Tropical Dragons Series Box Set - Naomi Lucas Page 0,46

prove it in spades.

Father and Grandfather are approaching us as I look away from the door.

“Welcome to Shell Rock, dragon,” Esteus says. “Tulia!” he shouts. My half-sister stumbles into the main room from where she hid listening from behind one of the hide walls. Several more come out behind her—women of the tribe, whispering and eyeing my male.

“Yes?” she asks, smiling at me.

“Gather everyone who isn’t already… eavesdropping.” He laughs, looking to the crowd of women. “We have a celebration to prepare for!”

That evening, and through the night, we celebrated, sharing stories and endless questions. There’s more laughter assailing the air than I have heard from my people in years. Even Kaos is affected by it.

Yet my mirth grows with every second. Hope, so much hope—and love—fills me. This happiness is all I’ve ever wanted, I realize. This future for my people. They lost the last of their hope with me when Leith left, and a little bit of courage. But fate—the red comet in the sky—smiles upon me. It has returned our future.

Looking at my people, I see myself in them, sense them like I’ve never done before. Kaos meets my gaze over the fire, where he is pinned between Father and Grandfather, smoldering at me. A strange sight to see with him between my sires.

But Tulia, Nell, and my other half-sisters whisk me away before I can go to him.

They adorn me in a dress of white seashells and abalone shards. They weave shells into my hair, crown me with the colors of the ocean reefs, and drape me in netted cord jewelry. They keep going until my long hair is heavy with the gifts of the ocean and every curve of my body is emphasized by a nearly-revealing mating gown.

And when they are done—once food was cooked and drinks were prepared—they present me to him.

Kaos rises slowly to his feet, eyes glittering with awe of his own. I stare back at him mesmerized, never once imagining I’d be here, in this place, presented to a male that was all mine.

Mine, I think, as the lust in his eyes deepens, as they trail over every inch of my body, feasting.

He’s wearing several adornments too, a hide cape draped over his neck, and to my surprise… several predator bones are sewn into his long hair, holding it back from his face. I feast too.

My mouth waters.

He closes the distance and kisses me, pulling me into his arms and searing my lips with his hungry ones. It’s not how the ritual is supposed to go, but he’s not a human, not really. To me, he will always be my dragon.

My dragon.

My. Dragon.

Mine.

Our people cheer as he lifts me into his arms and carries me off into the night, his mouth still on mine. To our home. Where our journey truly begins, and the kissing never ends.

To Mate a Dragon

The human race is dying under the red comet soaring through the skies above...and with it, the sounds of dragons are in the air.

My name is Aida, and I was destined to lead the Sand’s Hunter tribe into a new generation—promised to mate with one of the last born males along the Mermaid Coast. But before Leith was delivered to my tribe, my younger sister came of age and the elders chose her to be his mate instead.

Then a messenger came from the north with rumors of dragons turning into virile males from a single, human touch. Fresh hope blossoms within me as I plan to reclaim my rightful place as future matriarch to my people, and with that hope, I ready my supplies to hunt down one of these dragons to make my own. To touch him, to claim him, to take his seed and honor my people with a new generation.

But a storm is on the horizon.

And with that storm, soars an alpha dragon in heat. He’s heading straight for me.

He sees me.

All my plans crumble under his dark draconian stare.

1

The Coming Storm

Laughter fills my ears.

So much laughter. I long to join in but my sorrow weighs heavy on my heart. Everyone in my tribe is joyful but me, and they know it. They ignore my hurt because it’s easier, and not wanting to be a burden, I try and ignore it too.

A breeze hits my skin, and a streak of red shines down upon me as the clouds move overhead. I glimpse the comet.

Many weeks ago, the red comet appeared in the sky above, lighting the land with a