Single Red Dragon: A Dragon Shifter Fated Mates Novel (Space Dragons Seek Mates Book 2)

by Michelle Ziegler

  What was that?

  Instead of an answer, Lilly collapsed against him.

  Lilly? Wake up.

  His own heart began to beat in a panic rhythm. His mind searched for logic, grabbing at the elusive friend he no longer seemed to know when it came to Lilly.

  Her heart beat. He could hear it. He lowered his face to hers, a warm breath hitting his nose.

  Scooping her up, not wanting to wait for anything else to attack, he shifted. His dragon erupted, ready for a fight. One look at his mate, lying vulnerable in their claw, and he took off into the sky, putting as much space between him and this place as possible.

  It was finally over.

  17

  Lilly opened her eyes and closed them as the faint light hurt. Is this what it felt like to be drunk? If so, perhaps she'd never drink. Ever.

  Lillyanna, are you awake?

  Instinct had her saying yes, but the burn of her throat suggested she shouldn't.

  Yes. Sort of.

  At least this mind chat thing would come in handy.

  Her body shifted as something, no Eadric, sat down next to her on what she figured was a bed.

  My fire. You are not well? What hurts?

  What hurt? Great question. That ankle she'd so stupidly hurt didn't feel awesome. She'd have to remember not to try to break any more bones if she ever needed to try to escape again.

  Eadric didn't approve.

  You will never need to escape.

  She smiled. No. That was probably true. No more running. All right. Back to answering his question. What else hurt?

  She squeezed her hands closed, flexed her feet. She didn't care if it hurt, really. This was something. She could feel something, freedom.

  This was her life now. What had happened, though? She remembered getting pissed. She remembered hearing her dad, and she just lost it. She couldn't handle it anymore.

  Eadric? What happened?

  He took her hand; she recognized the rough softness of his skin. Best feeling ever, to be touched.

  I don't really know. You turned supernova; I suppose? Not sure there is another word.

  She swallowed, and her throat filled with pins and needles.

  Can I get water?

  She opened her eyes again. This time, the light didn't hurt as bad. Okay. She could do this.

  He held a cup in his hand as he watched her.

  You feel okay, mate?

  She nodded. Pushing herself up, his hand gently helping support her. Taking the glass, she chugged. Pulling the glass away from her lips, she swallowed and was happy to notice the pain dulled.

  One problem fixed, now the next one.

  The heat of his hand brushed her arm, and it was then that she noticed how cold she was.

  I'm cold. She shared with him the last memory of him she had, the morning before they left for the uncertain mission.

  His head whipped back around to her. His eyebrows nearly reached his hairline.

  Are you sure? he asked.

  Men were so dumb. She hadn't really understood that phrase until now. Her body protested a bit as it moved, like she'd worked muscles that hadn't been used before, but nothing that told her she should stop from getting what she wanted.

  Rising on her knees, she reached for Eadric.

  He moved, shifting closer to her on his bed, their bed.

  "Don't ever let me save the world again, okay?"

  He smiled, pulling her against him.

  "Mate. If I have my way, you will never leave this bed again. Not for eternity."

  Eternity with him, that sounded nice. Only right now. Nice wasn't what she wanted.

  Moving her arms, she brought her hands up and around his neck. Pulling his face down to her, she held her breath until his lips met hers. Heat, she craved heat. Her body pressed into him as if he were the fire her soul needed. And maybe he was. She pushed her pelvis against him and was rewarded with his notable bulge pressing into her stomach.

  Yes. I'm sure. Take me.

  Slowly he leaned forward, helping her adjust and shift until her back lay against the bed.

  She hungered for touch, his touch. The cold of the lab still lingered within her. It was a place devoid of the one thing she'd never known she needed, love. And now her soul hungered for it.

  Eadric lowered his lips to hers, and she set the pace. She wanted more.

  So hungry.

  Flicking her tongue in his mouth, driving him, wanting him to need her as much as she needed him.

  The kiss deepened. He wrapped her in an arm and held her tightly.

  Mine, he whispered in her mind.

  Yes. Yours. Take me.

  Pressing her body into his, the heat of her need slowly running a river of desire through her. She lifted her hips to meet his body. God, she needed to feel him inside her.

  Please, no more waiting.

  He pulled away, and before she could breathe, he ripped her clothing away. She never wanted to see those awful things again, anyway.

  Her mouth watered as his golden naked body hovered over her, still naked from rescuing her. She was a bigger and bigger fan of naked.

  Before he could come for her, she found her second wind startling him as she pushed herself up.

  "Lean back. This time it's my turn to get what I want."

  Licking her lips, she could still taste him. Her finger made little circles along his pec.

  He might appear human, but there was something so obviously different about him from his eyes to his skin's gentle glow. Glow. Wait.

  She bolted up in bed.

  Where had her sister gone to when she'd had her little magical tantrum?

  Clearing her throat, she was happy to notice most things were feeling normal again. Not that she wanted normal.

  "Eadric? Where is my sister?"

  Pulling her back down, he wrapped her in his arms.

  "She's safe."

  Lilly tried to push herself up.

  Mate, stay with me.

  Any other time and she'd have giggled and gave in, but not right now.

  "I need to find my sister."

  She listened as he blew out a breath. This didn't sound good.

  "She isn't with us."

  Lilly glared. "What does that mean, oh cryptic one?"

  The bed shifted as he sat up, releasing her

  "We tried. My brother tried."

  Lilly closed her eyes. For crap's sake.

  "Okay. Just tell me she isn't at the lab. You said she's safe. How bad could this be?"

  The tension rolled off him.

  Well, crap. If it made a dragon squirm. Not a good sign.

  "Eadric. Tell me."

  Another big breath. Damn him and his delay.

  "We tried to bring her back, but she said she didn't trust a flying lizard from another planet. My brother had little choice other than to take her to the city. She threatened to jump off and none of us want a dead human on our conscience. What is with your earth woman and violence?"

  Her jaw dropped.

  "She didn't even want to say goodbye?"

  Eadric shrugged. "She didn't say anything. Just that if we didn't release her, she was going to jump. I assumed that would hurt far worse than her leaving us."

  Well, that sucks, she thought.

  His fingers grazed her cheek as he brushed hair out of her face.

  "What does this sucks mean, anyway?"

  She pursed her lips in thought. "That this is a bad situation. My sister said it a lot when she would visit in my so-called room. It sucked she couldn't do this. Sucked I couldn't leave to do that. And this, her leaving me, sucks."

  She fidgeted, her finger worrying a small spot on his skin. In her head this had gone so differently.

  "I thought she would want to take me with, or at least stay with me."

  Stop thinking that way, mate.

  No more privacy with this guy in her life. Apparently she couldn't even have a pity party.

  "But how could she leave me
with you?"

  Eadric gripped her hips and pulled her forward, dragging her over his lap. Kissing her neck, he spoke in a whisper. "You did not seem to mind being here a moment ago, mate."

  She pushed him away, even though a part of her would willingly allow him to continue. Continue to let him kiss her into forgetting her past all together, but no. She'd risked her life for her sister. Or well, okay, maybe it was a little for her sister, a little for the antidote, and a little because she wanted to do something for Eadric. No one, not even Jane Austen, ever mentioned that when you finally fell in love, you suddenly wanted to conquer the world for the other person.

  No. She'd never expected that she'd suddenly feel the need to see him smile. Rubbish. That's what all this was.

  "I don't mind. But I don't think she knew that. How could she not even care to say goodbye?"

  He kissed the top of her head, and she swore that as innocent as that little maneuver was, the muscle between his legs said differently. No. He wasn't making her forget this.

  "All right mate. All right. Calm yourself. Once it seems safe, we will go find her. She did relay the message to take care of you. My brother shared this memory."

  He pushed the memory to her head, and she could see her sister as if she'd been the one to wish her good luck. But it wasn't hers. No, she'd been passed out exhausted with Eadric.

  Lilly relaxed a bit. "She's survived with my father for her whole life, I suppose she'll figure out the world. I mean, I did and I've been locked away for most of mine."

  Eadric's markings glowed a little as she spoke.

  "Why are you glowing now? Isn't that like a sex thing?"

  He chuckled, and Lilly loved the deep sound in his chest.

  "They are connected to my emotions and my magic. You being locked away angers me."

  Sounded legit. Who was she to question a dragon?

  Lilly turned to face him. Breathing in his deep cinnamon spice, she tried to not think about her sister. Not that she hadn't gotten her out or anything. Maybe that was all her sister had wanted.

  She leaned in and kissed him. Yes. This was perfect. Or close to it. For now.

  Abruptly, she pulled away. "Wait. What about that guy, your brother, his mate?"

  Eadric rested his forehead against hers.

  "Determined to ruin the moment?"

  She froze. "I assume that if you are ready to, well you know. Then the antidote worked? Everyone is okay? Can I meet her?"

  He blew out a breath, and she laughed.

  "How are you already desperate? How is it he's already ready?" She reached between their bodies and stroked a very enthusiastic muscle. He moaned as she did.

  "Mate. I will always be ready for you."

  She smiled. Well. That was a nice perk.

  "Let's go shower, I want to meet her. I want to meet the people I'm going to be seeing a lot of. I want to-"

  She stopped before saying the next word. This felt like a family. Something she'd longed for her entire life. Her sister was her sister, but even she had her price.

  "Lillyanna? You want to what?"

  She pushed herself up, standing on the edge of the bed. Eadric moved closer to the edge where she was able to stand between his thighs.

  "Meet my family. I want to meet your family."

  He smiled as he pulled her chin down, her lips nearly on his.

  "Our family. And now, what about this shower?"

  18

  Eadric turned the doorknob, and they peeked in. The room was silent. Maybe it wasn't a good sign.

  He'd gotten the all clear, but this still didn't look right.

  Eadric pulled Lilly in, pushing her in front of him. She'd rather hide, and he wouldn't let her.

  Kal sat on the floor, holding Maddie's hand. So maybe the all clear meant they'd given the antidote. He should have asked.

  Eadric stared down at the couch as he and Lilly found a place out of the way.

  Was she napping? No. Not sleeping. Oh, crap.

  Eadric? Were we too late?

  He shook his head.

  No. They aren't sure why she isn't coming out of it. Her vitals are all strong. They just did a blood draw, and things look normal. The blue trails are gone.

  Lilly let go of Eadric, and he tried to reach out for her again. Where was she going? He wasn't going to let her wonder off again, ever. She slapped his hand.

  Okay. Fine. Maybe he was letting her go.

  Eadric, I didn't risk my life for nothing. I am figuring this out.

  He shrugged as several pairs of eyes looked at him.

  Eadric, I don't think the poison works this way. What exactly happened?

  He followed her a little closer.

  A witch put her under a spell to slow the poison. Maybe that's the issue? Eadric said.

  "Is she here?" she whispered over her shoulder.

  Is who here?

  Lilly shook her head. "The witch."

  Everyone looked at her.

  "What? Is the witch here? Anyone think about calling her?"

  They looked confused. Eadric wasn't much help either.

  "How do we call her?" Kal asked.

  Eadric still looked at her confused. "Call?"

  Nodding, she half smiled. "Guys. I don't know how long you plan to be here, but even I know about phones. You use something that looks like a rectangle? It can call people? I had a phone my sister snuck me, in order to text her - well, I had several until I stopped melting them."

  One of the brothers looked her way. "Kal? Did she have a Com device?"

  The whole room was in a frenzy. Eadric began wandering looking for something she'd shown him in his head. He shared it with the others.

  A phone was thrust at her. "Is this it?"

  "Okay. And yes, I'd assume so."

  Eadric could hear her praying she didn't melt it. It took a lot of concentration. Maybe she wasn't hopeless. She had some control over her powers, now. Perhaps she wasn't as doomed as she'd thought.

  "Eadric? Hold it while I push the buttons? Anything to make sure I don't melt it."

  He smiled. Well, almost had it figured out.

  "Is it the last one she called? Do you know her passcode? Oh wait, it's a thumb print. Hold up her finger."

  Kal didn't hesitate, pulling the hand he cradled up.

  Eadric pressed the phone to Maddie's hand the way Lilly mimicked, miming holding her thumb to the small circle.

  The phone clicked and unlocked. He watched her thumb through something called Contacts and History. "Anyone? Is it the last call made?"

  "It was the last person communicated with. Yes. Something Rivers," Kal said.

  "Got it. The phone's ringing."

  Eadric held the phone to her ear. A new wave of worry hit him, but it was Lilly's. The longer it rang, the stronger it got until someone answered.

  "Hello?"

  A pause as she listened.

  *She expected our call, I guess.

  After that it was a series of answers and responses. Eadric didn't like to be on the outside, so he tried to eavesdrop. He hated not knowing.

  "Yes. No."

  Another pause

  "No, she won't wake up."

  *Eadric, she said, it's a Sleeping Beauty Potion. Like the Disney movie.

  "Kal? You won't believe this," said Lilly. "The woman said it's a Sleeping Beauty potion."

  "Are we supposed to know what that means?" said another of the brothers.

  "You're kidding. None of you know what or who Sleeping Beauty is?"

  A lot of grumbles. Apparently her shut-in life wasn't really that bad if she at least knew about movies.

  Lilly looked around the room again, back at Eadric and then back at Kal.

  "Oh, for crap's sake. Kiss her."

  Eadric pulled the phone away, the screen gone back to black. He needed his mate right now. Seeing Maddie reminded him about how horrible it all could turn and how fast. One moment you're complete and the next the pain of being separated feels like it's
ripping you apart.

  "Kiss her?" asked Kal.

  Eadric tell him to kiss her. This is ridiculous. Is he shy or something?

  "Yes. Kiss her. It's like the fairy tale. Princess falls into a deep sleep and the only way to wake her up is by true love's kiss. Being that you all seriously believe in fate and all that, this is right up your alley. So just kiss her."

  Tensions were so high Eadric figured you could cut it with a talon. They'd all risked a lot going back to that hellhole and if this didn't work, they were back out on another mission for a cure rather than for their mates.

  Kal reached over and kissed her, finally.

  I'll have you know, my mate, that you also believe in fate or you would not have risked everything.

  She pulled his arm around her and shrugged.

  Sure, but you believed it first.

  Lilly quieted, the room seemed to hold its breath as they waited for the next second to come.

  The moment Maddie's eyes fluttered, every single one of them seemed to breathe in.

  Eadric chuckled as the next thought in Lilly's head wandered around to each of his brothers.

  Eadric, is everyone getting a mate? she asked.

  That's the plan.

  She heaved a sigh of relief.

  He pulled her into another room as the others began talking, Deo taking Maddie's vitals and chaos erupting about where they were going next.

  I know what is going through your head. Fate gives us each one, mate.

  His hand ran down her back to her ass.

  Oh, good. I was worried there for a minute that, well, that you guys maybe shared.

  He growled as he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist.

  We do not share.

  His lips claimed hers, and at that moment he was right. She believed in fate.

  Do you want more Eadric and Lilly? Check out Dragons Under the Mistletoe!

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  Coming Soon

  Space Dragons Seek Mates

  Book 1: Must Love Dragons

  Book 2: Single Red Dragon