Claimed in the Clouds by Lisa Edmonds

A stubborn human woman driven to prove herself, the grumpy alien dragon man who keeps getting in her way, and a wondrous planet that yearns for them to follow their hearts.

Human mycologist Dr. Elena Regis has fulfilled a lifelong dream and come to the conservation planet of Hyderia to study its unique fungi. On arrival at the remote Nova Cal research station, Elena meets its director of research, Dr. Ardruc Husiorithae, an atmospheric scientist who seems to despise her on sight. At least her work takes her away from the station and deep into Hyderia’s pristine and wild forests, where she can escape Ardruc’s disdain.

After fleeing a miserable early life on his home planet of Fortusia, Ardruc turned to science and solitude to find meaning, healing, and answers. For two years, he has lived contentedly at Nova Cal, studying phenomena in the planet’s upper atmosphere. His life’s work is abruptly thrown into chaos when Elena arrives. His body and soul recognize her as his true mate, though she is everything Ardruc is not, from her dreamy way of looking at Hyderia’s natural beauty and her more intuitive than scientific approach to research. She sets his sharp teeth on edge—and makes his hearts sing.

As Ardruc’s resolve slowly crumbles, a series of strange and near-deadly events forces him to reveal his secrets. Hyderia is even more full of wonders than Ardruc and Elena imagined—and it is under threat. When unexpected dangers close in, these rivals turned lovers must find a way to protect themselves, their future, and the extraordinary world they long to call home.