Healed by the Earth Dragon Prince: Dragon Shifter Romance (Elemental Dragon Warriors Book 4)

but Talia interrupts first. “Llyr, stop.”
His gaze returns to her and his expression immediately softens. His actions are definitely those of a male hovering over his mate. I search his chest again for the fate mark but still find none.
“I’m fine, Llyr,” she says. “I swear.”
“But you are still hurting. You should not be in pain.”
She lifts and drops her shoulders. “It’s not that bad. I feel much better than I did earlier.” She swings her legs off the bed. “In fact, I think I’d like to take a walk. Stretch my muscles a bit.”
I stare down at her, surprised. Though she is injured, just like my mate, she is already getting up. “You should rest,” I insist, not wanting to be on the receiving end of Llyr’s wrath. Even now, he glares at me as if I were somehow to blame for her stubbornness.
She rolls her eyes. “Look, I know you think all humans are pitiful weaklings, but we’re not that fragile. I’d like to move around a bit, get my blood flowing again.”
These humans have a strong will, like female Drakarians. I find myself impressed by their strength in the face of all they went through this terrible day. Although I believe Talia should rest, I’ve observed enough of human females in only half a day to understand that they are as fierce as they are stubborn.
“Fine,” I tell her as I dart a glance at Llyr. “But someone should escort you, just in case.”
Llyr’s eyes drop to my chest. His mouth drifts open when he spots the fate mark pattern glowing on my scales.
His gaze snaps up to mine. “Who is it?”
I scan the room for Anna but do not see her. Closing my eyes, I draw in a deep breath. Her distinct and delicate scent lingers close by. Already, my body is becoming attuned to hers. “She is near. I can sense it.”
Drawn to seek out my mate, I leave Prince Llyr to his human and follow the scent of mine into the castle. I find her seated on one of the carved k’lor benches in the palace garden. “How are you feeling?”
She sends me a tired smile. “Exhausted. How about you?” She rubs at her shoulder. “My muscles are so tense I feel like they’re going to snap.”
Panic stops my hearts. “That can happen to your body? Please, allow me to tend to you before your muscles snap.”
She laughs. “No! I wasn’t speaking literally. I’m fine. My muscles are just a little sore from overuse.”
“Why did you not say something earlier?” I gently chastise her. “You shouldn’t have worked so hard this day. In fact, you should not have been working at all. You were still recovering when you insisted upon getting out of bed.”
She shakes her head. “I’m fine. It’s not a big deal, all right?”
I eye her carefully, unsure if I should believe her. I do not like the way she dismisses her health so easily. I can see that I must take great care to ensure she does not overwork herself. “Perhaps more of my healing fire will help. If you will allow me, I will tend to you.”
A pink bloom spreads across her cheeks while she nods. I sit beside her and dip my hand beneath the neckline of her robe, sliding the fabric back to expose her shoulders. Her skin is soft beneath my fingers, and as my gaze travels down her chest, I notice the gently rounded mounds of her ample breasts peeking above the fabric. Drakarian female’s chests are flat; they do not have breasts like these. I wonder if they are as soft as the rest of her skin. My fingers ache to trace every tarem of her body.
Drawing in a deep breath, I mentally chastise myself for my errant thoughts. She needs healing, and I will care for her.
She presents her back to me, and I brace myself on the bench behind her. I gather the long strands of her lovely brown hair in my hand, marveling at the silken texture, and pull it over her shoulder to expose her back. Gently, I exhale the blue-green healing flame across her shoulders and neck. She releases a deep sigh of contentment and leans into me. I struggle to suppress the low growl of arousal that vibrates deep in my chest at the enticing sound but manage to contain it.
The last thing I want is to place my needs above hers. I am desperate to speak to her about our connection, but that conversation must wait until she is completely healed. Right now, relieving her pain and taking care of her is my greatest priority.
When I am finished, I begin to massage her shoulders and neck. “Your scales,” she says as she relaxes against me, “are as smooth as silk.”
“You like them?” I ask, even as the scent of her need blossoms in the air around us, already providing me with an answer.
“Mmmhmmm,” she hums softly as she allows her head to fall back and rest on my chest.
Suddenly, her head jerks up, and she spins to face me. Nervously, she reaches up and tucks a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I—I didn’t mean to get too comfortable there. I—” Her gaze drops to my chest, and her eyes widen as she stares at the fate mark swirling across my scales. “You didn’t have that earlier.”
I am thrilled that she has finally noticed. Now that she has brought it up, I can explain everything to her. “You are my linaya—my fated one. You need not apologize. It is no burden to care for you, my beautiful mate.”
Her lovely pink lips part beneath my gaze. I saw Raidyn’s human mate put her mouth on his earlier, and I wonder if my mate will wish to do so with me. The humans call it kissing. Even though my people do not share this custom, as I study her mouth, I find myself eager to try.
But that will