Human bars. I did not like them at all. They smelled of male sweat and sour beer. The last several Armand had dragged us to had not even had any eligible women. We’d just ended up sitting around, drinking human beer that tasted like piss and didn’t do a thing to inebriate us. This time, I’d slipped a flask of Armand’s special brew into my pocket before leaving my castle, but that wouldn’t even be enough for me to pretend like I wanted to be at a human establishment searching for a life mate.

I flew into town with a knapsack of clothes in my mouth and landed a quarter mile from the bar before shifting into my human form. I’d been spending so much time as a dragon lately, flying high, that standing on two legs almost seemed foreign. After dressing, I headed toward the bar Armand had chosen. As I approached, I was overcome with an odd sensation that froze me in my tracks. After rolling my neck a few times and stretching my shoulders, I looked around for an explanation, a source to explain the feeling. There was something in the air that was prickling my skin and bothering my dragon. He was agitated and antsy, not completely uncommon for him, but there was an added edge of discomfort.

The closer I got to the bar, the more the sensations mounted. I mentally called out to Armand, knowing by scent that he was already in the bar. Brother, is everything copacetic inside?

Armand sounded downright cheery when he responded. Better than okay. This place contains a female. I told you this idea had merit. And the female is Cherry’s sister.

I blew out a sigh and ran my hands through my hair. One lone female. Wonderful, Armand.

I knew I needed to find a mate, and I had hopes of being able to do that, but while I was looking, there was a worried gnawing that felt a bit like boulders tumbling in the pit of my stomach. There was always the possibility that I would not find a mate in time and I would slowly lose my mind. If that happened, it would be hardest on my twin, Remy, having to put me down. The other dragons would, of course, leave the task to him. As unpleasant as it would be, he would view it as his duty. I didn’t want that, of course, but I had another fear.

What if I did find her and I wasn’t mate material? What if I wasn’t as different from my father as I’d always hoped?

I was not ready. I should have been thinking about it for the past hundred years or so, but I couldn’t help but avoid it. Remy felt the same way. Yet, we were both showing up at these idiotic search nights—SOS nights, as we’d deemed them—save our skins, because if we didn’t find mates by the eclipse, we’d lose our skins permanently. They’d become dragon hide.

As if on cue, Remy appeared at my side. “Bro.”

“Dick.” I was still angry at him for the stunt he’d pulled the week before. He’d challenged me to a wrestling match at my castle and then, when I was just about to emerge the victor, he’d taken out a wall. I’d been rebuilding it, but it took time to fly in supplies.

“Still pissy, I see?”

“Still thinking of paying you a visit and burning your castle down before I leave.”

“Do you really think I built my castle so flimsy and weak that your puny fire breath could damage it?”

“Probably.”

He shoved me, and I caught myself just before taking out the front door to the run-down tavern we were walking into. We were too big to go around leaning on tiny human things. The door looked like an average human male could break it down. The idea of it standing up to my weight was comical.

As I entered, I was overtaken by the same feeling I’d had crawling up my spine when I’d landed. The air in the bar spilled through the open door, and I had to shake my head to clear it. I glanced over at Remy, who seemed unaffected. “Do you feel that?”

He shot me a weird look and stepped ahead of me. “Feel what?”

Over the smell of sour beer was something else, something sweet. Like human desserts. Fudge brownies with vanilla cream icing. My stomach growled. Despite the sensation that I was walking into something serious, I couldn’t help following the delicious aroma. I hoped there were brownies at this bar. They were so much better than piss beer.

I followed my nose, and Remy, to the back corner of the place and was just about to ask Armand if he was hiding dessert when Remy stepped aside and I found the source of the scent. Mate.

My dragon roared in my head, and I found myself tongue-tied as I stared down at the most beautiful female I’d ever seen. Dark eyes, brown skin, black hair. I instantly craved her. The unease of potentially walking into a dangerous situation transformed into gratitude. My dragon stretched and preened, readying himself to display his strength, battle worthiness, and sexual prowess to win over his female. I was barely able to keep from shifting.

I should have done something, said something, but I couldn’t remember what it was that one did in such a situation. Smile, sit down, shake hands, express greetings? I just stared. I was in shock. I did not expect it would happen for me today.

“Blaise?”

I blinked a few times and tried to jumpstart my brain. I had to do something.

Get it together, bro. You’re acting bizarre. Remy’s voice in my head did the trick.

As he started to slide into the booth next to my mate, I growled, grabbed the back of his shirt, and pulled him away from her, pushing him toward Armand instead.

I offered her a smile, the torn remnants of Remy’s shirt hanging from my closed fist. “He smells bad. You do not want to sit next to him.”

Her cheeks darkened with a tinge of blush as she glanced up and met my gaze. Beautiful eyes of the darkest brown with thick, dark lashes surrounding them held my stare, and her full lips parted in such a way that I could almost feel the soft, inaudible gasp that escaped them.

When I shifted to face her, my knee brushed her leg. Electricity coursed to the spot where we’d connected, and I sucked in a shaky breath. Flaming scales, that was intense.

“Hello. I am Blaise.” Your future.

Her hands flew up to cover her cheeks, and she stammered. “Is it warm in here? I mean, yeah, it is warm in here. That’s why my cheeks are heated. It’s stifling hot in here.”

I bit my bottom lip as I watched her mouth tumble around her quick words. Her lips were splendid. Fuller and wider on the top, they begged to be kissed and stroked.

“My name is Blaise.” Had I already said that?

She pressed those extraordinary lips tightly closed for a moment and nodded. “Of course. I’m Chyna.”

I held out my hand, hoping to touch her—needing to touch her—and nearly groaned when her small, delicate hand slipped into mine. Buzzing started behind my eyes and traveled all the way to my feet before centering in my dick. Her skin was so soft, and when she leaned into me, I could smell her sweet, chocolatey aroma even more. It was a game of torture. How long was I supposed to wait before I yanked her into my lap and sucked that top lip into my mouth? I should have studied human mating behaviors like Cezar had. Then, I might know what to do, what to say, how to behave.

“Well, Blaise, I see you’ve met my new friend.” Armand looked like he wanted to pout, but finally just shrugged. “We have been getting acquainted discussing her job and…”

I’ll shred you like a napkin if you do not shut up. As I quickly glanced at Armand, I forced a fake smile so Chyna did not think I was rude. I focused back on her to gauge her reaction, hoping she was not uncomfortable. She’d been sitting alone with Armand, and now there were two more huge men sitting with her, myself included, blocking her in and sitting maybe a little too closely.

Like she’d read my mind, she lightly touched my forearm. “I’m going to run to the restroom, if you’ll let me out.”

I jumped into action, leaping out of the booth, pausing when we were standing side by side. She was slender, and tall for a woman, but still much shorter than me. I fought the beast within that was telling me to lift her into my arms and run out with her. I had listened to some of what Cezar had preached to us about mating rituals in this world, so I knew I had to…what was the phrase he used? Ah, yes, play it cool.

“I’ll be right back.”

I watched her derrière sway as she crossed the bar and then turned back to Remy and Armand.

“Mine. She is my mate! What do I do now, for fire’s sake?”