Baron

by Mel Teshco

  A jeep arrived with its engine roaring, the jeep’s wheels pushing up a thin cloud of dust as the driver braked hard beside the general.

  The general climbed in. “Go!”

  Baron woke seconds later and shook his head, his stare automatically locking onto hers. He snorted, smoke billowing from his nostrils even as he used his snout to push her toward his back.

  She laughed. “I guess I ride you like a horse, right?”

  A giant horse, bigger than any Clydesdale she’d seen.

  He nodded and snorted again. She stepped closer to him, stepping on the joint of his wing before she hoisted herself onto his big, broad back.

  A shiver had her automatically looking back at her dead friend. The ghostly apparition of Becs stood beside the vessel that had once been a living and breathing body. But Becs looked happy and free as she smiled and lifted a hand, before she dissolved into the air.

  Something within Piper eased even before she whispered, “Thanks for the goodbye, Becs.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  For a moment Piper forgot about the horrid battle she’d left behind as Baron sailed through the sky. His big wings beat through the air, his whole body supple yet taut, as though he was ready for anything.

  Exhilaration tore through her. Damn she could see for miles in every direction! Fear couldn’t touch her right then. She’d always felt protected with Baron, and riding him in his dragon form through the sky didn’t make her feel any less safe.

  The rough, rocky terrain and jagged mountains beneath them was simply breathtaking.

  But they’d no sooner taken off before they were over the next rise. Three Tantonics strode forward in their weird gait, with Misha inert in one of the Tantonic’s arms.

  Baron’s wings pushed through the air even harder before they flattened and he dropped through the air. Piper gulped down a breath and simply hung on, watching the Earth rush up toward them.

  The Tantonics weren’t even aware of them until Baron was almost upon them. Piper was certain it was only the whistling rush of wind that gave them away. The closest alien turned around with a surprised hiss.

  Baron pulled his wings out simultaneously to releasing a huge plume of fire. The Tantonic didn’t have a hope. Its chilling screeching-hiss lasted no longer than a couple of seconds before it fell to the ground in a steaming pile of goo.

  Baron landed and Piper clung onto him. His back was surely the safest place when facing down two Tantonics.

  Misha’s whole body abruptly glowed and the Tantonic dropped her, its clawed hands steaming.

  But if the other Tantonic was free to use its weapon, so was Piper. She pulled out Baron’s small gun the general have given back, then aimed and fired. The first bright orange ball missed the Tantonic and burned the ground behind it. The second shot hit the Tantonic in the arm.

  She was aiming better by the third. She steadied her grip and targeted the throat and the red-hot bullet or whatever the hell it was hit the creature in the face. It hissed, its eyes closing against the heat. Baron roared, flaming the Tantonic before it could fire random shots.

  Misha jumped onto the last Tantonic’s back, burning its throat with her glowing hands. It roared, and managed to throw her sideways. She landed heavily. As the Tantonic lifted its weapon, Piper shot at it right in the throat.

  Baron turned his head back, blinking at Piper with obvious surprise.

  She grinned and said, “Don’t forget, I’ve got your back, Baron Alsharma.”

  More smoke billowed out of Baron’s nose, and he dropped into a crouch so that Piper could easily scramble off and race over to Misha. “Are you okay?”

  The hybrid sat and smiled weakly. “I’m fine, just a bit of a knock to my head and my pride. But at least I know I can reverse the ice vaporizer in my own body.”

  Piper nodded. “That’s one very handy attribute.” She wouldn’t mention Misha’s ability to shift shape.

  Speaking of which...

  Piper turned to watch Baron become human, except he’d barely moved a muscle. And then it hit her. He was waiting for her to say her goodbyes so they could make their escape. 1

  Longing crashed through her. She had a chance at being with Baron and she wasn’t going to blow it. But first she had to warn Misha. “The general isn’t far behind us. He’s in a jeep with some of his men.”

  Misha pushed the heel of her hand to her brow. “Of course he is.” She looked up. “The asshole doesn’t want to lose his best soldier, his experiment and his lover.”

  “So leave him,” Piper suggested.

  “It’s not that simple. Even if I ran away the general and the PDA wouldn’t stop looking until they found me.” Her eyes narrowed and gleamed speculatively. “Piper ... if they think the Tantonics actually succeeding in taking me ... in taking all of us, they’d stop tracking us down.”

  Piper nodded. She had no doubt Baron would hear their exchange. “Then we’d better leave behind a believable kidnapping scene.”

  Not that they had any time to think things through. Now was the moment to simply do.

  Piper threw the scorch gun to the ground and ripped off the bloodiest piece of her white dress. Misha followed suit. She tore off some of her dress and tossed one of her shoes to the ground.

  Piper turned to look at the Tantonics. “We can’t leave all three behind. We’ll have to make it look like one of them managed to take us in the flyer. We’ll get the one who isn’t melted and dump its body somewhere else.”

  Baron crouched beside the Tantonic and Misha and Piper used all their strength to haul the alien across Baron’s back. Piper was gasping for breath when she climbed onto Baron’s back and sat behind the horrid alien-lizard.

  Misha stood back and Piper frowned. “You’re not coming?”

  The hybrid shook her head. “No. Baron has enough weight now.” She swung a hand east. “There’s a lake a couple of kilometers from here. If you drop that revolting body in there with some luck the PDA will never know we weren’t abducted.”

  Piper’s chest tightened. “What about you?”

  Misha smiled. “I’m heading west, away from the coast and the population. Probably best when I become werewolf.”

  “You’ll never outrun the jeeps.”

  Misha’s smile broadened. “My inner beast is already itching to come out. With the full moon so near I can make use of my werewolf’s stamina and power.”

  Little wonder the general didn’t want to lose her. She was a super soldier. Piper leaned down and clasped her hand. “Then take care. And thank you.”

  Misha smiled. “Good luck.” She turned to Baron. “And to you too dragon. Maybe we’ll meet again one day.” She slapped Baron on the side of his neck and then took off running.

  Baron’s snorted goodbye pushed more sulfur-scented smoke into the air. Then he stretched his wings, his color rippling into a shade that matched the baby-blue of the sky.

  Piper grinned. She had no doubt no one, including the general, would see them in the air.

  Then Baron ran, his wings beating hard. They lifted into the sky and Piper braced the dead Tantonic across Baron’s shoulders, praying the extra weight wouldn’t be too big a burden. But despite the extra effort it took to get into the air, they were lifting higher and higher and soon the ground was far beneath them and Misha was a distant blip a long way west of the two bodies they’d left behind.

  She twisted around and peered below at the jeep that slowed to a stop near the two dead Tantonics. Piper only wished she could bask in the general’s furious reaction at knowing he’d lost Misha.

  Not even a handful of minutes later, a blue lake glinted below then in the cradle of the mountains. Piper was more than happy to wrestle the too-heavy Tantonic off Baron. She only needed to move the hideous creature a fraction before gravity took care of the rest.

  The body slipped free and Baron sighed loudly, his wings not beating as strenuously to keep them poised in the air. Piper heard a distant splash and then Baron was pullin
g away, taking them far away from the PDA and the Tantonics.

  She leaned forward and stroked his neck and murmured, “Guess we’re heading south.” She also guessed he’d stay in his dragon form since the full moon would force him back into dragon anyway.

  She lifted her face into the crisp, late afternoon wind created by Baron’s speed. She’d never felt as though she’d belonged, not really. But right then she’d never felt like she’d belonged more.

  Epilogue

  One month later...

  “All done. What do you think?”

  Piper looked into the large rectangular mirror as the hairdresser held up a hand-mirror to show off the back of Piper’s newly styled hair. “I love it.”

  The hairdresser smiled. “That flame-red color really does suit you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Piper tilted her head to one side. She was rather pleased with the chunk she’d had cut off from at the front. She looked chic and fashionable.

  “Your hair is very on trend,” the hairdresser reaffirmed. Then she unwrapped the salon cape from around Piper’s neck. “If that’s all—“

  “Actually, can I have two small hair elastics?”

  “Of course.”

  When Piper stepped out of the hairdresser salon a few minutes later, she pocketed the hair bracelet she’d made from the long chunk of hair she’d requested chopped off. She’d braided her renewed fire-red hair into the thinnest strand. It would be perfect contrast on Baron’s thick, tanned wrist.

  But she couldn’t give it to him yet. Baron was growing his hair so that he could make her a bracelet.

  A sense of wonder moved over her. She and Baron had playacted being married so many times now; it would be amazing to experience it for real. A shiver of delight skittered across her skin. She might even ask Baron to interpret the words he used every time they made love.

  Her smile turned into a beam of happiness as she sucked in a deep breath of the Melbourne city air. She’d loved seeing Victoria with Baron, even if had meant keeping one step ahead of the Tantonics at all times. And though it’d been a quick exploration of Melbourne, she was now more than ready to see Tasmania and breathe in its crystal clear air.

  She sensed Baron behind her well before she heard his tread. She had no doubt he’d been all but guarding the building, making sure she was fine. She turned to face him, watching for his reaction.

  He inhaled sharply, his gaze devouring her. “My god, Piper. You’re ... stunning.”

  Her teeth pressed into her lower lip, a flush of pleasure creeping up her neck. “Thank you. Guess now I’m your oddball woman with red hair and a smart mouth.”

  “And you’ll never stop turning me on,” he said thickly.

  First Chapter of Dahlia, Dragons of Riddich

  Dahlia Mannett stayed crouched behind a nude female statue while carefully stretching out her leg, easing the cramp that’d taken up painful residence in her thigh.

  If not for her present discomfort, she might have appreciated the beautifully designed landscape with its acres of dazzling green turf and regimented trees. Not to mention the big white country mansion with its huge swimming pool and gazebo.

  A wry smile twisted her lips. The Earth mansion looked more like a kid’s playhouse compared to the palace where she’d lived on her planet Riddich.

  She winced as she drew her leg back beneath her. That same world would scoff at her muscle spasm. It was barely a twinge on a Riddich’s scale of suffering compared to the pain rituals she and her kind had endured every month to accustom their body to their first, agonizing dragon shift.

  Her chest tightened, heat rushing through her body along with barely repressed bitterness. She was twelve years away from being two centuries old, and she’d yet to find a mate to bring out her inner dragon. And now that she was stuck on Earth, any hope of finding someone compatible was likely negligible.

  She’d all but given up on experiencing her long overdue rite of passage.

  She sighed. She had more to worry about at present than her failure at becoming dragon. She really needed to get moving before her loathsome enemies, the Tantonics, caught up with her.

  She pressed her brow against the cool stone of the statue. She only hoped her brother, King Asher, had also escaped their enemies.

  When he’d broken his ankle after their craft had crash landed on Earth, she and the other three crew members hadn’t had a choice but to separate and leave Asher behind. He was at his most vulnerable shifting into his dragon form, but it was the one and only way his ankle would knit back together fast so that he too could escape.

  All five of them now just had to survive the next twelve months on Earth before meeting at the crash site to decide their future.

  Survive. If only it was as easy as it sounded. She peered around the statue to view the now trickle of people entering the mansion. There’d been a steady stream up until now and she’d yet to ascertain if these Earth people were friendly.

  But compared to her enemies, these people looked as gentle as Riddich palakhas—woolly six-legged pets that were similar in shape to an Earth dog and just as loyal. She ignored a sharp twinge inside. There was no point dwelling on homesickness when that kind of an ache would never ease.

  She’d heard the explosion of the craft she and the crew had boarded some five months earlier. She hadn’t needed to see the burning debris with her own eyes to know the Tantonics had obliterated every last piece and nothing would be salvageable.

  In twelve months’ time when she reunited with her brother and the rest of her comrades, it wouldn’t be because they’d be returning home. But she’d be happy just to see they’d all survived.

  A small bus pulled into the circular driveway twenty yards away from her hiding spot. A dozen or so tall and alarmingly slender women clattered out of the vehicle in their high-heels, laughing and chattering before they disappeared up the footpath and through the unlocked front doors.

  She released a breath, her tight muscles relaxing. She mightn’t be quite as slender as the latest arrivals—her body was toned and made hard by relentless training sessions—but at least she was no longer so noticeable. Most of those women would be taller than her five-foot-ten height.

  To think she’d once cursed her short stature compared to the lofty height of the men on Riddich. Even most of the Riddich women had been over six feet tall.

  Had been. She exhaled jaggedly. She’d seen enough death before she’d fled her world to know few, if any of her people, had survived. And those who did were likely held prisoner and wishing they too had died.

  Swallowing hard, she straightened and then forced her legs to unlock. A minute later she sashayed across the sweeping lawn toward the front door. She needed to look like she belonged. And though her webbed suit and thick boots weren’t fashionable on Earth, she’d bet she’d find something more suitable to wear inside the mansion.

  *

  Lincoln Hillier leaned back in his leather chair and stared intently at the surveillance monitors. Motion detectors had set off his alarm and pinpointed the woman hiding on his grounds.

  He rubbed his bristled chin. To say he was intrigued by the intruder was a glaring understatement. There was something about the short-haired blonde in her stretchy cat-suit outfit and kick-ass boots that stirred his nerve endings and twitched his cock into life.

  He was more aroused than he had been in a very long time.

  It was probably nothing short of a crime that his house was presently filled with supermodels, as well as anyone and everyone who was remotely interested in beauty and fashion, and he felt nothing more than a vague detachment toward them all.

  As the unlikely successor of Australia’s Teeny-Bikini fashion label after his mother had left him heir, he’d put his life as a high profile barrister on hold to continue her legacy.

  Lord only knew he’d done little else for her.

  He’d been pleasantly surprised to discover the bikini business was a profitable venture. He’d
been even more surprised to discover the fashion label put his specialty field of entertainment law to financial shame.

  His cell phone buzzed and he answered the mobile security call, informing the patrol it was a false alarm. He’d already switched off the outer perimeter security system so that the high-tech security company didn’t show up and disturb this latest launch of a whole new bikini range.

  He disconnected the call with a slow smile as he watched the intruder stalk toward his front door. She was a woman on a mission, and suddenly his fashion extravaganza held about as much appeal as a hike in quicksand.

  He pushed to his feet and stalked out of the room and away from the monitors he’d had specially installed in the office, the one area in the house he actually used.

  He needed to find out more about this woman. Discover just what exactly she wanted. His smile spread until warmth filled him from the inside out. If she’d gatecrashed his party in the hopes of becoming one of the select new models to launch his latest bikini line, he most certainly wasn’t disagreeable.

  *

  Dahlia opened the big double wooden doors and stepped inside. Her eyes widened. Not just because the entry with its tinkling fountain water feature and bronze statues was far more grand than she’d envisioned, but because at least a dozen people were scurrying about like ants, which seemed to be everywhere on Earth.

  A tall, lean man with a red, blotchy face approached her, his polished shoes echoing on the gleaming white-gray speckled floor. “You’re the newest model I presume?” Before she had a chance to answer, he waved his arms dramatically and added, “You’re late. The rest of the models arrived some time ago.”

  Actually it’d only been a handful of minutes, but she had more important things to worry about. Like her mistaken identity. “But I’m—“

  “Come on then, no gawping, there’s plenty of time for that later. Let’s get you to the dressing room. Hopefully Lincoln hasn’t noticed your tardiness.”