He wanted softness and peace and, for a moment, even something like the love she had mentioned.

  His head ached, bringing back a voice he barely remembered. His mother’s voice maybe.

  Something about his heart.

  But then it was gone, replaced by the stone-cold resolve that always held him steady.

  He went downstairs to pull out rations that the double dragons had bought, resenting having to rely on them to provide for his mate.

  He needed to conquer soon and acquire resources.

  But first he had to deal with her monster.

  When he was done assembling the sandwiches as he’d been instructed, he took a plate with them up to Mara’s room, hoping she was done cleaning up and ready to see him again.

  He raised a hand to knock on the door, wondering how she felt about him in the jeans and tee shirt he was wearing again. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss before because of the interruption of the other dragons.

  Mara opened the door, looking out cautiously. Her cheeks flamed bright red as she looked him over.

  Clearly, she was just as affected by their encounter as he was.

  “Can I come in, little one? I mean, Mara.”

  She nodded, opening the door for him and taking the plate he handed her, which she walked over and set on the small table next to her bed before sitting down in the chair in front of it.

  After a few bites, she smiled up at him. “Thank you, this is good.” But then her cheeks flamed again, and she averted her eyes. “I still can’t believe we did all that… I just… I barely know you.”

  His stomach sank. Did she regret it?

  She shook her head instantly, probably reading his thoughts in his expression. “I mean, I don’t blame either of us for getting carried away. We’re trapped here together… and attracted to each other—”

  And he wanted her for a mate, though he didn’t exactly understand what a mate was.

  She twisted her hands together. “I just… As beautiful as this castle is, I wish I could go home. I wish I could see my shop and my friends.” She sighed wistfully, and he immediately wanted to grant every desire of her heart just to ensure she never made that face again. “And we were going to go to a shifter club, you know, to see if the thing about them liking curvy women was true.”

  Jealousy flamed in him, hotter than his dragon fire, lashing at his insides so painfully it was hard to maintain his composure.

  “Of course it’s true. Isn’t it true for human men?”

  She shook her head, putting her arms around herself and putting down her sandwich. “No, my whole life I’ve been made to feel that I should be smaller. Take up less space.” She looked down. “At best, I was ignored and overlooked by the guys reaching past me to my thinner, prettier friends. At worst, bullied, mocked, called—”

  He moved over quickly, leaning down to put his arms around her. “Thin doesn’t equal pretty. No one is prettier than you. Those men are stupid.” He stood up, brushing her hair back with one rough finger. “You are so beautiful, but you are so much more than your body, Mara. Kind. Strong. Wildfire in my arms.” He grinned. “And your body… Yes, if you went to a shifter club, you would see how many others like me would agree, if things are similar to what I’ve experienced on my planet. But why would you want to when you have a barbarian of your own?”

  She blinked, then flushed. “I mean, you aren’t my own. You’re protecting me from this monster… but then you want to conquer the world.”

  He knew she was right. His very DNA insisted on doing what his stone heart demanded.

  He was made for one thing.

  But when he was with her, why was it that he felt he was perhaps made for something else entirely?

  He reached out and looked at her hand. The countdown had moved again, but he wasn’t sure of the number. Regardless, she didn’t deserve to stay imprisoned simply because of something after her. “Mara… what if I went with you?”

  She blinked at him, green eyes welling with emotion. “You would do that? Come out in the world with me? And not destroy everyone?”

  He snorted a chuckle. “Little one, you could ask much more of me.”

  “Then don’t get revenge on my world, ever,” she said.

  “Not that much.” He folded his arms, heart still burning for the hundred lost years. For the memories faded to stupor.

  Revenge was all he had left.

  But perhaps it would be good to go into the human world, he thought, looking into her hopeful eyes. Do recon, see how other shifters reacted to him. See if he could recognize any of the creatures who might have placed the mark.

  After a hundred years in the dark, it would be good to go out into the light.

  Especially with her.

  Wanting to see her green eyes sparkle with happiness, he made his decision.

  “I will go with you to your world—and your store and your home if you like—to keep you safe. And if you want to visit this shifter club, I will accompany you and your friends for protection. I assure you, you could not find better.”

  She jumped up, throwing her arms around him and pressing her delicious curves in against him, making his thoughts go blank as a part of him reacted that really shouldn’t at this moment.

  Gently, he set her apart from him. “When would you like to leave?”

  “Today,” she said. “Oh my gosh, can I go call my friends?” She did a little jump in the air, which did wonderful things for her body, and then a cute little dance that nearly made him weak.

  Dammit, perhaps he had truly fallen for this human.

  Perhaps in a way no barbarian should.

  He firmed his resolve and felt his heart harden. Even to protect her, he needed to hold on to his warrior’s edge. All too soon, he felt everything in him hardening again.

  “I warn you. They are going to be so excited to meet shifters. You know, we’ve been reading and discussing books about them for years.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Books about us? What kind of books?”

  She went redder than he’d ever seen before. “Uh… never mind. Just books.”

  “Show me,” he said, crowding her in, teasing his arm along her sides, holding her soft curves.

  “No!” she said.

  “Come on, Mara,” he said, nuzzling in against her neck in a way he knew she was weak to. “Tell me about the books.”

  She shook her head, pushing him off, which he allowed despite her tininess. “I need to go call my friends, as I said.” She blinked, long reddish-black lashes shading her verdant eyes. “I should warn you, though. Becky doesn’t hold anything back, and Willow is really excited about shifters.”

  “I see only you,” he said.

  “I don’t mean that,” she said. “Just, it might be a crazy night at the club.”

  He lifted his hands, cracking his knuckles together. “Nothing a barbarian dragon can’t handle.” He turned for the door. “Very well, I will go prepare what is needed. I will meet you in the courtyard in an hour.”

  “I’m so excited!” she said, bounding happily again in a way that made his heart stutter.

  Damn, he couldn’t imagine ever being without this woman.

  He put his hand on the door and pushed it open, ready to go, when he heard her call out to him.

  “Oh, and, Konar—”

  “Yes?”

  “Keep the jeans on.” She flushed deeply. “They look so good on you.”

  He gave her a grin. “Of course they do.”

  She made a shocked gasp, but he left before she could say more.

  Time for his first outing into the human world.

  What could go wrong?

  16

  Mara didn’t know whether she or Konar was most nervous about Konar meeting her friends and going into her crystal shop.

  She was currently Skyping Becky and Willow, and Willow looked like she was ready to wet herself with excitement.

  Now Willow was dancing back and forth behind the counter, biting her full lower lip, her dark eyes sparkling in excitement that showed even through the screen.

  “Please,” Becky said. “He may be a shifter, but he’s still a man. Probably a hot man, after all, but a man. Control yourself, Willow.”

  “I can’t help it,” Willow said, hopping from foot to foot again. “I’ve never met one, and now we’re going to a club. I’m just getting my moves ready—”

  “Yes, that’s what you should be excited about,” Becky said with a leer. “Finding a sexy shifter, having an illicit affair in the bathroom…”

  Willow’s expression went blank. “Oh god, I don’t know if I could do that.”

  “Virgin,” Becky joked.

  “I am not,” Willow said. “I’m just a romantic, okay? I don’t want a quickie with a shifter in a bathroom. I want one to fall in love with me, like instantly, and just sweep me off my feet.”

  “Life isn’t a romance novel,” Becky said.

  “I know,” Willow said. “I just wish it could be sometimes.”

  “Konar definitely doesn’t feel like he came from a novel,” Mara said. “You should probably expect him to be a bit harsh.”

  “Really?” Becky asked. “How are you doing with that? And with—” She smirked. “You know… all of it.”

  Mara went red again and heard Becky laugh in response.

  “That’s all the answer I need,” Becky said.

  Willow did her characteristic eyebrow wiggle. “So have you tasted dragon yet?”

  “Guys!” Mara yelled, scandalized. “I’ve only known him two days!”

  “If I had a dragon, it would only take me two minutes,” Becky said, grinning.

  “I would want him to get down on one knee and call me his mate, I think,” Willow said dreamily. “That would be awesome.”

  “Well, the shifters at the club are more likely to give you a bathroom quickie, I’m guessing, but still. At least we’ll feel desired,” Becky said.

  Mara still felt heat in her cheeks. “Well, I can confirm, at least from Konar, that shifters definitely love curves.” Her face flamed deeper. “A lot.”

  “Girl, I’m sure that man can see right through you, blushing like that,” Becky said, grinning.

  “I can’t help it,” Mara said. “He’s… special.”

  “Tell us about him,” Willow said. “Is he like the dragons we read about?”

  Mara shook her head. “He’s hard and fierce. So big I can barely look up at him. He loves his ax… and conquering things—”

  “Seems like a handful,” Willow said, cocking her head and letting her dark curls fall over the side of her face.

  “How is the group doing?” Mara asked, desperate for a change of topic.

  “Great,” Willow said. “We did announce you were staying with a shifter—”

  “Oh great,” Mara muttered.

  “Look, you’ve been a mod for years. We’re all just happy and excited for you. And glad you’re safe. If anyone deserves a shifter adventure, it’s you. You have such a good heart, Mara, and do so much for everyone you meet. You deserve this.”

  Mara blinked, wondering what she would actually get at the end of this.

  She’d been shocked by the feelings Konar had ignited in her. His touch had been searing in a way she never could have imagined. And she, a shy, not-very-experienced woman who always felt picked last, had felt hot, beautiful, desirable. Empowered.

  And now she felt hungry to feel that again.

  But given how much her heart had warmed toward him, pulled toward him, just looking up at his beautiful face when he was inside her, she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

  After all, he’d told her he didn’t have a heart.

  What they’d done was physical, nothing more.

  And he was protecting her. She was grateful for that.

  When they went to the club, would he be expecting her to dance with other shifters? He kept saying “mine” and “mate” during sex, but surely he was just talking about her power—or getting carried away.

  People couldn’t just fall in love that quickly.

  But already, she felt that this stubborn dragon would always be a part of her heart.

  Now, if only she could convince him to let go of the past and his desires to conquer.

  “Girl, you’ve gone quiet,” Willow said gently.

  “It’s just a lot,” Mara said. “I never thought I would get caught up in this. And something is coming for me.” She’d told her friends about the mark earlier.

  Willow’s and Becky’s faces instantly sobered in concern.

  “But Konar will protect you, right?” Becky asked. “No problem.”

  “He can also back off unruly shifters tonight,” Willow said, rubbing her hands together. “Truly perfect. Very glad you got a shifter boyfriend.”

  Mara went red again. Beet red this time. “I—he’s not my boyfriend.”

  “We’ll see,” Becky said. “At first he wasn’t letting us see you or him, and now he’s coming out to let you back in your world. I think he likes you.”

  He likes my power, she thought somewhat bitterly, which he wants for himself.

  But his hands on her curves and the intensity of his orange eyes, lost in passion, had been real.

  He wanted her, physically at least.

  “Okay, girl,” Becky said, standing behind the counter. “I’m going to get things ready. We will see you here soon.”

  “See you, girl,” Willow said, waving.

  Mara turned off the screen and stood nervously.

  Time to go into the world with her dragon.

  17

  The double dragons arrived to pick up Mara and Konar and drop them off at the shop, not trusting Konar to use his dragon form to fly them over.

  As they walked inside, Mara let out a sigh of relief that everything looked normal.

  Rows and rows of crystal spheres, points, and sculptures of every shape, size, and color greeted her, making her heart happy and her soul energized.

  Konar had to duck as he followed in behind her, nearly hitting his head on a crystal wind chime.

  A small girl in the store looked up at him with wide eyes and pulled on her mommy’s shirt. “It’s a giant,” she said, causing Konar to look down at her in confusion.

  Her mommy quickly looked up at Konar and then pulled her daughter closer in fear before edging around him and leaving the shop, dragging her daughter with her.

  Konar looked irritated by the encounter, but then put his huge hands on his hips to study the store. The tee shirt he was wearing outlined his powerful physique, and the jeans were perfection in displaying his incredible legs.

  He had stubble that only enhanced the masculine perfection of his hard jaw, and his dark brows were low over those incredible sunset eyes.

  Her friends were behind the counter, staring openly.

  Mara ran to the door and turned over an “out to lunch” sign so they could have some time in private.

  Becky came around the counter first. Then Willow followed.

  Konar studied them both with a keen gleam in his eye. She wondered what he was thinking about them.

  For a second, she felt jealous, wondering if he would also show as much admiration for her beautiful, curvy friends as he had for her.

  But he simply extended a hand to both politely, greeting them and getting their names while giving them his.

  When the introductions were over, and Willow and Becky were looking over at Mara and fanning their faces, Konar gave Mara a pleased-with-himself expression like he knew he’d done well.

  “Well, damn, they make you big wherever you come from,” Becky said, going back behind the counter again.

  “Drakkaris,” Konar said in that rumbly, low, sexy voice she loved.

  It made her think of the way he’d talked in bed.

  “Where is that?” Willow asked, looking completely overwhelmed by Konar’s presence.

  If only she saw his dragon.

  “Another planet,” Konar said. “Though, I spent some time in the realm that mirrors this one, the fae realm.”

  Mara had never heard of such a place before Konar, and she was sure her friends were lost as well.

  “Well… we’re just glad you’re helping our friend,” Becky said, grinning. “And coming to the club with us.”

  Konar nodded, appraising Becky silently in a way Mara was sure anyone would find intimidating.

  Willow and Becky looked at each other nervously, and then Willow came out to turn over the sign.

  “Why don’t you two just look around and hang out?” Willow said. “Becky and I will help customers, and that way you don’t lose any income. You and your… dragon can just have fun.”

  Konar looked at Mara like he was pleased by that.

  “Okay,” Mara said as a few new customers entered the store, gave Konar a weird look, but proceeded to browse anyway.

  Konar looked like he was resisting snarling at them, so Mara took his huge hand gently in hers and led him over to the crystal jewelry.

  “Here,” she said. “Pick something out. You know, to go with your human clothes.”

  He frowned. “I won’t need human clothes for long because—”

  “Yes, I know, conquering. But still, what calls to you?”

  There were crystals of all types, on metal chains and leather cords, and Konar reached up to touch a carnelian pendant, then one made of jasper.

  She grabbed one with smoky quartz and held it up for him. “What about this?” She lowered her voice so only he could hear. “Matches your dragon, right?”

  He narrowed his eyes on her. “I suppose.” He picked up the stone, turning it over in his hand, closing his eyes as if to feel it. “But I don’t connect with it.”

  “That’s right,” she said. “You believe in crystals.”

  He nodded, continuing to look through the pendants again.

  “I like your dragon, you know,” she said quietly. “But why is he so smoky and rough? Why isn’t he… you know, shiny, like Jack’s blue dragon?”

  He pinned her with a glare, and she realized she had made a mistake.

  “No, no,” she said. “Your dragon is obviously the coolest. It’s just… mysterious. You know?”