Legion: Alpha Dragon Shifter Romance (Dragon Rules Series Book 1)

above Mara’s head. “Inn Plain Sight. I looked up the history of this business. It was in fact an Inn many years ago.”
Mara swallowed hard, praying her assumption was wrong. “Why were you looking for my family?”
Devlin picked up a pewter sculpture of a sleeping dragon. “Tomorrow, you will go through a very important transition. You can have the life you wanted. Money. Fame. Your paintings in every Dark Art Gallery across the world. I just need something from you.”
Mara’s heart cracked; blood pumped loudly in her ears. “What?”
He placed the dragon back on the cluttered shelf. His eyes flared with red flames. “Your blood.”
Legion! She screamed in her mind, but was careful not to let her fear show on her face. “Those are quite the contacts. Why do you need my blood? I don’t have a rare blood type.”
Devlin blinked away the red fire. “I assure you they are not contact lenses. As for your blood type, it is rarer than you can imagine.”
Legion shimmered in her mind. I am on my way. Stall him.
Who is he?
He is a dark dragon. He is blocking his presence from me. He sent waves of reassurance.
Mara felt the sensation of wind against her skin. Legion was flying. Their connection so intimate, she could feel his anxiousness. His need to get to her.
She rubbed her temple, faking some semblance of composure. “Mr. Night, I am not sure where you got your information...”
“I was given no information. I feel your emergence. You will come into your power soon, and I will be there to... enjoy it.”
Mara’s eyes flashed. “Enjoy it?”
Devlin smiled wickedly. “Oh yes, I will enjoy tasting you, but don’t worry Mara, you will love every minute of it.”
Pain and pressure infused her chest as Legion shifted. His anger and confidence invaded her mind. Her body. “Are all dark dragons as arrogant and misguided as you?”
Devlin hissed. “How do you know about the dragons? You have not come into your power.”
Mara huffed. “You forgot you are not the only dragon in the world, Devlin.”
Legion burst through the door. His eyes blazed golden fire. Flames licked his pupils. “Dakon!”
Mara sucked in a breath. “Dakon?”
Devlin roared. “Legion! You spiteful pig. I have not used the name Dakon in centuries. What are you doing here? She is mine. You have no right to interfere with human...”
Legion advanced on Devlin. “She is my mate. Fight me or die.”
Devlin turned on Mara as if seeing her for the first time. “Adara... no!”
Legion halted. “How did you know she was Adara? No dark knew of our connection.”
Devlin glanced between Mara and Legion. “This is not over.” A bubble formed as his body dissolved.
Mara ran to the spot where Devlin had stood. She knelt down, running her hand over the floorboards, where Devlin seemed to have flowed into. “Where did he go?”
Legion clenched his fists. “It was a relocation spell. His magic is highly evolved, but that little stunt will cost him.” Legion’s body wavered as scales showed beneath his skin before receding.
Mara stood. “Legion, if you shift in my store you will destroy the entire block.”
Legion blew out a breath. “I apologize. My dragon is under control. We have always suspected that Dakon betrayed my family, but he disappeared before my ascension to clan leader, and we believed he had been captured and killed by the mages. The fact that he knows your connection to Adara is concerning. Few colored dragons knew our connection, let alone a dark.”
Mara looked down, trying to hold back her emotions. Her pain.
Legion walked toward her, pulling her against his body. “I will never let him harm you. I am sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
Mara shook her head. “It isn’t that,” she whispered.
Legion kissed the top of her head. “You are blocking me from your mind. Tell me what has distressed you.”
Mara swallowed the lump in her throat. “I thought he wanted my paintings. That he believed I was talented. It was all a lie.”
Legion pulled back, tipping her head up to meet his fiery gaze. “You are more talented than you can imagine. Your artwork is as beautiful as the soul that paints them. You will have a hundred galleries across the world if you want them.”
A single tear slid down her face. “I didn’t want a hundred galleries. I just wanted one.”
Legion kissed her tear-streaked cheek. “Then you shall have it, and anything else you want.” His eyes flickered with promise and desire. Heat pulsed through his body like a whip of fire.

Chapter 11
Mara glanced at Legion as he stretched out on her bed. She tried not to notice the defined muscles that showed through his tight t-shirt. That his feet hung over the end of her bed. She grabbed her jacket, checking the pockets for the card Devlin had given her.
Legion put his hands behind his head. “The agent Devlin recommended is likely in league with him. I recommend you look for a new agent.”
Mara withdrew the card in a jerky motion, holding it in front of Legion. “She’s human, I doubt he is honest about his dragon heritage. The Dark Art Gallery is worldwide. Just because Devlin is a fraud doesn’t mean the entire company is.”
Legion cleared his throat. “Consider the name.”
Mara turned to look at him. “Dark Arts... Dark Dragon, you mean?”
He nodded.
She squinted. “But Devlin is only one person... he said his family owns the company. Are you suggesting the entire company are family members of Devlin Night?”
Legion shook his head. “Not family. Dark dragons. They were once part of our clan. The Rule clan. But they turned against us. In the past, dark dragons did not work together. Apparently, that has changed. They are using the Dark Art Gallery as a front for their operation. Ingenious really.”
Mara put down the stack of cards in her hand. “What operation?”
“The search for druid descendants.”
“Why would they need an art empire?”
“The gallery provides Devlin with influence, power, and money. They can import and export throughout the world.