Made For A Dragon (Fae Dragons book 1)

Prologue Jade Friday nights sucked. Correction Friday nights working sucked, I wasn’t even sure when my life had become so damn dull. Sometime after my first year in college, I was guessing when my parents pulled my funding unless I changed my major from art to something more … appropriate. Like law or medicine. They said it was a waste of my talents and my grades and I had told them to go to hell. The plan had been to show them just how talented I was, how I could make my way in the big wide world as an artist and sculptor. I had all the big bravado of any girl aged nineteen. I had been a fool. I had lasted maybe six months, pulling double shifts at the café to try and pay my own way, as well as trying to keep on top of school work before I dropped out. And five years later I still worked in that hole in the wall café. And I hadn’t made it as an artist. So yeah Friday nights sucked. “You coming out?” Glancing back at the new girl, I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder frowning. Was she for real? I had been on my feet for fourteen hours. My feet and back were screaming at me. The last thing I wanted to do was go drinking with some college kids. “Just gonna head home,” I added with a smile as she continued to stare at me. I didn’t even know her name I realised with a jolt even though she had been working with me for the last two weeks. Not that it mattered much. She wouldn’t last long. They never did. Still, she was a sweet kid. Maybe I should at least make an effort. “Your walking home alone?” I nodded as we stepped into the light drizzle. “Yep, I always do.” Shrugging, I pulled the collar up of my threadbare denim jacket. It didn’t do much to keep the cold rain off of my neck, but at least it was something. “But it’s dark.” Pausing, I stared at her. “Of course it’s dark, it’s almost midnight. Honestly, it’s fine. I take a short cut, and I’m home in ten minutes. It’s no big deal.” Absently I patted her arm. She was so adorable in her concern. “Don’t you think it would be safer to take a taxi?” “Safer yes, affordable no.” The longer I was standing there, the more my back was screaming. “See you tomorrow.” I gave her a wave, ending our conversation and heading in the direction of my tiny one-bedroom apartment with my head down. It was a walk I had done a dozen times before, maybe even more than a dozen. Sure I didn’t live in the best part of town, but nothing had happened yet. A noise caught my attention, and I stopped to listen. Damn it she had freaked me out, since when did I scare because of noise? The city was full of sounds. It was probably just a cat. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. It wasn’t anything like a sixth sense, because I didn’t believe in any of the mumbo jumbo But I was uneasy. It would have been laughable if I didn’t feel so uneasy. Still, my bed was calling, and that was the only thing I could think of. Kicking off my shoes and falling into it. Hell, I was so tired kicking off my shoes was sounding more and more like a chore I couldn’t be bothered to do. If any mugger came between me and my mattress, he was going to regret it. Severely. Turning the last corner, I came to a halt so suddenly it was like I had hit a brick wall. Any hope of getting home and falling into my bed anytime soon vanished as I took it the sight in front of me. Now any sane person would have turned away from the random violence that was going on at the end of the alley, but then again, I had never really been normal. Normal girls didn’t take short cuts down alleyways after working a double shift. But it wasn’t like I could backtrack, they were barring the way. And there was no way I was walking the long way around. Not when I was so close to the sweet oblivion of my bed. “Oi.” My voice seemed quiet as the three men continued to kick the bundle of rags on the floor. Grunting with the exertion of it. Three on one. I hated bullies, “oi.” My voice was louder now, and three pairs of eyes turned to me. Their faces hidden by the shadows. “Leave him alone.” “Walk away.” The threat in their voice was clear, and a shiver ran through me as I caught sight of the man on the ground. He was younger than I had been expecting. But obviously homeless. He seemed to be mostly wearing rags. Shaking my head, I took another step closer. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Stupid or not I wasn’t about to let them beat to death a homeless man, three on one. Only a coward would do that, and I was no coward. “I’m warning you.” “You are?” I rolled my eyes at the one who kept speaking and pulled out my phone. It might not be the latest model, but I was betting that they didn’t realise that in the dark. “Smile asshole, you’re going live.” I pointed the phone in their direction. And they scattered like I knew they would. “You ok?” “You shouldn’t have done that.” The voice that came from the rags was unusually gruff, which matched the giant of a man that unfolded himself from the ground. “I had it under control.” Typical, the big macho man didn’t like being saved by a woman. “Sure, you did big man.” I slipped the phone back into my pocket. “Hey, are you ok, what are you looking for?” He seemed to searching the wet grown for something. His movements jerky and stiff. If he needed medical attention, I was never going to get to my cosy warm bed. “I’m fine.” He answered slowly, and finally, his eyes met mine. “And I’ve found what I am looking for now Ta-ranza.” I had no idea what he had just said, and it didn’t really matter. I was too busy staring into the weirdest most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. Bristol She was the one. I was sure of it. The one who had woken me, the one I had been sent here to find. And she found me. And at the most inappropriate time as well. She had come to my rescue when, in reality, it was meant to be the other way around. I was made to protect her. That was my sole reason for being. To find my Ta-Ranza, and to protect her with my sword, my magic and my life if it came to that. All things I would do willingly and with a smile on my face. Except she was the one who stepped in and saved me. And my male pride was hurt. I was a warrior. I could have handled three humans easily. It was handling them without killing them that I had been struggling with. Standing to my full height, I let my eyes find hers finally. Feeling the deep spark ignite in my chest. She was the one. “Well if you’re sure you ok, I’m gonna head on home.” Blinking back in surprise I could do nothing but stare at her. Did she want to leave? Didn’t she feel what I felt? The overwhelming urge to be together? I felt it already. Her pull, but she didn’t seem to be feeling anything but mild discomfort. Human women were strange, indeed, especially this one with her colourful hair and bright green eyes. “You’re leaving?” She gave a tinkering laugh. “That was the plan unless you need me to protect you? Do you need me to walk you somewhere safe big man?” There could be no denying the mocking tone to her voice, and it took me totally by surprise. “My name isn’t big man, my name is …” taking a step towards her, I froze as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t really care what you’re called lovely. See you around.” She gave a little wave and disappeared around the corner. Leaving me just standing there alone in the cold rain. Had my mate really just walked away from me without even a second look?