The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,13

getting possessive over something was the hoard my mates had been building. This was a hundred times worse than that.

This dagger was mine. It was a gift, I'd chosen it, and I’d wielded it. I’d slain my enemies with it. With this blade, I'd fulfilled the promises I'd made to my family and the only goal I’d ever set for myself! Everything in me rebelled at throwing it away.

The roar of a pained female dragon echoed within me, and at that moment, I knew something to be unquestionably true.

I was completely screwed.

Chapter 4

I'd almost smiled watching Shira’s attempts to survey her surroundings as she left the cottage. So long as anyone trying to sneak up on her was within ten feet, she'd be fine. It was an improvement over her practically skipping into Flight Milain’s territory without a second glance.

My amusement died when Shira doubled over in pain. Was she injured? It had been two days since we’d seen her — though one of us had been outside the cottage the entire time — and she hadn’t seemed injured then. Had her brother hurt her? I’d kill him. Shira might not like that, though. We were supposed to be trying to keep her happy now we’d found her again.

I bridged some distance between us as Shira approached the river, trying to decide what to do. Ezra had told us not to interfere, and I was trying to respect his authority as Alpha since he’d been attempting to fix what he’d broken, but I couldn’t stand aside if Shira was hurting.

At times like these, I wish I knew more about females. Maybe this was normal?

As Shira hovered by the edge of the river clutching the dagger, writhing like she wanted to crawl out of her skin, I realized what was happening.

//Come here.//

//Why?// Ezra's reply was immediate and alarmed.

//Her dragon is emerging.//

//We're on our way. Is she in pain?//

//Yes,// I replied honestly. I moved forward to go to Shira, but her fucking brother beat me to it, rushing to her side.

No, this wasn't fucking okay. I could understand her leaning on her brother the other night, but a gold's emergence was an important moment between her and her mates. It was usually the first time they met. We'd been deprived of that moment before, and I wasn't willing to sacrifice that again.

“Is this your first shift?” I heard her brother asking, sounding baffled. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Now’s not the best time for an interrogation,” I grumbled, striding to my mate’s side and dropping onto the grass next to her. Shira must have been in a bad way because she didn’t hesitate to fall sideways into my outstretched arms. There wasn’t anything we could do to ease her pain, but her body would instinctively seek comfort from ours.

“You found me,” Shira breathed.

“We never lost you. The others are coming, we’ll stay by your side until it’s over. It'll be okay.”

“And if she doesn’t want that?” Xander challenged, showing an impressive amount of backbone for a kid who I could have overpowered with one hand.

Shira suppressed a scream, burying her face in my chest. My heart stuttered at having her so close, the feel of her in my arms. If this was only temporary, I’d soak up every moment I got to touch her.

“Shira seems happy where she is,” I countered, stroking her glossy black hair. I liked that she’d cut it to her shoulders, it meant she couldn’t hide behind it. She’d used her long hair like a curtain when she was feeling something she didn’t want us to see.

Xander gave me a poisonous look before leaning in closer to talk directly to his sister. I growled unconsciously, hating anyone outside of our flight being around my mate when she was so vulnerable.

“I don’t like the idea of leaving you much, but your emergence is something between you and your mates.”

Shira nodded against my chest, making another strangled sound as her body shook violently in my arms.

“And while it’s probably safer for you not to be on dragon territory right now anyway, I’ll patrol in case any curious fae or centaurs venture too close.”

I gave him a nod in acknowledgment at that. None of us would be in a fit state to patrol, knowing Shira was in pain.

“Shira told you everything then?” I confirmed.

“She did.” Xander squeezed Shira’s shoulder supportively, before taking off his shirt and letting his dark green wings free and taking off. I was glad he wasn’t looking at