Free Dragon Me to Your Lair: A dragon shifter story (Dragons of Emberside Book 1) by Thalia Frost Page B
Authors: Thalia Frost
choice had paid off.
I'm a bestseller. I'm wealthy now as long as I manage the money right. I have freedom to do anything I want.
She frowned. “As long as I write the sequel and do a damned good job of it.”
Writing was a pursuit that took diligence and tenacity. One book wasn't enough. She wanted to remain a bestseller, not a flash in the pan.
Skye stood from the table and stretched, sighing with relief from her screaming joints. “A break is warranted. I'm talking to myself. It's my first day here, and that's just not healthy.” She grinned and went to change into a pair of walking pants. Exploring would be fun. Exercise could also be good for the word flow.
* * * *
“What do you mean, brother?” Magnus frowned, a mean glint in his yellow eyes as he snorted at Niall.
“Just what I said. I met my mate today.” He pawed at the ground, trying to get comfortable for an afternoon nap.
His brother growled. “You're meant to be formally mated in two months. The future of the clan depends upon it.” He swished his tail as he paced Niall's room—an offshoot of the large cave. He had one of the nicer rooms in the cave since his father had been the leader of the Dragons of Emberside many years before. Now, he was dead, and Magnus had taken over.
And he's been a thorn in my side ever since.
“I don't want to marry Morighan.” Niall smoothed his scales out, feeling heat rise in his belly. He didn't want another fight with Magnus. His brother was larger, and he always won.
But I'm catching up. He's just a bit older—and stronger.
“It's not about want, brother. It's about duty and your future—and ours. She's a distant cousin. It will help with group harmony, and you know we need that these days with Roland acting up and trying to assert his authority.” Magnus breathed smoke from his nostrils. He was definitely pissed.
Boy did Niall ever know. Roland wanted to be the leader—the head, the alpha of the group. No one else wanted him to be the head of anything. He had a terrible temper, even for a dragon shifter, and his control wouldn't be good for any of them. Plus, he wasn't yet mated at the old age of 27 in human years. Being mated as leader of the clan was a must for respect from elders and those who wanted to be like you as they got older.
“I won't fail you, brother. She's marked. She's a shifter. I just know it, but I don't think she does. Otherwise, we would have, well, discussed it.” Niall snorted with laughter at the innuendo.
“No discussions of that sort need to happen. You're marrying Morighan. That's final. You don't get a say. I'm the leader of the clan, and I know what's best.” His brother swept out of his room, rings of smoke coming from his flared nostrils.
Like I hell I'll marry her.
He had never felt the attraction for Morighan that he did for Skye MacLeod, whom he had only just met. They had mated as dragons, of course, and though the act was enjoyable, he didn't love Morighan. He already loved everything about the woman: her hair, her voice, her sassy personality. And dammit—her body, her upturned little nose, and that auburn hair.
He sighed, heat rising in him again.
But getting Morighan to leave me alone be will be easier said than done.
Like most dragon shifters, especially of the feminine persuasion, Morighan knew what she wanted, and she aimed to get it. She had decided long ago, he was what she wanted, and the clan agreed even before her own decision had been made. At every turn, she tried to seduce him. Niall enjoyed the sex, but he didn't love her, and now that he had met Skye, he didn't want to lead her on.
Damn. Ending things is not going to be fun.
Avoiding her would be his best bet for now. It might be cowardly, but he didn't want the hassle.
Niall couldn't rest after the conversation with Magnus. What he wanted now was to take a walk and run into Skye MacLeod again.
* * * *
“I wonder why this is off limits.” Skye walked closer to the sign
I'm a bestseller. I'm wealthy now as long as I manage the money right. I have freedom to do anything I want.
She frowned. “As long as I write the sequel and do a damned good job of it.”
Writing was a pursuit that took diligence and tenacity. One book wasn't enough. She wanted to remain a bestseller, not a flash in the pan.
Skye stood from the table and stretched, sighing with relief from her screaming joints. “A break is warranted. I'm talking to myself. It's my first day here, and that's just not healthy.” She grinned and went to change into a pair of walking pants. Exploring would be fun. Exercise could also be good for the word flow.
* * * *
“What do you mean, brother?” Magnus frowned, a mean glint in his yellow eyes as he snorted at Niall.
“Just what I said. I met my mate today.” He pawed at the ground, trying to get comfortable for an afternoon nap.
His brother growled. “You're meant to be formally mated in two months. The future of the clan depends upon it.” He swished his tail as he paced Niall's room—an offshoot of the large cave. He had one of the nicer rooms in the cave since his father had been the leader of the Dragons of Emberside many years before. Now, he was dead, and Magnus had taken over.
And he's been a thorn in my side ever since.
“I don't want to marry Morighan.” Niall smoothed his scales out, feeling heat rise in his belly. He didn't want another fight with Magnus. His brother was larger, and he always won.
But I'm catching up. He's just a bit older—and stronger.
“It's not about want, brother. It's about duty and your future—and ours. She's a distant cousin. It will help with group harmony, and you know we need that these days with Roland acting up and trying to assert his authority.” Magnus breathed smoke from his nostrils. He was definitely pissed.
Boy did Niall ever know. Roland wanted to be the leader—the head, the alpha of the group. No one else wanted him to be the head of anything. He had a terrible temper, even for a dragon shifter, and his control wouldn't be good for any of them. Plus, he wasn't yet mated at the old age of 27 in human years. Being mated as leader of the clan was a must for respect from elders and those who wanted to be like you as they got older.
“I won't fail you, brother. She's marked. She's a shifter. I just know it, but I don't think she does. Otherwise, we would have, well, discussed it.” Niall snorted with laughter at the innuendo.
“No discussions of that sort need to happen. You're marrying Morighan. That's final. You don't get a say. I'm the leader of the clan, and I know what's best.” His brother swept out of his room, rings of smoke coming from his flared nostrils.
Like I hell I'll marry her.
He had never felt the attraction for Morighan that he did for Skye MacLeod, whom he had only just met. They had mated as dragons, of course, and though the act was enjoyable, he didn't love Morighan. He already loved everything about the woman: her hair, her voice, her sassy personality. And dammit—her body, her upturned little nose, and that auburn hair.
He sighed, heat rising in him again.
But getting Morighan to leave me alone be will be easier said than done.
Like most dragon shifters, especially of the feminine persuasion, Morighan knew what she wanted, and she aimed to get it. She had decided long ago, he was what she wanted, and the clan agreed even before her own decision had been made. At every turn, she tried to seduce him. Niall enjoyed the sex, but he didn't love her, and now that he had met Skye, he didn't want to lead her on.
Damn. Ending things is not going to be fun.
Avoiding her would be his best bet for now. It might be cowardly, but he didn't want the hassle.
Niall couldn't rest after the conversation with Magnus. What he wanted now was to take a walk and run into Skye MacLeod again.
* * * *
“I wonder why this is off limits.” Skye walked closer to the sign
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