Mated to the Earth Dragon (Elemental Mates 2)

“Is that a challenge?” she asked.

“I promise it’s not.” Damon made a face. “The first time I came here, I was visiting relatives. A very old, very... traditional family. Although I have to admit I slightly prefer it over the fermented shark.”

He shook himself, then hastily grabbed hold of Autumn again when they both nearly lost their footing. The ground was very slippery here, and the roar of the water had become so loud that it was impossible to hear the voices of the other members of their tour group.

“Thanks,” Autumn said breathlessly, clinging to his arm. “I even brought sensible boots, just like they told me!”

“They usually cordon this off when it gets too wet,” Damon said with a frown.

“I guess we’re lucky... I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this. I’ve been saving up for this trip for quite a while.” Still breathless, Autumn paused to stare out at the majestic waterfall.

Water kept gushing down over the rocks with an impressive roar. Even though he’d visited before, Damon felt overwhelmed by its beauty all over again. Despite all the tourists who came here every day, this place was still full of elemental power.

Damon took a deep breath, reaching out to the rock below him. He could feel the echo of the water’s forceful rush in his bones, his body faintly vibrating with the power of this place. The rock was old and powerful, full of a grandiose majesty that made his dragon ache to stretch his wings.

He was the master of the earth. If he’d shift and circle Gullfoss, the rock would sing to him.

But now, there was a new harmony in the song of the land. Mixed in with the low, deep tones of rock and stone, there was a warm thrum, almost like distant snatches of a song, interweaving with everything his dragon’s senses heard and saw.

Autumn. Autumn was right there—not just standing there in front of him, watching the water. Her presence also echoed through the stone. The land sang for her—and for him. The stones, millions of years old, knew just as well as Damon’s dragon what she was.

She was his mate. Her presence meant joy, completeness, his soul finally whole.

Damon took a deep, shuddering breath, withdrawing from the communication with his element to look at Autumn again as a man, remembering the warmth of her skin, and the way it had felt to finally kiss her.

Autumn turned, a smile on her lips as she held out her hand to him. Her eyes were alight with excitement—and at that exact moment, the earth rumbled beneath them.

Autumn cried out in fear. Damon lunged forward, grabbing hold of her hand.

And then the rock cracked, the stone that had stood in place for thousands of years splitting apart with an inhuman groan of agony.

“An earthquake! Run!” someone cried behind them—but Damon didn’t turn.

His hand had closed around Autumn’s wrist at the last moment. With all of his strength, he pulled her forward.

She crashed against his chest. Her arms immediately wrapped around him as the earth beneath them continued to tremble—and the rock where she’d stood just a moment ago vanished, a huge hole opening in the ground before them.

In the distance, there were shouts of fear. But all Damon could think of was Autumn.

“Don’t let go,” he shouted over the continued rumbling of the earth. “No matter what happens—hold on to me!”

Autumn nodded hastily, her arms clenching tightly around him.

The path before them had vanished. A deep hole loomed instead, and now the water of G

ullfoss rushed in to fill it, the angry water tearing at the exposed earth and rocks.

With one arm around Autumn, Damon turned.

The tourists who’d been behind them had managed to flee to safety. The path was empty.

But the path wasn’t safe. Even now as he watched, further cracks opened in the earth.

Autumn was still in danger.

And at last, Damon allowed the dragon within him to lash out at the deceitful rock beneath him with all of his might.

He drove his dragon’s senses deep into the earth, his mind racing past veins of rock, stone and metal that were millions of years old.