Free Blueblood Dragon (A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (Genesis Valley Book 1) by Amelia Jade

course of the next millennia, as I tried to right the wrongs I had committed.”
    “The Dragon Council,” she supplied.
    “Exactly. I am not proud of who I was, and what I did. I will have to live with that shame until the end of my days, however long that may be.” His eyes snapped up, burning bright and silver once more. “But I strongly believe that the Dragon Council has stopped far worse from happening. They kept themselves, and me, in check for thousands of years. It saved millions of lives in the process, I am sure.”
    He stood from his chair in front of the table so violently the chair skidded backward and tipped over. “That is why the Order must not be allowed to win.” He focused on her. “You cannot imagine the havoc and death that would be visited upon this world if dragons are left unchecked.” He frowned. “The Black Death, the Bubonic Plague, whatever you want to call it. You are familiar with it, yes?”
    She nodded.
    “That was a dragon’s doing. He spread it far faster than it should have, flying from continent to continent, infecting hundreds of thousands, if not millions. It wiped out over a third of the earth’s population before the rest of us could stop him. That was an oversight, brought about because dragons were not aware of what was going on for five years. Five years, one dragon.” He bowed his head. “Imagine what twenty could do. Or fifty.”
    She shivered. “I would much rather prefer to think of things the way they are,” she said, her voice more unsteady than she had expected.
    Ferro swiveled to look at her, picking up on the fact that he was disturbing her.
    “Ana,” he said, coming to her side by the bed. “I am sorry. I did not mean to cause you any distress.” He sighed again. “It has been a long time since I have talked so much. I often forget that what I have come to terms with, they might not.”
    He made to wrap his arm around her, then seemed to think better of it.
    “Why did you stop?” she asked, looking up at him.
    He hesitated. “I... I did not think you would want comfort from one such as me. Not after what I have told you.”
    Ana reached down and took his arm, bringing it up around her shoulders.
    “Whatever you may have done, whoever you may have been, I think it is clear that you are no longer that person,” she told him seriously. “You have changed. Matured. Realized the errors of your past, and done the best you can to atone for them.” She shrugged. “Everyone makes mistakes. Even dragons,” she said, looking up at him.
    He refused to meet her gaze, shame written on his face.
    “No,” she said firmly, reaching up and taking his chin, feeling his facial hair under her touch. “Look at me.”
    Reluctantly he turned his head, giving in to her command. His eyes were dull gray-brown, without any shine.
    Without realizing it, she found her hand creeping up his face, caressing him. “Tell me something,” she whispered throatily.
    “Anything,” came the reply, fraught with tension.
    “Do your eyes only light up when you’re mad? Or will any strong, ah, emotion, do?”
    She saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed. “I am unsure.”
    Feeling both bold and slightly curious as to just what had brought them together, she took a leap and went to kiss him again.

***
    Ferro jerked back under her touch, but she held his head firm with her hand. Inch by inch the gap between them closed, as both of them tentatively revealed their desires to the other.
    “Are you sure?” he asked in the instant before their lips touched.
    She nodded shakily, positive about her course of action. Centuries down the road, she didn’t want to look back with regret on an opportunity like this. There was something going on between them; they had some sort of connection. It terrified her to think about what it might be, but she knew she needed to find out. Just moments before she closed her eyes, she saw what she was looking for.
    A silvery glow began to