Hunted by the Dragon (Captured by a Dragon-Shifter Book 4) Read online

  Hunted by the Dragon

  Captured by a Dragon-Shifter Series

  Michelle M. Pillow

  Michelle M. Pillow

  Contents

  Copyright

  About Hunted by the Dragon

  Note from Author

  Author Updates

  Michelle’s Bestselling Series

  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

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  About the Author

  Reading Guide

  The Raven Books’ Complimentary Material

  Determined Prince

  Love Potions (Warlocks MacGregor)

  Please Leave a Review

  Hunted by the Dragon © Copyright 2016 by Michelle M. Pillow

  First Electronic Printing May 2016, The Raven Books LLC

  ISBN-10: 1-62501-138-5

  ISBN-13:978-1-62501-138-1

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  All books copyrighted to the author and may not be resold or given away without written permission from the author, Michelle M. Pillow.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence. Novel intended for adults only. Must be 18 years or older to read.

  Published by The Raven Books LLC

  www.TheRavenBooks.com

  Raven Books and all affiliate sites and projects are © Copyrighted 2004-2016

  About Hunted by the Dragon

  New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

  Bounty hunter by trade, dragon-shifter by birth, Seanan came to Earth in search of a mate. Two years later, he finds himself crossing paths with a woman he suspects may be exactly what he's been looking for--too bad the frustrating female is the reason he's stranded on Earth in the first place.

  Note from Author

  If you’re new to my books, the Dragon Lords are my bestselling futuristic shape-shifter romance series. The stories became reader favorites, and so I wrote things from their enemy’s point of view in a spin-off series for the cat-shifting Lords of the Var. Then they ventured off into the stars in the series installment Space Lords. Now, I’m time traveling with them back to our time with the series Captured by a Dragon-Shifter, which you are now reading book one of. Don’t worry, I have the series reading order on my website to help you figure it all out, http://michellepillow.com/.

  To those of you not new to my books, readers have emailed asking Dragon Lords cultural questions since the first dragon-shifting prince released years ago. I have teased you with a lot of little hints of how the Draig found brides in “the old days”. Many of you have expressed wanting to climb aboard the space ship and sail away into the future—which would probably take some cryogenic freezing and a lot of icy waiting. Well, before you start packing those sweaters… I don’t want any of you going to that extreme, so I’ve brought your favorite dragon-shifters and cat-shifters to modern-day Earth. They don’t live on our planet, but they have recently started to revisit.

  For Dragon Lords and Lords of the Var fans, Captured by a Dragon-Shifter is a modern-day prequel series to those first books. They take place long before the princes you know and love ever found their mates, long before The Dragon’s Queen, in a time when the dragon-shifters and cat-shifters actually—wait for it—liked each other and hung out as friends. They also don’t have Galaxy Brides to bring them women. There’s no one left to marry on the planet and things are starting to get desperate.

  Author recommends reading series installments in order of release for the simple fact she likes hiding little tidbits in the books as she goes and it’s more fun that way, though each book can be read as a standalone if you prefer.

  Author Updates

  To stay informed about when a new book in the series installments is released, sign up for updates:

  http://michellepillow.com/author-updates/

  Michelle’s Bestselling Series

  Shape-shifter Romances

  Dragon Lords Series

  Barbarian Prince

  Perfect Prince

  Dark Prince

  Warrior Prince

  His Highness The Duke

  The Stubborn Lord

  The Reluctant Lord

  The Impatient Lord

  The Dragon’s Queen

  Lords of the Var Series

  The Savage King

  The Playful Prince

  The Bound Prince

  The Rogue Prince

  The Pirate Prince

  Captured by a Dragon-Shifter Series

  Determined Prince

  Rebellious Prince

  Stranded with the Cajun

  Hunted by the Dragon

  Mischievous Prince

  Headstrong Prince

  Space Lords Series

  His Frost Maiden

  His Fire Maiden

  His Metal Maiden

  His Earth Maiden

  His Wood Maiden

  More to Come!

  To learn more about the Dragon Lords World series of books and to stay up to date on the latest book list visit www.MichellePillow.com

  Chapter 1

  Draig Northern Mountains, Planet of Quirlixen

  “Seanan, you don’t have to do this.” Galen fisted his hands and tapped them together in agitation. He appeared as if he wanted to brawl but had no outlet to take his frustrations out on. “Let someone else go.”

  The planet of Quirlixen’s night of darkness cast shadows over the land, pierced only by the orange of firelight and the glow of stars. This was the one time a year the planet’s three suns all set at the same time and, like most dragon-shifters, the brothers enjoyed spending this night outdoors. Earlier, they had shifted into dragon form and ran the valleys. Now, they rested by the fire.

  “You have heard what our elders say about Earth,” Galen insisted. “It is a horrible place that our people barely escaped. Humans are evil creatures by nature. Even the Reticulans won’t land there, and those crazy aliens will be friends with anyone.”

  Seanan of the Draig forgave his younger brother’s fear because it reflected his own. Only a fool wouldn’t feel apprehension at the idea of being one of the first in centuries to go through a magical portal to another planet. But what choice did he have? “King Severin asked and it my duty to go. It will be a quick journey. We will be through and back within moments. I promise you will see me again.”

  “It is easy for the Draig king to ask,” Galen grumbled. “You do not hear his sons volunteering to go. Or the cat-shifter princes, for that matter. I don’t see the Var king offering up any of his people for this mission.”

  “I don’t think King Severin offered to let the cat-shifters come with us. The portal is on dragon land. It is right that we take charge of it. Cats are too wild, and though they are allies, I’m not sure they can be trusted with such a delicate matter.”

  “You know why King Severin as
ked you.”

  “Careful with your words, Galen. You are young but do not be foolish. Or rulers could be much worse than they are. Count that as a blessing.”

  “I am over a hundred years, and I speak the truth,” Galen answered. “He asked you because you only have me. With our parents dead, there will be I alone to protest your disappearance.”

  “That is why I go. If we don’t find a steady supply of women our people will die, and there will be no one to protest it.” Seanan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Without mates, we might as well lay down and die in this very spot, under these stars. Unless you’ve changed your mind and suddenly have feelings for Roswell the Reticulan?”

  Galen laughed despite himself. The little gray alien man was hardly any dragon’s type. In fact, the few alien races that had visited their planet were not wife material. Female humans were the only source they could come up with.

  Shifter men thrived on Quirlixen, living longer and healthier than any other time in their history. Unfortunately, whatever caused shifter men to prosper was also killing their ability to produce female children. Most families had several sons in a misguided attempt to fight fate. Now, they had a generation full of mate-less males.

  “Until we find a better solution, this is our path,” Seanan said. “And when I am successful, we will be two of the first allowed to find mates as my reward. Think of it, a wife, children, love.”

  “I feel the loneliness, too. That is why I cannot lose the one family I have. Let me go with you tonight. If you are to meet death, I will meet it by your side.” Galen stood as if he planned on marching until he reached the portal entrance.

  Seanan was instantly on his feet. He grabbed his brother’s arm tightly. His eyes shifted with the yellow warning of the dragon. “Stop this. I will see you again.”

  “What if the humans are standing guard on their side, waiting for us to come back? What if you land in a pit of spears? You know humans are waiting for our return. It only makes sense. Their leaders tried to massacre all shifters. They hate us. Even if you do manage to return with women, what kind of life will that be if they fear us?”

  “The portal will not be open very long, as to lessen our chances of encountering problems. If we meet hostile enemies, our orders are to fight them and try to bring at least one back as a prisoner.” Seanan took a deep breath and gazed up at the stars. He wondered what Earth would look like. The elders described castles surrounded by clusters of people ruled by angry zealots who tried to kill anyone who wasn’t a pure human. That is why the dragon-shifters and cat-shifters escaped to a new world.

  “I wish to find a wife as much as the next shifter, but this risks too much.” Galen shook his head in denial. “No. This is wrong. The elders closed the portals for a reason. Humans hate us. They hunted us to near extinction and drove us from our homes. The elders blocked the portal cave so they could not follow us. Perhaps humans have done the same on their end.”

  “We sent a sphere on a chain through and brought it back several times. I do not believe the way is stoned over.” Seanan did not want this moment to be filled with fighting. He had to trust his gods would lead him down the right path. “Wish me well, brother. The decision has been made.”

  “It would be something to have babies,” Galen admitted, “and a woman.”

  “Keep that thought in mind and do not worry about me.” Seanan grinned. “I promise we will see each other again. I know it in my heart. Tonight’s trip is a simple task. There and back.”

  There and back. A simple task. Do not worry. We will see each other again.

  The unintentional arrogance of those statements filled Seanan’s thoughts as he clutched his stomach. He had not intended to dishonor himself by lying to his brother, but that is what was happening. Coming to Earth had not been simple, or fast, and there was every reason to worry.

  The hard alien ground pressed into his back. Strange buildings rose around him to block out the sky and still rain managed to find his face. Confused, he tried to push up, but he was too weak from the wounds in his stomach. The magical human weapon had sounded twice with loud pops to create the burning holes in his body before the attackers fled. Blood ran between his fingers. How did this happen? Why had he left the portal and his companions? Why…?

  And then he remembered why. His eyes moved over the wet stone path to the woman lying on the ground. A young man tenderly brushed the hair off her beaten face.

  Seanan squinted, trying to see the woman through the light rainfall. Her screams had drawn him like an enchantress in need. She required help. Honor instinctively made him want to help her. No, it was more than that. Without thought, he had raced toward the noise to save her and, in doing so, he had left his people behind and broke his promise to his brother.

  Galen would not know what happened. He wouldn’t understand. He would be alone. Seanan needed to go home.

  Human men spoke, but he comprehended very little of the Earth language dialect. Between the knowledge of the elders and the limited information shared by the Reticulans, he had thought he would understand more. He glanced around in confusion. Three men had come to rescue the woman seconds after Seanan’s arrival. They didn’t appear to want him dead.

  “Brian, are they gone?” the oldest male demanded as he came to stand over Seanan.

  “Yes, Dad, they’re gone,” Brian said from the far end of the alley, his voice gruff.

  “Rory, is she alive?” the one called Dad yelled to the man by the woman.

  “I think so,” Rory answered.

  “What is he?” Brian asked. The question was joined by the sound of footsteps running toward them.

  “I Seanan of,” Seanan tried to speak. He began frantically trying to tell them he needed to get to the portal before it closed, but the sound of the Draig language only caused strange expressions to form on their features.

  “Sean?” the older man repeated, cautiously kneeling beside him. “Your name is Sean?”

  “Seanan.” Seanan nodded as he struggled to stand. He had to get to the portal. He needed to go home.

  “He saved me.” Brian, who had been the target of the magic hole maker, appeared. “We have to help him.”

  “Easy, Sean.” Dad held him down but didn’t look as if he tried to hurt him as he examined the stomach wounds. “You took the bullets meant for my son. I don’t know what you are, but the Flahertys owe you. I promise we will keep you safe.”

  “What do we do?” Brian asked. “The hospitals will have questions and—”

  Seanan again tried to stand. They kept speaking, but he couldn’t understand what all of the strange sounds meant. He didn’t want to be here. His eyes flashed to the woman, wondering how he could carry her to the portal and still make it home before it closed. He saved her, and it was his duty to protect her. Plus, something about her voice stirred his emotions. He didn’t have time to analyze the connection.

  “Keep still,” the older man ordered.

  Seanan was torn about what to do next, even as he lay dying on the ground. He wanted to go home to his brother to keep his promise. He wanted to go to the woman. He needed to get her help. He needed to get her. He needed her. He needed…her. Loss of blood made him lightheaded, and it became hard to concentrate.

  “Look at him try to leave. He clearly doesn’t want a hospital.” The older man pressed his hands to Seanan’s stomach and firmly held him down. “Brian, go get the car. We’ll take him to Jake. He won’t ask questions. This man saved your life. We owe him.”

  “What about the woman?” Brian asked as he sprinted down the alley.

  “Rory?” the man at his stomach yelled. “You got her?”

  “That monster saved her.” Rory supported the woman’s head with his hands.

  “Don’t call him that. We don’t know what he is,” Dad ordered.

  “Well, that’s one hell of a birth defect,” Rory answered.

  “He looks human now,” Dad observed. “Will she live?”

&nb
sp; “She’s breathing, but she needs a doctor,” Rory said.

  “Call it in and get her to the hospital. Stay with her until we get there.” The man trained his eyes on Seanan as if forcing him to meet his gaze. “We’ll figure the rest out later.”

  “Her,” Seanan mumbled in the broken Earth language. “Need. Her.”

  “Try not to move,” Dad ordered. “You’re going to be all right.”

  Chapter 2

  Gilroy, Massachusetts, Earth, Two Years Later…

  “Get out of the car.”

  Sean Flaherty stiffened at the soft whisper, but pretended not to hear it. Irritation quickly replaced the initial moment of shock. After spending the last two nights searching all the bars in the district of Olde Village for a missing bail bond that hadn’t shown up for court, he simply wasn’t in the mood. The bondsman who hired him would be out a barrel of Earth dollars if Sean didn’t find accused drug dealer, Dougie Sinclair, within the next four days. He sure as hell wasn’t going to lose Duncan’s car on top of everything else.

  Sean owed the Flaherty family his life. Upon arriving through the portal, he’d heard a woman in trouble and had run to help, but shifting into dragon form had prompted her assailants to turn their anger on him instead. His appearance had saved her life, and he took two bullets meant for the off duty and slightly drunk police officer, Brian Flaherty. At the time, he hadn’t realized he was taking bullets, or what bullets even were. Regardless, that act secured him a safe place and friends on a new planet. If not for the family patriarch, Duncan Flaherty, insisting they take him to a private doctor and thus keeping him out of the public system, he never would have survived.