by Lili Zander
I give the computer programmer from Dallas a month, tops, before she succumbs to their charm.
Paige’s suitors are followed by another pair, this time for May, who also arrive with a gift of food. Before Felicity pouts too much, her own duo shows up, carrying three portions of breakfast. They offer her one and give me the other two. “Courtesy Liorax and Zunix, and Belfox and Herrix,” they explain. “Dariux has decided that until we come to an agreement about you, neither pair will be allowed to contact you directly.”
“Okay.” Is there a small part of me that’s disappointed that Zunix and Liorax aren’t here? A little bit, I have to admit.
Felicity is already digging into her food, completely missing the fact that Bryce, who does not have a set of Draekons wooing her, doesn’t have any breakfast. I pass her one of my packages silently, and she smiles at me in gratitude. “I can’t decide if being left alone is a good thing or a bad thing,” she mutters under her breath.
Me neither.
Like most of the others, my breakfast is a large slab of grilled meat. The package I handed Bryce is more interesting. For starters, it’s larger than the others. There’s enough food for at least two meals. There’s meat, but there’s also what appears to be some kind of salted fish. There’s a small handful of berries that have a creamy texture and a sweet, juicy taste, and there’s an assortment of fresh greens. “You should pick these guys,” Bryce says, chewing on a berry. “Everyone else just assumed we’d want meat. But whoever assembled this package put some thought into it. They gave you choices.”
Felicity makes a sound of disgust. “That’s all we need,” she snaps. “Every guy in the place fighting over Olivia.”
May looks up with a frown. “It’s not her fault that four guys became dragons,” she points out.
No, it isn’t, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to take full advantage of the situation. For example, it’s completely intolerable that Bryce doesn’t get to eat because no one wants to jump her. I don’t care how messed up these Draekons are—the five of us have to appear united.
Ten minutes later, there’s another knock on the door. This time, it’s Dariux, and his expression is serious. “If you’re done eating,” he says. “We have some important matters to discuss.”
Time for the other shoe to drop.
6
Zunix:
Yesterday, Olivia had looked exhausted and drained. This morning, after a night’s rest, she looks much better.
The five women file into the clearing. I’ve learned their names now. The curly brunette already introduced herself yesterday; she’s Paige Watkins. The woman with the broken hand is May Archer. The one with pale yellow hair is Bryce McFarland, and the other woman, the one with hair as dark as night is Felicity Rollins.
And of course, there’s Olivia Buckner. Our mate.
Liorax has distributed translators to everyone in camp, asking for nothing in exchange. He didn’t do it to gain an advantage, but we’ve gained one nonetheless.
Dariux is perfectly capable of ruling against me if it means that I will be weakened. The two of us are too evenly matched, and our rivalry goes back a long way.
But Liorax’s generous action has ensured that if Dariux does something flagrantly unfair, the others will speak up on our behalf in order to repay the assumed obligation.
Dariux signals for quiet and the conversations die down. “We have ten Draekons that shifted when they saw their mate. Of those, six are easy.” He turns to the human women. “In exchange for your safety, I ask that the Draekons be allowed to court you. You will spend a portion of each day with your potential mates. If, at the end of three months, you have not completed the mating bond, you will be allowed to dissolve this arrangement.”
Olivia says something to the woman next to her, Paige Watkins, too low even for my Draekon hearing to pick up. Whatever it is, Paige Watkins nods grimly.
“Now we come to the more complicated situation. Olivia Buckner has two sets of potential mates. I have thought about how to resolve the matter fairly, and I propose a contest.”
Olivia looks up warily. “A contest?”
“Yes. Both pairs of Draekons will be allowed to court you on alternate dates. They will have six months to persuade you. In order to be fair to all, you cannot choose a pair before that time.”
So Dariux seeks to delay my ability to transform for six months. Maybe longer.
“What happens if I can’t choose?” Her voice is clear and unafraid.
Dariux’s gaze is cold. “The men will keep courting you until you decide. No matter how long it takes. There is no other option.”
Dariux is asking more of Olivia than he is of the other women. I wait for her to collapse in tears, but she surprises me by nodding her agreement. She’s full of contradictions, this woman. Yesterday, she was in tears because her clothing was left behind. Today, she seems in full control of the situation. Which woman is she?
Does it matter? She’s a means to an end. Nothing more.
“We begin today,” Dariux announces. “To decide who goes first, I propose a test.”
He makes a discreet hand signal, and Bolox and Narix, Dariux’s two pet Draekons, carry out a target. I snort inwardly. Dariux likes his theatrics.
“Where should we put it?” Bolox asks.
Dariux gives the four of us an assessing gaze. “Herrix is a fine shot,” he says. “Put it at the far end of the clearing.”
Herrix is indeed a fine shot, but the TwelfthBorn of Laris is nowhere as good with a bow and arrow as his kinsman. Liorax never boasts, but he is the best hunter in the camp, though he takes care to conceal it from everyone.
“The Draekon with the shot closest to the heart will have the first chance to court the human woman.”
I move next to Liorax. I’m well aware that he does not want a mate. He will not want to compete for the woman, so I’m going to have to approach this from a different angle. “I know you’re thinking of throwing this contest,” I say under my breath.
His shoulders stiffen, but he does not acknowledge my words in any other way. “But before you do,” I continue, “I want to remind you of your kinsman’s reputation. We both know Herrix has hurt more than one of his Lowborn servants. Ask yourself this. Would you have Olivia spend a day with him, unwarned?”
He still doesn’t speak, but I know I’ve said enough. Despite everything that’s happened to him, Liorax has an innate sense of honor and chivalry. He won’t allow Olivia to blindly walk into danger.
Liorax:
Bast.
I want to strangle Zunix for pointing out what I’ve been doing my very best to ignore. I want no part of this stupid contest. Yes, the ability to shapeshift at will is a useful one, but no matter what my dragon thinks, I’m not going to take a mate.
I’m not concerned about the other human women. I trust Rezzix and Magnux, Yasix and Thesix. Luddux and Xanthox are a little too inclined to be swayed by the opinions of others, but they too are honorable men.
Herrix, on the other hand…
Zunix is always startlingly well-informed. Herrix has a nasty temper. When he loses it… there have been stories. Rumors. The Laris scion is wild and uncontrolled.
I fetch my bow and arrows as Bolox and Narix set up the target. Belfox lines up to shoot first. He draws the string back and releases his arrow. It flies straight and true and hits the target in the chest.
“A very good shot,” Dariux says, sounding impressed. “But you missed the heart.”
“I’ll go next.” Zunix steps forward. I watch with interest as he steps up to the mark. With a minimum of fuss, his arrow flies through the air, landing next to Belfox’s.
“Another good shot.” This time, Dariux’s voice is grudging, not admiring.
Herrix’s arrow is closest to the heart, a mere finger’s thickness from the center. He turns to me, his smile mocking. “Your turn, Liorax.”
The House of Laris is famous for its marksmanship. I medaled in the Empire-w
ide Skill Games ten times in a row. It was a long time ago, but I’ve lost none of my abilities on the prison planet.
I met Kat’vi at the Skill Games. She’d grown up in Beleris, and she’d been awed to be on the homeworld for the first time.
She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I’d been flattered by her attention, so flattered that I’d ignored all the signs that she was more interested in power than in me.
I’d been young and foolish, and I paid the price.
This human woman, Olivia, is beautiful as well. Too beautiful. This time though, I’m better prepared.
I lift my bow and draw my arrow to my ear. For some strange reason, I think of the feel of Olivia’s hand gripping mine as her leg healed, her green eyes swimming with pain. Yet not a word of complaint had crossed her lips.
The bowstring rings. The arrow speeds through the clearing, and I don’t have to look. I know my aim is true.
I’m still not going to court her. But my honor demands that I warn her about Herrix.
7
Olivia:
Ladies and gentlemen, let the games begin. In one corner, we have Belfox and Herrix—or the fox and the hare, as I’ve nicknamed them. Both men are tall, muscled and tattooed. Their long blond hair hangs in braids down their backs. Remember the ghost twins in the Matrix Reloaded? That’s what the two men remind me of.
In the other corner are Liorax and Zunix. If I’m being purely objective, the ghost twins are actually better looking, but something tugs me toward Liorax and Zunix.
Here’s the deal. Whatever Dariux might believe, I’m not going to pick a pair of Draekons to mate with. The whole thing is a little too ‘barefoot and pregnant’ for me, thankyouverymuch. However, I fully intend to exploit this situation to my advantage, for as long as I can.
The five of us have nothing. No clothes, except for the NASA-issued garments we’re currently wearing. Last night, we’d shared two thin sleeping mats, stripping our grubby clothes off and sleeping in our underwear.
This morning, I had no other option other than to wear the same clothing again, even though the left leg of my pants is crusted with dried blood.
And it’s not just clothes. Had I not had two sets of Draekon suitors, we would have been short of food. None of the Draekons seem to think that Bryce needs to eat. I don’t like being so dependent on their goodwill for survival.
We need to figure out what plants on this strange planet are edible, and what aren’t. Whether we can cultivate crops or not. We need to learn to hunt—shudder—and fish.
These Draekons have had sixty-five years to figure out how to survive. We have three months.
Because it’s perfectly obvious what’s going to happen at the end of that period. Dariux was vague, but I can read between the lines. The others might be technically allowed to reject their mates, but I’m pretty sure that if they do, all the goodies will come to an end.
No more free lodging. No more food. No more protection from the freaky crab-like detsena. We’ll be on our own.
I’m self-aware enough to know that I’m in shock about the prospect of never going back to Earth. If I think about the future—about spending the rest of my life on this primitive planet—I’m going to lose my mind and become a sobbing, whimpering mess.
I can’t go there. I have to leave the whining and the crying to May and Felicity. I have to concentrate on learning enough to ensure our survival.
Then there’s Step 2: Finding Viola, Harper, Ryanna, and Sofia. We flew a long way to get to this camp. How long would it take to get back to the Fehrat 1 on foot? Days, if not weeks.
Can I convince one of my suitors to make the journey to look for the others? I’m fully prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen. If I have to put out, that’s fine. Four lives are at stake, after all.
I’m watching the proceedings in the clearing as I plan my next move. Herrix is not happy about losing. The moment he sees that Liorax has beaten him, he throws his bow down on the ground and stalks off in a huff.
He’s not the only one who is pissy about the outcome. I get the distinct sense that Dariux is just as annoyed, but he’s less obvious than Herrix.
Zunix moves purposefully to me, Liorax a half-step behind him. “Olivia.” His eyes rake over me. “You look better today.”
Charm school dropout. “That’s a very backhanded compliment,” I reply acidly.
He laughs unexpectedly, his hazel eyes dancing with merriment. “I can see why you would think that,” he acknowledges with a smile. “How’s your leg?”
“A little tender.”
“That shouldn’t happen,” Liorax frowns in concern.
“It’s not that bad,” I hurry to assure him. “Look, no bones sticking out anywhere.” I definitely don’t want to seem ungrateful, because whatever I might think about this whole mating thing, there’s no denying that I owe Liorax and Zunix.
It’s time for an appearance by Ditz-Olivia. I intend to pump Zunix and Liorax for information, and I need to convince them I’m as dumb as a bag of rocks. “Are we going on our date now?” I ask, looking up at them with wide eyes. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
Liorax exhales in irritation, but Zunix’s lips twitch. “That’s a pity,” he murmurs. “You’re going to have to manage for just a bit longer.” He looks at the crowded clearing with distaste. A couple of the Draekons are very obviously trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. Stepping closer, he inclines his head toward me. “Let’s go somewhere more secluded, Olivia.”
My insides do a funny little quiver as he draws near. “More secluded?” I stammer and immediately scold myself for my reaction. For fuck’s sake, Liv. You’re not a horny teenager. Pull yourself together. “Is that against the rules?”
“Dariux isn’t in charge here,” Zunix replies dismissively. “He just thinks he is. We aren’t going far. Just to my house.”
He leads the way, and I follow, Liorax bringing up the rear. We walk through the woods for five minutes. Our pace is leisurely, and I suspect that they’re slowing down to accommodate my tender leg.
I’m looking straight ahead, so I don’t realize we’ve reached our destination until Zunix comes to a stop and gestures to a nearby tree. “We’re here.”
So far, the Draekon treehouses have been nothing to write home about. They’re small. Kind of poky. Pretty bare-bones and minimal.
But Zunix’s treehouse is in a different league altogether. First, it’s on multiple levels, with stairs winding up the side of the tree. Second, it’s on the banks of a small lake. Third, dangling from one of the upper balconies is a canoe. I don’t care much for wildlife, but I used to row in college. I love the water.
My mouth falls open. “But everyone else…”
“Are fools,” Liorax cuts in. “Most people in camp follows Dariux’s lead, bartering for everything. He has them convinced it’s the fairest way. This, on the other hand, is a demonstration of what a little cooperation can do.”
“I don’t understand.” I’m not saying it to keep up my cover identity; I genuinely don’t get it. “Your house isn’t hidden. Everyone can see it. Why haven’t they tried to copy it?”
“I helped Zunix build this house because I knew that he would help me with mine,” Liorax replies. “Not everyone has the same level of trust.”
I think about the tiny room that we slept in. With five of us, the air had been hot and stifling. When May had a bad dream in the middle of the night and kicked out in her sleep, she’d accidentally connected with my shin. Painfully. “You could have offered us your house last night,” I accuse Zunix.
“That would have been unwise,” he replies. “Dariux is perceived to be neutral in this matter. I am not. Shall we go in?”
So the other Draekons might get in a snit if he swoops in and moves us to his fancy-ass treehouse. Men have such fragile egos. Not much different from Earth then.
We climb up the flights of stairs until we reach the top. Zunix holds his palm over the do
or, and it swings open.
Interesting. Every indication so far is that this is a primitive world. A prison planet. Yet the Draekons seem to have access to some technology. Dariux’s med-kit yesterday, Zunix’s palm-reading door today. What else are they hiding?
Zunix allows me to enter first. The room I walk into is large and circular, with a couch running all the way along the curved wall. It’s covered with soft cushions, and could easily seat a dozen people.
I give into temptation and sink down, belatedly remembering that I haven’t thanked them for my meal this morning. “Thank you for breakfast.”
Liorax sits down as well. “What was your favorite?”
Ah, so they were responsible for the assortment of dishes. You should pick these guys, Bryce had said. Whoever assembled this package put some thought into it. They gave you choices.
Pushing her words to the background, I reply to Liorax’s question. “The fruit. The fish was pretty great too, but I’m not used to eating seafood for breakfast.” Another thought occurs to me. “There was a lot of food. Did you really think I could eat the whole thing?”
Liorax gives me a small half-smile. “Not really. None of the others thought to feed your friend though, did they?”
I shake my head ruefully.
“I’ll take care of it,” he says grimly. “None of you will go hungry.”
“Thank you,” I mutter. Ditz-Olivia would be happy with that answer, but quite honestly, I’d really much rather learn how to survive here than be dependent on the two Draekons. No matter how gorgeous they are.
Liorax gives me a sidelong look. “If you’d like,” he says. “I can also teach you how to hunt.”
“With a bow and arrow?” I’ve got to admit, watching him hit that target had sent a thrill through me. Excellence in anything is incredibly sexy.
“If you’d like.”
I doubt I can actually bring myself to kill an animal, but I appreciate his offer nonetheless. He seems like a good guy, Liorax. The kind of guy a girl could trust and depend on. Even if he’s making it perfectly clear that he’s not interested.
