Page 23 of Ancient Promises

He didn’t know what he’d do, but he wouldn’t put Diem through this.

What he could do, however, was meet those females in the sky and send them on their way.

He stripped swiftly. “Back up unless you want to duck my tail.”

He shifted into his dragon form and took to the sky, heading for the females who were circling above. Dragons could communicate through calls and clicks in their dragon form, and he was thankful for that.

What are you doing here?he asked.

One of the females was a rusty red color, the other was a pale green. The red one called,We’re answering your call, fierce male. We heard your call from our nest in Florida.

We’re sorry it took so long to get here,the green one said.

You shouldn’t have come. I have no need of a mate.

You called for one,the green one pointed out.Our dragons answered the call. You need to choose one of us.

He let out a blast of fire followed by an angry roar.I have a mate! I don’t need either of you. Be gone!

The females hovered in the air, their wings flapping slowly to keep them aloft. Below them on the street, a crowd had gathered. Somewhere on the second floor of the bookstore, Diem was crying.

You’re not mated, you don’t smell like a female, the red one said.Choose one of us or face the wrath of our king.

Well, that was just the icing on the cake.

With another roar and blast of fire, he shouted at them,I have a female, my truemate. I will have no dragon female, and I will not entertain this any longer. Leave now or facemywrath.

He inhaled deeply, ready to blast them with his fire, just enough to singe a tail or wing, not enough to truly harm them.

They let out shrill, angry calls and both sent out blasts of fire toward him, but he only felt the heat.

You’ll be sorry, the green one said.

I’m only sorry you came all this way for nothing. Go home and don’t come back.

The females glared at him and then wheeled around in the air, letting out annoyed calls as they headed away. He followed from a distance, ensuring they didn’t turn back. It was only when he lost sight of them after a long while that he felt like he could return to Cider Falls.

He shifted as he landed and grabbed his jeans from the sidewalk.

“Well?” Rehlik asked.

“They’re from a nest in Florida. They said they misinterpreted my call and came here.”

Rehlik growled. “Why won’t you claim Diem?”

Eivross buttoned his jeans and tugged his shirt over his head. “That wouldn’t have stopped those females from coming here.”

“I didn’t say it would. I asked why you won’t claim your truemate. Do you know how many males in town would kill for a chance to have their truemate?”

Novak nodded as he folded his arms.

“I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Trace asked.

Eivross glanced at the second floor of the bookstore and his heart clenched. “My brother is dangerous.”

“Dangerous how?” Novak asked.