Treasure Lane Dragons: Complete Series (BBW Paranormal Dragon Shapeshifter Romance) by Anya Nowlan Page B

Gemma Teeley do anything she didn’t expressly want to do wasn’t exactly an easy feat, even for a dragon with all the resources in the world.
    So, it wasn’t any wonder that nothing but dread filled him when Jolly trundled into his study late one night, breathless and panting.
    “What is it?” he asked, looking up from the draft of the rules of combat he was compiling to present to the council on his wedding day. His brows furrowed at the sight of the little man, so uncharacteristically out of sorts. Under his gaze, the servant straightened himself up, trying to look presentable but failing at it.
    “Master Redblade is here, sir,” he said, his expression morose.
    Fucking hell…
    “Where is he? What does he want?” Devon asked, standing up and rushing out of the study with Jolly at his heels.
    “He is on the roof, sir. And he didn’t oblige me with a reason.”
    “Go stay with Gemma. I don’t want him anywhere near her,” Devon hissed through clenched teeth, receiving barely a nod in return from the servant as he skittered off quickly. For a passing moment, Devon thought he spotted a smirk on the man’s lips, but discarded it in favor of more pressing matters – like getting the fucking Redblade out of his house and away from his bride.
    Devon ran through the mansion almost as fast as when Gemma called him. His heart pounded heavily, jealousy and rage broiling him from the inside out. He couldn’t stand the thought of another man near her when she still wasn’t entirely his. He couldn’t allow anything to happen to her. Those green eyes and pillowy lips were meant for him and him alone. Rationally, he knew that there was likely little to fear, but rationale didn’t work so well for his dragon, or his heart.
    Devon took the steps to the roof three or four at a time, and when he burst through the door, his head was swimming with irritated thoughts and whispered threats. There, in the middle of the massive landing strip of a roof stood Remington Redblade, his huge wings partially outstretched, and his maw contorted in a bitter smirk, showing his long, deadly teeth.
    Devon’s eyes narrowed. He fought the urge to shift as well. If intimidation was the game they were playing, he could easily match the blood red dragon. Still, he resisted.
    It’s the time of the civilized dragon, his father’s words rung in his ears. He’d never paid much heed to such wisdom before, but apparently fear for one’s mate made a man do every manner of improbable things.
    “If you need to talk to me, Redblade, you better do it like a man. I’m not playing any games,” Devon said sternly, closing the door behind him. The dragon tilted its head a little, smoke flaring from its nostrils. Devon had to suppress a smirk – Redblades always did have a short temper.
    With obvious reluctance, Remington shifted into his human form. Devon shoved his hands in his pockets, more to keep from strangling the other man for showing up when he was in mid-courtship than for any other reason.
    “What can I do for you, Remington?” Devon asked, trying and failing at keeping the strain out of his voice. He watched the tall, gray-eyed man walk closer across the roof, all bitter Cheshire grins and shifty glances.
    “Can’t a dragon simply drop by for a cup of gold or a friendly word?” Remington teased, coming to a stop some feet from Devon.
    “You know I wouldn’t loan you gold if it was the last thing keeping you from an eternity in hell,” Devon said, returning the smirk. Remington nodded. No love lost between the families, as usual.
    “I hear you’ve found a bride,” Remington said, turning to face the red sunset dancing behind the mountains.
    “Who told you?” Anger threatened to consume Devon. How did the bastard Redblade know already? It didn’t take a leap of imagination to figure out that this could mean nothing good. His worry for Gemma tripled, and he wished he had her by his side now. At least then he could protect