by Cara Bristol
“You must control your fear better,” he murmured when they were out of earshot.
“I’m not afraid!”
He sighed. Where was the profit in denying an obvious truth? “Your fear won’t serve you well. We can smell it, and it ignites the hunting instinct. The way you smell now, if I left you alone, there’d be dragons circling you like Earth sharks around a wounded seal.” They wouldn’t because everyone knew she was his intended consort. However, he wasn’t above turning her fear against her to keep her in line.
Manipulating her emotions could be useful if he did take her as his consort. She was a liar like all the rest of her people, but, oddly, that didn’t diminish the appeal of bedding her. How much could she handle, he wondered? A burst of possessiveness and hot lust jolted through him.
The dragon wasn’t satisfied. Not a consort. Mate.
He could run into problems with the king. Although K’rah rarely interfered in his sons’ selection of concubines, if he chose, he could unilaterally annul any consort relationship. The king would never accept a human. Helena had been an exception because of her political value, but Rhianna brought no advantage. She was insignificant. Her own people had used her as a pawn. The king would spit fireballs when K’ev came home with her.
Not insignificant. Mate! Most significant.
Had she been a mate, the king would have had no say. Originating from the sacred fyre, a mating bond trumped all other allegiances. A dragon’s fyre called out and merged with a female’s.
Yesss…our mate.
It had been too long since they’d rutted with a female. Pent-up lust had confused the dragon. Draconians and Earth people couldn’t bond—humans had no fyre. Even taking Rhianna as a concubine was problematic because she couldn’t be trusted. She would have to be watched constantly.
Yesss…watch our mate.
K’ev should have done as she’d begged and left her behind, but he had feared the king’s wrath if he returned home empty-handed. As it happened, he would catch his father’s ire anyway.
The real truth is, I did not want to let her go. The desire to know the woman the child had become had proven too much of a temptation.
Shifting into demiforma state, he rubbed a forehorn. The only alternative was to proceed to Draco and figure out something then. In the meantime, he’d order she was not to be touched under any circumstances. There’d be no hunting humans. Not this one, anyway.
They entered the lounge reserved for dignitaries and special guests. A dozen comfortable thrones in two rows arced around a large view screen, currently off. A small food dispenser jutted out of the wall at the rear. In preparation for Helena, it had been stocked with consumables thought to be digestible to humans. They fed on plants. Vegans ate only plants. He shuddered. No wonder they were such a weak species.
“Your chairs are…interesting. Why is there a split in the back?” Rhianna eyed the gap down the center of the throne’s spinal support.
K’ev swished his tail.
“Oh. I never thought of that.”
“It is uncomfortable to sit on one’s tail.” He pointed to the other side of the room. “If you get hungry or thirsty, there’s a food dispenser, but I recommend you stay seated while hyperdrive kicks in.”
She bit her lip. “You’re not leaving me, are you?”
He knew fear motivated her plea, but that she desired his company for any reason caused a pleasurable tickle in his chest. “Only for a little while,” he said. “I must attend to some important matters. Don’t leave this room. You’ll be safe here.”
He showed her the controls on the armrest. “If you wish to view outer space on the screen, you use this setting. However, I don’t recommend watching when we pass through the fold in space because the combination of visuals, hyperdrive, and compression warp will cause a massive headache.”
She studied the screen controls. “How will I know when we’re passing through?”
He chuckled. “Oh, you’ll know.”
She settled in a throne, her feet dangling. With enough room on the seat for an additional human her size, she appeared tiny and defenseless.
His dragon wanted to stay, but K’ev overruled him.
* * * *
He entered his spacious quarters and released his dragon, his body transforming and sprouting wings, which he unfurled with a badly-needed stretch after the prolonged containment. His roar bounced off walls insulated to muffle the sound. Being a prince, he enjoyed the luxury of private shift accommodations crew did not have. It came in handy at times like these.
He needed to connect with his alter-self, to harness his strength and insight before contacting his father. The dragon’s keen intuition and self-preservation instinct came in handy when dealing with a temperamental king.
Rhianna mine. Keep safe.
Unfortunately, the dragon had gotten distracted by the scent of tail, or lack of tail, as it were. He did concur they needed to keep her safe, including protecting her from the king, who could order her execution in retaliation for Earth’s perfidy.
His dragon roared and dropped to a crouch, as if preparing to attack.
We won’t let that happen, K’ev vowed.
Execution was remote, but possible. More likely—his father would become blazing angry and throw fireballs around the royal pantheon while his advisors attempted to calm him without being immolated. K’rah might order Rhianna and the ship back to Earth.
As he’d already considered, that action held merit—except K’ev had rejected it. Once a dragon set his sights on something, he wasn’t dissuaded. He wasn’t ready to let Rhianna go yet. As a child, she’d intrigued him, and his interest hadn’t waned now that she’d matured into a woman—despite her lies. Dragons adored treasure, and Rhianna reminded him of a faceted Earth ruby with sharp edges that could cut but not inflict any serious damage. What would be the harm in keeping her for a while?
Forever.
Not forever. Just for a while. He’d address the details with the dragon later.
But keeping her even temporarily presented a quandary. Did he tell his father the truth now so he’d have time to calm down before they arrived? Or did he say nothing and show up on Draco and present Rhianna as a fait accompli, as the humans would say? His father would have no choice but to accept her then, but K’ev would face the full force of his wrath.
He shifted back into demiforma and contacted his father via the vid channel.
K’rah sat in his throne in the pantheon. Smoke clouded the air, an indication he’d been throwing fireballs. Not a good sign.
The king wasted no time on preliminaries. “You retrieved the Earth female?”
“I got an Earth female,” K’ev replied. That wasn’t a lie, was it?
“Good. Before you come back to Draco, I have another task for you.”
“What is it?”
“I need you to go to Elementa. We’ve received disturbing news Earth may have established a permanent colony.”
“What? How?”
Under galactic law, once settled, a planet became off-limits to others—unless you could prove to the court of alien nations you had good reason to invade and drive out the squatters. Given the varying lifespans of justices, you often found yourself having to reargue your case all over again before a new judge who may not be as sympathetic as the previous one who’d died. Hence, the judicial process could take centuries or longer to resolve, all while the offenders gained a stronger toehold. Draco didn’t have many centuries left.
K’ev raked a claw over a forehorn in frustration. “They have to realize they can’t survive long-term without drastic terraforming.” When Earth officials had visited Draco, significant habitat modifications had been required to ensure they didn’t overheat or suffer irreversible lung damage and die.
“We don’t know if it’s true. A passing freighter—from an ally in the next sector—messaged us about suspicious activity on the planet’s surface,” K�
�rah said.
“I need you to check out the report by going to Elementa and seeing if there is truth. Your discovery will determine my next step. In any case, your consort will be useful to us,” K’rah said.
Would she be useful not being the president’s daughter?
K’ev hesitated. The smoke from his father’s last fiery tirade hadn’t dissipated from the pantheon yet. More bad news would result in another bout of temper. Why add to his upset now? Better to bring him good news that there wasn’t any colony and then tell him about the switch. Temper the bad with some good.
What if there was no good news? Only worse? “What if there is a settlement?”
“It would be demonstrative proof Earth is not operating in good faith. We will retaliate in accordance with Draconian law.”
Rhianna’s family and everyone she knew would die.
His dragon growled. My mate will be sad.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to claim Elementa? Drive out the few colonists?” he suggested. They could deal with the galactic tribunal later.
“Simpler? Of course. Make no mistake. We will take Elementa—with a vengeance. A Draconian requires three things: treasure, truth, and fyre.”
And a mate….the dragon added.
“He who steals any one of those shall know our wrath. The humans cannot take our fyre, but they have stolen precious metals and may be trying to steal the planet itself. Repeatedly they have laid waste to the truth. I’ve held off on settling this dispute due to requests for clemency for the humans by the galactic tribunal and the priestess. For some reason, the tribunal believes humans have the potential to evolve into a more advanced species. I’m certain time will prove otherwise. But, if this latest news is true, I will annihilate Earth.”
Eyes gleaming with sweet vengeance, his father leaned forward. “I do so hope they have established a settlement on Elementa.”
Chapter Seven
Rhianna never had thought of herself as an adrenalin junkie, but as soon as the prince departed, the atmosphere went flat. Her pounding heart slowed, and she exhaled a long breath. He’d pretty much ordered her to stay put. No worries. She had no intention of venturing out. Despite her apprehension of him, she felt safer in his presence than she did with the others. The two officers they’d passed in the corridor had terrified her. If not for the prince’s protection, she had a hunch she would have become lunch.
Better the dragon you know…
Although the gap in the middle of the massive throne-like chair wasn’t quite wide enough for her entire body to fall through, she scooted to the side so she could lean back comfortably. She rolled the tension out of her shoulders and flexed her fingers.
Was she under surveillance? She scanned the room, searching for a camera. Nothing stood out, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. However, since this might be the best chance to be unobserved, she decided to risk it, and dug into her pocket for the comm unit. She fingered it, feeling for a switch or a button, but it was smooth. Nothing noticeable, other than a pinhole on one side.
Tucking her hair back, Rhianna slipped the device into her right ear. Nothing happened.
She adjusted the fit. Still nothing.
She’d started to remove it when it crackled.
Then: “Hello, Rhianna.” She knew that voice! It was—“This is President Alan Marshfield.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth then dropped it. “Mr. President, can you hear me?” she cried.
“If you’re listening to this message, then, thus far, everything has gone according to plan.”
He couldn’t hear. This was a recorded message.
“I apologize we were unable to inform you you’d be traveling to Draco alone. For reasons of national and planetary security, notification was limited to key stakeholders with a need-to-know.”
“Who has more at stake than me?” she fumed.
“Earth has one, and only one, opportunity to alter the outcome of the impending war. It pains me to admit it, but we overestimated the dragon’s humanity and underestimated their military strength. It’s critical that we implant an insider in the royal court. Diplomacy has…failed. We have reason to believe an attack against Earth may be imminent.”
The president exhaled. “We cannot and will not survive a war with the dragons. Every single person, every animal will die.”
Imminent? Horror swept over Rhianna. She shook her head. Oh no…no…The situation had been precarious—everyone who had the means had gone underground, but war was imminent? My parents…my brother…
A gut-wrenching irony hit her. She’d been tricked into going to Draco, but she might end up as the sole survivor from planet Earth. Perhaps if the president had realized that, he would have sent Helena, if only to keep his daughter alive.
“You’re our last resort. I imagine you’re unhappy with how the situation went down. We wanted to tell you that you, and not Helena, would be going to Draco, but we couldn’t take the chance you would refuse. I don’t expect you to forgive us, but I hope, I pray, you can set aside emotion and do what is right for your family, your country, your planet.”
If I don’t go along with the plan, everybody dies. Is that what he means?
She would do anything to save her family and her planet because it’s who she was, and frankly, what alternative was there? But animosity didn’t begin to describe her anger. She’d been tricked and betrayed, and now the president attempted to coerce her continued cooperation.
“We need you on Draco to meet the king and as many members of the royal court as you can.”
And do what? She could scream in frustration. Beg them not to attack her planet? What was the rest of the plan? What could she do if diplomacy had already failed? Was she supposed to sweet-talk the prince for intercession on her behalf?
Had they tagged her as a femme fatale honey trap? Did they expect her to get Prince K’ev to fall for her so that he’d save her people? Work her feminine wiles on him?
Could she stand to sleep with a dragon to save her people?
How did they do the deed? Did they bite? Would he claw her? She didn’t have the protective scales female dragons did. What if K’ev’s penis was barbed? Jesus Christ. What if fire shot out of his dick?
Queasy, Rhianna pressed a hand to her mouth. This may not be what the president expects, and K’ev’s penis might be perfectly normal. Don’t panic. Don’t assume.
Jumping to conclusions was a natural reaction to the absence of real information.
“You probably have a lot of questions about how to proceed. I promise more information will be coming. We are preparing a message for you to deliver to the king. Just be sure to safeguard this comm device and keep it with you at all times so we can contact you.”
Would she ever see Earth again? She had a hunch that’s why Helena hadn’t been sent—not just because of the danger but because, regardless of what happened, this was a one-way trip. Her stomach roiled, an urge to retch growing. Oh god, I’m going to be sick! K’ev had pointed out the food but hadn’t mentioned a restroom facility. She felt light-headed, and her vision fuzzed. The room was expanding and contracting.
“You are doing a tremendous service to your planet, and I promise you, it won’t go unrecognized or unrewarded. Your family will be taken care of.”
Nope. She wasn’t going home.
“On behalf of the country and Earth, I thank you.”
The device went silent.
Her stomach gave a great surge, and bile bubbled up into her throat. Oh my god, I’m going to be sick. She stood up to find a restroom or a basin when the pressure wave hit, compressing her body from crown to the soles of her feet, folding her up like an accordion.
Oh god, what’s happening?
Too dizzy to walk, she sank onto the seat again. Her body was being distorted, twisted, and reshaped.
Had they entered the fold in space?
No wonder K’ev had recommended she remain seated
. She pressed a knuckle to her mouth and clung to an armrest as her body bulged and contracted. Deceived and abandoned by her own people, sickened by the flight, at the mercy of dragons, she’d never felt so alone in her life.
I wish K’ev were here!
How could she think of him, want his company after what she’d learned? Attack was imminent, and K’ev was the enemy. She squeezed her eyes shut. About the time she didn’t think she could take anymore, the sensations began to relent. The pressure eased, the churning in her stomach became less violent, her vision started to focus.
“Rhianna?” She jumped as Helena’s voice came through the earpiece. “I have to talk fast. I don’t have much time.
“I’m so sorry for deceiving you. I’ll never forgive myself. I wanted to tell you…but…I …couldn’t.” Helena’s voice broke. Rhianna heard her inhale. “I’m not going to give up. I’ll do everything I can on this end to bring you home. Listen. This is critical. Whatever you do, don’t—”
The recording cut off.
“Don’t? Don’t what?” she cried.
A portion of the wall melted away, and K’ev strode in.
Chapter Eight
Helena entered the command center of Bunker One. She’d expected to see the entire security team, but only her father and Biggs sat at the huge oval table. A parent’s relief for his child flashed across the president’s face before he masked his emotion behind a stoic expression. Self-loathing churned her stomach, but she held her head high and marched to her place at the table.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
“Their presence is not required,” Biggs said.
“Everything went according to plan?” her father asked.
“Yes.” What have I done? I’m so sorry, Rhianna, I’m so sorry. We think the dragons are monsters, but I’m one, too.
“Good. We received word the ship launched five minutes after you cleared the spaceport.”
Her hands started to shake, so she hid them in the pockets of the jumpsuit she would burn in the incinerator as soon as the debriefing ended. From this day forward, royal blue, and not yellow, would always represent cowardice to her.
