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

first learned of the humans, he has talked of nothing else. I know he comes as much to aid as he does to see the human females. Ever since word spread that Varus found his linaya among them, Rowan and almost all the other unmated males are hopeful they might find their fated ones among the humans, as well.
“Fine, but I do not know what we will find when we get there.”
“What do you mean?”
“The humans are fragile creatures. I only hope we will reach them in time to be of use.”
Rowan’s face is a mask of grim determination as his pace quickens. “Let us hurry, then.”
As soon as we reach the city, my jaw drops. I take in all the destruction and ruin below. Several buildings have been razed to the ground. Piles of broken stone and rubble litter the streets.
I look to Rowan, whose eyes are wide as he, too, surveys the chaos beneath us. We make a long arc around the castle and land in a courtyard just outside the medical center.
I shift instantly and rush inside, bracing myself for what we might find. Rows of beds line the infirmary, many of them bearing what must be humans. Several cry out in pain, but it is the ones who lie still that concern me the most.
Any Healer knows that those patients who can voice their discomfort are more likely to live, whereas those who have already gone quiet suffer from far worse injuries.
I spin to face my kin. “Quickly. Help any and all you can. I’m sure Healer Ranas is exhausted.”
I scan the room and my suspicions are confirmed as soon as my gaze comes to rest upon my cousin. His eyes are glossed over with fatigue. I notice the healing fire he breathes on one of the injured humans is not as bright as it should be. I understand why he asked for help; healing so many has depleted his energy. Already, I can see his strength beginning to wane.
I start toward him, but a small hand on my forearm stops me in my tracks. I turn and look down to find a human female with long, brown hair. Her dark-green eyes stare up at me, reminding me of the lush forests that surround my home.
“Can you please help me sit up?” she asks in a small voice.
Dumbfounded, I nod. I brace one hand behind her upper back and she takes my other hand as I slowly pull her upright. I’m both shocked and disturbed by how small and slight she is compared to a Drakarian female. How does Varus keep from injuring his linaya while mating?
My eyes are drawn to her short, blunt nails. The texture of her golden skin is petal-soft, and her features are delicate. When she opens her mouth to speak again, I notice she has flat, white teeth instead of fangs. I heard her people did not have scales and lacked natural defenses, but my concerns have now doubled knowing their skin offers little protection against injury or the elements.
She grits her teeth in obvious pain as she bands one arm over her torso as if to brace herself.
“You should lie back down,” I tell her. “You are injured.”
Her gaze sweeps the room. “So is everyone else. I need help standing up, and then I should be fine.”
I blink. Perhaps she is in shock. Why else would she be trying to stand while she is wounded?
“Wait,” I whisper, hoping to calm her. “Allow me to heal you.”
She shakes her head. “Ranas already did what he could.”
Her casual use of only his name without a title suggests she knows him well. I’m about to ask for her name when she beats me to it.
“I’m Anna. I’m a doctor—Healer, I mean,” she corrects herself. “I know Ranas is exhausted, so I want to do what I can to help.”
“I am Kaj. I’m a Healer, as well. Ranas is my cousin,” I explain. “I understand you wish to be useful, but you are injured and need to rest.”
She lifts her determined gaze, extending one hand. “Please, help me stand. That’s all I need.”
My instincts want to argue that she should lie down, but the fire in her eyes tells me she will not listen even if I do.
“Allow me to assess your injuries, at least.”
Reluctantly, she nods, disappointment evident in her features as she drops her hand. When she lifts her fabric coverings and bares her torso to me, I bite back a gasp. Dark, mottled discoloration covers almost her entire left side. If this is what her body looks like after Ranas has already treated it, I cannot imagine how badly she was originally injured. How did she survive such a devastating injury?
I meet her eyes, calm but insistent. “May I?”
“Sure. Anything to take away this pain.”
I breathe my healing fire across her torso, watching in satisfaction as the bruising fades beneath the blue-green flame.
A soft sigh of contentment escapes her lips, and my hearts fill with happiness that I have brought her at least some measure of relief.
Despite her obvious pain, she gives me a smile that rivals the brightness of the sun. “Thank you. I feel so much better. Ranas couldn’t do much for me since he had to conserve his energy, but he did heal the wound on my head. Thank you so much for taking care of the rest.”
Panic constricts my chest when she mentions a head wound. The small bones of her form appear so delicate, I am concerned. “May I finish assessing your condition?”
She nods.
Parting the fine, long, silken brown hair on her head, I study her wound. It is healing, but not completely closed. It is as Ranas said; humans take longer than our kind to mend.
Ignoring her lingering pain, she grits her teeth and stands. For all I’ve heard of the weakness of humans, I would never suspect them as weak from the way this female acts. Her strength of will could rival