” Titus said. “But it is still good to see another confirmation of it.”
“Yes,” Aegis said proudly. “So anyway, the news we have is that we are leaving the castle. The oracle has released us to be on our own.”
“Wait,” Liam said. “Does that mean we are going to be here at the castle, watching the noble metals?”
“No,” Aegis said. “Citrine will be taking care of that. Even with Mercury out there, I think the three of you are safe to go home with your mates.”
Both Magnus and Liam looked overjoyed at that, as well as their mates.
“I’ll be able to go back to my shop,” Lindy said. “Mike’s been watching it, but I’d still love to work on some cars.”
“Me, too,” Magnus said.
“I’m excited to go home and enjoy my new yard,” Kate said breathlessly. “So we’re really free to leave?”
“I mean, no one was forcing you to stay here,” Aegis said, slightly disgruntled. “But yes. You’re free to leave. The oracle will be keeping an eye on Mercury, and now that you all are mated, my guess is his focus will be on these noble metal dragons anyway. But that’s just a hunch. The main thing is that if the oracle says you are good to go, you’re good to go.”
Bree let out a long breath and looked at Titus, who seemed relieved but also experiencing another feeling.
“Aegis,” he said as the other dragons got up, said their good-byes, and filed out with their mates excitedly.
“Yes?” Aegis responded.
Titus took him by the arm, clasping his shoulder. “Thank you. For everything. I know the three of us weren’t always appreciative, but we’ll never forget what you did for us.”
Aegis, if possible, was blushing. He stammered as he stepped back to stand with his arm around his mate again. “I did it because it was my duty.”
“I think you went above and beyond,” Bree said, walking forward. She faced Opal. “Congratulations. I wish I could tell you how helpful your husband has been.”
Opal’s pale, beautiful features spread into a smile. “I appreciate that, but I already know just how ‘helpful’ he can be.” She gave him a nudge with her elbow, as if reminding him of some kind of inside joke.
“Aegis used to be a villain, you know,” she said.
“I can’t picture that,” Bree said. Aegis just glared, and she laughed. “Actually, I can.”
“We’re grateful to be going home, but please let Citrine know we’re happy to help with anything we can,” Titus said.
Citrine walked over and nodded. “I may need to consult with you from time to time. These dragons are unbelievably stubborn. Still strong, but they possess an ego that your kind didn’t.”
“They’re our kind,” Titus said. “Just a bit… odder.”
“I believe it,” Aegis said. “I’m happy they aren’t my problem.”
“I’m up to the challenge,” Citrine said, sweeping his long brown hair back. “I’m happy for you, Aegis.”
The two men shook hands and looked into each other’s eyes for a moment and then broke apart.
Opal wiped at her eyes.
“We can still come visit,” Aegis said. “If you really want. Once the baby is born.”
“Really? Oh, I’d like that, Aegis.”
“It was nice meeting you,” Bree said.
“I guess we’re going to get going,” Titus said. He turned back to Citrine for a moment. “Any idea what you’re going to do with this batch of dragons?”
Citrine smiled and gave him a long, slow wink. “I think I have an idea.”
Titus shivered next to her, and Bree looked up at him curiously. “What is it?”
“That guy gets some weird ideas sometimes. Then again, he made it so I could meet you, so I guess it’ll work out.”
“So why the shiver?”
Titus smiled. “I guess because taming those dragons is going to be a crazy adventure. And I’m glad I just get to settle down and have the life of my dreams with you.”
Her heart felt squeezed with warmth, and she cuddled in next to him as they walked out the front door and down the steps to the lawn.
“Are we going to fly back?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Good.”
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” he asked. “Freeing, right?”
“Yes,” she said, thinking about it. She slipped her hand in his and squeezed it as she turned to face him, looking up into his eyes. “Then again, I always feel free when I’m with you.”
“That’s the best compliment you could have paid me,” he said, dipping his head forward. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said, reaching up on tiptoes to put her arms around his neck as he dipped down to seal his lips over hers in a searing, tender kiss.
Whether she was in the air or on the ground, every minute with her dragon made her feel as if she were flying.
I hope you enjoyed the third book in the Rent-A-Dragon series! If you enjoyed Titus and Bree’s story, I hope you’ll leave a review to help other readers find it. I really appreciate all your support.
Also, you may want to grab my limited edition Awakened Dragons Boxed Set, at .99 for a short time for all SIX BOOKS.
I never do boxed sets that extreme, and I usually wait about a year after release to put books in a boxed set, so get it while you can.
Awakened Dragons Boxed Set
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Sincerely,
Terry
Sample of Awakened Dragons
Zach, Isaac Morningstar III, touched the chunky iron chain around his neck as he caught his reflection in one of the dingy shop windows he passed. Anger contorted his expression as he withdrew his fingers and started again down the street of the bad neighborhood he’d been dropped in.
He was still getting used to the modern world since he’d been woken up some months ago, but even he knew this wasn’t the type of place he would ever have chosen to go back to when he had full access to his dragon powers and a massive treasure trove that allowed him to live in comfort whenever he felt like being in human form.
And yet here he was, leveled, humbled, shackled by this collar until the oracle who watched over shifters was sure he could be “trusted”, barely able to partially shift, with no money and nothing but the clothes on his back.
Despicable state of events.
Not that he blamed the oracle. In his day, hundreds of years
ago, dragons had been more akin to powerful, despotic demigods who terrorized humans when it pleased them and roamed the countryside freely. In human form, they were often dukes or lords with power to match, able to hide in the countryside in a massive estate if they so chose. To hell with caves.
Here, dragons had been remodeled to become something much more civilized. Now they worked in pairs, enforcing the laws of the shifter community and protecting shifters and humans in their area.
Protecting them.
The thought was ludicrous. Zach had never in his life met someone he wanted to protect, and he doubted anyone here in the selfish, petty human world was going to change that for him.
Thunder cracked overhead and he looked up with an annoyed scowl to see dark clouds overhead. A few more steps and he felt the patter of rain on his shoulders and shook his head in disgust. He looked around him to gain his bearings and saw a shop across the street that seemed friendly.
A human woman stood in the front window, smiling as she chatted with a man in front of her in a low chair. She had long hair, a mix of dark brown and red that shimmered over her shoulders. Soft, pale skin with rosy cheeks. A sweet mouth.
She was touching her male client’s hair, and Zach felt an odd rumble of jealousy at the sight of it.
She was providing some kind of service. Zach would go over and see what, and get out of the rain at the same time.
When he pulled open the heavy glass door, all eyes turned to him. Various men and women with striking colors of hair looked up at him in shock. Their clients, all arrayed in black cloaks, stared as well.
He saw seats to the side of the door and sat in one, glaring at the humans to try and deter the stares he was receiving.
He was a dragon, a powerful one. The world could rise or fall on the whims of him and his friends. They should show him respect, not this mixture of shock and disgust.
The girl he’d seen from the window turned to him with soft blue eyes. Kindness. That was unexpected. “Did you want to make an appointment?”
He pursed his lips and leaned back in the chair. “For what?”
“A haircut, of course,” she said, a smile touching her full lips.
Zach sat up a little straighter as a little bolt of warmth coursed through him. Most unexpected. He touched his shoulder length mop, tangled from the trip here and damp from the rain. “No. I do not need one.”
She smiled and shrugged. “Okay.”
Other customers sent nervous glances around and Zach ignored them. He picked up a magazine from beside him and pretended to hold it in front of him while he studied the people.
He wasn’t wholly ignorant of the modern world. He’d been living on a shifter-only island, but they had all of the technology. Just none of the humans.
As he assessed the people around him, he realized when this place closed, it would be evening, and time to find lodgings. He’d been walking all day, and would need somewhere to stay at night. If he could still take his full dragon form, he could go out into the woods and sleep there. His dragon form was impervious to cold. But his human form would probably freeze.
Drat.
He stared at the human again, narrowing his eyes. The man in the chair in front of her stood as she removed his cloak and took him to the counter where payment was taken. On the way there, he turned to Zach with a scowl.
“You could stop staring, hobo,” he said, before turning his back on Zach.
Zach gaped. Hobo? As in, a homeless beggar? For a moment he was speechless at the audacity of it. He was the furthest thing from that. Or was he? After all, he had incredible wealth but none of it was accessible. Incredible power but no way to use it.
He was kind of a hobo, wasn’t he?
“What is he smiling about, anyway?” the man muttered.
“Shush, Gerry,” the woman said. “You know I welcome anyone here.”
Negative one point for humanity for Gerry, Zach thought. Plus one for the girl with the kind eyes. He glanced around the shop. Probably not going to be any more positive points around here.
The oracle had said she’d remove the collar when she felt she could trust him with humans. He had no idea what that meant, but probably it meant hating them a little less. Being less aghast at the thought of protecting them.
When the man had left, the girl with kind eyes removed her black apron, revealing a soft, curvy body in a short pink dress with black leggings underneath. She sat next to him, just a chair away, and gave him a kind smile. It made him tingle slightly.
Dragons did not tingle.
He shifted uncomfortably.
“My name is Erin,” she said, leaning forward with a smile.
“Okay,” he said curtly. For some reason, this little human set him off balance. He was still considering what that meant.
“Can I help you with something?” she asked. “I can call a shelter or maybe someone you know…”
He pursed his lips. “How about you just let me stay here and continue my observation? Or is that too much trouble for you?” His tone was slightly sarcastic and she raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“No, it’s no trouble at all,” she said sweetly. “You’re welcome to just stay in out of the rain as long as you like.” She looked at the clock. “Well, until we close. I was just making sure you didn’t need help.”
“I don’t,” he said flatly. He was frankly a little offended that she thought he was some kind of invalid seeking help. What about him was giving her that impression?
He flinched back when she reached for a lock of his hair that was falling over his face. “At least let me give you a wash and a shave,” she said. “On the house.”
He frowned. He didn’t want to accept this human’s pity, as in his other form he could eat her in one bite. But he’d seen her hands in the other man’s hair, and he wanted that. Wanted her touching him. Looking at him.
“All right, human.” He bit his lip and ignored the way he’d referred to her as she let out a light, tinkling laugh and led him over to her chair.
He sat down, sinking into the soft cushion with a sigh. She had to put the chair all the way down to work on him because he was extraordinarily tall compared to most humans. And good-looking, and muscled, if he said so himself.
As he faced the mirror, he admitted he was a little the worse for wear after his travels. He had an overgrowth of black beard, but that was manly. And his hair was tangled from wind and the slight rain.
He’d worn a long black trench over his clothing because it would provide shelter from the rain and elements and he didn’t know how long it would take to find lodgings.
But he didn’t see anything wrong in the mirror. If anything, he just looked masculine. Strong.
She leaned him back and helped rest his head on the sink. “I bet you’ll be a whole new person after this,” she said with a wink.
His eyes skimmed her curvy body, so close and warm, and then came back to her eyes, a beautiful clear blue like wildflowers.
Her hands worked through his hair, soaping and kneading, and he relaxed into her touch, her scent, the soft sound of her voice. The look of her kind face. The press of her body as she leaned over him. Even being a dragon, and very impervious to heat, he was on fire.
He stared at her, feeling shock unlike anything he’d felt as she finished washing and wrung his hair dry. Then she reached for a razor and foam to start the shaving.
As she carefully glided over his face, dipping in and out of a bowl, rinsing and wiping the razor so as not to cut him, he found there was a great deal of eye contact to be found in a shave.
What was she doing to him, the minx? His body felt warm. His throat tight and dry. Every touch was hot agony.
She was still humming happily as she grabbed a towel and dried his face, bringing him to a sitting position. He took the towel from her, keeping it over his face a little longer to hide his reaction until he calmed down.
He was an immortal dragon. He did not fall for human hairdressers, no
matter how kind they were. He set the towel down.
The salon was instantly silent. Zach turned in his chair to see Erin standing a few feet away, a fresh towel in her hand hanging limp at her side, eyes wide, lips parted.
The humans were looking at him differently now. Several of the women who’d been scorning him before were giving him looks of lust. Invitation.
But he cared only for the reaction of one person. Erin, who was standing there frozen in pure shock. Maybe not even the good kind.
“Good heavens, what is it?” he snapped, yanking the cape from around his neck and jerking it to the ground as he stood with folded arms. He brushed his wet, black hair behind his ears and stared them down.
Another woman stepped forward, this one pale with blond hair, looking more like the wenches from his day in England. “Can I take your coat?”
He shrugged and handed it to her. “I demand to know why you’re staring,” he said to the room.
The woman who had taken his coat was gaping at him, her eyes wandering up and down his body.
He smirked. That was the response from human women he was more used to. He turned back to Erin, and realized the fact that he cared so much about what she thought could only really mean one thing. Something he’d never considered before in either of his lives.
Even as she marched up to him, irritation flooding her beautiful face, the possibility overwhelmed him.
The oracle had sent him out here to find out if he could get along with humanity. She should be happy that he had possibly just found a human mate.
Awakened Dragons Complete Series
Also by Terry Bolryder
A Note From Terry
Most of my series go by species. Most of my books are standalone, but if you want to read them in order and see characters reappearing, here is my list of 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.
Titanium (Rent-A-Dragon Book 3) Page 12