Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
A chorus of “yes” and “he can take my place” echoed through the crowd. Forcing his annoyance away to focus on his mate, Khadar wrapped his arm around Lalani and picked her up to carry her the last few feet to the front. After setting her feet gently on the floor, he took a plate and ushered her through the buffet, heaping her plate with anything she indicated she liked.
“I can’t eat all that, Khadar.”
“You will enjoy anything you wish.”
“I don’t want the food to go to waste,” she whispered.
“It won’t. Anything else?” he asked.
“Good gracious, no.”
“Let’s return to the others. Look. They are behind us.”
The dais was empty in the corner. Khadar claimed a large chair, setting the plate on a nearby table. He lifted Lalani from her feet and balanced her on his thick thigh. Immediately, she tried to scoot off.
“Stay here, Lalani. Are you uncomfortable?”
“I can’t sit on your lap,” she hissed, looking around to see if anyone was watching.
“No one cares, Princess. You are safe here, and there are seats for the others.”
Lalani counted the chairs. He was right. She didn’t want her new friends to have to stand—or the immense shifters. They weren’t people to piss off. Not that they had done anything scary. They had protected her even before she’d been claimed by Khadar as his mate.
A fork appeared in front of her mouth, and she accepted the bite automatically before realizing he was feeding her.
“I can do it,” she stated firmly and reached for the fork.
“Not happening.”
When he lifted another tempting morsel to her lips, Lalani closed her mouth tightly and shook her head. “Uh-uh.”
“Behavior like this will earn you a spanking in the future. This is your only warning.”
The stern glint in his green eyes made her relent. He was not kidding. As she chewed, he added, “You are hungry. Let me take care of you. Especially now. I’m fighting the urge to rampage this gathering.”
She swallowed and asked, “Why?”
“They dragged you here in your night attire and scared you.”
“That was frightening. I didn’t understand what was happening and why. It’s always embarrassing to be undressed in front of others.”
“The men saw you without clothing?” Khadar roared possessively. Every fiber of his being vibrated around her.
“No. It wasn’t like that,” she rushed to assure him, inwardly tickled that he was so protective. “I was in my nightshirt. I wasn’t naked.”
The tension in his body eased against her. Well, grew not as alert. Did he ever completely relax?
“Eat.”
She accepted another bite, watching his face. Khadar divided his time between looking at her and scoping out the surrounding for threats. “Are you afraid of them?” she asked.
“Of the humans?” he asked in indignation.
“One puff of flames and the building is toast,” Ciel said in a teasing tone that didn’t detract from the truth of that statement.
Argenis sat next to Khadar and scooped Ciel up to perch on his lap as well. Lalani noticed Ciel didn’t make any move to resist. It was as if she did this often.
“Eat, Little one. You are safe here,” Khadar said softly against her ear.
Drake and Aurora joined them and occupied the same chair as well. That left one empty chair. Were there any more dragons with mates?
A movement caught her attention. Drake sat up even straighter, if that was possible. His nod toward the door made the other shifters focus that way immediately. They reacted as well, as if they were on guard.
“Is everything okay?” Lalani whispered.
“It’s Keres. He’s the black dragon. He’s checking for his mate. Fingers crossed he finds her,” Aurora said softly.
Keres was harshly handsome. His face was as chiseled as the others, but he seemed more… relentless?
When he turned to look at them gathered on the dais, Lalani huddled against Khadar, instinctively knowing he would ensure her safety. Khadar’s arm tightened around her. “You are fine, Princess.”
The conversation between the shifters and their mates continued, but Lalani noticed everyone kept Keres in view. When he’d circled the room twice with forays into the side rooms and along the buffet line, Aurora swore, “Damn.”
“Language, Little one.” Drake warned.
Lalani was glad she wasn’t the scolded woman.
“He didn’t find his mate, did he?” Ciel whispered.
“I did not,” Keres said as he approached. “My congratulations, Khadar, for locating yours. She is lovely.”
“Do not scare my mate, Keres. It will not bode well for you,” Khadar growled.
The air seemed to heat as Keres glared back at Khadar. Lalani didn’t dare move. It seemed like the situation could ignite at any second. The atmosphere felt electric, pricking over her skin.
“Are you a dragon?” a coquettish voice asked.
Lalani stared at the woman who had dared approach before rolling her eyes at the sight of the bane of her existence. Barbie Ann Peterson, her next-door neighbor who’d caused so many problems.
Keres simply glared down at her in exasperation. He didn’t reply but glanced back at the others. “Luck does not seem to favor me. Maybe next time.”