Dancing with Dragons

by Lorenda Christensen

  My nerves frayed to the breaking point, I started to laugh.

  Slowly the dragons shuffled out of the way, allowing Daniel to make his way to the front of the room. He approached the podium, but instead of taking his place behind it, he came to me, wrapping his strong arms around me and running his hand along my back, soothing the tremors I didn’t even realize I’d been experiencing.

  “I was going to ask you if you wanted to have dinner with me this evening, but I think maybe I’m inviting you over for a massage and bubble bath instead.” He grinned down at me, his carefree attitude going a long way toward raising my hopes for a positive outcome.

  Until I heard Richard’s voice. “Why is the press here? He’s disrupting the trial!”

  Very slowly, and without releasing the hand he’d clasped between his own, Daniel turned to face my ex-boyfriend. “My name is Daniel Wallent. I was on assignment for the Tulsa Times Chronicle in Budapest during the timeframe in question. And I’m here to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Carol Jenski is innocent of the charges brought before her. In addition, I will be able to prove that these two men,” Daniel pointed at Richard and Emory, “colluded to destroy the dragon population in and around Tulsa.”

  Myrna, all smiles, stepped up and translated Daniel’s words into dragonspeak. “The cavalry managed to arrive,” she whispered into my ear as the surprised murmurs subsided. “Though I certainly wish he hadn’t cut it so close.”

  “You knew he was coming?”

  “We’ve shared a few conference calls over the last few hours.” She winked.

  Richard, recovered from his initial shock, swung his face toward Lord Relobu. “He’s press. The rules state that no press can participate in the proceedings.”

  “Actually,” Daniel said mildly, the only evidence of his anger toward Richard being the way he rhythmically squeezed my hands as he spoke, “I no longer work for the Tulsa Times Chronicle. I resigned my post this morning. On this occasion, I serve as the representative of Lady Savitri Sarin, dragon lord of India, Nepal, and Pakistan and guardian of the Chinese territory until such time that a dragon lord can be chosen.”

  Well, well. It seems some business did actually get finished in Bangalore.

  At Daniel’s words, Richard’s superior smirk slid from his face, replaced by an expression of dawning horror as he realized Daniel would have every right to speak.

  Lord Relobu gave his formal permission, and Daniel kissed me once, hard, before turning to take his place at the podium. It was then that I noticed the large backpack hanging from his shoulder. It was large, brown, and worn in several spots. It was also full to bursting.

  He sat it on the wooden dais with a hard thunk, and pulled out an awkward metal canister. A series of growls erupted from the crowd, and I frowned. I had no idea what it was.

  “This,” Daniel said, answering my silent question, “is a replica of the bioweapon detonated within the halls of DRACIM.”

  He held it up for everyone to see, and several of the dragons hissed or growled. They were definitely not fans, and I couldn’t blame them.

  Daniel, oblivious or uncaring about the reaction of his audience, continued, “This device, or one similar, was originally requisitioned by the late Hian-puo from Shui-Tech, a Chinese electronics company. After Hian-puo’s trial, steps were taken to shut down Shui-Tech, with the employees to be reassigned to other projects.”

  “Carol, can you pass these around?” He handed me two stacks of papers, one of large sheets written on in dragonscript and another of smaller pages, the English translation. Daniel continued to speak as human assistants ensured that each person present had a copy.

  “This sheet details the current whereabouts of the team previously assigned to build the weapon. If you read the attached interview transcripts, every person on this list has been contacted by Richard Green personally and offered an ‘off the books’ job in exchange for obscene amounts of money.”

  Daniel returned to his bag, fishing around until he located an item about the size of his thumb. “This is a data drive found in a trashcan at the Hotel Gellért. Though the drive is EMP-corroded, a contact of mine was able to retrieve a good portion of the information. Please, look closely—this data drive is inscribed with the Relobu family crest, suggesting it belonged to someone with the Relobu delegation at the event.”

  “The serial number on the device has been traced back to a shipment delivered here on the Relobu estate over a year ago, far before Carol came on board with DRACIM.”

  Richard stood up, his face red with anger—or maybe even panic. “Now wait just a minute. This drive could have belonged to anybody. Carol could have picked it up from anywhere—a desk, a supply cabinet, hell, even a trashcan here in Tulsa—while she had DRACIM level clearance to Relobu’s house.”

  “True,” Daniel admitted easily, “but it seems mighty suspicious that I was able to retrieve several files, many of which identify your Relobu network ID as the author. Some of those network-signed documents held schematics to this machine. It’s also quite a coincidence that you’ve hired the entire Shui-Tech weapons team, and that their new contracts found their way onto the same thumb drive. And yes, before you ask your question, we had the data drive dusted for fingerprints. Yours were all over it. How do you explain that?”

  Richard’s face twisted. “Easy. I slept with the slut. She probably took it out of my pocket and loaded the schematics on the drive without my knowledge.”

  “Excuse me? What did you just say?” Daniel’s voice was quiet, but I could tell he was furious. I just missed his hand as he stepped from beyond the podium and approached Richard’s chair.

  “I said, your little slut probably stole the drive while I was sleeping.”

  Even though I was expecting it, I was shocked at how fast Daniel’s fist came up. Richard’s nose exploded with blood, and he let loose a high-pitched squeal as he attempted to protect his face from another blow.

  But Daniel had already turned back to address the audience. “I’m assuming you all have plenty of questions, and I will be happy to answer them. However, I’ve brought all the Shui-Tech experts with me, and they’re all willing to testify that Richard, not Carol, was the one who approached them with the job offer. They’re waiting just outside the room should you wish to speak with them directly.”

  Lord Relobu rose from his perch. “That will not be necessary. Miss Jenski, you are free to go. And I would like to extend you my heartfelt apologies for the mistake.”

  Trian let out a whoop and grabbed Myrna’s hips, swinging her in a tight circle before kissing her full on the mouth. Daniel mimicked the move with me, and I gladly kissed him back, the relief of my sudden reprieve like a drug coursing through my system.

  “You saved my life. I thought you’d left me.”

  He grinned. “I hate to break it to you, but that’s not going to happen for a long, long time.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “So what are your plans now that you’re unemployed? Will you try to get back on staff at the Tulsa Times Chronicle?” Myrna leaned back against Trian’s chest on the couch in our apartment and took a sip of her drink.

  I did the same with my glass, snuggling closer to Daniel and trying to convince myself I wasn’t dreaming. That this was real life. I had my life back, a man I loved in my arms, and the company of good friends. I was full to bursting with joy.

  “I think I’ll do some freelance writing for a while. I’ve got some savings, and I’m not particularly keen on leaving the country just yet.” Daniel smiled at me, telling me without words that I was the reason he wanted to stick around.

  As promised, as soon as we left Lord Relobu’s, Daniel had whisked me away to his home in Tulsa, a cute little A-frame house nestled just next door to a local park. He’d filled the tub with bubbles and water, and spoiled me with a professional-grade head massage—avoiding the still-healing cut, of course—followed by a more thorough full-body number that had me trying out his mattress for
the first time.

  At first, we’d lain in bed facing each other, tracing the outline of hips, stomachs, and rib cages, both of us happy just to be together with no dragons or death hovering like a shadow over our heads. Daniel, of course, had gotten a little distracted with my breasts, and soon we’d moved on to some pretty serious tickling, followed by a mind-blowing sexual experience. How he manages that unique blend of laughter and sex appeal, I’ll never know.

  After that, we’d fallen asleep, the stress and nonstop speed of the last few days catching up to us.

  And oh, what a wonderful feeling to wake up next to someone you love. I smiled at the memory.

  Myrna caught my eye and gave me a not-so-subtle thumbs-up.

  Yes, we were both very lucky women.

  Trian and Daniel were in an argument about the latest soccer match, but their raised voices were punctuated by a healthy portion of good-natured ribbing. I was glad they got along so well.

  As soon as there was a lull in the conversation, I held up my glass for a toast. “To good friends and lazy Sundays.”

  “Hear! Hear!”

  Myrna gave me another wide smile, her eyes sparkling as she kept her glass aloft. “To good friends, lazy Sundays and to surprise engagements with enormous diamond rings.”

  Before I fully comprehended her words, Myrna slipped a massive ring onto her finger and held out her hand. “Last night, Trian asked me to marry him. And obviously, I said yes.” The diamond twinkled merrily.

  “Oh, that is fantastic! When’s the date?”

  Myrna glanced to Trian. “We’re not quite sure yet. We’ve been thinking.” Myrna brushed a stray lock of her hair away from her face. “With all the upheaval between the dragons and humans it would do for both of the races to have something to celebrate—together.”

  “And you’re thinking a wedding might be the perfect setting.” I thought about it for a moment. The potential for disaster was high. Placing dragons and humans in a social situation was always a little risky. Add that to the usual craziness of drinking and family feuds and the risk went up tenfold.

  “We’d have to hire some guards, and they’d need to be conspicuous.” Trian seemed to be on the same wavelength.

  I nodded. “But the payoff, if all goes well, would do wonders for the dragon/human agenda Relobu wants to push. Hire a publicist, do some interviews. Are you sure you’re ready to be the greatest tabloid sensation since dragons were discovered?”

  Myrna hesitated only an instant. “If it means getting the species close enough that we can convince them to sit down to negotiations sometime in the near future? Absolutely.”

  “The wedding will have to be huge.”

  Myrna grinned. “Don’t suppose you know of any good wedding planners?”

  I felt my eyes widen. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. But I have one demand.”

  She waved a careless hand in my direction. “You don’t even have to ask. I’d planned on forcing you to be my maid of honor.”

  “Oh, I had no doubt. But that wasn’t my demand.”

  Myrna raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

  “You have to promise me that you’ll wait at least six months before tying the knot. Because you’re crazy if you think I’ll allow photos to be taken of me before my hair grows out.”

  Myrna touched her glass to mine. “It’s a deal.”

  This wedding was going to be fantastic.

  * * * * *

  Escape into a world ruled by dragons!

  Check out Lorenda Christensen’s

  Never Deal with Dragons,

  available now!

  Never Deal with Dragons

  Consoling a sobbing dragon and serving pig buffets are just part of the job for Myrna Banks. Working for a mediation firm, it’s her job to get humans compensated for damages caused by the dragons who now rule. But her “typical” day is interrupted by Trian Chobardan, an old flame who sneaked out of her bed two years ago, taking her heart and a handful of classified documents with him.

  Myrna would love to show Trian the door, but he’s been sent by North America’s reigning dragon lord for help negotiating a truce with a powerful rival to avert war. Myrna agrees to help, even though she’ll be stuck with Trian as a partner.

  As the two work together, Myrna finds Trian to be surprisingly supportive—and still irresistibly attractive. Though her brain tells her not to forget his betrayal, her body feels differently. When they learn the enemy dragon lord is planning something no one could have imagined, Myrna has to learn who she can trust before she loses not only her heart, but her life.

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  About the Author

  A native of Eastern Oklahoma, Lorenda lives with her husband and two sons in a house that feels way too small during the stay-inside winter months. Lorenda loves chocolate, hates snakes, and despite living two years in Bangalore next door to a native preparer of Indian cuisine, cannot cook anything but ground beef. She is a recovering nail biter, and is currently celebrating five years bite-free.

  Lorenda is the 2012 recipient of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award in the Paranormal category.

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  ISBN-13: 9781426897382

  DANCING WITH DRAGONS

  Copyright © 2014 by Lorenda Christensen

  Edited by Kerri Buckley

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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