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

didn’t know a species could be so in tune with their world. If only humans had shared a similar connection with Earth, perhaps we wouldn’t have polluted our planet past the point of saving. I wonder what more there is to learn about Drakaria.
Which reminds me...
“Are you going to show me my surprise today?”
He smiles and reaches his hand toward mine. I take it without question. “Let us go.”
We walk the same path we took yesterday, though the rain has softened the ground and made each step difficult. Patches of mud suck at my shoes slowing our progress. Kaj turns to me. “I can carry you, if you’d like. Or we could even fly.”
I deliberate for a moment. “Let’s fly.”
He steps forward. One hand slides behind my back and the other below my knees, then he lifts me off my feet. I yelp in surprise before he tucks me into his chest. “I did not expect that,” I laugh. “I thought you were going to shift.”
“No. This form allows me to see you while we are in flight, and I would prefer to witness the look on your face when we reach our destination.”
Well, he’s certainly building this surprise up. Now I’m imagining all sorts of wonders. It’s even more exciting than opening presents on my birthday. “Can you give me a hint?” I bat my eyelashes at him teasingly.
He laughs. “No. You cannot persuade me to ruin the surprise, even if you use all of your charms and beauty.”
“Fine,” I pretend to pout. “I’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Yes.” He smirks. “You will.”
Without warning, he jumps and lifts into the sky. His wings billow like great sails as he catches the wind and we ascend even higher. From here, I can see the house at the end of the path. It’s more isolated than I realized, but that only adds to its charm. It’s like our own private, hidden getaway, and I love it.
My face heats as Kaj’s strong arms flex around me. He scans the skies, searching for danger. His strong jaw is set in an almost stern expression. He really is a handsome man.
Even as I think this, I wonder when I stopped considering him an alien. Though he has wings and scales and a tail and more, to me... he’s simply Kaj. A faint smile ghosts across my lips.
“What is it?” He searches my face.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about this world and... you.” I mutter the last word in a voice so low I wonder if he’s even heard me.
“What about me?” he asks, and I realize he has much better hearing than I thought. He grins. “Are you thinking about how handsome I am and what an excellent mate I would be?”
His eyes sparkle with barely contained amusement as he waits for my answer. I would laugh, but the truth is that he is all those things. I twine my arms tightly around his neck and rest my head against his chest. “Yes,” I admit. “All the good things about you.”
He gently nuzzles the top of my head and my heart flutters at just that small touch. I’m falling so hard for this man.
The canopy is so thick it’s difficult to see the ground. A dull roar up ahead draws my attention, and when I lift my head, I stare in wonder at a beautiful waterfall.
Crystal-clear water cascades from a mountain above before dropping into a large pool at the base. Kaj circles overhead for a moment before gently setting us down.
“Is this my surprise?”
He sets my feet on the ground, looking earnest. “Yes. Does it please you?”
“It’s beautiful.”
He takes my hand then leads me to the water’s edge. “Although the water comes from the mountains, a warm spring lies beneath this pool. It heats the water, but not unbearably so,” he adds. “I thought you might like to take a swim.”
I love that idea. How many times did I swim in the virtual reality room on the ship, wishing the water were real?
I take a step back to disrobe, leaving only my underwear on.
Kaj’s jaw drops and his brows fly up. “I—I thought your people did not like nudity.”
I laugh. “This,” I gesture to myself, “is close enough to a swimsuit. Besides,” I shrug, “as long as the important parts are covered, I’m not nude.”
He puts his hand to his chin, lifting thoughtful eyes to the sky. “Interesting. I will keep this in mind.”
I wade into the water. Just like he said, it’s warm, inviting, and oh-so-relaxing. With a soft sigh of contentment, I tip to float on my back, staring up at the sky. A rippling wave disturbs the pool’s surface, and I glance to the side to find Kaj wading toward me.
When he reaches my side, I take his hand in mine and pull myself to him. He hooks his arms under my back and knees, holding me close while I float. I rest my head against his chest. “This is perfect.”
“Yes. It is one of my favorite places,” he replies. “I come here as often as I can.”
A small fish swims past us, followed quickly by another flash of bright blue and yellow. “What are those called?” I point at them.
“Zatari,” he replies. “They can live in both fresh and saltwater.”
A bright-orange fish zips past as I peer at the bottom of the pool. It’s amazing how clear the water is—I can see every pebble on the ground. “Want to swim with me?” I ask.
His golden eyes meet mine, full of promise. “I would love to.”
We swim across the pool, and I decide to dive under the water, taking in my surroundings in wide-eyed wonder as small fish flit by my head. When I emerge, Kaj is nowhere to be found, but I figure he’s probably just diving like I was only a moment ago.
I wait and wait for him to surface. I scan the water for any sign of him but see nothing. Now I’m starting