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

have to wait. Although Anna is probably as eager as I am to seal our bond, I will insist that she recover first. “I will ask Varus to prepare us a room so that you may rest. I will care for you while you are healing. And I believe it would be wise to delay our first mating until after you are fully recovered.”
She blinks. “First… mating?”
Her expression makes me wonder if she does not understand what I mean. She is a healer, so surely, she understands the concept of joining one’s body to a mate. However, perhaps her species is sheltered and does not discuss such things. A few races on the Galactic Federation Council are this way.
I do not wish to embarrass her, so I take her hand gently as I stare deeply into her lovely green eyes. “Yes. A first mating is when a bonded pair decides to join their bodies as one. It is a beautiful experience, from what I have heard, and—”
She scoffs and pushes me away. “I know what mating is,” she growls. “But why do you just assume you’re going to mate with me?”
I glance at the glow on my chest, then lift my gaze back to her, arching a brow. “Because you are my fated one. My linaya.” I point to the mark for emphasis. “This tells me that you are mine and that we will mate only each other. If the gods bless us, we will make many fledglings together.”
Her jaw drops as a strange, deep-crimson coloring flares across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. From my studies, I understand that many creatures change colors to indicate they are excited, aroused, or nervous. I do not know what she feels, though I myself am experiencing a strange combination of all three at the moment.
Never did I believe I could be so blessed as to find my linaya. For the gods to have chosen one as intelligent and beautiful as Anna is more than I could have ever hoped for. It is my deepest wish that she finds me attractive as well. I will do anything to please my mate.
“But I—I don’t even know you.” She stumbles over her words. “How can you want to mate someone you don’t know?”
I freeze for a moment, then frown. Perhaps the injury she sustained to the back of her head has affected her memory. “I do know you. Do you not remember? We met a few hours ago,” I explain slowly. “I am Kaj of the Earth Clan, and you told me that you are Anna. You are a human from Earth, and I am Drakarian. We are in the Fire Clan territory and have just fought off an attack. You told me that you had suffered a head injury, so I wish to assess it because I fear it may be affecting your memory.”
I move toward her to part her hair again and check on the wound at the back of her skull.
She jerks away. “I’m not having memory issues,” she hisses indignantly.
I cock my head to the side. “But you said that you did not know me, when clearly, we have met before.”
She huffs and rolls her eyes in that curious gesture again—which Varus explained as one of frustration or annoyance. “What I mean is, I only just met you today. I’m not going to mate with you, Kaj.”
“Of course not,” I reply incredulously. Does she think I am a selfish male who thinks only of his own needs? Yes, my stav is hard and pressing insistently against the inside of my mating pouch with want to mount my beautiful mate and claim her as mine. But I hold it back because she is not completely healed of her injuries. “I would never pressure you into a first mating. We will wait until you are fully recovered.”
Her jaw drops again, and she stares up at me with a look that borders on disbelief. She shoots to her feet, and I do the same, ready to assist her to a bed so that she may lie down and rest.
I move closer, but she puts a hand on my chest and tips up her chin. “I’m not yours. I belong to nobody but myself. Got it?”

Chapter 5
Anna
His brows draw together. “I do not understand. Are you saying you do not wish to be my mate?”
“I don’t know you.”
His eyes flash with worry. “Please. Allow me to assess the wound on your head. I am concerned that—”
He reaches for me, but I bat his hand away. “There’s nothing wrong with my head or my memory,” I snap. “We only just met. I’m not going to marry you after half a day.”
Understanding dawns on his face. “Ah, I believe I understand.”
I sigh in relief. “You do. Oh, thank the Stars. I thought—”
“You wish to spend more time together before we mate. You want to appraise me. Make certain that I will be a good mate to you.” He nods firmly. “Do not worry, Anna. We may make use of the mating chase, in our own way. Perhaps, I shall chase you on foot to prove my worthiness to you when you are ready.”
I open my mouth to protest that that wasn’t what I meant, but I quickly snap my jaw shut when he steps back and tilts up his chin, puffing out his chest.
I’ve heard rumors of the mating chase. Lilly told me that a Drakarian man chases his mate, demanding she give herself to him. If he catches her, she has a choice. If she refuses him, they part ways. If she accepts, they claim one another right then and there.
He then leans forward slightly, flexing one very impressive bicep toward me. “I am strong. I will protect you and our future fledglings with my life.” He inches closer and bows to my height. “You may now ask me anything you’d like to assess my worth. The mating chase can