Fire Dragon's Baby (Dragon Shifter Scifi Alien Romance) (Elemental Dragons Book 1) by Juno Wells, Scarlett Grove

                                   
    1
    S alvatt Dorr strode through the broad, stone doorway, his obsidian black cape flowing out behind him. This meeting of the Council of Princes promised to be interesting. He approached the round stone table where the three other princes had already congregated.
    The proud, seven-foot-tall dragon shifters regarded each other, knowing that they were all equally matched in strength and cunning. Each dragon prince held an elemental stronghold at the four corners of the planet Galaton, an ancient colony that had once been part of the vast Draconian empire. Now, millions of years later, Galaton was its own principality, divided by four elemental clans.
    Salvatt took in his three peers. Elait Plux, prince of the air and intellect, ruled the northern lands of Galaton. His flowing white hair and light blue eyes signified his element. Magmus Murcul, prince of earth and prosperity, ruled over the east. His dark skin and green eyes indicated his affinity to the land. And Shay Vishak, prince of water and passion, ruled over the west. His blue tinted skin and moss green eyes gave away his connection to the waters of Galaton.
    Salvatt, being the prince of fire and will, ruled over a land of lava flows. The fire dragons made fire in their bellies and needed to be close to the heat. But it was only the Salvatt, their prince, who could withstand the inferno of the magma for any length of time.
    The lava flows cooled into a rocky bed between the volcano and the tropical paradise that made up the rest of the south. Salvatt’s own skin was tinted red and his eyes were black as coal. In his own opinion, he was by far the most handsome of all the princes.
    Their lands had long been cultivated to best suit the elemental orientation of each clan. Over the millennia since Galaton was a Draconian colony, the planet itself had conformed to their rule through technology and terraforming.
    Since the death of the last Draconian female a year ago, the entire foundation of the planet was at risk. The strongest earls and barons of each land were rising against the princes who had no mates and no heirs. Everything was in chaos. To continue to rule over his land, each prince had been forced to prove his dominance time and time again in fierce battles against his own men. Salvatt himself had battled too many of his own men to count.
    Elait was the first to speak, his long white hair shimmering around his shoulders. “The Draconian Mating Council has informed the princes of Galaton that our planet is now eligible to enter the mating lottery. We may now mate with Earth human females.”
    “After thirty years,” Salvatt said. “What has changed?”
    “They've had their fill of the tiny, human women,” said Magmus, the dark creases around his eyes deepening.
    “Who would grow tired of women?” asked Shay, his watery blue skin luminous in the glowing light of the tower.
    “No matter the reason, it is critical that we each enter the lottery and secure a mate as soon as possible. The males of my region are ready to revolt. We have spent a hundred years establishing our council; now is not the time to allow our hard work to be destroyed by our men,” said Magmus, his cape of dark brown and forest green fluttered like leaves when he spoke.
    “The males of my region are just as agitated,” said Salvatt. “I suggest we be the first to procure wives from among these Earth human females. We must secure heirs and ensure the continuation of each of our lines. We must show our kingdoms that we remain strong.”
    Elait nodded. “I agree. Without heirs our thrones are at stake. If one of our dukes or earls produces an heir before any of us, they may find support from the men.”
    “It will take a year for the brides to travel through the Draconian system to reach Galaton,” said Magmus. “Then another nine months for human gestation.”
    “We cannot wait that long,” Salvatt said. “And