I am Dragon (Dragon Fires Rising Book 2) by Marc Secchia (famous ebook reader TXT) 📕

an incredible breath weapon. You crossed the ocean to reach the Archipelago, a notable feat that demonstrates your strength and intrepid spirit. Having faced down Charielle herself, you proved you are skilled both in battle and diplomacy, and you represent a link with the Sea Dragons. Times are not easy here on the Isles. We Dragons feel isolated. Maybe you could change all that. And aye, your potential to sire eggs will merit lively discussion. Many Dragonesses will slaver over your brawny muscles and hefty size, and wonder openly at the dimensions and potency of your –”

She pointed a wicked talon at his nether regions.

Eeep! he managed to splutter.

Azania hooted with laughter. He blushed so furiously, his white scales began to glow from within. Robbed of speech!

“I might have to fight to keep you. And as for these parts –” she waved her paw illustratively “– I plan to keep those very much for myself. Deal?”

Fanning her face, the Princess said, “And I thought you were the inappropriate one, Dragon?”

“I fear I may have been eclipsed,” he groaned, trying and failing to gain control of his fiery blushes. No chance. His glowing scales now lit a patch of beach around them. Interesting effect. Aria seemed suitably impressed! “Still, with regular, vigorous exercise and experimentation to learn the best techniques –”

Azania squealed, “Dragon! Honestly? Here they come … no, they’re only fighting, it seems.”

Soberly, the threesome regarded the fangs-and-talons mêlée which briefly appeared over the rim of the caldera, before sinking out of sight again. No quarter? That must be a battle to the death, or otherwise, these Dragonesses enjoyed tearing each other to pieces for the entertainment provided by all that blood and gore.

The cobalt warrior growled, As I said, a lively discussion. Since it might take a while, do please tell me what you two have been up to since last we met? Every last detail. When last we parted, you wished me all happiness and that I would know who it is that I am and what I want. I cannot say I know who I am, for that is only starting to become clear, but I believe that you both have a part to play. But I do know what I want.

What’s that? he asked.

Rescue Azerim, save the Human kingdom, normalise relations between Humans and Dragons around these Isles, help you find your dam – her fangs gleamed again as she ran out of talons on that paw, and started on the other – romance your every scale, thrash a few Sea Serpents, raise an army and go pound the Skartun into the desert sands –

All at once? Azania quipped, drawing a chuckle from the Dragoness.

He said, Knowing Aria, that’s only the beginning.

Chapter 27: New Dragon

LATE THAT EVENING, A battered, bloody and jubilant crew of Isles Dragons flew over to invite them back to the caldera, where the male Dragons promptly whisked him aside to take part in a traditional dance. Aria joined her dam. Far from being cowed or apologetic, Charielle Seaspray acted elated, proud of her daughter and every inch in charge.

As it turned out, the detriment of Aria’s dishonour was easily outweighed by snagging herself such a well-proportioned, desirable monster of a white Dragon … blah blah, he let the compliments wash over him in a daze of happiness. Quite the catch. Surpassingly handsome. Strong as the very ocean. Mmm, he thought, I’ll savour that one!

So you should, Azania agreed, ever so droll.

Nuisance.

Her dark eyes twinkled. You love the attention, really.

Bidden to roar, he gave them his best, I AM DRAGON!!

Nice one! Making over two hundred Dragonesses shiver deliciously in their scales did happen to do wonders for one’s self-image. Truly miraculous.

Ahem. As a male, that would be part of the territory.

On a rather less egotistical note, he then went through the wringer repeatedly as Aria fought five eager challengers for his paw. Having nearly died of nervous anticipation five times over and bellowed himself hoarse in her support, she snuck up to him afterward and whispered in his ear that the bouts were really just for show, and wasn’t he a nice male to be so anxious and vocal for her sake? Gnarr. Tradition demanded it. Oh, and the broken hind paw she had inflicted upon one of her assailants? Their fault, they should have given over rather than trying to wrench free from her submission hold. Hmm. From the way they fought, he had concluded the other Dragoness would rather have chewed off her own paw than give up.

After the formal bouts, four Dragonesses returned from hunting in the deep waters ten miles offshore, bringing a fifteen-foot, seventeen-hundred-pound whopper of a black marlin which they dropped at Dragon’s paws.

A promise gift, they said.

What do I do with this? he inquired.

Charielle said, You prepare the fish for your promised one, Dragon. This is Isles tradition.

Hmm, he purred, chest swelling at the prospect of proving what a domesticated beast he was. Any herbs and spices about?

His request almost triggered a minor war. Thirty Dragonesses immediately offered to fly to Mykita Lair to fetch whatever he needed. With that underway, he contemplated how best to approach this demonstration of the appropriate male household skills. Aye, chief cook, cleaner, Princess-napper and worshipper of all things cobalt. Very well. He could do domestic with the best of them.

Bring me ten palm fronds and ten coconuts! he demanded.

Another mad scramble.

Excellent. Cracking open his jaw, he snipped the fish’s head right off and set that aside. Then he sliced it open lengthwise and deboned it with the efficient application of work he had learned on river fish, only on a far smaller scale. Everything in the ocean was bigger. He cleaned out the guts and threw the mess onto the sand. Picking through the