Page 24 of Her Enemy Dragon Captor (Dream Team Shifters #5)

CHAPTER 24

A lex stood near the entrance of the warehouse, which had been converted into a sort of great hall, with all the dividers removed. He watched as shifters from all five of the alliance planets mingled with humans from Earth. The victory celebration was in full swing, transforming the normally austere warehouse into something that almost resembled the grand halls of Fiora. Banners representing each planet hung from the rafters, and tables laden with food stretched along one wall.

Three days had passed since their desperate gambit on the prison planet. Three days of exhausting cleanup operations, of explaining to human authorities what had happened, of integrating the non-hostile Krita into their protective custody. There was still much to be learned and understood. But now, finally, a moment to breathe.

And finally, a moment to just be with his mate.

But even that would have to wait a little longer.

There was much to give thanks for.

"Still can't believe we pulled it off," Dylan said, appearing at his side with two drinks in hand. He offered one to Alex, who accepted it gratefully.

"Neither can they," Alex replied, nodding toward a cluster of FBI agents standing awkwardly near the buffet table. They looked like they'd rather be anywhere else, their stiff postures and wary eyes betraying their discomfort. "I'm pretty sure Carlson is the only thing keeping half of them from running for the hills."

In stark contrast, Dylan nodded toward a cluster of the furries, inexplicably in their full fursuits. “Did anyone explain to them that they get to be their fursonas – that’s what they call them – for real now? They don’t need to play dress up?”

“Whatever, if it makes them happy, I’ve got no problem with it,” Alex raised a glass to them. “Plus, they’ve earned the right to do whatever the hell they please, as far as I’m concerned. I hear that turtle shifter guy took out about twenty Krita single handedly.”

“What, in slow motion?”

“Snapping turtle. Plus, pretty impressive what you can do when you have an impenetrable shell on your back...”

“More power to him. To turtle guy.”

They all raised a glass amiably.

His eyes found Jane across the room, radiant in a borrowed dress that complemented her figure perfectly. She was deep in conversation with Cindy and Sierra, all three laughing at something. The sight of her made his dragon stir contentedly. Even now, he could scarcely believe she was his.

"Oncara... that is, ‘earth’ to Alex," Dylan teased, waving a hand in front of his face. "She's not going anywhere, dragon boy. You can relax."

Alex blinked, realizing he'd been staring. "Just making sure she's okay."

"She's more than okay. She's a natural-born dragon who took down a Krita leader on her first full shift. I'd say she's magnificent." Dylan raised his glass in a small toast. "You got lucky, my friend. Although, of course, she does not have the grace or elegance of my stunning deer shifter mate, Cindy, but your Jane seems an adequate, if not distant second to Cindy’s beauty and poise."

Alex let out a good-natured laugh. And he accepted the compliment. Somehow, through all his doubts, all his fears about not finding a mate, the universe had somehow delivered him exactly what he needed—someone strong enough to challenge him, brave enough to stand with him, and stubborn enough to never give up on either of them.

She also turned out to be just what the planet needed to save it too.

Jack appeared beside them, Sierra now at his side. "The Dragon Council representatives have arrived," he said quietly. "They're eager to meet Jane."

Alex felt a flutter of nervous pride. The Council members rarely left Fiora, preferring to govern from their ancient chambers. Their presence here spoke volumes about the importance of this alliance. And the idea that they would even want to meet his mate was an honor beyond measure.

"Eager? Did they really say that?”

“Eager,” Jack repeated simply.

“I'll get her," he said, already turning and making his way through the crowd.

Jane turned as he approached, her face lighting up. The sight still made his heart stutter.

"Come with me,” he asked, sliding an arm around her waist.

“Okay, okay... you don’t have to manhandle me!” she protested, before she paused to reconsider. “Or let me rephrase that... save some manhandling for later, will you?”

Jane slipped her arm through his as they navigated the bustling celebration. "But, where are you taking me?" she asked, giggling a little as she leaned into him.

"The Dragon Council representatives are here," Alex replied, his voice betraying a hint of his anxiety. "They want to meet you."

"The Dragon Council?" Jane raised her eyebrows. "Are they like, the grand poohbahs from your planet?"

“The what?”

“The bigwigs. Chief Dragons?”

"Yes, among them , he nodded. "This is a huge honor, Jane. They have never left Fiora."

"And they want to meet little old me? I couldn't even shift until three days ago!" Her voice held a note of disbelief.

"Yeah, but you shifted when it mattered most...and you, and your plan, helped save all our worlds," Alex corrected, feeling a surge of pride.

“Oh, that.” she said waving a hand in a mock-dismissive manner. “It was nothing, really.”

He paused to pull her into his chest as he uttered a growl of desire. He couldn’t help it.

“Stop it, she said. You’re going to get my dragon all riled up.”

“That’s kind of the idea,” he breathed, playfully biting and kissing her on the neck.”

She pushed him away playfully, “Yeah, but you forget, all this is new for me. I can’t control her like you can. Not just yet, at least...”

“Okay fine.” She had a point, and he backed off. Having her shift full on into a dragon in heat in front of the council would be...

Unfortunate.

As they approached the far corner of the hall, Alex spotted them immediately—three imposing figures in formal attire that, while slightly adapted for Earth, still carried the distinctive aesthetic of Fiora. Their presence commanded attention, with the humans – and everyone else for that matter, giving them a wide berth.

"Elder Vaxos, Elder Neria, Elder Talorn," Alex greeted, bowing his head respectfully. "May I present my mate, Jane Donovan."

Jane, to her credit, maintained remarkable composure. She seemed unsure whether to shake hands or bow, and finally settled on tipping her head and smiling.

Whatever it was won them over.

Because she is real. Genuine.

"So," Elder Vaxos spoke, his deep voice resonating, "this dragoness is the mastermind behind our victorious assault on the Krita?"

"I don’t know about ‘mastermind’, but yes, I guess it was my idea. I think I just suggested the obvious," Jane replied modestly. "Alex and the rest of the shifters, the Dream Team, did the hard part.”

“We had a lot of help,” Alex added humbly.

Elder Neria's eyes—the same amber shade as Alex's—studied Jane and Alex intently. "Both so humble. And I understand you, Jane, also managed to take down a few of the creatures on your first shift. Impressive, to say the least.”

“Not to mention, recognize that it was but a few of their leaders who essentially held the rest in thrall. In a spell, from what I understand,” Elder Vaxos added.

"Aw, shucks. Beginner's luck?" Jane offered with another smile.

The corner of Elder Talorn's mouth twitched. "Perhaps. Or perhaps you have been favored by fate. We have certainly been favored by your actions. We are in your debt.”

With that, all three of them bowed to her.

To my mate. The Elders bowing to my mate!

It took all of Alex’s considerable self-control to remain steady as he witnessed the rare spectacle.

A formal toast followed, during which each elder spoke of unity, sacrifice, and the bright future ahead. Alex watched Jane's face as she took it all in, her expression shifting between wonder and bemusement. His dragon practically preened with satisfaction.

It wasn’t only the Dragon elders who were impressed. All eyes were on her.

As they should be.

The celebration continued as Jack called for attention, raising his glass high. "To our alliance!" he proclaimed. "May the bonds between our worlds grow ever stronger!"

Cheers erupted throughout the hall.

"And to those who made the ultimate sacrifice," Jack continued, his voice dropping to a more solemn tone. "May their courage never be forgotten."

A moment of silence fell over the gathering.

"Now," Jack's voice brightened again, "I'd like to recognize those whose efforts made this victory possible."

One by one, members of the Shifter League were called forward, the earth-bound shifters who had first reached out to the various planets to even make the alliance possible. And one by one each was announced.

“Apollo and his lovely mate Quinn... Achilles accompanied by the stunning Veronica, Atlas with the beautiful Angela, Ares and his wonderful mate Eden, and to round out the team, Ajax and his dazzling mate Jasmine! Each pair received thunderous applause.

“Apollo? Atlas? Seriously?”

“I don’t know... I think they sound pretty cool...”

“You would,” she said, as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Next, Lester and Jessa stepped up together, their hands clasped in a gesture that finally confirmed what everyone had suspected about their relationship.

"About time," Alex murmured to Jane, who grinned back at him.

“Oh?”

“Oh yeah, they been cookin’ for awhile.”

“I see,” she replied.

Next, each Dream Team member and their mate received special recognition. When Jack finally called Alex and Jane forward, the applause was deafening.

"The alliance was your vision, Alex," Jack announced. "And Jane's strategy became our salvation."

Standing before the assembled crowd, Alex felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The burden he'd carried for so long—finding a mate, securing the alliance, defeating the Krita—had finally eased.

Then unexpectedly, Cindy came and addressed the assemblage. “I would also like to recognize the contributions of our furry recruits!” She waved her hand in their direction, as they all stood, to another round of cheers, this time highlighted with the occasional whistle and even a cat call at a particularly impressive woman in a cat suit.

“And in particular, the turtle shifter, James, whose exploits in the battle are already the stuff of legend!” More applause practically shook the roof.

Elder Vaxos stepped forward. "In light of recent events, the Council proposes a new name for what, for lack of any name at all, we have been calling the Prison Planet. As we have shared, from our records, it seems that indeed that was once the purpose of that planet, long ago before the wars...before all of our planets were separated by the almost complete annihilation of not only our civilizations, but also our very technologies.

Just as our scientists have come to realize that the planet we are standing on, earth, was once set aside as a planet to care for the disadvantaged of all our civilizations – those unable to shift as the gods intended – we have also recognized that the prison planet was indeed used to house all the criminals from all of the many shifter planets. Over time it seems whatever ills that might have gotten their ancestors only compounded. But realize those we have fought by and large are merely the ancestors of those criminals, preyed upon by a few dark leaders who were able to enslave and manipulate them to their wishes. And thanks to the Shifter League, and the Dream Team, and of course all of their mates... they are now free and we have decided their planet needs a new name.

We suggest 'New Dawn,' symbolizing hope and rehabilitation for all its inhabitants."

Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd.

"Furthermore," Vaxos continued, "we recognize the need for discretion regarding certain... details." His gaze drifted toward the FBI contingent. "Not all are ready for the full truth."

Agent Carlson shifted uncomfortably but gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

"Though I'm pretty sure my father is going to have questions," Jane whispered to Alex, who stifled a laugh.

The formal portion of the celebration eventually concluded, giving way to music, dancing, and increasingly animated conversations between the shifters from different planets who really had never had the opportunity to mix like this since their planets were all essentially isolated and separated by the interplanetary wars.

Alex led Jane to a quieter corner, where they could catch their breath. "So," he said, "how does it feel to be a celebrated interplanetary hero?"

"Oh please, I should ask you,” Jane laughed, leaned against him. "But as for me, I'm just happy we're alive. And that I didn't hallucinate the scales." She glanced up at him. "Though I'm still processing the fact that I'm dating a literal alien."

Across the room, Alex spotted other pairs finding their own moments of quiet connection—Lester finally kissing Jessa in full view of everyone, Dylan and Cindy dancing close, Jack and Sierra deep in conversation with her grandmother.

"Think we can sneak out?" Jane asked, following his gaze. "I mean, the fate of the galaxy is no longer at stake, right? And you did promise me something about redecorating a bathroom..."

Alex's dragon stirred with interest. "Redecorating? Yes, that’s right, I believe I did." He took her hand. "I think we've earned a little time to ourselves."

As they slipped toward the exit, Alex couldn't help but reflect on how differently everything had turned out from what he'd feared. The journey to find his mate had been nothing like he'd expected, full of missteps and misunderstandings. But somehow, against all odds, it had led him exactly where he needed to be.

Home, with her.