Oh, good lord!

Jolene had not signed up for this. No way in hell! Her thighs burned. Her feet hurt. She was sweaty. Her t-shirt was sticking to her back, and underboob sweat was a thing. It existed. It was very real and happening to her right at that moment.

She stopped for a second, breathing heavily. The girl she was with glanced back. “You okay?” Not a drop of sweat on her young, perky, twenty-something body. Christina was sweet though. Sweet but tough as nails, which could be irritating.

Just a bit longer.

Just one more hill.

Just one more mile.

We’re nearly there. All thrown at her in a sing-song voice. A voice that didn’t hold a shred of fatigue. Arghhhh! “I’m just reminding myself why I’m here. Why I didn’t wait at the drop off point like the other women. They were clever.”

Christina smiled. “You know why.”

“Because the best guys don’t want easy pickings.” She panted between every word and then made a snorting noise. “I can’t believe that dragon lady actually used the term ‘easy pickings’.”

“Used the term.” Christina laughed. “More like spat the words out like a curse. I want a prince. I’m only sorry that there aren’t any kings left.” She sighed. “I’m willing to keep on going to make sure I get one.”

Jolene didn’t have to think why she put one foot in front of the other right then. “I want to make the guy work for it a bit, I guess. Easy come, easy go as the saying goes.” She might really want to settle down, but she wasn’t willing to settle. Two very different things. “I ultimately want a sweet guy…” She shrugged. Someone who would love her passionately and completely. “I guess royalty isn’t important to me.”

“It’s a golden chest all the way for me.” Christina opened a bottle of water and took a sip. “The way the gold glints off their chests in the sun is amazing.”

“The silver tattoos are also pretty spectacular.” What was she saying? Everything about these shifters was superb. Gold, silver…it didn’t matter.

“Dragons,” Christina sighed. “Here I was expecting wolves or bears. I certainly never imagined being a princess and with a dragon shifter.”

“Me neither…the dragon shifter part that is.”

“We should get going.” Christina recapped her water.

“You are a machine,” Jolene mumbled, meaning it.

Christina smiled. “Rubbish. You should meet my personal trainer, then you’ll know all about working out. See that ridge over there?”

Jolene sighed. “The one that’s at least two, if not more, miles away? The one I’m having a hard time seeing because it’s so far?”

Christina shook her head, still smiling. “It’s barely a mile. One more mile. What’s one more little mile?”

One more stinking mile.

One more.

They started to walk, within half a minute, Christina picked up the pace, taking them almost to a steady jog. This girl would be the death of her. A roar sounded behind them. It had her almost falling over her own feet. It had her heart skipping several beats. It had gooseflesh rising on her arms. Her man was here. He was here.

She turned. The shifter moved with startling speed. His muscles had muscles. She was shocked by the sight of him. Her mouth actually fell open.

“My prince has arrived.” Christina moved in next to her, the other woman’s eyes were just as wide. “They’re all pretty hot, but that’s next level.” She sighed.

He did, indeed, have a golden chest tattoo. "Yes, he most certainly is next level." She still sounded breathless, but at this point, it had nothing to do with the exertion. Those eyes, those lips. She realized with a start that he was close enough for her to see his lips. And such an arrogant smile. It was sexy though.

“Afternoon, ladies. I’m so glad there were two of you with a little bit of fire in your veins.” His smile turned into a grin. “I’m happy to announce I think you’re both gorgeous.” It was like he was trying to decide which one of them he wanted. Looking from one to the other.

Jolene frowned. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down. Her Prince Charming was supposed to fall instantly in love with her at first sight. They were supposed to look into each other’s eyes and realize in that same moment that they were meant to be together forever. Done. Sorted.

Instead, his gaze finally settled on Christina, sizing her up. It seemed to take forever before those brilliant purple eyes ‒ with lashes that long did not belong on a man ‒ landed back on her, doing the same. Appraising. Searching. Maybe he was looking for child-bearing hips. She had those. Or boobs capable of feeding a small village. She had those too ‒ and the boob sweat to prove it. If so, she was winning this hands-down.

But no, that didn’t seem to be it since he turned those gorgeous eyes back to Christina. “Good afternoon to you too,” her competition purred, managing to sound sexy and sophisticated.

“Afternoon…hi…” Jolene panted, still a tad out of breath. They had just crossed the countryside after all. Up and down enormous hills. Around boulders and over fallen trees. It had been exhausting.

The shifter folded his arms across an enormous chest, which was bare. His abs…good lord his abs! She struggled to focus on anything else in the face of those honeys.

“I’m going to have to excuse myself in a moment. I can see by the way you’re both looking at me, that you’re very interested. I’m going to let the two of you decide who gets me.” He widened his arms. Great arms! His biceps were thick and—

Wait a minute! Wait! “Um…” Jolene thought back to their brief training. To everything those shifter women had told them the evening before. “I don’t think that’s how this was meant to go down. You’re supposed to hunt us…go after us…It’s not supposed to be the other way around.”

The shifter cocked a half-smile as a roar sounded behind him. He didn’t even flinch. That roar was followed by two more. Oh, good lord! Three guys were running towards them. The shifter in front of them smirked. “That would be my cue.” He winked, looking gorgeous as he did it. “Forget what you were told. I don’t know…talk it through…fight it out…” He winked again. "Let me know who the lucky winner is when I get back."

“Wait…what?” Forget it! “I’m not fighting.” Jolene folded her arms, glancing at Christina. She was bigger than the younger woman, she could just sit on her until she gave up.

“Why not?” Christina didn’t sound too impressed. “I think we should at least argue some.”

The shifter chuckled. It was throaty and really sexy. “That’s more like it. I’ll see you ladies shortly.” He turned and sprinted away, moving with such power. He also had a good supply of grace for someone that big. His back was sculpted to utter—

Nope…wait up. All that smirking and winking. He was hot, but he came across as a player. That’s not what she’d signed up for. It didn’t matter that he was sex on legs. It wasn’t what she wanted. She'd learned a thing or two over the years. Right now, she trusted her gut.

“Just because I’m smaller than you, doesn’t mean I can’t take you. I’m stronger than I look,” Christina went on.

“That’s not it!” Well sort of. Jolene was convinced she could win even though Christina was fitter, the other woman was just too tiny. “It’s just that, bottom line, I’m not fighting over a man. I had this conversation with my friend just the other day. I won’t do it. Call it a principle.” She shook her head.

"So, that means I win by default." Christina smirked. "I get my prince after all, and he's a hottie. Those other three all have silver tattoos." She made a face, pointing over Jolene's shoulder.

Irritation burned inside Jolene. It wasn’t because she actually wanted Golden Boy ‒ who was indeed a hottie. It was because she didn’t like losing. For just a second, that’s what this felt like ‒ like she’d flat-out lost ‒ and she was almost tempted to take on the other woman just to prove she could. Thing was, it would be a fight for all the wrong reasons. Not fighting wouldn’t be losing, it was conceding, which was something different. Conceding was a choice. One she decided to make.

There was a yell as the sounds of flesh thudding against flesh filled the air, drawing their attention. Jolene turned. Both their mouths fell open as a bloody battle ensued. One of the three silver dragon shifters was already down. That must have been him yelling as he fell. He rolled on his back, on the ground, cradling a broken arm to his chest, moaning loudly. Even from this distance, Jolene could see that his face was pale and taut with pain.

Golden Boy punched a second guy in the face, taking a punch to the jaw himself. His head snapped back for a split second. Other than that, the hit didn’t deter him. In a surprising move, he leaped into the air, elbowing the one guy in the face while kicking the other shifter square on the chest.

There was a cracking noise that made Jolene flinch, and the guy went flying. He tried to get up, but Golden Boy kicked him solidly on the underside of his chin with a crack. There was another thudding noise as the back of his head hit the ground.

“Oh shit!” Christina said.

“He has to be dead!” Jolene yelled, unable to believe what she was seeing.

The last remaining shifter jumped onto Golden Boy’s back, but he countered, elbowing him hard in the solar plexus. The shifter made an ‘oof’ noise and fell back, managing to keep his footing. Golden Boy turned so quickly it was hard to register the move. One second his back was to them and the next he was facing forwards. It was freaky. The other shifter dropped down, narrowly avoiding a punch, which was also delivered startlingly quickly. He landed on his haunches, dropping back onto his hands and sweeping with his legs.

Golden Boy not only jumped up to avoid the kick but landed on top of the poor shifter, knocking him to the ground. With one…two quick, downward punches, the shifter was out cold, his head lolling to the side.

Moving in a care-free, relaxed manner, Golden Boy stepped off the downed shifter and rose to his full height. His chest heaved a few times, that was the sum total of any sign of exertion. It seemed like he and Christina had a couple of things in common so they would get along great after all.

Jolene felt a pang. Golden Boy was something to behold. She’d made her decision though and was only feeling this way because…conceding still felt like losing to some degree.

The guy with the broken arm was sitting, still cradling the limb. He looked up, fear on his face. At least, it looked like fear. Hard to tell from over there. Golden Boy said something and the guy on the ground responded, his shoulders relaxing.

“What are they saying?” Christina asked, sounding breathless.

“I can’t make it out.” Jolene shook her head.

“Good lord but that was hot!” Christina held her chest with one hand.

“Violence is not hot,” Jolene said with a little too much venom but only because it had indeed been hot. It was wrong of her…of them to think it. One against three and only one blow to the jaw. The guy was skilled. That much was for sure. Golden Boy turned to them, saying something else to the shifter with the broken arm.

“I’m in love,” Christina gushed.

“You don’t even know his name.”

“I don’t have to,” Christina sighed.

Conceding, not losing! Conceding, dammit! “I wish you many happy years together,” Jolene pushed out.

“Thanks,” Christina whispered.

The male’s arm was cleanly broken. No bones protruded from the skin. He would heal quickly. “You have made a wise choice by standing down, Bayou.” Storm had no wish to knock a fellow water dragon out, like he had the others.

Bayou nodded. “Thank you for sparing me, my lord.” He looked up, looking Storm in the eyes. “I had to try.” He looked back down, showing submission.

Storm nodded. “I understand.” He laughed. “It was a bad decision.”

“I realize that now.” Bayou smiled, looking back up.

“I will make my choice quickly.” Storm glanced at the females. “You move in straight after. The others will not be far behind.” He checked the horizon before turning his gaze back to the females.

This had indeed been fun. So far, so good. There was more in store for him. In store for the lucky female. Storm began to jog back, a frown quickly settling on his forehead. Why weren’t they arguing or trying to scratch each other’s eyes out? Had they decided so quickly which one would get to go with him? After the display he had just put on, he knew neither of them would possibly be able to resist him.

Yet, they just stood there. His frown deepened. Both females had been acutely interested in him when he’d first arrived. He scented outright arousal on the smaller one. The taller, lush as fuck female had checked him out big time, but she had also seemed a little more reserved.

“And,” he rubbed his hands together, “who is the lucky winner?”

“I am! I am!” The pretty little thing jumped up and down.

For a second it looked like she was going to jump into his arms. Storm put up a hand, his frown back. “You already discussed it?” He narrowed his eyes. That was too quick. Too easy.

The small female nodded, smiling broadly.

“There was nothing to discuss.” Lush As Fuck folded her arms across a chest a male could lose himself in.

Then he realized what she had just said. “Nothing to discuss? Why is that?”

“Because Jolene over here,” the small one said, “wasn’t interested in fighting for you. I would’ve fought.” She nodded, her blond ponytail bobbed up and down. “So, I win.” More jumping and giggling. “I get you. A prince. You’re mine.”

Storm turned to the lush female. Banging body but her features were far more plain. Dark eyes, brown hair. “Jolene,” Storm said, liking how her name rolled off his tongue. Liking her name, period. Loving how her cheeks turned a touch pink as he said it. Maybe not as plain as his initial assessment. Also, not so unaffected by him after all. He folded his own arms, sure to flex his pecs.

Jolene shifted, looking uncomfortable as her eyes darted down to his chest and straight back up. More pink bled into her cheeks. Her lips were just as lush as the rest of her. “I don’t believe in running after men. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you can forget it.” She shook her head once. “I wish you both a very happy life together.” She gave a tight smile to the other female, her gaze moved past him. She was waiting for the next male to come and claim her. She had turned him aside. Dismissed him.

Him.

Prince of Water

Handsome as fuck.

Great conversationalist.

Fucking amazing in bed.

Him.

It took him a moment to realize that the tiny female was at his side, that she’d wrapped her arms around him.

Jolene had just picked up her backpack and was hoisting it onto her back. She was stepping away from him, heading towards Bayou, towards where more males would soon appear.

“Wait,” Storm rasped.

She acted like she hadn’t heard him. Jolene continued to walk away. From him. Him. What the fuck!?

“My name is Christina and we’re going to—” Storm pulled away, extricating himself from her arms.

“This is my hunt. My choice. I’m sorry, female.” He looked down at the human. “Bayou will take you,” he added

Her eyes widened. “What? Why? No…”

He didn’t stick around to hear what she had to say. With a low growl, he picked up all that lushness, hoisting Jolene over his shoulder. The female screamed, but he ignored her. Storm sprinted away, just as several males came into sight behind them.