Mated to the Storm Dragon (Elemental Mates 1)

“A griffin,” the sheriff said next to him when his sharp eyes finally had to make out what Gregory had seen moments earlier.

“It’s Jared,” Gregory agreed. “But why’s he here?”

Tense, they both waited until they could hear the roar of the giant eagle’s wings beating the sky. A heartbeat later, the majestic griffin had shifted in the air, Jared’s human body landing next to them on the balcony with a thump.

?

?Hurry,” Jared gasped breathlessly. “We finally found his trail. He led us on a chase—but only to distract us. Gregory, the fire dragon headed straight back to Sky Home! And there’s no one—”

“No one but the chimera left to defend it,” Gregory finished tonelessly. “Damn! Was that its plan all along?”

Once more Gregory felt torn—anger had welled up in him at the return of the fire dragon, who had dared to threaten his mate.

And Sky Home was a sacred place to dragons. It was where the council of dragons had resided since it had first been created, long ago when the first dragons had been born with power over one of the elements.

An attack on the council and its master was an attack on all shifters, for the council stood for the secrecy that had protected them from humans for so long.

But Mountain View was his home, and Naomi was his mate. His heart clenched at the thought of leaving her behind, his inner dragon protectively spreading his wings.

Our treasure. Our mate. Our home, his dragon hissed in his thoughts.

But his dragon was torn too. The mere thought of the fire dragon threatening Naomi once more had fanned his dragon’s anger. He’d hurt Naomi once—but Gregory would rather die than allow that to happen again.

“Hurry! He needs to be stopped, and you’re the fastest of us all! The others might not make it in time,” Jared forced out, grabbing Gregory’s shoulder. “If we don’t stop him now—”

“I’m coming.” Gregory’s decision was made.

Jared was right. Gregory was the one who controlled the air. He had the wind and storm at his beck and call. No one could move as quickly as he could.

Gregory couldn’t abandon Sky Home. He had a duty to the council. And although the chimera was old and powerful, no one knew how the curse that was on him might affect his powers. He had not left Sky Home for as long as Gregory had been alive—and he certainly hadn’t fought any fights either.

To lose the chimera’s wisdom and guidance, and to the attack of a fire dragon, might plunge them all into a shifter war. And what would that mean for the safety of his home—and his mate?

“Sheriff, tell my mate—” Gregory began, before the sheriff cut him off.

“Go,” the werewolf said. “I’ll keep her safe. And I’ll alert the town.”

Grateful, Gregory inclined his head.

The sheriff hastily took a step back as Gregory simply leaped forward, jumping right from the balcony. Behind him, he heard the rush of air as Jared shifted on the balcony, his griffin’s wings beating the air as he rose up.

Gregory was falling, the air singing to him—and then he opened his eyes and spread his arms, and in one glorious burst of energy, he found himself in his true form.

His silver dragon wings spread wide, Gregory caught the current and soared. He opened his jaw, singing back to the air, and a heartbeat later, the wind had picked up, carrying him upwards. With powerful beats of his wings, he rapidly gained height.

Jared was still close, the griffin’s wings making use of the same wind that carried him. At any other time, Gregory would have slowed down a little to travel together. But now there was no time to lose.

Using all the strength of his powerful dragon’s body, he propelled himself forward through the air. Storm clouds gathered in the sky, the wind becoming a storm. With the air roaring in his ears, singing a song of battle and courage, Gregory left the rocky cliffs of Mountain View behind.

He’d risen so quickly that the roofs of the town were tiny dots below him, the mansion already nearly out of view. He wished he’d been able to explain to Naomi that he was doing this to protect her and the town, that it wasn’t just recklessness or the dragon’s anger—but that had to come later. And he trusted sheriff Banner to explain. Surely Naomi would understand. She’d seen what the fire dragon could do, after all.

The currents of air around him were cooler now. The dark storm clouds had gained in volume. As he shot through the air, he left a trail of lightning behind. Seconds later, there was the crash of thunder, and the dragon within him sang at the glory of wind and storm.

The air smelled of ozone. He was flying as fast as his wings could take him. The mountains were already out of view. If he continued at this speed, he might make it in time. And this time, the fire dragon wouldn’t be expecting him...

Then, suddenly, without warning, something seemed to reach inside his chest and close around his heart. It was as if a giant hand had reached out for him and brutally pulled him backwards.

He’d never felt anything like it before.