by Khloe Wren
Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Khloe Wren
ISBN: 978-1-77233-024-3
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
Without the continued support and encouragement (some may call it nagging) from Tamsin Baker this series may never have been finished. Thank you so much for all your help, this one is for you.
BELIEVING BINDA
Dragon Warriors, 5
Khloe Wren
Copyright © 2014
Legend
Legend tells of a time, many moons ago, when there was just one plane. Humans, dragon shifters, and liaths all lived together. But it was not in harmony. The mystical blue skins wanted to dominate the others. Magic fought against magic, causing great fires to rip through the land. The Goddess used her Great Wind to come and take the innocent to new planes, separating them so peace could reign. Humans were placed on Earth, while the dragon shifters were given the Land of Feury. The Goddess wanted them to thrive in their new homes, so she gave each new plane the same fruits, vegetables and livestock. All they needed to live healthy happy lives.
The liaths, who had started the war, were left in the burnt out plane of Dubhghlas. The Goddess did not replenish their lands. She left them to recover on their own, hoping they would grow to understand the importance of peace over war.
Alas, over time this legend has been lost, its knowledge sinking in the mists of time…
Chapter One
Binda’s fingers twitched as she stared at her friends around the table with a small amount of anger at the unfairness of the situation.
The camping trip had been meant to be for the five of them to reconnect, to strengthen their friendships after life had gotten in the way over the years. Granted, none of them could have predicted being whipped up in a cyclone portal that had used magical lightning to knock them all out before depositing them in this alternate plane The Land of Feury.
Waking up only wearing underwear had certainly brought them closer together as they tried to work out what was going on. None of them had been impressed when they discovered the irremovable metal bands around their upper arms were lie detectors, glowing green for truth and red for lie. Binda had to admit there were clever. They’d just be a lot cooler if they weren’t wrapped around her and her friends’ arms. Not long later a group of large men had come in and turned their worlds upside down with their declarations before offering them food, and the opportunity to dress.
Focusing back on the room she currently sat in she looked her friends over again. Eilagh continued to sit between two men, and the one to her right was the one who’d spoken to them earlier. He was their clan leader, Dimitri. Both he and the one who had to be his twin were focused solely on Eilagh. The adoration in their gazes was blatantly obvious. Similarly, Becky was seated between two men, who were filling her plate and doting over a very rigid uncomfortable looking Becky. Binda’s lips twitched a little in amusement. Becky never could stand being made a fuss of. Skye was picking at the food on her plate, frowning with worry. Skye had always been protective of Carina, even as small children. So the fact Carina hadn't woken up yet had Skye fretting something fierce. So distracted, Skye didn't seem to notice the three men surrounding her trying to soothe her and care for her.
Leaning forward, Binda picked up her fork and poked her own food around the plate while discreetly eyeing the single man sitting beside her. The fatigue was obvious in the lines around his eyes. He ate his meal with a single focus. As he'd led her to the dining hall he'd told her his name was Zane, and he was a healer, like his brother, Baxter. Baxter being the older and more skilled healer was still back in the clinic monitoring Carina.
With a small huff she began eating as she berated herself for being so selfish. Until Carina woke, she needed to be the priority. Naturally, Zane and Baxter were tired. She and her friends had been unconscious for two days, and the brothers had only left them to eat and take short naps during that time. She needed to be understanding and patient.
The deep voice of the clan leader, Dimitri, pulled Binda from her intense focus on her meal, and he declared his twin, Max, was going to shift to his dragon form to prove that the men were really shifters.
Back on Earth, Binda had often lost herself inside paranormal romance novels. Shifters, in the hypothetical, had always pressed her buttons. She wasn't sure how to process the thought that they were real.
Slowly putting down her fork she watched Max saunter up to the front of the room. He turned to face them, his gaze focused intently on Eilagh.
A bright blinding flash of light brought a gasp of shock from her throat. As the light dissipated, she gripped the table tightly with both hands and felt a sting flow through her fingers and up her arms, but she didn't do anything to alleviate it. A large deep red and gold dragon had appeared where Max had been. Easily ten feet tall, the beautiful creature simply stood still with its large eyes focused on Eilagh.
Her jaw loosened in shock as Eilagh stood and moved toward the beast. Dimitri stood and followed behind as Eilagh glided toward Max. Becky's sudden shout brought Binda’s gaze to her. Two men were holding her back and soothing her, preventing her from reaching Eilagh.
Turning back to the dragon, Binda was just in time to see Dimitri embrace Eilagh from behind as Max wrapped his beautiful golden webbed wings around them both. Feeling a gaze on her, Binda turned to Zane.
"Are you all right, beautiful? Not too shocked?"
Unable to speak, Binda gave a small shake of her head. In a daze she was barely aware of him leaning over her and prying her fingers from the edge of the table. He placed both of her hands in her lap and gathered her up in his arms. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in Zane's neck, breathing in his masculine scent as he began walking. Instantly she felt calmer, as though his very presence was like a balm to her mind. When she felt Zane lower himself, she raised her head to see what appeared to be a library surrounding the large armchair where they now sat.
"Where are we?"
"This is our library. It's opposite the clinic. Baxter and I need to be near the clinic until Carina wakes up. We were hoping you would spend your days here so we can spend time with you whenever we can get away."
"Well, only if it's convenient for you."
Her voice was heavy with sarcasm, which was completely lost on him as he obviously took her words at face value. Zane smiled widely at her. Her gut churned with all the emotions running rampant though her. She had enough to worry about without trying to explain the concept of sarcasm, so she let that conversation slide for the moment. That, and she refused to give in to her selfish desires until Carina was well. Her friend’s health was more important than her bruised ego.
"Dragons, huh?"
With a roguish smile he grinned at her. "Yep. How are you coping with that?"
"Don't know. I mean I've read a heap of shifter books—but they were fiction. Pure fantasy. Now I discover it's not. That it's real. It's a lot to process and adjust to."
A totally adorable frown creased Zane's brow.
"Fiction? Fantasy? What do you mean?"
Binda scanned the shelves around her. All the books looke
d like they were leather bound and very old.
"Make believe. On Earth, people write stories to entertain, to allow the reader to escape from their real world for a while. You don't have things like that? What is in all these books?"
"I've never heard of such a thing. These tomes are our history, legends about our creation and other things. Since the liaths came and their evil illness ran rampant, killing all our females and young, this room has sat empty. The plague also took a lot of our elders, those who knew everything that was contained here. Did you read this fiction often?"
"I did. I was a librarian. I love books, being surrounded by them." She paused to swallow and take a breath as she processed what he'd said. "That's why I've only seen men here, isn't it?"
Binda winced at the effect her quiet words had on Zane. His shoulders slumped as his whole body shuddered. Damn, she hadn't meant to hurt him. She'd simply been curious about what had happened.
"It was ... devastating. The liaths came on the Great Wind, like you and your friends. They were friendly to begin with. We accepted them into our society. Then they moved into our labs, started experiments. Still they promised they were doing no harm, and none of us sensed the evil in them." He paused to sigh loudly. "Then one day, they completely abandoned the labs and began moving around the castle. It seemed strange the way they were covering every inch of the place, so we went to check the labs and found their notes."
He stopped on another sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Still sitting in his lap, Binda couldn't resist the urge to comfort him. Cupping his cheek in her palm, her heart swelled with an emotion she didn't want to examine as he nuzzled and kissed her palm.
"We did all we could. But it was too little, too late. By the time we made it back to the main rooms of the castle we were finding our dead. Dimitri had already sent out warriors to capture and serve justice on the liaths. Every one of those bastards was caught and killed—"
Zane's words stopped short as his body went taut beneath her. His head cocked to the side as he gazed out the door with anger.
"What is it? I can't hear a thing."
Almost distractedly, like he was listening to something else, he spoke and shattered any sense of calm she'd found.
"All dragons can talk telepathically. Two of your friends have been taken."
****
Zane froze as he heard Dimitri's telepathic message.
Eilagh and Becky have been taken by rogues. Guard remaining females.
He knew when the group of four dragons had left the clan in search of females a few days ago that it was destined to end poorly. They all knew that Dimitri had already taken warriors out to search the entirety of The Land of Feury. What Clan Leader wouldn't do everything in his power to alleviate the sudden problem of having no Desireds? Zane guessed Huro, the leader of the rogues, had heard about the Great Wind having visited.
He tightened his grip on Binda, his precious Desired, as she straightened in his lap.
"What is it? I can't hear a thing."
He would never lie to her. Honesty was important. Even before the plague, he'd prized honesty in both himself and others.
"All dragons can talk telepathically. Two of your friends have been taken."
Quicker than he could grab her, she flew from his lap. He telepathically called his brother from the clinic as he followed their Desired. With kidnappers on the loose, there was no way he would allow her to rush off on her own unprotected. Where did she think she was going anyway?
Moments after she disappeared out of the library door he heard her grunt along with the sound of her thudding against something solid. Running through the doorway after her he stopped short when he saw her wrapped in Baxter's embrace.
"Easy there, precious one, where are you rushing off to?"
Binda's hands moved up to the Baxter's chest, and then her shoulders bunched as she pushed against him, trying to free herself. Zane knew how good it felt to have her in his arms, so there was no way in hell Baxter would release her. He bet she'd feel even better lodged between them. Naked. With that thought in mind he moved in behind Binda, pressing her firmly against Baxter. He felt the tremor run through her as his now hard cock came into contact with her incredibly lush ass. His mind instantly clouded with thoughts of sliding deep within her. Of having her naked, hot, wet, and writhing between them.
"Where do you think I'm going? My friends are in trouble!"
Her reminder of the present danger helped to clear his mind. A little. He still couldn't resist lowering his head to her neck to nuzzle the soft fragrant flesh there. She smelt like dewberries, and it was his new favorite scent.
"We won't allow you to go after them—"
Zane felt her stiffen as she cut off Baxter with a growl. She shrugged away from Zane's touch, and he stepped back as he could sense her desperation for some space.
"You won't allow me? Who the hell do you think you are? I am my own woman. I go where I choose, when I choose." Through gritted teeth she finished, "I will never again be dictated to. Not by any one."
The look she gave Baxter must have been pure fury as Baxter released her and stepped back, with an almost comical shocked look on his face. Binda spun on her heel and stormed off down the hallway. The obvious anger running through her system made her hips sway in the most seductive manner. Damn, they really needed to get her in their bed. Shaking his head to clear his lustful thoughts, he took off after her, with Baxter by his side.
"Damn female. I was just trying to protect her. She's too precious to risk."
"I know, brother. I can't handle losing another female I care for. I honestly don't think my soul could bear it."
Without breaking stride, his big brother gripped his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"I feel exactly the same way."
They continued to follow Binda as she moved around the castle. She couldn't possibly know her way around already. Tired of watching her torment herself, Zane called out to her.
"Little spitfire, where do you want to go? Or would you like to simply wander around the halls all day?"
Her body halted and tensed before her shoulders curled in and her head dropped forward.
"What I want is to wake up. I want this to be nothing but a nightmare. I want my friends safe and sound in the tent with me. I want to wake up, tell them about this crazy dream followed by us having a laugh before we keep on hiking."
Binda crumpled to the floor, landing on her knees. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed so hard her whole body shook. Baxter nudged him forward,
She's still mad at me. You take her. We'll spend some time in our chambers with her. Hopefully we can make some progress before the others return. No doubt the kidnapped females will need at least checking over.
With gentle ease Zane scooped up Binda into his arms, cradling her against his bare chest. Her hot tears scorched his flesh, and his heart ached. Quickly he strode toward their chambers with Baxter by his side.
She thinks this is a dream?
Apparently, maybe we should shift. Let her touch us.
Dimitri had Max shift after dinner and that put her in shock.
I don’t doubt it did, but she's our Desired. She'll feel the connection between us.
Good point. Okay, let’s get her settled in our chambers and we'll show her our dragons.
"You two are very quiet. Too quiet. Especially considering I just fell apart on you."
So engrossed in his conversation with Baxter, Zane hadn't noticed Binda had stopped crying, and as he gazed down at her tear streaked face he saw she was frowning up at them. Baxter answered her question before Zane could get his mind to work. She was so beautiful, even when she was upset.
"We're quiet as we're talking telepathically. All dragon shifters can. Desireds can do it with their males once they officially bond."
"Zane mentioned something about that before. So, you can read minds?"
"No, we don't read minds, precious one. It's more like speaking in each
other’s minds, rather than out loud."
Zane stopped as Baxter opened the way for him. Once the main door to their chambers was open he strode forward and headed into the family room. He sat at one end of the long couch, keeping Binda on his lap. Baxter sat next to him and began running a hand over her back and upper arm.
"What is a Desired?"
Baxter leaned in to place a reverent kiss to Binda's shoulder.
"The Goddess creates a Desired for each dragon family. A female perfectly suited to her Dragon Warriors. Dragon shifter brothers have always shared a Desired ... and you, sweet Binda, are ours."
She looked up at Zane, clearly looking for him to confirm or deny Baxter's words.
"It's the truth, Binda. The Goddess used the Great Wind to bring you to us because you are ours. Let us prove it to you. We’ll both shift to our dragon form, and you’ll feel the pull between us."
He waited a moment for her to nod, before he set her on the couch next to him and stood.
****
Binda felt the loss instantly as she curled up on the couch by herself. Zane's body heat had kept her warm while he'd held her. She shivered a little at both the temperature change and in anticipation. Maybe also a little out of fear.
Dragons.
She shook her head.
"Before you both shift, please tell me you have full control over your dragons? You're not going to forget you know me and decide on barbecue for dinner?"
Baxter laughed while Zane gave her a funny look.
"I assure you we have full control. Our dragon is as much a part of us as our human form is. You have nothing to fear."
Hmm, easy for him to say. She'd seen how big these guys were in animal form. No way would she not be scared at least a little at the sheer size of them. Wrapping her arms around her knees she nodded to them.
