Mated to the Ocean Dragon (Elemental Mates 3)

Of course Damon would think it’s hilarious that I’ve settled down at last.

Timothy couldn’t quite suppress a grin, even though he knew the fire dragons hadn’t yet been defeated.

A moment later, the stone sent him a different image.

Dragons soaring through the sky. Escape. Freedom.

Timothy exhaled in relief. As he’d hoped, the others had been able to escape easily after he’d distracted their powerful enemy.

Then the rock pulsed against his hand again, and in his mind, a different picture formed.

A towering mountain crowned by clouds. A giant cave. Someone waiting.

He was being summoned to Sky Home, the seat of the council of elements. Just as he’d expected.

Timothy sent back an affirmative pulse of energy.

And then, a hesitant, final picture formed in his mind, as if the rock was reluctant to be the bearer of bad news.

A griffin soaring in the sky—alone. Someone lost. Uncertainty. Sadness.

The griffin was Jared. Jared, who’d been carrying Braeden in his claws the last time Timothy had seen him.

Timothy clenched his fingers, a sudden surge of helpless anger and betrayal flooding through him.

Braeden was lost. Jared hadn’t been able to carry him to safety.

Timothy couldn’t even say why he felt grief. Braeden had betrayed them. Braeden had tried to run back to the fire dragons.

He was never our friend. He was our prisoner.

But it was hard not to feel a personal sense of betrayal after sharing your blueberry pancakes and your Netflix password with someone. The fire dragon had come to feel more like an annoying younger brother, as much as Timothy hated to admit it.

I should have known better. He’s a fire dragon. They won’t change, no matter what.

Reluctantly, Timothy sent a final burst of acknowledgment. Then he carefully sat up.

The cave behind the waterfall was still filled with a gentle blue light. Water was lapping at the rock below them. Through the curtain of falling water that shielded them from the outside world, he could see that it was still light outside.

How long had he slept? It had to be afternoon now. He was fully healed; they’d easily be able to make it to Sky Home before nightfall.

And then they’d have to find a strategy of dealing with their new enemy. A mere fire dragon should never have been able to injure him so severely.

“Hey,” Liana murmured sleepily, stretching with a yawn. “How are you feeling?”

“As good as new.” He held out his wrist for her to inspect.

“Hmm.” Liana wasn’t happy until she’d given his chest the same examination.

But there was nothing for her careful fingers to find. His skin was smooth, completely healed except for a tiny scar on his chest.

That shows how close they got to killing me. At least the chimera will find that interesting.

Who knew, maybe the chimera could even get some information from the scar the attack had left...

“It looks fully healed,” Liana admitted at last.

She looked gorgeous, her skin and bare breasts illuminated by the soft light that filled the cave.