Loving Her Dragons (Mannix Dragon Shifters #4)

Excerpt

His exile was almost over.

Just one more month.

Anticipation itched at the back of his spine, as it always did when he thought of returning to Kalmut, the Kelvin clan stronghold. They wouldn’t welcome him. He knew that. But he hadn’t been idle in his exile. He’d learned. He’d watched. And now he was prepared to seize the leadership from the usurper who capitalized on his absence. Zale Ryker might have been an acceptable substitute in his absence, but the blood running through Maryk’s veins was that of ancient chiefs. He would lead the clan again.

All he needed was a dragon to pair with.

That’s what he should be doing right now, trying to find a pair.

Instead? He was attending a meet and greet, of all the stupid things, in the heart of human lands.

Humans. He scowled. If he didn’t need a human mate, he’d be happy never to speak to another one again.

The bank of windows along the long wall of the room showed the city streets beyond. The settlement didn’t look any better this close than it had when he’d circled over the metropolis this morning as they’d flown in. Perhaps it was worse. The early morning fog, long burned off now, had hidden a cluster of dirty gray buildings. Spindly trees with pale sickly leaves stretched toward the sun. Throngs of humans shuffled along the clogged streets. The closeness and bustling made his skin crawl.

He couldn’t wait to return to the mountains.

He had half a mind to find his way to the roof right now and launch himself into the air. He could be back in Montrose in no time. Screw the ICB. Screw the Mannix clan’s plans to bridge the divide between dragons and humans.

Except…

If he wanted to be a strong leader, he needed a mate. And only human women could fulfill that role. Dragon children were only born male. The Kelvin clan desperately needed women. They’d been without one too long. Ansyn hadn’t worried about it because he travelled into the human-occupied territory enough to absorb the calming feminine energy to settle himself. But the rest of the clan suffered. They deserved and needed a leader who would put them first.

Not that acquiring a mate would be a hardship. He grinned. It was something he’d be happy to do. For the clan. Once he found a biddable and eager dragon to be his beta.

But if he fucked today up, he might never be permitted a mate, at least not legally. And with his past, he’d be killed without a trial if he attempted an abduction.

He clenched his hands. He would remain here. For now.

Soon. Soon he’d be free. But not today.

Today he would stand in front of these dragons and humans and be the posterchild of a reformed rogue dragon. Like he hadn’t been humiliated enough already.