“But if the Var attack—”
“Trust me, Saben. They came for Mede. King Auguste wants her. He already tried to take her through diplomatic channels. We refused, so he’s come to take her by force.”
“That is why you sent us to guard her,” Saben said, again looking at the glowing stone in Llyr’s hand. “Gods’ bones. Are you saying Mede is your bride? How did we not know this?”
“Saben,” Llyr insisted sternly getting the man to focus.
Saben turned his attention to the ground and led the way from the tents to the trees. Once they were concealed, they both shifted to full dragon to better see in the dark.
“I smell cat,” Saben whispered. “It’s faint.”
“What about Mede? Is there any sign of her?” Fear tried to creep in and Llyr endeavored to draw comfort from his stone. Surely the gods were with him. They would find her. They had to find her.
“I only see two tracks. They look too big to be Lady Mede.”
“They have her. I know it.” Llyr slipped his necklace over his head where it belonged.
Saben did not question the claim. “They did not try to hide their path. It could be a trap.”
“Or they hurry to escape before Mede is discovered missing,” Llyr answered.
Saben picked up the pace. Llyr practically felt the man’s tension. After Cynan, they all resented the Var—though they had no solid proof of the Var involvement. The fact King Auguste had dared to send men over the border to kidnap one of their women only turned resentment to rage.
Saben suddenly stopped and glanced around. Llyr could see for himself that two tracks ended in a struggle of some sort and then became one. They both instantly looked up to the trees. A sickening cat-like rawr sounded as a flash of paws showed from above. Llyr leapt, grabbing an ankle and pulling to throw the dark-furred shifter off course.
“That way. Find her!” Saben pointed that Llyr should follow the tracks before he jumped onto their attacker.
Llyr hurried through the forest. The sounds of a fight came from behind him. His heart pounded violently now that his suspicions had been confirmed. The Var were in their forest.
He ran farther from the ceremony into the trees. It was too late to turn back. He had to go after her alone.
Chapter Fifteen
Mede jerked herself awake. Something bound her hands and she instantly fought to be free of the ties. Her back scraped against a grainy texture. It took her eyes a while longer to focus in the dark, and she had to blink several times to clear her head.
She was bound to a tree with what felt like her wedding veil. Though she tried to be brave, a wave of fear washed over her and she began to shake. Her breath came in uneven pants as she forced herself to focus. Trees. She was tied to a tree. They weren’t large like the forest near the palace, nor skinny like the forests near her home. She was in the borderlands. Where exactly was impossible to tell. With no landmarks, she could be anywhere along a several mile stretch.
She smelled the faint odor of rot. The marshes? That narrowed it down some. If she ran away from that smell she might make it back to familiar terrain—unless of course she ran southeast, which would drive her deeper into Var territory.
She had no doubt she was on the wrong side of the border. Prince Attor would have taken her somewhere he felt safe.
Prince Attor. The man who’d kissed her in the forest was the Var prince? By his arrogant bearing and speech, she could believe he was royalty. He also seemed slightly insane, talking about how they were meant to be married, as if that insignificant moment meant more than it did. All their meeting had meant to her was an end to her initiation period. Had she not found Attor, she would have taken fur from the marsh farmer. She didn’t care if the man handed her fifty thousand glowing crystals, she was never going to marry him. She loved Llyr. No stupid rock was going to tell her what to do.
Llyr. Would he think she’d run off on him? Would he know to look for her? It would take him a long time to search the crowd. It might be morning before anyone realized she was gone. Thinking of the drinking, she frowned. It might be late, late morning before anyone realized she had gone.
“Good. You’re awake.”
Mede stiffened, forcing the shaking fear inside her to stop as she looked at Prince Attor. “What are you doing? Kidnapping a Draig citizen is an act of war. Do you really want to start the bloodshed between our people again?”
“Kidnapping?” Attor gave a dark laugh and came more into view. She stiffened. His tunic shirt was splattered with blood. “I claim you, Lady Medellyn as my first half mate. You cannot kidnap a wife.”
Mede gasped. “I don’t accept. I’m to be married elsewhere tonight. The promises have already been spoken. The gods have—”
“No one asked you!” Attor roared. Mede jerked back at the uncontrolled anger on his face. “Welcome to the Var throne, my wife.”
Attor came close and she tried to burrow her body into the unyielding tree bark. His hot breath fanned over her neck. She tried to kick, but her feet were secured. He ignored the defiance. His eyes dipped down to where the bodice pushed up her breasts. When he lifted his hand, she smelled blood. She tried not to look at him, but his face pressed insistently near hers as if to force her to meet his gaze. A single claw touched the top mound of her breast, tracing the hemline of her bodice.
“Our children will be exquisite, my wife,” he whispered. “Half cat, half dragon, our stunning genetics—such powerful sons. I will be known as the king who brought this planet under one rule.”
“You want me to help you conquer my people and overthrow the House of Draig monarchy?” Mede couldn’t believe this man’s nerve and had to question his sanity. She let a talon stretch from her fingertip as she worked on snagging the material binding her wrist. The ties held her at an awkward angle and made cutting difficult.
“There is always some resistance to change.” His claw made the trip back over her breasts. She was well aware of how dangerous her position was. One angry gesture and this man could rip into her chest. “The key is to have the stronger resolve and to be willing to kill whoever gets in your way.”
“It’s not too late. You can let me go.” Mede tried to sound reasonable. She kept her voice soft, trying to remember what exactly she had said or done to draw this man’s twisted affection.
“But we’re married. We are on Var land and I claimed you as my half mate. It’s done. There is no letting you go, wife, you belong to me.” He stepped back. His claw left her chest and she inhaled a deep breath of temporary relief. He looked at his hands. “This won’t do.”
Mede made a small noise as he reached for her skirt. Grabbing the end, he slashed at it with his claws, cutting it into jagged strips before managing to tear off a chunk of silk and lace. He wiped his bloody hands on it before swiping at his tunic in an effort to clean up.
The open air against her exposed legs caused her to look down at what he’d done. Material wrapped one ankle, hooked around the tree and wrapped the other. It kept her legs apart so she couldn’t close them. She tried to shift while he was distracted, but the steel rods in the corset’s design bound her chest and stomach too tightly. Unlike her human flesh, the hard skin of the dragon couldn’t mold to the clothing’s shape. Even trying was too painful.
Mede had never been in a situation where she’d had to fight like a woman and not a dragon. “Attor. I need you to untie me.”
He turned his gaze sharply to her.
“This is no way to begin a marriage.” She tried to smile at him. “Come on. Untie me. Let me walk to my new palace with dignity.”
Attor laughed. “Nice try, my lady, but I’m not stupid and you’re not that good of an actress. Your anger shows in your burning eyes.” He tossed the piece from her torn gown aside and touched her cheek. “But that’s all right. I like taming my women. Right now you’re frightened because of your innocence.”
“Or because you hit me over the head, and tied me to a tree,” she answered.<
br />
“There’s that fire I saw in you the night we met.” Attor clapped his hands. “You’re not so tough when you’re not carrying a blade, are you?”
Mede slowly began to recall more of their first conversation. She remembered thinking this man was handsome, but now she didn’t see it. “I remember you said that you have no reason to harm women.”
“I also said we weren’t at war. At that time, we weren’t. Now—”
“So you do want to start a war.” Mede felt the ties holding her wrists snag on the bark and began to work her arms while he was distracted.
“That will depend largely on you, wife.” Attor studied her and she stopped moving. “You really are worthy of royalty. I wish I could see King Tared’s face when he discovers you are married to me and not his son.” His expression fell and she wondered at the strangeness of his cloudy gaze. “We will have many sons. You were right when you said being an only child is a burden and our parents were weak for not having—”
“I never said that,” Mede denied. “You twist my words.”
“As my wife, you will be able to bring the dragons to heel.” Attor began to pace.
As he spoke, she worked her arms faster. Suddenly, the binds straining against her ankles loosened. Her knees buckled slightly. How did that happen? She hadn’t been trying to free her feet yet.
“They will see their prized dragon lady has chosen me over their prince—” Attor continued.
A thud sounded behind her followed by an, “Aagh.”
Attor instantly shifted and faced Mede. She flinched, working her wrists faster. If she was attacked, she couldn’t defend herself.
* * *
Llyr remained quiet as he crept around to where Mede was tied to a tree. Var liked to leap down from tree limbs and he needed to make sure there were no surprise attacks. Saben was behind her, trying to cut her ties. Though they really could have used it, they hadn’t had enough time to get more help.
“Aagh.”
Llyr turned his attention forward at the noise. Saben lay on the ground behind Mede, holding his head. While Attor’s attention was distracted, Llyr charged. Saben rolled to his feet, swaying a little but ready to fight anything that moved too close to him.
Mede thrashed violently, kicking her feet while trapped by her wrists. Attor must have heard Llyr’s approach because he turned. Saben fought his attacker. It looked like the same catshifter that had fallen on Saben outside the festival.
Llyr felt Mede’s eyes on him, and he would fight anyone who tried to keep her from him. He slashed at the Var prince with his talons. Attor roared. Llyr growled. There was no hesitance as they fought. Attor’s hand glanced over the hard armor of Llyr’s chest. The sharp tips bit into his flesh like tiny needles dragging along his skin. Llyr swept his arm wide, coming down hard against Attor’s neck. When the man stumbled, Llyr swung again to hit him on the other side.
Attor jerked and made a strange noise. Llyr saw the blur of movement between the man’s legs. Mede had kicked the Var prince in the balls. Hard.
Llyr drew back his fist and punched. Attor’s head snapped back and he stumbled before falling to the ground.
Mede kicked her feet out and screeched as she tried to reach Attor’s body from her place tied to the tree. He felt her anger as if it was his own. Saben had the other Var pinned to the ground and was choking him.
“Tell me I can kill him,” Saben begged. “I should have killed him the first time. He’s like a bad batch of ale that keeps coming back to haunt you.”
“No,” Mede ordered. “Honor dictates we let them live. That is a house noble. I heard them talking when I was coming in and out of consciousness. This is their prince.” Mede kicked her foot one last time, still unable to reach Attor’s prone form. “If we kill them we are responsible for war. That is what they want.”
Llyr went to her. His heart beat so fast he was sure it would explode. He cupped her face to look at her. “Did they hurt you?”
Mede shook her head in denial. He could tell it was a lie. Dried blood encrusted her temple. Her lips parted and he kissed her. All the passion and worry poured into that moment. He accepted her fully, gave her power over everything he was, and in turn he felt her entering his soul. She loved him. He felt it. The very touch of her sent fire through his blood and staked claim to his heart.
* * *
“Get off my wife!” Attor yelled.
Mede screamed. Llyr was jerked back as the Var prince surged up from the ground and grabbed the back of his tunic. He went for Llyr’s neck with extended claws, about to rip out the man’s throat.
Mede screamed again. Without thought, she forced her arms forward. The ties snapped. Heat choked her body. The lava of her dragon’s blood seared her insides. She screamed again, unable to control it. This time smoke filtered past her lips. Her back expanded painfully against the corset. She saw Attor staring at her in awe, his arm poised for the death strike. She felt the rip of flesh as the corset strings snapped. Her back jerked upward and she lifted off the ground. Unsure how, her body undulated in the air.
She looked down at Attor and burned with hatred. Llyr was shifted and stared up at her in awe and confusion. A flash of a wing caught her attention along her peripheral vision. She had wings. She flew. Another scream ripped out of her, more animal than human, and her breath became pure fire as it rolled out of her lungs.
Attor dove out of the way. She turned her head, trying not to hit Llyr as the primitive dragon tried to take over. She had one driving need—to protect her family.
The crackling of flames lapped trees. She screeched again, but since she knew what was coming, she was able to shoot the fire into the sky. Llyr scrambled to his feet and lifted his taloned hands. He spoke, but she didn’t understand his words.
She somehow managed to land. Not because she had the skill to control her new body, but because the dragon instinctively wanted to put Llyr behind her. She watched Attor run from them.
She felt a hand on her ass and turned. Somehow, her butt didn’t seem to come with her. Instead Llyr held her tail under his arm to keep it from swinging. He again shouted up at her, holding out his hand. Her eyes focused on the crystal glowing in his palm. Her long neck jerked to again make sure Attor was gone. Fire burned and she snorted smoke from her nose to put it out.
Slowly, her form began to retract in on itself, becoming smaller. The shift hurt, not so much the physical resetting of her bones but rather the willpower it took to reign in the beast. Her body dropped. The tattered remnants of her gown hung on her frame, clinging to one shoulder but not hiding her nakedness beneath. Llyr hurried and pulled off his tunic shirt to slip it over her head. She smelled charred silk.
She breathed heavily, shaking and cold. “Llyr? Are you burned?”
He lifted his arms and first one bare leg, then the other. She’d scorched his pants so they hung about his waist like a silken loincloth, but his skin was unharmed.
“It actually kind of tickled,” Llyr said. The crystal glow radiated over his beautiful face as he held the stone toward her. “I told you, my lady, you are my fate.”
“How did you get that?” She rushed to him, so very glad she didn’t injure him. The stone wasn’t his broken one, but it did glow brighter when she came near him.
“It’s mine. The gods gave it back to me. I wasn’t lying when I said you make my crystal glow. I’m sorry I tricked you by wearing my servant’s stone. I wanted you to get to know me first. I really did break my arm trying to trick-ride ceffyls, but not my stone. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth from the beginning. I promise I’ll explain everything once we’re to safety.”
“I knew it,” Saben yelled. He jumped up and down excitedly while covering his mouth. Between his fingers, he said, “You can fly!”
“Why didn’t you shift and free yourself sooner?” Llyr asked, trying to ignore Saben.
“I tried. I couldn’t.” She still shivered with cold. The fire had taken her body heat with it. “M
y mother put me in that stupid corset again. It was too constrictive.” She wrapped her arms around Llyr and hugged him tightly, burying her head in his chest. “I was so scared you wouldn’t find me. That lunatic tried to say I was his half mate.”
“He claimed you?” Saben asked, gasping. He lifted his hand and let a talon grow on the end. “You have to let me go after him and kill him. I will do it. Your hands will be clean. She cannot be married to two—”
Mede picked up the bloody piece of material Attor had shredded from her gown. She lifted the material and held it over to Llyr’s eyes to symbolize the mask he had been wearing at the ceremony. But since it was dirty, she didn’t touch him with it. “I choose you, Prince Llyr, as my husband.” She pulled it away and dropped the material on the ground.
“Huh.” Saben looked at them both and then gave a small shrug. “Looked binding and official to me.”
The ceremony was hardly tradition, but she didn’t care. “You’re mine, Llyr. And I’m yours.”
“Uh, you two might want to hurry things along.” Saben walked over to where the noble had begun to stir. He leaned over and punched the Var hard to knock him back out. “Someone is bound to notice if the dragon prince doesn’t show up tomorrow morning to announce his marriage. I don’t know how many more of these damned cats are out roaming tonight, but the fire spouts are bound to have drawn some notice.”
“He’s right,” Llyr said.
“Kiss me, Llyr. Now,” she demanded. “You don’t want to upset a dragon female.”
Llyr obliged. She moaned into his mouth, letting his tongue roll past her lips. His body heat warmed her chilled skin. She heard his whispering in her mind, I love you, Mede, I want you.
Forever, she answered.
“Seriously, we have to go now,” Saben prodded.
“Can you run?” Llyr asked.
“Just try to catch me.” Mede shifted into her normal dragon form and took off into the forest. The tattered pieces of her dress dangled around her legs as she ran. Llyr and Saben gave chase.
The Dragon's Queen (Dragon Lords) Page 17
