Rendan (Scifi Alien Dragon Romance) (Dragons of Preor Book 4)

by Celia Kyle

  A normal woman would probably snuggle.

  A caffeine deprived woman would steal his coffee. Which was exactly what she did. She scooped up the cup, tested the temperature and took a long, slow swallow of the bitter brew.

  She released a soft sigh when she was done, eyes closed while she savored the liquid flowing over her taste buds. “Heaven.”

  A deep masculine laugh followed her whispered word and she opened her eyes, focusing on Taulan. “My mate reacts the same way each morning.”

  “It is not poison?” Her mate gave her a narrow eyed stare and she shook her head.

  “Nope, heaven in a mug.” Another sip, another wash of caffeinated goodness entered her system. “It’s better with sweetener and synmilk, but I’ll take what I can get right now.”

  “Synmilk?” Rendan squeezed her waist.

  “Synthesized milk. Real milk is rare and expensive.” She shrugged. “Synmilk is good enough.”

  If only she had some.

  “I will obtain this synmilk. My mate will not—“

  Carla slipped one arm around Rendan’s shoulders and made sure her fingers graced the flight lines on his wings with a gentle, barely-there caress. He stiffened, sucking in a rough breath. She smiled and leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of his head before speaking. “Your mate is more than satisfied, shaa kouvi.”

  He growled and shifted in his seat and her smile widened further.

  “You are a tease of a kohk, shaa kouva,” he grumbled low and by the chuckles from the other two males, she knew he’d been overheard.

  “Uh-huh.” She gave him another press of her lips before turning her attention to the two males. “What else brought you here?” She took another swallow of the dark liquid, reveling in the flow down her throat. “I can’t imagine bringing me coffee would take a war master and first defense warrior.”

  Zadri opened his mouth to reply, but Rendan cut him off. “A war master and defense master, shaa kouva.”

  “Really?” Her attention bounced between her mate, Taulan and finally landed on Zadri. “Congratulations.”

  The peach male shook his head. “I do not believe it is deserved—“

  Rendan grunted. “It is.”

  “—but I will take the advancement and prove myself worthy.”

  Carla thought over what the male had done just since she’d known him and already knew he was more than worthy. But sometimes males just had to prove things to themselves.

  She gave Zadri her full attention, hoping he saw the heartfelt gratitude that filled her. “You worked with Rendan twice to save me—nearly killing yourself in the process. You risked yourself for a female you hardly knew.”

  “Any male would happily die for a female,” Zadri rumbled, his wings twitching and face darkening.

  “But I don’t think any other male would have been successful. You’ve proven you’re a match for Rendan and I no doubt the two of you will keep us all safe.” And she meant every word to her very core. “Thank you for my life, Zadri. And now, I ask you to watch over my mate’s just as carefully.”

  “An honor,” he tipped his head and pressed his fist to his chest. “And a vow I will keep until death.”

  Rendan nuzzled her side and she sensed the happiness that filled him. A joy that she approved of Zadri becoming defense master and at her mere existence—presence—at his side. Yeah, she was damned happy at being with him, too. Despite the problems they faced in the future.

  A low bell sounded from the comm unit near the kitchen and Carla pulled free of her mate’s embrace to answer the summons. She tapped the screen, keeping the camera dark. “Greetings.”

  Chashan’s face filled the screen, his features tightening and growing darker while he dropped his gaze. “Healer Butler—“

  “Carla,” she corrected him. It wasn’t his fault that Rendan lied.

  “I am searching for First Defense Warrior Zadri. He asked—“

  “Defense Master Zadri,” she corrected once more and Chashan’s eyes opened wide with surprise while a slow smile brightened his face. “Much deserved.” He nodded. “I am searching for Defense Master Zadri and systems indicate he is present within your kon-doe. Is he still present?”

  “Yes, he’s—“

  A large warm presence appeared at her back, but the scent was off. Not her mate, then. She stepped aside and watched the peach Preor step forward. “Chashan, all is—“

  “She stirs but does not yet wake.”

  “I will be there momentarily.” Zadri stepped back, his attention shifting to the other males. “I must go. Delaney…”

  Delaney. The pregnant human woman who’d collapsed when she met Ballakin’s gaze. She was still in medical under Chashan and Zadri’s watchful eyes. Chashan because he was the healing master, but Zadri… She worried about Zadri and his attachment to the woman.

  Taulan waved the male away. “Go. I will depart as well. You and Rendan can discuss your training schedules at another time.”

  Zadri was gone before Taulan even finished speaking—out the door and out of sight within seconds. Taulan soon followed, leaving Carla alone with her mate.

  She stared at him, the one male she’d spend the rest of her life with. He was strong and proud. Determined to create a good life for them. Dedicated to the military and yet… not, in a way. The events of the last few days had changed him. Not so that others could sense the difference, but Carla could. He was still a Preor warrior, but now a mate and someday a sire as well.

  She went to him, easing onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. It was comfortable, familiar, and soothing. She breathed in his scent, the heat and spice sinking into her body, and released a soft sigh. His presence—touch—soothed her like nothing else could.

  “Kouvai, Syh, Preor,” she whispered the warrior’s promise. A promise they made the moment they accepted their first training blades.

  Heart. Skies. Preor.

  “Yes, shaa kouva. Always.” He tipped his head back, dark eyes meeting hers. “Those words were lost by my sire—and yours—but we will not allow them to be forgotten. I swear it. You and our fam-ill-ee will come before all.” He stroked her arm and then laid his palm over the back of her hand. He carefully pulled it from his shoulder and then placed her palm over his heart. “I will not lie or keep truths from you. I will not break your heart again, shaa kouva. To break yours is to break my own.”

  And she knew that. Just as she knew that if she ever hurt him, she’d be hurting herself just as badly. They were tied together. Tied by the Knowing, their minds, their hearts and… souls.

  She leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his, sinking into the heat of his touch. That was when she finally gave in. Gave in to Rendan, their mating, and let go of the last doubts that plagued her. She released everything except her growing love.

  “Aro la kaosado.”

  Yours for eternity.

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  Interested in reading more of Celia’s books? Head over to AMAZON to read more!

  Did you miss the first two books in the Dragons of Preor series?

  Jarek - http://bookbit.ly/jarekzon

  Taulan - http://bookbit.ly/taulanzon

  Kozav - http://bookbit.ly/kozavzon

  About the Author

  Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes romances for readers who:

  1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)

  2) Dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)

  3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.

  It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.

 
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.

  You can find Celia online at:

  http://celiakyle.com

  http://facebook.com/authorceliakyle

  http://twitter.com/celiakyle

  Copyright Page

  Published by Summerhouse Publishing. Rendan. Copyright © 2016, Celia Kyle. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the authors.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues in this book are of the authors’ imaginations and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  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 recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.