Free Mating the Dragon (Dragon Ruins Book 6) by Rinelle Grey Page A

who had been resting in the shade of a tree. His heart sang and the thrill of the hunt flooded his veins as they sped away, their long hops moving them quickly. 
    But not as quickly as his wings did. Taurian swooped, aiming for a middle sized female. The other’s scattered in all directions as he came in. Keeping his eye on the female, Taurian swooped low, his claws reaching out.
    She darted sideways at the last minute. Taurian was so low he had to flap frantically to bring himself back up before he crashed into a tree.
    The roos were scattered, the female he had aimed for was gone. Taurian growled in frustration, then saw a young male, smaller than all the others, frantically hopping towards some dense scrub. 
    Darting low, Taurian stretched out his claws. The young buck was so intent on his escape, he didn’t even see it coming. Taurian’s claws closed around his back, snapping it for an instant death.
    Victory welled up in him, and he tamped it down. He hadn’t won yet. He still needed to beat all the others back to the lair.
    His wings carried him swiftly up and he swung around, orientating himself, finding his lair.
    There. And he couldn’t see any sign of Ultrima. Good. He was due a victory. This one would be sweet. Bringing the food for the feast was always looked on favourably. 
    He still couldn’t see any sign of his rival dragon as he swooped down, depositing the kangaroo at Mesrian’s feet.
    Her face was wreathed in smiles. “Well done, Prince Taurian. You have won this round.”
    Wayrian stepped forwards to give him a kiss, as was to be expected. The thrill of victory was so sweet, it almost overpowered the pang in his heart that it wasn’t Karla.
    Though he suspected she wouldn’t have been impressed at the gift of a dead kangaroo.
    Wings beat the air behind him and he turned. Ultrima lowered himself into second place.
    He laid a fully grown cow at Mesrian’s feet.
    Taurian ground his teeth. The larger offering didn’t mean he’d won, but it would score him extra points in the complicated ritual.
    Damn.
    Where on earth had Ultrima found a cow?
    Taurian took a deep breath. It didn’t matter. He’d won this round. 
    He looked to Mesrian, waiting for the next game to be announced. 
    “This will be a team game,” Mesrian declared. “Since we have two dragons with wins, you can both select your team of three and report back here.”
    The elders all stared at Taurian, obviously waiting to be chosen. Taurian grimaced. He couldn’t really ignore all of them, could he? Even though they were all old and feeble. Then again, the challenge may be a challenge of wills, not strength. 
    “Kyrian,” he said, beckoning the old man. At least this one didn’t challenge him.
    He looked around. Who else? He barely knew these dragons. He certainly didn’t know which would do best in any kind of challenge. 
    His eyes fell on Jayrian, whose face had been downcast since his mate, Gretchen, had left with Karla. The young dragon would soon learn that her departure had been for the best, for her at least. 
    “Jayrian,” he said next. 
    The young dragon’s eyes widened, but he stepped forwards readily.
    One more. 
    Taurian’s eyes scanned the dragons. Who? Who could he pick?
    He was just about to point to a random dragon when he felt it. The ground rumbling through his feet.
    Cars.
    Was it Karla? Had she returned? 
    His heart sank even as it soared. Didn’t she know this was a lost cause? Didn’t she have the sense to stay away?
    All the faces, dragon and human form, turned towards the path through the trees.
    Karla’s ute led the way, some sort of contraption made of great metal tubes on its back, followed by two other vehicles with metal cages.
    She hadn’t returned alone. She’d brought others. Other humans.
    Taurian didn’t even care that the elders were going to have a fit. Her help might just save them.
    Taurian hardly dared to hope. Even after he’d rejected her, she was still willing to put