Mated to the Storm Dragon (Elemental Mates 1)

But just as quickly, Jared came forward. The griffin shifter carried a phial of liquid that Gregory knew well.

Dragonsbane. If the dragon was still alive, contact with even a drop of the substance would keep him from shifting for several hours. Which would give them enough time to bring him to Sky Home in chains, to be judged by the council of elements for his crimes.

“We’ll search,” the sheriff said.

Naomi turned around with a little blush at the sight of the sheriff—who’d just shifted into his human form and so was completely naked.

“Oh,” Gregory said when understanding dawned. “I never told you about that little problem...”

“That’s a dragon thing,” sheriff Banner called out helpful. “We don’t get to shift with our clothes. Really sorry about that, Naomi, but we shifted and ran as fast as we could when Ginny told us—”

“Ginny? She’s safe?” Naomi asked in relief.

“Said you got split up, and she came as fast as she could to get help,” Banner replied. “She’s back in safety in the town.”

“I’m glad,” Naomi sighed.

Gregory tightened his arm around her. With one eye on the sky above them, he gave the air a little nudge. Obediently, the clouds drew together above the still smoldering tower, and then the rain picked up, dousing what flames remained.

“Repairs will take some time,” Gregory said, “but I’m glad no one was hurt. It’s just stone—furniture can be replaced. No one’s been living in that tower for a long time. It’s just things.”

Quietly, Naomi wrapped her arms around him. She was warm, and when he gently rubbed her shoulders, she shivered.

Then she took a deep breath, straightening again. “Just things,” she repeated and gave him a tentative smile. “And the dragon won’t be able to attack us again. Ginny is safe. Which means that it’s all over now.”

“It is,” Gregory promised and pressed a kiss to her forehead, ignoring the ashes smeared all over her skin. Soon, they’d go home and shower. But first...

Gregory concentrated. In answer, the rain increased. A torrent of water came down right over the mansion, the wind singing to Gregory of the hidden places where wood still glowed like embers, and where steel beams gleamed red-hot.

The rain kept falling and falling, and little by little, the whispers of the air grew calmer. It told him of smoke, of blackened stone and the crumbled top of the tower that had collapsed. It stood starkly against the darkened sky now, like a broken tooth. Outrage welled up once more in Gregory’s dragon at this attack on his territory.

Just things. Just stone, he told his dragon again, and then pressed another kiss to Naomi’s hair. Our treasure is safe, right here in our arms.

With a nudge of the wind, the rain’s intensity ceased. Instead of the downpour that had doused the fire, it now turned into a gentle, warm summer shower that kept spreading out until it covered the gardens with wetness. It washed the ash from grass and leaves, clearing the air little by little. At last, the sun shone from a blue sky once more, and it was possible to breathe without sneezing from the ash in the air.

“Thanks,” Naomi said quietly, looki

ng up at him.

The rain had washed the dirt from her face. Gregory reached out to wipe one last smudge of black from her cheek. The scent of fire still clung to her hair and all of her clothes, but now, with the gardens slowly returning to normalcy, she no longer looked quite as shocked.

“We’ll rebuild,” he promised her, cupping her face in his hands. “No one’s been using that tower for ages. Nothing important was lost. And I think that as my mate, it’s your right to have a part in turning this into a home for us—and our family. We’ll rebuild together. And quarrel over the curtains, just like any other couple. He won’t take that from us. He’s no danger now, and we’re still here, with a home and with friends.”

“Oh, I actually don’t have strong opinions on curtains. Go with whatever you like.” Naomi gave him a teasing wink. “Wallpaper, on the other hand... don’t think you’ll get a say in that.”

With a laugh, Gregory picked her up. “I cannot wait. This is only the beginning. In twenty years, we’ll look back at this and laugh about how it all started.”

“With an adventure.” Naomi’s breath was warm against his neck. “An adventure we’ll tell the children about.”

“And there’ll be a lot of those,” Gregory promised tenderly. “At least three.”

“Three’s a good number,” Naomi sighed. “I always wanted lots of siblings when I grew up.”

Gregory grinned in answer. “Three... or maybe four?”

Naomi giggled. “How about we start with one and see where that leads?”

“I like the sound of that.” Tenderly, Gregory kissed Naomi again, the dragon in his heart rumbling with contentment.