Anila POV The shopkeeper shook his head with a mirthless laugh. “I can’t believe it actually chose someone,” He said more to himself than to us. He slammed his hand on the table, causing me to jump. “What does that mean?” I found myself asking. “It means it’s all yours, young lady.” He begrudgingly hands the necklace over, and I am slow to grab it. No way something so exquisite was free. But from the deep frown on the old shopkeeper's face, I could tell he wasn’t very happy about it. “Thank you,” My voice was kind as I held the necklace. Its weight was surprising, considering how much metal is a part of it. It weighed almost nothing. Xaden looked at the necklace for a long moment, thoughts upon thoughts flashing behind his eyes before he gave a warm smile. “Congratulations, Anila. Let’s get back, so you can rest before tomorrow. You have orientation at 11 and then you’ll get your schedule. We can find time to meet tomorrow and begin your training.” I looked at t
Anila POVI lay on my new bed, feeling a bit overwhelmed over the day. It was hard to believe that I’d been away from home for a little over 24 hours. In a matter of hours, I found out that I was more special than I ever thought I could be.It was strange going to bed when the sun was rising. The sun was desperately trying to shine through my closed shades, and I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to sleep. I hadn’t slept since the plane though and my body was tired despite the time of day.Penny told me that I’d get use
Anila POVXaden walked with Penny and me to the dining hall. Penny was quiet since the elevator and I knew she probably had a ton of questions for me, but she wasn’t going to ask with Xaden present. He kept his hands entwined with mine and honestly, I was okay with that. I wanted him close; something inside of me needed to feel his presence.After that awkward elevator ride, I didn’t want him anywhere else. When Zach left the elevator, he went the opposite way and there was a part of me that wondered where he was going. Just before he disappeared, he paused, his eyes found mine. He held my eyes for only a second before
Anila POV“I can’t wait to start classes tomorrow,” Sally cooed. “These look so exciting.”I hadn’t even had a chance to look at my schedule. We made ourselves comfortable on a couple of benches near the campus water fountain as we went over our schedules.I took a deep breath and glanced at the paper.9 pm – 9:45 pm: History of Shifters
Anila POVI was startled, my legs turned to jelly as I stumbled backward.I have never had a chance to see his wolf so closely. It was the size of a horse, with long thick fur, and curious yellow eyes that watched me fumble to the ground.He drew closer, his paws massive as they stepped silently over the grass—growing ever closer. I swallowed a tight knot that had locked up my throat. The last time I saw his wolf form was when he nearly got into a fight with Zach and Harley in that open room yesterday. He was so angry, and everything happened
Anila POVXaden burst out laughing; like a full-body laugh and I couldn’t even look at him.He was completely naked like the day he was born, and he was standing only inches from me. My cheeks were on fire, and I averted my eyes to the water in front of me. My heart was pounding as Xaden sat before me, placing his hands over his manhood to cover himself. I knew he was only doing that for my benefit, and I appreciated it.“I wasn’t so sure about shifting back like this. But you were so persistent on talking,” he chuckled. &ldq
Anila POVI raised myself to his lips, kissing him gently as my arms wrapped around his neck, drawing him down to the bed with me. Our kiss started passionate, but turned hungry and filled with a desire that we have both been keeping locked away since our first encounter.His lips were so soft and fit perfectly against mine. I parted my lips for him to deepen the kissing, wanting and needing so much more of him. His hands moved down my sides as his tongue explored my mouth, and his hips settled between my legs. He pressed into me, his hard shaft pressing between my flaps, and exploring the entrance to my dripping core.
Anila POVHe looked surprised by my question as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tucked me into his side.“No, of course not. It’s good that you learned fast,” he told me. “It means you will be safe during your shift at your current pace. Your body will be strong and able to handle the change.”“You just seemed worried earlier,” I pointed out. “When I first succeeded, I mean.”He shook his head.
Jaxon’s POVI stared in amazement as Anila nurtured the baby dragon as if it were second nature. I knew Emily was impressed too; the only ones who were able to communicate and bond with dragons were dragon masters, but Anila wasn’t a dragon master. At least not yet, but the way she cared for Ember as if she was her own child, did something to my insides that I didn’t particularly like.I never wanted to have real feelings for Anila. I recognized her as my mate when I first saw her in the forest and despite the fact that she has other mates in the mix, I knew exactly what she was to me. I saw her as an opportunity
Anila’s POV“Dragons?” I asked, my eyes wide as I stared up at Jaxon.He cocked his head at me.“This is Dragon Valley,” he reminded me. “Of course, there are dragons here.”“Well, yeah. I guess I kind of assumed you allowed them to go free,” I confessed, biting my lower lip in embarrassment. But it was strange that they’d keep dragons locked away in stables like horses.
Anila’s POV “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly,” I said, gawking at Jaxon, my jaw nearly hitting the ground. “Did you just say you want me to be your queen?”“That’s right,” he said, entwining his fingers together. “My people expect me to rule over them with a queen by my side. I assured them infinite protection since the last Dragon King screwed them over and the only way I can ensure that protection is if I give my people an heir.”“An heir
Anila’s POV“He’s here,” I whispered, staring at the shadows. They followed my gaze to the shadowy region; Zach furrowing his brows together.“In the shadows?” Zach asked, looking at me like I had just lost my mind.I nodded.“Yes,” I answered. “He’s hiding himself.”“He’s being a fucking coward is what he&rsq
Anila’s POV“What do you mean you know the dragon king?” Harley asked all their eyes on me completely now.My cheeks flushed.“He’s kind of my fifth mate…” I admitted, biting my lower lip and anticipating some lash-back. But they all just stared at me with their mouths hanging open.“Your 5(th) mate is the dragon king?” Damien asked, finally finding his mate. “Are you sure about that?”I nodded.“Yes,” I told him. “I’m sure about it just as sure as I am that the four of you are my mates.”Damien shuffled awkwardly in his shoes and glanced at the ground. Zach and Harley exchanged a look before looking at Xaden who appeared frozen in place as he stared at me.“And you’ve spoken to him?” Xaden asked, his voice coming out softly.I nodded again.“Yes,” I answered. Then I looked at Zach, meeting his eyes. “That baby dragon that I found. Jaxon came to retrieve her. That’s why she went missing.”He nodded in understanding.“What baby dragon?” Xaden asked, looking between Zach and me.“It’s a
Anila’s POVWhen I got back to the clinic, both Harley and Zach were watching me warily. I’m not sure what to say to them or how to explain to them what I was going to have to do. My stomach was in a complete knot but I was doing this for Xaden. They had to understand that.“Are you okay?” Harley asked, watching me carefully.“Yeah,” I lied, trying to force a smile as I sat back at Xaden’s bedside. “I just needed some air. I’m good now.”I was a coward for not coming out and telling them that I had to leave by sundown tonight with Jaxon. That was his request; that I go back home with him, and only then will he tell me what he wants me to do before he saves Xaden’s life.“You look like you’re about to puke,” Zach points out, his brows furrowed together.“And we can tell that something is wrong with your emotions, Anila,” Harley said, eyeing my face. “Just tell us what’s going on.”“Do you think maybe we can just talk later? I’m kind of tired and I think I just want to close m eyes for
Anila’s POV“It’s you…” I whispered, taking a step back, my heart hammering in my chest.“Like I said, I’m not here to hurt you.” Jaxon emerged from the tree line, and he was walking towards me. I held my breath as I watched him approach me, his hands raised to show that he wasn’t carrying anything. He was completely shirtless, and my mouth dropped at the sight of his body. He had tattoos across his chest and along his shoulders that looked as if they went down his back as well. I knew right away that the tattoos were of dragons, or maybe one really big dragon with little dragons inside of it.Regardless, I found myself drawn to them.He also had a long scar that went across his chest and down his torso, but that didn’t make him any less hot. In fact, it made him look more manly. I swallowed the lump in my throat as Jaxon Develson, the dragon King, stood only inches from me.He had the scent of limes and passionfruit, and it caused my senses to be on high alert. There was no doubt in
Anila’s POVAs soon as I felt Zach’s fangs dig into my soft flesh, it was like a wake-up call. But before I could react, I heard the deep throaty growl of a bear, and I knew Harley had just witnessed this. Zach quickly released me, blood dripping from his lips just as Harley attacked him.A scream escaped my lips as I watched the two fall to the ground. Harley was in his bear form, but Zach shifted back into his wolf form almost immediately and the two began to fight.My fingers shakily went to my neck, and I felt the spot that Zach marked.He actually marked. After he said he wouldn’t do that.I knew that I needed to get out of there. I didn’t stick around to see if the fighting continued; I trusted them to know when to stop. I was furious, and I was hurt, and I was scared. I was scared for Xaden, and I was scared for myself.Zach marked me… without my permission.Anger filled me at the very thought, but it was hard to maintain because my wolf was happy about this.I found my clothes
Zach’s POVThere had been a line that was immediately crossed, and I could see was fucking red. I wanted to rip Harley’s throat out for crossing that line, but I was completely glued to my spot, staring at them like they had both just struck me at the same time.I’m not an idiot, I knew Anila didn’t trust me and I also knew that she blamed me for what happened with Xaden. I knew she would even if it wasn’t my fault. I was the easiest one to blame. My vendetta against Xaden wasn’t a secret and his vendetta against me wasn’t one either. Xaden and I talked a lot during this battle though and we came together with a mutual respect.He made me promise that if anything were to happen to him, I would take care of Anila. He told me to mark her and keep her protected. I didn’t think Harley would swoop in and take her for himself though, especially without speaking to me about it first. He was so hurt and upset that Xaden went ahead and marked Anila without talking to us about it and then he we