Dragon Guard: Earth Dragons Series: Book 1

by Hartnady, Charlene

  Page turned to face Mountain who took both her hands in his. She barely heard what the elder was saying for a half a minute. All she could see were Mountain’s gorgeous chestnut eyes and the way they were focused on her. All she could feel was her incredible love for him. They made their promises to one another on a clifftop overlooking the ocean. All of their favorite people were there. His hair ruffled in the light breeze. He wore white cotton pants, his silver chest glinting in the sunlight. What could she say, he was so incredibly handsome it took her breath away. She had never been happier…and to think that this was just the start of it.

  “Let the ring be a symbol of love.” The elder looked uncomfortable. Dragons didn’t exchange rings. This was purely a human tradition.

  Mountain cleared his throat. After a few moments, he smiled. “One sec,” he whispered, letting her hands go and turned to his brother. “This is the part where you give me the ring.”

  There were some snickers and laughs from the crowd. Mountain held his hand out to Obsidian who was frowning heavily.

  Page bit down on her lip to keep from giggling. Obsidian handed Mountain the ring. He looked very uncomfortable and kept pulling on the waistband of his pants.

  Shale winked at her from his position next to Obsidian.

  Mountain turned back, his eyes serious, his jaw tight. He took her hand in his. “Love is too weak a word to even begin to describe how I feel about you, Page. I set out on that hunt wanting a female, any female. Little did I know that I would find you. My other half. My soul. No,” he shook his head, “love is too tame when it comes to describing the fierce, unbridled passion I feel for you.”

  She sniffed, suddenly realizing that tears were tracking down her cheeks. Mountain wasn’t the flowery, charming type. Everything he did or said came from a place of straight-down-the-line honesty. It meant more because of that. “I promise to be there always.” He slid the ring onto her finger. The plain platinum band fit perfectly against her engagement ring. Mountain had picked out the biggest solitaire diamond she’d ever seen. It was beautiful. Nowhere near as beautiful as he was though.

  “I can’t wait to spend forever with you,” she said through her tears. “Every day is going to be like a gift.” Mountain cupped her cheeks with his big hands.

  “Okay, you can kiss,” the elder proclaimed. “I pronounce you mated,” he quickly added. The poor guy had probably sensed that he didn’t have much time left. That Mountain was going to kiss her anyway.

  The crowd erupted but Page didn’t hear a thing. She was too busy being swept off her feet. Quite literally, since her feet actually left the ground as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

  Jenna was there as soon as he put her down. “Congrats!” Her friend hugged her.

  “Thank you.” Page had a huge grin plastered over her face.

  “You did good,” Jenna whispered in her ear. “So good,” she added with a final squeeze, as she let go.

  “I did, didn’t I?” Her friend had approved of Mountain from the moment she met him.

  Jenna nodded.

  “My turn.” It was Deborah. It had been amazing to see her friend after all these years. In many ways, it was like they had never parted ways. Page and Debs hugged.

  They were all helping the dragons as much as possible. Alex was the one who was in a position to impart the most information, and she had been as helpful as she could be. It hadn’t taken long before the dragons began to accept her. The main problem was that none of them had been a part of the inner sanctum within the organization. So, their knowledge of the real workings within the group was limited. Alex had come to realize how little she really knew. It was all bigger picture stuff and no inner workings.

  Their evening was something right out of a fairytale. From confetti to cake to the dancing and everything in between. Best of all, she got to share it with Alex and Beck. The four of them snuck out while the party was still in full swing.

  “Did you ever in your wildest dreams think that this would be our lives one day?” Alex asked.

  Page shook her head. “Nope, but things couldn’t have turned out better.”

  “No, they couldn’t have.” She rubbed her belly. “You’ll visit next week?” Alex raised her brows. She and Beck were headed for the Water lair, while Page and Mountain were going in the opposite direction to the Earth lair.

  A little way to the left of them, Mountain chuckled and slapped Beck’s back as they hugged. 'What was going on over there? she wondered, frowning and if she was honest, she was trying to listen in.

  “Um,” Alex touched the side of Page’s arm to draw her attention back, “Beck and I would love it if you could be our baby’s godmother? Beck just asked Mountain about being the godfather and I take it that was a yes.”

  Page gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth. “Of course! I would…we would love it.” She threw her arms around Alex’s shoulders.

  “Okay,” Alex nodded, “it’s settled then.”

  They said their goodbyes. The guys shifted and they headed home, which wasn’t too far.

  “I have something to show you,” Mountain announced almost as soon as he shifted back into human form. “You ready?” he asked as he opened the door leading to their apartment. The lights were turned really dim.

  “Yes.” She smiled. “Although, you’ve given me so much already.”

  “Lights on,” Mountain carefully articulated and true as Bob, the lights turned up bright. “Dim,” he added, and they dimmed. “Lights off!” And bam…instead of switching off, they went right down to nightlight status. “See, they don’t ever fully go off.” He was smiling.

  “Wow.” She laughed. “That’s great.”

  “Your turn.” He took her hand.

  “Lights on.” Her voice sounded choked with emotion. Yet again, he was doing something kind for her. Showing how much he cared. “This means so much to me,” she whispered.

  “You mean so much to me.” He squeezed her hand.

  “No really.” She shook her head, feeling her eyes well with tears. “You’ve never teased me. You’ve never complained.” They slept with a night light on every night.

  “I would never. Besides,” he bobbed his eyebrows, “I like being able to see you every minute of every day.”

  “You can see in the dark, you dork.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I know but you look good bathed in the light.” He winked at her and she laughed. Page had explained to Mountain how she’d developed night terrors after her mother died. She and Alex had been made to sleep in separate rooms. They were still so young. They hadn’t been allowed to sleep with a light on. Or to get out of the bed. She’d have to lie there and try to work through her panic. She eventually reverted to wetting her bed. To screaming the house down. Her father had come up with an ingenious plan to ‘cure’ her. He decided she needed to be desensitized. He started locking her in a dark room for hours at a time. He wouldn’t let her out, it didn’t matter how much she screamed and begged. That she scratched at the door until her nail beds bled. The result ‒ extreme and irrational fear of the dark. The condition had an actual name, nyctophobia. A phycologist she saw for a while told her it had, most likely, been brought on by separation anxiety when her mother passed. Her father’s attempts at a cure had just made things worse.

  “Your eyesight will improve now that we are mated,” Mountain said. “We can keep the lights on as long as you need though.”

  “I know and thank you.”

  “The more sex we have, by the way,” he kissed her on the forehead, “the quicker your senses will improve.”

  “Oh, really now?” She grinned up at him

  “Oh yes, so I suggest we—” There was a knock at the door. “That’s odd.” Mountain frowned, his gaze on the door.

  It was their wedding night. “That is odd,” she agreed. Another knock sounded. “Must be important.”

  Mountain’s jaw tightened. “Good thing you’re still dressed or�
��”

  The person knocked again.

  “I can hear it’s Shale,” Mountain announced. “He’d better not be fucking around, or I’ll knock him out,” he muttered as he headed for the door.

  Page followed behind.

  “What’s up?” Mountain asked, as he opened the door.

  Page peered around Mountain, getting a fright when she saw Shale’s face.

  “It’s bad,” Shale replied, his jaw was tight. His eyes had a strange look. Like he was afraid. She only ever knew Shale as a bit of a joker.

  “Tell me,” Mountain growled.

  Shale swallowed thickly. “It’s Obsidian. At least, we are almost certain it is him, since he is one of very few males unaccounted for. It sounds like it’s him.”

  Mountain’s twin had left hours ago, soon after the start of the party. No one had been worried though. Page had come to realize that such behavior could be expected from Obsidian.

  “There’s been an accident.” Shale shook his head. “I mean, he’s a little too in touch with his beast but…he wouldn’t hurt someone would he?” His eyes got wide. “He wouldn’t hurt a female?”

  “What happened?” Mountain all but snarled.

  “We don’t know exactly. Only that a wolf Alpha’s daughter went missing earlier. Would have been not too long after Obsidian left earlier.”

  “Wolf Alpha? What?” Mountain shook his head. “Where did this female go missing? What happened?”

  “Blaze was contacted by Ward, one of the wolf alphas. Obsidian must have strayed into shifter territory—”

  “But that’s thousands of miles away.” Mountain rubbed his jaw.

  Shale shrugged. “A female is missing though. She’s important to the wolves. She was promised to a bear Alpha…he’s pissed. Her father is spitting bricks. Ward is beside himself.”

  “Did someone see him take her then? I can’t believe Obsidian would do such a thing.” Mountain’s voice was a deep rasp.

  “Who else would do this? And no, no one saw much of anything.” He worked his jaw and flexed his muscles, looking like he was thinking something over.

  “How do they know he took her? There’s more. What are you not telling me?” Mountains muscles bulged.

  Shale ran a hand through his hair. “There was blood. That’s how they know. Both dragon and wolf blood, both of them were wounded. The area also scented strongly of rutting.”

  “What?” Mountain growled. “What are you saying? It doesn’t make sense.”

  Page put her arms around his waist.

  “They believe he forced himself on this poor female,” Shale began.

  Mountain growled. Page felt him tense.

  “…that he has taken her against her will,” Shale went on, his expression grave. “The shifters are out for blood.”

  “Oh no!” Page muttered.

  “No.” Mountain shook his head, looking distraught

  “We are amassing a group to try to find them before the wolves and the bears do.”

  “I can’t believe that Obsidian would do such a thing.” Mountain shook his head again. His face was stricken. His eyes filled with concern. “I can’t.”

  “I’m sorry.” Page didn’t know what else to say.

  “I want to go with you,” He said to Shale before he turned to her. “I have to go help find him before it’s too late.”

  “Of course.” She nodded. “I understand. Go.” He barely touched his lips to hers and he was striding away.

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  About the Author

  Charlene Hartnady is a USA Today Bestselling author. She loves to write about all things paranormal, including vampires, elves and shifters of all kinds. She lives on a couple of acres in the country with her husband and three sons. They have an array of pets including a couple of horses.

  She is lucky enough to be able to write full time, so most days you can find her at her computer writing like mad. Charlene believes that it is the small things that truly matter, like that feeling you get when you start a new book, or look at a particularly beautiful sunset.

  If you want to be kept updated on new releases please sign up to my Latest Release Newsletter to ensure that you don’t miss out http://mad.ly/signups/96708/join. I promise not to spam you or divulge your email address to a third party. I send my mailing list an exclusive sneak peek prior to release, as well as info on sales and freebies. You can unsubscribe at any time.

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  I would love to hear from you so please feel free to look me up:

  www.charlenehartnady.com

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  Also by Charlene Hartnady

  The Chosen Series:

  1# Chosen by the Vampire Kings

  2# Stolen by the Alpha Wolf

  3# Unlikely Mates

  4# Awakened by the Vampire Prince

  5#Mated to the Vampire Kings (Short Novel)

  6#Wolf Whisperer (Novella)

  7# Wanted by the Elven King

  The Program Series (Vampire Novels):

  Book 1: A Mate for York

  Book 2: A Mate for Gideon

  Book 3: A Mate for Lazarus

  Book 4: A Mate for Griffin

  Book 5: A Mate for Lance

  Book 6: A Mate for Kai

  Book 7: A Mate for Titan

  The Bride Hunt Series (Dragon Shifter Novels):

  Book 1: Royal Dragon

  Book 2: Water Dragon

  Book 3: Dragon King

  Book 4: Lightning Dragon

  Book 5: Forbidden Dragon

  Book 6: Dragon Prince

  Water Dragons (Spin-off to The Bride Hunt):

  Book 1: Dragon Hunt

  Book 2: Captured Dragon

  Book 3: Blood Dragon

  Book 4: Dragon Betrayal

  Earth Dragons :

  Book 1: Dragon Guard

  The Shifter Night Series:

  1# Untethered

  2# Unbound

  3# Unchained

  The Feral Series:

  Book 1: Hunger Awakened

  Book 2: Power Awakened

  Demon Chaser Series (No cliffhangers):

  Book 1 Omega

  Book 2 Alpha

  Book 3 Hybrid

  Book 4 Skin

  Demon Chaser Boxed Set Book 1-3

  Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  She should be happy.

  What was she thinking? She was happy.

  Happy, excited and nervous all rolled into one. Nervous? Hah! She was quaking in her heels. This was a huge risk. Especially now. Her stomach clenched and for a second she wanted to turn around and head back into her boss’s office. Tell him she’d changed her mind.

  No.

  She would regret it if she didn’t take this opportunity. Why now though? Why had this fallen into her lap now? What if it didn’t work out? She squeezed her eyes closed as her stomach lurched again.

  “You okay?” Rob’s PA asked, eyebrows raised.

  Jolene realized she was standing outside her boss’s office, practically mid-step. Hovering.

  “Fine.” She pushed out the word together with a pent-up breath. She was fine, she realized. More than fine, and she had this. The decision was already made. Her leave approved. She was doing this, dammit. Jolene smiled. “I’m great.”

  “Good.” Amy smiled back. “Just so you know,” she said under her breath, looking around them to check that no-one was in hearing distance, “I’m rooting for you.” She winked.

  “Thank you. I appreciate that,” Jolene said as she headed back to her office, trying not to think about it. Not right now. It would make her doubt her decision all over again. She’d made the right one. The only thing holding her back was fear of failure. It was justifiable and yet stupid. She wasn’t going to live with regrets because fear held her back. She was going to embrace this. Give it
her all and then some. Her step suddenly felt lighter as she walked into her office. Do not look left. Whoever designed this building had been a fruitcake. This floor was large and open-plan. Fifty-three cubicles. There were only two offices. One was hers, and one was— Not looking or thinking about her right now. Both offices had glass instead of walls. Why bother? Why even give her an office in the first place if everyone could see into it?

  It had something to do with bringing management closer to their staff, or the other way round ‒ she couldn’t remember. The Execs were on the next floor. Not going there and definitely not looking left. She could feel a prickling sensation on that side of her body. Like she was being watched. Jolene sat down at her desk and opened her laptop. Her accepted leave form was already in her inbox. She had to work hard not to smile. It was better to stay impassive. Especially when anyone could look in on her. This was going to work out. It would. All of it.

  No more blind dates.

  No more Tinder.

  No more friends setting her up.

  She was done! Not only was she done with trying to find a partner, she was done with human men in general. Jolene bit down on her bottom lip, thinking of the letter inside her purse. She’d been accepted.

  Yes!

  Whooo hooo!

  It was all sinking in. She couldn’t quite comprehend that this was actually happening.

  The sound of her door opening snapped her attention back to the present. She lifted her head from her computer screen in time to see Carla saunter in. No knock. No apologies for interrupting. Not that Jolene had been doing anything much right then, but still. She could have been.