Their Royal Compromise: Paranormal Dating Agency (OtherWorld Shifters Book 2)

by Godiva Glenn

  “Should I… let you get to your meeting?” she whispered.

  He shook his head and regarded the men. “If you want to wait in the meeting room, I’ll head directly over once Fianni is settled down.”

  “No,” Solomon said shaking his head. “It wasn’t anything important.”

  “I can’t really remember what the meeting was for,” Nick offered.

  “I believe it was about the Cloud Seekers hunting along the edge of your territory.” Liam frowned. “You were quite adamant about issuing a formal complaint.”

  “We’d had an agreement with them for years, it’s probably something we can handle ourselves. It’s a misunderstanding,” Solomon insisted.

  “Are you certain?” Liam asked.

  The two men nodded. “We’ll take care of it.”

  They turned to leave, and Liam followed them through the room while Fianni held back. After a moment, he returned.

  “That was strange.”

  Fianni shrugged innocently. He gestured in another direction then led the way while she followed him in silence. After a few flights of stairs, they came to a stop at a heavy, dark wooden door which she assumed would be where she’d stay for now.

  “I keep wondering if the bears are up to some new ploy, or if they were caught off-guard perhaps. I must admit, when you first appeared, you stunned me.”

  She glanced down, hiding her smile. “I suppose it’s not every day a strange woman walks out of your fountain.”

  “No. And I certainly can’t recall the last time a woman’s beauty stole my breath.”

  She looked up, not expecting his words. “Oh.”

  “So was that it? Is that your magic? Did you hypnotize them?”

  “No… Not exactly. And I didn’t target them, but first impressions can be like that.” She leaned her back against the door and stared up at him. His eyes held warmth, and her earlier fear of revealing herself slipped away. “I have the gift of Harmony.”

  He didn’t reply, only waited.

  “It’s my core. Woven into the fabric of my being. I ease tension between parties. I can help bring peace.”

  “And you were sent here…” His words faded into a lilt of suspicion.

  “Gerri sent me here. Not as a weapon or a spy… just as a candidate.”

  “Right.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “You bring me peace when we touch. When I’m close. But the Blue Mountain Clan?”

  “The bears?” She asked and waited for him to nod. “It’s like that for some. Meeting an aspect can be like an overwhelming wave. The effect wears off over time, and the more exposure, the less likely the magic is quite so strong.”

  “Why didn’t it work on us? My brothers and I?”

  “I don’t know. I think because the bears, at least those two, don’t have a real conflict with you. The more someone wants peace, the easier they’ll gain it. I can’t make miracles happen since most problems have external ties, but I can ease the internal emotions.”

  “You don’t think we want peace?”

  “You do, if you feel anything from me. But I wouldn’t over-think it. It’s possible that it’s me,” she admitted. “Maybe I don’t have the oomph on Solara that I did on Prism. You rule here. You’re tied to the land. I’m a foreign component, and I’ve never met a dragon.”

  “Rask is wild, and Arron is too much in his head,” Liam said carefully. “They’re stubborn. Would that matter?”

  “Maybe.”

  “It’s strange having brothers when love has turned to tolerance. If you could help us regain even an ounce of what we had before, I would be forever in your debt.”

  “I’m here. I’ll do what I can.”

  He brushed his hand through her hair and leaned close. The air between them grew warm and inviting. “I’m sorry we didn’t invite you personally.”

  “Uh… oh?” Confusion swirled through her.

  “As you said, this makes it awkward. You came to be our mate, but we weren’t seeking you. And you may be intended for someone else.”

  “Oh…” She frowned and had the sudden urge to dissipate into the door to escape.

  His thumb traced her jawline and his eyes explored hers. “But you are lovely,” he whispered. “Forgive me.”

  Forgive wha—

  He ducked down and trapped her lips with his, stealing her breath and all the questions floating in her thoughts. Everything blanked. She parted her lips and welcomed his heat. He kissed like he was tasting her, savoring her, and though she enjoyed every moment, she was too shocked to fully respond.

  Just as soon as it began, it ended. He pulled away and stared at her lips as if dizzy. Her pounding heart threatened to break her ribs.

  “I had to see…” He blinked, and for a split-second, his irises were glowing slivers of gold. “Someone will come by to refresh the sheets,” he said factually before turning away.

  She watched speechless as he hurried away. What on Earth?

  A quick nap had become a full doze, and Fianni woke when the twin moons were high in the night sky.

  She vaguely recalled knocks on the door, but she was exhausted from travel. Even if the journey itself had taken mere moments, she felt the distance. She just hadn’t thought it would hit her this hard.

  Sitting up, she dragged a hand through her tangled hair. She’d collapsed on her bed and fallen asleep nearly instantly, but now the thoughts that had carried her into the room roared to the forefront of her mind.

  Liam had kissed her, and it was a mind-shattering, toe-curling, lower-belly-tumbling, epic kiss.

  Recalling it made blood heat her cheeks and goosebumps dance along her arms. It had been ages since she’d felt this alive.

  She slid from the bed and fumbled in the dark. As her eyes adjusted to the light she noticed a lantern on her nightstand and long matches beside it. She lit the wick and looked away as the light produced seemed to grow and shine far brighter than expected.

  The castle had electricity—she could feel it when Liam had walked her though—but the thick stone walls masked the hum almost completely. She suspected she could find a switch on the wall if she looked, but the flicker of natural burning light was a comfort she’d missed.

  She carried the lantern to the dresser and set it down, her eyes on the ornately framed mirror that hung on the wall before her. With everything else, she’d forgotten to check and see what the men saw when she was around.

  Her hair was a mess of plain brown waves, but her eyes still sparkled pink, though the hue was somewhat muted. Surprisingly, the gentle points of her ears remained intact. It was an appearance she could live with. But do I want to stay that long?

  Fianni still didn’t understand how the lines had been mixed up. Someone had contacted Gerri, but was it a friend of the dragons who had their best interests in mind? Or was it one of their rivals attempting a distraction, as had been one of her initial suspicions?

  The latter seemed ridiculous. A mate was exactly what they wanted, and they believed it would help them be better at ruling and protecting their planet. But then again, no one could have guessed that Gerri would send the magical embodiment of peace.

  Either way, it was embarrassing to show up as mate potential to a group of guys who hadn’t requested such a thing. Sure, they were looking for a mate—Iona had caught them discussing it after all—but maybe it was a plan on the back burner. That or I’m not their type.

  Fianni carried the lantern to the massive balcony that overlooked the castle’s inner courtyard. The sky was a beautiful shade of deep purple, and her eyes narrowed on what appeared to be a falling star, but just as quickly had it fallen then it was rising again. She set the lantern on the wide wooden railing and leaned over, trying to comprehend what she’d seen.

  The star grew closer and she realized it wasn’t a star at all, but a golden dragon. It wasn’t a sight she had expected, but perhaps she should have. Nova Solara wasn’t as modern as Earth nor as magically rustic as Prism. It was something
else.

  Something with dungeons and sexy dragons.

  The next morning, Fianni woke to find a glass of water and a tray of fresh foreign fruits on her nightstand. Her stomach growled at the sight of what appeared to be rainbow berries and cuts of pink melon. She nibbled each strangely colored piece with delighted curiosity while wondering who had snuck into her room. She wanted to believe it was Liam. It would be delicious to find that the king had a sweet and caring side.

  But reality told her it was probably someone who worked in the castle.

  Pulling herself away from the sweet breakfast, she stretched and left the bed. She’d fallen asleep in her dress, and it showed. Her reflection was a rumpled disaster, but a glance in the mirror made her take notice of the room around her rather than her own questionable appearance.

  The furniture was heavy and sturdy. Aside from the fancy frame on the mirror and the silky drapery around her bed, everything screamed purpose before comfort. Even the posts of the bed were rudely carved as if the maker got annoyed with the concept of a fancy bedroom set. The wood displayed slashes and scratches that were obviously meant to be vines and swirls.

  The walls were plain stone slabs mortared together with no clear design, and the floor was very much the same. Rugs, ornate yet worn, covered a few patches as if the dragons had hired a decorator who’d quit half-way through. It was only after close inspection that she realized that a few things existed just for looks—a round pillow-topped ottoman, a tasseled pillow dangling off the bed, a painting hung to the side of the door.

  She’d been across the world and stayed in many homes, from cozy to opulent. This wasn’t even her first castle, yet this didn’t look like the usual guest room in a royal atmosphere.

  Still, she loved it.

  There was charm in the juxtaposition of naked wood grain, cold stone, and soft decorative accents. It felt safe with the perfect amount of comfort.

  She could have inspected every inch of her room, but she decided to stop wasting time and get ready to approach the dragons again. Her first impression seemed to have fallen flat, and she wasn’t going to repeat that.

  Through the door to the closet she’d found a private bathroom, and after hanging her dress in the doorway, she’d run the shower water as hot as she could tolerate. She pulled her hair into a high bun before stepping under the powerful spray of the shower-head. Indoor plumbing in a castle was her favorite modernization.

  She scrubbed herb-scented body wash over her skin and tried to plan her day, but there was not enough to go on. All she could hope for was to spend time with the men and see if they’d confess to hiring Gerri.

  Liam wanted her to help bring peace between them, and she’d promised to help—but she didn’t tell him that she suspected her help would be limited. Something was barring her influence on the dragons, at least on the grander spectrum. Her touch still seemed to have magic.

  Forcing them to get along could be done, but she didn’t want to go that path. She didn’t prefer to always rely on her magic. Some disputes just needed a gentle guide in the form of someone to talk to.

  And if that wasn’t enough for the dragons, she clearly wasn’t meant to be their mate.

  “We need to find the source of this disruption,” Liam growled.

  “The towers are functioning as intended. Any tests run on the gate come back clear,” Arron insisted.

  He pulled out a silver disc and pressed a button on the front. It hummed, then a holographic image appeared above it, a small, square view into what appeared to be a completely black room.

  “But our communicators only bring this,” he said shaking the disc. “Every single one gives this image alone, and no audio.”

  Fianni watched the exchange in silence. The men had been leaning over the table looking at charts and discussing technology for the last hour. No progress had been made.

  Liam stood and ran his hands through his blonde hair. “I can’t stare at these diagrams and pretend I understand them.”

  Arron leaned back in his chair and watched Liam. “At this rate, I’m not sure if I understand them anymore. Everything points to our systems being operational.”

  Liam nodded and glanced to Fianni, his weary expression softening. “And we’re boring you.”

  “I’m fine,” she lied.

  “How about a tour of the castle?” he asked.

  She sat up and smiled, grateful for the opportunity to do something other than sit and stare off into space. “Of course. That would be lovely.”

  “Perfect. Arron, you have to head towards the South facility later, but right now you’re free?”

  Arron looked at Fianni then Liam. “Yes.”

  “Take Fianni around the castle, then. I’m in meetings throughout the day as usual. The clans aren’t happy with being unable to contact their families on Aurora and Earth. The rate I’m having to stamp out fires is burning me out.”

  Fianni turned to Arron, who seemed to be staring a hole through Liam.

  “Certainly,” Arron said finally, and rose to his feet.

  The lack of enthusiasm in his voice made Fianni’s heart slump, but she stood and kept her smile bright.

  “I’ll try to be free for dinner tonight,” Liam promised. “It’s been longer than I’d like to admit since we all sat down together for a meal.”

  Arron sighed and watched Liam leave. “I’ve never given a tour before. Stay close and don’t interfere with anyone working.”

  “That’s a strange way to start a tour,” Fianni commented.

  “Outsiders aren’t common. Your presence alone causes everyone to forget that there is work to be done.”

  “I haven’t seen many working. I’ve seen a lot of living.”

  Arron arched a brow and walked away, motioning for her to follow. He didn’t take her hand as Liam had, or even offer his elbow. Detached was an art he’d mastered, clearly. It would have discouraged her completely, except she couldn’t sense any negative emotions from him. He wasn’t bothered by her despite his actions and words.

  “I could tell you the history of the architecture at work here, but I sense it wouldn’t entertain you,” he said walking through a large archway that separated the long stone hall from a square yard of grass and flowers.

  “I rather enjoy history,” she admitted. “I’d love to hear anything about the castle or inhabitants.”

  He looked at her for a moment. “The inhabitants are all dragons. Don’t you know all about us? Didn’t Gerri inform you?”

  Fianni detected a hint of suspicion but pushed aside the annoyance it called forward. He had the right to doubt her, after all. Though he could be a little more polite about it.

  “I’ve never met dragons before. Though, I saw one last night.”

  He glanced at the sky as she spoke, and he paused. They stood in a courtyard that mirrored the one she’d seen the day before. It seemed the castle was even larger than she’d guessed, to have two such yards.

  “That’s not uncommon. During the day, as well, you would see us moving about.”

  Fianni stood close to him, considering him. Something about his appearance told her that he was aware of his appeal but not concerned with it. There was no stubble on his face, just smooth sepia planes. His black hair was in thick braids woven in a way she’d never seen before and pulled away from his face in a manner that was just as ornamental as it was practical.

  Perhaps he didn’t wake and fix himself to impress her, but he did work to impress in general. Tucking away this knowledge, she scanned the sky. “I think I have an idea, but maybe it’s silly. I know that dragons come in many colors. Are they the colors of your eyes? Are you a silver dragon?”

  His lips twitched as if fighting a smile. “That’s correct.”

  “And are there many gold dragons?”

  “There is only one here at the castle, currently.”

  Fianni pictured the golden dragon soaring through the sky. So that was Liam, then. “Do the colors mean anything?”
/>
  “Some colors are thought to be tied to personalities, though it’s not scientifically accurate.”

  “Science is important to you.”

  “Science is important to all life.”

  The way he spoke intrigued her. The fae were, as a whole, not interested in such theories. Advancement was limited. Magic could provide nearly everything, after all. But she’d always been fascinated with science and technology, even if the latter had the tendency to make her physically ill.

  “What are the color theories, then? Or superstitions, I suppose they would be considered.”

  He lifted his chin and walked forward, and again she followed. “Gold is flashy but noble.”

  “Liam doesn’t seem flashy,” she commented.

  “No. But Liam is unlike many dragons. He is too brash at times. Obsessed with following his gut even when logic says otherwise. He is often impatient and prefers action to planning,” Arron said with an air of disappointment.

  “But he’s a good leader?”

  “Yes. Overall, I am proud to be his council. I just often wonder how different it would be if he were the dragon he should have been.”

  “How do you mean?” Fianni asked, holding her hand up to shield her eyes from the bright sun shining on them.

  Arron looked down as he walked. “His mother was a wolf.”

  “Oh?” She didn’t understand the significance.

  “Dragons rarely mate with the other shifters. And for leaders to do so, as Liam’s father did, sullies allegiances and the lines. What would they have done had Liam been born a wolf? A wolf cannot lead the dragons.”

  “Because he would be king?”

  “Liam rules us all, but he rules the dragons first. As king, the clans would probably bow to a wolf. But dragons only bow to dragons on Nova Solara.”

  Fianni saw what he meant to an extent but still thought the notion ridiculous. “He’s still the same man, wolf or dragon.”

  “No. Wolves are clever and brave, yes, but they are often too headstrong. There are days when I wonder if Liam has the worst combined traits of wolf and dragon.”