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)
“That is an excellent idea. We can make a day of it,” Khadar agreed. “We’ll have to wait until the harvest, of course. That will be several months away.
“Are those the only dragon mates? I don’t want anyone to be left out,” Lalani mentioned. “How many dragons are there?”
“In our horde, there are nine dragons. Four have mates now.”
“So, there is one mate other than Aurora, Ciel, and me?” Lalani asked.
“Yes. The Amethyst dragon’s mate, Yolanda. She is older and prefers to stay in Tyrian’s home. Throughout our history, the horde works together, but each dragon is… Well, secretive.”
“I can understand that. You know, hoarders and all,” she teased.
“Keepers of treasurers. We are united as a horde, but still solitary in our pursuit of gathering riches. Mates are a prize as well. In the past, mates never socialized.”
“So, Yolanda has been secluded for years. I can understand that she’s comfortable with her mate. It makes sense that she’s adapted well to her life and has people that live on the Amethyst dragon’s mountain to talk to. I’m glad I’ve met Ciel and Aurora. They were very nice to me.”
“That is why I’m allowing you to interact with them.”
Lalani bristled at that idea. She wasn’t used to someone allowing her to do anything.
“Eat, Princess,” he said, gently holding a bite to her lips.
Automatically, she opened her mouth. As she chewed, Lalani’s ire dissipated. Khadar would take care of her as he thought best. She could rail against his control, or she could enjoy it. Looking down at his huge hand spanning her thigh, Lalani admitted to herself that life as a dragon’s mate was more than she’d ever imagined possible.
“After lunch, you’ll take a nap in your nursery.”
“I don’t need a nap.”
Khadar didn’t argue. He just fed her another bite.
Did he say a nap in her nursery?
“I have a nursery?”
“Yes, Lalani. I guessed what my mate would like. If you don’t like the decorations or the color, tell me and I’ll change it.”
Torn between not wanting to nap and wanting to see whatever he was calling a nursery, Lalani sat quietly eating when he held something to her lips.
“You are so quiet, Princess. Are you unwell?”
“No. I feel okay.” She waited a fraction of a second before adding, “Can I go see the nursery?”
“Of course. If you’re hungry after your nap, you may have a snack.”
She nodded eagerly and scrambled off his lap. Taking his hand after he stood up, Lalani followed him down the hallway toward their bedroom. Confused, she looked up at him.
“It’s a private space, Princess, and a protected one. Come through the closet.”
Never having walked into the closet, Lalani looked at the immense space with clothing and shoes. She noticed there were a few pretty dresses hung up on one side. Dropping her Daddy’s hand, she raced forward to look at them.
“Who’s are these?”
“Those are for you. Do you want to change into one after your nap?” he asked.
She nodded before she realized she’d just agreed to a nap. Her jaw stretched open in a wide yawn. Maybe sleep was just what she needed. Not that she planned on telling Khadar.
“Open that door, Lalani. That leads into the nursery.”
After twisting the knob and pushing it into the room, she stepped into a room unlike anything she’d ever seen. “What? This is amazing,” she gasped as she turned in a circle in the center of the room.
“It looks just like the watering hole from this morning.”
The carpet was blue like the water, and the walls were all painted as if they were the banks. “Look! There’s the berry bush we went around.”
“And there’s that wacky looking tree with the low branches that hang over the water.” She pointed, tracing one branch as it extended over the ceiling. “And all the birds!”
“There’s Lettuce!” Lalani ran forward to scoop up the green dragon stuffie. “How did he get in here?”
“Dragons can be full of tricks.”
She hugged Lettuce to her chest before showing him around the room.
“I guess you like the décor?” he asked when she returned to his side. “Look around the room. There are fun things gathered there. Games. Puzzles. Books.”
She could hear the happiness in his voice. A thought jumped into her head. Lalani blurted it out before considering what she asked. “Did you make this room for your last mate?”
He looked like she had hit him. Lalani felt bad immediately. She’d never seen him look anything other than dragon strong.
“No, Princess. When my last mate was part of my life, that area of my mountain didn’t exist. Two years ago, we dug for a new well and tapped the underground spring. It formed the waterfall and gradually created the watering hole. I decorated this to share my favorite spot with my new mate whenever I would be lucky enough to find her.”