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

to the forest as silence settles in the space between us. After a moment, I turn back to him. “I think Jarod would have liked it here. He was one of the oldest crewmembers. He always told me stories of his childhood and Earth-that-was before pollution overtook the planet.”
Kaj nods. “We have recycling technologies here that should preserve our planet’s ecosystem for many generations beyond ours.”
“I’m glad. I was born on Earth after our people realized the land had been poisoned beyond saving. I don’t remember anything but a dying planet. This place is like a paradise, Kaj.”
Surveying the green and deep-purple trees, I am already in love with this world. I vow to do anything I can to protect it. And I can hardly wait to explore.
“I have always thought so, as well,” he replies. “But then again, I suppose each of the Clans thinks their territory the finest.”
I shake my head. “I have not seen the Wind Clan lands yet, but I can’t imagine they’d be more beautiful than this. This,” I gesture to the forests and the mountains outside, “is everything I imagined for the new world we might find.”
His expression seems to say, This could be your home if you’d accept, but he stays quiet.
I turn my eyes back toward the forest. “Where will you take me today?”
“I’ve heard that your people like surprises. So, I will not tell you.”
“What?” My head snaps toward him and I frown. “Where did you hear this?”
“From Varus. He plans to surprise Lilliana on her birthing day with many gifts.”
“Of course, he does.” I laugh. “That man is a hopeless romantic.”
“That he is,” Kaj agrees. “Shall we be on our way?”
“Yes.”
“First, you must dress warmly.”
“Why?”
He lifts his gaze to the sky. “The wind. It has changed and will bring cooler air this day... possibly even rain.”
I’m a bit impressed that he can predict the weather. “All I have is my dress,” I tell him.
“I have robes here that you may use,” he offers.
Eager to get going, I quickly dress in the robes he gave me. When I come back downstairs, he’s waiting with another robe to layer on top. He carefully wraps it around me then cinches the waist to keep the fabric close to my body. I love the careful tenderness he lavishes on me—it makes me feel all warm inside.
“Ready?” He gives me a mischievous grin.
“Yes.”
We follow a winding path from the cabin. I marvel at the vegetation growing along the way. I’ve never seen a forest so thick. Wide, gray trunks twist toward the sky, competing with their neighbors for a small patch of sunlight. They’re covered in large heart-shaped leaves in deep green and small purple flowers. Bushes also line our way, overflowing with vibrant blue, yellow, and purple flowers like enormous roses.
He pulls one from the stem and offers it to me. I bring the soft petals to my nose, closing my eyes as I inhale the sweet fragrance. “This smells wonderful. It reminds me of roses on Earth.”
“Yes, Varus has mentioned Lilliana likes them, as well.” He pauses. “She told him that a gift of flowers is considered a romantic gesture. Part of the courtship ritual among humans.” He picks a few more colorful flowers and hands them to me. “Is three an acceptable number or should I pick more?”
I laugh at his earnest expression. “Three is fine.”
We walk a bit further and I ask again, “Where are we going?”
He arches a teasing brow. “I already told you, it is a surprise.”
“Can you give me a hint?”
A crack of thunder booms overhead, startling me. I jump toward Kaj, and he wraps a protective arm around my waist, tugging me closer as he curls his wing around my form. His golden eyes meet mine as he strokes a soothing hand down my back. “You are safe.”
I feel foolish for my sudden fear and feel the need to explain. After all, Drakarian females are fierce and brave, so I don’t want him to think me weak. I don’t know why, but his opinion is important to me. “It’s been so long since we left Earth, I’d forgotten how loud storms can be.”
“You are safe.” He assures me again, tugging me even closer to his side. “But we should go back.”
In his eyes, I see no judgment for my irrational fear. My insides heat. I feel I truly am safe with him. Safe to be unapologetically me. I think about his teasing promise and lament that our adventure will be cut short.
“But what about my surprise?”
His lips curl up in a faint smile. “It will have to wait until tomorrow.”
We barely make it back to the cabin before the sky opens. I turn in the doorway and stare at the hard rain pelting the earth. The fresh scent of ozone and earth fills my nostrils as a dull roar echoes from the roof throughout the entire house. I listen in wonder. Cautiously, I reach out my hand, smiling when heavy droplets wet my skin.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen real rain,” I whisper to myself, lost in reverie.
The light touch of Kaj’s hand on my shoulder draws my attention, and I turn back to face him. “Would you like to sit on the balcony and watch the storm? I could make us some tea.”
“That sounds lovely.”
It doesn’t take him long to warm two cups. We sit on the covered balcony and I enjoy the smell of the fresh rain. “When I was a kid, I used to love sitting outside on the porch with my dad, watching storms.” I smile at the memory. “In the virtual reality rooms, the experience wasn’t quite the same.” Another crack of thunder sounds overhead, and I tense. I’d forgotten how intense a real storm can be.
The rain has brought a chill to the air, just as he suspected, and I shiver. He wraps his arm around me and I nestle into his side, sipping at my mug. My lips quirk