Ellard bit back his snarl and nodded, then he and Gweneth followed the two males.Although he’d never met a dragon shifter in person, his father had told tales of their ferocity during battles.They were a private race, and their invitation to visit still surprised him.With Ransom’s looks, most females would take a second glance, despite his casual clothing of lightweight trews and plain blue shirt.Ellard reserved judgment on the arrogance since a leader required strength and confidence to lead.Whether he was trustworthy, they’d soon discover, but he decided to take him at face value—for the moment.As for Gweneth…
He frowned inwardly.Wasn’t this what he wanted?
“I hope you don’t mind a stroll.We are not far from my quarters,” Ransom said.“Mostly, if we wish to travel any distance, we shift and fly.”
“Not an option for us.”Gweneth offered a cheeky grin.“But if you wish to exercise your wings, go right ahead.I’ve never seen a dragon shifter before and would love to before we leave.”
“Gweneth,” Ellard warned.
Ransom laughed, an infectious sound that made Ellard want to join the joke.“I value openness and honesty.”
Ellard’s back prickled as he followed Gweneth and the two males down a gravel track that wound between lush plantings of flowers.Beyond, trees filled the landscape, and on the horizon, a range of mountains thrust up from the landscape like jagged teeth.The sweet scent of the flowers lay heavy in the air.White.Red.Purple.Blue.The shades ran the gamut and made for attractive surroundings after the dust generated by numerous building sites on Viros.
“We directed you to land near my estate rather than in the town,” Ransom said over his shoulder.“We will show you the town later, but it will be easier to conduct our business discussions here.”
The track widened.Ellard wiped the sweat off his forehead and strode along beside Niran.While he listened to the man discuss the main town and its amenities, part of his mind attempted to follow Ransom’s discussion with Gweneth.Both males had brightened on seeing her, and he now struggled with jealousy.He had no right, given he kept pushing her away.He knew that, but try telling this to his agitated feline.
“Ah.”Niran’s pale cheeks glowed with pink.He lifted his nose and drew in the air in the way a feline did to scent.“Delicious.”
“Pardon?”Ellard frowned at the man’s tone.It was…weird, he decided.The man appeared… He hesitated again.Sexually sated was the word that came to mind, yet he hadn’t appeared that way when he and Gweneth disembarked from their ship.
“Have you never heard of my race before?”The corners of Niran’s eyes crinkled, and he emanated agreeable humor and joy.
Yep, plain weird.
“No,” Ellard said.
A loudwhop-whopoverhead had him flinching.He managed to hold back his gasp but felt his eyes widen at the immense scarlet dragon that dive-bombed toward them.A smaller royal-blue dragon lagged behind, its stubby wings working at double time to keep it above the treetops.
Niran chuckled, the rich sound pulling at Ellard and inducing him to share in the joke.
The scarlet dragon opened its mouth, and a blaze of flames shot free.
“Cut it out,” Ransom ordered, a snap in his voice.
The royal-blue dragon opened its mouth, and a smaller, less impressive blast of flames emerged.This dragon lacked the same control, and the flames ran along the treetops.Several dry twigs caught fire, and the blue dragon squeaked.
“Gryffnn,” Ransom roared.“Come back and put out this fire.”
“Who is that?”Gweneth asked, awe in her voice.
Ellard didn’t blame her because he was experiencing the same wonder.While he’d heard of the dragon race of shifters, he’d never seen one.Lynx and Shiloh were right.They needed a peace treaty with the dragons.
“My brother,” Ransom said in a dry tone.“And his son.”
Gweneth stared up at the flaming branches.“Can all dragons breathe fire?”
“The ability grows with age.As you can see my nephew has little control and has just started fire breathing while my brother can repeat his party trick four or five times before he needs to rest.”
“How much rest is required?”Ellard asked, interested in learning more.He watched the red dragon hurtle through the sky while the blue dragon fluttered above the treetops near the fire.
“It varies, but several cycle portions.The older the warrior, the more powerful he becomes,” Ransom said.“In case you’re thinking of declaring war on us.”
Gweneth smiled and patted his arm.“We come in peace.Ask Ellard.None of our people wish for unrest.I am a new arrival to Viros, but the city is recovering from a war with the House of Cawdor.”
“Is this true?”Ransom’s bold gaze demanded answers.
Despite the bristling of his feline, Ellard nodded.“We want to rebuild and prosper, and we would like our neighbors to grow with us.That is what we have come to discuss.”
