by Lisa Oliver
“Your majesty, I must protest at you putting words in my mouth.” The doctor did his best to look sincere. “With an incredibly important personage, such as yourself, we can’t take any chances or risks with a future heir.”
Byron tapped him on the shoulder. I got this. “So, you attended Ivak’s mother when she gave birth to him, is that right? Seeing as, at the time, Ivak was the king’s heir and all.”
“No, co… your majesty. I wasn’t even informed there was an heir until the king was ill.”
“The tests aren’t mandatory then.” Ivak lifted his lips, showing all his teeth. “We will have an ultrasound. My mate wants a picture.”
“Your majesties I must protest. I need to take bloods, a sample from the amniotic fluid, heart baselines, urine samples…”
“Why?” Ivak was appreciating Byron’s blunt, to the point, questions.
“There are so many things that can go wrong before the infant is even born…”
Byron sliced across his throat with a finger, and the doctor gulped. “Ivak, babe, what does your dragon say about your health and the health of our peanut?”
“We’re fine.” Ivak shrugged. “Radostnyy wouldn’t have encouraged the birth if we weren’t.”
“And neither would Dancer, or your lovely wolf,” Byron agreed. “So, doctor, forgive me if I sound blunt, but you’re not putting anything near, or in my mate, except that ultrasound wand. We just want one picture of the baby.”
“I can’t do it.” The doctor folded his arms across his chest. “As a responsible physician, tasked with looking after the royal family for decades, it is my solemn duty to perform all or any of the tests I deem necessary to ensure the next ice dragon king is developing safely, and correctly, in accordance with the guidelines laid out in the ice dragon developmental manual.”
“They have a manual,” Ivak said to Byron.
“They’re not even considering a future ice dragon queen – how sexist is that?” Byron didn’t seem any happier about the doctor’s pronouncement either. “What are you going to do?”
Ivak pulled his chair closer to him, sat down and pulled out his phone, pressing a number. “Sentinel…”
“Your majesty, I am a bit busy right now.” David sounded harassed. Ivak decided to give him a holiday starting tomorrow.
“I need you to put out an advertisement for a new court doctor,” Ivak said calmly. “Tomorrow is fine. And we may need a body bag and cleaning crew up here. I’ll let you know.”
“Oh no.” David’s voice came over clearly on the speaker. “I told him just him and the ultrasound machine. He fucked up, didn’t he?”
“Badly.” Ivak glared at the doctor who wasn’t looking so confident now. “And then he suggested I was hormonal.”
“I’ll have a cleaning crew with a body bag on standby, your majesty.” David clicked off.
“You see? That David is a good man.” Ivak pocketed his phone again. “He listens. He understands me, and even when he doesn’t understand, he still listens and does what I tell him to. He’s devoted his whole life to making the king’s life easier, you know. I am blessed to have him in this court. You, not so much.”
“Your majesties.” The doctor unfolded his arms and shifted his feet. He’s going to run. “I confess, I might have gotten overly excited when I received the sentinel’s message. I mean, the leading families have wanted information on the baby you’re carrying for so long…”
“Why would they want that?” Byron shook his head. “And what’s all this so long business. Ivak has only been pregnant ten weeks.”
“It seems longer, consort.” The doctor was now shifting his eyes around, looking for the quickest exit.
“But why do the leading families need to have anything to do with our child? Peanut is our responsibility, not theirs.”
“It’s the way things have always been done, consort.” The doctor was getting really edgy now, and Ivak liked to think it had something to do with his piercing gaze. “Everyone has a vested interest in the king’s health, and that of his family of course.”
“I didn’t notice anyone paying that much attention to my father when he lay dying in his own sweat.” Ivak slid his hand down his boot, and removed the knife he always carried there, carefully flicking a piece of dirt from under his fingernail with it. “I think we’ve danced around each other long enough, don’t you?” He pointed his blade at the doctor, who’s face went white.
“The only reason you want to do all these tests is because you want to introduce something into my system that will weaken me, so that your cronies can take their time working out who is going to challenge me.” Ivak shook his head. “Of course, that could be my hormones talking and that one scenario could all be bullshit. But you and the leading families are shit scared because you don’t know what a half-wolf, half-dragon is capable of. I mated with a fire dragon – sacrilege. And now I’m having a child – shock horror, is the king really male – and that child will be the combination of three very strong genetic and shifter groups. So, you’re all shitting yourselves – you and the leading families – because you really don’t know what I am capable of.”
“Your majesty, I don’t know where you’re getting your ideas from,” the doctor protested, stepping backwards towards the door. “It is concern, pure and simple, concern for our king and the ice dragon heritage – something we’ve kept sacrosanct for thousands of years.”
“And you see me as a threat to that purity.” Turning his knife on its side, Ivak flicked it, watching as it spiraled through the air until it hit its target, slicing through the retreating doctor’s neck. “I suppose the staff will decide that’s just another example of me being hormonal,” he grumbled.
“I wonder if you could make another decree, making it mandatory for every ice dragon person, between the ages of twenty and fifty years, serve at least a year in either an internship, or something similar, with a wolf pack, a different shifter type, maybe vampire company – something non ice dragon.” Byron wandered over and picked up Ivak’s knife where it’d fallen along with the doctor.
“It’s like being gay, you know,” Byron continued as he wandered back, cleaning the knife thoroughly on his shirt edge. Ivak had never loved his mate more than in that moment. “If you think about it, so many people who claim to hate people who love others of the same sex, they’ve never met any gay people. They are hating a concept based on misinformation and concepts they don’t understand. They don’t know or relate to the people behind the label. I think you’re having the same problems with your court members and this whole ice dragon purity bullshit.”
“I’m all for making more decrees,” Ivak agreed, watching as Byron checked the whole blade, including where it met the handle, before handing it over. He slid it into his boot. “I can announce it at dinner tonight. I think you’re right, and fates know, if this little peanut of ours ever has a chance to rule one day, then this court needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the next century.”
“I just wish you didn’t have to kill the doctor in here,” Byron sighed, perching his butt on the armrest of Ivak’s chair. “I wanted us to have a play with that ultrasound machine and see if we can see anything of our little peanut. But now, with the cleaners coming…”
“I’ll let David know to deploy them, and we’ll take the machine into the consort room and use the bed in there.” Ivak got up slowly, his speed belying his excitement. The leading families weren’t the only ones keen to see his little peanut.
Chapter Thirty
Byron wasn’t a stranger to dinner functions – his father used to hold them regularly when he was younger, and Byron often represented the Hollingsworth clan at such functions overseas. Having to wear a coronet to attend was new, as were the robes David insisted he and Ivak wear.
“You are already about to bring about more changes than this empire has seen in a thousand years in one single dinner – adhere to some protocol at least.” David gave one last tug at Ivak’s ro
be and reached into the box that held the crown.
Ivak shook his head. “Too heavy for tonight and it could get messy.”
David sighed, but put the crown away. Petrov was looking very smart, having forgone his uniform for the evening for a robe similar to the one David wore. He was going to be a guest at the head table, as David’s mate. Byron was rather glad of the support. Ivak still wouldn’t give him a clue over what he’d got planned for the dinner, and while Byron worried at how bad things could get, his main worry was that he’d let his mate down by overreacting to mass carnage for example.
“Stop fretting, babe,” Ivak came over, taking his hand. “You look very elegant, very commanding, exactly how a consort of mine should look.”
“I’m surprised you agreed to the robes.” Byron let himself be led towards the door. “If there’s any hand-to-hand fighting needed, I’m going to be spending half my time fighting this skirt. They come down to mid-calf. How is anyone meant to move freely in these?”
“You’re starting to sound more like me every day.” Ivak’s voice held a note of approval. “Here. Allow me.” Flicking out his knife, Ivak cut the seams of the robe from where it split at the knee to just above Byron’s hips.
“Your majesties!” David was horrified.
“Now, we match,” Ivak said happily. “I did that to all of mine for exactly that reason. I’ll make an assassin out of you yet, my beloved consort.”
I’d settle for getting out of this dinner alive, Byron thought as he smiled. Far from the arrogant expressionless man he met, with every passing day Ivak was showing more and more emotion, especially in the privacy of their quarters. It was as if, and yes Byron took credit for that, now he was mated Ivak could finally show who he was behind the mask and he was an exciting man who could be depended on for his unpredictability.
The hallway, the elevator, even as they stood waiting for David to announce them at the door of the throne room, Ivak still held his hand. The man who’d broken Byron’s heart by claiming he wasn’t one for PDA their first morning together, took every opportunity now to touch Byron in some way. Byron realized, that while his mated life with Ivak wasn’t anything like what he’d imagined before they met, it was a satisfying and love filled life.
I am happy, and that thought was enough to have Byron smiling as he entered the throne room, Ivak still holding his hand.
/~/~/~/~/
Ivak personally hated dinner parties. Sharing a meal with close friends was something he could see himself doing with Byron once the baby was born – he’d enjoyed the meal with Byron’s brothers immensely. But listening to polite chatter around him, feeling the many glances that seemed to watch every mouthful he took, was enough to give him the willies. What was equally concerning was that both his dragon and his wolf were present, lurking under his skin, feeding his agitation.
But Ivak did have a plan, and that plan required patience. So, he ate as though he had an appetite, sipped sparingly of the water he had in his glass, and kept an eye on his mate who was doing a good job of ignoring the attention their table was getting. Only David and Petrov shared their table on the small stage where the thrones usually sat.
David and Petrov had done an amazing job, pulling together five stunning courses, the seating for all the main families who usually fluttered around the court like they were important, and stunning light decorations that caught every jewel on every piece of clothing. Ivak appreciated that the sheer number of lights meant that not one corner was shadowed in the room. Petrov’s addition to the festivities, which met with Ivak’s approval, was the stationing of the court guards both around the room, and outside the door and every window.
Ivak glanced up at the huge scorch mark Byron had left on the glass. It streaked like a cloud casting doom over the gathering. Very fitting.
David stood as the last plates were cleared away, and wine glasses were filled by silent wait staff.
“His majesty, King Ivak will now say a few words.”
Ivak thought about standing, but then decided it didn’t matter if he stayed in his seat. He could see everyone in the room and staying seated would suggest a casual approach, giving more impact to his words when he knocked them over with them.
“Court members, thank you all for coming this evening. I appreciate some of you may have felt you didn’t have any choice, as I did order you to attend, but to see you all enjoying the benefits of my hospitality pleases me.” Ivak took a small sip of water and smiled tightly as he looked around the room. “After all, a number of you have been so keen on getting to know more about me, my consort, and my child, even though peanut has yet to make an arrival.”
There were a few exchanged glances around the crowd, but the ones Ivak was watching, were those who struggled to keep their facial expressions unchanged.
“I think we can all agree the Sentinel, David, has done an amazing job for the court, and for those who have held the position of king, namely my late father and myself. Since he’s been claimed by my brother, I feel doubly close to him, as the sentinel is now a crucial part of my family.”
Ivak paused, his eyes picking up subtle cues from his captive audience. A few nods – supporters of David’s. An equal number of tightened jaws. I wonder if any of you fools realize how much my wolf can see?
“I like to think David sees our relationship in a similar fashion,” Ivak continued. “And I will come to why that is important in just a moment. But first I want to take this opportunity to tell you all an important decree I had drafted up this afternoon.”
Now, he had their attention. Straightened backs, serious expressions on faces.
“I feel, we as ice dragons have a lot to contribute to the paranormal world and indeed, the world in general. I myself have worked in countless positions over the years and have companies in many different countries that embrace different cultures and ways of thinking. Diversity is the way of the future and only through understanding how other paranormal creatures think, or how the entire world does business, can the ice dragons fully appreciate their place alongside others.”
Hmm. Touched a nerve there. It was clear from some facial expressions that the word ‘alongside’ was not what the arrogant bastards had in mind when they thought of an ice dragon’s place in the world.
“To better prepare our younger generations for this progressive way of thinking, I decree as from midnight tonight, all young dragons aged between twenty and fifty years old, who haven’t yet shown an example of embracing the diversity in the world overall, will be expected to spend a year minimum as an intern or in a similar position with a diverse company under my management. This is not negotiable.”
“Your majesty.” A large man stood; his fists clenched. “You can’t do this. You’re planning to put our younger generation into servitude to others?”
Ivak leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I’m providing opportunities for young dragons to absorb cultural and business differences in a diverse world. The opportunities beyond these walls exceed even your limited imagination and for ice dragons to prosper they must see how to fit into a world that is moving ahead without them. Sit down.”
Looking around, the man saw he had no support, and did as he was ordered, albeit grudgingly. Ivak waited until the mutterings and clatter of furniture settled down and then said. “The Sentinel’s office will be in touch within the next week with the schedule of the first dragons who will be leaving our court for their next adventure. Which brings me to my next point, and perhaps the most important one.”
“Oh joy, what’s next? Taking in orphan wolves and giving them homes here too?”
“Excellent suggestion.” Ivak pointed his finger at the sullen man. “I’ll take that up with the sentinel, but no, not that or at least, not yet. For now, this is something I feel threatens the structure of our ice dragon community. The sentinel agonized long and hard about bringing this to my attention, but I am thankful he did. After all, he’s only ever had the ice dragon nation’
s best interest at heart. David told me there’s a petition circulating the court concerning me, my consort and my unborn child.”
It was as if a whole roomful of people suddenly stopped breathing, becoming frozen statues. Byron was the only one who moved, resting his hand against Ivak’s lower back. Ivak pressed back into it slightly.
“You can imagine my surprise,” Ivak said calmly. “Giving birth is a natural process that’s existed since time began. While giving birth is traditionally a female role, many males in the paranormal community have the same ability, including dragons who have found their fated mates. The process is made possible by our dragon’s magic and is only done when the dragon spirit is confident that the bond between partners is genuine, and the male body concerned is healthy and strong enough to carry a child to term.”
Ivak watched as the facts he’d imparted sank in. On some faces was relief, or that “oh yes, that makes sense now” realization. Other faces tightened. Someone’s going to snap a tooth if they don’t loosen their jaw muscles.
“The petition was very specific.” Ivak clicked his fingers causing a folder to appear. “It detailed a number of physically invasive tests the signing leading families insist I undergo, plus an added caveat in who would lead our dragons during my confinement.”
Ivak flicked the file open and appeared to read, although that was all for show. The pages in the file were blank. “One can only assume it was a man who drafted up the petition, because as I’m sure any one of our wonderful females here this evening could have told them that tests were unnecessary, and the idea of confinement before, during or after birth, is insulting to all females everywhere.”
A few giggles sounded around the room, and Ivak looked up and showed his teeth. “There are thirty-four leading family groups who’ve enjoyed the fine foods and wine provided tonight. Twelve of those family leaders signed this petition. A petition that is demeaning to me, undermines my mating, and threatens the life of my unborn child. My twin spirits are not amused.”
