Sisters! Sometimes Hope despaired that there was no secret hidden from them.
Eve smirked. "You must go with the Ascendant to the Seychelles. Find Mira; bring her back."
Go with Aaron? Her alpha had found a way to get back at Hope for all the times she’d broken the rules, it seemed. "I don't think that's such a good idea—"
Eve held up a hand.
Hope bit her lips, feeling a sudden need to massage her temples where the beginning of a headache was knocking about.
This was not a request from a sister but a command from her alpha. One Hope knew she'd have to obey.
Turning to Aaron, Eve gestured. "Join forces with Hope. Bring Mira back safely, and I'll lend the support of the dragon shifters to your mayor."
"I don't need his help to infiltrate the Seychelles and rescue Mira." Hope folded her arms behind her back and thrust out her chin. "We are dragon shifters, the fastest and most lethal of species."
"Our species must collaborate with his Council to defeat threats bigger than us," Eve shot back, voice smooth.
"I'd be much faster if I could fly out there on my own." She was losing this argument.
"You could fly with me on your back." Aaron's voice lapped at her senses, hinting at the sensuality that he kept leashed just under the surface.
The thought of flying with Aaron sent a dense wave of heat pulsing through her. Her dragon leaped at the thought of being close to this man.
She clenched her thighs, moisture blooming in that secret space between them.
Anger and a thrill of excitement shivered down her spine. She didn't want to spend any time alone with Aaron. She didn't. Nope, not her! But her damn dragon wasn't listening.
Awareness rippled across her skin, setting off little pinpricks of desire. Clamping down on her thoughts, she crossed her arms over her chest, hoping they hid her nipples, which had decided right then to peak to attention.
"On one condition." She dug her nails into her forearms. "We fight. If you prove yourself stronger, you can mount me."
The words were out before the full implication of what she’d said sunk in.
A chuckle from Caleb hastily turned into a cough.
Then, Indira, her ally, the sister who she could always count on, said, "Uh, not sure if you meant it that way. Or did you?" Her gaze flicked between the two of them.
Hope's cheeks grew warm. "Shut up, Indira." The sound came out strangled. Hope cleared her throat, trying to gain some semblance of composure.
Was that her subconscious mind revealing what she'd been thinking all along?
About taking this man to her bed?
Except it would never be simple between them. It would be more than just sexual, and once her dragon had tasted him, it would not let him go. Her dragon was sure it had found her mate.
But Hope knew that could never be. Her guts twisted with unease.
As her emotions jangled, it was Aaron himself who came to her rescue.
"Agreed." He canted his head, a smile tugging at those full lips. "Let's fight."
12
Aaron
Hope wanted to test him, to find out if he was stronger than her? She was entitled to it. After all, she was a dragon shifter.
But he was an immortal, his strength honed by years of fighting with various species.
He hadn't fought a dragon yet, and he was even looking forward to pitting his strength against one of her kind. He just wished it wasn't the woman who smelled so familiar, like she was a missing piece of him.
He pushed the thought away, reminding himself that he was here for just one reason, to forge an alliance with the dragon shifters. To save his species.
If that meant he must match his skills with a female dragon shifter, then so be it.
But Hope was more than just another dragon shifter. He barely knew her, but she already meant so much to him.
She was also a warrior.
He'd seen her in action.
And when a warrior challenged you to a duel, well, to not accept would be disrespectful.
He needed to put up a fair fight, for if he held back, that, too, would be an insult. It could even lead to a clash between their cities. He had to see this through.
Aaron followed Eve, with Caleb between them.
Hope and Indira brought up the rear.
These dragon shifters didn't trust him. They made sure he was surrounded. That didn't worry him. He'd have done the same if they’d arrived in his city unannounced.
He followed them across the courtyard, toward a grass knoll that sloped down to the beach.
They left him to warm up.
Hope crossed the beach. Breaking into a jog, she reached the edge where the waves crept up onto the sand. There, she turned toward him.
Raising her arms, she stretched. The sun kissed those golden limbs, reflecting off sparks of gold and violet, and for a second, it was as if the shape of wings shimmered behind the woman who stood in front of him.
He blinked, and the mirage cleared. She was once more a dragon in female form.
Aaron knew he'd never forget the sight of the dragon and the woman, so part of the same yet separate.
"Shall we set the rules, then, dragon shifter?" he called out.
"I'll let you do so, immortal." Hope's voice carried over the gust of wind that blew between them. "I have the advantage of being on home ground." She gestured to where a small crowd had gathered.
Men and women, some with children in tow, walked across to take their seats on the narrow wall at the edge of the beach.
One of the younger women bounded onto the wall with the lithe confidence of a female who knew she was attractive. She blew Aaron a kiss. "Take off your shirt, immortal," she yelled across. "Let's see what our dragon warrior must fight."
Aaron chuckled, giving a good-natured wave. He wouldn't have reacted to the teasing, except right then a low rumbling noise drew his attention.
He looked across to find Hope frozen in her tracks. Hands on hips, she was staring at the girl who was still grinning at him. The girl’s friends joined in, blowing him kisses.
Ah! His dragoness was jealous, he realized with delight. That spurred him on.
Reaching for the hem of his shirt, Aaron drew it off.
13
Hope
Aaron whipped off his T-shirt, and the sight of his lean abs winging down toward a waist that was flat enough to be concave had her curling her fingers in anticipation.
She wanted to run her hand over that smattering of dark hair that teased just above his waistband.
It would be rough to the touch, and if she were to lick the sweat that glistened there, how would it taste? Desire pooled between her thighs, and Hope pushed the thoughts from her head.
But then Aaron moved. The muscles of his upper arms flexed as he flung his T-shirt aside.
Hope stopped pretending.
She took in the prime specimen of warrior male who preened for her.
He swaggered toward her, the movement calling attention to the corded strength of his legs. Those cool-blue eyes focused on her and held her gaze.
Despite the sea breeze that fluttered the hair at her temples, Hope felt as if she were running a temperature.
The dragon inside her clawed against her skin, pushing her to reach out to this man on the psychic plane.