Mated to the Earth Dragon (Elemental Mates 2)

Contentedly, she nuzzled against his cheek, her eyes sliding close as she breathed in the scent of his hair. It had mixed with the scent of crushed grass and flowers that filled the glade.

And there, in front of her closed eyes, she could see the connection between them again, a string of sparkling gold that bound them tightly together. Where the bond had been fragile before, it seemed to have doubled in size now, like a chain of light that wrapped around them.

When she opened her eyes again, he was smiling.

Slowly, she reached out to trail his lips with a fingertip, until he leaned forward and kissed her.

His finger stroked gently down her spine, then up again. Somewhere in the distance, birds were still singing. Here in the sunlight, it was so warm she didn’t even want to think about getting up and dressing.

And what’s the use of falling in love with a dragon shifter with his very own mansion if you can’t be irresponsible for once?

His lips quirked against her mouth, as if he knew what she was thinking about.

His hand came up again to cup her breast, his thumb tenderly circling her nipple. With a soft, overwhelmed moan, she let her head sink back into the grass and flowers, joyfully abandoning herself to her dragon’s touch.

Chapter Fourteen: Damon

Damon had hoped for a long, lazy morning spent in bed with his mate, but they’d only just finished their coffee when he felt the familiar sensation of another powerful shifter coming closer to his land.

With a regretful look at where Autumn’s luscious curves were only half covered by the sheet, he slipped from the bed.

“You might want to shower and get dressed,” he said, not bothering to hide his disappointment. “We’re about to have a visitor. And if I’m right, he’ll bring a summons from the master of the council.”

Damon didn’t join Autumn in the shower, even though he desperately wanted to. But if he did, they’d never make it out in time—and that wasn’t the way he wanted his mate to meet the griffin shifter.

Instead, once he had showered and dressed as well, he climbed the circular stairs to the top of the tower together with Autumn. They were just in time to watch the large form of a griffin descend from the clouds, his eagle’s wings spreading as he soared towards them in the light of the morning sun.

“That’s not a dragon,” Autumn breathed. “What is that?”

“That’s the griffin I told you about,” Damon explained. “Just like dragons and werewolves, humans had legends about them. These days, they’re even rarer than dragons. He’s called Jared, and he works for the council.”

The majestic wings slowing his approach, the griffin landed right in front of them. As soon as the lion’s paws had touched the ground, he shifted back into his human form.

“Welcome, Jared,” Damon said, unable to keep from smiling. “I was expecting he’d send you. This is my mate, Autumn.”

“Nice to meet you,” Autumn said, her voice firm even though Damon could feel her awe through the bond.

“A mate,” the griffin shifter said, eyes gleaming with amusement as looked Autumn up and down. “Well, well. Now I understand why the chimera said he wants to see both of you. I was worried he’d finally gone completely insane.”

“Chimera?” Autumn murmured.

Damon sent a wave of reassurance towards her. “Another mythological shifter. He’s the master of the council. He can be very intimidating—but there’s no need to be afraid of him.”

“Oh, good,” Autumn muttered. “With all these dragons and griffins and crocodiles, it’s hard to keep track of what I should be afraid of.”

“He’s all bark and no bit,” Damon said firmly.

Jared gave an amused laugh, although he didn’t protest.

“Anyway, if he sent you I expect he wants to see us right away?”

Jared nodded. “The storm dragon contacted us from Iceland and filled us in about what happened, but the chimera wants all the details from you. Fire dragons striking right in the open and attacking dragon territory—that’s pretty bad.”

“Oh, they’re definitely up to something,” Damon said darkly. “I just have no idea what yet.”

Ten minutes later, they were in the air. It usually took Damon about an hour to reach Sky Home, where the council of elements met, and where the chimera lived. This time, it took a little longer, as the griffin wasn’t as fast as a dragon, and Damon didn’t want to leave Jared behind.

After a minute or two, Autumn had relaxed on his back again, her fingers no longer gripping the ridge of his neck quite as tightly. By the time they reached the tower of clouds that surrounded the mountain peak where the council of elements res