Wyvern's Warrior

by Deborah Cooke

  Wyvern’s Warrior

  #3 of the Dragons of Incendium series

  By Deborah Cooke

  by

  Deborah Cooke

  Once, in the Kingdom of Incendium, there were twelve princesses of the realm, each a dragon shifter. Each fiery and passionate. Each possessed of an appetite for pleasure that only her destined mate can satisfy. Twelve men are expected in Incendium, each with special powers of his own, each with the gift to claim one dragon princess’s heart forever.

  A stranger arrives on Incendium in secret, but is intercepted by Princess Thalina when he tries to break into the palace. Thalina knows the mysterious mercenary is more than he pretends to be, so lets him abduct her to uncover his secrets. Acion is seldom surprised, but this dragon princess challenges all of his assumptions—while Thalina’s realization that Acion is her destined mate changes her own plans. Can she win the heart this warrior doesn’t appear to have—or will Acion be executed for breaking Incendium’s law first?

  Wyvern’s Warrior

  by Deborah Cooke

  Digital Edition

  Published by Deborah A. Cooke

  Cover by Frauke Spanuth

  Formatting by Author E.M.S.

  Copyright © 2017 by Deborah A. Cooke

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright preserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright holder and the publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-988479-04-0

  Table of Contents

  Cover Copy

  Copyright

  Dear Reader

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Next in the DRAGONS OF INCENDIUM Series

  About the Author

  More Books by the Author

  Dear Reader;

  My favorite characters are the ones who surprise me. Acion and Thalina certainly did that—and even better, they surprised each other. What better match for an analytical princess who likes to figure out how everything works than an android of her own? What greater challenge for a being who makes all choices based on logic alone than the passion of a dragon shifter princess? These two challenge each other and provoke change in each other in ways that Acion would find highly improbable—but very welcome, as well. I hope you enjoy their story and think they make as good a team as I do.

  Next up in the Dragons of Incendium series will be another short story, Kraw’s Secret, in which we learn what the ShadowCaster forecasts for Incendium. The next book will be Anguissa’s story and is called Wyvern’s Outlaw—once you meet Anguissa in this story, you’ll understand why she jumped the queue! The publication schedule for the series won’t continue at the same rate—when I planned for the Incendium books to be released quarterly, I anticipated each book to be about 25,000 words in length. Wyvern’s Prince and Wyvern’s Warrior have been about twice that long, which is a better length for me but does require more time. Rather than get myself into a corner, I’ll list the books for pre-order when they’ve gone to be edited. Keep an eye on my blog and on the Dragons of Incendium website for updates.

  The Dragons of Incendium stories are being published in print as mini-books. Each mini-book includes one novella and one short story and is available by limited distribution. The mini-book of Wyvern’s Warrior will go on sale at the same time as Kraw’s Secret. After the publication of Wyvern’s Outlaw, the Dragons of Incendium: The First Collection will be published in trade paperback and available in wider distribution. It will include the first three books and the first three short stories.

  The Dragons of Incendium website has some new resources for you. I recently updated the Glossary of Terms, and added both a Cast of Characters and a Brief History of Incendium.

  http://dragonsofincendium.com

  I’ve also added a new feature to my newsletter list for those of you who would like to follow a specific series. If you download one of the samples of the Dragons of Incendium books from my online store or buy a digital or print book there, you’ll be added to the Dragons of Incendium newsletter list. This is a separate list from my monthly newsletter—you can belong to either or both. Subscribers to a series list will receive a newsletter when the next book in the series is published and also will be offered discounts for print and digital books in my online store. There’s an advantage for buying directly from the author! I’m setting these subsidiary lists up for each of my series, but the only way to join them is by downloading a free sample or buying a book in that series from my store. You can find all the free book samples in the store in the Book Sample category.

  To stay up to date with my news—including cover reveals, sales, and special offers for subscribers—please sign up for my monthly newsletter. You can also subscribe to my new release alert, if you prefer to receive a single email on the day a new title becomes available.

  Until next time, I hope you have lots of good books to read.

  All my best

  Deborah

  Prologue

  Gemma exchanged her vows with Venero in the palace of Incendium. When they had pledged to each other before the royal family, Kraw brought the great chalice filled with the purple brew for HeartKeepers and Venero drank half, then Gemma drained the cup. Her heart was filled to bursting with joy and the knowledge that Venero’s child had already been conceived. They made the long-overdue alliance between the planets of Incendium and Regalia with their vows, and she couldn’t wait to see the future they would build.

  It wasn’t an elaborate wedding with a long list of dignitaries in attendance. Gemma wasn’t wearing a magnificent dress, just one of her favorites, and there weren’t a dozen attendants in the procession. Her sisters were present, except for Drakina who had gone to Terra with Troy after Gemma’s wedding to Urbanus, and Anguissa who was seldom home. Her parents were present, of course, as well as the royal retinue. Kraw beamed at her, as if he were her second father.

  Venero’s crown had to be secured in Regalia, but they had conceded one day to this celebration. Gemma’s father, King Ouros of Incendium, had agreed to provide the troops she requested for the mission to Regalia and insisted upon leaving a sizable portion of them in service there until one year after Venero controlled the throne. Gemma was pleased that her old friend, Farquon, would command the assigned troops and report directly to Gemma and Venero.

  Ouros’ concession had been hard won. He had protested Gemma’s departure for Regalia, fearing for her welfare. She hadn’t told him that she’d conceived Venero’s child already, but her father could probably smell the change in her scent. It had been her mother, Queen Ignita, who had argued for Gemma’s choice, reminding her husband that a bride must make her future by her husband’s side.

  Gemma and Venero would depart for Regalia with an army the following morning.


  Married.

  Gemma turned from the chalice to accept congratulations, Venero’s hand in hers, and found that a small table was being placed before them. Thalina placed a dark blue box upon the table with such care that Gemma guessed its contents.

  “You made another one?” she asked, and Thalina nodded, her pride clear. “And you’re giving it to us?”

  Thalina nodded, her eyes dancing. “I hope you like it.”

  “I don’t understand,” Venero murmured but Gemma smiled at him.

  “Thalina has learned to make automatons.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “Really? That’s impressive.”

  “And you haven’t even seen this one yet,” Flammara said.

  “Touch the button,” Thalina instructed, and Gemma did, pushing the large gold circle on the side closest to her. It looked like a seal, embossed with the insignia of Incendium, but actually was a button. It clicked when she pressed it and she stood back, waiting and watching.

  Music began to tinkle. The box spun, then parted at the seams and fell open, revealing its deep orange interior. Nestled inside was a large egg with an iridescent surface, much like the natal egg of a dragon shifter but smaller. This egg was about half the size that Gravitas’ egg had been. The patterns on its surface appeared to move, but Gemma looked closer. The surface of the egg had at least three layers, each a different color, the top two punctured in different patterns. The lower two spun in opposite directions, giving the illusion of the changing surface of a natal egg.

  Her family caught their breath as one and gathered near to watch. Thalina was clearly brimming with anticipation.

  “Wait for it,” Flammara said, who must have seen the automaton before.

  “Do I have to do anything else?” Gemma asked.

  Thalina shook her head. “Let it do what it does.”

  “And prepare to be amazed,” Flammara said.

  A crack revealed itself in the surface of the egg, looking as if it started at the summit and spreading downward. Gemma knew the break had to have been designed into the egg’s surface, but the illusion was remarkable. Parts of the egg’s surface slid down inside the rest of the shell, dropping with irregular timing in an almost perfect echo of Gravitas’ hatching.

  “I wish Drakina could see this,” Gemma whispered, entranced.

  “She will, the next time she comes home,” Thalina said. “It won’t change.”

  “Part of the beauty of an automaton,” Venero said quietly. “It’s constant and predictable.”

  Thalina smiled.

  A large piece of shell dropped inside and there was a croak, like the cry of a young dragon. As the rest of the shell dropped to make a kind of nest, wings rose from the interior. They were pale green and leathery, shaped exactly like those of infant dragons. Gemma smiled at the attention to detail—the nail at the tip of the wing was pale and looked soft, as it would on a newborn.

  The wings moved slowly at first, then spread outward, as if with dawning confidence. The dragon sheltered inside the wings was revealed, its back studded with gems that caught the light and a line of iridescent feathers down its back. It was green and black and blue, marvelous in its detail. The head of the mechanical dragon lifted and it tipped its head back to make a second, louder cry. Gemma smiled at the red lining of its mouth and the tiny pearls placed like baby teeth.

  Its wings beat harder and it rose out of the egg, appearing to stretch for the sky. Its tail coiled beneath its haunches, probably hiding a metal support. The music turned triumphant as a spiral of flame erupted from the dragon’s mouth. Gemma realized the flame was a spinning tube of orange glass, artfully shaped. The dragon gave its last final victorious cry before lowering itself into the shell again and sheltering itself beneath its wings. The shell reassembled itself and the box folded up and spun once. The music fell silent when the gift looked as it had upon presentation.

  “Well done!” King Ouros cried, leading the applause. He crossed the floor to give Thalina a kiss on the cheek. “You have learned much from Thantos the clockmaker.” He shook hands with the beaming older gentleman from the village. Gemma had wondered why he was there. “Thank you, Thantos, for indulging the fascination of my daughter.”

  “The princess long ago exceeded my skills, your highness. She is a most apt student and might be a master clockmaker herself.”

  “If she desired a trade, that could be hers,” Ouros agreed mildly, and Gemma knew he was thinking that Thalina’s future role would be greater than that of a tradesperson.

  “I can have a skill without undertaking a trade,” Thalina said, a new defiance in her tone. She’d always been the quiet one, but it seemed that triumph had given her new confidence. “And sooner or later, Father, Incendium must embrace reality.”

  Gemma winced, because she knew her father disliked being challenged before others.

  “Scintillon’s Law is irrevocable,” Ouros said, his tone a little more stern. “And you know it, Thalina.”

  “It is also twelve hundred years old,” Thalina countered. “I would hate for Incendium to become backward and primitive because of a refusal to update our policies.”

  Their father inhaled and his eyes glittered. “That will never happen, even without androids. Incendium remains in the upper echelons of successful empires.”

  “For how long?” Thalina challenged.

  Father and daughter glared at each other and Gemma cleared her throat.

  “Scintillon’s Law,” she said lightly, turning to Venero. “I assume you know of it?”

  “The edict of the first King of Incendium that outlaws androids on any of the planets in the Fiero-Four system, including Incendium and Regalia.” Her new husband nodded. “It’s well-documented and included on the curriculum of legal courses about androids and cyborgs in the law schools of Advocia.”

  “So, we’re already known to be backward and superstitious by the rest of the galaxy,” Thalina said.

  “You don’t know that superstition was behind Scintillon’s choice,” Ignita said softly, obviously trying to make peace.

  “It can’t have been based on experience,” Thalina argued. “Not twelve hundred years ago. Making laws based on assumptions and prejudices is backward.”

  Ouros was remarkably silent about this. In fact, he fired a quelling glance at his wife, one that intrigued Gemma.

  “Perhaps not in this case, Thalina,” Venero acknowledged. Gemma smiled, knowing he was going to sound like a lawyer. “In terms of statutes, Scintillon’s Law has the beauty of simplicity. In outlawing androids, Scintillon ended all discussion of their rights and legal status in Incendium society before such conversation could even begin. They have no status except as illegal entrants, which makes them subject to export or decommission immediately upon identification of their nature.” He nodded. “There are societies who find that simplicity enviable and even a mark of foresight.”

  “Because…?” Ouros invited.

  “Because androids have been developed in those twelve hundred years which emulate sentience, and perhaps even possess it,” Venero said. “That complicates the distinction between androids and biological organisms in those societies, particularly if the two aren’t readily distinguishable.”

  “They’d have to be caught first,” Thalina said.

  “Exactly,” Venero agreed.

  “You mean androids like Arista,” Gemma said and her husband nodded.

  “Exactly. And where is the line between cyborgs and androids, as well as cyborgs and humans?” Venero mused, sounding even more like a lawyer. “Is the distinction in the original impulse? In the source of the mind governing the organism? In which system is ascendant? Is it in the percentage of the corpus that is biological versus mechanical? How are such questions to be reliably answered in a timely fashion? The questions are complicated, with ramifications that provoke more than a little envy for Incendium’s law code.”

  Thalina rolled her eyes.

  King Ouros beamed
at this endorsement of his legacy. “And so there should be. We have built an advanced society without such creatures in our midst, are one of the greatest trading empires of the galaxy and one with a standard of living for our citizens in the top percentile. There is much reason for pride in this.”

  The family began to murmur to each other, and Gemma gave Thalina a kiss. “Thank you so much. It’s just wonderful and will have pride of place in our home.”

  Thalina smiled. “I knew you’d like it.”

  “You must have been working on it for years,” Gemma said.”

  “I was, but it’s a perfect wedding gift, I think.”

  “It’s incredible. You are skilled,” Venero said and Gemma watched her sister blush.

  “But I want to do more…” Thalina began.

  “Don’t put yourself on the wrong side of Scintillon’s Law,” Gemma advised, seeing exactly where her sister’s thoughts were headed.

  “There’s no legal cause or precedent for appeal,” Venero reminded her.

  Thalina’s lips set. “I can’t believe you didn’t know about Arista,” she said to Gemma. “Couldn’t you smell that she wasn’t human?”

  “No. I never guessed,” Gemma admitted. “Only Venero knew.”