Free Dragon's Blood by Brynn Paulin

laughed. “No.”
    “Didn’t think so. Janos, you’re the kind of guy whose picture woman put on their walls. And when you get all growly…” She sighed. “You’re still not going to tell me what to do all the time. Even if you turn me on. And stop distracting me from being pissed at you.”
    “Beg your pardon, Velree . Are you ready to meet my clan? We’re almost to my compound.”
    “I suppose.” She turned toward him and hugged him again. “I like the sound of your wings. They’re hypnotic.”
    Janos had never thought of the whooshing noise that way. It was just part of his being. But it delighted him that Scarlett found it pleasing.
    “I’ll take you flying again.”
    “Will I get wings?”

    “No.” His hand slid down her back. “I’m afraid this enticing pair here is the only set you’ll ever have.”
    “Bummer.”
    “You’ll get armor. Same color as mine. Eventually.” And he couldn’t wait to see her in it. A warm buzz cruised through his body, and he knew he’d be fully aroused when he shifted back to human. He needed Scarlett badly. He needed to reaffirm she was okay, safe with him where the enemy couldn’t touch her.
    “Does it hurt?”
    He almost said yes. He was that aroused, but he realized she was asking about the shift. “In some ways, it’s a relief. We need to change from time to time and let out our scales. If we don’t, we won’t be able to shift when we need to and we’ll sink into an existence of anguish where we pray daily for our bodies to let us shift. It’s like a sickness coming to the surface. Eventually, the shift will happen, but our bodies punish us if we don’t do it willingly.”
    “But does shifting hurt?”
    “There’s pressure. The change is too quick for pain, and the healing of the restructured bones is instant.”
    “Mmm…” she replied, the sound high with fear. “Great.”
    “Hold on. We have to go down through the clouds. You might want to close your eyes and hold your breath.”
    Moments later, he landed in an enclosed courtyard beside a circular pool.

    Scarlett let out her breath, looked around then gasped. The clouds were so close overhead she thought she could touch them.
    “How high are we?” she asked.
    “Halfway up our mountain. The clouds are low today, but usually, the skies are clearer. Welcome to the Cruentus Clan’s home,” he said.
    “Thanks.” She looked at the pool and the jewel-toned, mosaic tiles that surrounded it and covered the walls of the enclosure. “This is pretty.”
    Before Janos could comment, Jonah landed beside him with a light thud. Immediately, he shoved Athena an arm’s length from him and took a step back. “All she’s done since waking is bitch out that fake fiancé of hers. Didn’t even freak that she was being carried off to God knew where by a Dragon.”
    “And to think I let him pick out the flavor of the fucking cake.” Athena railed.

    “Carrot! He wanted carrot!”
    “Well, he is part Elvish,” Jonah returned. “Or he wouldn’t have been able to control the wood.”
    “I don’t care if he was half-woodchuck! He ruined my wedding!”
    “Hey, Bridezilla, the groom wanted to kill you. Could we stop at that and move on?”
    Jonah retorted. “I’m noticing that you’re not too broken up over his death or that he tried to off you. Yeah, that’s real love, baby.”
    “Fuck off. Scarlett, how do I get out of here?” She glared at Jonah. “Or at very least, away from him.”
    Both Jonah and Janos shifted back to their human forms, and Scarlett moved to her mate’s side, thankful to be able to really hold him while she watched the unfolding drama between Jonah and Athena. She considered intervening to save Athena, but her cousin seemed to be holding her own just fine, and truthfully, Scarlett wasn’t so sure Athena wouldn’t turn her tirade on Scarlett since she’d brought about these events—at least that’s how it appeared.
    Athena stepped back. “Oh…you’re a man.