“Have you ever thought of getting a tattoo?”
The bubble burst. “What the fuck? I thought you were going to suggest something big here.”
He looked away. “I mean, it is kinda big, I just figured that maybe a tattoo would be preferable to embedding it in your skin, ‘cause that might be weird, and I just wanted to try and appeal to you so that you would want to.” He paused to take a breath. “Because I don’t want to lose you, and this just seemed the easiest way that I could come up with, but if you don’t like it we don’t need to—”
Aimee pressed her hand to his mouth, stopping the word-vomit. “Okay, whatever this is, it’s clearly got you nervous beyond all reasonable amount. I was going to go slow with you, but it seems you need my feminine touch.”
Rhys exploded with laughter. “I’m sorry, your what?!” he howled, shaking so hard she thought he was going to break the bed.
SMACK!
“Ow!” he yelped as her hand connected solidly with his tight ass, leaving a beautiful five-finger mark.
She forced herself not to wince in pain, trying to act like it hadn’t hurt her at all, but damn that had been excellent contact.
“See what I mean!” he complained, still laughing.
Aimee raised her hand again, but he put both up as a shield. “I give, I give!” he chuckled as she tackled him.
“Out with it, mister. What is the big deal and why a tattoo?”
He sobered instantly. “Do you still have the stone I gave you?”
She frowned. “Yes. It’s in my nightstand.” After a gesture she got it.
Rhys took it in his hand, and as she watched it wavered, altered, and then dissolved into an image of a dragon a little larger than both her hands put together, the shape outlined in black lines mixed with bits of silvery-platinum from the scale he’d worked into it.
“Wow,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful.”
He smiled, looking embarrassed. “I’ve put some of me into this,” he told her. The image shrunk a little, some of the black working itself into an intricately linked necklace. “If you wear this around your neck, it will do a lot for you.”
“Like what?” she asked, holding the pendant necklace in her hand. It was now closer to the size of her palm. Hard, yet flexible enough that it wouldn’t feel awkward on her.
“Slow aging. Cure and prevent disease, for starters. You’ll probably notice a slight increase to your strength and reflexes, but not enough to mark you as different.”
“Seriously? It can do all that?”
“Yes.” He hesitated before pushing on. “And if you embed it into your skin, it will tie you to me completely, bonding us as one.”
“Meaning I’ll turn into a dragon?” Aimee wasn’t sure about that one.
“No,” he said with a grin. “But it will keep you alive as long as I am.”
She gasped. “Really?”
“Yes. We could see the future of this world for ages to come, side by side.” He shrugged. “If you want that.”
Aimee had never been so sure of anything in her life. Rolling onto her back, she pulled the covers down to expose the skin there. “Will here work?”
“Yes,” he said, laying the cool-feeling stone onto her skin.
“How do we do this?”
He grimaced. “Uh, I cut you open and press it into your skin. It’s not a pleasant experience, but you will heal quickly, thanks to its benefits.”
It was her turn to hesitate. “You can’t just press it into me?”
“No, I’m sorry. Once it bonds to you I lose the ability to shape it further. So I have to press it into an open cut. Sort of like a tattoo.”
Shit. “This is going to hurt, isn’t it?”
“It might sting a bit.”
“Damn, it’s really going to suck. But you say I’ll be able to spend eternity with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s get started, my mate. My love. I don’t want to waste another second being any farther apart from you than I need to be.”
She lay flat and prepared for the first moments of the rest of her life.
********
********
This concludes Ember, Dragons of Drake’s Crossing Book 2.
Want More of These Characters?
Hey!
Thanks for digging in to my back matter for more books to read. I’ve written a number of series now, in two main worlds. Both worlds have an easy and convenient to read introductory bundle with a number of stories in it that will drag you right into the world.
The Outsiders
This is the world Dragon Rebellion was written. Not been with the series from the start? Get the first book for just $0.99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Dragon Temptation (Crimson Dragons Book 1)
Cadia
In this world shifters and humans live apart. Will imaginary barriers prevent real love? Not sure where to start? Try reading:
The Dragons of Cadia Bundle (Click)
This 6 book bundle is just $0.99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited. From there, just follow the links in the back!
Genesis Valley
This is the other world I have written extensively in. There are a number of books in the series, and the order can jump around a bit. The best way to start is here:
Jade Crew: The Boxed Set (Link)
This 7 book collection is also just $0.99c and FREE with Kindle unlimited. Once you reach the end, it will link you to the next series.
Already read both box sets and want more? Flip the page for the complete rundown of all my series and the recommended reading order.
Thanks!
-Amelia Jade
The Outsiders
This is the series/book list for the Outsiders world.
Crimson Dragons
Dragon Temptation
Dragon Seduction
Dragon Devotion
Onyx Dragons
Dragon Fixation
Dragon Obsession
Dragon Addiction
Ice Dragons
Dragon Eruption
Dragon Redemption
Dragon Rebellion
The world of: Cadia
Here are the main series in the world of Cadia. Find them below!
Start with:
Dragons of Cadia: The Complete Dragon Shifter Series.
The Full 6 Book Bundle (Link)
Includes:
Frost Dragon
Fire Dragon
Electro Dragon
Gale Dragon
Fume Dragon
Aurum Dragon
Next:
Base Camp Bears
Green Bearets: Luther
Green Bearets: Aksel
Green Bearets: Jarvis
Green Bearets: Garrin
Green Bearets: Kiefer
Green Bearets: Gabriel
Then:
Blackjack Bears: Pierce
Blackjack Bears: Kean
Blackjack Bears: Gavin
Blackjack Bears: Kassian
Blackjack Bears: Maximus
Then:
Standalones (In Chronological Order)
Big Bad Wolf Dad
Bad Bad Bear Dad
Big Bad Bear Daddy
Bigger Badder Bear Dad
Wing Her Over
The World of: Genesis Valley
This world follows the events in Genesis Valley, where misfit shifters of the world are sent. It is a brutal, vicious place where everyone’s chances have already been used up. This is it. Screw up, and they end you. But amongst the harsh life these bear shifters have eked out for themselves, everything burns brighter. Especially love.
The books in the first two series jump around some if you wish to follow the exact chronological timeline. See the numbers in bold to follow the order.
Get the complete 16 Book Boxed Set
Or start with:
Jade Crew
The Complete Boxed Set (Link)
Includes:
Jade Crew: Alpha Bear [1]
Jade Crew: Haunted Bear [2]
Jade Crew: Forgotten Bear [3]
Jade Crew: Captive Bear [5]
Jade Crew: Outcast Bear [6]
Jade Crew: Hunted Bear[8]
Jade Crew: Fallen Bear [9]
Next:
Stone Bears
Stone Bear: Sentinel [4]
Stone Bear: Phoenix [7]
Stone Bear: Guardian [10]
Then:
Genesis Valley
Blueblood Dragon
Blackmarket Bear
Finally:
The Agency
Get the 4 Book Boxed Set (Click Here)
Sentinel: Bravo Bear
Blackblood Bear
Silver Bullet Bear
Kingpin Bear
About the Author
Amelia Jade loves to write the stories of tall, growly shifter men and the women who come to love them. Living out in the backcountry near the mountains, she keeps her own alpha male close by to keep the bears away and keep her warm. In her downtime (which is rare), she loves to read science-fiction with a dash of fantasy. You can often find her curled up in front of the real wood-burning fireplace, her nose firmly buried in a book or her favorite e-reader. The cold can’t bother her there!
For more information about Amelia Jade and her work, visit her website or find her on Facebook.
Amelia Jade’s Website
Author Page
Contents
Author’s Note
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
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About the Author