Mated to the Griffin (Elemental Mates 5)

His griffin’s body—half eagle, half lion—perched on top of the roof in plain sight. From here, he had a good view of the small hotel. If the man who’d attacked her tried to return, Jared would know.

He still couldn’t believe that he’d found his mate—and that in turn, his mate had found a clue about the medallion his parents had left him. There had to be a reason fate had brought them together right here, right now.

The chimera had set him this task because the fate of humanity might depend on stopping the darkness. But Jared now realized that this wasn’t the only reason.

He was also here because his mate needed him. Fate had led him to her just in time to save her from an attack. And in turn, she’d showed him her map. The map that led right to where the symbol of the fifth plinth was located.

Chiara thought she was hunting for a powerful magical artifact—but Jared knew that she was wrong.

A fifth plinth with a fifth symbol meant that a new elemental master had appeared. An element never before seen on the council. A new ally they’d need in the fight against the darkness.

Somewhere in these mountains, at the heart of the maze on Chiara’s map, there was a powerful shifter. Perhaps a shifter who hadn’t yet realized that a new element had chosen it as its champion.

Jared would find the shifter, and then, at last, the council would be complete. Five elemental dragons would stand against the darkness that threatened their world—and they’d win, they had to.

And then Jared would be free to show Chiara the shifter world he loved. He’d show her how hard his friends, the elemental dragons and their mates, ha

d worked to protect the human world.

And once she realizes there aren’t any aliens out there, and that we’re no monsters but just like humans, she’ll change her mind.

His griffin’s sharp eagle eyes kept a careful watch on the street as the moon above them slowly made its journey across the night sky.

Everything was quiet. The air smelled faintly of lilacs. There was a gentle breeze ruffling his feathers.

Everything was peaceful, and slowly, Jared began to relax.

The attacker probably hadn’t expected to find his prey protected by a shifter. Jared had driven him off; Chiara was safe for now.

His griffin moved a little, smoothing his feathers, enjoying the sounds of the night. His mate was asleep across the street, perfectly safe as they guarded her sleep. And soon, they’d be able to properly woo her...

We’re not bringing her a dead mouse as a present, Jared told his inner griffin, who’d been watching a tiny animal skitter through the street below.

The griffin shifted his wings again, his sharp eyes still focused on the mouse.

No, Jared said determinedly. Forget it. I’m treating her to a nice French breakfast with pastries and coffee. Absolutely no dead mice.

A heartbeat later, faster than he’d thought possible, shadow descended upon the alley.

The darkness was so sudden and so stifling that even his griffin’s sharp eagle eyes could no longer make out the shapes of the houses or the street below.

Even the shingles of the roof he was perching on no longer glinted in the moonlight.

Everything was black. The darkness was so absolute it swallowed all sound. He started forward—but he couldn’t even hear the sound of his talons on the roof.

Still, he didn’t waste any time trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

There was only one possible explanation for this.

The shadow had returned. And it had come for Chiara.

Even in this complete darkness, he could feel her presence, like a tiny star far away in the dark sky. If they had time to get to know each other, it would grow stronger and form a full mate bond—but right now, it was just the barest connection between them. It was faint, like the light of a single star far, far away—but it was there, even in this unnatural darkness.

She was there. She was near. And she was in danger.

Without thought, he spread his wings and soared. He knew the layout of the alley and the houses. He’d had a long time to study the street while he’d kept watch over Chiara’s hotel.

Now, without sight, he flew into the darkness, then landed on the street. The feeling of the old cobblestones beneath his talons was reassuring.