by Julia Mills
Her Dragon’s No Angel
Dragon Guard Series #10
By
Julia Mills
There Are No Coincidences.
The Universe Does Not Make Mistakes.
Fate Will Not Be Denied.
Copyright © 2015 Julia Mills
All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
NOTICE: This is an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations. It is only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.
Edited by Lisa Miller, Angel Editing Services
Cover Designed by Linda Boulanger with Tell Tale Book Covers
Cover Images taken by Sharon Kruse with Kruse Images and Photography
Cover Model- Stephen Huges-Landers
Kim Adams with Book Addicts One Stop PR Shop
Formatted by Charlene Bauer, Wickedly Bold Creations
DEDICATION
Dare to Dream! Find the Strength to Act! Never Look Back!
Thank you, God.
To my girls, Liz and Em, I Love You. Every day, every way, always.
Acknowledgements
THANK YOU BUNCHES to the ladies of Julia’s Addicts!!! YOU ROCK!!! Thanks for beta reading, listening to my crazy story ideas and generally putting up my extreme goofiness! LOVE YA TO PIECES!
THANK YOU TO MY READERS!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST EVER!!!!!!! Nothing I do would be possible without YOU!!!! BIG HUGS!!!!
HER DRAGON’S NO ANGEL
Index of the Words from the Original Language of the Dragon Kin
A Chumann Sweetheart
Mo chroi’ My Heart
Mo ghra’ My Love
Mo Aingeal My Angel
A Thaise My Treasure
Mo Maite’ My Mate
A bheith imithe Be Gone
Du lar ais go dti’ ifream Go Back To Hell
Riamh ar ais Never Return
Beag amha’im Rest Little One
A bheith ar cheann beag sa’bha’ilte Be Safe Little One
Aingeal ag breathnu’ thar tu’ Angels Watch Over You
Aingeal tu’ a chosaint Angels Protect You
Aingeal fanacht fa’ilte a chur Angels Wait To Welcome You Home
roimh tu’ abhaile
Chapter One
“Sure! I’ll do it. No, no, really, it’s no problem at all. Y’all have mates and families, not to mention everything that’s going on around here. I’ll just take a quick flight halfway around the world, drop off this package, and be back in time for Christmas dinner. No big deal. I got this. Three days should be enough time, right?” He grumbled under his breath.
Color me Sucker of the Year! When am I ever gonna learn?
Tomas passed the time bouncing back and forth between reliving the conversation he’d had with his Commander and kicking his own ass for being Putz of the Year as he trudged through the rising snow. The Guardsman knew there was only the slightest chance he’d make it back for Christmas as he called forth his dragon and took to the skies, but there was no way he could say no to the most revered Dragon Guard Commander in the history of the dragon shifters.
Rayne MacLendon was a legend, one Tomas spent almost every minute of every day attempting to emulate. The young Guardsman knew he was one lucky bastard to be training with the Golden Fire Clan. He also knew he’d been given the coveted chance because his father and Rayne’s had served together in the Guard, been lifelong friends, and saved each other’s butts in battle more times than either could remember.
Being a cross between a golden and a red dragon, one of the few drakes to actually have two pure-blooded dragon parents, the young Guardsman should’ve been sitting on a throne ruling his own clan with a mate and a dozen or so children, but Tomas Youngblood had other plans. He wanted stories of great battles and even greater tales of his spectacular victories to tell his children and grandchildren. He wanted lifelong friendships built on years of service in the Guard. He wanted to one day command his own Force. It was no understatement to say he wanted it all. But most of all, Tomas wanted the one woman the Universe had fashioned for him and him alone. A mate who thought he hung the moon and stars. The one person who would stay by his side for all time…someone for him to love.
If Jace and Liam could find mates, Tomas just knew he too would soon find his. All he had to do was be patient. Of course, patience was not a virtue he’d ever possessed. It was also one he was coming to despise. Waiting was a bitch, but he knew he had to try. He also knew he had to find a place to wait out the worst blizzard in fifty years or risk his scales (as well as other important parts) freezing off.
“Serves me right for trying to earn brownie points,” Tomas griped under his breath, just as he was almost knocked on his ass by an especially strong gust of wind. “I have to be the first dragon in history to be grounded because of ice on their wings. Should’ve listened to Maddox.”
He shook his head remembering the reclusive old blue dragon’s warning. “The storm’s close, young one. Watch yourself, this blizzard promises to be full of surprises.” Tomas also remembered the sly grin that had immediately crossed the elder dragon’s face right before he added, “And you know, not all surprises are as they seem.” The younger dragon flew away wondering if maybe the old guy had his last few marbles.
“Any luck finding shelter?” Royce, the oldest and most definitely largest of their Force, asked through mindspeak.
Trying to hide his frustration from his mentor, Tomas quickly answered. “Not yet, but I’m close. I see a trail a few feet ahead.”
“Good. Get out of the snow. Get warmed up. Wait out the storm. Then get your ass back here. That’s an order.”
“Ignore my grumpy mate’s tone, Tomas, he’s very good at hiding his worry with anger. Just take care of yourself and get home as soon as possible. Be sure to keep warm. I know y’all run hotter than most, but you damn sure won’t look good as a Popsicle!” Royce’s mate, Kyra, chuckled, making Tomas smile.
“Thanks, Kyra. I’ll be sure to light a fire as soon as I find shelter.”
The couple was just another example that the Universe did not make mistakes but definitely had a twisted sense of humor. Not only was Royce six-foot-eight inches tall and Kyra barely five-foot nothing, but at the time of their meeting the big guy was hell bent on the extermination of all witches…and Kyra was a witch.
Well, not just a witch, but the daughter of the Grand Priestess and one of the strongest magical practitioners born in centuries. To say she had an issue with her mate’s attitude was an understatement. But Fate stepped in and the rest was history. The couple reminded him so much of his parents before they’d gone to the Heavens. It gave Tomas hope that someday he would find a love like theirs.
“Take care and keep in touch, young’un.” Royce barked as he cut their connection.
“Grumpy old fart,” Tomas mumbled under his breath while working hard to stay on his feet against the gale force winds battering his body.
Following the trail he’d mentioned to Royce, Tomas was pleasantly surprised to find himself winding up the mountain and even happier to end up at the mouth of a cave. Attempting to use his enhanced senses to make sure he was alone, the young Guardsman wasn’t surprised to find they were scrambled from
the blizzard pummeling his body.
Stepping into the darkness, Tomas sighed in relief at the immediate loss of the howling wind and blinding snow. His ears rang and his body tingled at the absence of the noise and abuse. Shaking like a dog, a thought which in any other circumstance would’ve made him laugh, he was amazed at the huge pile of snow falling at his feet.
I could build a snowman.
Tomas smiled but quickly sobered as a huge gust of wind made its way through the cave’s entrance. “But first I need a fire.”
Little by little, his frozen senses returned as he walked further into the darkness. Reaching out, he was surprised to find a labyrinth of tunnels and alcoves. “This place is huge,” he commented to himself, chuckling at the returning echo. “And thankfully abandoned.”
It’s not that he couldn’t and wouldn’t fight off anyone, animal or otherwise, that tried to throw him back out into the snow, it was that he didn’t want to. Tomas was tired and more than a little discouraged that his plans to impress his Commander had fallen short.
Ducking into the first cavern he came upon, the young Guardsman was pleasantly surprised to find a stack of dried branches and vines beside a small pool of water being fed by a spring running down the stone wall.
“Looks like someone was here before me.” He shrugged. “Hope they made it home okay.”
Once again Tomas let his preternatural senses go, searching the entire cave for anyone or anything sharing his space. When his search came up empty, the Guardsman called forth his fire, lighting the pile of brush. As soon as the flame was nice and warm, he stripped out of his soaked clothing and hung them on the small rocks jutting from the cave wall to dry. Sure he would freeze something off he might need later, he quickly pulled on his last pair of clean long johns and wool socks then wrapped up in the blanket Maddox had insisted he take. Slowly but surely, his muscles began to thaw. Right on cue, his stomach growled.
Laughing to himself, Tomas dug around in his pack until he found what was left of the supplies Kyndel, his Commander’s wife, had packed for him. She was a terrific lady who took to her position in their clan like a fish to water. It never ceased to amaze him how she kept up with all the Guardsmen, their mates and families, while also corralling his very formidable Commander and their son, who, by the way, was the spitting image of his father.
It took some scrounging but Tomas was finally able to find a stick long enough and sturdy enough to use to cook a few sausages and thaw out the buns over his roaring fire. While his food heated, he rolled out his sleeping bag between the fire and the wall then rolled up his extra blanket to serve as a cushion. The young Guardsman was just about to sit down to eat when he realized he needed something to drink. Staying hydrated was essential to avoiding hypothermia, even in the confines of his makeshift shelter.
Kneeling beside the spring, Tomas once again used his senses to make sure it was safe before filling his canteen. He’d just sat down to eat when he heard, “What’s up Frosty? Staying warm?”
“Ha, ha, ha. Very funny, asshole.”
“Ya know I gotta million of ’em,” Jace, his closest friend joked.
“I know you think you do,” Tomas joked back, happy to hear his brethren’s voice, even if his was making fun of him.
“Seriously though, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Found an empty cave to wait out the storm in. I’m sure it won’t last for more than a day. I figure I’m about a day and a half or two from home, even after being blown off course, so I should be there by the weekend. Can’t let you bring in the New Year without me.”
“No way. Liam, Aaron, Lance, and I have a blowout planned. It’ll be the best party this clan has seen in years. Figured we had a lot to celebrate having Kyra’s mom back, not to mention finding Drago after almost a hundred years.”
“For sure. How’s the old man doing?”
“Pretty good. Thank the Heavens he has Alicia to help him. Can you imagine getting locked away when people drove a horse and buggy and waking up a hundred years later to find cars and motorcycles? Computers? The old guy saw his first airplane the other day and I thought he was gonna stroke out.”
Tomas laughed out loud at the image Jace sent directly into his mind. The until recently thought dead, once notoriously famous dragon assassin, looked as if he’d seen a ghost. His dark, almost black eyes were as big as saucers and he was screaming about metal demons on the attack. Tomas knew he shouldn’t be laughing but it was truly a spectacle, one he was sorry he’d missed.
“Did you get the stone delivered to Maddox?” Jace’s question shook Tomas from his thoughts.
“Yep. No problem at all. Well, except I think the old timer’s lost his mind.”
Jace chuckled. “From what I hear that’s been happening for hundreds of years. But Siobhan says he has more magical ability than any other dragon alive. His mother was a mage with some serious mojo and his dad one of the original dragons. That’s how he’s stayed alive all these years without a mate. To hear them all talk, no one knows for sure how old he really is.”
“Well, after meeting him I can tell you he’s one really old dragon who has more than a few screws lose, but he seemed like a nice enough guy.”
“Did he tell you what the stone was and what he was going to do with it?” Jace asked.
“Nope, just took it and put it in a silver-lined box.”
“Oh well, I’m guessing he’s the only person who can handle that kind of power. I know Kyra and her mom wanted nothing to do with it. All they would say was that it was old dragon magic and seriously dangerous.”
Tomas paused for a moment before answering. “Yeah, that’s what Maddox said too. I know even through all the wards Siobhan, Kyra, and her mom put around it I could feel it pulsing against my back while I carried it. I’m damn glad to be rid of it.”
“I’m damn glad you’re rid of it too since it’s the one thing that allowed the Dorcha to imprison Drago and his men.” Jace’s relief was palatable through their mindspeak, making Tomas wonder if his friend knew more than he was saying. Something he intended to investigate after getting home.
“Speaking of his men, any news?”
“Not a word. I know Alicia, her sisters, and Mel are helping look for them, but not a peep so far. Maybe they’re dead like Cleland said.”
“Who knows?” Tomas really hoped they were able to locate the former assassin’s Force, but right now, he had other things on his mind, like the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Hey, Jace, I gotta go. I think I’m getting company.”
His friend immediately sounded worried. “Watch your back, bud. And get your ass home.”
“You gotta it.” And with that, Tomas cut the connection.
Unwilling to put out his fire and lose its warmth but needing to know what was making its way towards him, Tomas used his broad six-foot-five frame and the blanket around his shoulders to block the entrance to his alcove. Listening intently to the light footfalls on the stone floor, the young Guardsman was caught off guard as the scent of cloves and pine wrapped around him, infusing him in warmth and a sense of recognition. His pulse raced. His palms were immediately sweaty. He could hear his heart attempting to beat out his chest while he was engulfed in a sexual heat he’d never before experienced. Of its own volition, his body leaned forward, just to be closer to the captivating aroma.
Unable to stop his forward motion, Tomas left the safety of his makeshift abode and stumbled into the corridor. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, the young dragon was shocked to see a soft glow illuminating the distance between him and the mouth of the cave. At first, it seemed as if the light was floating on its own, but as he peered more intently in its direction, an outline of a pair of incredibly shapely legs began to form.
Curiosity peaked and his libido went into overdrive. Tomas turned towards the light and those alluring legs. The closer they got, the stronger the scent of pine and cloves became, until he felt drunk, as if he’d been drinking all n
ight with his friends. The Guardsman knew he should look away, should take cover from the sheer magnetism of what he could only assume was a specter, but not even his good sense made him tear his eyes away. Something deep within his soul, something he’d never felt before, assured him he had nothing to fear.
Reveling in the reassurance and no longer able to stand, Tomas fell to his knees. The light dimmed as a female gasp of surprise echoed off the cavern’s walls. It was then the young dragon realized it was not the light that had dimmed but that his sight was failing.
What the hell? I’m gonna pass out before I see the girl attached to those legs?
And with that, the brave Dragon Guardsman fainted.
Chapter Two
Holly had sensed the stranger’s presence as soon as she’d crossed the threshold of the cave she’d been calling home for almost a week. Using the only defense she had, the Christmas Angel had called forth her Shield of Light and carefully made her way towards the cavern she’d claimed as her own. The tiniest nudge of her mental abilities allowed the angel to sense the intruder was a man with extraordinary powers.
On closer inspection, Holly saw the goodness of his soul, an incredible inner strength, and more bravery than she’d ever seen in one person. Not only was he powerful, but he was a good man. She knew he was most definitely a shifter, although she wasn’t familiar enough with shifter magic to discern what type.
At any other time Holly would’ve put away her shield and introduced herself to someone with such valor, but in this case, something felt off. Not with him…but with her. From the moment she’d touched the man’s mind, her body, not to mention her emotions, had been in turmoil. Not only was her heart beating faster than it ever had but her skin seemed just a bit too tight, and even though the temperatures outside were reaching zero, a bead of sweat traveled down her spine. She probably could’ve dealt with her body’s reactions to the man better had her imagination not been conjuring intoxicating images of him in various stages of undress.
