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

odd that humans do not have fate bonds naturally, is it not?”
Varus and Raidyn share a knowing glance before Varus steps forward. “There are a few... other things you should know about humans.”
“Like what?”
Raidyn turns to me, a sly smirk on his lips. “If she accepts you, there is a spot on a human female’s body that gives great pleasure if stimulated during mating.”
My mind replays images of Anna’s soft, pink lips and luminous green eyes. “Please, share all you know of human courtship and mating rituals. I wish only to please my mate.”

Chapter 7
Anna
Lilly leads us to the private rooms she shares with her mate, Prince Varus. As we cross the bedroom, I notice the covers on the bed are rumpled. She has told me they make love at least twice a day. It’s no wonder she got pregnant so quickly.
She leads us onto her balcony, and I gasp at the beautiful view. Light glows mesmerizingly from the city below. Amid the dim lighting, the only evidence of the day’s attack is the dark spot not far from the castle where the human apartments stood. I remember how safe and at peace with our new life I felt just this morning. Now... I just don’t know.
So much has changed in such a short amount of time. Who knew that by the end of the day, a Drakarian would declare that I’m supposed to be his?
We sit around a small table and I marvel at the several pots that line the balcony, overflowing with beautiful glowing blue flowers. Their vines climb up the walls of the castle, framing the entrance back into the bedroom. Despite that we’re in a desert, I’m reminded that it’s still beautiful here.
It makes me wonder about the other territories. There is still so much of this world we haven’t seen. I think of how Varus tried describing them to us only a few nights ago and my thoughts turn to Kaj. Varus said the Earth territories are made up of mountains with dense forests and thick jungles.
One of the servants pours us some tea. Tea is apparently the drink of choice for Drakarians. The blend they drink has a bitter aftertaste, but it’s not entirely bad. I’m already getting used to the taste. Besides, Varus swears up and down that his tea has immune-enhancing properties even for humans, and Ranas confirmed this when I asked him.
The Fire Clan people have been kind, helping us get settled and all. But I don’t know about the other Clans. Raidyn may be Skye’s mate now, but I’m worried about her living with the Wind Clan after they attacked the city.
Her expression is dreamy as she tells me all about the time she spent with Raidyn at his family’s secluded estate. On a floating island, no less. Granted, they were hiding out from his father who wanted to imprison her because he thought humans were dangerous, but I’m still impressed.
When she finishes her story, I lean forward. “So... he didn’t really steal you like we thought he did?”
She shakes her head. “No. He saved me from John.”
I’m still having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that John tried to rape her. Raidyn killed him, and I’m glad. He would have raped Skye if Raidyn hadn’t stopped him. It seems that Raidyn wasn’t the villain, after all. It’s comforting to know that rape is considered a crime on this world, yet I wonder about the Wind Clan’s motives for trying to steal us if they did not plan to mate with us.
“What did Raidyn’s people plan to do with us?”
She sighs. “They think that because Raidyn and Varus have found human linayas, perhaps other Wind Clan warriors would find theirs, as well. They thought Varus was sequestering all the women away from the rest of the Clans so that they wouldn’t even have a chance to see us, let alone find out if they might be fated to one of us.”
“They weren’t planning to rape us, then? Force us into bonding with their men?”
“No!” She shakes her head emphatically, as does Lilly. “They would never.”
Despite their vehement denial, I’m not so sure.
“Varus is good friends with Prince Kaj,” Lilly says, changing the subject. “He’s told me a lot about him.”
My mouth drifts open. “He’s a prince?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“I, uh... it didn’t come up.”
“Hey!” Talia’s cheerful voice draws my attention.
She walks over to us as I look her up and down. “You’re feeling better?”
She grins. “Yeah, Prince Kaj took care of me.”
My expression falls. “Does everyone know he’s a prince except for me?”
Her brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”
“Kaj’s chest started glowing with the fate mark for Anna,” Skye explains.
Talia’s jaw drops. “Oh my gosh. Congratulations!” I don’t understand why she’s smiling from ear to ear until she adds, “I wish Llyr’s fate mark would appear for me.”
“You like Llyr?” Lilly asks. “Have you told him?”
She shakes her head.
“Why not?” Skye asks.
She lowers her gaze to her hands. “What good would it do? I mean, what if his fate mark appears for someone else? I don’t want to risk my heart only to lose him later. He swears he can feel in his hearts that we’re meant to be, but without the mark, how can he be so sure?”
Lilly takes her hands. “Varus said the fate mark can take a while to appear, even if a Drakarian already recognizes his linaya.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “But who knows if that’s true when bonding a human? I mean, we’re two different species, Lilly. Besides,” she turns to Skye, “both of your mates had the mark right away, didn’t they?”
They both nod. She turns to me, her eyes bright with tears. “You’re so lucky, Anna. Kaj already displays the mark, so you know for sure you’re supposed to be together.”
I lower my gaze, both pitying and envying my friend. If Llyr’s chest glowed with the fate mark for her, she would be with