“I just want to feel complete,” Lini Danala admitted as she turned to her mother.

Kay Danala looked at her daughter with concern and sighed as she approached Lini.

“It will happen, Lini. Fate always has a plan.”

Lini paced the floor of her bedroom, becoming lost in her thoughts on how she could find at least one of her mates. Her heart ached with the thought of never finding them. She knew the dragon’s curse was upon her, and just getting out of bed in the mornings was a job. Her body had begun to ache in ways that a dragon shouldn’t feel.

She was a strong shifter, but the curse had chosen her. She had yet to find her mates, and because of that, the curse was going to try to claim her. She refused to just fall into an eternal sleep without a fight.

She hadn’t said a word to anyone. She refused to have everyone look at her with pity in their eyes. She didn’t want to be one of the first females to succumb to the curse in a century.

“What if I put out an ad or something?”

“And have every unmated dragon shifter in the world come knocking at your door?” Kay shook her head and moved in front of Lini. She gripped Lini by the shoulders as she stared into her eyes. “No, that’s not the way to find your mates. The Riddick’s boy just found his, so there’s hope for you too.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Lini would never be upset that someone else had found their mates, but she was a little jealous that Colton Riddick had found his. The latest news from the Riddick family was that both of Colton’s mates were expecting.

Lini sighed as she placed her hand on her soft belly, aching to have it filled by her mate’s babe. She prayed that she would be able to find them soon, because she was ready to experience the joys of motherhood.

“It is. We will get you mated off, okay?” Her mother’s eyes pleaded for her not to give up. Lini didn’t want to make her mother feel guilty, so she just nodded her head. “I love you, Lini.”

Her mother placed a kiss on her forehead and exited Lini’s bedroom, leaving her alone.

Lini’s dragon had become restless, as though she knew the curse was moving in on them. The last week or so, her beast had been downright irritated, wanting to break free.

“Settle down,” she snapped at her animal. She walked over to her desk in the corner of her room and sat down at her computer. She pulled up the internet and looked at the latest dragon shifter news that was plastered on the shifter sites. Scrolling through, she looked at an announcement of another triad finding each other.

“When will it be my turn?” she grumbled as she continued searching the internet.

Could it be as simple as placing an ad? What could it hurt if she put a discrete ad on some of the shifter dating websites, or shifter message boards? She’d heard of mates finding each other on those boards before.

An ad for a psychic caught her eye.

Looking for your mate? I can help you now!

Lini read the ad with a skeptical eye, but the longer she sat and stared at it, she couldn’t help but wonder what she had to lose. She glanced at the address and found that it wasn’t far from her home. Even if nothing came from a visit with the psychic, she would at least be entertained.

* * *

Mistress Zora sat across from Lini, staring down into her crystal ball. Lini tried to hide her smirk as she sat in the elder woman’s establishment. Mistress Zora was the epitome of a witch—psychic and gypsy, all rolled into one. Her weathered skin hinted at her age, while her long black hair was sprinkled with gray. Lini could scent the witchcraft coming off the woman, but knew that making a living as a psychic was a front for the humans.

“So, do you see my future?” Lini asked as she sat back in her chair. Her curly dark hair fell around her shoulders, and she pulled it to one side.

“This is a waste of time,” her dragon growled.

“Be patient. What else do we have left?” she asked her animal, who went silent.

“Finding mates takes time,” Zora murmured as she continued staring into the ball. “Your animal seems restless and impatient.”

“You would too if you were in my shoes,” Lini muttered, crossing her arms in front of her. She didn’t have much time left and needed to find her mates, like yesterday.

“Someone is feeling the claws of the dragon curse on her back.” Zora’s eyes met Lini’s. Her breath caught in her throat at the woman’s intuition.

No one else knew.

She swallowed hard as she met the witch’s eyes, and nodded. Lini felt exposed as she admitted her secret.

“I haven’t told anyone,” she whispered. It pained her to admit it, but if she didn’t find her mates soon, she’d be another dragon statistic.

“Well, I think your mates have found each other and are now looking for you.” Zora looked back down at the crystal ball.

Lini’s heart stuttered with the thought that her two mates were looking for her. She stretched her neck to see if she could see them in the ball, but to her, she saw nothing but clouds.

“Really?” her voice ended on a squeak. Tears welled up in her eyes at the realization that she was close. “What do they look like? Who are they? Where are they?”

Her string of questions were halted by the rise of Zora’s hand.

“Tomorrow night, the dragon clan’s family will be hosting a celebration. Your mates will be there. All I can see is that the male is tall and strong, while the female is small, with brown skin and long hair. Go to that event, and you will connect with your mates.” Zora sat back from the table with a small smile on her lips.

“How much do I owe you?” Lini rushed out, reaching into her small purse. Excitement filled her. She had heard of the party and knew that all dragon shifters would be invited.

“No charge, little dragon shifter. If I can help prevent one of your kind from falling into the curse, then I will consider that payment. Dragons have been long protectors of my kind.”

Zora stood from the table as Lini flew from her chair and hugged her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Soon she would be united with her mates.