Tropical Dragon Diver (Shifting Sands Resort 5)

“All sorts,” Jenny said with a laugh. “I’m an otter shifter.” She said it with wonder, as if she weren’t used to the idea yet. “My mate is a lynx shifter. My sister is a wolf, and her mate is a bear.”

Saina wondered what Bastian was, with those bottomless golden eyes, but didn’t want to ask. “Your… mate?” she asked, instead.

Jenny’s face took a soft, distant look. “For shifters, there is one person, one perfect mate. They know each other at once, as if their souls recognize each other.”

It sounded lovely. And romantically ridiculous. Saina wasn’t even sure she believed in love.

“You… don’t know about mates?” Jenny added, coming fully back to the conversation.

Saina refrained from scoffing that it sounded like a fairy tale. “I’d heard of them,” she admitted. She didn’t have to add that she’d never thought they existed. It seemed more likely that Jenny was under some other kind of magical influence.

Jenny’s eyes danced, like she had a delightful secret that she wanted very much to share. “I’ll let Bastian tell you more,” she said, gathering her papers. “I know he’ll want to know that you’re awake.”

When she left, Saina slipped carefully out of the bed. The view from her porch was out over the resort, the roofs of other little buildings like the one she was in spread out below her. There was jungle to her right, ocean before her, and just visible through the trees to her left, a gleaming white fortress that must be the restaurant and bar. The sun was just beginning to set, turning the sky gold and rose.

Saina leaned against the deck railing and closed her eyes to listen to the quiet sounds of distant ocean.

“Saina?”

His voice gave her a crazy little thrill to her toes, and Saina knew before she turned that her lifeguard had returned.

He was standing in the doorway, looking nervous and excited. Saina was equal parts relieved that her magic wasn’t entirely gone, and surprised. The effects of her song should have faded away by now, but he was clearly still utterly besotted with her. It made her feel unexpectedly guilty.

“Jenny said your name was Saina,” he said, adoration in the way he said it. Then he scowled in concern. “And you should be in bed!”

“I’m fine,” she said, with a practiced silky smile. “You don’t have to worry for me.”

His scowl melted. “Let me at least check it,” he breathed.

Saina sat at the edge of the bed and let him peel the medical tape back and check under the swaths of bandage that covered her shoulder front and back. His gentle touch was surprisingly disturbing to her calm, sending tingles

of sensation through her skin. Had she managed to enchant herself with her injury-addled song?

“Well?” she asked, looking up into his face.

The eye contact obviously unbalanced him. He gazed down at her and stammered, “It’s, it’s, looking, coming along nicely. Healing up well. It looks… good.”

Saina made herself smile at him. Whatever the reason, she would have one unquestionable ally here, then. She had to remind herself firmly that this was in her nature, that she ought to be grateful for this unexpected enchantment, not feel guilty about it. Even though she didn’t understand how she had managed to cast an enchantment like this at all. It was nothing like her usual siren magic.

Chapter 6

Saina.

Even her name was beautiful, as lovely and unique as she was. Her voice had a faint British-Indian accent.

Standing against the sunset, she was a dark silhouette, with long, loose hair to the middle of her back. She was neither short nor particularly tall, with lush curves in all the right places. Lydia’s dress was flattering on her, a swish of embroidered white fabric to her knees, and Bastian wanted nothing more than to peel her out of it, lay her down on his hoard and claim her outright.

He wrestled his dragon back, checking her bandages, and was happy to find that her wounds were healing more swiftly than he’d expected.

“You must be hungry,” he said, once he’d taped it all carefully back on, every electric touch tantalizing and tempting.

“I’m famished,” Saina said, as if it hadn’t occurred to her before.

His dragon was pleased with the idea of feeding her, but Bastian doubted she would want the cow carcass that he suggested.

“There’s a buffet,” Bastian said swiftly. “The best food. All gourmet. Chef is world-class, you won’t be disappointed.”

His dragon suggested feeding Chef to her if she found his food in any way lacking.