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

and fear were replaced by a feeling she struggled to describe. Contentment. Commitment. Loyalty. Sorry to bother you, but something is happening that I don’t understand.
You are never bothering me, Mara. You are the single most important thing in my world. What vexes you?
Mara cleared her throat so her communion with Legion wouldn’t look obvious. Jake invited a friend to dinner with Natalie and I. He has a strange glow around him. No one else can see it.
Adara possessed the ability to see auras as well. What prompted your magic to surface in this manner?
It rose when Jake hugged me. I felt his feelings for me, but there was no danger. He likes me. Wants to date me, but he would never hurt me. Why would that make my magic surface?
Legion growled. We will discuss your poor choice in dinner partners later, but if he is not a threat to you, he should not have made your magic surface so. Who is this friend?
Mara leaned forward, opening her mind so Legion could hear the events transpiring around her. “So, Roland, how do you know Jake? I don’t think he has mentioned you before.”
Jake took a napkin from the table and folded it over his lap. “Roland and I go way back. We went to school together.”
Natalie and Mara glanced at each other. “Natalie and I went to school with Jake too. I am surprised we never met you.”
Roland showed a flicker of irritation. “It was a large school.”
Mara nodded. “It was. What do you do for a living, Roland?”
His smile was that of a snake. “My family is in the acquisitions trade.”
Mara faked interest. “What kinds of things do you import?”
Roland looked her over suggestively. “The rarest and most beautiful artifacts in the world.”
Mara! Legion screamed in her mind. He is a dark dragon. He is trying to put you under his spell. Jake made your magic rise because someone has altered his memories. He believes Roland is a long-time friend, when in fact he just met the dragon. I am on my way. Don’t let him know you’re on to him and do not leave that restaurant for any reason.
Mara took a sip of water, glancing at Natalie. Her friend was unaware of the danger Roland posed. “That sounds interesting, Roland. Were you on the football team with Jake in high school. You seem familiar to me.”
Roland smiled, believing his magic was working on her. “No, I prefer more competitive sports.”
Mara laughed without humor. “There aren’t to many sports more competitive than football.”
Roland straightened his immaculate tie. “There are if you look in the right stadiums. Perhaps, we could be in one right now.”
Mara’s heart stuttered. Legion! Did he relocate us?
No. You are at the restaurant. He is taunting you. He has figured out that you are on to him, but he is waiting for something.
How did he find out I’m onto him?
Because I just blocked an attack on your mind. He is trying to find out who blocked him. He thinks another dark is seeking to take you from him.
You can read his mind?
No. I know how dark dragons work. They all wish to possess a druid, and you are the rarest of all. I am here.
Every patron turned when Legion strode into the restaurant. It was impossible not to. He exuded power like a second skin, but it was his eyes that held every patron’s stare. They were pure topaz. Golden gems that reflected the candles on the tables.
Roland stood, looking at his nemesis in fear. He glanced between Mara and Legion. “Devlin never mentioned she was yours.”
Legion approached the table. “Roland. I should have guessed you would turn. I did not realize you had woken, let alone chose a dark path.”
Roland’s eyes flickered red. “There is no future for us. We should rule.”
“Enough!” Legion roared. “You will leave now.”
Conner entered the restaurant, but stayed by the door. His crystalline eyes surveyed the room.
Roland sneered at the large man. “This is not over.” He walked from the restaurant, glaring at Conner.
Legion held out his hand to Mara. “Let’s return to your loft. Conner will see to the patrons here.”
Mara took his hand while grabbing Natalie’s arm. “She comes with us.”
Legion glanced at the confused face of Mara’s best friend. “We will discuss the consequences of leaving her memories at your loft.”
Natalie stared as every person in the restaurant put their heads down. “What the hell is going on?”

Chapter 12
They entered the loft. Mara had shaken her head when they exited the restaurant, to let Natalie know that they couldn’t speak in public. As soon as the door closed, Natalie spun around with her arms crossed.
“Spill it. What’s going on, and what the hell happened to those people at the restaurant?”
Mara glance at Legion. “I’m telling her everything.”
Legion shrugged. “Go ahead, but Conner will remove her memories so it will prove pointless.”
Mara’s eyes flared. “Conner is not touching her.”
Legion nodded to Conner. “He does not need to touch her. If you recall from earlier, she will suffer no ill effects. I do this to protect her. A dark can sift through her memories. They will use her against you and kill her, if they know she is important to you.”
Natalie touched Mara’s arm. “I have no idea what is happening, but don’t let him mess with my mind.”
Mara looked into the face of her best friend. “Legion, don’t do this.”
Legion’s jaw ticked. “I am sorry, Mara. This is not your decision.”
Conner’s power surged before he pulled back, frowning. “I had trouble wiping Natalie’s memories last time. I assumed it was because it had been centuries since I connected with a human mind.” He glanced at Legion. “Though I had no trouble with the humans at the restaurant, I cannot access her mind.”
Legion looked hard at Natalie. His power filtered out, gentle, probing around the scared young woman. “Her power has not surfaced. It is dormant. The shield around her mind, formed because you altered her perception.