He saw Kyran and Gudmund at his side, calling out commands and warnings, answering those Finn shouted in return. The Var’s fur came out in clumps in his hand. The cat-shifter must have thought better of the confrontation because he pulled away, running from the dragon battle after the first wave of cowards.
Finn faced Montague with his brother. The elder’s face lost all bravado as he realized Gudmund had forced his only remaining ally to the ground and he faced two angry princes. Never in his life had he remembered fear crossing over those old features. He lifted his hand as if that would stop whatever fate awaited him.
“Finn, it is your wife he tried to have killed,” Kyran said. “What do you want to do with him?”
Finn wanted to kill the elder, but he thought of Sadie. What would Sadie want? She’d told him that she didn’t approve of physical violence. Would she approve of this?
“Justice,” Finn grunted, barely able to get the word out past his heaving breaths. The shift distorted his voice, making it sound angry.
“You can’t do that,” Montague cried in a last determined effort. “I am the head of the elder council. You—”
Kyran lifted his hand, ready to strike at Finn’s command. The elder recoiled in fear.
“No,” Finn grabbed his brother’s hand. “Death is too kind. Let’s take him back to the palace. Let him face his crimes.”
“What about Cleve?” Gudmund asked.
“He’s dead,” Finn answered, unable to hear the man’s breathing. “There is nothing we could have done.”
“Then we add murder to the charges,” Kyran stated.
“Murder?” Montague spat. “Of a traitor?”
Finn arched a brow at the irony of Montague calling someone else a traitor.
“You won’t get away with this,” Montague continued, breathing easier as if he realized the princes would not be killing him.
Finn could listen to the man no more. He swung his fist into Montague’s jaw, knocking him unconscious.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Kyran stated.
17
Sadie pressed close to Finn’s side as they watched Gudmund force Lord Montague to his knees before King Severin and Queen Galina. The Var royals stood to the side, keeping silent as they watched events unfold. Standing in the back of the room were several elders called to the private hearing to bear witness. Sadie felt their eyes on her but didn’t look in their direction.
“Lord Montague,” Finn stated, “you have attempted murder on a princess, and murdered the portal guard, Cleve. You have sent our dragon-shifter brothers through the portal under false hopes and abandoned them to an uncertain fate. You have lied to the council of elders and to the royal Draig and Var families. You spread rumors and deceit.” Finn lightly gestured to his bloody arm. “You attacked Prince Kyran, the future king, and myself. You have hidden the location of a secret cave that gave access to the Earth portals. You—”
“I reject your claims and should not have to be subjected to them,” Montague interrupted. As the man spoke words she didn’t understand, Finn translated them for her using the link between their minds. “Untie me at once. I am the head of the elder council. This injustice is uncalled for.”
“On my word, my claims are true,” Finn stated.
“Like anyone can take the word of someone like you,” Montague spat. “I apologize, my king and queen, but I must defend my honor. I have been a loyal Draig subject and have spent my years dedicated to the elder council. Prince Finn is a nuisance who cannot be taken at his word. He is more absorbed with his own amusements than the greater good and the future of the kingdom. Who could take his word over mine?”
“I would,” Sadie said softly.
Montague scowled at her.
“I would,” Kyran answered. “I know these charges to be true.”
“I would take the word of my son,” King Severin said.
“Of course, you would,” Montague spat. “He’s your son.”
“I would,” Queen Galina answered.
“I would,” Prince Rafe added.
“As would I,” Queen Lassairfhina said. Sadie glanced at the elders. The Var queen’s words appeared to sway them, as it was her son trapped on Earth.
“And I,” King Ainmire agreed.
“I believe Prince Finn,” one of the elders stated. Montague turned to glare at the man. Sadie didn’t know who he was, but she nodded gratefully at him. “Lord Montague has brought shame to the council.”
“Princess Sadie,” Queen Galina stated. Sadie was ready to be called upon. “As the highest-ranking member who has been aggrieved by Lord Montague directly when he ordered your assassination, we leave it up to you to suggest his fate.”
“I…” Sadie looked at the elder. His eyes were hard. No part of him appeared sorry for what he’d done. She felt Finn’s arm tighten around her.
“Whatever you think is just,” Finn said so only she could hear. “We trust you.”
“I would suggest death, dungeon, or exile to Earth. His choice. Death as he wanted to offer me. Dungeon, because he cannot be allowed to roam this planet, at least not until the threat he caused has subsided. But, he’ll live. Or, Earth, where he sent many to their fates with his lies. He’ll have no reason to kill on Earth, and no power to influence others. We will give him supplies to support himself.”
“No. That’s not—” Montague tried to argue.
“A very fair judgement,” Queen Galina interrupted.
“Well done, my love,” Finn directed at her.
“Choose,” King Severin ordered. “Death, dungeon, or exile?”
Montague looked around, but no one came to his aid. Finally, he said, “Exile. I am disgusted by this atrocity of—”
The Draig king clapped his hands loudly, stopping the man’s words. “Gudmund, take him to the prison. We will find a suitable place to send him, far away from human societies.”
Loud murmurings rose over the council hall. Sadie faced her husband and rested her forehead on Finn’s chest. “Can we please go home?”
“Of course,” Finn agreed. He spoke to his parents, and the visiting royals, before escorting her from the hall.
Sadie breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad that’s over.”
“As are we all,” Finn said. “I always knew Monty was a shady character—that is what you call them, right?—but I would have never guessed the full extent of his maneuvering.”
Sadie reached for his arm. The sleeve was bloody, but the wound beneath had been bandaged.
“I promise, it is fine,” he said, not for the first time.
“I know, but the idea of you being injured, or worse, it just…” Sadie couldn’t even finish the thought.
“Shh, my sweet fea, don’t you realize? After everything we’ve faced so far, the gods have blessed us. We’re fate. We’re forever.”
“I love you, Finn.” She leaned up to kiss him, not caring that they were in the palace hall where anyone could walk by. “We are forever.”
18
“What is that light on the fireplace?” Sadie yawned and narrowed her eyes as if that would help her see in the darkness. The top curtains were drawn, and the fire had gone out. She lay on the couch with her husband, having fallen asleep pressed against his naked body.
“What light?” Finn asked, evidently not opening his eyes to look.
She craned her neck to look at his face. Using their psychic link, she said, “Hey, dragon-shifter, use that super eyesight of yours.”
He opened one eye. It was already shifted, but he looked at her instead of the fireplace. “As my wife commands.”
“Seriously, what is that?” She kissed his chin before turning her attention back to the mantle.
“Huh.” Finn’s arm slipped from behind her head. “I don’t know. It’s coming from my childhood treasure box.”
Sadie tucked her arm over her head and watched his naked ass as he walked away. The man definitely had no shame when it came to being
without clothes. Why should he? He was the most gorgeous creature she’d ever seen. And he was all hers.
Finn returned to the couch and nudged her foot with his leg so she would make room for him to sit next to her. She rolled up and draped her arm over his shoulders, resting her head against him to watch as he slowly opened the box. The soft glow from within came from an object at the bottom. Finn dug his fingers into the treasures and pulled out a small necklace.
“What is that?” she asked, leaning closer to see.
“It is the crystal that I retrieved from the bottom of the lake when I almost drowned as a boy. It is never done this before.”
“Let me see.” Sadie reached for the crystal and as her hand neared the glow became stronger. The object almost seemed to pulse with its own energy and life. As their fingers touched, she felt him, their connection deepening further. The pulsing became stronger. “What’s it doing?”
“I’m not sure. I used to wear this as a good luck charm. Not once did it ever give a hint of light.” He kept his hand on hers as they watch the pulsing crystal.
Sadie lifted her other hand to his chest. The crystal pulsed in time with the beat of his heart. Then she felt her heart, and it too matched the stone. “I think it’s connected to us somehow.”
A loud knock sounded on the door. “Finn!” It was Kyran.
Sadie gasped, and the crystal slid from her fingers. It landed on the hard floor, cracking on impact. A wave of intensity washed over her making it hard to breathe.
Kyran knocked again.
“Busy,” Finn called, not answering the door. Kyran responded in the Draig language, to which Finn yelled, “Fine.”
“What is it?” Sadie asked. She’d only been able to pick up a few of the words.
“Var royals. Council hall. One hour.” Finn stared at the floor. “They will want to discuss my going through the portal to find Ivar.”
“I’m going with you,” Sadie stated.
“Of course, my love, as you wish.” He still stared at the ground.
“I’m sorry, Finn, I didn’t mean to break your good luck charm. Maybe I can fix it?” Sadie reached for the broken necklace.
Finn stopped her. “I did not think it possible, but our connection is stronger.”
Sadie did feel it. It surged through her cementing what she already knew that his life was intertwined forever to his. “Magic?”
“The will of the gods,” Finn said. “I feel it deeply. When I nearly died, something must have happened. My dragon broke, and that part of me became infused into the stone. Now, the crystal breaks and I am made complete again. Or, perhaps carrying it around my whole life soaked in part of my power.”
“So you’re not mad I broke your crystal?”
Finn grinned. “How could I ever be mad at you, my love? What are stones and trinkets to what we have?”
“You do say the sweetest things,” Sadie whispered, drawing her around his neck to pull him into her kiss.
“By my estimate, we have about forty minutes before we have to run to the council hall.” His hands slid down her hips to pull her onto his lap.
Sadie chuckled. “Fifty if we show up fashionably late.”
“The kings and queens won’t like that,” Finn warned, though he hardly looked worried.
“They’ll be fine,” Sadie said. “We’ll just tell them we were trying for a baby.”
Finn moaned in approval as his kiss deepened. Suddenly, he pulled back. “When we have a son, I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to go down to Crystal Lake and get him his own stone. That way, he may have the luck his dad had in finding his mate.”
“Don’t you think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself?” Sadie questioned.
Finn flipped her onto her back in one swift movement. He pushed her hair from her face and gazed into her eyes. “No, my love. I want everyone to feel the way I feel in this moment. My heart is full, and it is all for you.”
“I love you,” she answered with her mind as he cut off her words with a kiss. “Forever.”
* * *
The End
* * *
Find out what happens to Prince Ivar in
Headstrong Prince - CLICK HERE to get the book!
The Series Continues…
Headstrong Prince
Captured by a Dragon-Shifter Book Six
Headstrong Prince
He’s a cat-shifting prince from another planet. She’s a human who says she's not interested in an Alpha boyfriend. When they meet there’s an undeniable attraction, but is simple chemistry enough to overcome intergalactic odds?
Find out if this Headstrong Prince can win his princess.
Headstrong Prince - CLICK HERE to get the book!
Chapter One Excerpt
The Square, Oxford, Mississippi
“Hotty Toddy!” The aggressive battle cry rang out over the plaza, a second time.
Prince Ivar of the Var immediately tensed as his urge to shift became almost insuppressible. Around him, the natives gravitated toward the man on the balcony who in turn grinned in pride at the frenzy he’d created. “Hotty Toddy!” The noise carried, echoing through the streets.
Hotty Toddy was not an exclamation Ivar had heard before. Not on his home planet of Qurilixen, at least. Actually, very little about this place reminded him of home.
Ivar’s senses continued to tingle. On edge and defensive, he turned slowly, putting his back to Prince Finn of the Draig. His shifter hearing focused on the distance for any signs of trouble. He was aware of what humans thought of alien visitors from the movies he’d seen in Earth theaters. The princes were alone. There was no one to help fight off an attack. If planet officials suspected who they were, it could end badly, and they would have to make a run for the secret portal that would take them home.
The battle cry finally dissipated and nothing more happened.
“We should leave.” Ivar turned his attention toward the balcony.
The commander stood next to a dining table watching them. He was not dressed as warriors on Ivar’s home world, but he clearly had authority. His cheeks were flushed as if he’d been drinking, never a good thing when a man was in charge of others.
Ivar reminded himself that he had acted in error and deserved the human reprimand. He had not meant to scare the fragile human child in a pink dress as she pranced across the painted lines on the street, but the girl had tried to grab one of the cross laces holding the sides of his shirt closed. Of course he’d growled at her. She should not have touched him. He glanced back, seeing the father consoling the frightened girl.
As a cat-shifter, Ivar could either half shift or fully shift into the form of a tiger. If he needed to disrobe quickly, he could, which is why there were cross laces along the sides of his pants and shirt. He did not wish to undress on a public human street.
“That man must be a commander.” Ivar nodded toward the general on the balcony. He wore a white shirt with large blue flowers on it and short pants. He held a brown bottle in his hand and took frequent drinks from it. “See how he stands above the others surveying the area from a vantage point?”
“I don’t think that was a threat,” Finn corrected, clearly more curious than worried about this unexplored location. “I see no one coming for us.”
Finn was Ivar’s only traveling companion on this journey. When the dragon-shifter approached him with the idea to sneak onto Earth without permission from their royal parents, Ivar should have said no. He should say no now and demand they go back before anyone noticed they had left.
If anything happened, their people would not realize they were gone until it was too late and the portal, their only way home, had closed. As much as he liked Finn, Ivar knew the dragon prince was not known for being responsible. It would be up to Ivar to make sure they both made it back home safely.
“Still, perhaps we should show respect to the local Earth authorities.” Ivar turned toward the balcony, placed a fist over his heart, and then bowed,
urging Finn to do the same.
The commander laughed and pointed down at them before pushing to his feet and bowing in return.
“Let us retreat to another section of this town, away from that man’s sight.” Ivar’s words were more of a command than a suggestion. He didn’t wait for Finn to answer before he started to walk.
Yes, Finn was also a prince, and their sneaking through the portal to Miss-is-sip-pie had been his idea, but the man was not the ideal leader for an expedition of this importance. Dragon-shifters were usually more disciplined than Finn.
Conversely, Ivar was told that he had a particular drive and discipline which was unnatural for cat-shifters. Headstrong is what his mother called it, which was a much kinder word than what Ivar’s brother, Rafe, used.
Finn was too enamored with the Earth people to make wise decisions. He spoke of humans like they were simply shifters who could not shift, with a naiveté and vulnerability that made them even more fascinating to behold. Earthlings were like children in the universe, unaware of anything beyond their home. Earth was not the only planet, and humans were not the only alien race nor did they represent the only way to live. Aliens had yet to make first contact with them, and humans still lived securely in the belief that everything centered around them and their needs.
Besides, Finn rarely took anything seriously, which is why his coming to Ivar with this plan had been such a surprise. Out of all the princes, Finn never acted like he wanted to find a wife. Trips to Earth had been a chance to get into trouble and have adventures away from the prying eyes of their parents and the rest of shifter nobility.
Mischievous Prince Page 14
