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

onto Kaj’s back. I can’t hear their conversation, but she smiles at him, and I watch as he returns the smile then laughs. A puff of smoke escapes his nostrils, and he shakes his head. She leans forward to rest the length of her body against him.
Bitter acid rises in my throat. What the hell is she doing? She told me just yesterday that she had a crush on Rakan. And yet, she didn’t ask him for a ride. When I glance at him next to Kaj, I see no one on his back.
Mentally, I chastise myself. Why am I jealous? I have no reason to be. It’s not like I’ve staked a claim on Kaj. We’re not together, even though he insists we should be. In fact, Holly’s advances could be a good thing. Maybe he’ll forget about the fated-mates nonsense and move on.
At least… that’s what I’m trying to convince myself of anyway.
As we fly across the desert plains, I observe Kaj and Holly laughing and chatting. I keep telling myself this is good, but my heart keeps insisting otherwise.
I force myself to focus on the ground below, watching the desert plains give way to green fields and hills lush with vegetation. It’s such a strange and striking contrast to the Fire Clan lands, making me long to explore more of this world.
The air grows cooler, and I peer ahead, my mouth drifting open in wonder at a vast blue ocean. We make a wide arc over the sea, and I smile as I watch a school of fish racing beneath the water. Giant waves crash against the cliff wall below an enormous castle. White towers proudly reach toward the blue sky. The silver-capped domes gleam beneath the sun, reminiscent of the Fire Clan castle.
We land in the center of a courtyard overgrown with vivid flowering plants. Ranas touches down so lightly I don’t even know we’ve landed until he wraps his tail around my waist to gently lower me to the ground. I turn to thank him but trail off in awe as the dragons transform back into humanoid form.
Kaj’s eyes are heavy on me for a moment before I turn back to the castle. Something in his expression sends a shiver down my spine, and even now, I can feel his gaze boring into my back.
I force a smile onto my face as Talia and Lilly rush to my side, bursting with excitement.
“It’s so beautiful here.” Talia smiles “Isn’t it?”
“It is,” I agree. “It makes me curious to see what the other Clans’ territories look like.”
Lilly chimes in, “What’s going on with you and Kaj? Are you ignoring him?”
I lower my gaze. “Sort of,” I admit. “It’s just…” I trail off, hesitant to voice my fears.
“Just what?” she presses, nudging my side.
“I’m attracted to him, but that scares me.”
“Why?” Her eyes widen first in surprise, then narrow. “He didn’t do anything to make you uncomfortable, did he? Varus told him to court you, not insist that you are his—like Raidyn apparently did with Skye.”
“No. He hasn’t. It’s not that.” I sigh and glance around to make sure no one is listening. “Don’t you think that it’s all happening too fast? Them, us, and this fated mates business?”
“That’s how the fate mark works, according to Varus.” She smiles reassuringly, gesturing to her mate. “Look at us; I only knew him a few days before I was head over heels and already agreeing to be his.”
“What if Kaj is like…”
I don’t even have to finish my question because she already knows what I mean to say. What if he’s like Edward?
She shakes her head, pity in her eyes. “Varus claims that Kaj would never do what Edward did.”
I sigh heavily because I know all my doubts and fears are running rampant in my mind. If I allow them to, they will consume my life. I don’t want that. I would rather find happiness and learn to trust again. It would be so easy to just surrender to my blooming feelings for Kaj, but I’m worried I might find we aren’t a good match. Would he respect my decision and let me go? Part of me doubts that, especially because of the fated bond.
She meets my eyes evenly. “Do you like him?”
“I don’t know,” I lie. The truth is I do like him, but the idea of becoming his lifelong mate is overwhelming. “You really need to talk to Varus about our room arrangements in his castle.”
Her brow wrinkles. “What do you mean?”
I huff. “He put Kaj in the room right next to mine, and he came bursting through the door a few nights ago.”
Her eyes widen. “He did?”
“Yeah. It startled me, to say the least.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I roll my eyes. “Um… maybe because you and Varus have been all over each other the past few days, so we haven’t had a chance to talk.”
A dark blush spreads across her cheeks. “He says my scent is driving him mad,” she mumbles, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Your scent?”
She shrugs. “Apparently, it’s stronger now that I’m pregnant.”
In my study of Drakarian medical literature, I’ve read about the importance of scent marking to their culture. The biological compulsion to mark their mates helps alert others that they are mated.
She clears her throat. “Anyway, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about the room situation anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m pretty sure he’s going home after this gathering.” Her smile grows sad. “Back to the Earth Clan lands. Those rooms were only temporary since his Clan sent Healers to help with the aftermath of the invasion. Now that everyone is healed, Healer Ranas will be able to handle things again.”
“Thank goodness,” I tell her, feigning relief. Deep down, an uncomfortable knot forms in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him leaving.
Stars, I’m such a mess. Why does this have to be so hard? Why can’t I be more like Talia? I know that the second the glowing fate mark