Saving the Dragon Read online

  © 2019 by Rinelle Grey

  www.rinellegrey.com

  All rights reserved.

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  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Blurb

  After giving up everything to follow Calrian, Rylee knows everything has changed. Her doubts have faded, and she’s ready to see if there is anything between her and Calrian. But is he ready?

  Calrian wants Rylee too, but his need to find his family makes it impossible. Can he ever give up on them and accept a new life with Rylee and Rowan?

  And even if he does, is there any place for a human/dragon mixed family in the small outback town?

  Saving the Dragon is Part 4 in the Dragon Shores Serial.

  Join Rinelle's Dragon Clan and be the first to hear all the latest news - new books, freebies, exclusive scenes, updates, and more, including a free copy of the prequel novella to Return of the Dragons, Loyal Dragon Shifter.

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  Chapter 1

  “Can I really have any cave I want?” Rowan’s eyes gleamed, and Calrian couldn’t help smiling.

  “Sure, there’s no one else here.”

  Rowan’s mother, Rylee, frowned. “I don’t think you should go too far from the central cave. It’s not safe.”

  Rowan’s expression changed immediately. Calrian could see it. The carefree, excited child was gone, replaced by the responsible boy who worked hard not to make his single mother’s life any more difficult than it had to be.

  Calrian understood his motivation, even admired it, but he also wanted to make sure the boy had his share of fun. For a little while at least. Let this trip be a chance to escape his normal life, a holiday of sorts.

  “There’s no danger here,” he reassured Rylee gently. “The only way in or out of the cave is right here, and I’ve checked it thoroughly. There’s no one here but us.”

  He thought he’d done well keeping the sadness out of his voice as he spoke the last words. He thought he’d hidden the fact that his heart sank every time he remembered the lair was empty. He tried not to think about the fact that his entire clan was gone, his brothers and sisters were still trapped in their Mesmser chambers, and he was fast beginning to suspect he’d never see any of them ever again.

  He thought he’d kept all that buried, but the sympathetic look Rylee gave him said otherwise.

  She gave a laugh. “I suppose you’re right. Old habits die hard. Pick anywhere you like, Rowan.”

  Rylee was trying to ease his life, just as he’d tried to ease her son’s.

  That had to be evidence they cared for each other in some way, didn’t it? Calrian hardly dared let himself hope. He couldn’t. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t accept that life, not while there was still a chance his clan was out there somewhere.

  Would he ever be in a position to?

  “Are you sure?” Rowan asked, his expression still worried.

  Rylee smiled. “Of course I’m sure. Go on.”

  Rowan didn’t give his mother another chance to change her mind. He disappeared down one of the tunnels, his expression gleeful. Calrian suspected it would be some time before they saw him again. There were many, many tunnels to explore.

  Which meant he and Rylee had some time alone.

  He’d been waiting for this since the moment she’d defied her father and asked to come with him. He had so much he wanted to say to her, so many questions he wanted to ask.

  He wanted to know if her choice indicated she felt something more for him. He wanted to ask her if there was any chance she might, eventually, want to be his mate. He wanted to tell her he thought he might want that too.

  He wanted to open his heart and share it all with her, hold her close and thank her for taking a chance on him.

  His feelings for Rylee had only grown stronger over the few days they’d spent together, despite how much of that time they’d been physically apart. Every time they’d met in the hallways, shared a tired smile as they both continued about their individual quests, his heart had leapt when he’d seen her.

  And yet, he had no right to ask her if he meant something to her too. He might be willing to offer her everything he had, but the trouble was, he couldn’t promise anything. He had a quest he couldn’t ignore, one he couldn’t put aside for a normal life with a mate and family, not while his clan was still out there somewhere. And not while his brothers and sisters were still asleep in their Mesmer chambers.

  And if he did find his clan, he could easily find himself at war again. What right did he have to ask Rylee to join that? Or risk her life when he joined it, especially as she had Rowan to consider. Because if he found his clan, there was no way he could stay out of the fight. He had a responsibility to lead them, no matter how much his heart wanted to commit to Rylee.

  And if he didn’t find his clan…

  For the first time, Calrian allowed himself to consider that possibility, even if he felt guilty at the half-formed wave of relief that arose at the idea of being able to stop looking.

  If he couldn’t find them, then he was free to commit to Rylee, but at what cost? The loss of his family meant he’d also lost any chance at being able to provide for her and Rowan, any chance of being able to offer them the life he wanted to give them.

  It would make no difference to Rylee. He knew that without asking. She’d already given up everything to be with him, without expecting anything in return.

  But that didn’t stop him wanting to give her the life she wanted. She was a wonderful, kind, caring, sweet woman, and she deserved someone who could give her everything she wanted. He wanted to help her achieve her dream of opening a bed and breakfast, whatever that was.

  Or at least provide her with a home that wasn’t a cave.

  Calrian loved his lair. It was his home. These rocky walls held a lifetime of memories. But without his clan, they were lonely and sad. Without his clan, they lacked the comforts Rylee had shared with him in her small house on her father’s property.

  Calrian didn’t want to offer her a shadow of a life, nor did he want to live somewhere filled with memories that would always remind him of what he had lost. And he didn’t want her and Rowan to lack for anything. He wanted her to have all the luxuries in life. He ached to give them to her. But he didn’t even know where to start.

  Maybe he could find a way to fit in with this human world, find a job, and make enough money to support her. For her, he would be willing to try.

  But he couldn’t give up on his clan yet. He had far from fulfilled his duty in searching for them. He couldn’t commit to Rylee until he did.

  But a piece of his heart, albeit a small one, began to accept that the day might come when he could, whether he found his clan or not. He would make it happen, somehow.

  That was enough for now.

  That small hope allowed him to smile at Rylee and say, “Would you like to choose a cave?”

  It wasn’t any of the questions he wanted to ask, but it didn’t matter. Just being here, with her, was enough. It would have to be for now.

  Rylee, though, bit her lip. “Are you sure we aren’t too much trouble here? I kind of invited myself, and there wasn’t really a chance to ask you if it was okay. I’m sorry.”

  Calrian stared at her. Did she really think he might
have a problem with it? It was clear from her worried frown she did, so he rushed to reassure her. “I’m very glad to have you here. I’m sorry it wasn’t under better circumstances, and that you really didn’t have a choice, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

  There, that was closer to what he wanted to say, to the discussion he wanted to have, even if it wasn’t quite enough.

  Rylee gave him an uncertain smile. “I’m sorry about my father, too, about the things he said.”

  “You are not responsible for your father’s words,” Calrian said firmly, taking her hands and squeezing them. A jolt of desire ran up his arms at the contact, stirring his whole body, and he suspected he shouldn’t have done it. They were on dangerous ground, all alone out here. Or almost all alone anyway.

  He should keep his distance. Inviting her here on impulse was very different to letting himself form the mating bond on impulse. He still needed to find his clan. And besides, he had no idea if that was what Rylee even wanted. That needed to be a carefully considered decision on both their parts.

  It didn’t matter how much he wanted to throw caution to the wind and just do it.

  The way Rylee was staring at him, her head tilted slightly to one side, her eyes alight with the same temptation his body felt, didn’t help. He somehow suspected she’d be as keen as he was.

  But was it for the same reasons? Rylee had said early on that she wasn’t ready for another relationship, and having met her ex-mate, he could understand why. He couldn’t push her, no matter how much he was tempted to.

  They both had other things they needed to put to rest first. So he took a step back, releasing her hands, not letting himself be swayed by the soft sigh she gave.

  “Would you like to see the bathing cave?” he asked instead.

  That was a suitable distraction. Her eyes widened. “Bathing cave? You have a bathing cave?”

  Chapter 2

  Rylee followed Calrian through a twisting maze of rocky tunnels she wasn’t sure she would be able to find her way out of again to a small cave somewhere deep underground. When Calrian stepped aside and waved for her to enter, she couldn’t help giving a small gasp.

  Half the floor of the cave was taken up by a rocky pool, the water in it as clear as glass. It spilled from a small rocky basin, half way up the wall, giving a pleasant tinkling sound as the miniature waterfall fell into the pool. Small ferns softened the edges of the rock, making it seem more like an exclusive spa than a pool in a cave.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, staring at Calrian.

  He shrugged. “One of our water dragons made it, I believe, long before my time. We get fresh water from the top pool and bathe in the bottom one. The bathing pool is warmed by a hot spring, so it can be a bit warm in summer. Perfect in winter like this though.”

  He gave a smile, a hint of sadness in it. He must be remembering his family again.

  Rylee wished there was some way she could wash his sorrow away. She wanted to hug him, to kiss it better. She had almost tried out in the main cave. She’d been so tempted, and from the look in his eyes, so had Calrian.

  But then something had made him pull back, and Rylee was pretty sure she knew what it was—his family. He’d spent the last week searching for them nonstop. And she suspected he wouldn’t be able to rest, or think of his own life, until he found them.

  Or accepted that he never would.

  Would he be able to cope if that happened? Rylee had never had a family she felt close to, so she couldn’t even begin to guess. But Calrian obviously loved his family deeply. She wouldn’t wish that loss on him, no matter what it would mean for her.

  No matter how much she wanted to be with him, she still hoped he found his family, even if it meant losing him.

  Even if that thought filled her with a sudden flood of fear.

  If Calrian returned to his family, what would happen to her and Rowan? Without Calrian, they’d be homeless. Sure, she could go crawling back to her father, and if she apologised to him, she was sure he’d let her return.

  But that thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn’t want to always be relying on her father. Or anyone. She wanted to create a life for herself, one she could manage on her own. She needed to do that for Rowan.

  If only she had some idea how to start.

  For a moment, the worries of the future threatened to overwhelm her, and she almost wished she was back at her father’s place. She knew what to expect there, even if it wasn’t what she wanted. It was safe. Secure.

  And if she went back, she knew she’d be stuck there forever. Her father no more wanted to help her get control of her own life than Eric ever had. They just wanted her to be dependent on them so they could mould her into who they thought she should be.

  No matter what other problems this situation had, at least no one was trying to control her. Calrian would never do that.

  No, she needed to use this time to start learning to make her own decisions, beginning with making the best of the situation she was in right now. She had to let the future take care of itself for a little while and trust that somehow, she’d find a way to make it work.

  Feeling a little stronger from that decision, she smiled at Calrian and said, “And you said your cave didn’t have all the luxuries.” She smiled as she said it, her voice teasing a little, maybe conveying some of the closeness she didn’t dare show in other ways.

  Calrian’s smile was almost normal, the sadness fading, as he said, “Water we can do. Beds, not so much.”

  Rylee grinned. “That I have a solution for.” The fact she actually had an answer to a problem made her feel better, like maybe she could cope, like maybe she wasn’t so useless at life after all.

  Calrian looked mystified. “What solution? None of the items we brought were big enough to be a bed.”

  “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  Calrian led them back to the main cave, where they had left all the items they’d brought up from the car, and Rylee searched through it. It didn’t take her long to locate the blow-up air mattress in a small cardboard box. “Here.”

  Calrian stared at it doubtfully. “That doesn’t look very comfortable to sleep on.”

  Rylee giggled. “You blow it up with air,” she explained. She pulled the deflated mattress out of the box and began to blow into it to show him. It was going to take quite some time to inflate it that way though.

  Calrian watched in fascination, and after a few moments, held out his hands. “Can I have a go?”

  She handed it over willingly. “Blowing it up is quite a chore, but they’re not bad once they’re done.”

  Calrian stared at her, holding the mattress in his hand without beginning to blow. “There is only one?” he asked.

  A blush stole over Rylee’s cheeks. “I do have a roll up single mattress for Rowan, but yes, there’s only one larger one. I only had one.”

  Despite all the risks she knew it held, she couldn’t help being secretly glad she didn’t have two. She and Calrian had been on opposite schedules the last week or so, each sleeping in the bed, but not at the same time.

  She missed being close to him, even if she understood why they couldn’t have anything more right now.

  Calrian’s expression was unreadable. “It is good that you have something for you and Rowan. I’m used to sleeping on the sand.”

  Rylee tried to keep the disappointed expression off her face. He was right. There were a whole host of reasons why it was better that they keep their distance. “You’ll probably be out searching for your clan at night anyway,” she said, turning back to the pile and pulling out the quilts she’d brought. “So you can have the bed during the day.”

  Calrian was silent, and she tried not to take it personally. He had his own priorities, and she had essentially gate-crashed his life.

  “Rylee.” His hand settled on her shoulder, and she couldn’t help turning around to look at him, trying not to hope for too much.

  His eye
s were warm, and a little of the sadness had returned. “I wish I could be here more. But I need to know. If they’re out there, I need to find them.” His voice shook on the last words, and his face tightened. “I need to keep searching…”

  There it was again. And Rylee knew it would keep coming between them, no matter how strongly they cared for each other.

  Yet she still couldn’t even hope his family were all gone, because she wouldn’t wish that sadness on him for her own gain. She wanted him to find them for his sake, even if she suspected it would be the end of things between them.

  Chapter 3

  Calrian could see the sadness in Rylee’s eyes, and the pain it caused him was almost as bad as the pain he felt for his missing clan. How was he supposed to choose? His heart was telling him to be here with her, that he needed to help her, but at the same time it was telling him he couldn’t stop searching for his family.

  He’d had battles between his heart and head before, but this was harder. His heart wanted both. He wanted to be with Rylee, wanted to soothe the sadness from her face and kiss it away, wanted to create a life of joy with her.

  But without his family, his life would always be incomplete.

  He had spent more than a week searching for them with no luck. Would another week make any difference? Was there any possibility they were still alive, still hiding somewhere? He knew at least some of his brothers and sisters were still asleep in their Mesmer chambers, but without his clan’s help, he had no chance of waking them. He wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than them being dead.

  His siblings were just out of reach. So close, and yet, so far. Safe, yet trapped. But if his clan was gone, they might sleep there for all eternity. That thought made Calrian’s heart palpitate.

  The thought of giving up the search was soul crushing.

  His clan and his family had been his whole life. More than that, as a prince, protecting them was his responsibility. The possibility something might have happened to them in his absence was heartbreaking.