by Anna Lowe
Silas was a man of few emotions, and Cassandra watched him, savoring one of the rare times when he let them shine through. Of all the joys she’d shared with him recently, this was the icing on the cake. That Wow, we really did it sense of completion.
Tessa raised her coffee mug. “Well, then. I think we need a toast.”
Kai nodded, looking Silas in the eye. “You know what this means, don’t you? You could be the greatest dragon lord of all.”
Silas held up his hand quickly. “That’s not what I want. I never did.”
Tessa raised her mug higher. “How about being the one to bring peace and stability to the dragon world?”
Cassandra watched, falling in love with Silas all over again as he hemmed and hawed modestly. The man wasn’t about power. He was all about duty and honor.
He allowed himself a tiny smile. “That, I wouldn’t mind.” Then he gazed into the distance. “But, honestly? That’s a big idea to get my head around, and I’m too tired to think straight.” He looked up at Cassandra and grinned. “Too lost in love.”
“My sentiments exactly,” she whispered, imitating his voice.
Tessa clinked her mug against Nina’s and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Finally.”
“No kidding.” Kai grinned.
“Finally, what?” Silas asked.
“Oh, nothing.” Tessa winked and gave Cassandra a half-hidden thumbs-up.
“Oh! Tell Cassandra our idea!” Nina clapped and beamed at Tessa.
The redhead’s eyes shone brighter. “Well, I just finished my first book of grill recipes, and the publisher I’m hoping to sign with says it has to have something totally new for it to compete in a tight market.”
Nina flapped her hands in excitement. “So I was thinking you could help Tessa pair each recipe with a cocktail. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
Cassandra broke into a broad smile. “That would be fantastic. Although I am too tired to think straight right now. Can I tell you for sure tomorrow?”
Tessa nodded eagerly as Kai brushed a hand over her back and spoke. “I think we’re all exhausted — and frankly, a little distracted by our mates. It might not be a bad idea to bring in someone to help keep an eye on things over the next few months.”
Boone nodded immediately. “It is kind of hard to run a good night patrol when you keep thinking about your mate.”
Hunter scratched his beard. “How about the Hoving brothers? Weren’t they retiring from the Marines soon?”
Cruz shook his head. “They’ve got two more months, at least.”
“What about McElroy and those buddies of his? Weren’t they looking for work?”
Kai frowned. “They reenlisted from what I know.”
Boone smacked his hand on the table. “Wait. I know just the man we need. Make that, just the woman.”
Everyone looked over. “Who?”
“Ella. The desert fox. I think a working vacation in Hawaii is just what she needs. And hell, maybe she can bring one of the wolves from Twin Moon Ranch with her — or one of those bears that runs the Blue Moon Saloon. Those guys don’t mess around.”
Silas nodded. “Great idea. I’ll get in touch with Ella.”
Kai grinned. “I’ll do it. I think you might have pressing business with your mate.”
The bite marks on Cassandra’s neck itched, and her body heated up. Now that Kai mentioned it, yes. She would love to get Silas somewhere private again.
“His mate,” Tessa chuckled. “Music to my ears.”
Silas raised one chiseled eyebrow at her.
Tessa raised her mug again. “So here’s my toast. Everyone ready?”
Everyone raised their mugs, unconcerned they weren’t the finest crystal containing expensive champagne.
“To Silas, our fearless leader,” Tessa started.
“Hear, hear,” everyone cheered.
“To Cassandra,” Tessa added with a genuine smile. “You might be crazy for loving Silas—”
Everyone laughed.
“—but you’re perfect for each other. May the two of you discover the joy of being mated like the rest of us have.” Tessa winked, and everyone chuckled.
Cassandra felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She had to be blushing bright red by now. Silas kissed her knuckles again, unabashed.
“And to Koa Point,” Tessa concluded. “Our beautiful, cozy home.”
A sprawling estate shouldn’t seem cozy but Cassandra agreed it was in every possible way.
“To Koa Point,” each person echoed, looking at his or her mate. “Home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Glasses clinked, and everyone sipped. Then they broke into conversation that ebbed and flowed.
“Who would have thought…”
“I still can’t believe it…”
“Start from the beginning…” Cruz demanded of Kai.
Boone cocked his head at the collection of stones. “It’s funny. I thought that when we had all five, something big would happen. I mean, something really big.”
“Like what?” Nina laughed. “Fireworks?”
Boone gestured vaguely. “I don’t know. A burst of light, maybe? A heat wave?” He laughed. “I guess we should be happy that’s not the case.”
“Exactly. I’m just happy all five are safe,” Silas said.
Cassandra sat perfectly still as the faint memory at the back of her mind stirred. All five…safe… She tilted her head at the collection of precious gems. Why did that sound wrong?
“All good?” Silas murmured, seeing her drift off in thought.
She flashed him a quick smile. Everything was great, right?
Silas stood and took her hand, murmuring to the others. “If you’ll excuse us…”
His eyes glowed, and she smiled for real, knowing exactly what he had in mind.
“Have fun, kids,” Kai called.
Boone whistled, and Nina thumped his arm.
“Hey!” he protested.
“That was once us,” Nina admonished him.
“That’s still us.” Boone laughed, tugging her out of the chair. “If you’ll excuse us, everyone…”
Silas chuckled, keeping Cassandra close as they walked toward the path to his house. Behind them, footsteps, giggles, and lusty growls indicated that the other couples were also heading to their own private corners of Koa Point with their jewels.
Cassandra wound her arm around Silas’s and breathed deeply, looking around. “Such great people. Such a peaceful place. And it’s yours.”
“It’s ours,” he corrected as they walked up the path. “Every part of it.”
She laughed. “All I really care about right now is the bed. And not for sleeping.”
Silas’s arm slid up and down her back, making her hungry for him all over again. But that uneasy something still tapped at her brain, and she couldn’t quite let go of it.
“What’s mine is yours. The bed. The house.” Silas lifted one finger after another as he spoke. “The car. The estate. Oh, and the library, of course.”
She stared at his hand. Five fingers. Five Spirit Stones…
A blurry image raced through her mind as quickly as the ruffled pages of a book.
“The library,” she murmured, taking off for the stairs.
Silas jogged after her. “The library?”
“Yes. No. I mean, sorry,” she mumbled, trying to catch a stray thought that refused to be caught.
She was panting by the time she reached the top level of the house, and when she burst into the library, she crouched by the box next to the door and pulled out one book after another.
“Filimore’s books?” Silas asked, giving her space.
She nodded, not sure which one she sought. She’d only skimmed through a few briefly. She pushed one book aside to check the one under it, then backed up to a green, leather-bound volume.
“This one…”
A moment later, she had it open on the table and under the lamp. Silas leaned over it with her, and she started flip
ping through the pages. The worn leather cover carried the scent of centuries, and the detailed illustrations on each page were from an era when tasks were measured in years, not hours.
“What are you looking for?” Silas asked in a hushed voice.
“There was something in here about the Spirit Stones…”
“I think I’ve read everything that exists on Spirit Stones,” Silas said in a weary tone.
He sounded as though he’d be happy never to read a book again, but she pressed on.
“Have you ever read these?”
“No. I haven’t had time.”
She flipped through the hand-decorated pages, searching for something that might trigger a memory. Then she stopped at a lushly illustrated scene with a field of dense script along one side.
She peered closer, holding her breath.
“What is it?” Silas asked.
She looked, stunned, fighting the instinct to hide the page. Shouldn’t she allow Silas to enjoy peace for a few more days? Surely, this new complication could wait.
On the other hand, she couldn’t keep a secret from her mate, especially one as critical as this.
She tapped the page, telling herself whatever trouble this new discovery created, they would face — and conquer — it together.
“There. Look.”
She pointed. In the center of the image was a woman holding out both hands, one higher than the other. In the background, a burgundy dragon circled a volcano that shot lava high in the air.
“Have you ever seen this?” she asked.
Silas leaned closer, studying the details. “No. Filimore had so many books…” He ran a finger under the script caption. “The Queen of the witch clan creates the Spirit Stones…”
“You can read that?”
He nodded. “It’s an ancient script, but yes, I can read it. My parents were sticklers for a classical education.” He sighed. “Lucky Kai. He got off easy.”
“Look at her hands.”
The woman in the center — the witch queen — held both palms up with her fingers curled tightly, displaying a full set of rings. One on each finger, with the gemstones showing.
“A diamond…a ruby…” Cassandra pointed at each one. “A sapphire…”
“An amethyst, and an emerald,” Silas finished. “The Spirit Stones.”
He seemed content to leave it there, and she bit her lip, wondering what to say.
Say the truth, the voice inside her urged.
She pointed at the book. “There aren’t five Stones. There are six. Look at her other hand.”
When Silas leaned in for a closer look, his body tensed along her side.
“There’s one more ring with one more gem,” she said. “Something multicolored…”
Silas’s eyes darted from the image to the text and back again.
“What does it say?” she begged.
He ran a finger under the script and read aloud. “Five Spirit Stones, born of fire…”
She waited impatiently.
“Commissioned by the great dragon lord…”
If there were a fast-forward switch to Silas’s commentary, she would have hit it.
His voice dropped. “And the Keystone shall unite the others…”
Silas trailed off, and they stared at each other.
“The Keystone?” She gulped. “Have you ever heard of it?”
He shook his head immediately. “Never. But it says here, First, the queen created the Keystone, and with it, she breathed life into the diamond, the ruby…”
Cassandra had felt so happy a short time ago. Now all the anxiety pressed back in.
“So it isn’t over. There’s one more Spirit Stone out there.”
Silas nodded slowly. “Sounds like there could be.”
She tilted her head at the image. “What kind of gem looks like that?”
“Like a rainbow? I have no idea.”
Cassandra looked at the box by the door. “You brought those from New York, right?”
He nodded. “They’re the oldest books from Filimore’s collection — the ones he kept in a separate vault. I took them in case Drax came along, but I haven’t been able to read them yet.”
Cassandra’s blood ran cold. “Do you think Moira knows about this?”
His chin dipped, and for a moment, he looked older. Wearier. “I doubt she knows. I doubt anyone knows.”
“Maybe this book is wrong,” she tried.
He shook his head immediately and showed her the title page. “By Marius Baird. He’s a legend among dragon scholars. I doubt he would be wrong.”
She wrung her hands. “Damn it. Just when I thought we had everything figured out…” Then she sighed. “If nothing else, I think I just found myself a new job.”
He tilted his head in a question, so she went on.
“Learning to read that script and going through all these books. We’re going to have to if we want to find out more about that sixth stone.”
Silas rubbed his chin. “That means another trip to New York.”
“To clear out my apartment?” She’d already pictured the process, and frankly, she couldn’t wait.
He smiled. “That, and to go through Filimore’s penthouse.”
“The penthouse. Of course.” She waved a hand like it was nothing.
Silas nodded toward the box of books. “There are a lot more books there. You think you’re ready to give up bartending?”
She laughed. “If I get to explore these books, yes. Maybe I’ll finally learn a spell or two. I love the idea of helping Tessa too.” Her face fell into a frown. “After we figure out what to do about this Keystone, that is.”
Silas tipped her chin up and flashed her a bittersweet smile. “That could take years. But you know what?”
“What?”
He hugged her fiercely. “First, we have a long time. Your life span will be as long as a dragon’s, thanks to the mating bite. And second, I am putting problems aside for tonight. Exploring the fine art of procrastination, as Boone might say. In fact, I am putting problems aside for several nights. Because I have my mate, and nothing is going to stop us from enjoying our time together.”
She burst into a smile and slowly shut the book as lust reared up in her again. They couldn’t procrastinate forever, but yeah — a week or so would be nice.
“Well, then,” she said, inching around until she was sitting on the desk. She pulled Silas into the V between her knees and wrapped her legs around him. “I’ve always had a fantasy about this table, you know.”
She ran her arms over his chest then lay back slowly. Silas pushed the books aside and nestled close enough to make every hard ridge of his body felt.
“And what exactly did you have in mind?” he asked, leaning over her.
“A kiss.”
One pencil-thin eyebrow arched. “Just a kiss?”
She tried — and failed — to hide her smile. “Maybe more than just a kiss. But you’d better act fast.”
“Oh, yes?”
“Yep. This offer is going once…” she said, wondering if her eyes were shining as brightly as his.
He placed his elbows on either side of her and settled in close.
“Going twice…”
His lips twitched, and his eyes glowed.
“Gone,” he whispered, kissing her lips.
* * *
Thank you for reading Love of the Dragon! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the best way to thank an independent author for a story you’ve loved.
Did you know Love of the Dragon is also available in audio? Audio brings a story to life in a whole different way and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. Chapter 16 might just be the hottest love scene ever done in audio, and the banter between Cassandra, Silas, and the other shifters of Koa Point really jumps off the page.
Love of the Dragon is Book 5 of the Aloha Shifters series. The action, emotion, and passion continues in Lure of the Fox, Book 6. Click her
e for a sneak peek of Ella’s story, or order it on Amazon today!
EXCLUSIVE BONUS SCENE: make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter to receive a FREE copy of the bonus epilogue to Love of the Dragon. Signing up also makes sure you’ll be the first to hear about new releases, exclusive stories, and great deals.
Finally, you can read about the inspiration for Love of the Dragon in the bonus materials section of my website, so please come and visit today!
Sneak Peek: Lure of the Fox
After years of military service, desert fox shifter Ella Kitt is trying to settle back into civilian life with a new job as a security guard and private eye. But when her closest friends and Special Forces comrades send out a call for help, she responds. After all, she’s a woman of duty and honor - not to mention deep passions. Those, she keeps hidden - at least until she arrives on Maui and runs into the last man she expected to see - a human totally off-limits to shifters of her kind. Then it’s a fight to contain her inner fox, who’s determined to pursue her destined mate at any price.
Meanwhile, a bitter enemy is creeping closer to those she loves, and the last of the legendary Spirit Stones remains at large - a potentially lethal force she can’t allow to fall into enemy hands. It’s definitely not the time for a self-respecting she-fox to get all hot and bothered by a man - not even scorching hot army hero, Jake McBride.
Lure of the Fox is the last book of the Aloha Shifters: Jewels of the Heart series. Get your copy today!
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Desert Wolf: Friend or Foe (Book 1.1 in the Twin Moon Ranch series)
Off the Charts (the prequel to the Serendipity Adventure series)
Perfection (the prequel to the Blue Moon Saloon series)
Books by Anna Lowe
Aloha Shifters - Jewels of the Heart
Lure of the Dragon (Book 1)
Lure of the Wolf (Book 2)
Lure of the Bear (Book 3)
Lure of the Tiger (Book 4)
