by C. D. Gorri
“Jenna, you have twin girls you don’t want to bring here full time, not when your mates can’t reside here with you three. I understand. Besides, I didn’t plan to return to my home realm.” She hadn’t realized until that moment that was her intention. How would Nikai react when she told him she wouldn’t be living with him in the Dragon Realm. He was the Dragon King. He’d done everything to secure his title, and Goddess knew he deserved it.
“Don’t make any hasty life decisions, Belle. Talk with Nikai and remember you are a team. There is no I in that word.” Jenna flashed in front of her. “Let your mate be your helper, not your enemy. Trust me, I have fucked up a lot in my life, but I will always rely on my males to have my front and my back.”
Belle groaned. “You just had to go to the dirty, didn’t you?”
Jenna looped her arm through Belle’s. “Well, I always say that a dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste, and honestly, who am I to waste anything. Besides, have you seen my males?”
Belle began walking, pulling Jenna with her. “You said that was a dick pic you got from the interweb. Were you lying?”
Her friend didn’t answer her question; however, Belle was going to pretend the image she saw was, indeed, not either Cordell man’s penis.
When they crested the hill and the main house came into view, her heart raced at the sight of Nikai and Lula standing next to one another, along with Lula’s mates. Goddess, she’d longed for a time where her family was together and happy. Would Nikai hate her for not returning with him?
“Go to your mate, Belle. I’m flashing back to Earth to gather the children. Don’t be shocked when extensions are created to the main house. Oh, and I’ll be popping in to let Asia know via our link. Byee,” Jenna crowed.
She would’ve swatted her friend if she hadn’t been in a hurry to get to Nikai’s side. Flashing down to him, she appeared a foot away from the group. “Hi,” she said, unsure what to say.
Nikai held his hand out, smiling. “Hello, mate. I missed you when I woke but had a wonderful surprise awaiting in the living room.”
“We were polite and didn’t barge inside. You know, in case I’d need therapy afterwards. Nobody wants to see their mommy and daddy bumping uglies.” Lula grinned.
Belle took the hand Nikai held out, gasping as he pulled her into him.
“Hmm, I don’t think there’s a thing on your mother that is ugly.” His lips covered hers as one hand fisted in her hair, tugging her head back while he held her in place.
She didn’t know how long they stood there, making out like young dragons. Lula’s loud cough brought Nikai’s head up, his smile bright.
“I’m going to make it a rule you do not leave our bed without a proper morning kiss,” he murmured.
“Is that the type of kiss you’re talking about or another type of kiss?” Atika asked.
“Do not answer that, or I swear I will throw up. I’m pregnant, so that is not an empty threat,” Lula warned.
Belle gave Nikai another quick kiss, then turned to face her daughter. “Lula, I’m so happy to see you three. You look lovely.”
“Lula’s glowing with our child growing within her,” Abyle agreed, his chest puffed out.
The next hour they spent in the kitchen with Egypt and Asia, along with Lula and her men. Belle loved every moment with her family. As Lula and her mates said their goodbyes, she sat at the huge table with Nikai as he looked across the table, his gaze taking in Egypt. She’d waited for him to speak with the young girl or her to ask him questions. The other children would be arriving soon, so she hoped they’d get this, whatever was going to happen, over with.
“I don’t have a dragon in me like you,” Egypt said, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.
Nikai folded his hands on the table and nodded. “Yes, you do, dragonling. She is scared, just as you are.”
Egypt shook her head. “I don’t feel her. I did when I was little, but now, I feel empty.”
Belle wanted to cry when Egypt clutched her chest. Her own dragon roared within her head. ‘Must fix her dragon.’
“You are stronger now. When you were younger, you hid her so she could survive, yes?” Nikai asked.
Egypt looked at her mom, then back at Nikai without speaking.
Asia’s lips trembled.
Belle had shared what she’d unlocked within the other woman’s mind, but she was still having a hard time believing what she’d been shown as the truth, and what she’d thought she’d lived.
“Egypt, my panther says you are more. She’s talking to me again. I’m not...not ready to let her come out, but she assures me you are not a hybrid like the Cordell’s, but she says to listen to the dragon.” Asia looked at Belle with wide dark eyes.
“What if my dragon is gone forever?”
Nikai flashed from the table next to where Egypt stood, getting down on one knee. “If that is the case, then so be it. Your father was my nephew. You are a child of my house and will forever be a dragon, whether you shift or not. You protected yourself and your mother. That is the heart of a dragon. There is no fiercer being than a child who can do what you did.”
Belle wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall as Nikai kissed the girl’s forehead. She didn’t miss the twin flames that lit up Egypt’s eyes as he did. Oh, she had no doubt little Egypt’s dragon was still within her, and one day, the beast would come out.
Wind outside whipped up, signaling change to Fey. Belle and the others looked out the windows, watching as the main house began expanding. The Iron Wolves children would be arriving soon, and their lives would become fuller.
Nikai looked over at her, smiling.
‘I am aware we will not be returning to Dragon for a while, my love. My father is a capable King, and as such, has taken my place for the foreseeable future. I am where I need and want to be, by my mate’s side.’
Nikai’s whispered soothing words inside her mind, easing her worries. They had the rest of their long lives to figure shit out, but for now, they’d take care of a bunch of little wolfies and humanish children. Lord love a duck, what the hell had she signed on to do?
“How hard can watching a dozen wee ones be anyhow?” Nikai asked.
The End
Find out just how hard in Bad Wolf, Iron Wolves Next Generation!
Check Out Bad Wolf Here
Want to read Lula’s story?
Their Dragon Mate
A Forbidden Love. A Bond Tying Them Together. A Secret That Could Destroy Them All.
She’s always taken the path less traveled. They’ve always barreled through roadblocks. Can they find a way to be together without losing themselves?
Lula’s a Fierce Dragon... She’s given bits of herself to others when she was sure she had no mate of her own, even knowing it would cost her life at some point.
Atika and Abyle, Twins with A Purpose... They lived to protect their clan, until their brother took over as alpha. Just as they think they can relax, they meet their truemate. A feisty dragon female who runs from them.
The Triad Bond... Their beast won’t be denied, but finding their little dragon proves harder than they’d anticipated. However, once they bond with her, there’s no denying the love they share. What they didn’t foresee was a stranger from Lula’s past coming for her and her mother.
Will the trio have a chance at happily ever after, or will the Dragon King who lost his greatest treasures demand them back, or kill whoever stands in his way?
Get ready for an exciting return of some of your favorite characters in this stand-alone...sort of “wink” story. You just might hear from the Fey Queen, the bad boy alpha Kellen, and what would a reunionish story be without #dontlookdown aka Creed.
*.*.*.*
Thank you for reading Her Dragon Mate! I hope you loved it! I hope you are ready for more and I hope I give it to you. Lord, I loved visiting my Iron Wolves and Creeedddd, “Sigh”. That demon has my heart LOL. But Jenna, she’s really one of my favorite characters.
If you’re not a member of my group, be sure and join my Facebook group, Elle Boon’s Boonies, to discuss all things Elle Boon books and see what’s going on or coming up in my book world.
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XOXO,
ELLE BOON
*.*.*.*
Other Books by Elle Boon
Ravens of War
Selena’s Men
Two For Tamara
Jaklyn’s Saviors
Kira’s Warriors
Akra’s Demons
Mystic Wolves
Accidentally Wolf
His Perfect Wolf
Jett’s Wild Wolf
Bronx’s Wounded Wolf
A Fey’s Wolf
Their Wicked Wolf
Atlas’s Forbidden Wolf
SmokeJumpers
FireStarter
Berserker’s Rage
A SmokeJumpers Christmas
Choosing His Mate, A Prequel to FireStarter is Available in The Glittering World Anthology
Iron Wolves MC
Lyric’s Accidental Mate
Xan’s Feisty Mate
Kellen’s Tempting Mate
Slater’s Enchanted Mate
Dark Lovers
Bodhi’s Synful Mate
Turo’s Fated Mate
Arynn’s Chosen Mate
Coti’s Unclaimed Mate
Miami Nights
Miami Inferno
Rescuing Miami
Standalone
Wild and Dirty, Wild Irish Series
SEAL Team Phantom Series
Delta Salvation
Delta Recon
Delta Rogue
Delta Redemption
Mission Saving Shayna
Protecting Teagan
The Dark Legacy Series
Dark Embrace
The Royal Sons MC Series
Royally Twisted
Royally Taken
Royally Tempted
Royally Treasured
Royally Broken
Royally Saved
Royally Chosen Christmas
Royally Beloved
Royally Targeted
Magic and Mayhem
The Lion’s Witchy Mate
The Leopards Witchy Mate
Standalone
Shaw’s Wild Mate, Coming Soon
A Cursed Hallows Eve Anthology
Their Dragon Mate
His Dragon Mate, Coming Soon
IRON WOLVES THE NEXT GENERATION
COMING SOON
Bad Wolf – Xian Book 1
Tempted Wolf – Jagger Book 2
The Vampire’s Wolf – Liv & Kahn Book 3
Embrace A Wolf – Jaxon Book 4
*.*.*.*
Connect with Elle online. She loves to hear from you:
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About Elle Boon
Elle Boon is a reader first and foremost...and of course if you know her, she's the crazy lady with purple hair. She's also a USA Today Bestselling Author who lives in Middle-Merica as she likes to say…with her husband and Kally Kay, her black lab who also thinks she's her writing partner. (She happens to sit next to her begging for treats and so takes a lot of credit). She has two amazing kids, Jazz and Goob, and is a MiMi to one adorable little nugget named Romy or RomyGirl (greatest job EVER) who has totally won over everyone who sees hers (If anyone says a hair bow is too big, they're crazy). She’s known for saying “Bless Your Heart” and dropping lots of F-bombs (I mean lots of F-BOMBS, but who is keeping track?).
She loves where this new journey has taken her and has no plans on stopping. She writes what she loves to read, and that’s romance, whether it’s about Navy SEALs, HOT as F**K MC heroes, or paranormal alphas. #dontlookdown is a thing you will need to google. "Wink" With all her stories, you're guaranteed a happily ever after, no matter what twisted thing her mind has come up with. Her biggest hope is that after readers have read one of her stories, they fall in love with her characters as much as she has. She loves creating new worlds and has more just waiting to be written. Elle believes in happily ever after and can guarantee you will always get one within the pages of her books.
Assassin By Julia Mills
Assassin © 2021 Julia Mills, Author
Edited by: Charlene Bauer
Assassin
When the family business is justice and your Mate’s in your sights, it may be time to look for a new job.
Destiny demands she finish what she started.
Fate refuses to be denied.
Caught between losing her head or being with the one the Universe made for her, Alex has seven seconds to make the ultimate decision – defy all she’s ever known or save her Mate’s life.
Karma's demanding her pound of flesh. The Reaper's knocking at the door. But this Black Fairy’s got one last trick up her sleeve. Can she pull off a miracle before it’s too late? Or will all be lost to The Crow's blade?
Prologue
Throwing open the door with her Mate by her side, Lore snapped, "What the hell, Stone?" Whipping her head to the side to check for knuckle marks, she glared before warning, "Damn good thing there are no marks. I'm still good and pissed that my Clinic looks like a friggin' bomb went off in it."
Holding up his index finger and opening his mouth as three more of the infamous Paladins appeared at his side, her Mate’s twin aka ‘the new brother-in-law’ kinda-sorta apologized with a shrugged, “Sorry, but I gotta talk to Sable.” Finger still in the air, he wagged in time to every syllable that followed. “And I told you I’d fix your Clinic. It was you, dear sister-in-law, who said you wanted to do it yourself because of all the, and I quote…”
Other index finger joining the first, he made finger quotes that had Lore imagining the paws of the Siberian Tigress with whom she shared her soul around his throat as Stone continued, she snarled. “…you wouldn’t know an EEG machine from an ultrasound, Stone. Just let me do it and I’ll send you the bill.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Lore nodded before pointing her own finger back at him. “But not in that tone and I remember you saying…” Making a show of clearing her throat, she went on in the deepest voice she could muster. “Well then at least let me help with rebuilding the walls and the counters and all the cosmetic work. I’m pretty good with a hammer.”
“Yeah, okay,” Stone threw his hands in the air before running them through his hair and sighing, “You win. Can we hash this out later? I need to talk to Sable.”
Giving her brother-in-law an eye-roll followed by her best Vanna White hand motion towards her Dragon, Lore sarcastically and exaggeratedly bubbled, “Stone meet Sable.” Winking at her one true love, she went on, “Sable, I’d like to introduce you to your blockhead brother.”
Laughing just like she knew he would, Sable grabbed her hand and pulled
her to him with a smile that curled her toes as he opened the door wider for his Brethren, “Come on, the whole damn lot of ya’. You’re letting out the warm air. I forgot how wet and drafty Scotland is this time of year.”
Swooning just a little bit every time she looked at him, it didn't hurt that the longer they stayed in ‘his homeland’, the stronger her Mate's brogue became. It was sexy in a way that made her feel like the Maiden in the castle waiting for her roguish Knight to come and rescue her.
Snapping out of one of her favorite daydreams, Lore was metaphorically whapped across the face as a cloud of rage, frustration, and pissed off Dragon Paladin emanated from their visitors. "Who pissed in y'all's Cheerios?"
Doing an about-face so fast he was nothing but a blur, Stone took a step forward and held up his cell phone in the air between them. Looking at the picture, it took a second for Lore to react - but not Sable.
Voice low and rumbly, the scent of burning cherry wood filled her senses. Her Mate was mad, no, check that, he was downright furious and heading towards pissed off Warrior Dragon at a high rate of speed.
Putting two and two together, Lore finally recognized that the image was of Creed after the holy hell had been beat out of him. Both eyes swollen and surrounded by a myriad of purple, blue, and black bruises, his long, gorgeous salt and pepper eyes caked with blood, and his nose laying to the side. “What the…”
“Who?” Sable snarled, cutting off her question.
Swiping his finger across the screen, Stone shoved the phone closer. “That bitch.”
“XOXO Assassin,” Lore read the computer-generated note aloud. “What the hell? The asshole signed the ransom note with hugs and kisses?”