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

the pad of my thumb. “There is no shame in grieving the ones whom we have lost. Ever.”
A faint smile crests her lips. “Thank you, Kaj.”
I wish I could take away her pain. I understand now why she is so strong, my linaya. She has lost everything—her entire family—and yet, she is a survivor, forging a new life in a strange world.
I think of the first time I met her; how skillfully she treated her patients even though she’d only recently begun her training. I marvel at her tenacity and intelligence, and I pray to the gods that she will desire me as hers—fully. I can think of no other I would ever want as my mate. Anna is perfect. We understand one another, and it is so easy to share things with her that I’ve kept to myself all these cycles.
The rain picks up, and she turns her gaze to the forest with a small sigh. “It’s so peaceful here, Kaj. I could sit on this balcony for days just enjoying this view.”
I am pleased that she likes my nest. After all, I built this place intending to impress my future mate. “We can stay as long as you wish.”
She turns back to me. “You said you used to play games with Varus. What kind of games?”
I hoped she would ask. It has been a long time since I’ve had a partner to play with. “Narku,” I tell her. “It is a game of chance and strategy.”
“How so?”
“One moment.” I lift my hand to indicate she should wait. “I will return with the game shortly.”
It doesn’t take me long to find the dusty box in the closet. When I return, I lay all the pieces out on the table and arrange them in their proper starting layout.
She studies the board as I explain the rules, biting her lower lip as if in deep concentration. I cannot tell from her expression if she finds my description confusing, so I ask, “What do you think?”
“It reminds me of chess, a human game I love.”
“Chess,” I repeat the word, committing it to memory. “Explain it to me and I shall have a board made so that you may teach me how to play.”
“You want to learn?” Her eyes are sparkling with barely contained joy.
When she regards me so sweetly, I am tempted to learn anything she wishes. “Yes.”
“All right.” She smiles. “Teach me how to play this. We can move on to chess later.”
Happiness blooms in my chest. She is already making plans with me, something she was hesitant to do only a short while earlier. This is good. I hope that means she enjoys our time together as much as I do.
As we play, she describes in great detail the human game of chess. She even draws several images on my tablet to explain what each piece can do. I make several notes so that I may recreate this for her later.
The sun drops low on the horizon, painting the mountainous landscape in vivid shades of yellow, orange, and red. I retrieve another coliza for her from the kitchen, surprised and pleased in equal measure by her healthy appetite.
When it is time to sleep, she takes a bath in the cleansing room while I prepare a bed for myself on the couch downstairs. She has not yet indicated that she wishes to touch or mate me, so I will make certain she does not feel pressured to share a bed with me.
I take my turn in the bathing pool after her, taking extra care to scrub my scales clean. When I look in the mirror, I smile to myself. They are practically glowing. Surely, she will be impressed.
I step out of the cleansing room, discreetly flexing my biceps as I walk into the bedroom, hoping she will notice me. To my disappointment, she is already asleep in bed. Quietly, I move to her side and gently tuck the blanket around her shoulders to make sure she is warm.
I study her as she sleeps. She and her kind are so much smaller than Drakarian females. Asleep like this, she appears so vulnerable, so fragile, that the sight breaks me. I wonder if this is how Varus and Raidyn feel. Are they constantly worried about the safety of their mates?
With blunted claws and flat, white teeth, I wonder how her race managed to survive as a species. They do not even have wings. They have evolved no natural defenses to speak of—the thought alone terrifies me.
I hope the humans never ask us to take them back into space. Her people are beautiful; many alien races would prey upon them. I shudder inwardly as I think of how many humans went missing after the pirates attacked their ship. I hope they were able to find some semblance of safety.
My people have sent out ships to search for other survivors, but thus far, we have found nothing on the planet or in space.
With a final glance at my mate, I move downstairs and take my place on the couch. It is not as comfortable as the bed, but it will do.

Chapter 18
Anna
Edward’s eyes flash with anger as he backs me against the wall. “You can’t just break up with me. We haven’t even gotten to the good parts of the relationship.”
“I—I’m sorry.” I’m so scared at the way he’s acting that I stumble over my words. “It’s just not working out. And I—”
He hits my face with the back of his hand. My head is spinning while he cages me in his arms. I fight against his hold. “No!”
“Anna! Wake up!” a deep voice calls above me.
My eyes snap open to find Kaj kneeling beside the bed, his expression full of concern. The raw pain of my nightmare is still fresh. Tears spill down my face as I struggle to contain it. I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest as great, hiccupping sobs rack my body.
He