Dragon Got Run

Over by a Reindeer

Dragon Guard Series #28

by

Julia Mills

There Are No Coincidences.

The Universe Does Not Make Mistakes.

Fate Will Not Be Denied.

Copyright © 2018 Julia Mills

All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

NOTICE:  This is an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations. It is only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Cover by Linda Boulanger with Tell Tale Book Covers

Edited by Lisa Miller with Angel Editing Services

Edited and Proofed by Tammy Payne with Book Nook Nuts

Beta Read by Linda Levy

Formatted by Charlene Bauer with Wicked Bold Creations

DEDICATION

Dare to Dream! Find the Strength to Act! Never Look Back!

Thank you, God.

To my girls, Liz and Em, I Love You. Every day, every way, always.

To my mom, Christmas was always your favorite time of the year. You made it so much fun, filled it with so much happiness, and taught us all the true meaning of family. Love you so much. Fly high, Momma. Fly high.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

ABOUT JULIA

ALSO BY JULIA

The Dragon Guard

We soar the skies

Free to a certain extent,

As long as we stay hidden

From prying human eyes.

Our scales differ in color

Our defensive weapons,

Tails, horns, talons and all,

Are never the same.

We are one with nature

We blend in with nature

The wind helps us soar high in the heavens

While the earth grants us healing strength in our hour of need.

We are one with the world

We are the guardians of our kin

When evil conspires to maim and hurt

We are protectors of this human race.

As majestic animals of fairytales

We share our beings with great men

They walk in honor and the grace of Fate,

Fate that we cannot deny.

Copyright © 2016 Melanie Williams

- This Poem is based on the Series, The Dragon Guard by Author Julia Mills.

Index of the Original Language of

the Dragon Kin

Dragon Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Mo réinfhianna álainn……….My lovely reindeer

Oileán Iathghlas na hÉireann……….Emerald Isles

An stór mo chroí……….The treasure of my heart

Nollaig Shona……….Merry Christmas

Tá tú mo ghrá eternal………. You are my eternal love

Ta’ mo chroi istigh ionat………. My Heart is Within You

Mo ghrá……….My love

Mo chroí……….My heart

Chapter One

“How is it?”

“Did you really just ask me that?” Nowell ground out, sure his toes were frozen solid, his fingers were gonna fall off, and his dragon had gone into a long, warm hibernation. “The snow is over my knees and the wind colder than a squirrel’s nuts in January.”

At six-foot-ten, the Guardsman had never experienced anything his long legs couldn’t carry him over. Going through the millions of mounds of snow in what everyone he knew called the Frozen North gave him a whole new appreciation for people shorter than himself while simultaneously pissing him right off. Then there was his brother…

Laughing out loud, Chance, Nowell’s obnoxious twin - older by all of eleven minutes - sputtered, “And not the ones he keeps in his tree, ba-da-chaaa.” 

“Ha-ha-ha,” Nowell grumped, wishing he could shut his brother out of his mind once and for all. A hundred and eleven years of togetherness was more than enough. “And thanks for the drum kick at the end there, jerk. It really made the joke…not.”

“Well, I try,” Chance snickered.

“Yeah, well try somewhere else.”

“If you didn’t want to go, then why did you accept the mission?”

Taking a deep breath and trying not to scream at his twin, Nowell scoffed, “Well, let me see…could it have been that I was asked by our Leader, Rian, himself?” He paused, letting his irritation flow freely through the unbreakable bond he shared with his brother. “Or, that the guy I’m looking for is a close personal friend of not only the mad dragon but also the frikkin’ son of a god.”

Nowell sighed, thinking about how very shocked and extremely intimidated he’d been walking into Rian O’Reilly’s office to find one of the oldest of their kind, Maddox MacQueen, aka the mad dragon, and the one and only demi-god of their Clan, Kayne, whose last name was damned near unpronounceable, the son of Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun. Then there was the fact that all of these men had been friends of the emerald gem dragon’s father and grandfather, daunting didn’t begin to cover it.

Taking a seat when it was offered, Nowell could barely breathe, listening intently as three of the most renowned Guardsmen in history asked him for a favor. The words, “Absolutely, sirs,” was out of his mouth before he could think.

“Seriously, Noe, you really need to get over the hero worship BS. Those guys have to have two wings to fly, just like you and me.” Never one to let anything go, Chance droned on, Look around. You’re at the goddess-forsaken North Pole because you’re a damned pushover and everybody knows it.”

“Not really,” Nowell corrected, grinning beneath his ski mask. “I’m actually on Ellesmere Island, about five hundred miles from the North Pole.”

“Wow, bro, you’re such a nerd…”

“Well-studied.” Nowell amended.

“No wonder they asked you to go on a wild dragon hunt...”

“Trusted me with an important mission.” Nowell corrected.

“Those guys knew you would do anything they asked, even freeze your bits off in the freakin’ frozen North...”

“That I was THE one to handle the job.” Nowell grumbled new and inventive ways of kicking his twin’s ass flashing in his mind as Chance snorted, “Yeah, whatever. How’s the weather on Delusional Island?”

“Better than Asshole Inlet, Jerk,” Nowell snarled, his anger getting the best of him as his dragon growled, smoke rising from his nostrils, both males’ rage growing with every breath. Focusing on his beast, one of the original Dragon Kings, Fionnbharr, the Guardsman assured, “You know better than I that he’ll never shut up.” Then added with a snicker, “Hell, he has your twin’s soul. I give you credit for dealing with all this crap for thousands and thousands of years. You’re a better male than I.”

Smiling as his dragon nodded his huge head, a toothy grin forming across his huge snout, Nowell pushed on, ignoring the achy burn of every single muscle in his legs. Cold, tired and really, really over listening to his twin’s cocky criticism, he continued to follow the trail of fading dragon magic through one blasted snow drift after another thankful Chance had given up on bitching and was now relaying the details of the England versus Wales rugby game. Zoning out, looking at the snow glittering in the noonday sun while thinking about how much it reminded him of diamonds on a blanket of white velvet, the Guardsmen stopped dead in his tracks, angry shouts echoing just behind him.

Holding his breath, he listened to the furiously raised voices shouting insults at one another.

“Shut it, Hornhead! I know where I’m going!” The male voice shouted.

“Whatever, you pointy-eared, little freak!” A wonderfully feminine voice shrieked as the scent of evergreen and cinnamon filled the air, creating blissful visions of a roaring fire, snuggling in one another’s arms and long, passionate kisses in the Guardsman’s mind. It didn’t matter what she was saying or how loud she was saying it, only that the female continued to speak until Nowell could find her. 

Unable to discern their origin, the voices bouncing off the high, rocky cliffs that stretched towards the sky on either side of the roaring waters of the fjord below, Nowell looked right then left then finally over the edge of the outcropping he’d been crossing. Momentarily blinded by the glare of the sun bouncing off the huge sheets of sea ice attached to the rivers banks, the emerald dragon took a hasty step backward…and that’s when all his careful planning went straight to hell in a handbasket.

Just as the thick rubber sole of the insulated boot on his right foot hit a large patch of ice, Nowell tried to stay upright but overcorrected in a most grandiose way. Putting all his weight on his left foot, which unbeknownst to him had become lodged under a fallen log buried deep in the crappy white stuff he was quickly becoming to hate, the dragon tried to go back the other way, essentially zigging when he should have zagged. With the foregone conclusion of a very wet and cold butt looming before him, Nowell went flying, landing ass over tea kettle with a hard thud! Right in the middle of a frozen snow bank.

Blinking back the millions of tiny black dots dancing before his eyes, he did the only thing he could think of, an incredibly awkward and extremely cold imitation of a crab scrambling away from what sounded like a stampede of a thousand cattle barreling towards him. Bumping into a tree trunk, he used the low hanging branch that had left its mark on the back of his head to get to his feet at the precise second the sound of tin bells joined the thundering hooves.

Blinking again, his vision finally clearing, Nowell thrust his hands out in front of him, screaming, “Stop! Halt! Slow the hell down!”

“What’s happening?” Chance yelled directly into his mind. “Nowell, damn you, answer me, NOW!”

Unable to respond to his still screaming brother, Nowell swerved one way and then the other, hurdling backward over the mounds of snow and ice as the reindeer-powered sleigh gained speed, careening straight for him, with no signs of slowing down or changing course.

“Get the hell outta the way!” The reindeer shrieked, her paws doing a weird kind of slipping, sliding tap dance on the frozen terrain.

“Stop, you stupid bag of ass fur!” Screeched the male, who Nowell could now see was an elf, holding tight to the reins of the sleigh while bouncing up and down on the black leather seat like he was a lotto ball on Saturday night. “You’re gonna get us killed!”

“Zip it, Candy-cane breath,” the deer growled through gritted teeth as Nowell slammed into yet another hard-as-nails mummified tree trunk.

With nowhere to go, trapped between a two-hundred-foot drop into icy waters and a huge sleigh bearing down on him with a reindeer and an elf screaming insults at one another, Nowell finally answered his brother. “I’m about to be killed by an insane reindeer and an elf who cusses like a sailor who just happens to be driving Santa’s sleigh. Enjoy your new mate and give my regards to the boys.” 

  Chapter Two

“Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Is he dead?... Please tell me he’s not dead... What am I gonna do if he’s dead?... Nick, Jr. will put me out to pasture for sure this time… I’m too young to be put out to pasture… Do you know what happens to reindeers who get put out to pasture?...Oh, my God, Grinch, is he dead?... Why aren’t you telling me anything?... GRINCH!! What the…”

“STOP CALLING ME THAT!” The elf, whose given name was Elroy, but who everyone called Grinch, roared, interrupting her frantic rant as he went on, “He’s not dead, just stunned, because you,” he glared at his partner in crime. “Drive like Mario Andretti after a case and a half of Miller Lites and a wacky weed cigarette.”

“Me?!” Scarlett spat. “I wasn’t driving. You were the one with the reins. I can’t help it if you’re too short to see over the dashboard. I knew I never should’ve let you come with me. You are…”

“I am what, Carrot Fart?” Grinch jumped to his feet, scampering across the snow, poking her in the thigh, because that’s as high as he could reach, as he growled, “You better watch what you say or I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” She interrupted, rolling her eyes and covering her mouth as she feigned a yawn.

“I’ll kick you in the shins, Scarlett Jean.”

Whap!

“OwwwWOWoooOwwwwww!” She shrieked, jumping on one leg as she hopped in circles, holding her left shin, and rubbing the spot Grinch had kicked with his pointy-toed elf shoe.

With the sting lessening, Scarlett fumed, “Do not call me that, Grinch.” She added extra emphasis to her best friend’s nickname, knowing how much he hated it.

Turning to his toes, light enough to walk on the tops of the snow drifts, Elroy sarcastically snorted, “I’m outta here, Scarlett Jean.”

“Good! Just go!” She huffed, not really wanting him to leave, but unwilling to ask him to stay.

She, or Scarlett, who was best known as Lettie, the twenty-seventh alternate out of twenty-seven reindeer in line to help St. Nick drive his sleigh on Christmas Eve, had just happened to be running away from Christmas Village when she just happened to get sidetracked by the scrumptiously refreshing scent of peppermint and pine needles. Not only had she been tingly from head-to-toe, but also unable to stop her reindeer from swerving off course and tracking the alluring aroma.

Still hopping up and down while yelling at Grinch’s back, threatening him with the most inventive forms of revenge she could think of, the heel of Lettie’s boot landed squarely on a thick patch of ice, causing her to squeal, “Son of Krampus’ big toe!”

Tumbling forward, her arms flailing about like a ragdoll thrown from a window, the reindeer quickly landed face first into a pile of hot, hunky man, the hood of her parka falling over her head and her scarf got tangled around her arms. Flipping this way and that, trying to release herself from the grip of her clothing, Lettie planted the palms of her hands on his extremely broad chest and pushed.

Electricity shot through his goose down jacket, into the thick wool of her mittens, tickling the tips of her fingers, and racing through every cell of her body. Warming her from the inside out as she unconsciously leaned forward, Scarlett’s reindeer whinnied as the sensation of the well-muscled planes of his pecs became evident. Looking down, it was as if she was falling into a dream, one she never wanted to wake up from.

No one in Christmas Village, not even Prancer’s grandson, Gage, the most handsome young reindeer of all, compared to the man Lettie had accidentally plowed into. His hair was dark and wavy, and with the rays of the sun hitting it just right, the color reminded her of the shiny black of a toy soldier’s hat. There was no doubt he wasn’t from Ellesmere Island or even the North Pole, as she took in the sun-kissed bronze of his skin that she somehow knew was natural for him, especially when she added in his breathtakingly rugged good looks.

He had the kind of face that Lettie knew made women everywhere stop in their tracks and stare. It was hard to say exactly which feature was his best because they all looked really, really good from where she sat.

Dear Santa, I want one of these in my stocking…

Unable to look away, she continued to peruse the stranger, ignoring Grinch as he stormed back, fussing and nagging like a fish-wife. Focusing on the strong arch of his brows and his thick, dark lashes any woman would kill for, the deer couldn’t help but sigh. Distinct cheekbones and an angular jaw, fit perfectly with his permanently tanned skin, giving him an almost regal look that made Lettie wonder if he might be a king or at the very least someone very important to his people.

Great! Wonder if they have Christmas cookies in the dungeon…

The strength of his neck was obvious from the corded muscles that she knew also covered his chest but she was fantasizing about other, more personal, parts of his body. Following the line of his slender and rounded nose, her eyes zeroed in on his perfectly-shaped lips. Lettie’s mouth watered as her deer gave a low, approving click of her tongue quickly followed by her, “Ahem!” That to others sounded like the reindeer was clearing her throat but that Lettie knew meant her deer very much approved and was asking, “Can we keep him?” 

Leaning forward, all thought of anything but kissing the handsome stranger to see if his lips were as soft as they looked and if he was as magical as he felt, Scarlett, stopped right before her lips touched his and rolled off the man as Elroy shrieked, “Holy crap-flavored sprinkles on a Christmas cookie, he’s a freakin’ dragon.”

Struggling to her feet, careful not to step on the guy she’d not only run over but was most recently fondling, Lettie took four giant steps backward while gasping, “Aww shit and silver bells!”

Looking at Grinch then looking back to the man then back to her friend once more, the reindeer whispered loudly, “You’re right. How did I miss that?” Her head swung towards the man again as she added, “What the hell are we gonna do? I didn’t even know dragons still existed.”

Shaking his head and sighing as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders, Grinch swatted Lettie in the arm as he groaned, “I sure hope you get a frikkin’ memory for Christmas.” Taking a step closer and looking up at Scarlett, the elf explained, “I told you about my cousin Ella and her mate, Quinn. Remember?” He glared, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. “He’s a dragon, one of the best, a freakin’ fire-breathing Guardsman and according to all the stories her mom is spreading around, there are lots of the scaly heroes all over the world.”

Plopping down on the large rock she’d almost fallen over while moving away from the dragon, Lettie let her head fall forward as she tried to think of what to do. There was no way she could take him back to the village. She couldn’t get anything past her grandparents, Vixen and Victoria.    

Being the granddaughter of the reindeer with the magic to make the sleigh fly, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Sure, she’d inherited the same superty duperty mysticism, but had missed out on impulse control, direction, premonition and coordination, of any kind.

Yes, that’s how you become last in line to fly Santa’s sleigh. I can’t walk and chew gum, let alone fly all over the world in a single night…

Grinning from ear-to-ear as the perfect idea popped into her head, Lettie slapped her hands on her knees, and announced, “We’re takin’ him to the cabin.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” Grinch bellowed, once again throwing his hands in the air and this time shaking his head so furiously that Lettie thought it might fly off his neck. “The last time we were there, like a bagillion years ago, a family of Snowy Owls had claimed it as their own and tried to peck our eyes out.” His head shaking instantly stopped as he warned while pointing his long, skinny finger in Lettie’s direction, “Who knows what in the heck is up there now.”

“Whatever, Drama Elf, it wasn’t that bad and we sure as shootin’ can’t take him back to the Village.” She got to her feet and raised a single eyebrow at Santa’s little helper. “You want to explain to my grandfather how you caused me to run over one of the mighty dragons a week before Christmas?”

“Me? ...Well, I never…You better…I can’t believe…”

Ignoring Grinch’s blustering, Lettie walked over to the dragon, knelt down and slid her hands under his arms. Gradually getting to her feet, she grunted, “Dadgummit, this dragon is hea-vy.”

Holding his head and shoulders against her chest while dragging his heels through the snow, she added with a grumble, “Thanks for the help, Grinch. Way to be a team player.”

“We are not a team, Holly Hoovebreath.” A cocky grin spreading across his face as he added, “It’s called plausible deniability, Fruitcake. Look it up.” Grinch had just stuck out his tongue and had his thumbs in his ears while flapping his fingers back and forth when the man in the reindeer’s arms started to groan and shake his head from side-to-side.

Lettie’s instincts took over. Making an abrupt halt, she dropped the dragon back into the snow, zapped him with a blot of her powerful Christmas magic, putting him back to sleep, and with wide eyes looked at her friend.

It took a few seconds for either one to speak and when they did, it was in unison, “Son of a reindeer’s ass, Naughty List here we come.”

Chapter Three

“Nowell! I swear to the Heavens if you don’t answer me I’m sending Maddox and Kayne to find your stupid ass.” Chance’s grating insults slashed through the weirdest dream Nowell had ever had, waking him with a start.

“What the hell is your problem? Can’t a guy get some sleep?”

“Not two effing days’ worth!” Chance screamed, panic coloring his tone, a split-second before Nowell realized what his twin had just said, bolted upright and bellowed, “Two days? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the forty-eight frikkin’ hours that I couldn’t contact you, couldn’t touch your mind, couldn’t even tell if you were dead or alive. THAT’S what I’m talking about, asshat.”

“No way.”

“Yes way,” Chance chastised. “Where are you? Did you get lost?”

Not wanting to admit he had no idea where he was, Nowell wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked around. Taking in the rotting boards and warped floorboards of the rundown cabin, the dragon cringed as he swallowed the sour taste of magic.

Well, that explains why I slept so long. Wonder who put the whammy on me…

Getting to his feet, holding onto the smoothly carved cherry wood of the headboard of the bed he’d been laying on, Nowell waited until the room stopped spinning before crossing to the window and pulling back the tattered woolen curtain. The glare of the sun on the snow told him it wasn’t quite noon, as the same fascinating scent of evergreen and cinnamon tickled his senses, making him smile. Wondering where the female who belonged to that heavenly aroma could be, visions of the last time he saw her flashed through his mind.

“Well, I’ll be…”

“You’ll be what, Little Bro?”

“Nothing, Chance. Don’t worry about it. I’m in a cabin not far from where I last talked to you. I’ll be…”

“What about the reindeer and the elf and the sleigh you were babbling on about right before I lost contact with you?” Chance interrupted. “Are you losing your mind? Do you have snow madness? Do I need to come and get you?”

It was nice that his twin cared, but really infuriating that Chance pushed his role of ‘big brother’ to the extreme. Ignoring his brother’s questions about the reindeer and the elf, because he had no idea where they were or, if, they were even real. Nowell snapped, “No! I am not losing my mind, or snow mad and I most definitely do NOT need you to come get me.” His fists clenched at his side. “I am getting a cup of coffee, and I will be on my way. So, butt the hell outta my brain, and I will call you back later.”

“Come on, Noe.”

“Go. Away. Chance.” Nowell seethed through gritted teeth when his brother backed out of their connection as far as he possibly could go, having finally gotten the message.

Turning towards the huge, open, arch-shaped fireplace, the Guardsman inhaled the wonderful scent of hot coffee and smiled. Picking up the mug sitting in the center of the rickety, but clean, table on his way to what he referred to as ‘nectar from the Heavens, Nowell filled his cup to the rim, enjoying watching the steam float towards the ceiling.

Taking his first drink, the hot java washing away the last remnants of stale magic from his taste buds, the dragon took a seat and enjoyed his coffee. Not sure what to make of waking up alone, but sure the deer and her surly sidekick couldn’t have gone far, he opened the preternatural senses of his dragon as far as they would go and waited.

Enjoying the serenity of the Tundra, Nowell laughed out loud at the warren of arctic hares playing hide-n-seek among the snow drifts, only the black tips of their ears and nose visible as their fur perfectly matched the white landscape. Glancing farther to the left through his mind’s eye, the dragon saw four huge musk oxen contently munching away on thick bunches of moss they’d unearthed with their massive hooves.

“Those guys have a serious fur coat,” he remarked to himself, looking more closely at the large mammals’ deep brown, matted hair that hung in shaggy clumps, forming a geometrically patterned pelt, the color of dark chocolate, as he added, “Damned if they don’t need it up here.”

The howl of an arctic wolf echoed through the valley, sending not only hares racing for cover but the musk oxen, as well. He could see the pair of snow-white predators standing atop the southern mountain, proud Alphas with their chests pushed out and their snouts lifted high.

“Wonder what they’d think of you,” he asked Fionnbharr as the Dragon King yawned he as stretched within the confines of the Guardsman’s mind. The low grunt and baring of the emerald dragon’s teeth made Nowell chuckle, “I get it. You’d be the one saying, ‘all the better to eat you with, my dear’.” 

Setting his empty mug on the table, trying to decide if he wanted another cup or was actually going to brave the subzero temperatures, Nowell jumped to his feet as a female scream slashed through the tranquility he’d been enjoying.

“GRINCH!” She yelled. “Go high! Go high!”

“That’s what I’m trying to do, you damned fool reindeer!”

Recognizing the voices of the two who’d run him down, the dragon raced across the cabin and threw open the door, ignoring the frigid wind that ripped through his clothing. Focusing on the woman, his heart skipped a beat as both man and dragon announced in unison, “Mate!”  

Awestruck, Nowell couldn’t look away as she tore across the drifts of snow with a grace he’d never before witnessed. The curls of her long auburn hair flew behind her like flames of a roaring fire, showcasing her beautiful face with its high cheeks bones and oh-so-very kissable lips.

His fingers ached to trace the erotic dips and sensual curves that were evident even though she wore a thick parka and ski pants. Nowell inhaled her intoxicating scent, that when mixed with the frozen arctic air became entirely irresistible.

Her big brown eyes, danced with excitement even though she was running from something or someone who’d obviously frightened her, letting both man and dragon know their mate loved thrills and the feel of adrenaline speeding through her veins. However, Nowell’s enjoyment was cut short as his mate’s nasty, foul-mouthed little friend, screeched, “Go, Lettie! Get your ass movin’!”

Diving to the side to keep from being trampled as the dastardly duo ran over the threshold of the cabin, slammed the door shut and with their backs plastered to the wood gasped for air, Nowell demanded, “What in the Sam Hill is going on?”

Two sets of eyes snapped to his as a pair of the craziest creatures he’d ever met, wailed in unison, “There’s a frikkin’ dragon out there and he’s trying to fry our asses!”

Chapter Four

“What do you mean there’s a dragon out there?”

Worried that she’d fried his brain with her magic, something Grinch had been bitching about since the morning of the second day when the dragon was still not awake, Scarlett knelt down and very slowly repeated, “There - is – a – dragon - outside.”

Looking at her like she had three heads, the sexiest man she’d ever seen continued to stare as he leaned forward. Sweat trickled down the deer’s back. Her heart pounded in her chest. What the hell was she going to do if she’d not only run over him but also zapped the sense right out of his head?

Opening her mouth to ask his name, Lettie’s words were drowned out by Grinch’s shrilled, “Look what you’ve done! Just look!” The elf was again throwing his hands in the air and spinning in circles, his voice getting louder and squeakier with every word out of his mouth. “Son of Krampus’ ass. We’re doomed. DOOMED!” He stopped spinning in favor of pacing back and forth as he continued to shriek, “We’re gonna be shackled and thrown into a deep dark hole in a cave somewhere with nothing to eat but roots and moss. Oh, my Christmas bells! Santa save us. What…”

Doing the only thing she could think of and needing to know if she was going to be sentenced to live in a dungeon for just a hundred years or so, Lettie reached out and smacked the dragon right across the face. Her hand had barely made contact with the stubble covering his gorgeous jawline when faster than she could track: the man sprung to his feet, wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted the reindeer into his arms.

Slamming his lips to hers, both Lettie and her deer were helpless but to open completely when the tip of his tongue licked the seam of her lips. Sparks, like a million fireworks going off at the same time, burst to life, racing through her body like molten lava, lighting a fire that she never wanted to be extinguished.

Feelings she couldn’t explain and had never felt before swamped her senses. Climbing the dragon’s body, Lettie’s legs wrapped around his waist. She moaned into their kiss as his hands closed over her backside, the heat from the tips of his fingers burning through the thick down of her ski pants, warming her flesh as they massaged in perfect rhythm with the slide of his tongue along hers.

Her short, manicured nails dug into the taut muscles of his shoulders as she pulled him closer, needing more, wanting all of him. Nothing but the dragon, her dragon, mattered. Lettie now knew what it meant to find her mate, and she never wanted it to end.

Pulling at the waffled cotton of his thermal shirt, the reindeer bunched the fabric in her hand, planning to undress the handsome dragon and have her way with him. A shout, an irksome scoff that broke through the lust in her brain as it demanded, “Oh my freakin’ Christmas angel. Scarlett Jean get your tongue out of that dragon’s mouth.”

Reality, the harsh, cold bitch, whapped the reindeer in the back of the head with what felt like a metaphorical two-by-four. Scrambling back down the dragon’s body, Lettie was immediately dumbstruck when the hard line of his erection slid against the soft curve of her stomach.

Her eyes snapped to his, silver swirled in their light gray depths, mesmerizing her, pulling her in, making her want this dragon more than she ever knew possible. Giving into temptation, her lips were just about to touch his once again when Grinch hissed, “For Santa’s sake, ya’ damned reindeer-in-heat, unhand the dragon before they charge us with sexual harassment, too.”

Catapulting herself off the dragon’s body and landing two steps in front of him, Lettie spun on her toes and glared at the elf. “I was not sexually harassing anyone, you little stocking full of coal. He,” she whipped her thumb over her shoulder, pointing at the dragon whose stare she could feel burning a hole through her parka, “Started it.”

“Wait one freakin’ minute,” the dragon loudly objected, the low rumbling baritone of his voice caressing both woman and reindeer, making Lettie turn. “What the hell is going on here?” Taking an assertive step forward, he pointed his index finger at Grinch, “You stand there and be quiet.”

“Why I never…”

“I said, be quiet.” The dragon took an extra second to glare into the elf’s eyes before turning to Lettie and confirming, “Your name is Scarlett?”

She was thrilled when he left off the Jean part that Grinch had conveniently screamed but was so discombobulated by the dragon’s steely glaze that she stuttered and stammered, “N-no. I mean, y-yes. I’, L-Lett… I m-mean y-yes I’m S-Scarlett.”

Her cheeks were hot, and she just knew they were as red as holly berries by the smile that transformed the dragon’s face from just handsome to Oh-my-Christmas-cookie- and-silver-bells-with-a-ribbon-on-top gorgeous. “I’m Nowell.” His tone was softer and at least a half an octave lower as it had been when he’d said her name.

Stepping forward before she knew she’d moved, Lettie quickly shook her head and stuck out her hand, “Nice to meet you, Nowell.”

Snickering, he looked at her hand then back up to her eyes and winked, “I think we’re a little past a simple handshake, don’t you?”

The heat on her cheeks went from smoldering to a blazing inferno in a single thump! of her beating heart. Nodding, unable to do more than squeak out, “Yeah,” Lettie spun to her left when Grinch stormed, “Can we puh-lease stop with As the Reindeer Turns? Y’all are making me nauseous.”

“Zip it, Grinch,” Lettie and Nowell roared in unison.

“Well, I never,” the elf huffed, stomping towards the door and throwing it open.

With one foot over the threshold and a parting shot of, “Find your own way home, Scarlett Jean,” Grinch jumped back into the cabin, slammed the door shut and screamed, “He found us! The dragon found us!”

Chapter Five

“Stay here,” he ordered, giving a single nod to Scarlett before moving the elf out of the way and opening the door.

Sure enough, stalking through the snow, his sights set on the cabin, was the Guardsman Maddox and Kayne had described, Asher Baines. Seven-foot-tall with raven hair and eyes such a deep amber they looked red in the bright light of the Tundra before noon.

Stepping out onto the porch, pulling the door closed behind him, shutting in both his mate and her feisty companion, Nowell took a deep breath and smiled, speaking directly into the ruby dragon’s mind. “My name is Nowell. I have come to take you home. Maddox and Kay…”

Cut off by a cacophony of snarls and growls, he found the ruby dragon’s mind to be little more than a hurricane of rage and frustration. Turning his mind’s eyes to his dragon, Nowell asked, “What more can I do? He’s drakonbound.”

The younger Guardsman thought back to all he’d learned from his mother, their Clan’s Healer before she’d been killed at the hands of the hunters. Dragons who were struck with the disease in many cases were locked away to live out their years, trapped within their minds, fighting a war that didn’t exist with an enemy from their own delirium.

But there had been one, Xavier MacKutcheon, who Nowell’s mother had cured. Trying to remember exactly what she’d done, Nowell listened as Fionnbharr rubbed the ridges of his tongue against the roof of his mouth producing a kind of humming chirp, Nowell had only heard the dragon use when communicating with his twin, Dafydd who shared his soul with Chance.

Stopping all forward motion about fifty yards from Nowell, Asher tilted his head to the side, the long straggly whiskers of his beard pulling tight where they were frozen in the Guardsman’s tattered jacket. The muscles of his face relaxed as his eyes slowly closed. Nowell could hear Asher’s dragon responding, the beast’s ‘music’ an almost exact echo of the emerald dragon’s.

Stepping off the porch, ignoring the Arctic winds cutting through him like a thousand blades, Nowell cautiously took one step at a time, stopping with every stride to be sure the conversation between the two powerful Dragon Kings was still underway. The creak of the door slashed through his concentration causing him to shout, “STOP!” Directly into her mind.

He could feel her confusion which rapidly turned to irritation and was quickly heading to all-out fury, but he needed to focus on Asher. Had to get close enough to put the ruby dragon in a magical coma, in order to get him back to the Lair, where Niall and Calysta could hopefully help heal the renowned Guardsman.

“Just who in the hell do you think you are?” Scarlett demanded at the very top of her lungs.

Her shrill retort echoed through the trees, bouncing off every available surface, repeating over and over until it finally snapped Asher out of the trance Fionnbharr had him under and had the Guardsman’s battle roar filling the air. Throwing himself to the side to avoid being incinerated by the fireballs flying from Asher’s fingertips, Nowell landed face first into a drift, getting a mouthful of snow for his troubles.

 Rolling over and jumping to his feet, the emerald dragon hadn’t even caught his breath, when Asher ran by bellowing in Gaelic while racing towards Scarlett, who was frozen with fear, standing on the porch of the cabin with her foul-mouthed elf screaming, “Move, Lettie, move,” as he pushed with all his might against the side of her leg.

Racing after his brethren, trying to stop the man from killing his mate, the beautiful woman he’d just had the pleasure of meeting, Nowell frantically bellowed, “Run, Scarlett. Get out of the way. Asher’s sick, out of his mind. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

Snapping back to life, her eyes narrowing as she scoped out the situation, the reindeer did just the opposite of what Nowell had commanded.

“Dammit, Scarlett! You’re gonna get yourself killed.”

“Fat chance, Dragon Man,” she snorted. “Just get outta the way. I got this.”

True to the little he already knew of her, his feisty reindeer didn’t run and hide, but instead sped towards the rampaging Guardsman, screaming, “Stop right there, or I will blast your scaly ass.”

“Yeah. You get ‘em, Lettie. Fry his ass like he tried to fry ours,” Grinch cheered, his green eyes dancing with glee as his curly red hair and beard, the exact color of a red crayon, bounced up and down with his every hop and jump. Tearing the pointy green hat off his head and gripping it in his fist as he waved it in the air and added, “You can do it, Lettie. Kick his ass.” 

Apparently taking her small friend’s advice, Scarlett raised her hands at the exact same time that Nowell did. Unable to stop the flow of magic both he and his dragon were powering, the emerald dragon bellowed, “Get outta the way, Scarlett.”

But, she didn’t.

Kaleidoscope bolts of magic flew from her fingertips straight into Asher’s chest as Nowell’s emerald beam of enchantment hit the ruby dragon right between the shoulder blades. Connecting somewhere within the ancient Guardsman’s body, Nowell and Scarlett’s magic twisted and wound about, mixing together, becoming stronger by the second, exchanging power before returning, enhanced and sparkling, back into the souls of the couple.

The jolt of power knocked Nowell in the chest, causing him to stumble forward. Searching for Scarlett, he saw her also struggle to stay on her feet, the halo of magic around her pulsing in the most spectacular phantasmagoria of greens, reds, gold and silver that turned the whole landscape into a picture of holiday splendor. 

Flashes of bright white light exploded just out of Nowell’s reach. Everything began to move in slow motion. He could hear Scarlett shouting his name, saw her rushing towards him by leaps and bounds, moving so slowly she appeared to be floating over the sparkling mounds of snow between them. Trying to answer, he opened and closed his mouth several times. Snickering at his own slow and garbled speech before giving up, and immediately clearing his throat in an effort to get rid of the thick, bitter taste of magic coating his tongue.

Movement out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention as Asher fell face first into the snow with a resounding thud! Before letting out a snore that sounded identical to a buzz saw. Looking back to Scarlett, her mouth opened, still screaming his name, Nowell smiled and just before his face hit the frozen ground for the second time in as many minutes, he snickered, “Damn, you’re cute.”  

Chapter Six

Sitting on the edge of her bed, watching Nowell sleep had quickly become Lettie’s favorite pastime. She loved the way his long, thick eyelashes laid under his eyes, the way his lips curled in the slightest of smiles, most of all, she liked to watch the dragon marking on his chest rise and fall as he took each and every long, slow breath.

Letting just the tip of her index finger run softly along the cleft in his chin, Lettie cringed when the sharp edge of Grinch’s grating whine popped the bubble of her bliss as he called out, “Hey, Lovergirl, come out, come out wherever you are.”

Quietly jumping to her feet and sliding out of the room, gently closing the door, the deer grabbed the elf by the arm and dragged him down the hall, picking him up and plopping his ass into her absolutely favorite red and green plaid chair that her Grandma Victoria had recovered no less than four times. Kneeling down, she growled through gritted teeth, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.” Nowell’s grumbly baritone made it hard for Lettie to stifle the shiver tickling her spine as she got to her feet and turned towards him.

“What are you doing out of bed?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Her dragon’s sexy growl had Lettie moving forward before she knew she’d moved. Unfortunately, Grinch’s snide, “Great ghost of Christmas past, please save me from having to witness anymore kissy-face.”

“Zip it,” Lettie growled at the exact same time that Nowell commanded, “Shut up, Elf.”

“Why I never,” Grinch huffed.

“Oh, yes you have,” Lettie quipped, the deer’s eyes staying glued to her dragon’s as she pointed towards the front door and added, “Get out, Grinch. Call ya later.”

Bitching and moaning, mumbling under his breath about ungrateful reindeer and bossy dragons, the elf slammed the door on his way, leaving the couple blissfully alone. Walking towards her dragon, Lettie stopped mid-stride when Nowell’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he asked, “Where’s Asher?”

Shifting her course and walking past her dragon with a wink, Lettie crooked her finger in a come-hither motion as she motioned with her head. “Follow me, Big Guy.”

Walking down the hall to the last room on the right, Lettie liked the feel of Nowell’s eyes looking her up and down and just for kicks, added a little extra swish to her hips. Turning the knob on her guest bedroom door, the deer pushed open the door and with a wave of her hands that would’ve made Vanna White proud, said, “Here is your friend, sugar plums dancing in his head. I figure with our combined magic, we’ve got about four or five more days before he wakes up.”

Watching as Nowell crept into the room and stood next to the bed, looking down at his friend, Scarlett turned to leave them alone as her dragon whispered, “I’m just praying our Healers can help him.”

Unable to resist the pull of her mate, Lettie switched direction and stepped up beside Nowell, listening as he continued. “He’s suffering from an affliction called drakonbound. It’s when a drake, a full-grown male dragon, is deprived of any and all contact with other dragons.” He took a long deep breath, letting it out slowly before starting again, “Dragons are not meant to be alone. We, both the man and the dragon, crave the comradery of others of our kin. For some, it’s nothing more than a quick touch of one’s mind to another’s. Then there are those, like my brother and those of our Clan, who like living within a Lair.”

Looking up at Scarlett, he gave her a sad smile before glancing back to the huge man taking up every inch and then some of the old twin bed she got at a yard sale last spring. “Everyone thought Asher was dead. He disappeared over three hundred years ago during one of the bloodiest battles in our history.”

Slowly turning towards her, Nowell slid his fingers through Lettie’s and with a gentle tug, led her out of the room and back down the hall. “I’ve heard the story about a hundred times of how every single Guardsman searched high and low, everywhere they could think of, to recover his body, but in the end decided the wizards had taken him as a souvenir of their conquest.”

Sitting down in her chair, pulling her into his lap, Nowell held her close. “I can’t imagine what he’s been through. How he’s survived?”

Turning in his lap, Lettie placed her hands on either side of her dragon’s face and when he finally looked up at her she smiled and said, “I have an idea, but you’re gonna need to trust me.”

Slowly nodding his head, Nowell’s smile grew with each dip of his chin until he confidently avowed, “Oh, my beautiful, beautiful reindeer, I trust you with my life.”

Jumping to her feet, Lettie pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, hit number two and as her call was answered, beamed, “Hey, Grandpa? It’s Scarlett. Can you come over and bring Grandma?”

“Sure, sweet girl. What do you need?”

“I’ve got a drakonbound dragon who’s been missing for three centuries or so sleeping in my bed, and I’m thinkin’ we need to help him.”

“Be right over.”

Swiping her finger across the screen of her phone, Lettie shoved it back into her pocket and with a proud smile, announced, “My grandparents are on the way.” She waved her hand up and down as she added, “So, you better get something besides that old pair of grandpa’s long johns on before they get here.”

Standing up, Nowell wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, purring, “Why don’t you come help me, mo réinfhianna álainn?”

A loud knock at the door, quickly followed by, “Yoohoo, Scarlett. It’s Grandma and Grandpa.”

“Did I forget to mention that reindeers move really quickly?” Scarlett begrudgingly spun out of Nowell’s arms, pointing towards the hall as she whispered, “Go. Get changed.”

Laughing as her dragon pretended to pout, complete with his bottom lip poking out like a little boy who’d just been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, Lettie waited until Nowell was out of sight before opening the door and smiling, “Hey, you guys. Thanks for coming.”

Stepping back as her grandparents walked into her home and took their coats off, hanging them on the hooks by the door, Lettie waited until they had both taken a seat before beginning to explain. “You know Grin…I mean, Elroy and I were planning to leave the Village yesterday morning?”

“Yes, Sweetheart, we did,” her grandma nodded, her smile bright and her eyes full of love. “But we knew you were just upset about Nick, Jr embarrassing you by posting the video of you wrecking another sleigh on your final practice run on JoyTube. I told your grandfather that you’d come home when you felt better, and here you are.”

“Yeah, but I still wanted to kick his arrogant little butt,” Vixen grumbled. “Just wait till Santa gets back and finds out what that sawed-off rotten cup of eggnog has done.”

“Don’t worry about it, Grandpa. Nick, Jr. isn’t worth your time. Besides, I found something so much better than pulling Santa’s sleigh.” Hearing Nowell coming up behind her, Scarlett leaned in when his arm wrapped around her waist and he kissed her on the cheek. Looking at the shocked looks on her grandparents’ face, the reindeer grinned, “I found my mate, and he’s a dragon.”

Chapter Seven

Nowell stood silent, watching three reindeer, one the famous Vixen himself, pour the most beautiful display of magic he’d ever seen into Asher Baines. Stepping out of the room, the emerald dragon spoke to Maddox, Kayne and Rian, updating and letting them know Asher was in good hands, before calling out to his brother.

“Hey, Chance. You there?”

“Yeah. I’m here. How the hell did you shut me out?”

Nowell could hear the irritation in his voice, but what shocked him was the disappointment underlying his twin’s frustration. Then it hit him, they had never been separated, had always had each other, no matter what was going on around them. For the first time in a hundred-and-a-eleven years Chance had been without his twin in his own head. Apparently, he wasn’t fond of the separation, even though his mate was there to keep him company.

“Sorry, bro. It wasn’t personal, I found my mate.”

“You what?” Chance yelled. “No freakin’ way. That’s great. When ya’ coming home?”

Overjoyed that his brother was truly happy for him, Nowell chuckled, “I’m guessing you’re reading my mind since you’re not asking me a million questions.”

“You know,” Chance laughed out loud. “Damn, Noe. She’s a real looker and sassy enough to deal with you. I’d say the old guys were right, the Universe doesn’t make mistakes. So, when ya’ comin’ home?””

“Damn, Chance, give me a break,” Nowell chuckled. “We gotta get Asher well enough to fly home first.”

“Alright, alright, alright, I hear ya’. Just hurry up. Things are boring around here without you to pick on.” Chance laughed. “Besides, you have to be here by Christmas, so, we can celebrate our birthdays. Can’t break our tradition.”

“We’ll, be there.”

“See ya’ then.”

Done contacting everyone he needed to talk to, Nowell stepped back into the room just as Scarlett, Vixen and Victoria stopped Asher’s mystical treatment and the elder reindeer sighed, “I think we got all of it. Now, all your friend needs is lots of sleep. I think you guys call it a Healing sleep.”

“Indeed, we do. You’ve done your homework,” Nowell nodded. “Thank you so much,” he added, shaking Vixen’s hand then accepting a hug from Victoria, before putting his arm around Scarlett’s shoulder and following her grandparents to the living room.

 Surprised when the older couple reached for their coats, Nowell stood still as Scarlett went to her grandparents and hugged them both. Watching as she made her way back to his side, Nowell held his breath as Vixen cleared his throat and in a fatherly tone, said, “We couldn’t be happier that you and our Scarlett have found each other. As she told you, we reindeer don’t have any special kind of mating ceremony.” Running his fingers through his long salt and pepper beard, the famous deer snickered, “Heck, our girl here is the first of our kind to have a mate that’s not one of us.” He winked, love, shining brightly as he looked at his granddaughter. “All we ask is that you take care of her, ‘cause I can guarantee you that she’ll take care of you.”

“I promise, sir. Scarlett is the best Christmas present I ever got.” The group erupted in laughter as Scarlett looked up at him and grinned.

As the revelry died down, Nowell added, “We dragons do have a formal ceremony. So, when we go back to the lair, I would love to have you come with us. It just wouldn’t be right if you weren’t there with us.”

“Thank you so much, Nowell,” Victoria beamed. “Now, we’re gonna go and let you two have some alone time.” 

Standing arm-in-arm with Scarlett as she waved goodbye, Nowell could barely contain himself until the door clicked shut. Pulling his reindeer into his arms, the Guardsman ran his fingers through her silken hair, she sighed with a smile curving on her tempting lips as he rubbed and kneaded down her neck and onto her shoulders.

Pushing the collar of her red linen blouse off her shoulder, he couldn’t help but lean down and kiss across her shoulder to her neck, paying special attention to the spot where their mating mark would be as soon as they were able to return to his Clan and have their formal mating ceremony. Reaching between their bodies, the Guardsman made quick work of the buttons keeping him from Scarlett’s body.

Pushing the soft fabric off her shoulders and down her arms, smiling into their kiss as it floated to the ground. Sliding his hands up her ribs, tracing the band of her bra, Nowell’s nimble fingers unclasped the hooks, swiftly removing the troublesome garment and throwing it behind him.

Breaking their kiss, loving that Scarlett moaned at the loss, before opening her lust-soaked eyes and giving him a lazy smile, Nowell’s breath caught in his throat as he got his first look at the bounty of her beautiful breasts. His cocked jumped within the confines of his jeans as thoughts of how much he wanted and needed his mate swamped his every emotion.

Lifting Scarlett into his arms, Nowell sped to her bedroom, at the other end of her cottage from where Asher slept, closing the door with a satisfying click, before letting his mate slide to the floor. Unbuckling her jeans and sliding them down her shapely legs, Fionnbharr purred, rolling onto his back within the confines of Nowell’s mind, egging the Guardsman on, pushing the man to claim their mate.

Standing before him in nothing but her red lace panties, Scarlett’s eyes took on a naughty little gleam as she teased, “Now, it’s your turn, Mr. Nichols.”

The emerald gem dragon stood in awe as the miracle that was his Scarlett slipped her hands under the soft wool of his sweater and lifted it over his head before running her hands over his shoulders and across his chest. Running the tips of her fingers along each ridge of his six-pack, Scarlett’s hand landed on the waistband of his pants, unbuttoning the brass button while demurely glancing up at him. Shivering at the sensation of the backs of her fingers moving closer to his erection as she pushed his zipper down, Nowell held his breath in an effort to not pick up his mate and have his way with her.

He’d heard her thoughts, knew that she wanted to take the lead, so, the Guardsman hung onto the fraying thread of his arousal, praying to the Heavens that his sexy reindeer would hurry. Pushing his jeans off his hips, Scarlett’, hand bumped his throbbing erection, sending Nowell over the edge of reason and straight into the fiery passion of their combined desire.

Putting his hands under her arms, he used the speed given to him by the Universe, spun around and within seconds had Scarlett on her back in the middle of her carved cherry wood queen-sized bed. One more quick move and he had her legs over his shoulders, and her center right in front of his face. Smiling as he rubbed his nose against the wet silk of her panties, Nowell inhaled Scarlett’s intoxicating scent, sure he would lose his mind if he didn’t make love to her right then and right now.

Slipping his fingers under the silk at her hip, Nowell ripped the offending material from Scarlett’s body and threw it over his head, growling as the scent of warm cinnamon, and fresh evergreen filled his senses. No longer willing to stand the torture, the tip of his tongue slowly licked up the glistening seam of her pussy. 

Nowell groaned, his dragon roaring in his head as Scarlett’s taste burst upon his tongue. Placing his hands under the wonderfully full globes of her behind, the Guardsman lifted her pussy closer to his face, feasting as if he’d never been fed before. Driving his tongue into her excited pussy as far as he could go, licking every inch of his mate, even curling the end of his tongue to tease the sensitive bundle of nerves at the top of her channel.

Scarlett’s hands dove into his hair, fisting the strands and pulling with such force Nowell was sure he’d be bald as she moaned his name over and over. Smiling against his mate’s skin at the way she reacted to his touch, the emerald dragon used the flat of his tongue to lick her outer lips from bottom to top, teasing her aroused clit on every pass.

Tightening her legs around his head, her heels digging into his back, the reindeer’s wails to the Heavens rattled the windows of her cottage as Nowell sucked her swollen nub between his lips, flicking it up and down with his tongue, teasing and taunting until Scarlett was screaming her release to the Heavens above.

Lapping at Scarlett’s essence as it flowed from her body, Nowell nuzzled and nipped the puffy lips until she released his hair, and her breathing returned to normal. Carefully sliding her legs from his shoulders and massaging the tired muscles of her thighs, the emerald dragon looked up at his mate, his heart nearly bursting with love. There had never been a more glorious sight than his mate, the one the Universe had made for him, completely satisfied, looking like a Princess laid out before him.

Kissing her hip, then her belly button, where he paid extra attention with the tip of his tongue until Scarlett started to wiggle her hips and giggle under her breath, Nowell nipped his way up her stomach, kissing the sweet spot between her breasts, loving the feel of her heart beating in sync with his. Palming both of her breasts, the emerald dragon gently squeezed, the already raised peaks growing harder against his palms. Kissing up her neck, he smiled against her heated skin as Scarlett moved her head to the side, allowing him all the access he needed.

True to herself, his sassy mate, grabbed his head, pulled his lips to hers and kissed him with the wild abandon he’d witnessed when she was fighting Asher. Nowell opened immediately, letting Scarlett know that she owned him completely…body, heart and soul. Just as fiery in bed and in love as she was in the outside world, his reindeer was absolute perfection.

With her hands in his hair and her tongue sliding in and out, dancing alongside his, the Guardsman holding back his climax by the thinnest of threads. Shifting his hips slightly, Nowell thrust his cock into the haven of her body, pushing until he could go no farther as Scarlett ripped her lips from his, screaming, “Nowell!... Yes!... Oh, my God, yes!... I love you!”

Wanting to go slow the first time in his mate’s body, but unable to keep control as the feel of her muscles contracted around him, massaged, tempted, teased, made it absolutely impossible for Nowell to hold still. Pulling out until only the tip of his rock-hard cock rested within her body, the emerald dragon commanded, “Look at me, mo ghra’. Look at the man who will love you every minute of every day for the rest of eternity. Look at me, Scarlett.”

Immediately snapping her eyes to his, the love Nowell saw overflowing from his reindeer’s heart and soul was nothing short of humbling. Thrusting into her then pulling right back out, he started a rhythm that Scarlett met stroke for stroke with an explosive passion that fed his own.

Staring into one another’s eyes, their hearts beating as one, her deer reaching for his dragon, the couple’s passion exploded, rocking both shifters to the very bottom of their souls. Pushing her knees toward her chest, Nowell lifted Scarlett’s ass off the bed, going deeper and deeper into the haven of her body.

Rolling his hips, the head of his cock caressed the sensitive bundle of nerves that made the walls of her vagina close tighter and tighter around him. Wanting to shout to the Heavens when her eyes rolled back in her head from the pleasure he knew only he could give his mate, Nowell’s chest puffed with pride as Scarlett struggled to catch her breath.

Reaching between their bodies, Nowell’s fingers had barely closed around her clit when his mate’s orgasm propelled them both over the edge of ecstasy. Scarlett’s mouth opened in a silent scream, her deep brown eyes holding the miraculous promise of their future coupled with all the love in her heart, made it impossible for Nowell to do anything but follow his deer into a blissful cloud that only they could make together. There was no doubt, and would never be, that Nowell would follow Scarlett absolutely anywhere, even to the ends of the Earth.

Hours later, they laid together, completely satiated, her head on his chest, their legs intertwined, as their bodies cooled from several amazing hours of lovemaking. The emerald dragon could only smile like a giddy little kid from the love he shared with his Scarlett.

Grabbing his jeans off the floor, Nowell pulled a small evergreen velvet pouch from his pocket and turning back to Scarlett, laid it in her open hand. Looking up with a shocked look in her eyes, his mate asked, “What’s this? It’s not Christmas yet.”

“NO, it’s not, but this can’t wait.”

Untying the thin strings, Scarlett opened the top of the pouch and tipped it over, gasping at the ring Nowell’s grandfather had given to his grandmother many centuries before.

“Oh, my stars,” she cried out. “This is gorgeous.” She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “But it’s too much...too beautiful. It has to be a family heirloom.”

“Yes, it was my grandmother’s, who told me just seconds before she ascended into the heavens that I was to give it to my mate.” He winked, before adding, “And that is you.”

Reaching down and taking Scarlett’s hand, he slid the ring onto her finger and as he admired it, explaining, “The eight sides of the Asscher cut emerald in the center signifies the eight emerald dragons who formed the original Emerald Dragon Clan - Oileán Iathghlas na hÉireann Dragon. The ten pearls, five on either side of the emerald, sitting atop each of the five golden rings of the setting, stand for the ten Oileán Iathghlas na hÉireann Queens, who showed favor upon King Arthur’s knights, giving them the use of their magic even before we were dragon.”

When he looked up, tears were streaming down Scarlett’s beautiful face as she stared at her ring. It took a few minutes for his feisty mate to regain control, but when she did, Scarlett sat back and looked him in the eyes, the adoration Nowell saw there made him feel whole, like he could handle whatever Fate had to throw at him with his stunning reindeer by his side.

“Thank you, Nowell. Thank you so much. You are better than every Christmas wish I have ever made.”

Pausing as his love for his incredible mate overflowed, making it hard for him to breathe and his heart nearly beating out of his chest, Nowell murmured directly into Scarlett’s mind, “You, an stór mo chroí, have a permanent place on my Very Nice List.” Kissing her lips, letting all the love in his heart and soul flow to the one woman in all the Universe made for him, the emerald dragon added, “I love you, Scarlett. I love you more than all the sprinkles on all the Christmas cookies in all the world…forever and always. Nollaig Shona, no réinfhianna álainn.”

Until we meet again…

(Best wishes to you and yours every single day of the year!)

COMING JULY 3rd

Part of the Multi-Author Lick of Fire Series

BURN DRAGON BURN

Book #34 in the Dragon Guard Series

Buzz! Buzz-Buzz-Buzz!

“Who is it?” She screamed from under the covers where she’d fallen asleep on the couch, promising herself to disconnect the stupid doorbell on her first day off.

“Your partner. We’ve got a case,” came Fitz’s gruff reply.

Pulling the blanket from her head, Donnatella Hale, called Hale since she’d joined the police force ten years ago and Nat to her friends, groaned aloud as she realized not even the sun was up yet. Throwing her feet onto the floor and making her body follow, she grabbed her robe and threw it on as she made her way to the front door.

Looking through the peephole just to be sure, she unlocked the door and turned the knob, before opening it all the way and grabbing Fitz’s cup of steaming coffee.

“Hey! I just bought that,” he snarled.

“I can tell. It’s still hot and doesn’t smell like your nasty cigarettes.”

Taking a sip as she started up the stairs to her room to get dressed, she called over her shoulder, “What the hell time is it any way?”

“Four am, your Ladyship. Got any food in your fridge?”

“Yep! Stopped at the store last night.” Stepping onto the second floor, a cold chill raced down her spine. The kind a person gets when someone rakes their fingernails down a chalkboard or walks over their own grave. Stopping at the railing and looking down, she asked, “What and where?”

Having worked together since Nat became a detective three years ago, Fitz knew what she was asking and answered, “DB in the Park.”

Closing her eyes, knowing what the answer to her next question was going to be, but needing to hear him say it, she asked, “It’s a girl?”

“Yes.”

“In Manlowe Park?”

“Yes.” Fitz walked into the foyer holding half a ham sandwich and looked up at her. “And?”

“And she’s twenty-one. Her neck’s been slashed. No signs of sexual assault. All her belongings are with her and she has a yellow ribbon wrapped around her right wrist.”

“Yes.” He took a bite of his sandwich. “And?”

“And a jogger found her by the pier.”

“You are right again, but then, I never doubted otherwise.”

Blowing out a long breath, she turned towards her room, crossed the threshold and closed the door. Leaning her back against the wood, she ran her fingers through her hair, pulling the scrunchie out as she went, and looked at the picture of her mom and dad she kept by her bed.

Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, she crossed the room and picked up the frame, running the tip of her index finger over their faces. Setting it back on the bedside table, she walked into the closet and grabbed her last clean suit.

Laying it on the bed, she looked back at her folks and smiled. “I know it’s not your fault I can see all this shit. Hell, it even helps with my job, but the dreams with the hot guy and the Dragon, those are seriously freakin’ me out.”

THE ONE THAT STARTED IT ALL

Book #1 in the Dragon Guard Series

HER DRAGON TO SLAY

ALWAYS FREE on Amazon!

Sassy and stubborn have gotten Kyndel through everything life had to throw at her. Will her moxie help when destiny falls at her feet?

Hundreds of years of loyalty to the Dragon Guard have made Rayne a fearless leader. When the long-foretold pull of his mate rocks the Commander’s world to its core will he be able to save her from his enemies in time?

The chemistry between this strong-willed curvy girl and fierce warrior makes all the difference in the world where nothing is as it seems. The existence of an ancient race of honor-clad, tradition-bound protectors might be hard to accept but now the dead are coming back to life and holding a knife to her neck.

Can these fated mates defeat their greatest enemies and get their happily ever after?

Fate Will Not Be Denied!!

About Julia

Find all my stories on Amazon!

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia Mills the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Dragon Guard Series. I without a doubt admit to being a sarcastic, southern woman who would rather spend all day laughing than a minute crying. Living with my two most amazing daughters and a menagerie of animals, keeps me busy but I love telling a good story. Now, that I’ve decided to write the stories running through my brain, life is just a blast!

My beliefs are simple. A good book along with shoes, makeup, and purses will never let a girl down and no hero ever written will compare to my real-life hero, my dad! I’m a sucker for a happy ending and alpha men make me swoon.

I’m still working on my story but I promise it will contain as much love and laughter as I can pack into it! Now, go out there and create your own story!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to Try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!

I ABSOLUTELY adore stalkers so look me up on Facebook, sign up for my newsletter at JuliaMillsAuthor.com and follow me on Amazon.

Send me a message!

XOXO Julia

Also by Julia Mills

Find Them All on Amazon

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The Dragon Guard Series

Her Dragon to Slay, Dragon Guard #1

Her Dragon’s Fire, Dragon Guard #2

Haunted by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #3

For the Love of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #4

Saved by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #5

Only for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #6

Fighting for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #7

Her Dragon’s Heart, Dragon Guard #8

Her Dragon’s Soul, Dragon Guard #9

The Fate of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #10

Her Dragon’s No Angel, Dragon Guard #11

Her Dragon, His Demon, Dragon Guard #12

Resurrecting Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #13

The Scars of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #14

Her Mad Dragon, Dragon Guard #15

Tears for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #16

Guarding Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #17

Sassing Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #18

Kiss of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #19

Claws, Class and a Whole Lotta Sass, Dragon Guard #20

Dragon with the Girl Tattoo, Dragon Guard #21

Dragon Down, Dragon Guard #22

Twinkle, Twinkle, Sassy Little Star, Dragon Guard #23

Dragon Got Your Tongue, Dragon Guard #24

Her Dragon’s Fury, Dragon Guard #25 (One True Mate Kindle World)

Dragon in the Mist, Dragon Guard #26

Dragon Got Run Over by A Reindeer, Dragon Guard #27

Tangled in Tinsel, Dragon Guard #28

Cupcake Kisses & Dragon Dreams, Dragon Guard #29

Her Dragon's Treasure, Dragon Guard #30

Aww, Snap Dragon, Dragon Guard #31

Imagine Dragon, Dragon Guard #32

Ride a Horse, Save a Dragon, Dragon Guard #33 (MacAllen Clan)

Her Love, Her Dragon: The Saga Begins, A Dragon Guard Prequel

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Dragon Guard Berserkers

BANNING

ASHER

RAYNOR

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The ‘Not-Quite’ Love Story Series

Vidalia: A ‘Not-Quite Vampire Love Story

Phoebe” A ‘Not-Quite’ Phoenix Love Story

Zoey: A ‘Not-Quite’ Zombie Love Story

Jax: A ‘Not-Quite’ Puma Love Story

Heidi: A ‘Not-Quite’ Hellhound Love Story (Magic & Mayhem Kindle World)

Lola: A ‘Not-Quite’ Witchy Love Story (Magic & Mayhem Kindle World)

Sammie Jo: A ‘Not-Quite’ Shifting Witchy Love Story (Magic & Mayhem Kindle World)

Harmony: A ‘Not-Quite’ Haunted Love Story (Magic & Mayhem Kindle World)

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Kings of the Blood

VIKTOR: Heart of Her King ~ Kings of the Blood

~ Book 1

ROMAN: Fury of Her King ~ Kings of the Blood

~ Book2

ACHILLES: Soul of Her King ~ Kings of the Blood

~ Book 3

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CAUGHT: A Vampire Blood Courtesan Romance

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MARROK: A Wolf’s Hunger

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Out of the Ashes: Guardians of the Zodiac: Pisces

~ Book 1

Scorched Ember: Guardians of the Zodiac: Taurus

~ Book 2