As she fiddled with the alarm clock, Jane pushed aside thoughts of why Kai would be almost teasing in one instant and cold the next. It was almost as if the dragonman didn’t like to express extreme emotions.
There had to be a reason for it.
Yet her mind was fuzzy and Jane knew thinking about the possibilities for Kai’s behavior would have to wait.
With the alarm set, Jane crashed onto the bed. About five seconds after her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.
~~~
Kai lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, and willed his mind to calm down enough so he could fall asleep.
Yet after nearly two hours, he was still wide awake. His dragon chimed in. That’s because you’re counting down the minutes until Jane’s soft hands touch our skin.
No. After she changes my dressing, it means I get more pills to help with the pain and to counter infection.
Right. You keep telling yourself that.
The constant throbbing in his arm almost made him admit the truth. While it might be the best thing for his clan and career to push Jane away and forget about her, both man and beast were having a difficult time doing so.
Her asking about the bars on the windows reminded him of the last time he’d tried to stay away from a female.
His dragon huffed. That was different. This one wants us.
You seem pretty sure about it.
You saw how upset she was when you started acting like an arse again. You should tell her the truth about the bars. It’s time to break with the past.
Well, someone’s quite the psychologist today.
His beast growled. I am only trying to help.
Right, only so our chances of fucking Jane become reality.
Fuck you. Snarling, his dragon retreated to the back of his mind without another word. Only through years of practice did Kai know not to call his dragon’s actions a tantrum.
Glancing to the clock, Kai noted Jane should be up in a few minutes. Since falling asleep would be a waste of time, he decided to get up and do something he’d secretly longed to do for years—watch a pretty female wake up in his cottage.
At one time, all Kai had wanted was to wake up next to his true mate and maybe a child, but Maggie’s choice had changed all of that. He’d long ago accepted he’d be alone for the rest of his life; few female dragon-shifters wanted a male who’d found his true mate but couldn’t have her. If the male wasn’t strong enough, he might leave if a true mate showed up wanting him.
Yet even if he’d accepted his future, watching Jane’s sleeping face wake up might be the only chance he had to glimpse what his life could’ve been.
Standing up, Kai moved silently out of his room and down the hall. He wanted to make a memory he could draw on for the rest of his life.
Once he reached Jane’s door, he turned the doorknob bit by bit until it clicked. He pushed it open.
When the door was wide enough, he locked his gaze onto Jane’s sleeping form.
His human slept on her side with her mouth slightly open. Her expression was calm and relaxed, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. While he much preferred her fire and sass, Jane’s gentle expression reminded him of the fact that she was a vulnerable human.
Back in the alley in Newcastle, he’d been terrified something would happen to her. When the human enemy had made a go for the skip, terror had gripped Kai’s heart. One stray bullet could take Jane’s life away forever; she’d never tease him or call him out on his shit.
And she’d never be able to tell the stories she wanted to tell.
Although why that mattered to him, he didn’t know. He’d kissed her twice. It wasn’t as if he owed her a bloody thing.
His beast returned to the forefront of his mind and growled. You know why it matters. Stop being so bloody stubborn.
I can’t let down the clan.
Stop using that excuse. Even Bram senses something between us and the human. If he disapproved, he never would’ve put Jane in charge of us.
His dragon had a point. If Bram wanted Jane gone, she wouldn’t be sleeping inside Kai’s cottage. Allowing her to stay so we can protect her is one thing. Us fucking her, or more, is another.
Bram only wants you to be happy. Don’t be afraid to seize it.
Kai gave a bitter laugh inside his head. I don’t have the best track record with females.
Stop whining. You go after everything else you want, why not this?
He stared at Jane’s pink lips and then her dark eyelashes against her skin. She was beautiful, it was true, but he wanted her for much more than her beauty.
His dragon’s tone was smug when he said, You just admitted to wanting her.
Jane snuggled into her pillow and Kai’s heart warmed at the sight. A part of him wanted to keep her here so he could protect her always. The Dragon Knights were unpredictable. If Jane left Stonefire, she’d be looking over her shoulder for as long as the knights existed.
His dragon spoke up again. Stop being a wishy-washy arsehole and she might stay.
And give up her career? I doubt it.
She is clever. I bet she will find a compromise. She is our second chance. Don’t push her away. At least try to win her over.
Kai paused for a moment and then replied, She might say no.
We won’t know until we try, his dragon stated.
Kai wasn’t sure if it was the constant throbbing pain in his arm, the drugs, or the weakness of the moment, but he was tired of fighting his beast.
Maybe he should try with Jane and see what happened. After all, the worst she could do was run away. If that were the case, he could go back to focusing solely on his work.
Roaring in excitement, his beast replied, I won’t let you forget what you just thought.
As Kai tried to think of what to say to his dragon, the alarm clock beeped on the far side of the room. Jane rolled over with a groan and flicked it off.
In that moment, Kai wanted to drop kick the clock out the front door for waking up his human. She needed her rest.
Ignoring his dragon’s chuckle, Kai stated, “I’m awake, so you don’t need to dump water on me.”
Jane slowly turned over and rubbed her eyes. “Why are you standing in the doorway? Watching someone sleep when they’re a guest in your house is a bit creepy.”
He really wished he could shrug. “I saw it more as me watching over you to keep you safe.”
Jane blinked and then narrowed her eyes. “If you’re trying to butter me up to avoid me checking on your wound, it’s not going to work.”
Kai decided honesty was the best policy. “You were right before, about me changing into an arsehole. I wanted to kiss you in the alley and I still do. I’ll never have the chance if something happens to you.”
Jane sat up and rubbed her eyes with her arms. “Am I still dreaming?”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “No.”
“What happened in the two hours whilst I was asleep then?”
“My dragon.”
“Again with the minimum. Do you ever elaborate? You know, just for fun?”
Kai did smile then. “Maybe.”
Shaking her head, Jane moved until she was sitting cross-legged on the bed. “Let’s go back to the bit about you still wanting to kiss me. Say you’re telling the truth, how do I know you won’t go back into ‘arsehole mode’ five minutes later? I understand you’re used to giving orders, but I will only put up with so much crap from you.”
His dragon hummed. She is fantastic.
Kai took a step toward the bed. “Give me time, and I will show you.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Jane shook her head. “I need more.”
He took another step. “I’m afraid to ask, but what would convince you that I’m serious?”
Jane studied him a second. “I want you to answer something honestly and completely without changing the subject.”
“Always the reporter.”
She sat up a little taller. �
��Of course. Now, stop stalling. Will you do it?”
Giving Jane free rein to ask him anything was dangerous. His dragon chimed in. It might be our only chance. Giving Jane information is akin to giving flowers to another female.
His dragon had a point. “Right, so what do you wish to know?”
Jane searched his eyes. “Tell me who Maggie Jones is and what the hell she did to you?”
*~*~*~*
Did you enjoy this story? Then please consider leaving a review. :)
Part Three of Reawakening the Dragon will be out on August 27, 2015. You can find out more information here (the links will update as they’re posted). Or, you can sign up for my newsletter to receive an alert on release day.
Dear Reader:
Would you like to know when my next release is available? (And receive exclusive goodies and information too?) You can sign up for my newsletter at www.jessiedonovan.com or by liking my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JessieDonovanAuthor.
Also, I need to ask you a favor. Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. Even if it's only a line or two, it would be a huge help!
If you liked this story then you may enjoy the other books in my Stonefire Dragons series. Turn the page for a reading list and information about the first book in the series, Sacrificed to the Dragon. I’m also going to include a little about my elemental magic series, Asylums for Magical Threats.
With Gratitude,
Jessie Donovan
The Stonefire Dragons Reading Order:
Sacrificed to the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Seducing the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Revealing the Dragons (novella)
Healed by the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Reawakening the Dragon (in progress)
Sacrificed to the Dragon: Boxed Set
Parts #1-4
(Stonefire Dragons Story Arc #1)
In exchange for a vial of dragon’s blood to save her brother’s life, Melanie Hall offers herself up as a sacrifice to one of the British dragon-shifter clans. Being a sacrifice means signing a contract to live with the dragon-shifters for six months to try to conceive a child. Her assigned dragonman, however, is anything but easy. He’s tall, broody, and alpha to the core. There’s only one problem—he hates humans.
Due to human dragon hunters killing his mother, Tristan MacLeod despises humans. Unfortunately, his clan is in desperate need of offspring to repopulate their numbers and it’s his turn to service a human female. Despite his plans to have sex with her and walk away, his inner dragon has other ideas. The curvy human female tempts his inner beast like no other.
———————
Sacrificed to the Dragon: Boxed Set is now available on all major online retailers.
The Asylums for Magical Threats (AMT) Reading Order:
Blaze of Secrets
Frozen Desires
Shadow of Temptation
Flare of Promise (forthcoming)
Blaze of Secrets
(AMT Book #1)
After discovering she has elemental fire magic as a teenager, Kiarra Melini spends the next fifteen years inside a magical prison. While there, she undergoes a series of experiments that lead to a dangerous secret. If she lives, all magic will be destroyed. If she dies, magic has a chance to survive. Just as she makes her choice, a strange man breaks into cell, throws her over his shoulder, and carries her right out of the prison.
To rescue his brother, Jaxton Ward barters with his boss to rescue one other inmate--a woman he's never met before. His job is to get in, nab her and his brother, and get out. However, once he returns to his safe house, his boss has other ideas. Jaxton is ordered to train the woman and help her become part of the anti-magical prison organization he belongs to.
Working together, Kiarra and Jaxton discover a secret much bigger than their growing attraction to each other. Can they evade the prison retrieval team long enough to help save magic? Or, will they take Kiarra back to prison and end any chance of happiness for them both?
———————
Blaze of Secrets is now available on all major online retailers.
Books by Jessie Donovan
Asylums for Magical Threats
Blaze of Secrets (AMT #1)
Frozen Desires (AMT #2)
Shadow of Temptation (AMT #2.5)
Flare of Promise (February 2016, AMT#3)
Cascade Shifters
Convincing the Cougar (CS #0.5)
Reclaiming the Wolf (CS #1)
Cougar’s First Christmas (CS #1.5)
Resisting the Cougar (CS #2)
Lochguard Highland Dragons
The Dragon’s Dilemma (Book #1, Oct 2015)
Stonefire Dragons
Sacrificed to the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Seducing the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Revealing the Dragons (Novella)
Healed by the Dragon: Boxed Set (Parts #1-4)
Reawakening the Dragon: Part One
Reawakening the Dragon: Part Two
Reawakening the Dragon: Part Three (August 27, 2015)
Reawakening the Dragon: Part Four (September 10, 2015)
Reawakening the Dragon: Boxed Set (September 17, 2015)
About the Author
Jessie Donovan wrote her first story at age five, and after discovering The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey in junior high, she realized people actually wanted to read stories like those floating around inside her head. From there on out, she was determined to tap into her over-active imagination and write a book someday.
After living abroad for five years and earning degrees in Japanese, Anthropology, and Secondary Education, she buckled down and finally wrote her first full-length book. While that story will never see the light of day, it laid the world-building groundwork of what would become her debut paranormal romance, Blaze of Secrets. In late 2014, she officially became a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
Jessie loves to interact with readers. When not reading a book or traipsing around some foreign country on a shoestring, she can often be found on Facebook either on her Author Page or in her Fan Group.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the writer’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Reawakening the Dragon: Part Two
Copyright © 2015 Laura Hoak-Kagey
Mythical Lake Press, LLC
First Digital Edition
All rights reserved. 546546 This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Art by Clarissa Yeo of Yocla Designs
ISBN: 978-1942211242
Reawakening the Dragon: Part Two Page 6
