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  Camille swam up to them, eyes wide and mouth open in an excited smile. “Wow, Hallie. He’s pretty. Not as pretty as Roka, but he looks right for you.”

  “What are you guys doing?” Hallie asked.

  “Roka said the best place to bathe was in here, and since the phase was over and the doors unlocked, we just came right in. Gotta get ready for Kris’s big performance. He’s so, so excited. We just wanted to wash a bit of grime off first. It’s gonna get very, very dirty in there. I can’t wait!”

  Kol chuckled when Camille swam away and was promptly lifted up and kissed soundly by a large, white-haired man who Hallie assumed must be the one called Roka. Roka passed her into Eben’s arms, who then diligently and carefully began rinsing her from head to toe. After a moment it looked less like washing and more like fondling.

  “Don’t be mad,” Kol said. “They’re excited. The next phase will be a sight to see, and we all have to be there.”

  A throat cleared from the edge of the pool and Hallie looked up. Corey gave her a tentative wave. “Hey,” he said with a sideways smile, then his brow quickly furrowed in concern. “You alright? I admit I heard… sounds that worried me.” His eyes shifted uncertainly to Kol.

  Her face relaxed, pleased that he’d thought to ask. “Yes, I’m better than alright. Corey, this is Kol.”

  Corey reached down and shook Kol’s hand amiably.

  “I’ve decided to take him home with me after we’re done here,” she added.

  Corey’s eyebrows raised. “Oh? I didn’t think you had a home, being on the run and all.”

  Hallie blinked and stared at him, open-mouthed.

  He grinned. “You think we didn’t all know from the beginning? Erika still insisted you were right for the team even though you were outright lying to us. That woman has the strangest instincts, but I’ve known her a long time and learned not to second-guess her.”

  “Even about all this stupid dragon stuff?” Hallie asked pointedly.

  He shrugged. “I’m still on the fence about it. Too much indiscriminate sex, as far as I’m concerned. And I’m still not sure where the hell I fit in considering all of you have paired up.”

  “There are only two dragons unaccounted for,” Kol interjected. “Issa just left with Kris, and I don’t see her mark on anyone. She’s probably preparing him for the next phase.”

  “Who’s the other one?” Hallie asked.

  Kol stared at them both like they were imbeciles. “The other one is the Queen.”

  Thank you for enjoying Sleeping Dragons. Please look for

  Sleeping Dragons Book 5

  Nexus

  Born to a race of creatures that strictly polices its presence among humans, Kris possesses a gift only one dragon in each generation may possess – that of a human form that requires no magic to maintain. Only to Kris, his form is a curse because it means he has spent his life without the touch of another since he left his mother’s breast.

  Graced by his mother with the mark of his race and raised by a reclusive sect of monks, Kris learns his destiny, and the means to shed his affliction, lies within the slumbering depths of a long forgotten temple in the Sumatran jungle. To fulfill his destiny, he must lead a group of archaeologists there to awaken his brethren.

  Kris has been a patient observer during the ritual, watching while the dragons of the temple’s court gathered sexual energy from the humans. But finally his part of the ritual is at hand. His task is to receive that gathered power through the same means it was taken, and serve as the conduit through which that energy will awaken their Queen.

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  About Ophelia Bell

  From fantasy erotica to sci-fi and contemporary, exploring the baser urges of the human psyche is what gets Ophelia Bell going. There’s nothing more beautiful than two people (or three, or four... or more!) lost in the throes of ecstasy. Skin on skin, urgent whispered pleas, the scent of sex and the salty taste of sweat. Nothing is more yummy than a good, juicy erotic story. If you have the same cravings you’ll love reading her books as much as she loves writing them.

  Ophelia Bell spends her time in sunny Southern California with her very supportive husband and four attention-whoring cats.

  Table of Contents

  Books by Ophelia Bell

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  About Ophelia Bell