Ragnar: Dragon Lord of Wye

by Nancey Cummings

  Fed up, Priya rose from the table. “I’m done listening to you and your viper tongue.”

  Aelth laughed, delighted that her words had hit their mark. “Maybe he likes showering you with gifts. Lifting you up out of your dull, brutal existence but he’ll grow bored.”

  Anger propelled Priya away. She’d find her mother and Sorrel. Some one.

  “He’ll stray!” Aelth shouted. “Mark my words, a male like Ragnar was not made for a single female.”

  She walked fast, refusing to run, until Aelth’s cruel words drifted into the background noise of the city. Eyes blurred with tears, she walked blindly in any direction. She wasn’t concerned about being lost. They’d find her when it was time to return to the estate.

  She found herself in an open air market. Fresh fruit, produce, flowers, fish on ice, and live animals all competed for her attention in a cacophony of sight and sound. She passed stalls with beautifully crafted wares, delicate fabrics, spices, books, toys and anything imaginable. The only rule, it seemed, was to stuff as much color in as a possible.

  The aroma of honey and pastry led Priya to a table groaning with baked goods. Everything looked amazing. While she struggled to make up her mind, a familiar profile caught her attention. Ragnar was across the way, in the middle of the flower section.

  Joy surged in her as she made her way through the crowd. Her day had sucked thus far but Ragnar always made her feel special.

  A woman, tall and slender and golden, came up to Ragnar and gave him an uncomfortably familiar kiss on the cheek. Her golden wings fluttered in the sun as they spoke. Priya strained to listen but their voices were lost in the crowd. Ragnar held up a crown made of white blossoms. He placed it on the woman’s head. She laughed and twirled, modeling the floral crown.

  Priya’s heart sank. She knew that look on Ragnar’s face. He was mesmerized by the woman and for the moment, that stranger was the most important person in the universe.

  And just like that, Priya was left behind. So soon.

  She didn’t know if she had the strength to watch him flirt and be with other women for two years. She suspected it would happened eventually but she didn’t think it would happen so soon.

  Priya squared her shoulders. It wasn’t a real relationship. She was a fool for believing his sweet lies but now she had the measure of his character. He wouldn’t hurt her again.

  “Priya?” Nisha bounced up, holding a bouquet of exotic blossoms. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hmm? Oh, I got lost and followed my nose. When do we head back? My feet are killing me.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Priya

  Priya asked to have a tray sent up to her room. She was too tired to deal with Aelth’s overt hostility and Ragnar’s lies. Not that she was hungry. The fine meal turned to ash in her mouth but she chewed methodically, washing it down with wine she could not appreciate.

  Nora knocked on the door and let herself in when Priya did not answer. “Are you all right, sunshine?”

  “I’m just tired, Mom.”

  “Nisha said you looked upset.”

  “Aelth is pretty brutal. I got tired of being her punching bag.”

  Nora sat down on the bed next to Priya. “Are you sure that’s all? You’ve never been one to let a bully get to you.” Unspoken was the agreement that Aelth was a supreme bully.

  “I’m getting married tomorrow,” Priya said. No matter what revelation Aelth thought to torment her with, a deal was a deal. Ragnar came through on his end and now she had to deliver. “I haven’t had a moment to myself in a month. I just need some quiet time. Alone.”

  “Roger that, sunshine.” Nora gave her daughter a quick kiss on the top of her head and left.

  Priya knew she’d go through with the wedding. She agreed to a pretend marriage and for a few days she thought it was real but now she understood it was only pretend.

  So why did she feel so betrayed?

  She pushed the tray aside and opened the external double doors. She needed to find Ragnar.

  Ragnar

  He was not looking for a fight but a fight was what he found when he knocked on his mate’s door. Priya answered in a huff, jerking the door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

  “Mate?”

  “Don’t give me that mate nonsense,” she said, finger pointed in the middle of his chest. “I know there’s no entailment.”

  For a moment he was confused. What entailment? Then his previous falsehoods came back. “I can explain—”

  “Is this some kind of sick game to you? Were you bored and decided to pluck up a desperate Earth girl for the novelty? Did you think I wouldn’t find out or did you just not care what I thought?”

  Now she lost him. “I, er…”

  “Forget it. I can’t talk to you right now.”

  “What happened?”

  “I saw you at the flower market,” she hissed. “Something else you thought I wouldn’t see?”

  He struggled to remember what Priya could have possibly seen at the flower market to get her so upset. He brought Nisha and Laran to help him search for the perfect spring blossoms. “Well, I didn’t want you to see. It’s a surprise.”

  She turned red and not the pleasing pink of embarrassment but red with fury. “A surprise! Get out.” She pushed on his chest but he did not budge. “Get out!”

  “Not until you explain,” he said, trying to make his voice as soothing as possible, like he was cajoling a fussy nestling to sleep.

  “I don’t have anything to explain! You’re the one—” Another useless push. “Fine! I’ll leave.”

  She made as if to go around him to the door and he moved to block her. At the last moment, she spun on her heel and exited through the patio doors.

  Priya

  Anger propelled her into the night. She didn’t need a direction. She needed distance. She needed to be away from Ragnar and his lies.

  If he couldn’t be honest with her about the reason he wanted to marry, how could she possibly believe him when he said he loved her? Needed her?

  Worse still, she believed him. Hook, line and sinker. How could she ever trust her judgment when she so completely fell for his charming, perfect lies? How could she trust her heart?

  She saw him with another woman and he wouldn’t even admit it.

  The garden gave way to a meadow. She headed toward the shadows of a copse of trees. Two years. She bargained for two years and she’d give him those years but not a day more. And no love, smiles, laughs, hugs or kisses. She’d be his Terran wife to trot out at social events like a trained pet. He could make her body be physically there but he couldn’t make her love him. Not anymore.

  Legs burning, she slumped against the nearest tree and slid to the damp ground. Mud was fine by her. She’d ruin the fine white linen dress but she was beyond caring.

  A large paw clamped around her mouth, another at her throat. An iron grip tightened, cutting off her air and claw tips dug into her flesh. She struggled to look down at the tattooed covered hand.

  “Hello there, kitten.”

  She needed to scream and vomit all at the same time. Gracious.

  “Oh, you’re wondering how I found you?” he crooned in her ear. “And here I thought you were clever. I tag all my property just in case it wanders off.”

  Identity chips embedded in her family. Priya remembered spotting the red swollen patch on her mother’s wrist but thought nothing of it. How short sighted of her.

  “And now you’re wondering how I landed on one piece? Let’s just say the mighty Wye military limits planetary patrol to one ship at a time. Dead simple to avoid a single ship.”

  Stars. One ship guarded the planet? No wonder Ragnar’s cousin was hot to build a new space station.

  “If you scream, I’ll slit that pretty throat. I’d hate to do it, kitten, but time is of the essence. Do you understand.” His iron grip slacked enough for her to nod. “Good. Now give me your word you won’t scream. Nod.” She nodded. “The
re’s a good kitten.”

  He crouched down in front of her, tail swishing over the grass. “I have to say, looks like you’ve come up in the world.”

  “What are you doing here?” Her throat, raw and tender, promised to bruise tomorrow. If she had a tomorrow. As much as she recognized Gracious as a criminal king pin, she never took him for the murderous, stalker sort.

  Wrong again. Tonight was just full of her judging characters poorly.

  “I should think that’s obvious. I’m here to retrieve a runaway from my harem.”

  “I never agreed to that. I would never agree—”

  He tutted. “Oh, that’s adorable how you think you had a choice. Kitten, I barely wanted you. I barely want you now. My offer was pity, mainly, but then you surprised me.”

  Priya lifted her chin. “If you don’t want me, why follow me? Why sabotage my ship and then repo it? That’s a lot of work for someone you barely want.”

  A paw brushed her forehead, claws scraping across her skin ever so subtly. “I told you. I like the fight in your eyes. I want to see it die.” Standing in one motion, he pulled her to her feet. “And then you told me no. And you know how temperamental kits are. They don’t want a toy until they see someone else play with it and the sight of you with that lizard just cinched it for me. I had to have you for my collection.”

  He moved forward, yanking on her arm hard enough to wrench it out of the socket. Despite the pain, Priya dug in her heels. She didn’t have her communicator and no one knew where she was, but she wasn’t going to just meekly follow some thug back to his ship.

  “Don’t be stubborn, now. We have a small window before that sorry excuse of a planetary defense notices someone snuck in over the border.”

  “No!” She struggled in his grasp, trying to break free. “I’m not your property!”

  He tugged hard and yanked her forward, stumbling right into his embrace. “No, kitten,” he murmured just sweetly enough to make her truly frightened. “I treat my property with respect. You’re my toy now and if you don’t get moving, I’ll make sure no one ever plays with you again.” He stroked her back, as if soothing a skittish animal. “Understand?”

  She didn’t want to nod. She didn’t want to respond.

  A hand under her chin lifted her face to his, eyebrows raised, waiting her answer.

  She blinked back tears, understanding the depth of the trouble she’d found herself in. She’d disappear. Ragnar and everyone would assume she’d broken off the engagement and ran away after their fight. Her mother might protest and insist on a search but no one would find her. She’d vanish onto Gracious’ ship and then into the ether. Finally, she understood one last truth: if she got onto the ship, she’d never get off. She struggled to keep her voice level as she said, “I understand.”

  “Well I don’t understand at all.”

  A figure emerged from the darkness, tall and broad, wings raised to block the limited moonlight.

  Her heart soared at the sound of Ragnar’s voice. The stubborn male had followed her.

  Gracious spun Priya around, digging his claws into her throat. “A fake prince and a worthless lord. Come to squabble over a female? I expected better of you.”

  “Let my mate go and I won’t hurt you.” He growled out his warning.

  Gracious laughed too loudly, edged with nervous energy. “But hurting her is so much fun. Listen to the noises she makes.” The claws slashed down, across her shoulder and chest. Pained flared bright and for a moment she could only think how disappointed but not surprised Aelth would be when she returned the linen dress covered in blood.

  Many things happened at once. Ragnar moved in a dark blur, knocking Gracious away. She fell to the ground, hand pressed to the wound and blood seeping out between her fingers. Ragnar punched Gracious quickly in the throat and danced away before the male could swing. Ragnar fought dirty.

  “Walk away now and I’ll let you leave in one piece,” he said.

  “You think you can threatened me, little pretend princeling.”

  Ragnar sighed dramatically, as if bored with the fight already. Then he struck, feinted to the throat again so that Gracious lifted his arms to block. He struck low, punching on the side were the kidney would be if either were human. Then a low sweep with his leg, knocking Gracious to the ground. Finally, a boot to the face, smashing his nose. Scarlet blood spilled over the feline male. He gurgled once before passing out. Just like that, the fight was over.

  Ragnar rushed to her side. “Are you well?”

  “I think… I’m dizzy. That means I lost a lot of blood right? And you love me. You really do.” She wanted to lift her head to his face, to stroke his cheek but that took too much energy. “I love you, too.”

  And then she passed out.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Priya

  Priya woke with the mother of all headaches.

  “Don’t move,” a beloved, warm voice said. “Have a sip of water.”

  Ragnar held a glass to her lips and she sipped. The cool taste flooded her parched mouth. She wanted more but her stomach protested the little fluid she managed to swallow.

  “What happened?” she croaked out.

  “Poison. Seems Gracious keeps his claws sharp and nasty. The medics kept you asleep while the poison was purged from your system.”

  Priya struggled to sit up, stomach and back muscles protesting. A strong hand helped her upright and wedged pillows behind her. The sheet slipped and she realized she was naked. That didn’t bother her as much as the angry red claw marks running from her shoulder across her chest.

  She poked at the swollen flesh, discovering it didn’t hurt but still felt tender. “How long was I out?”

  “Three days.”

  “Three days! We missed the wedding—”

  Ragnar brushed her hands away from the scar and covered her back up with the sheet “I told you, we are considered married already on Wye.”

  “That building a nest thing?”

  “Yes, that sacred and time honored thing.”

  “But your mother wanted a party. She put so much work into the dress and the decorations.” Somehow it seemed super important to Priya that Lady Sorrel not be disappointed.

  “My mother will throw another party when you are well.” He smoothed back the hair from her forehead and placed a tender kiss on her brow. “It is more important that you recover.”

  “You didn’t kill Gracious, did you?” She shouldn't have compassion for the creep but she didn’t want him dead, either.

  “It is an interesting situation. You are a citizen of Blackborn and not the IU. The attack happened on Wye, also not the IU. As far the governing body is concerned, a crime did not happen.”

  “He didn’t get away?” She asked, dreading the next time Gracious got bored and decided to torment her.

  “Ah, but Gracious has lived on Blackborn for thirty years but still remains a citizen of Tal.”

  “Which is in the Interstellar Union.”

  “Yes, and he attempted to abduct a member of the Wye royal family.”

  “I’m not—”

  “You’re my mate and my grandmother is the queen. Lasar is beside herself with delight.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “She was craving a good diplomatic problem to sink her talons into. Gracious is currently a guest of her majesty in the dungeon of the palace.”

  That was one problem down. Priya touched her shoulder again. Gracious may be gone but his handiwork remained. “Looks like it’ll leave a wicked scar.”

  “We can repair the skin or leave it. I’ve always found badass females irresistible.” he waggled his brows.

  She laughed and instantly winced. He pressed the glass to her lips again. While she was occupied sipping, he applied a gel pad to her shoulder. Wet and cool, she lost sensation in a matter of moments.

  “I can’t even remember why I was mad at you,” she said, handing the glass back.

  “I can.” He grew somb
er. “I have made a bad job of this from the start. Can I start over?”

  Priya shook her head. “No. We can only go forward. Together.”

  He thought on her words and then nodded. “The female you saw me with was my sister, Laran.”

  Oh.

  “Aelth told me…” Her voice drifted off. Aelth didn’t actually tell her anything, just made vague statements about Ragnar’s faithfulness and motives and her own doubt filled in the rest.

  “She claims to have told you nothing and is at a complete loss as to why you were upset.”

  “Then she’s a liar,” Priya snapped. “She went on and on about how you’d never settle down with one female and made general insults to my person. I wasn’t going to sit and listen to her venom. Then I wandered into the flower market and saw you with another female— I thought the worst.”

  “Aelth put the worst in your head.”

  Priya shook her head and closed her eyes, dizzy from the motion. “I’m not going to blame her. Forward, remember?”

  “Ah, well, Laran was helping me with a special project.” He reached down to the floor and lifted up a flat box. He sat it on edge of the bed, opened it, and lifted out a delicate floral crown. Constructed of frilly white blossoms and bright green sprigs, it’s sweet aroma filled the room and covered the stale funk of the bedridden. “My sisters are older than I am. Laran by some years and Aelth by two. When we were young, I followed them everywhere, getting underfoot the way little brothers do and generally annoying them. But there was one thing my little fingers could do that they prized.”

  She could see where this was headed but she let him finish.

  “We would sit in the garden for hours, weaving chains and crowns. Now my sisters are grown and we never speak. One is a politician and the other, well, you know. But I remember those perfect, simple days with joy.