Jarek (Scifi Alien Weredragon Romance) (Dragons of Preor Book 1) Read online

“No,” he cupped her face and brushed moisture from her cheek, “you are not weak. The failing is mine because I cannot bear to see your pain—the hurt in your eyes when you are ignored or glared at by others. I cannot bear to hear their words.” His hand dropped away. “And yet, I cannot avenge you.”

  She would not give up on this argument. Yes, she’d rejected the idea of mating, but the more time they spent in each other’s company, the more she craved him. “I don’t need to be aven—”

  “Enough, shaa kouva,” he whispered. “Please.” Pain laced his features and his wings trembled. She realized now wasn’t the time. Later, when he was well, they could continue. For now, their argument could be pushed aside. “Release your anger and lie with me.”

  “Yes,” the word was barely a whisper, but he must have heard her.

  Jarek released Melissa and stepped back, giving her space to crawl onto the wide mattress. Settling on the side furthest from the door, she lay on her back and watched him crawl toward her. His muscles flexed and tensed as he moved, skin sliding over carved muscles. She didn’t divert her gaze, but instead ogled him shamelessly. He was her mate and that was that. So yes, she drank in his appearance, noting the breadth of his shoulders, the strength he possessed, and the span of his wings.

  He came to rest on his stomach at her side, his wing acting like a blanket over her body. She was cocooned in the very essence of what it meant to be a Preor—dragon’s wings meant to take flight. Her vision was filled with the green scales, the shimmering so like an Ujal yet different.

  The thought that rose above all others was that injured or not, he was an impressive sight, an impressive Preor, and would make a worthy mate.

  Too bad he didn’t want her.

  15

  There was knowing about aliens who shifted into massive dragons and then there was watching a dozen massive dragons descend on her house. Conceptually, she understood the idea. Realistically… she wanted to piss her pants.

  Piss.

  Her pants.

  Running and hiding would have factored in there somewhere, too.

  Screaming too. She definitely would do some screaming. And possibly praying. She could scream her prayers. Two birds with one stone.

  Of course, Melissa didn’t do a damn thing. Nope, she merely stood on the cottage’s back porch, clutching her coffee mug as if it held the meaning of life, while trying to decide if she’d lost her legs at some point. Because, well, she hadn’t gotten to running yet.

  The dragons made circles in the air, slowly gliding closer and closer to the sand with each turn. They formed a spiraling pinwheel as they danced in the sky. Their massive wings were stretched, bodies straight and streamlined while they cut through the air. Beautiful. Deadly.

  Scary as a motherfucker.

  The little fact sheet the government issued really should have mentioned Preors were as big as a house.

  Preor males are much like humans with the exception of their dragon wings, which are always visible. Upon shifting, they take on the full form of their dragon nature.

  See, nowhere in there did it say dragon nature is as big as a house!

  She wasn’t going to panic. Really. No panicking. Tell that to her racing heart and lungs that refused to hold air.

  Dammit, she needed to get ahold of herself. She couldn’t exactly be a mate to a Preor War Master if she was going to fall apart every time she met one of his soldiers. But did she have to meet them all in dragon form at once? She didn’t think she asked for much. One dragon, maybe two, and she probably would have been okay. Twelve…

  The first of the dozen fluttered—like a two-hundred-ton butterfly—to the ground, his weight settling on the sand with a low thud. This Preor’s scales blended with the sand, the pale cream hue very close to the coast’s beach, and on his back rode a familiar woman—Nalan. Yes, she should have guessed Evuklar was the dragon. She recalled the off-white wings always visible when he walked on two legs.

  The moment Evuklar brought his wings in and lowered his front legs, the other dragons descended on her stretch of the coast.

  Purple.

  Blue.

  Green.

  Red.

  Black.

  Yellow.

  And on and on it went, the colors lining up in a large, long rainbow of scales and fire-breathing terror. When the last landed and settled on the ground, Nalan finally slipped from her mate’s back. She clutched a large bundle to her chest and then dropped it to the ground before heading toward Melissa. A smile split Nalan’s features and the woman quickly hugged her the moment she was close enough.

  “How are you? How is War Master Jarek?”

  Melissa still didn’t understand why Nalan never used Jarek’s first name alone, but it was easier to go along with the woman’s choice than argue. “I’m good. Things are…” she grimaced. “Good.” Intent on changing the subject, she gestured at the dragons still standing in place. “What are they doing here? For that matter, what are you doing? And…”

  The air shimmered around Evuklar as if he shook sand from his scales. She would have even thought it was sand if she hadn’t seen the rest of the group shimmy as well. Pale sand she could understand. Purple, blue, and green sand… not so much. They looked as if they literally shook the scales and dragon form from their bodies to leave men on two feet in their wake.

  Naked men.

  Sexy naked men.

  She was nearly mated, not dead, so yeah… she could ogle. She even caught Nalan doing a little ogling of her own until Evuklar strode forward and loudly cleared his throat. He now wore pants similar to Jarek’s as well as the crisscross of straps she knew held his weapons hidden behind the folds of his wings. So Nalan had carried clothing for the men. Huh. Too bad they couldn’t shift with their clothes on. That’d be convenient.

  Evuklar moved to Nalan’s side, wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist and blocking their delicious view. Spoilsport.

  “We have come to speak with War Master Jarek.” His voice remained deep and raspy. The Preor called it their dragon’s voice—the part of the beast that had yet to cede control over to their two-legged form.

  Melissa raised her eyebrows. “War Master? When did he become ‘War Master’?”

  Evuklar’s expression turned grim. “When—”

  “Defense Master?” One of the rainbow dragons interrupted them and she nearly glared at the newcomer. Nearly because glaring at a man who turned into a massive dragon and could eat her in one bite didn’t seem like a good idea. Especially since they hadn’t been introduced.

  Evuklar pressed his lips together until they formed a white slash across his face. “Melissa, where’s Jarek?”

  She sensed his distress, his anger at whatever events were unfolding. “Why?”

  “Human, by order of—”

  Okay, stupid or not, she had a name. “My name is Melissa and since I doubt you’re working for any part of the Earth government, you don’t get to order anything.” All righty then. At some point she grew a set of balls. Big brass ones, apparently. She returned her attention to the couple she’d come to know. Evuklar grinned at her while Nalan looked like she’d pass out at any moment. “Why are you guys looking for Jarek? Did something happen? Is he in danger?”

  She couldn’t imagine any other reason to bring so many warriors to her door. They all surrounded her now, a multi-colored wall of wings that nearly blotted out the sun. She also noted that more than one male clutched his blades, their knuckles white and stark against the deeply tanned hue of their skin.

  “Melissa…” Evuklar and Nalan stared at each other a moment, a silent communication passing between them before Evuklar seemed to finally come to a decision. “The elders have decided—”

  “Evuklar?” Jarek’s deep voice cracked through the air. “Where is Melissa?”

  Before he’d even finished saying her name, the rainbow of dragons spun to face Jarek. She peeked through the wall of wings, ducking and shifting until she could see her mate.
His skin remained gray, fatigue lining his face, and she knew pain dogged his heels. Evuklar and the men could deal with whatever reason brought them to her door on their own. Jarek wasn’t healed enough to handle—

  The purple male stepped forward, giving her a little breathing room. “By order of High Councilor Brayec, I hereby sever your mating and place Jarek sen Claron under—”

  “Jarek joi Melissa,” she snarled and darted around the speaker. She didn’t stop until a good bit of space separated her from the group. “And no one can sever anything. The Knowing manifested—”

  “—arrest pending investigation and punishment.” Purple Guy took a step toward her and she backpedaled. No way she wanted to be within his reach. His dark eyes held a malice that frightened her down to her toes, and she ached to be out of his presence. Something evil and dark twisted around him, unseen, but that didn’t make it any less present.

  “There is nothing to investigate or any punishment to assign.” Melissa ignored the way the others fanned out around the purple male.

  “Welvix, this is not proceeding as we agreed.” Evuklar’s words were a harsh whip on the wind.

  Okay, pansy purple guy was named Welvix.

  The porch creaked and the back door slammed shut. Great. That meant Jarek had come outside and the last thing she wanted was for him to be within reaching distance. She didn’t know what the hell was going on, but she did understand these guys wanted to take Jarek away.

  Not. Happening. She hadn’t dealt with all the Knowing crap and the heartache of his rejection only to have him arrested.

  “The concern was injury to the human in taking the criminal. The human is not within the dwelling. She will not be injured,” Welvix snarled.

  At least someone had been concerned about harming her. Probably Evuklar since none of the others seemed to give a damn about her. They all glared at Jarek.

  “Evuklar, you will speak.” Jarek snapped out the order.

  “The High Council has deemed your mating illegal and demanded your arrest. I am here to ensure no further harm comes to you.”

  Staring into Welvix’s eyes and then meeting the stares of the other males, she knew had Evuklar not insisted her mate would definitely have arrived in much worse shape than he started.

  Melissa backed farther from the males and closer to Jarek. She closed the distance between them, never allowing her gaze to waver. The males fanned out, covering even more ground and creating a net with their bodies and spread wings. The deck didn’t creak or moan, telling her Jarek remained in place. She didn’t stop her approach and continued up the stairs backward.

  She didn’t stop until Jarek’s heat bathed her back, but when he would have pushed her behind him, she leaned into his side. They could stand next to each other, but she wouldn’t be banished behind his wings.

  Her mate stayed quiet until her travels were done. “What law have I violated?”

  “The claiming of Melissa Walker—”

  “Melissa joi Jarek Walker.” The Knowing provided her with the Preor naming conventions the other day, but this was the first time she voiced the words.

  “—was not sanctioned by the High Council and violated the Preor-Earth treaty. You are deemed unworthy and as such—”

  “Excuse me?” She took a step forward, anger suffusing her blood. Melissa had never met a man more worthy of love and mating than Jarek. “Who the hell are they to—”

  “They are the High Council, rulers and protectors of Preor. Their word is law.” Welvix didn’t allow her to finish and she was getting tired of being interrupted. She didn’t mind interrupting. It was having it done to her she had issues with. “Jarek—”

  “War Master Jarek joi Melissa.” She would pound the title and name into the male if she had to.

  “—you are hereby under arrest. You will now be returned to the battleship to await court.”

  The fuck they were. Melissa’s mind spun as she asked questions and was immediately supplied with the answers. They bolted through her consciousness as she sought something—anything—that could help them now. There was no way she’d allow Jarek to be taken. Not when he still had so much healing to do. Between his health and the animosity on the faces of the men spread before her, she knew Jarek would go with them and never return to her.

  Unacceptable.

  When Jarek stepped away from her and moved as if to descend the steps, the answer struck her in the face.

  “Stop!” she slid in front of Jarek once more, blocking his path. “By treaty, Preors on Earth soil are required to adhere to customs and laws of Earth. You’re all trespassing and do not have permission to be on my land. I want everyone gone or so help me I will shoot you where you stand.”

  She wasn’t sure what she was gonna shoot them with since she didn’t have a gun, but dammit, she’d figure it out.

  Welvix didn’t just have purple wings, his face actually turned purple then. “You cannot deny—”

  “Furthermore, the only non-human beings allowed on my land are the Ujal, and Evuklar and Nalan. The rest of you can run along.” She made a shooing motion. “You don’t have the right to be here.”

  She turned her back on them then and met Jarek’s stare. Emotions flitted across his face—pride mixed with fury.

  “Please go inside,” she whispered the words and pleaded with her eyes.

  Jarek grunted and then looked over her while one of his arms wrapped around her waist. “You have heard War Master Melisa joi Jarek Walker’s words. She is of Earth and you are bound by Earth laws.” His attention drifted from left to right before centering on Welvix once more. “Leave.”

  “You can’t—”

  “Now!” Jarek’s bellow shook the ground, the house creaking with the sudden shake and… Okay, it turned her on. Her mate’s focus was on her once more. “Come, shaa kouva. We will grant Evuklar and Nalan entrance. I’m sure there is much to discuss.”

  Melissa turned in Jarek’s hold and met Welvix’s malevolent glare. Yes, there was a lot to discuss. Such as what kind of justification she’d need to shoot the asshole.

  16

  Evuklar and Nalan did not tell him anything he did not know himself. Jarek received his assignment to lead the first fleet of Preor warriors who hoped to find mates because he’d agreed not to search out one of his own. No one had voiced that truth before their departure, but the undercurrent remained regardless.

  Many objected to his presence in the warrior ranks, even more protested when he was named War Master, and he did not receive the assignment until it was confirmed he did not seek his kouva.

  Yet he’d found her anyway.

  Now the high council sought to negate his claiming of Melissa. They’d deemed him unworthy, a disgrace to the Preor and denounced him as one of their own.

  Watching her now, observing her in the kitchen as she laughed with small Reesa and joked with Principessa Rina, he realized he did not care if the high council was correct or not. He would not give her up. The mere thought caused him physical pain and he decided he was through being noble. The stars took mercy on Jarek and gave him Melissa. He would not throw the gift away. He would claim her, keep her, and dedicate himself to making her happy.

  Even if he was unable to fly. The principessa was unable to grow a tail and swim with Tave like a proper Ujal. If such a powerful male could accept his one with a handicap, perhaps Melissa could accept him. Nalan’s tinkling giggles joined the other females and he found himself smiling at the picture the women created. Their species varied but their friendship remained solid.

  “Jarek?” Evuklar’s murmur brought him back to the conversation.

  “Apologies.”

  His best friend tilted his head in acceptance of the apology. “I cannot blame you for enjoying such beauty.”

  Jarek’s gaze strayed once more. “Beauty I would like to keep.”

  “Then we must find a way to thwart your government.” Tave’s voice was grim and his expression serious. “I admit I hate politics
and the maneuvering of self-important males, but I also admit I am not opposed to throwing my weight around when it is convenient.”

  The ruler’s gaze steadily rested on him. “Melissa is beloved to my mate and many of the males—and their mates—in my closest circle. She is aunt to Erun’s adopted youngling. They would be… displeased to discover your intentions are not what they seem. Do you love her? Will you do all you can to secure her?”

  Jarek sighed and knew the truth would harm his chances, yet he could not lie to Tave. “I do not know her to love her. The Knowing reveals the past to us, but cannot influence our feelings.”

  “I was under the impression that mate recognition and caring was immediate.”

  “Recognition, yes. Emotions, no. It draws me to her, it makes it painful to be away from her, but it does not take hold of my heart.” He paused and gave Tave a steady stare. “I care for her more now than I did moments ago and I will care even more minutes from now. Love cannot be instantaneous. Love is like a seedling. Watered and tended, it will blossom into a colorful flower. Left untended, it will wither and die. The Knowing planted the seed. It is up to me to love her and if the stars permit, someday be loved by her.”

  “I… see.” Tave nodded. “And I believe that is enough.”

  “Enough for what?”

  “Enough to speak with my heart brother and ensure Melissa’s happiness.” Tave looked past Jarek. “Is that what you wish, Melissa?”

  Jarek turned in his seat and spied his mate lingering in the doorway. Her face was pale, near white, and her mouth hung open while her lips formed a small O. He prayed she wanted him and much as he wanted her. “Melissa?”

  She didn’t respond to Tave and instead, stepped toward him. “Do you mean it? Is that what you want?”

  He forgot the others in the room and centered his focus on his mate. He rose to his feet and went to her, wings fluttering and trembling as pain burst anew. But he had eyes for no other. He did not stop until he stood before her, capturing her hands with his and giving them a gentle squeeze. “I want you more than breath, more than the skies, more than anything you could imagine.”