Dragon Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “Here!” Payton held a hand out for the pole still in Salena’s grasp.

  Salena flung it at the woman.

  Payton caught the pole as her would-be assailant lumbered toward her. Twirling the rod in her fingers, she assumed a more confrontational pose, feet wide apart, butt out, ready for the Sweeper who clearly did not know he was up against a trained shifter. Salena recognized some of the moves from when she saw the Var soldiers on the practice field.

  Payton made quick work of ending the Sweeper’s programming when she lunged forward to stab the cyborg in the chest. Salena finally managed to push to her feet to face the remaining cyborg. She lifted her arms, ready to fight.

  Turning on a heel, Payton swung around and grabbed the shorter one by the hair, stopping him mid-lunge as he tried to pounce on Salena. With a surgeon’s precision, she put the metal pole through the Sweeper’s neck.

  “Salena?” The sound of Grier’s voice filled the street before she saw him.

  He almost ran past the alleyway, only to grab the edge of the building to stop his momentum as his head turned in her direction. He wore the pants and shirt of a local and was breathing heavily as if he’d run to get to her.

  Seeing the Sweeper, Grier’s eyes flashed with gold and he surged forward to defend the women.

  The cyborg did not try to defend himself. He blinked and reached for his neck as if he didn’t feel pain but was confused as to why his body was not responding to commands. The Sweeper fell onto the ground and made a strange buzzing sound seconds before Grier reached him.

  Grier kicked the fallen cyborg out of his way and sent him skidding into the side of the building. He hurried toward Salena. “What is happening here?”

  “Sweepers,” Payton answered simply.

  “What?” Grier stopped in front of Salena and searched her for signs of injury.

  The fight had sent adrenaline surging through her veins. Now that it was over that sensation did not stop. Her husband was here. The sight of him caused her to shake. It had only been a short time, but she had missed him terribly. All the emotions she felt tried to bubble forth, unable to be contained.

  “Sweeper borgs. They’re rubbish collecting droids that the Federation reconditioned into cheap hitmen. They police the citizens of Shelter City, but for me they’re only a nuisance.” Payton sniffed at her hands and wrinkled her nose. “A smelly nuisance.”

  “I know what a Sweeper borg is,” Grier retorted. “What are you doing fighting them?”

  “They came after me,” Salena defended her friend. Why wasn’t he wrapping her in his arms? “Payton was protecting me.”

  “Come on.” Payton tugged at Salena’s forearm, taking her from Grier. “We have to go before more show up. I know of a private alcove if you insist on starting a fight with us, Grier.”

  Salena let Payton pull her behind her, but she glanced back to Grier to make sure he followed. His anger was barely contained as he again kicked the fallen cyborg as he passed. His lips moved, but whatever it was he was trying to say did not vocalize as he followed them away from the evidence of their skirmish.

  26

  “What are you doing here?” Grier demanded, as if still unable to believe what he was seeing.

  “What are you doing here?” Salena repeated back to him.

  Payton stood guard near the opening of a small inlet between buildings, so that they could talk in private, away from prying eyes. It would seem there were several confusing hidden nooks within the ill-planned city.

  Grier’s hand lifted and for a moment she thought he would touch her, but he balled it into a fist and held back. He didn’t appear to trust himself at the moment. He took a deep breath as if having a conversation was taking all of his concentration and effort.

  “My plan was to go to the watchtower and figure out a way to throw the Federation off the planet, so that I could get my wife back,” he said. “Imagine my surprise when I discovered you never boarded the ESC ship. Then, imagine my further surprise when I track the two of you to Shelter City, where I find my wife sparring with ruffians.”

  “Sweeper borgs,” Salena corrected softly.

  He arched a brow at that and ignored her comment. “Why didn’t you get on the spaceship like we planned?”

  “I was going to.” Salena wanted to remain calm, but seeing Grier stirred all the emotions she’d been trying to hold back since leaving him. It had been difficult to suppress her feelings for her husband while she had attempted to figure out what happened to her sister. “Fiora is alive.”

  “What?”

  Salena leaned over and reached into her boot to pull out the paper she had shoved in there. She handed it to him. “Roderic gave me this right before I left. It’s Fiora. She has that scar. Payton’s contact had heard about a woman the Federation is using as a party trick for guests. They have Fiora telling the futures of generals, and I’m assuming dignitaries they need to impress, like some kind of trained pet. We think an event might be happening tonight. Yevgen said that it looked like off-world dignitaries were being escorted into the facility for a gala.”

  Grier looked at the picture and then at her, as if comparing them.

  Salena pointed in the direction of the Federation facility. “She is up there. They have her held prisoner. I intend to free her.”

  “I will find a way to free her. Payton will take you back to the palace where it is safe.” Grier suddenly pulled her close, holding her tight to his chest as if that would protect her from all the cruelties of the world. “You should have told me what you were doing. I’ll take care of this for you.”

  “No, I shouldn’t have.” Salena pushed at his chest and made him release her. “You can’t be here. I will not be the cause of a shifter war. People die in wars. You are the future king of the dragons. If I’m caught, they’ll bring me back to the facility because I’m only an escaped prisoner to them. If you’re caught—”

  “I promised to protect you,” he countered, as if that statement would negate anything she said.

  Salena knew he was angry, saw it in the way he moved. She also knew he would never hurt her. His anger came from a loving place, but it wasn’t needed right now.

  “And, well, I promise to protect you, too, then,” she said. “So there. I’m protecting you. Fly away.”

  “I can’t very well fly out of this city. It’s bad enough that we’re even here,” he said.

  “Then walk out,” she commanded. “I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

  “Salena…” he warned.

  “You can go now.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “I said I’ll contact you when I’m done.”

  “Salena.” He put his hands on his hips.

  She mimicked his stance and tone. “Grier.”

  He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing in frustration. “What’s your plan?”

  “Still trying to come up with it.” Salena bit her lip. He arched a brow in her direction. “What? I’m thinking. I’ve planned how to sneak away from the Federation’s strongholds. I never thought about sneaking back in. Before I could even process that my sister was alive and here, those blasted Sweepers decided they wanted to capture me, so there hasn’t been any time to formulate a plan.”

  Grier took a deep breath. She could tell she was trying his patience.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked, unable to tell.

  “That the pleasure I am feeling at having you near me is challenged by the fear of seeing you attacked in the city streets, which is furthered by my anger that you would dare to put yourself in this kind of danger,” he answered. “I’m not sure if I want to kiss you or lock you in a tower.”

  Salena came closer to him, drawn to be near him. She was always drawn to be near him. The closer they were, the better she felt. She tried to calm his anger and reached for his hands, lifting them to kiss his knuckles. She stopped when she noticed the pottery shard he’d sewn in place of his crystal on the bracelet and smiled, touched by the gesture. When she loo
ked up at him, she said, “I know which one I’d prefer.”

  His eyes dipped down, and he frowned as if he just now noticed the baggy dress. “What are you wearing?”

  Salena pulled the dress over her head and dropped it on the ground. The pants and loose shirt had been underneath. It felt nice to get the weight off her shoulders. She eyed his disguise. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  The excitement of the fight still pumped in her veins, made tenfold by the nearness of her husband. She wanted, no, she needed to touch him. When she was by Grier, she felt whole. The idea of leaving him had been so painful she now clung to him. Her arms slipped around his neck and she pulled him to her kiss. When their lips met, it was as if all their fears and heartaches were poured into the frantic movements of their mouths.

  They each fought for control. The sounds of the city faded, a mere backdrop in their private alcove. He cupped a breast, squeezing it. His breath became hot as if the dragon inside him tried to push out.

  Salena grabbed his ass, pressing him to her so she could feel how much he wanted her. The length of his thick arousal caused her sex to tighten and respond. She ground her hips forward, seeking release even if it was through their clothing.

  Grier had other ideas in mind. He tugged hard at her pants to expose her hips. Salena stepped on the toe of her boot, freeing a single foot. He pulled away from her kiss, kneeling to remove the pants from her legs forcefully. All she needed was one free leg.

  He had his pants around his hips before she had time to reach for them. His cock stood proud and ready. Her pants hung from a booted leg as he lifted her.

  Salena’s back practically slammed into the metal wall. It reverberated loudly as the press of his hips held her legs open. His hands gripped her ass to keep her in place.

  He thrust into her fully. When he took her, it was hard and frantic. He poured all his frustration into his movements. Salena didn’t care. She needed him just as badly. She held on to his shoulders.

  Pure, raw need took over. His hips pumped hard as if marking his claim. The sound of his breaths kept time with each wild plunge.

  “There, there,” she moaned, so close, eager for the release his sexy body promised. His hips slowed, and he rolled them in tiny circles as he gave small, hard thrusts into her.

  The combination of danger, anger, and her incredibly talented husband were too much to resist. Salena cried out as she came. He didn’t let up as he kept pumping, prying every last tremor from her sex. Only when she was gasping and weak, did he finish, meeting his own groaning climax inside her.

  Grier held her against him, keeping her legs off the ground and his shaft buried deep. His swirling eyes met hers as if the primal dragon wished to tell her of his dominance over her. Only his eyes shifted, but man and beast stood before her now, and both knew he’d ridden her good.

  “You’re mine,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

  Salena nodded and gave a weakened, “Yes.”

  “Hurry it up,” Payton yelled. “Time to go.”

  “I protect what is mine,” he said, lowering Salena’s feet to the ground. “We’ll free your sister together, as a team. No more sneaking away with Payton. And when we find Fiora, you’re both coming to stay at the dragon palace. Then, we’re going to find your other sister. I don’t know how this is going to work, if we’ll have to hide you away, or what, but we’ll figure it out together. I can’t lose you again.”

  Salena nodded in agreement and began to pull on her disguise. “All right. Together.”

  Grier fastened his pants and righted his shirt. The fire inside him had calmed, and he gave her an exasperated smile. “I love you, wife.”

  Salena grinned. Honestly, if this is how he planned on winning arguments, she predicted a lot more fighting in their future.

  27

  Out of all the plans to free her sister, Salena never would have thought walking in the front door of a secure facility would be one of them. And yet, here she was, wearing a ridiculously tight dress with a morphed face, compliments of the old morphing ring Payton retrieved from Queen Lyssa’s private collection.

  By retrieved, Salena inferred stolen.

  Why the Var queen had outdated (and, if memory served, highly illegal) spy technology sounded like a long story that Salena knew better than to ask about.

  Why that technology turned the wearer into what she could only describe as a genetically altered living pleasure droid, was also more than Salena wanted to know.

  The moment she’d turned the ring on her finger, it had changed her hair to a darker auburn, lengthened and narrowed her nose, and plumped her cheeks. Her form softened and rounded, stretching taller. Even the brown of her eyes was erased and replaced with green.

  Salena could see why such deceiving technology would be made illegal.

  “I love you,” Salena said to Grier, causing him to cringe at the high whine of her new voice. They stood outside the facility, waiting for the signal that Payton and Jaxx were in place. When he’d gone to get a better view of the Federation facility from the sky, Grier had found Jaxx napping in the same cave Salena had hidden within.

  “I, ah…” He nodded by way of acknowledgment. “All right.”

  Grier’s disguise was less concealing. Payton had colored his face and hands with a muddy orange and adhered tufts of fur down the center of his forehead. The fur was suspiciously the same color as hers when she shifted.

  While she’d glued the fur to Grier’s face, Payton had said, “This almost makes up for my shaved ass.”

  Jaxx had laughed as if sharing a joke with her.

  Grier tried pulling the fur from his face, but Payton had caught his hand and said, “You’re doing this for Salena.”

  The shouts from the city below had settled, still there but fewer in number and not as loud. Salena was able to deduce the general area they had been in. The exact street was not visible from her current angle near the facility.

  A spout of fire showed from the watchtower. Jaxx was in his lookout position. Salena lifted her hand to wave in his direction. He breathed another blast of fire to signal he had seen her. Payton would be nearby as well, but they did not expect a signal from the cat-shifter princess.

  “I still don’t know how this is going to work.” Salena tried to suppress the emotions running rampant through her, but it was difficult. They could not fail in this mission. It was that simple, and that complicated.

  “We’ll figure it out as we go,” Grier said. She knew that he did not like the fact that she was coming along for this rescue. If he had his way, she would be locked up safely inside the dragon palace surrounded by guards. “There is no time to come up with a better plan, and this is our opening.”

  “And then what?” Salena slipped her hand into his and held tight.

  “We will figure it out when the time comes.” He sounded so certain that she wanted to believe him. “I’m not leaving here until I have you and your sister safely with me.”

  “All right.” She nodded. “Let’s go. Let’s do this. Let’s get it over with.”

  The sound of her own voice didn’t help calm her nerves.

  Grier walked in front of her toward the facility. The two Federation guards at the entryway wore the black uniforms of low-ranking soldiers. One with a nametag that read Rigger carried an electronic scanner and held it up at their approach as if the gesture was automatic. Grier lifted his hand, blocking the device.

  Rigger lowered the scanner. His partner, Briggs, rested a hand on his belt where he carried a blaster pistol in warning. “Lower your hand. All guest must be scanned to ensure their presence on the guest list.”

  “Private delivery for General Sten,” Grier said. He stepped to the side to let them get a better view of Salena behind him. “She’s not to be put into the receiving logs.”

  Grier made her sound like a prostitute. Salena’s eyes widened. She did her best to give Grier a meaningful look as she tried to figure out what he was up to. He ignored her.


  She tried not to frown, reminding herself that she was not Salena right now. She was morphed bimbo droid.

  Rigger smiled at her and made no effort to hide the fact he was looking her over.

  “All guests must be scanned to ensure their presence on the guest list,” Briggs repeated. He pulled his blaster and held it at his side.

  “We had ship trouble and are running late. You will not find us on that list because this isn’t exactly a delivery General Sten wants on record.” Grier reached behind him and pulled Salena to his side. “I’m sure you can see why.”

  “All guests must be scanned to ensure—” Briggs tried to say again.

  “Right,” Grier drawled. “I’m obviously trying to break into a facility on this nothing planet to disrupt whatever guest list you’re busy scanning by walking in the front door with an early model retro pleasure droid for General Sten. I left my comfortable megaplex to travel through the stars for…? What? Do you know how far the X quadrant is from actual civilization? Trust me. There is nothing here that anyone wants to take.”

  “All guests must be scanned—” Briggs held his blaster higher, aiming it at Grier’s feet.

  “Hold,” Rigger ordered, lifting his hand to stop Briggs from drawing the weapon any higher. “Does she speak?”

  “Speak, droid,” Grier ordered. If she didn’t know better, it appeared as if he was enjoying himself.

  “Hello,” Salena answered in her whiny voice. “You will take us inside now.”

  “Eager thing, isn’t she,” Grier said. “I’ll wait as you go get General Sten and bring him out here to confirm, but you’re not taking our pictures. Either way, I get paid for this hand-delivery, and there will be a return fee if I have to take this unit back with me.”

  Grier moved as if to stand beside the door.

  Walking up to the door and asking to see the most powerful man in the base? This had to be the worst plan in the history of rescue plans.