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

the forest. It is sealed, so it is waterproof and will not stain if that is your concern,” I offer, picturing making her meals as she watches me lovingly, asking for samples of my cooking.
She smiles. “No, I just think it looks beautiful.”
Pride fills me. She appreciates my fine craftsmanship. “I am pleased you like it.”
Her gaze sweeps to the appliances. “I don’t know how to use these. Could you show me later?”
I’m aghast at the suggestion. Does she believe I will not prepare her food? It is a Drakarian male’s duty to provide the meals for his mate and family. “You do not need to worry about them,” I tell her. “I will provide for you.”
“Thank you, but I... I actually enjoy cooking. I’d like to try my hand at it here.”
This is surprising. “Do your males not prepare and serve food to their mates?”
She laughs. “Uh... usually, it’s the other way around.”
I arch a brow.
“Wait. Are you saying that Drakarian men are supposed to cook all the meals for the family?” she asks incredulously.
“Yes, it is a male’s duty to tend to his mate in all ways. He is also the primary caretaker of the fledglings.”
She gapes at me.
I puff my chest out with pride. “That is why a male must prove himself in all ways to his mate. He must be strong enough to protect and provide for her and any fledglings they may have.”
She surveys the kitchen. “I’d still like to learn how to cook for myself. All right?”
If this is what she desires, who am I to argue? “Of course. We shall prepare the mid-day meal together.”
She smiles up at me. “I’d like that. Besides, we can get to know each other better that way.” When my brows rise, she continues. “Couples that can cook together tend to get along better. At least, that’s what my grandma used to tell me.”
I nod. This is good. She is already considering me as a potential mate. If this is how humans judge their mates, I will cook every meal with her so that she can assess our compatibility. I resolve to prove myself to her this afternoon.

Chapter 16
Anna
This place is incredible. I can’t believe he built a cabin with his bare hands. I follow him onto the second-floor deck and find that the view of the mountain forests is breathtaking. Dense forests full of green and purple trees and vegetation as far as the eye can see. I’ve never seen anything this incredible, even in the images I’ve seen of old Earth. “This is beautiful,” I murmur. “How often do you come out here?”
“Not as much as I would like,” he says. “Would you like a cup of tea before we begin our day?”
“Sure.”
He brings me a round mug with no handle. I notice that none of the glasses or cups on this planet seem to have them. However, the material they’re made of doesn’t conduct heat, so it’s never hot to the touch.
Varus likes to drink tea in the mornings as well. I’ve had a cup with him and Lilly out in the gardens a handful of times since we moved to Valoria. It’s sweet with a slightly bitter undertone, but I’ve learned to enjoy it. The ritual reminds me of when I used to start my mornings with a warm cup of coffee.
I lift the mug to my face for a drink but stop when I don’t recognize the scent. I place it on the small table and address Kaj. “What kind of tea is this?”
“A special blend that I created last season,” he explains. “I believe it is the best one I’ve made so far.”
I blink. “You make tea?”
“Yes. Every season I harvest the valo leaves then add different variations of dried fruits and flowers to create new and unique blends.”
I smile. Now that I’ve seen all the work he put into building this house, it sounds like something he would do. As I study him, it occurs to me that he’s exactly my type: thoughtful, introspective, intelligent. It doesn’t hurt that he’s irresistibly handsome, too. And those golden eyes—I could lose myself in their depths so easily.
“How did you get into blending teas?” I ask before taking a sip. Warm liquid coats my tongue in a burst of sweet citrus. “This is wonderful. So much better than that stuff Varus likes.”
He laughs. “Yes, I’ve told him as much, but the bitter kind is his preference.” He turns his gaze toward the forest, sadness flickering across his expression before he speaks. “I blame Varus for my tea obsession—as my sister used to call it.” A wistful smile crests his lips. “He and his sister would visit us often. The four of us would sit on the larger balcony of the castle and drink tea together while we talked and played games.”
His eyes are bright with tears, and I watch him blink them back. I reach across and gently place my hand over his. “You must miss her very much.”
“I miss them both.” His voice is thick with emotion. He lifts his cup with a pained smile. “But this reminds me of the happy days we spent together.”
I understand his pain. I lost my entire family to sickness on the ships. Jarod was all I had left and now... even he’s gone. Sensing my sadness, Kaj turns his palm up to mine and gently squeezes. “I have upset you. Forgive me.”
Despite my attempt to deny them, tears sting my eyes. “After I lost my family, one of the ship’s doctors took me in. He treated me like his own daughter. We would drink coffee together every morning to start our day.”
“What happened to him?” Kaj asks.
I close my eyes against the pain and swallow the lump in my throat. “He was killed by the pirates who attacked our ship. They shot him while we were running to the escape pods.”
“My hearts grieve with yours,” he whispers.
“Thank you.”
I cast my gaze out