Authors: Alice Brown,Lady V
Sapphamire
Sapphamire
Dragons of Dragonose [1]
Alice Brown Lady V
JK Publishing, Inc. (2014)
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some deem offensive. Sexually explicit content. MF
In book one of the Dragons from Dragonose: Blain Barrymire is a dragon shifter from the land of Dragonose. He came to Earth several years ago to search for his mate, and in the meantime, established a powerful business empire based out of his castle in Iceland. When interviewing for the position of his personal assistant, his attention is drawn to a resume from an N. Clayton. He assumes the candidate is a man, and is shocked when it turns out that not only is she a female, but also his mate!
Natasha Clayton is out of options and time. The High Council of Others considers her a ticking time bomb because her powers didn’t manifest in the usual timeframe. She’s part demon/pixie, and part angel, and the council is confused and worried as to why her powers haven't come to light. When she steps into Blain's castle for her interview, she doesn't expect the life-altering changes that are ahead of her.
Blain and Natasha soon face bigger problems than worrying about Natasha’s hidden powers, or the Council of Others. Blain's king has called him home to defend against the imminent threat of a long-standing enemy’s attack.
When the unthinkable happens, and Blain’s dragon is seriously injured, will Natasha’s love and newfound abilities be enough to see Blain through?
Sapphamire
Dragons of Dragonose
Book One
by Alice Brown & Lady V
© Copyright February 2014 JK Publishing, Inc.
ISBN#9781311965233
All cover art and logo © Copyright February 2014 by JK Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Edited by Kimberly Morgan
Artwork by Jess Buffett
Published by JK Publishing, Inc.
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Dedication
There are three people who, without their support, and help, this book would have never come about. First, our beta reader, Heather, who did an amazing job of catching spelling errors we missed and generally giving us confidence that this book turned out well. Since it was the first time we had written together, our confidence needed reassuring. She was quick to come to our aid. Her words when she handed us back the book were: “So, is book two going to be ready by next week?” Love you girl! And thank you for everything you do for us.
Second, a special thank you to our editor, Kimberly, who did an amazing job of taking two writers’ ideas and helping us shape it into one book. And the section that “wasn’t working”? By the time you were finished working it over and then polishing, it shined, right along with the rest of the book.
Last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to Mr. Brown for putting up with the two of us as we worked out all the details of this book. Late night hours, skipped meals, and laundry piling up were all part of writing this book, but as usual, he took it all in stride, helping wherever he could.
Alice & Lady V
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Natasha tried to calm her nerves as she was led through the huge castle. She had been sent there as a last resort; if she didn’t work out, she'd be left with two choices—death, or life in imprisonment. She hadn’t done anything wrong, really; it was more just the fact of who she was. Her mother had been part demon and part pixie, and her father was an angel. To have a child with virtually no powers was a complete disgrace. She had a set of raven black wings, which stayed on her skin as a tattoo when she folded them back, and the ability to shrink down to pixie size when flying if she wanted to. The elders of the supernatural world thought mating her would help bring out her true powers. However, when around men, trouble always seemed to find her.
Natasha was the best weapons handler along with being trained as an assassin. Originally the Council of Others, those who didn't belong to the human race, planned to have her work for them. However, it all changed when the “super powers” they thought she would inherit never manifested. She was then considered to be a ticking time bomb, because they still thought her powers would hit her at any given moment without warning.
Silly, really. She was twenty-five years old and if they hadn’t hit by now, chances were good they wouldn’t. But it didn’t stop the Council from wanting to either lock her up 'for her own good', or outright kill her. Yes, they truly considered her a ticking time bomb, a fact in which she had tried to otherwise convince them since she turned eighteen.
“In here.” The man behind her ordered, giving her a shove just as she stepped over the threshold, causing her to stumble the remainder of the way.
Way to go, Natasha. Great way to make a first impression.
She was barely able to catch her balance when the big man stepped in behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see him standing in front of the now-closed door, blocking her way with his feet spread apart and his arms folded over his chest.
Oh wow, Chief Sitting Bull is going to try to block my escape
. She clamped her lips shut to stop the giggle threatening to escape.
Silly man, clearly he hasn’t heard about me.
Not even jumping out of a third-story window was out of her realm of possibilities. Then the caged-in feeling started, making her feel like a helpless, trapped animal. Natasha hated feeling weak, and she quickly glanced around the room, taking in her surroundings. She spotted a man sitting behind a desk with his head bent, seemingly signing paperwork.
She waited patiently for him to finish, but couldn’t help the shiver that ran down her spine once he sat back and his cold gaze raked over her.
“Who are you? Where’s Clayton?” he snapped, not seeming too amused to see a woman standing in front of him, instead of yet another man.
“I am Clayton, sir. Natasha Clayton,” she replied, fixing her gaze on the window over his shoulder.
He snorted, stood quickly, and walked around his desk to perch on the front of it. “I would prefer it if you looked at me when I’m talking to you.”
She closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them to look directly at him. Though his attitude could use a bit of work, his body was the makings of a Greek god. A drop-dead, absolutely gorgeous Greek god. His short black hair was spiked, and combined with his piercing indigo blue eyes, kissable lips, his height of six foot six, and his extremely built physique, he reminded her of a warrior.
Gosh almighty he was a lot taller than she was.
Now, seeing him up close and personal, she could fully understand why he was the alpha dragon to the Northern dragon covens in Iceland.
“You left out quite a bit in your profile,” he stated coldly.
She raised her chin in defiance. “I didn’t think they were relevant to the position, sir.”
He sighed heavily as he pondered over this situation. “Okay, I’ll let that one slide momentarily. I do have a few questions that will need to be answered, though.”
“Of course, sir.”
“First off, do you even know my real name? Do you know anything about me other than addressing me as
sir
?”
“Yes, sir, Blain Theodore Barrymire, sir,” she stated proudly with just a hint of a smirk, glad she had actually remembered his full name.
“If by chance I end up signing you on here, who will be your master, owner, or lord?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, and lifted his left eyebrow while he awaited her answer.
What the hell kind of question was that? Was he just like all the others?
“No one, sir.”
Just as soon as the words left her mouth, she knew they were the wrong ones to say. The guard behind her came up, wrapped a fist deep into her hair, and yanked, forcing her to her knees with her head back. Her hands flew back to his fist trying to loosen his hold; it felt like he was going to pull out every strand by the roots. She dug her fingernails into his wrists. Tears started to sting her eyes, and she wanted to scream out in anger the two of them obviously were no different from everyone else she had met.