Headstrong Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “Then we are blessed by the swamp waters,” Jerry put forth.

  “OK. A blessing. Is that it?” Beth looked at Lori, not understanding what she found so funny.

  “Ursa is like eighty years old. She gets them wasted on backwater moonshine, and then the guys swim naked in the swamp.” Lori laughed.

  “I don’t know why you find swamp magic so funny,” Galen said.

  “I tried to stop it, but they insist,” Lori added.

  “And that is how we become Cajun,” Jerry said.

  Beth reached for a glass of water and began to take a drink.

  “Would you like to be Cajun?” Gerard asked a second time. “I would be honored to come to your ceremony.”

  Beth coughed in surprise. Did Gerard really just offer to get her drunk and watch her skinny-dip? “No, thank you. I’m already a Louisianan.”

  Gerard’s expression fell. “Oh.”

  Lori laughed harder. She didn’t even try to hide it this time.

  “I’m almost scared to ask,” Beth said, “but you said another name earlier. “Lena? Does she perform the ceremony with Ursa?”

  Lori’s laughter stopped. She shared a long look with her husband before finally saying, “Lena Dimosthenis is our daughter.”

  “Oh? How old?” Beth asked. She found most people liked talking about their children.

  Lori looked at her husband.

  “She is two years,” Drake answered.

  “Oh, so a little one,” Beth said. “Will we meet her?”

  “She’s staying at a friend’s house for the time being,” Lori said.

  Beth nodded. “I understand. I probably would have done the same.”

  “You have kids, too?” Lori asked.

  At that, Ivar gasped. Beth turned her attention toward him. He stared at her, his eyes rounded. “I did not know. You are not shackled to two men, are you?”

  Beth shook her head. “No, not married.” Then to Lori, she said, “And no kids.”

  “But you are mated,” Ivar said.

  “No. I said no,” Beth answered. “Not married.”

  “But…” Ivar stood and pointed toward the shack. Instantly, several of the dragons dropped their dining utensils and also stood up from their seats. They looked at Ivar in warning. Ivar pointed at Beth. “We mated. You’re my bride.”

  Beth’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She had no idea how to answer. His bride? Was this his way of asking her to marry him? Her heart raced. At the same time, she became aware of all the eyes on them.

  “You are mine,” he stated.

  Beth ran her hands through her hair and shook her head. “All of this is insane. I have tried to be a good sport. I have tried to go along with everything I’ve been told. And to tell you the truth I think I’ve done a pretty good job of not freaking out.”

  “You are not allowed to dictate claim of a woman,” Pete stated. “She must be given a choice. Ask her.”

  “Stay out of this,” Ivar said.

  “I might be able to help,” Lori offered. She walked around the table.

  Beth held up her hand. “No, thank you. Ivar and I can discuss this later. I’d rather everyone addressed the elephant in the room.”

  “What is an elephant?” Ivar asked. “And which room is it in?”

  “They are like a large ceffyl in size, but their faces are strange,” Pete answered.

  “Let’s start with what everyone wants,” Beth said. “Dragons want to stay. Ivar, you’d like them to go home.”

  “They must go back,” Ivar insisted. “It is the reason why the gods stranded me here. That, and to find you.”

  “Aww,” Lori sighed.

  Beth glanced at the woman and arched a brow.

  “What? It was sweet,” Lori dismissed Beth’s look with a small shrug.

  “It is my duty to get you home,” Ivar said. “I understand that you would like to stay. If it were up to me, I would let you. But this is bigger than all of us. I have a responsibility to the shifter people as a whole. I don’t expect you to understand my position. As the oldest prince, when my parents die it will be up to me to fix things for cat-shifters, and to work with Prince Kyran to help the dragons. What would you have us say in four hundred years when the last of our kind is dying because there were no more female shifters born and we had no women to choose from because the portals were sealed shut? Should we tell them that once, long ago, there was a group of dragons who were selfish and left our world, caused a panic amongst the others, and we were forced to close the one option we had at saving us?”

  “It is not fair to put all of that on us. We do not create controversy. We came here to be free to make our own choices,” Gerard stated. “We will not be dictated to by royalty.”

  “Do you think I always get to make my own choices? Everything I do is dictated by my rank and my birthright.”

  “Let’s not turn this into a who has it the worst contest,” Beth interrupted. “Anyone can see the emotions run very deep on both sides of this debate.”

  “But how many chances must we give the princes to find brides until we’re allowed to go?” Gerard demanded. “It is not our fault the gods have not chosen to bless them.”

  “Kyran and Rafe have succeeded in finding wives,” Ivar defended. “And I—”

  “Ah.” Beth held up her hand. He stopped talking.

  “Sadly, no children have been born, and there has been worry, but now,” Ivar looked at Drake, “you can show them—”

  “Our child is not a prop,” Lori broke in. All pleasantness left her.

  “I do not think he meant to insult us,” Drake assured his wife.

  “I don’t care. Our child will not be used for political propaganda.” Lori glared at Ivar. “Go find some aliens to mate with.”

  “We tried,” Ivar answered, not realizing Lori had meant it as a way of telling him to get lost. “The Draig do not associate with space travelers.”

  “It’s true,” Galen said. “The only reason aliens come to Qurilixen is because they want something.”

  “To push their religions,” the blond dragon said.

  “To steal ore from our mines,” Pete added.

  “Not all,” Ivar defended. “There are just not enough of them that would be willing to stay on world. It’s not like there is a bridal delivery service that would regularly drop off enough eligible women for us to choose from.”

  “What I don’t understand, prince,” Galen placed his hands on his hips, “is why did they send you to collect us? Were we not worth the time of a Draig royal?”

  “Prince Finn and I were trying to keep the portals open, and I was left behind when a portal closed,” Ivar said. “I have been waiting for my opening to go home. However, finding you has been a top priority for both royal families. There are many people worried about you.”

  “Now you can tell them we’re fine,” Drake answered.

  “It would be better if you told them,” Ivar stated. “I believe the gods sent me here to bring you back.”

  “And I believe that the gods led us here to the bayou,” Gerard said. “They gave us all the signs to find Drake and this place. It is where we are meant to be. On Qurilixen, I spent every day loyally working and taking care of the ceffyls in the royal stables. I did my job, did not cause trouble, kept to myself. When was I going to get the chance to come through? After the princes and nobles? After the guards? How many people would you consider more worthy of a wife before it was my turn? How many years until I had my chance?”

  Ivar said nothing.

  “As I thought,” Gerard said, his tone mocking. “You can’t answer.”

  “I can answer, but you might not like what I have to say,” Ivar responded.

  “I will not be going anywhere with you,” Gerard said. “And if you try to take us, I will stop you.”

  A sound of agreement washed over the gathering.

  “Go ahead and try,” Gerard said.

  “Are you threatening a prince?” Iv
ar asked with a growl. His eyes flashed in warning.

  “I am simply stating a fact,” Gerard answered. His brow hardened as the armored flesh of a dragon formed on his face. He began talking in a strange language. The words were gruff and fast. Ivar answered in kind. The men began to argue. The alien words were indecipherable.

  “What are they saying?” Beth asked.

  Both men glanced at her but kept talking.

  Beth felt a hand on her arm. Lori tried to escort her away, but Beth pulled free.

  “Trust me,” Lori said. “You don’t want to be in the range of their anger if it explodes.”

  “Then let’s not let it explode,” Beth countered. To the men, she said, “Surely fighting about—”

  Gerard roared, leaping over the table at Ivar. He shifted mid-air before landing in front of the prince. Ivar dodged his taloned hand, rolling to the side. As he righted himself, he changed into the form of a man-cat. Both men stood on two legs as they faced each other. Dragons cheered, urging their friend on.

  “They need to prove their point,” Lori told Beth. “There is nothing we can do to stop it. They both need to show they are strong.”

  “This is barbaric,” Beth answered.

  “Yeah, it is,” Lori agreed.

  Gerard swung and missed, only to try a second time. Ivar dodged the blows and then swiped with his clawed hands as if testing Gerard’s reflexes. The men danced around each other, growing bolder with each pass.

  “Someone make them stop,” Beth demanded. “Stop it!”

  Ivar dropped his hands at her command.

  Gerard lunged forward, taking advantage of the opening. His fist made contact with Ivar’s face, sending him flying backward. The prince landed on his back.

  Beth gasped, the sharp sound overly loud. “Ivar!”

  Several of the men turned toward her.

  Ivar looked at her, grinning. Beth didn’t know what to think. Why in the world was he suddenly happy?

  He growled, leaping from the ground. He slammed into Gerard’s chest. The dragon crashed into the picnic table. Ivar didn’t let up. He punched the man several times. Gerard managed to buck him off. He flipped back over the table and lifted his hands in surrender.

  “She is spoken for,” Gerard said. “I have said my piece about the dragons. We’re not leaving.”

  Beth eyed the group in confusion. Spoken for?

  Ivar grinned at her. A bruise formed on his cheek.

  “You should probably go to him before another dragon tries to impress you,” Lori said.

  Beth walked to where Ivar stood. She gave him a stern look. “What was that all about?”

  “I…” He glanced at the dragons.

  “Tell her you will tame fifty yorkins for her,” Jerry suggested.

  “Tell her you like her ears,” another dragon said.

  “Ask her if she wants to saddle up and ride your big—” Pete began.

  “Tell her she looks lovely,” Lori interrupted.

  “Ceffyl.” Pete looked at Lori in confusion. “Women like to ride things. That man on the naked people show said so.”

  “Naked show?” Lori gave a loud sigh. “Did Sheriff Jackson give you guys movies again?”

  “You look lovely,” Ivar told Beth. “I don’t think I ever said that. And you do have nice ears.”

  “What is going on?” Beth asked.

  “Gerard offered to help me see if you were truly my mate,” Ivar said. “He attacked me, and you were scared for me. So that means you love me.”

  “What? I…” Beth frowned at the men. “That is the most ridiculous plan I have ever heard. That proves nothing but that I didn’t want to watch somebody get beat up.”

  “I have seen many movies,” Gerard told Ivar. “I know how Earth relationships work.”

  “I will gladly tame fifteen—” Ivar began.

  “Fifty,” Jerry corrected.

  “Fifty yorkins for you,” Ivar amended his attempt at romance. “Although I am unsure why anybody would want a tame yorkin, let alone fifty of them. They are horrible creatures.”

  “You do know I can hear them telling you to say that, right?” Beth asked.

  “It’s romantic,” Jerry said.

  “That is very romantic,” Drake agreed. “Would you like me to tame a yorkin, chere?”

  “No,” Lori stated. “Your Cajun butt is staying right here in the bayou.”

  “Yes, chere,” Drake agreed.

  The dragons kept talking. Beth pulled Ivar’s arm and led him toward the shacks. When they were relatively alone, she said, “So are you fighting about everyone leaving, or about…” Beth gestured at Ivar and then herself.

  “We are still discussing everyone’s leaving,” Ivar said. “I think I am making progress with them.”

  “You call that progress?” Beth shook her head. “I don’t believe they like your plan to leave.”

  “They may not like it, but there are times when we must do what we do not like. The gods will reward those who live honorably.” Ivar reached to brush a piece of hair off her cheek. His touch sent a shiver down her.

  “So that black eye forming on your face was just a negotiation?”

  Ivar smiled and gingerly tapped his fingers under his eyes to test the bruise he could not see. “No, this means you love me.”

  Beth was not sure what freaked her out more—the fact that he kept saying it, or the fact that when he said it, she believed it to be true. But how could she love him? Like everything else happening in her life right now, it made no logical sense.

  A thought took hold in her mind. He said she loved him, but what about his feelings for her? He never said he loved her. In fact, he said he regretted being with her. Then he insisted that they were mated.

  “There is something I never considered before,” Beth said, studying him.

  “What is that?”

  “In my head, when you say alien and shifter, I automatically equate that to smart and powerful. It never actually occurred to me that aliens could have mental issues, just like humans.” Beth shook her head and patted his arm. “I hope you get help on your planet when you get back.”

  Beth went to the picnic table and sat down in front of her plate. Lori gave a questioning look. Beth picked up her burger and took a bite. She nodded in appreciation of the meal as she swallowed. “Great food. Thank you.”

  13

  Ivar wasn’t sure what had happened with his mate, or what he could do to make her happy. Reasoning with the dragons had not gone as he’d planned. Maybe that was the problem. He needed to try harder to convince them. But how? They made logical arguments and had sound reasons for wanting to stay. If it was true and the gods had lead them to the bayou, then why did the gods want Ivar to force them home? Was he supposed to beat them and drag them one by one into the portal?

  He found himself walking the grounds. The swamps reminded him of the shadowed marshes at home but were still alien enough to make him homesick. It was evident the dragons were carving a life for themselves, accepting the Earth ways as their own. Even the buildings they constructed lacked the look of a Qurilixen home. If he had to guess, he’d say the many shacks had been practice. They seemed to become progressively better going from one to the next.

  It was different seeing the men living their lives than it was thinking about the defectors from the safety of his palace walls. These people did not look like criminals. They were only fighting for what they believed in—just as he would do.

  He moved to the large structure they were building. It was as wide as the house but much longer. He touched the wood and studied the straight lines of the wall.

  Drake joined him. Ivar had heard the man’s approach but wasn’t worried. If they were going to harm him, they would have never brought him here.

  “You can try to push it over, but it’s built to last.” Drake nodded at Ivar’s hand on the wood.

  “Is this to be your palace?” Ivar asked. “Are you the new king of the Cajuns?”

/>   “No, these are barracks. We don’t have a king here. I would never presume to be royalty. The others look to me to lead because I was the first to come, and Lori has a way about her they respect, but I am no king. Seeing you, I can say I would never wish the burden on anyone.” Drake moved to go inside the building. Ivar followed him. The skeleton walls created a large front room that led to a hallway. “We’re building a place for shifters to live if they choose to come to Earth through the portals. Here they will be able to transition to the new world amongst the safety of friends.”

  Ivar looked around before staring at Drake. “Why are you telling me this? You know we will never allow more shifters to come through. We can’t.”

  “I’m telling you because I have always heard you were a reasonable man, Prince Ivar. I am hoping that is true. Everyone knows that your brother is rebellious and wild. If it were Prince Rafe, I would not be having this conversation. People say you are stubborn, but that in the end you always do what is right. I believe the life we have here is right for us and blessed by the gods. I want you to see that. I want you to take that news home with you and convince the others to let us stay in peace.” Drake walked out of the barracks. A small smile lifted his features as he looked around his home.

  “I respect what you are trying to accomplish.” Ivar searched the surrounding area for Beth, but couldn’t see her.

  “She’s inside looking at photographs my wife took. It would seem we are both with artistic women,” Drake said. When Ivar gave him a quizzical look, he laughed. “You’re wondering how I knew what you were thinking, aren’t you? I was newly mated once, too. Actually, I still look for my wife whenever she is not around. It’s the way of things.”

  “I don’t think Beth wants to be my wife. I feel her, but I don’t understand her,” Ivar admitted.

  Drake laughed. “You may often not understand what she is doing, but that is a woman for you. All you have to do is honor and love her. Fate handles the rest.”

  “You know much about Earth women. This is my point. You should come back with me. Help us,” Ivar said.

  “We never meant for our leaving to cause problems for the rest of our people. We never wanted the portals closed. I can’t leave my wife and child, but I will ask for a volunteer amongst the others to go with you. All I ask is you give me your word that whoever leaves with you will be given the option to return here.”