Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series

When Kira woke, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Even though I’d felt her through our bond and knew she would live, it was still a comfort to see it with my own eyes. Especially since I’d felt some of her pain when she’d been injured.

The gash on her back had completely closed, though the skin there was still red and swollen. Her other mates and I had taken turns resting our hands on it in case our energy would somehow help her, though we weren’t sure if it did or not.

“Jasin,” she said slowly as she tried to push herself up with a pained expression. “What happened?”

“One of the shades sliced through your back, but Slade managed to get you to safety while we defeated them. You’re mostly healed now, but you shouldn’t move too much yet.”

She managed to sit up, though she leaned against me. The tent over us flapped against the wind, and Auric had warned us there would be a bad sandstorm tonight. The others were currently moving our things inside the temple ruins now that it was empty, where we would be safer.

“I could have died,” Kira said, clearly shaken. “And you too.”

“We all could have. But we didn’t.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Her fingers wrapped tight around my wrist. “Enva visited me again the other night.”

“She did? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because I knew it would only make you all worry, and we needed to focus on getting to the temple.” She drew in a ragged breath. “But I should have told you what she said.”

I drew her closer against me. “What is it?”

“Once we’re bonded, our life forces are tied together.”

“Yes, like when you gave me your energy on the boat.”

“Exactly. It’s how I can share your powers as well, but Enva told me it comes with great cost.” She closed her eyes for a moment before continuing. “If I die, all of the men bound to me will die as well.”

I nodded slowly. “That makes sense. It also explains why the Black Dragon is always surrounded by some of her mates. They know if they lose her, they’ll lose their lives as well.”

“Jasin, what if I had been killed today?” Her grip on my wrist tightened and she spoke frantically. “You would have died too. And if I bond with the others, they’ll all be tied to my fate. I’m not sure I can do this anymore.”

“Yes, you can. This is your destiny, and we all know there are risks.” I touched her cheek softly. “Besides, even without the bond losing you would be the death of me. I wouldn’t want to live in a world without you in it.”

“Maybe so, but the other men don’t feel that way.”

“They do. Auric certainly does. Slade and Reven do too, they’re just afraid to admit it. But trust me, they love you as much as I do. How could they not?”

She looked up at me. “What did you say?”

I stroked her face as I gazed into her hazel eyes. “I love you, Kira. I’ve loved you since that first tussle we had in the forest and every day since.”

The hint of a smile lit up her face. “I love you too.”

I pressed my lips to hers, relieved to finally tell her how I felt and to hear her say it in return. The bond flared between us, confirming everything we’d said with a calm warmth.

Auric slipped into the tent. “Good, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Kira said.

He settled in beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I just explained everything to Brin. She took it pretty well, all things considered.”

Kira nodded. “Is everyone else all right?”

“Yes, we’re okay,” Auric said. “Shaken up, but mostly by seeing you get hurt.”

“Hard to believe there were shades in the temple,” I said. “I didn’t think they were real.”

“Me neither,” Kira said.

Auric’s brow furrowed. “I’ve read about them in books, but never imagined I’d see one in person. It has to be more than a coincidence they were waiting for us, especially after seeing what happened inside that temple.”

“Do you think they’re working for the Dragons?” Kira asked.

“Perhaps,” Auric said with a sigh. “The Dragons must have destroyed the temple and killed the High Priestess and her mates, though I’m shocked they would go to such lengths to stop us. Especially since they’re all supposed to serve the Gods.”

“I’m not,” Kira said. “The High Priestesses serve the Gods, who’ve chosen us as ascendants. That means the priests serve us now and not the current Dragons.”

“Which means all the people at the other temples are in danger too,” I said.

“More reason to finish up here and hurry to the Earth Temple,” Kira said, as she struggled to stand.

Auric placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her down. “Not yet. You need to rest some more. In the morning we’ll find a way to the top of the temple, but not now.”

Kira looked like she might protest, but then she settled back down. “Fine, we’ll wait until the morning.”

I almost pointed out that no matter how fast we rushed, we’d be unable to make it to the other temples before the Dragons did anyway. They could fly, after all. The other High Priestesses would likely be dead within days, while we would still be out here in the desert. But I kept my mouth shut as I helped Kira up and into the temple, while the sandstorm began to pick up around us. Slade and Reven both watched with concerned eyes as I tucked Kira into the makeshift bed we’d made up, and then she was instantly asleep.

I turned to the other men and said, “There’s something you should know.”