“What? Walking around saying, come, come, isn’t speaking your truth?” Payton laughed. “My brothers and I used to watch the bridal banquet and take a drink each time one of the grooms said it.”
“What?” Salena asked.
“The grooms are allowed one word, come. When dragons are wearing the mask it the only word we’re allowed to say. It is to communicate that the brides are to follow to the tents, to avoid confusion and having to resort to picking them up and carrying them,” Grier explained.
“The bridal gowns I saw were not that bad,” Salena said. “They were pretty.”
Payton held up her hands, leaning forward to interrupt again as she laughed. “Sacred cats, they were hideous.” She gestured to her upper body. “They fit right all through here to about mid-thigh. The skirts were hanging strips of material, and they had this belt thing…” Payton stood and held her arms straight, a few inches from her hips. “Instead of fastening in the front, each side tied to a wrist to limit movement.”
“We’re trying to call it a mating ceremony now, but the name isn’t holding,” Grier said.
“I have a question.” Against her better judgment, Salena ate another tantren. It was as sickeningly sweet as the first. She tried not to let her distaste show. She swallowed with some difficulty.
“You don’t have to eat those,” Payton said. Salena’s attempts to hide her feelings were clearly unsuccessful.
“What’s the question?” Grier prompted.
“Princess Olena had that drink, Maiden something,” Salena answered. “But she wouldn’t let me have it. What was in it?”
“Maiden’s Last Breath.” Grier shook his head slightly as if the very concept annoyed him. “It’s this traditional drink they serve the night of the ceremony. It was used in religious ceremonies many generations back and was believed to open a person’s soul to accepting what they truly wanted, to make decision-making easier and to block out negative voices or insecurities. Galaxy Brides Corporation was supposed to be telling the brides about it in full detail before they landed, but when it became clear the uploads they were giving the brides about our planet were sorely lacking, we began limiting Maiden’s Last Breath’s use.”
“What did it do to the women?” Salena asked, eyeing the meat and wondering if she should taste it.
“For dragons, it does what it is supposed to, and we understand its purpose.” Grier picked up a piece of the meat, dipped it in the spread and handed it to Salena to try. “For certain aliens, including humans, it does work, but it also seems to have a subtle euphoric effect, which was not its intention. Since no woman has ever, or will ever, be taken against their will by a dragon, we will not serve it unless a woman asks for it with full knowledge of what it is. Everything about our ceremony is designed to make sure the woman chooses her future. We wear the mask because all men are equal when it comes to finding mates. We wear little clothing to show we will not hide anything from our wives. We do not have sex, but we do try to convince our mate of our worth with our actions. We’re not allowed to speak until they remove the mask as a sign of acceptance, because no bride should be pressured by words.”
Salena hesitated before placing the food in her mouth. The savory flavor was much more acceptable, and she nodded in approval. She reached for another piece.
Payton and Grier both smiled at that.
She thought of what Grier said of the marriage ceremony. He’d wanted her to take off his mask, but when the large man in the crowd threatened her, he’d taken it off himself and spoke to protect her. Even then, in that first moment, he’d put her above himself. He broke tradition in front of everyone for her. At the time she hadn’t known, but since, she’d come to understand the full impact of what that meant to a man in Grier’s position.
“So, what’s our next move? Back out to look for where the ships are landing?” Payton’s eyes lit as she contemplated continuing the adventure.
Salena knew what she’d choose. She wanted to remain in this room, hiding from the world and responsibility, but Payton’s question brought the outside back in, and now that it had invaded her and Grier’s world, it was impossible to ignore. The weight of it settled on her shoulders and she felt her body become heavy.
“I think I need an audience with your uncle Quinn. Is he still in charge of ship dockings?” Grier dropped the remaining fruit in his hand back into the bowl.
“Yes, but you can’t be serious. If you talk to him, then they will all want to greet you, and then my father will ask questions, and it will become this big thing.” Payton shook her head. “Let’s not do that.”
Grier turned to study Salena, his expression strangely controlled. He took a deep breath as if he didn’t want to speak. Around her, that wouldn’t be an option.
“You kept up your end of the bargain,” Grier stated.
“What bargain?” Payton asked.
Salena glanced at the woman but didn’t answer. She knew what was coming. An ache filled her. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill. She shook her head in denial. It was too soon for this. She wasn’t ready. They hadn’t been given enough time.
“Salena helped me narrow down where the Federation has been secretly landing ships, and in return, I’m going to secure her passage off this planet that is not Olena’s space pirate friends.” Even though Grier answered Payton, his eyes stayed steadily on Salena.
“Oh, yeah, you don’t want to travel with those aliens unless you like sleeping with the cargo,” Payton agreed. “I don’t think the pirates would hurt you, but Captain MoPa would not make the trip pleasant.”
“I didn’t help you find the landing site yet. We have to go back out.” Salena didn’t want to leave. She needed an excuse to stay. She glanced at the bed, desperately wishing to start this day over.
“The deal was you’d help me narrow it down,” he countered. “You’ve upheld your end.”
“I can do more.” Salena watched his expression for any sign that he wanted her with him. His eyes did not give away his secrets. She could have bluntly asked him but was too afraid to hear the answer. What if he’d decided he didn’t want her? She again glanced at the bed. Being with him was the happiest she’d been in a long time. She felt whole with him, connected to something beyond herself.
“It’s too dangerous,” he dismissed. “Our trip to the woods should be enough evidence of that.”
He was right, of course. She didn’t need him listing out the many groups that appeared to want her captured.
“I promised to protect you and to send you somewhere safe and nice. It is too dangerous for you here,” Grier said. Salena began to shake her head again, but he placed his hand on her shoulder. The wall over his feelings crumbled away, and she saw the torment in his eyes. The look pained her even as it brushed aside her momentary insecurity. He did want her, as badly as she wanted him. “This isn’t just about us, or how I feel about you. It’s about the shifter people. That hasn’t changed. The Federation has clearly spread the word you’re wanted. If it’s discovered we’re hiding you, they’ll claim it as an act of war if we don’t turn you over. The best we can hope for is that the Cysgodians will hunt you, and probably the marsh farmers. The Federation will send others.”
“It will be the excuse they need to overrun the planet.” Payton closed her eyes and nodded. “I understand now.” When she opened her eyes, she looked at them with pity. “I’m so sorry.”
Salena thought about begging Grier to come with her, but ultimately kept her mouth shut. That would not be fair to him. This was his home, and he did not need the pain of temptation making the situation more difficult.
“Of course, we’ll talk to Quinn. He’ll know of a ship that will give you safe passage. Roderic is most likely with his father now.” Payton pushed up from the chair and walked toward the fireplace. She picked up a bundle from the floor. “I brought you a change of adventuring clothes. I thought you might like something that is better suited to what we were doing. You can keep them.
I think space travel is probably better if you’re not in a dress.”
Salena nodded her thanks. A tear managed to slip down her cheek, even as she tried not to cry.
“I wish it was different. I like having you around.” Payton gave her a nod and put the clothes on the chair. “I’ll wait in the hall. You two should talk privately.”
When the door closed behind her, Salena shook her head. “What if I’m not ready to leave?”
Grier cupped her face in his hands and leaned his forehead to hers. He wiped her tear with his thumb. “I’ll never be ready for you to leave, but it’s not safe for you here. I promised to protect you and getting you off this planet to somewhere safe is the best way I know how to do that.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, not letting her go. “I could have lost you in the forest.”
“You didn’t. You came for me.” She put her hands over his, prying them gently away to force him to look at her. “You protected me.”
“I dropped my guard and lost you.”
“You saved me.”
“I was lucky. What if I hadn’t found you?”
“You saved me.”
“I was the reason you were in danger in the first place. I should have helped you leave after the festival night. I was selfish.”
“You.” Salena gave him a brief kiss. “Saved.” She kissed him again. “Me.”
He looked forlorn.
“Say it,” she ordered firmly.
“I saved you.”
“See, it’s true. You can’t lie around me.” She smiled, but she didn’t completely feel the emotion. She felt sadness, and the threat of loneliness that stood along the edges of her future just waiting for her to come back to it.
He kissed her, the pressure of his mouth instantly deepening as if he considered doing more. She would not have stopped him. He moaned as if in pain and pulled away. “You should dress. We’ll meet with Prince Quinn and then hopefully we can sneak back here to be alone.”
“Is there any way you would change your mind about this?” she asked. “Can nothing be done?”
“Not now, but in the future when it is safe I can contact you and maybe you’ll want to come back to me,” he said.
Salena nodded, knowing she would. She couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. Not after Grier.
“My mother always said, no one promised life would be fair. She was right. This isn’t fair.” Salena wiped at her eyes to stop crying.
“We’ll hold on to the hope that I can get the Federation off this world. I’ll get rid of the threat. I promise,” he said. “I can’t lie to you, so you know it will happen.”
What he sincerely believed to be true and what the future would hold were two very different things. She knew the danger of hope. She had hoped to find her sisters. She had hoped to wake up safe at home and not on some horrible fueling dock. She hoped that they’d find a way she could stay.
Hope was for fools because it led to this feeling forming inside her. She wanted to cry, to shout, to curl into a ball and give up.
The worst part was, there was nothing she could do about any of it.
“Yeah.” She managed a nod. “Someday I’ll come back. When they’re gone.”
She didn’t believe it. Life was not some magical tale that ended well for all.
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Salena pulled away to change her clothes. The outfit was much like Payton’s—tight pants with boots and a looser shirt. She debated whether she should pull on the vest but thought it rude not to. It molded to her body, tightening with cross-laces. It cupped beneath her breasts, supporting them.
“You’re beautiful,” Grier said.
“You’re handsome.” She gave him a small smile.
“You’re everything.” He came to her, kissing her deeply. When he held her, she instantly forgot all but the moment.
20
“We can secure you a ride on the ESC ship scheduled for takeoff this evening.” Prince Quinn had the kind of face that gave no hint to his age. At times he looked old and wise, at others he appeared boyish and carefree. His bright blue eyes reminded her of Roderic as did his steady character. “My wife led a team to the shadowed marshes to do their ten-year soil sampling as they monitor the long-term effects of the bioweaponry King Attor tried to engineer. This team makes several stops. You’ll have your choice of safe places to disembark.”
Tonight?
Never had the future come so fast as it did when talking to Prince Quinn. After explaining their situation, and Payton begging him not to tell her father, the royal ambassador took pity on Salena and offered his assistance.
That. Very. Night.
Salena didn’t speak as she stood in the palace office next to Payton and Grier. Roderic had yet to join them. Her eyes focused on the beautiful tile work on the walls, which surrounded a fireplace with no fire. Long banners and a woven rug decorated a seating area.
“Salena?” Payton whispered. “Is that all right with you?”
Salena blinked, turning her attention back to the stone desk where the prince sat looking at the ship schedule. Not having heard what was asked of her, she glanced at Grier.
“Yes, thank you,” Grier said. “We do not want the Federation tracking her.”
Quinn frowned and nodded slowly as if struggling to keep his opinions of the Federation to himself.
“She can travel under my star papers,” Payton offered. “It’s not like the Var elders will ever let me go anywhere. I don’t care if there are two Princess Paytons of the Var roaming around the universes.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m sure we can arrange some ESC travel credentials and a new identity,” Quinn said. “I’ll issue her Var paperwork. We don’t track our population like other planets. They will have a hard time proving travel papers issued by a royal family are fake. If anyone asks, tell them you were born without shifting abilities and decided to leave.”
Salena wasn’t sure anyone would believe she was part of the Exploratory Science Commission. She knew little about galactic sciences. “My science is not strong.”
Please, not tonight.
“No one will be asking you to solve any problems. I’ll arrange a couple of basic uploads for you when you’re onboard to pass basic examinations should any agencies stop you. Perhaps you will like the ESC ship and sign on as a lab technician,” Quinn said as he made notations on the encrypted holographic file spread over his desk.
Salena wanted to protest. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. They were so efficient, and the solution was about as perfect as she could ask for.
“Thank you,” Grier answered for her. “For the safe passage and your discretion. And could you set her up with a space credit account under the new identification? I’ll transfer funds to fill it.”
Stop it. Not tonight. It’s too soon.
“I respect what you are sacrificing for your people, Grier,” Quinn said. “It’s too bad they will never know all that you gave up to ensure their safety.”
Grier nodded.
“Do Queen Rigan and King Ualan know about this?” Quinn asked.
“No. And this burden will not fall on them, or the rest of my family. No one else needs to know. They would try to intervene, and make this harder,” Grier said. “I appreciate your discretion. I’m in your debt for this.”
“No, Prince Grier, you’re not.” Quinn closed his clipboard. “Everything will be waiting for you on the ship, Lady Salena. I would like to acknowledge what you must also be giving up. On behalf of the Var, I thank you. Our road with the Federation has not been an easy one.”
Salena nodded. If she spoke, she’d scream, and she wouldn’t stop.
“May I assume you don’t want to dine at the banquet tonight?” Quinn walked toward the office door.
“No, thank you. We’d rather go back to the guest room,” Grier said.
Salena nodded in agreement.
“I’ll walk with you,” Payton said under he
r breath. “Wouldn’t want you getting lost.”
“Safe travels, my lady,” Quinn told her as they left. All she could do was keep nodding.
They walked back to the guest suite. The halls were empty.
“This is wrong,” Payton said. “I vote you stay. Curse the Federation. Let’s take them all on. War is coming either way, what better reason to fight than for love?”
“I won’t give them an excuse to hurt anyone,” Salena whispered. “The will of two is nothing compared to the lives of many.”
And, oh, how she hated saying it.
“Fine. Grier, go with her,” Payton said. “Let one of your brothers take the crown. Altair…all right, not him. But Creed? There are enough men in the royal family. Someone can take your place. King Ualan can choose a new successor.”
Salena stopped walking, feeling as if she’d been punched. And that was why hope was horrible. With that one revelation, it became clear just how far away a future with him was. Small pieces began falling into place. He had so much honor in him.
Grier and Payton paused and looked at each other before turning back.
“You’re the future king of the dragons?” Salena asked.
“Didn’t you know?” Payton looked at Grier. “Didn’t you tell her? How could you not tell her that?”
“I…” He gestured helplessly. “I didn’t think to. I just assumed…”
“No. No you didn’t tell me that. I would have remembered if you’d told me something like that.” Salena felt dizzy and leaned against one of the walls. She ran her hands into her hair.
“This changes nothing between us,” Grier said. “I am the same man.”
“You can never leave. And the crazy idea I had that maybe I could come back and hide away with you…that can’t happen if you’re the king.” The cinched vest held her too tight. Salena tugged at it, taking deep breaths. Her back slid down the wall.
Instantly, Grier was there, lifting her into his arms. “My love for you does not change with my title.”
Dragon Prince Page 17
