Mated to the Griffin (Elemental Mates 5)

All around them, walls of crystal glistened a brilliant white, changing into gentle hues of rose and pale blues and greens as their eyes moved past them.

It was an overwhelming sensation. It was like nothing Jared had ever seen before—like light itself was being born into existence right here, right now.

Chiara pressed a little closer, and he wrapped his arm around her as they stared.

“This is incredible,” she whispered.

Even though she’d spoken softly, her voice carried, echoing through the crystal cave.

In response, the light pulsed a pale purple, then blue, then green, before returning to its usual rhythm.

“Sorry,” she said, the clasped a hand over her mouth as the light reacted to her words again.

“It’s all right,” Jared said—although even he felt a little unsettled when the light changed with his own words.

It felt like they were being watched. Which made sense—the new elemental dragon had to know that they were here. Surely this cave was his home.

All the same, it didn’t feel like being watched by a dragon. It felt like being watched by something incredibly old and powerful—and something that was neither human nor shifter

.

Jared took a deep breath. Then, determined, he took a step forward.

The ground beneath his feet was crystal as well, and it lit up in pulsating hues of pastel colors where his feet touched the ground.

But nothing else happened. There was no angry dragon’s roar, and the cave didn’t collapse.

Whatever this place was—it seemed that for now, they were welcome here.

Chapter Twenty-One: Chiara

“Let’s go and find our dragon.” Chiara tried to ignore the dizzying way the light changed when she followed Jared. “I think I’ve figured it all out.”

“Oh?” Jared said as they slowly moved deeper into the cave.

“It’s obvious now, isn’t it? You said you didn’t know what element was left. Well, we’re surrounded by it now. It’s going to be a crystal dragon.”

“I’ve never heard of a crystal dragon.” Jared sounded thoughtful. “But it would make sense, given that neither of us knew there could be a fifth elemental dragon.”

“Whoever it is clearly likes his secrecy.” Chiara reached out and touched a crystal spire without thought. In response, a clear, ringing sound filled the cave, vibrating like the high note of a golden bell.

Chiara winced and immediately pulled back, looking around in alarm. “Sorry!”

Jared chuckled. “I think you just rang the doorbell.”

“Hope I didn’t wake our dragon from a nice nap. We wouldn’t want him to get angry,” she said, still looking around, waiting for a dragon to burst forward.

But nothing happened. There was no reply to the sound, and after a moment, they continued on.

“Maybe he wants us to come to him,” Jared said. “Dragons are like that.”

“Your chimera is like that.” It did feel remarkably similar to how she’d felt when she’d first entered the cave of the council of elements, summoned by the chimera.

Fortunately Gareth hadn’t turned out all that scary. Surely this new dragon would be just the same.

After all, a prophecy had foretold that the council would gain a fifth ally in their fight against darkness. They were meant to be here. And they were meant to become friends with whoever lived here.

“He is, isn’t he?” Jared gave her an amused look. “I suppose that’s what happens when you’re old and very powerful. You need to get your amusement from somewhere.”