Claiming His Prize (Bad Boy Alphas) (Feral Breed Followings Book 2) by Ellis Leigh

called Midnight cocked his head. Watching me. Edging closer to Jane. Staring me down as he extended his arm. At first, I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but then I saw Jane jump and I reacted on instinct. I was in the ring in a blink, the world a rainbow as my eyesight sharpened into my dragon sight.
    “If you want to keep that hand, you’ll take it off her ass.”
    Midnight smirked. “You think you can best me, tadpole? I’m not like these puppies you’ve been fighting.”
    I moved closer, boxing him in, dropping my voice so he’d hear the threat. “I know exactly what you’re like.”
    “I doubt that,” he hissed, leaning right into my space. He was a good thirty pounds heavier than I was but a few inches shorter. Not that height and weight would matter much if he shifted. And he would. Dragons—true dragons raised in the conclaves—were unable to stay human for long. They were too beastly, too beholden to their inner animals. Too out of control to go unnoticed in human society.
    Keeping my eyes on his, refusing to let that particular challenge drop, I reached for Jane’s hand. She gave it to me with ease, gripping my fingers with her own. My lips turned up at one corner as Midnight’s arrogant mask cracked, a smirk fighting its way free. Midnight’s eye twitched, and his jaw clamped tighter. Trying to control his instinctual reaction. This was a silent war for Jane, but where Midnight would probably just take her and demand she obey as his animal side wanted him to do, I was more human. I gave her the choice—come with me or not; it was up to her. And she came, so I pulled her gently behind me, using my body to shield hers. Protecting what I saw as mine. What I knew Midnight would want to take away from me.
    “You’ll regret that,” he said with a growl.
    “She chooses me.”
    He laughed, a growly rumble that sounded all wrong. “Silly child. You think I care what she chooses?”
    “Oh, I know you don’t care.” I grinned as he smirked, letting him think he won. But then, “And that’s why you’ll never have her. Because you thought you could rule her. But Jane’s her own person, and you can never truly enjoy her body without allowing her to decide when to give it to you.”
    I leaned forward, murmuring close to his ear. “And she’s already given it to me. I’ve got the bite mark to prove it.”
    Midnight hissed, looking like a man about to lose control of his rage. I pushed Jane farther back, wanting her out of the way in case he shifted. In case he sparked up.
    In case he tried to burn this place down.
    “Now, now,” Mick interrupted, stepping between us. Oblivious to the danger at his back. “Let’s keep things civil. You can have your dick-measuring contest in the ring tomorrow night.”
    “Don’t think so,” I said, keeping my eyes on Midnight’s. His smirk had kicked up, had turned into an almost mad grin. His eyes were dark, his pupils long and slitlike. No longer human eyes. He was losing control.
    As scales appeared along Midnight’s hairline, I pushed Jane back farther, wanting to tell her to run. But I couldn’t look away from the other dragon. One second of distraction, and he’d be on me. Or worse, be on Jane.
    Midnight must have noticed my move to protect Jane because his smile dimmed, his lip curling. “You’ll really regret that .”
    Mick chuckled, though his bravado seemed quieter, less certain. “Gentlemen, I’m going to ask you to please separate and sit down.”
    “No,” Midnight said, not even looking his way. “We are not your paltry wolves. We do not bow to your timing and rules. Do we, child?”
    When I didn’t answer him directly, Midnight leaned forward, hissing as he murmured to me just loud enough for Mick to hear. “I can smell you on her, tadpole. But it doesn’t matter. She’s my mate. My prize. I claimed her first—and she’s delicious.”

Ten
    Jane
    I stumbled back as Piers roared. Whatever Saern said had upset him to the point of