Must Love Dragonsl (Space Dragons Seek Mates Book 1) Read online

  Must Love Dragons

  A Fated Mates Dragon Shifter Romance

  Michelle Ziegler

  Introduction

  He doesn't know what kind of witch he's dealing with.

  Kal had no idea what he was walking into when he met Maddie. She might believe that men aren’t from Mars, but he sure isn’t from Earth.

  Maddie has enough crazy in her life with one ghost too many haunting her. Too bad fate just threw her a man claiming to be a dragon shifter. If Maddie chooses to accept Kal isn’t crazy, she might be in for the ride of her life. Of course, if she chooses to believe him she’ll have to leave her old life behind.

  Kal needs to find his mate before his dragon’s magic consumes him. He might have infinite cosmic powers, but he also has a soul that can’t control the power of the universe. Not without Her. Maddie might be the right witch for him, except the fact she just cursed him to be a chicken. What the hell kind of planet is this anyway?

  Copyright © 2019 Michelle Ziegler

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical method, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial users permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher addressed “Attention: Permission coordinator,” at the address below.

  [email protected]

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living, or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  To my daughter, who will someday be able to read my books. Your imagination is an inspiration.

  Acknowledgments

  There's a lot to go into each and every book. My family always comes first, but they also support me and this crazy 'job.' I married my hero. The man who supports my dreams.

  I have so many readers to thank, but especially my Beta/Alpha readers. Thanks Lucia, Heather, and Donnie! They have a knack for reading between the lines. Beverly, Shannon, and Carol Z. you are amazing support and awesome cheerleaders.

  Of course, my review team is a group that has my undying gratitude!

  Lastly - thank you readers! Thank you for giving me a chance and escaping into my world!

  Contents

  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

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Coming Soon

  Also by Michelle Ziegler

  About the Author

  1

  Maddie squinted as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the bar.

  Blink. Blink. Blink.

  A blast of air conditioning sweet relief on her burning skin. The sun baked Roswell like it was the egg on a sidewalk. Home of the creepy and unexplained. God, she’d left this town years ago and now she was back.

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

  Rolling her eyes, she gave a half-smile to the bartender. “Ellen, nice to see you too.”

  “Maddie, get your ass over here. You know I’m just joshing you. But really. You look like you’ve had a rough day. What has you coming back to our little neck of the desert?”

  Blowing out a breath, Maddie strolled towards the wooden counter with dents and dings marking its adventures over the years. She chuckled. This bar is like my spirit animal.

  Enough of comparing herself to a slab of weathered wood. “Same old, same old. My mother called me and basically wouldn’t talk to me until I came back. Only thing is, she hasn’t exactly shown herself yet.”

  Ellen smiled. “Your mother always was an odd one, wasn’t she? I’m sure she’ll be back around soon. How long are you planning to stay?”

  Maddie ran a hand over the barstool and when it came back only marginally sticky, she sat.

  “Hard to say. You know my mother. Always has something up her sleeve.”

  Ellen nodded as she wiped down a glass. “Yeah. She was always good at throwing the poor town for a loop. One too many futures and cheating spouses. Poor woman. Hey, have you seen the house -”

  “Ellen. Another,” said someone across the room. Maddie didn’t bother looking. This town always had new people, mostly paranormal beings, maybe something unexplainable, aliens she supposed, and sometimes an oddball human here and there.

  Maddie tried to think back to the last conversation she’d had with her mom. Marriage, settling down, and stability all came to mind. Maddie didn’t like stability. She loved traveling, loved her work. Or she had. Right up until her show was canceled. How in the hell did a real ghost hunter show get canceled?

  The network said she wasn’t authentic enough for the audience. Maddie flicked her finger and a shot glass appeared.

  “Maddie. You know we have glasses here. But, sure. This one's on the house.”

  Ellen plunked down another shot and poured the tequila. “One for old times.” Ellen nudged the glass with her finger. “Bottoms up.”

  Maddie followed and nearly gagged on the burn, coughing as she dragged in air past the searing sting of the alcohol.

  “Been a while then?” asked Ellen.

  Sucking in a breath, Maddie nodded and wheezed a response against her windpipe’s desperate plea.

  “Yes,” was all she croaked out.

  Ellen laughed. “Definitely not the old Maddie I remember. You put us all to shame back in the day.”

  Yeah, she put everyone to shame because she'd constantly tried to drown out her mother's predictions.

  Maddie finally got a breath in, her eyes stopped watering, and her words found their way out.

  “Yeah. I don’t really drink anymore, or well, I hadn’t until now.”

  Flashes down memory lane raced through her brain like the Indy 500. This place was full of memories. Ones that she’d rather forget. Maddie wanted to know why her mother stayed, but it was obvious. The magic, that was why. Even in her death, her mother could still see the future. This town had so much magic flowing through its veins it gave her more power. Towns all over the world intersecting power spots, ley-lines, whatever. Roswell was one, and it hid in plain sight.

  All that magic though and yet her mother didn’t see and stop her own death.

  “Yeah. No. Not the old Maddie.”

  Ellen smiled. “It’s okay. Just glad to have you back. You’re in time for the grand opening of a new club. It’s owned by some Fae, and as creepy as they are; they know how to party.”

  She stiffened. “Locals?”

  Ellen shrugged. “No. I don’t think so. Guess I didn’t ask around enough.” She smiled. “But, let’s not let that stop us. Be right back.”

  Ellen hurried down the bar to someone else Maddie didn’t recognize.

  Maddie scanned the room. Not much ever changed in Roswell, except that somehow it always did.

  She rolled the empty shot glass between her index finger and thumb, listening to the scrape of glass against the wood. Why in the hell had she come back? Nothing good ever came from this town, not for her. Oh, rig
ht. She came back because her mother refused to talk to her until she did. That woman’s soul needed to rest already, but no. Instead, she stayed here until she wanted something, and then made Maddie go crazy until she came back.

  The door opened, spilling in daylight. Shielding her eyes with a hand, two large figures eclipsed the bright white of the outside.

  Rolling her eyes, she went back to glaring at the glass. She needed another drink. Her mother would find her at some point, might as well just stay put. She had nowhere else to go anyway.

  The thud of heavy boots thunked against the wood-plank floor. This bar was a dive, always had been, and apparently always would be. She didn’t need to look up to know the original bullet holes were still in the mirror. Always would be. You didn’t forget some showdown from the turn of the century. No. This town never forgot a thing. And now, she’d never forget the crappy wooden floor either. More clunking. Good Lord! Sit down already.

  She scratched at her forearms, her skin itching and her magic jumping up like hell’s flames were out to burn her alive. Sniffing the air, she swore it smelled like a mix of cinnamon and sweat. Glancing at Ellen, Maddie would need to ask what drink she’d made.

  As the heavy boot steps grew closer, her magic started to do a conga line along her nerves.

  “Son of a bitch.” She scratched her thighs, rubbed the palm of her hands over her upper arms, shivering as the annoying dance stopped at the sound of a male voice.

  “Are you okay?”

  A zap of magic shot through Maddie and her libido decided now was a good time to wake up. Pressing her legs together, anything to stop the warmth growing within her. The stranger's voice waking places that she’d sworn were dormant, probably dead.

  Slowly, Maddie turned her head expecting to be eye-to-eye or maybe eye-to-throat to a man. Instead, her gaze traveled up and up. Stopping at the most amazing orange-gold eyes.

  What kind of creature was he?

  “Wow.”

  His tongue ran over his bottom lip as he turned a smile on her. Maybe that scorched the panties off of every woman within a two-mile radius, but no way would it work with her.

  “I’m not in the mood,” she said.

  Maddie squeezed her legs tighter, her body screaming she was definantley in the mood.

  She closed her eyes. No. She didn’t want him.

  No, she wanted him, but she wasn’t in the mood for a one-night stand. His muscles screamed that he got what he wanted every time and left a trail of broken hearts behind him.

  Maddie tried to look away as her eyes flicked to the bulge in his pants. Son of. What was wrong with her.

  Nothing was wrong with her. She was a female, he was a male and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had the weight of a man on her.

  Maddie just needed to breathe.

  Breathe.

  “Want to come back to my ship?”

  Pausing her thoughts, she glared at him. His voice smooth like a river of melted caramel, but his words were like the skipping of a needle over vinyl.

  “Excuse me?”

  He grinned, and well damn, she liked it. She liked the way the heat swirled within her, reminding her that she was alive. But no. No way.

  “Want to come back to my ship?”

  “Oh, you did say that. Well, damn it. All looks and no brains. Wonderful. Dream shattered. Is that seriously your pickup line? It’s the worst pickup line I have ever heard. This is a desert … you know that right? No ship needed.”

  “A what line?”

  Damn. His voice was toe-curling sexy. Or maybe it was the freaking bulge in his jeans she continuously struggled to ignore.

  No. Just no. snap out of it.

  “A pickup line. A line used to get some dense female to engage with you,” Maddie said.

  The man tilted his head and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Her jaw dropped. He was huge. Even his forearms were corded in muscles.

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Density has nothing to do with my interest. I was asking if you would like to come home with me. Which, right now, is a spaceship.”

  Damn. He was one of those Area 51 nuts.

  “Yeah. That’s probably not a great idea,” Maddie said.

  Maddie noticed the second mountainous man as he whispered something to her own wet dream. Her orange-eyed beast nodded and turned that heated gaze back on her.

  “Perhaps I should restart? My name is Kal. This is my brother, Eadric. Do you have a name?”

  She had to stop and run every retort through the mental filter in her head. Why did she attract the strange ones? The ones who didn't get the ‘go the hell away’ sign flashing across her face.

  Maddie swallowed her answer, but her magic jumped and writhed against her skin as he took a step closer.

  What the hell?

  She needed to ignore him, but her magic refused. The more she fought him, it, whatever it was, the worse the itch grew.

  This sucks. She scratched again. The static tickle wasn’t going away. Looking up, his orange eyes never faltered from her.

  Creepy, if he wasn’t so damn hot.

  Right. Name. Give him her name and maybe he’d leave. Wait, no. No. He didn’t need her name. That’s how you got murdered. Or, was that something else? Who cared. She wouldn’t engage in this.

  “You’re not from around here obviously.” She shook her head. “No. No. I don’t have a name. My mother refused to label me as a young child. She just yelled girl for years.”

  The guy nodded. “We can give you a name, then. Something from my people, if that suits you.“ He turned to his friend and shrugged.

  Maddie opened her mouth and then shut it. She closed her eyes and then opened them. “I’m not sure that we’re communicating right now. I’m telling you that I’m not interested in whatever it is you’re selling. But thanks. Have a great night.”

  Pulling away from the bar, she turned the stool and started to remove herself from its less-than-clean surface. Maddie stopped as his hand rested against her forearm, the heat surging from an invisible pulse between their contact.

  Gritting her teeth she spoke. “Get your oversized hand off of me.” Fear wasn’t winning though. She wanted him. God. Why? Why did her body wake up for this wack-job?

  Maddie channeled her anger because right now her damn body betrayed her.

  “Remove your hand. I don’t care what you are, you do not have the right to just claim any woman you want. You can’t go about touching anyone you want. I will give you one chance since I know that not all shifters are civilized.”

  His hand didn’t move. “I don’t understand. What is a shifter? A person who shifts into what?”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “I can tell by your eyes. You turn into some kind of animal.”

  He nodded. “I turn into a dragon. Is that what you call a shifter?”

  God. This guy. Dragon? Really? She’d never heard that one before. He was already walking sex. She swallowed. Not that Maddie had noticed the walking sex part. Nope. She didn’t need his kind. She didn’t need his trouble.

  Dragon, that wasn’t real. Was it? His hand was huge, maybe he called his man bits a dragon. Even creepier. Dragon though. Maddie rolled her eyes. Right. If he didn’t want to tell her, then fine.

  “Fine. You don’t have to tell me what you really are." Maddie snapped her fingers and a shot appeared in her hand. Drinking, drinking was the answer.

  “Maddie. This is a bar. Please don’t make your own drinks,” said Ellen as she passed back down to the end of the bar.

  Maddie tossed it back. “Sorry. Long day. I’ll pay for it, I…”

  Maddie flashed a glance at Ellen hoping she’d get rid of this guy. She couldn’t stop herself from coming right back to him. Man, he was good looking.

  Down girl.

  “Maddie, is it?”

  “Gee, thanks, Ellen,” she mumbled.

  So much for women having each other's backs.

  “If I t
ell you yes, will you go away?”

  “Maddie? Please understand my intentions. I’ve come here for you. I’ve traveled lightyears to find you. You, Maddie, are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I don’t have much time, but if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of eternity showing you that we are made for each other. That you are mine.”

  Wide-eyed, Maddie ran over what he’d just said. Worst or best pickup line? And eternity? His? No. That was not going to happen.

  “Aw. So cute. Did you follow her down here? Maddie, you didn’t mention you had such a sexy man. No wonder you dumped -”

  Maddie glared, cutting her off. “Yeah. No. Thanks though. I don’t need any crazy stalkers. I’m sure if you wait long enough though, you’ll find someone desperate.” She turned to Ellen next. “He is not my anything. I just met him. Don’t you have a bouncer or something?”

  Ellen looked from Maddie to Kal.

  “Yeah. He seems fine to me. Besides, the bouncer doesn’t work this early.”

  The guy, Eadric she supposed, moved. Oh, right. There was someone else here. Damn it. How in the hell was she so blinded by crazy dragon shifter dude?

  “Maddie. You’re my mate. I am yours.” He stepped closer and she couldn’t move. Her brain said to, but her magic reached for him. “My brothers and I have come a long way to find you. I have come a long way to find you. I do not need, nor do I want anyone else.”

  He leaned closer to her. His hand slipped down her arm.

  A slow burn slithered out where he touched her, it didn’t hurt though. The heat traveled up her arm, blossoming as it spread into her chest. A power she’d never felt before surged through her. What is he?