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

world, taking his older sister and mine. Varus came to visit me then. I was so lost in my grief I had spoken to no one since Rajila had died. He found me on my balcony and offered me a cup of tea. He placed two more cups on the table where our sisters would have sat, to honor and remember the two seats that would forever remain empty. We sat together, staring out at the forest but saying nothing.
He understood, just as I did, that words were inadequate in the face of such terrible loss. However, the presence of a friend who understood and shared my sadness was comforting. Days turned into weeks and slowly, we began to laugh again, he and I. Remembering times that were gone while making new memories as well.
It has been several months since I saw my friend. He is the only reason I am looking forward to my visit to Fire Clan lands—aside from these humans I heard he has found.
A new species we have never encountered before crashed within his territory. The Fire Clan has taken them all in. Varus reports they are planning construction in their capital city to allow the wingless humans more freedom of travel, so they do not have to rely on our people. He claims they pride themselves on their independence.
Prince Varus has even mated a human, and she is already carrying his fledgling. He claims she is his linaya—his fated one. I am interested to learn more about these humans. They are the only species we’ve encountered that is biologically compatible, despite their many physiological differences, including the lack of any natural defenses.
Varus worries the other Clans will resent his people for harboring all the human females. He knows he need not worry about mine, however. For reasons we do not understand, more Earth Clan females survived the plague than those in other Clans.
Some believe we are favored by the gods for refusing to take part in conflicts between the other Clans. My people have remained neutral for thousands of cycles.
There are also rumors far and wide that our genes give us an advantage in fighting illness. Surviving females from other Clans have approached my Clan about mating with our males as a result. Clans usually do not interbreed, but I suppose the decline in our population has forced us to change our practices.
The females who have expressed interest in bonding with me do so not only for my genes but also for my status as Prince of the Earth Clan. I met one a few weeks ago who spoke of nothing but her desire to become my mate and Princess to our Clan.
I sigh and take another sip of my tea. That meeting left me with heavy hearts. I want a mate who is my equal, who wants me for me instead of what I can offer her. If only the gods would grace me with a linaya, I could put an end to this search.
“Kaj.” The sound of my mother’s voice draws my attention to the doorway.
“Yes, Mother?”
“I wanted to speak with you before you leave tomorrow.”
Now my curiosity is piqued. It’s not as if I would have left without saying goodbye. For her to seek me out now—the night before I’m to depart—means it must be something important.
I motion for her to join me on the balcony. She sits across from me.
Her warm golden eyes stare across at me, and I think on how Father loves to tell the story of how excited she was when I was born. She was thrilled that my eyes were the same shade as hers and my scales were a deep forest green like his. My sister was the same—we were a perfect blending of our parents. “I wanted to discuss the issue of a potential mate bond, my son.”
Sighing heavily, I turn my gaze out to the forest and take another drink of my tea. “Must we talk about this now?”
She places a hand on my forearm. “Yes, Kaj, we must. You are of an age that this should have already been decided. Hymila’s father approached us with an offer.”
My head jerks toward her. “Hymila? No. She only wants me for my title.”
Mother purses her lips. “You do not know that, Kaj.”
“Yes, I do,” I protest. “She said as much last time we talked… when she offered herself to become my mate. I refused and my refusal still stands.”
Father steps onto the balcony and it’s obvious he’s heard us from the disapproving look on his face. “You are the heir. You must choose a mate.”
A thought suddenly occurs to me and I narrow my eyes at them. “We’ve already had this conversation. Why are you bringing this up again the night before I am to leave?”
Mother’s eyes dart to Father’s and they exchange a knowing look.
It is as I suspected: A coordinated attack.
Crossing my arms, I sit back in my chair and then wait for whatever it is they have so carefully planned.
Mother takes my hand. “We spoke with Varus’s parents. His mother and father are thrilled with his human mate, Lilly. They say she is the most enchanting creature they have ever seen.”
“And there are several unmated human females in their group,” Father adds.
I frown in confusion. “Are you saying that you want me to bond with a human?”
Mother nods encouragingly. “Varus and Lilly have the fated bond between them. Proof that the humans are blessings from the gods themselves. She is already carrying their fledgling.”
Ah. So that is what this is about. My mother suspects that if one human female is fertile enough to become pregnant in less than a cycle with her mate, then the others must be as well. It is no secret she and my father long for grandchildren.
I must admit that I have wanted to meet the humans ever since I found out about Varus’s mate, hoping that perhaps one may be fated to me as well. But I have