Page 58 of The Mating Quest

The dragon growled. “Youhave.”

Chloe grinned, looking young. “Want to try again? I didn’t have time to blow dry my hair thismorning.”

Ethan and Ilanagroaned.

“Hey, you’re cute.” The dragon transformed into a man, about medium height, with dark blond hair. He was dressed in cobalt blue with blue boots, an imitation of Drust’s usual attire. He lookedyoung.

Chloe blushed. “So areyou.”

Ilana rolled her eyes. “This is not Tinder. There are no hookups here. Who the hell are you,anyway?”

The dragon swept them a formal bow. “I am Lucas, loyal kin to Drust. You’ve already met my uncle George at the cave’s entrance. All dragons here guarding the cave are gifted me with speech in dragon form to warn Others not to pass. It was my turn to guard the inner cavern and put to test anyintruders.”

“Have there been many?” Chloeasked.

Lucas pointed to a pile of scorched bones. Chloe winced. “Ow.”

“Foolhardy and greedy Others. No Skins. Our magick prohibits Skins from seeing the cave entrance and keeps them off this section of the mountain,” Lucasexplained.

Chloe made introductions. Ryan came forward and both males sized each other up. Finally Ryan nodded. “We’ve met a couple of times. He’s okay… for adragon.”

Lucas grinned. “I’m more than okay. I’m the GOAT, for adragon.”

Chloe snickered as Ethan sighed. “You’re also quite humble,” Ethan said withsarcasm.

Then Lucas sniffed and looked at Ilana with narrowed eyes. “You’re…different.”

Ethan stepped in front of her. “We’re all different. If you don’t mind, let’s leave social hour for later because we don’t have much time to retrieve the dragonscale.”

The dragon’s expression turned grave. “This is the first, and easiest task if you have Drust’s protection. It will not aid you beyond here. You have three more. Goodluck.”

In the flickering torchlight, his dark gaze grew warm as he looked at Chloe. “If you make it out alive, maybe you’d like to have dinner withme.”

Ilana laughed as Chloe seemed at a loss. “Dragon, that has got to be the worst pickup line I’ve everheard.”

Lucas nodded, shifted back into a dragon again. As they passed by, he called out in dragon form, “Beware the lastspider.”

Ilana swallowed hard. Damn she hatedspiders.

“First you have to get past the snakes,” he yelled afterthem.

Snakes weren’t great, either. They advanced, holding up their torches. Ilana held her sword at the ready as they sloshed through water and then wended their way upward through a narrow passage. The temperature rose and sweat streamed down her back, plastering her cotton shirt to herskin.

They came upon a wider area, glittering with dark crystals. Hearing something behind them, she whirled. “Watch your backs,” sheyelled.

Ethan growled, ready to pounce when a voice called out, “Hey, I’m not theenemy.”

Lucas stepped into the pool of torchlight in his Skin form. Ilana released a breath. “What the hell are you doing here,dragon?”

He grinned. “Drust told me to guard my position in case anyone comes along who is not worthy. He never said anything about leaving my position to help if someone isworthy.”

Despite his relative youth, she liked Lucas’grit.

“I guess you want the smoke. We’re going to see plenty of it.” Ilana twirled hersword.

“I’m ready.” Chloe said, as Dakota and Ryannodded.

“I want the smoke.” Lucasgrowled.