Dallas the tiger just gave Beck a glare as he picked up a small box that wasn’t even wrapped and walked back to his mate, Mel, who was far enough along that it showed. Though Olivia had only just met her earlier today, she instantly liked her.

  Dallas opened it, and his usually calm gaze went slightly wider as he pulled out a sparkling diamond chain. On the end of it, a green emerald that was probably absurdly expensive glittered, catching everyone’s attention in the room.

  “Who the hell brought that?” Diesel asked.

  Olivia had an idea.

  From the side, Troy sputtered while midway through drinking a glass of something dark like whiskey.

  “It’s supposed to be twenty dollars or under,” Harrison said, folding his arms as he stood over by the Christmas tree.

  Troy set his glass down. “I don’t know what the fuck humans gift for these stupid things! How was I supposed to know?”

  Olivia tried to suppress a laugh, which only drew Troy’s attention.

  But when he glanced between her and Ajax, his annoyance calmed slightly.

  Though Ajax and Olivia weren’t jumping back into danger just yet, they had talked extensively about continuing to work for the double dragons on a case-by-case basis. After all, she and her mate still cared about helping people. And once their vacation was over, she wouldn’t mind getting back to helping whomever they could, humans and shifters alike.

  Dallas looked confused by the opulent jewelry as he put it back into the box and set it aside. In the background, Jack tried to calm Troy as he continued to rant about stupid human customs.

  Mel went next, followed by Morgan and Diesel, as Christmas music played quietly in the background.

  Then, out of nowhere, the sound of light scratching on the front door interrupted the festivities.

  “Are we expecting anyone else?” Marian asked, looking up at a confused Harrison.

  “The whole damn crew’s here. Even Clark,” he responded. From the corner of the room, Clark glowered as he read a book by himself, having recently claimed Harrison’s comfy chair as his newest crater.

  “I’ll see who it is,” Clancy said, getting up to go to the door. When he opened it, Olivia couldn’t see anyone on the other side.

  Clancy barked out a laugh, and everyone peered in his direction.

  “Looks like our neighbors came to visit.” He stepped away from the door, and a whole family of raccoons stood there in the doorway.

  Everyone crowded around to see, and Olivia’s heart melted at the sight of two adult raccoons standing on their hind legs, flanked by a handful of still-growing adolescent raccoons that ducked behind their parents as everyone watched.

  “Seems like Gary and her family want to wish us happy holidays,” Clancy said with a grin as leaned down and handed a cracker to one in the front. When Grace came up, practically shaking with excitement, Clancy gave her a handful of the crackers, which she handed out to the rest of the furry little creatures one by one.

  “Gary’s a girl?” Gunnar’s mate, April, asked curiously.

  “It’s sort of a long story,” Reno answered, followed by a chuckle.

  “You guys are growing up so fast,” Beck exclaimed as he raised a hand to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, looking down at them like a proud father.

  Who would have guessed the mountain dragon had such a soft spot for tiny animals?

  While everyone continued to greet the little family, Olivia tugged Ajax’s hand, making him look down at her.

  “I want to show you something,” she said, wondering if a certain favor she’d called in had shown up just yet.

  In response, Ajax’s red eyes—which reminded her of his dragon more every day—sparkled with curiosity.

  They got up off the couch and went through another door, one that led through the back of the house and onto a covered porch.

  The chilly Texas wind bit at her skin, and as usual, Ajax’s coat was on her shoulders in an instant.

  Just the smell of him got her in the mood.

  “Sorry I keep taking your coat,” she said, tucking her hands into the pockets as he wrapped his arms around her.

  “What are mates for?” he asked with a grin.

  They stayed together like that for a moment. Then suddenly, white flakes started to appear all around them. Ajax’s eyes went wide as he looked up at the sky, then down at her.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  She laughed as several flakes landed on her nose and forehead. And when Ajax leaned forward to lick one off her cheek, she shivered with need for him.

  “Just a little snow,” she replied.

  In the days since they’d been mated, she’d asked about his mate research, and he’d shown her a few of his notes. One of them included a curiosity to know what it felt like to kiss when it was snowing, since it was often depicted in romantic movies.

  And she personally knew a few dragons that could control the weather…

  “It’s snowing!” someone shouted from the other end of the house.

  “Did you do this?” Ajax asked, a grin on his full lips.

  Olivia shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe.”

  A shadow crossed over them, and they both looked up to see a dragon above them, its scales and wings the color of sapphires, flying high in the sky.

  Lucien, the sapphire dragon, had said he and his family would be visiting someone in Texas for the holidays when she’d asked him a few days ago. And he’d been more than happy to grant her the small favor, especially after she’d helped him with something important a couple years back.

  More snowflakes filled the air in flurries, carried on the dry wind all around them.

  “You remembered my notes,” Ajax said with a grin.

  Then he leaned down and kissed her deeply, and love filled Olivia from the inside out, growing like a bonfire that warmed her soul.

  Every day, she felt more right about her decision to be with Ajax. And every kiss, every touch, only further reassured her that this was right.

  That it was all meant to be. Fated even.

  “Ho, ho, ho… Merry Christmas!” the sapphire dragon called down from high in the sky, headed east, probably to return to his family.

  Troy suddenly appeared on the back porch, eyes blazing with frustration at the snowflakes all around. He then looked up at the shape of the dragon disappearing into the distance and shook his fist. “I didn’t authorize this! Get out of here. This isn’t your territory!” he yelled upward, face flushed, though Olivia doubted there was any chance Luc could hear him as the dragon’s shape quickly disappeared into the clouds above.

  “I think you’ve maybe had one too many drinks, partner,” Jack said, appearing at Troy’s side and ushering him back into the house. As he did, he sent Olivia a longsuffering smile.

  She’d have to tell them later that she’d been the one to set this up. Troy had always been a bit of a stickler for rules.

  But Ajax apparently had something to tell her as he pulled back and reached into his back pocket, withdrawing his notebook, which she hadn’t even noticed was there.

  “Speaking of my mate research, I’ve been meaning to show you this,” Ajax said, opening it and flipping to a specific page. “Something you might like to see.”

  His expression was calm and slightly guarded as he held it open for her, pointing to a specific line that was written in heavy red ink and underlined.

  She leaned forward to read it, anticipation burning inside her.

  Conclusion: I would rather not have a mate than have it be the wrong mate. So if I find THE ONE, I will hold on tight and never, ever let go.

  She felt emotion warm her cheeks as Ajax closed the book and put it back in his pocket. “It was only ever you for me, Olivia.” He wrapped his arms around her again as he spoke, his breath coming out in misty puffs. “All my research led me to believe I could never find someone that could be the other half for a monster like me.”

  “You’re my monster,” she said, her sight going blurry from tears of joy that were filling her heart to the brim. His warm, reassuring arms made her feel safe and wanted, always.

  “My mate,” he said so sweetly it warmed her instantly as his hand found the back of her head, holding her against him.

  Around them, several others came out, exclaiming over the strangeness of seeing snow in the desert. Even Clark emerged from inside the house, arguing with Diesel about how long it had been since it had snowed out in these parts.

  The world seemed to melt away around Olivia, though, as the snow continued to fall in tufts.

  And when Ajax kissed her again, all she felt was love for her mate and hope for the future.

  There would be more adventures. Maybe even more dragons to discover, new friends to make.

  But as long as they were together, she was happy.

  And that was the greatest present of all.

  Thank you so much for coming along with Ajax and Olivia on their adventure! If you enjoyed it, I’d love it if you would consider leaving a review to help other readers find and enjoy it! I really appreciate you taking a chance on my story!

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  Thanks for joining me for this year of releases! I’m still recovering from disability, but I managed to get 11 books done this year, which was 3 more than last year!

  In my side time, I also started a new pen name which you are welcome to check out!

  Domino Savage (my pen name) Rise of the Morningstar series

  These books start a completely new world, and the characters are younger (early to mid-twenties). Each book ends like a Harry Potter book, with the adventure wrapped up, but the characters still ready for another adventure in the next book.

  I’ve also heard it called ’Sexy Lord of the Rings’.

  If you liked my Double Dragon books, that’s the closest comparison I could make style-wise.

  The new world contains shifters, minotaurs, vampires, fae, void-walkers, orcs, demons (abyssal fire creatures, not related to religion) and many other new types of creatures in a completely new world.

  Feel free to check these books out for something to read while you wait for the next Terry release! They are in KU!

  The Demon’s Pet (Rise of the Morningstar Book 1)

  The Demon’s Path (Rise of the Morningstar Book 2)

  Rules are all that keep us alive in my haven. I broke the most important one.

  Ever since the great divide, when supernaturals emerged to take back the world, wolf shifters like me have lived in sheltered havens.

  The celestials, winged gods who inhabit the sky realms above us, protect us as long as we follow the rules, and kill us if we don't.

  So when I refuse to accept my place as the pack's scapegoat, they send an archangel to kill me. From the instant I see Samael, something burns between us. He's as powerful as I am powerless, with authority no one can gainsay.

  And he decides he'd rather take me than kill me.

  Between his black wings that signal horrific amounts of mortal sin and his dark love of violence, I'm not sure being with him counts as being rescued.

  Until I see the things he's willing to do with his swords in order to protect me.

  He insists he has ulterior motives and is only waiting for a mysterious favor, but Sam is far more than he appears on his beautiful surface.

  And as we get closer on our dangerous journey, the heat between us grows hotter than hellfire. We both have hidden secrets, and they're being pulled to the surface with every touch.

  I might just be the subject of an ancient prophecy, destined to bring the world to balance. That is, if the ruthless gods trying to kill me don't catch up first.

  The Demon’s Pet (Rise of the Morningstar Book 1)

  You can also follow me (Terry) on Facebook here:

  https://www.facebook.com/TerryAnnBolryder/

  Or Instagram here:

  https://www.instagram.com/terrybolryder/

  Want some more sexy shifter fun?

  I write a wide variety of shifter, fantasy and paranormal romance, so let me suggest something for you!

  I have a guide to my books and world building, which you can check out here:

  The Magical World of Terry Bolryder: A Reading Guide

  Want hot, growly cowboy dragons in Texas? Try my Texas Dragons series:

  Cowboy Dragon (Texas Dragons book 1)

  Rancher Dragon (Texas Dragons book 2)

  Wrangler Dragon (Texas Dragons book 3)

  Outlaw Tiger (Texas Dragons book 4)

  Rogue Wolf (Texas Dragons book 5)

  Want more magical dragons with unique powers and big, hot bodies? Try my all-time best-selling Awakened Dragons series. (Sample on next page)

  Awakened Dragons Box Set

  Awakened Dragons Separate Books

  Sample of The Demon’s Pet

  “Hey, omega, come give me a kiss.”

  I raised my head, staring through the straggled, dark strands of my hair at the smirking, obnoxious face of Zane, one of my worst bullies.

  Then again, as the omega of my village, almost everyone had a reason to bully me, so rankings could sometimes be relative.

  In any celestial wolf haven, we were expected to follow strict rules from the time we were born.

  Without them, the pack would cease to function, or worse, the celestial enforcers, the archangels, would come to wreak havoc on any apostates.

  And bless those who followed the rules.

  I stared at the ground, chest painfully tight and heart ramming against my ribcage, and went over my possible options as Zane continued to taunt me from the other side of the road.

  I didn’t have to look up to know he was handsome. Blond. Tall. Athletic, though still slim.

  All his life, things had been handed to him.

  All because he was an alpha.

  “Hey, omega, look at me when I’m talking to you.”

  I told myself to calm down, stay cool. It never did any good to escalate things in these situations. Even if I managed to fight off one alpha or beta, they would group up and enforce the pack dynamic.

  And why not? They weren’t at the bottom of it.

  “Look at me, or I’m going to make you look at me,” Zane snarled.

  Alpha power. He’d use it on me, forcing me to bend to him.

  We don’t have to listen, something murmured inside me.

  I’d always had this little rebellious voice that crept up at these moments to try to persuade me to go against the pack.

  But if I stuck up for myself, they’d take away my ability to shift for a week, locking me in a collar.

  The only moments of freedom I had were when I was allowed to shift and run through the endless acres of tall grass and wildflowers outside my cottage.

  I’d seen collared omegas, and I had no desire to be one.

  Not even the mated kind.

  I’d rather die than be on a leash.

  “You’re an omega,” my mother had said. “That means someone will always be in control of what happens to you.” Her weary eyes, deeply lined and drained by her own life as an omega, begged me to accept it easily.

  I never could.

  From the second I’d found out I was an omega, I’d been fighting it. Ignoring advances from alphas. Fighting betas who were bullies.

  Someone else running my life? I’d never allow that.

  They’d have to gang up and kill me first.

  Which wasn’t impossible, since stoning got reinstated last year as a punishment for unruly omegas.

  “I’m going to have fun punishing you for this infraction, omega bitch,” Zane said, losing his patience. I could scent his stress in his sweat. My failure to submit to him had pricked his fragile, bloated ego.

  “You stay right there,” he snarled.

  I stood but dropped my heavy groceries as I turned to face him.

  As an omega, it was my job to do whatever a beta or alpha asked of me.

  No limits.

  Any refusal could be met with death.

  With his shifter strength and deftness, Zane strode across the street and got to me in mere seconds. Before I could blink, he grabbed my hair, uncombed and tangled as usual (because what was the point of looking good for these assholes) and jerked my head back so I was forced to look up at him.

  Tears bit at my eyes from the pain, and my neck flared in agony, but I held it all back and gave him the flat, unresponsive glare that I knew would deprive him of any enjoyment.

  Any of the power he usually felt from putting someone down.

  With a snarl, he shoved me away from him, so hard that I stumbled back and planted down on my ass in the dry grass beyond the sidewalk.

  He circled me and then stopped as I realized others were coming to join us, their footsteps echoing on the pavement as their shadows danced toward us in the waning evening light.

  “The mating ceremony is tonight,” Zane said, bending over to grab my hair again. “If you want me to pick you, you’d better decide to be nice.” He leaned his head in closer, closer, his lips coming in threateningly, slowly, as if he expected me to kiss him, opening his lips and letting his dog breath assault me.

  I head-butted him, using the hard part of my upper forehead to crush his nose the way my karate teacher had taught me.

  Before I’d been assigned my official omega status and was forced to quit, martial arts had been the best part of my life.

  Zane’s nose made a satisfying crack, and his blood spurted out on my shirt as he flew backward, landing on the ground but quickly pulled up by two of his lackeys.

  “You bitch!” he hissed, swiping the quickly flowing blood from his nose even as I watched, mesmerized, as his shifter healing slowly moved the crooked bones back into place with little popping sounds, like a tent being assembled, the blood flow slowing.

  In seconds, he looked normal again, except for the crust of blood around his nose.

  “Typical omega, can’t even hit that hard,” he said, and several of his goons laughed.