Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Known for his ties with nature, Khadar has taken on the additional role of assisting the townspeople with growing food to sustain them. When he appears at the first gathering featuring some of the crops grown in the community garden, he discovers the most desirable treat of all—his mate.
Change has come to Wyvern. A centuries-old pact between the founders and their powerful allies could save the inhabitants of the city once again, but only a dragon Daddy can truly guard his mate from harm.
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Prologue
Nestled in the center of a ring of imposing mountains, the village of Wyvern has existed for hundreds of years. Its quaint town center wraps around a square featuring a commanding dragon statue elevated on a block-wide platform for all to admire. The names chiseled into the risers of the stone steps are a mystery to most. Many feature the last names of the founding families of the town without explanation. During the prosperity of technological tools, most forgot the old ways.
One female descendant of each founding family has traditionally served as the keeper of knowledge. Passing a huge tome from generation to generation, that woman knows of the pact the original settlers made with the first inhabitants of this land. The agreement between the huge, lethal creatures living in the mountain tops and the struggling, besieged humans sealed the duties for both sides. Promising protection for the people and fated mates for the dragons, this pact has been forgotten by most of the citizens of Wyvern. But the long lives of dragons ensure they have not forgotten.
When all things powered by technology suddenly ceased to function, the worst features of humanity erupt as people struggle to survive. Once again, the strength and power of the massive beasts who have guarded the city is needed. Revealing themselves once again to the masses, the dragon horde fulfills their promise.
As descendants of those original families are found, mate bonds are forged between dragons and humans. The old ways are essential to the survival of all, and the ancient pact will soar in importance once again. For there are dragons, and they hunt for more than just prey.
Two dragons of the horde have recently found their mates in the growing population of Wyvern. Others still search, hoping that each day brings their mate back to their ancestors’ home. The stakes are dire. One teeters on the brink of being lost without the companionship of his mate.
Chapter 1
Loud pounding on the door made Lalani freeze in the doorway to the family room. When it continued, she set the bowl of stale crackers and a few morsels of cheese on a table and crept to the door. Lalani looked over her shoulder to make sure Lettuce was safe on the couch. She could see a hint of green fabric behind the cushions.
“Lalani Quintana! We know you’re inside. Open the door immediately. All residents are required to attend the Wyvern gathering.”
Her eyes widened in fear before she clenched her jaw in anger as her emotions warred inside her. Like she was going to open her door to hear more threats. Her mother’s neighbors had elected themselves to be the wardens of the block. Despite the police telling them she could continue to live in her birth mother’s house, they wouldn’t stop plotting to make her life as difficult as possible.
When she’d left to go to the big meeting in the square, they’d thrown her suitcase into the street and sealed the door locks with superglue. Thankfully, she had left a window unlocked off the elevated deck. They hadn’t discovered that. The kind gentleman still running the hardware store had changed the front door lock for her. She’d grilled cookies for him with the last of the propane tank.
Bang. Bang. Bang!
“Go away. I’m not in the party mood,” she yelled, feeling brave with the door between them.
“Lalani Quintana. You are required to attend. Open the door or we will remove it.”
They were going to break the door down? What craziness was this? When they struck the door again, making the entire barrier shudder, she rushed forward to unlock it. She couldn’t live in a house without a door. Her heart pounded inside her chest as she saw the burly men standing on her doorstep. These guys weren’t messing around.
“Lalani Quitana, you will come with us.”
One stepped closer. He didn’t try to usher her out but reached around her to pick her up. The others parted as he turned to carry her toward a waiting trailer being pulled by a horse. Lalani pushed against his chest struggling to free herself.
“Please don’t make me leave. My neighbors are psycho. They’ll break in if I’m not here.” She tried to appeal to the man’s sympathy.
“Your neighbors are already at the gathering,” the man answered without hesitating.
“Please. I can’t go like this. Give me five minutes to put some clothes on,” she begged as they approached the old-fashioned conveyance.
“Not happening,” the man said. “You are the last straggler.”
Heat flooded her face as everyone turned to watch them. This was so embarrassing. She couldn’t imagine what the other riders thought as she was hauled to the cart. Lalani reminded herself they were there for not following the mandate as well. It didn’t help.
He set her feet on the wooden floor of the cart and closed the tailgate. Lalani cowered into the corner as the others confined in the cart looked her over. All were in various states of casual dress. She was the only one in a nightshirt. Lalani wrapped her arms around herself and hunched her shoulders, trying to disguise her lack of a bra.