by Riley Storm
So together, they strode into the ancient cavern, and she looked upon statue after statue of dragons. They all looked fairly similar to her, though on closer glance, they were quite different indeed. A great many species of dragons rested in the cavern, more than just the trio she was aware of.
“How do we do this?” she asked. “Which one do you awaken?”
Valla looked uncomfortable. “I would prefer to awaken an elder. Awakening an elder would awaken their mate as well, according to what Aaric has read. When they return from the deep sleep, they could instantly awaken another mated elder, and then another, until many more of us are awake.”
“So, let’s do that,” she suggested. “That seems proper. We’re going to need the really strong dragons to take on that old vampire, aren’t we?”
Valla nodded. “Yes, him and his master. I hope it is just the two of them that are that old, and not many more, but we won’t know until we take the fight to them for real.”
“Let’s get on with it then,” she said, nodding as much to reassure herself as Valla.
“I don’t think it’s that easy,” he said, looking around. “According to both Victor and Aaric, the magic seems to be taking on a life of its own. Victor tried awakening an elder, but instead, the magic awoke me. I…I think it has a different plan in mind.”
“You don’t think it will work on an elder, do you?” she asked softly.
Valla shook his head. “No. Not at all.”
“Well, then, who do you awaken?”
“The dragon we need right now,” he said, setting off in a certain direction.
“And that would be…?”
Valla didn’t answer. He was lost in thought, moving from statue to statue, shaking his head after a few moments as he looked for the right one. Liz followed along, keeping her hand in his, needing the connection.
“Here,” her mate said at last, stopping in front of a truly massive stone statue.
She eyed the horns twisting back from its head and the wicked spikes along its spine. “It doesn’t look overly friendly,” she said softly.
Even the head looked…angry and violent.
“Earth dragons weren’t blessed with the beauty of the rest of us,” Valla admitted. “But while ice dragons like myself are natural hunters, they are natural talkers. And a talker is what we need right now.”
Suddenly, Liz understood. “To go to the other shifters. To form an alliance. You’re waking up a diplomat.”
“I sure hope so,” he said, extending the matte black box he carried in one hand out toward the supposedly sleeping dragon. “When you’re ready, place your palm on top.”
Liz looked at the box. There were no discerning features, no markings or etchings that she could see. How did it work?
Valla started to speak. “If you’re not okay—”
“No,” she said, cutting him off abruptly. “It’s okay, Valla.”
She looked him right in the eye, sticking out her hand and putting it on the top of the box. Almost immediately, it began to glow, and her arm started to tingle.
“I trust you,” she said quietly, staring right into his eyes.
The box burst into golden light.
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Next Book: Earth Dragon’s Kiss
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Other Books by Riley Storm
High House Ursa
Bearing Secrets
Furever Loyal
Mated to the Enemy
Shifting Alliances
Blood Bearon
High House Canis
Savage Love
Blood Mate
Moonlight Bride
Shadow’s Howl
Royal Alpha
High House Draconis
Fire Dragons Bride
Mated to the Water Dragon
Ice Dragon’s Caress
Earth Dragon’s Kiss
Claimed by the Dragon King
About the Author
Riley Storm
Riley is one of those early-morning people you love to hate, because she swears she doesn’t need caffeine, even though the coffee-maker is connected to her smartphone. She lives in a three-story townhouse by the good graces of a tabby-cat who rules the house, the couch, the table, well, basically everywhere. When she’s not groveling for forgiveness for neglecting to pet her kitty enough, Riley is strapped in to her writing chair coming up with crazy worlds where she can make her own decisions of when feeding time is and how much coffee can be drank without her friends—of which she has three—holding yet another intervention that they threaten to post on the internet.
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