Stolen by the Wind Dragon Prince: Dragon Shifter Romance (Elemental Dragon Warriors Book 2)

by Aria Winter

  Raidyn growls, glaring at the guard. “You are the one who imprisoned my mate, Tai?”

  I make a mental note of his name. I’ll make sure he’s one of the first one to get demoted for throwing me in jail.

  Tai answers in a string of unintelligible, harsh syllables, but I easily read the regret in his features. Seems he’s worried about upsetting Raidyn. I actually feel sorry for him now—a little. I mean, he did laugh at me, and that was a jerk move.

  “I told you you’d be in trouble,” I tell him, then tap Raidyn’s arm to get his attention. His sky-blue eyes turn to me. “If you want to fire him, fine. But nothing extreme like an execution, all right? After all, he did bring me this blanket.”

  Raidyn blinks, a hint of a smile quirking his lips, and the guard, Tai, releases a barking laugh followed by more words that I can’t understand.

  I narrow my eyes at Tai. “I wouldn’t laugh if I were you, buddy. You’re still on my bad list.”

  He laughs even louder, only stopping when Raidyn gives him a dark glare.

  “Why can I only understand you?” I ask Raidyn.

  “As I explained earlier, it is because you are my fated one. It is a part of the bond between us.”

  Fated one.

  I remember him saying that before he collapsed. If that’s what he thinks, I’m not going to question him yet. He just got me out of my cell, and I want to stay on his good side. Who knows? Maybe I can convince him to take me back to my people or help me find Lilliana.

  It doesn’t hurt that he’s handsome—for an alien, that is. And he has vowed to worship and protect me, words that would make even the most stoic of romance heroines swoon.

  “Do not worry, my fated one,” he says. “I will get you a translator chip so that you can understand our language.” He looks to the green dragon man on his other side. “Healer Vonar will install your translator when we reach your room.”

  I tense and stare up at him wide-eyed. “Are you talking about another prison cell?”

  His wings tighten around me and he nuzzles my hair. “Never,” he promises. “I will never allow anyone to put you in a cage ever again.”

  I’m about to ask for more reassurances but stop short when he opens a door to reveal one of the largest and most elaborately furnished rooms I’ve ever seen in my life.

  This suite is fit for a queen in one of the books I used to read on the colony ship. A large, four-poster bed intricately carved from ash-gray wood is surrounded by a canopy of sheer white curtains. They blow softly in the breeze that drifts in from the balcony across the room. With a plush, king-size gray-and-white comforter, it looks so inviting I wish I could just fall onto the mattress and sink in.

  A table and chairs carved of the same wood sit off to one side, on the gray carpets covering the stone floors. A deep impression in the far wall reminds me of a fireplace. Several tapestries line the walls, depicting dragon men both in humanoid and dragon form, surrounded by natural landscapes.

  The room is breathtakingly beautiful.

  My lips part as Raidyn carries me toward the bed. Panic grips me. Does he want to have sex? I haven’t even come to terms with this fated bond thing yet. As he bends forward to lower me onto the comforter, I place a firm hand on his chest. “I—I’ve never done this before. I’m not ready to make this official yet, all right?”

  His brow furrows. “We will not mate until you are ready. I am merely setting you down so that Healer Vonar can install your translator chip.”

  I glance to the side to find the green Healer dragon, Vonar, approaching me with what looks like a cross between a blaster and a syringe. Immediately, I start crawling backward, curling in on myself when my back hits the headboard.

  Raidyn spins and growls at the Healer while his tail wraps around my ankle and halfway up my calf. Although I would never admit it, the touch is comforting somehow.

  I grip Raidyn’s arm. “You wouldn’t let him hurt me, right?” I ask, watching Vonar warily.

  He turns to me with a softer expression, cupping my face. “It will sting a moment, my mate. But that should be all.”

  My eyes widen. I have terrible pain tolerance. Desperate, I try to scramble away, but Vonar’s hand whips out to wrap around my forearm and pull me toward him.

  I scream out with panic.

  Raidyn nearly loses control as he snarls and snaps at the man, who quickly backs away, both hands in the air in a gesture of surrender.

  Vonar growls something unintelligible to Raidyn.

  Raidyn’s shoulders and head drop. He turns to me. “Do you want the translator?”

  I blink. He’s giving me a choice? Despite his reassuring words, I was still worried that I was a prisoner. On one hand, I hate the idea of pain, no matter how minimal, but on the other, it would be nice to understand the aliens without having to rely on Raidyn for translation.

  Misreading my hesitance as a rejection, Raidyn’s sends me a look somewhere between devotion and concern. “I do not mind translating for you, my mate,” he whispers. “If you do not wish to wear a translator.”

  He really means it; he won’t force me to get this device implanted. Touched, I reach out and take his hand. “Thank you,” I murmur. “But I think I need one.”

  His gaze holds mine for a moment before he dips his chin in a subtle nod and then turns back to the Healer.

  Vonar steps forward with the device that looks like an instrument of torture, placing the injector behind my left ear. I grip Raidyn’s hand tightly, gritting my teeth as I wait for the inevitable pain.

  A sharp click behind my ear followed by a fiery sting makes me gasp. I tremble slightly, struggling not to cry out as the pain spreads across the back of my skull like fire. I double over, clenching my jaw as tears swim at the edge of my vision.

  “What is wrong?” Raidyn snaps at Vonar. “Why is she still hurting?”

  Vonar’s mouth drifts open. “I—I do not know, my prince. I—”

  The pain disappears as quickly as it started, and I lean back. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, I rub the spot behind my ear. “The pain is gone. Thank goodness,” I mumble to myself. For a moment, I was worried something had gone wrong.

  Raidyn places two fingers under my chin, tipping my head up to meet his blue eyes. “You are well, my beloved?”

  Despite the rational part of my brain insisting that I should be protesting his declarations of love and devotion, I find myself leaning into his touch as I give him a faint smile and nod. “I’m fine now. It still burns a bit, but it’s getting better.”

  He turns to Vonar. “Give her your healing fire.”

  My brow furrows. “Healing… fire?”

  “Yes. Vonar is of the Earth Clan, able to heal injuries and pain with healing fire.”

  He says this as if it’s a logical, run-of-the-mill ability.

  I tense as Vonar leans in, but I remain still, waiting to see what he’ll do. If I know anything at this point, it’s that Raidyn would not allow anyone to hurt me. So the fact that he’s not flipping out right now means that I’m safe.

  Vonar’s warm breath whispers across my skin and the pain fades away to nothing.

  When he pulls back, I reach behind my ear, pleasantly surprised when my touch doesn’t hurt. “How did you do that?”

  “It is our healing fire,” he repeats patiently.

  I turn to Raidyn. “Do all of you have this ability?”

  He shakes his head. “Each Clan can breathe either frost fire or flame, but only the Earth Clan can heal with theirs.”

  As strange as it sounds, I don’t question him further. All I want to know is what they plan to do with me now.

  The Healer places his fist to his chest and bows slightly. “I am Healer Vonar.”

  “I’m Skye.” Without thinking, I extend my hand to shake his but immediately recognize my mistake when Raidyn growls low in his throat behind me.

  Eyes wide, Vonar backs away. “Forgive me, Sire,” he tells Raidyn.

  “Forgive him? F
or what?” I turn to face him.

  Raidyn’s voice is a low grumble as he stares daggers at the Healer. “For speaking to my mate.”

  “I can’t speak to anyone now?” I ask incredulously.

  He shakes his head firmly. “Not until we are properly mated. You cannot present yourself to him either. You are mine.”

  My brow furrows deeply. “Present myself?”

  “As a potential mate,” he replies. “You have already been claimed.”

  “Claimed?” My tone is indignant. “Like I’m some sort of possession?”

  He tips his head to the side to regard me. “You are mine.”

  “Wait a minute.” I shake my head. “I thought… you were giving me a choice.” I gesture to the bed. “You said we didn’t have to mate if I did not want to.”

  “Not until you are ready,” he agrees.

  “What if I’m never ready?”

  “Do you not wish to be mine?” he asks as if the very idea shocks him to his core.

  Before I can respond, Healer Vonar bows slightly, backing toward the doors. “I will leave you alone to talk.” He disappears into the hallway.

  Chapter 9

  Raidyn

  “What if I don’t want to be married?” she asks.

  I cock my head to the side. This word translates as bonded, but surely she does not mean that. I feel I must ask anyway. “You… do not wish to be bonded?”

  Her gaze travels up and down my form. “I—I barely know you. And we’re not even the same species.”

  I do not understand. “What does that matter? We are fated to be together. Everything else is unimportant.”

  “Unimportant? Just how do you know we’re supposed to be together?”

  I place my closed fist to my chest, directly between my two beating hearts, watching in satisfaction as my scales begin to glow in the fated mate pattern beneath my touch. Her mouth drifts open as she ogles my chest. “This tells me you are mine and I am yours. The mark would not appear otherwise.”

  She kicks her leg out as if trying to shake my tail loose from her calf. Afraid I have made her uncomfortable, I quickly retract it. “Look, I don’t really understand what’s going on here. You tell me that women are worshipped here, but I just got thrown in jail by a guy that looks like you but much older. Your father, I’m assuming?”

  Ashamed at how she was treated, I lower my gaze. “Yes. He is the king.”

  “And you’re the prince?”

  I nod. “But my father is King in name only. The warriors have looked to me ever since my mother’s death.” Closing my eyes briefly against the grief, I continue. “My father has not been the same since she died.”

  A gentle touch to my forearm draws my attention. I find Skye staring up at me, something akin to sadness behind her blue eyes. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you,” I reply softly. “She passed many cycles ago, but the deep ache of it still remains.”

  She turns her gaze to the opposite wall, seeming far away. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. I’m sorry, Raidyn. I truly am.”

  Tears gather in the corner of her eyes, but she quickly blinks them away. My mate is no stranger to loss, and I wonder whom she grieves. However, I do not press her, because I understand how painful such memories can be when they surface. I will wait until she is ready to share that part of her past with me.

  “Thank you,” I reply.

  A moment of silence settles between us and I glance around the room. I want to stay here with her, but she has said she does not wish to mate yet. So, perhaps I should sleep in the adjoining chambers. I am reluctant to leave because I worry that my father might order her imprisoned again if he suddenly changes his mind or is manipulated even further by my cousin Durzain.

  She lifts her gaze to mine. “I need to get back to my people, Raidyn.”

  I have considered this as well. We must find her people, but as I think on the way that male attacked her, I am loath to return her to them. Especially now that I have her by my side and have vowed to protect her.

  I frown. “But one of them tried to attack you. Are the other males dangerous to females like him?”

  I hope they are not, and I pray what I witnessed was not typical of their mating practices. I know some species force-mate their females. The very thought sickens me.

  “No, they are not,” she replies. “And I appreciate your rescue, but I’m talking about the other women. My friends. I need to get back to them.”

  I shake my head. “No. It is too dangerous. If your own people are capable of attacking you, you are not safe among them.”

  Her mouth drifts open but she quickly snaps it shut. “No one has tried to hurt me but John. My friends would never—”

  “If you do not know with utter certainty that the other males would not attempt to harm you, then it is not safe.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I will not return you to such danger.”

  “Danger?” She spreads her arms wide in exasperation. “I’ve been in danger since the moment I got here. Your father had me thrown in a cell!”

  She is right. As much as I dislike the idea of taking her back to her people, they must be warned. Even though I did not believe it at first, they would probably be better off with the Fire Clan. Even if Varus’ people claim all of the females, at least I know they will treat them as if they were females of our own race. Not make them feel as if they must choose a male that is presented to them like Durzain has convinced my father we should do.

  It may not be safe for us to remain here either. My cousin has my father’s ear and I do not trust him. But neither is it safe for her to return to the desert—not without me, at least. She still has not deemed me a suitable mate. I believe she does not sense the bond as I do, and the mark has not manifested on her body.

  She is mine, however—of this, I am sure. I must simply convince her to want me.

  I meet her eyes evenly. “I will return you to your people,” I watch as her beautiful face lights with joy, “but there is something I must share with you first.”

  Her brow furrows softly. “What is it?”

  “Before I found you, I told you that I saw your friend with Prince Varus of the Fire Clan.”

  Something akin to hope flits across her expression. “Can you please take me to see her?”

  With a slight clench of my jaw, I swallow thickly. “We are not on good terms with the Fire Clan,” I reply haltingly, reluctant to tell the entire truth. Technically, we are now enemies, since I broke the treaty by attacking Varus in Fire Clan territory. “I believe that they may already be searching for your people to take them back to their capital city.”

  “Please.” Her face is a mask of determination. “You have to take me to them. I have to find my friend; she’s all I have left. I have to know that all my friends are safe.”

  “Varus claimed she was his mate. He even bore the mark that I wear now.” I point proudly to my chest. “You need not fear. He would never harm her. And I do not believe that his people would harm yours, either.”

  She gives me a hesitant look. “This Varus guy… he wouldn’t push her to mate with him, though, would he? Against her will?”

  I jerk my head back, the mere idea twisting my stomach into a knot of disgust. “No,” I deny vehemently. “None of my kind would ever force themselves upon a female to mate.”

  Unlike her kind, apparently, but I leave that part unspoken. After I witnessed the human male of her species trying to force himself on her, I understand why she would suspect other males of such a horrible crime. But Drakarians are not so evil.

  My father and Durzain may try to force the females to choose a male to become theirs but they would never force a female to mate with someone against her will.

  She releases a heavy sigh of relief then lifts her pleading gaze to me. “Please, Raidyn. Please. I need to see her.”

  Although we are not fully mated, I can already deny her nothing. If she wishes to be reunited with her peopl
e and see that they are well, I will do whatever I can to please her. “I must speak with my father about sending an ambassador to the Fire Clan. We cannot appear unannounced—they may attack us.”

  Her eyes go wide. “Attack you? Things are that bad between your Clans?”

  I nod. “Unfortunately so.”

  I neglect to tell her that our relations deteriorated because of me—because I trespassed into Fire Clan territory to investigate what I thought was a meteorite that fell from the sky. And because I fought with Varus when he caught me. But as I study her, I realize any consequence is worth it. I have found my fated one and feel blessed beyond measure.

  “Wait here. I will return shortly.”

  I move to leave, but her small hand alights on my forearm, stopping me in my tracks. I spin to face her hesitant eyes.

  “Please, don’t leave me here alone.”

  I cock my head to the side. “These are my rooms. No one will bother you here,” I reassure her.

  “Look, you’re the only one here who cares about keeping me out of a cell. So, I’d rather not be separated from you while we’re…” Her gaze travels over the room as if considering her words, “in your kingdom. All right?”

  Part of me rejoices that she already trusts me to protect her and keep her safe, but another part hates that she views my palace and my Clan with fear. I want my lands to become her home if she will accept me as her mate.

  With a clenched jaw, I nod. Father must accept her; there is no way around that. Surely, I can convince him to see reason. “All right. Let us go together.”

  She surprises me by entwining her arm with mine, as if already claiming me. We traverse the castle and I notice the not-so-discreet stares of several guards. No doubt word has already spread about my strange fated one. After all, there has never been a fated bond outside of our race before Varus and me. I glance over my shoulder at Tai, who trails us, and Skye narrows her eyes at him.