Hunted & Seduced

by Shelley Munro

  Ransom seated Gweneth and sat near her. Ellard’s feline bristled at the other male’s attentions to his woman, and Ellard’s brain slammed to an appalled stop. They’d kissed and nothing more. No promises made. No future between them. This man held a position of responsibility. A leader. A chieftain. She could do worse.

  Ellard forced his legs to move to a chair near Gweneth and Ransom. He sank into the comfort of the brown fabric and forced his feline into submission.

  “I must go,” Niran said without warning.

  “Problem?” Ransom asked.

  Niran frowned, his brow creasing in concentration. His form shimmered. Finally, he said, “No, I believe it will be all right. I will return later.”

  Ellard gaped at a repeat of the ship visit. He…the man appeared transparent. He blinked, convinced his mind played tricks on him. When he looked again, Niran had vanished.

  “How did he do that?” Gweneth demanded. “Can he pop in and out at will?”

  “Yes,” Ransom said. “He will be back later to arrange your accommodation for me. Those of the Incorporeal race are able to fade and appear when the desire strikes them, as long as they have fed recently.”

  “Fed?” Gweneth asked.

  Ellard frowned but remained silent since Gweneth was obtaining information well enough without him.

  A door opened at the far end of the room, and two women entered. One carried a tray of drinks and the other wheeled a cart of plates and food.

  “This is our other sister, Sable, and our housekeeper, Jewel. Jewel comes from Scothage.”

  “Our friend employs a man from Scothage to oversee her farm and animals,” Gweneth explained. “I’m pleased to meet you all. You have a beautiful home. I can’t wait to explore more of your planet. The things we’ve seen so far have whetted my appetite. I cannot wait to hit the shops and the rest of the sights.”

  Ransom sent her an indulgent smile. “You had a trying journey here. This cycle is for relaxation. We have a pool at the rear of the property. We could spend the rest of the cycle out there and keep proceedings on a casual basis.”

  The tray thumped to the table, and Ellard started, his attention claimed again by the tall dark-haired woman who had carried the tray. A faint flush had crept into her cheeks. On first glance, he’d considered her plain next to her sister, and he experienced a surge of shame for judging her as others judged him.

  “This is my youngest sister, Sable,” Ransom said.

  “I’m sorry about the tray.” She shared her apology around with a tight smile. “I’m still becoming used to my new arm.”

  His gaze focused on her limbs, but found it difficult to discern which was the artificial one, given the enveloping black, long-sleeved tunic she wore.

  Sable caught him staring and raised her chin in challenge. A familiar reaction and one from his personal arsenal. He grinned.

  “It’s not a subject to cause amusement,” Sable snapped.

  “Of course not.” Ellard sobered rapidly. He’d hate to hurt her feelings.

  Ransom stood from his sprawl, his eyes flashing to dragon and back.

  Ellard took heed and rose too. “Please, don’t misunderstand. I lost my arm during the war with the House of Cawdor and have recently had a Stores implanted. I’m pleased to meet someone who shares the same problems as me. That is all I meant.” He nodded at Sable. “Please forgive me. I—”

  “You have a Stores? Which version? The second or third?”

  “Come and sit beside Ellard in order to compare notes.” Gweneth rose from her seat. “I can take care of refreshments for everyone.”

  “Jacinta will do it.” Ransom’s iron will and determination echoed in his words. He offered his arm and drew her to a two-seater. “Tell me more about Viros.”

  Ellard eyed Ransom and Gweneth for long seconds, his feline vibrating beneath his skin.

  “I’ve never met anyone with the same injury.” Sable blushed, and Ellard corrected his first impression regarding her looks. The unrelieved black of her apparel made her appear plain and colorless. “When other dragon shifters lose a limb they manage to grow it back.”

  “But you can’t?”

  “My mother comes from another race. She came from Blackon and arrived here to work in the town.” She shot a swift glance at Ransom. “Her beauty attracted Ransom’s sire, and she became his mistress.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right. Once Ransom discovered my presence, he ordered me to come to live here. He has been—is—very good to me. He arranged and paid for my arm. Normally I manage to contain my clumsiness and visitors fail to notice my arm, but for some reason the nerves returned and made me ham-fisted.”

  Going on instinct, Ellard claimed her natural hand and stroked it with an aim to comfort. “I’m still learning to use mine. How long does it ache? Does that go away? They told me it would, but the stump is forever aching.”

  “It’s the neural attachments doing their job. Once all the implants grow into place, the aching ceases. Did they not tell you that?”

  “They did, but I’m impatient. My Stores still feels foreign to me.”

  Sable leaned closer and he smelled her perfume—something sweet yet spicy. He rather liked it. “And everyone around you stares and studies you like a specimen.”

  “Yes, which makes it even harder to relax and trust in the Stores.”

  Sable grinned. “Exactly.”

  “I’ve poured you both a glass of Mexes,” Jacinta snapped as she placed two glasses filled with scarlet liquid on the solid table next to their chairs. “I did inquire as to your preference but neither of you answered.”

  “Thank you,” Sable said.

  Ellard scowled at the irritable sister. “That will be fine. Thank you.” He watched the sister stomp back to the table with the refreshments. “Is she always so grumpy?”

  “She argued with Ransom’s decision to let me live here at the mansion.”

  “How long has Ransom been in charge?”

  “Our father died two rotations ago. He never paid me any attention. Things are much better now that Ransom is our chieftain.”

  “It is the same on Viros. Before the present king took the crown, most citizens found life difficult. It made us vulnerable to attack.” He picked up his glass of Mexes with his artificial hand, taking care to temper his strength. “What is in this drink?”

  “It’s a local fruit, which grows on tall trees. The dragons must use flight in order to harvest the fruit. It’s tart yet sweet too. Very refreshing. Most people enjoy it.”

  Ellard relaxed even further, enjoying socializing with a woman who didn’t judge him lacking, a woman who didn’t want something from him. He found her far more restful than Gweneth, and perhaps a woman he could accept in his future. He would never need to guard her, and he could enjoy a stable relationship. Sable would never betray him or leave him for another because she knew the pain of being different, as he did.

  Yes, he and Gweneth would not suit—despite his attraction to her—and she would have to accept this decision.

  Chapter 5

  Ellard spoke to Sable naturally, participating in a way she had to work hard to achieve. Gweneth ripped her gaze away before she did something rude—like bash Ellard over the skull with the nearest ornament. Probably that dragon sculpture since it had lots of pointy bits to dent his stubbornness.

  “You shouldn’t worry about Sable.” Ransom sounded amused at her possessiveness.

  “No? That is not the way it appears to me.”

  “You’re an attractive woman. You know how to dress, how to behave in a social situation. Your confidence radiates from you and is second nature. My sister is young and lacks seasoning.”

  “That is not the way I see it.” Gweneth darted a quick look at the couple. They had their heads together and were laughing at some joke. “They have much in common.”

  Her breath caught halfway up her throat as Sable turned a fraction. How had she ever thought the woman
plain? At present, she lacked confidence and dress sense, but Gweneth saw her inner beauty. Sable would shine once she gained the poise Ransom mentioned. Add some makeup, some suitable clothes… Oy, oy, oy!

  “As I said, Sable is young. She needs to learn to stand up to Jacinta and not let her sister boss her around.”

  “Half-sister,” Jacinta snapped as she handed them drinks.

  Hallam wandered over and smiled shyly at Gweneth. “Uncle, where has Niran gone?”

  “I don’t know,” Ransom said. “He will tell us if he is able. It might be a secret, so that means you do not pester him with questions when he returns.”

  “Oh, Uncle.”

  Gweneth laughed, amused despite her disquiet over Ellard and Sable. “We saw you flying with your father. How long have you been flying?”

  “A long time now,” Hallam said.

  Ransom chuckled. “Three cycles.”

  Gweneth managed to maintain an impressed expression but her lips quirked. “Three days, I mean cycles. That is a long time. You’re doing a good job.”

  “Apart from setting my trees on fire,” Ransom chided.

  The dragon child’s round face turned pink. “Uncle, I’m sorry. I promise I won’t do it again.”

  Gryffnn plonked onto the empty seat opposite her and Ransom. “You’d better not, squirt. If Ransom’s forest burns down, we’ll both be in big trouble.”

  “Did I tell you about the time your father burnt the entire west wing of our house?” Ransom asked. “After that mishap our father ordered the house rebuilt in stone to prevent further mishaps.”

  “He did?”

  Gryffnn groaned. “Don’t tell him that.”

  Gweneth chuckled, this discussion reminding her of others that took place amongst her friends during their long space voyage from Earth to Viros. She missed the teasing and camaraderie. Things had changed now that Camryn and Ry were expecting their first child and Jannike had mated with the king and the duke. She had also become pregnant.

  Ransom straightened, his gaze on something on the far side of the room. The indulgent uncle and brother retreated to leave a leader. The chieftain.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Finally, Gweneth saw who claimed his attention. Niran, and she could see right through him.

  “My nephew Leeam and his prospective mate Sheera are missing. They haven’t been seen for two cycles, but no one raised the alarm because each of their parents thought they were staying with friends.”

  “Do you require help to search for them?” Ransom asked.

  “Not yet,” Niran replied. “We are questioning their friends and plotting their last movements.”

  Ransom nodded. “We’re here if you require help. All you need to do is ask.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You morph in and out at will,” Gweneth blurted, momentarily diverted from her jealousy of Sable.

  “There are limitations to our powers,” Niran said with a smile.

  Gweneth leaned forward in her seat. “Do tell.”

  “No,” Ransom ordered before Niran could reply. “Too much knowledge is dangerous. Wariness is good at this point.”

  Niran inclined his head. “That is true but credit me with sense. I have read them both. They are who they say and mean us no ill will.” His tone held bite, and Gweneth sensed Ransom’s surprise.

  He shrugged his wide shoulders, the hard lines of his expression softening as he turned back to Gweneth. “You’re right of course. We discussed this meeting. Please, you’ve mentioned your ideas in general terms. Give us some specifics so I can begin to make my decision.”

  “We wish to bring more visitors to our planet in order to give our people employment and bring more currency into our economy. Our idea is to hold a festival that features food and goods from our planet and from those of our neighbors. King Lynx bade me to tell you that we wish peace and prosperity for Viros but also for our neighbors. We want a collective approach, which will help us reach our goals and will provide greater security for each of us.” She pulled a letter from the pocket of her vest and handed it to Ransom. “This is the formal invitation to participate in our festival.”

  Ransom tapped his finger against his chin, never taking this gaze off her. His golden eyes mesmerized her and although she attempted to move, she remained fixed in place and at his mercy. Relief suffused her when he broke the connection to accept the invitation she held.

  “Is the invitation for us too?” Niran asked.

  “No, it’s too dangerous.” Ransom returned to the barking, imperious leader.

  “We need to find a new habitat for some of our people,” Niran stated. “We’ve discussed this.”

  “And we’ll discuss it further, but not here.”

  “We weren’t aware of your existence, but yes, you are very welcome to participate in our festival.” Gweneth sensed the undercurrents swirling through the room.

  A masculine chuckle sounded, and she glanced over at Ellard and Sable. The bolt of jealousy physically hurt. She rubbed her chest, but the ache remained. They looked so cozy together. Right somehow. Closing her eyes briefly, she wished Olivia lived closer, but they’d left her with Kaya’s brother on Slyvia because of the proximity to Earth. Ry had given Kaya’s brother instructions to ship Olivia back to Earth at the first opportunity. A pity stowaway Olivia’s plan hadn’t worked out quite as they’d envisioned. She would have welcomed input from her Earth friend.

  “I will give you my decision soon,” Ransom said. “I wish to discuss this with others first.”

  “Of course.” Gweneth kept her gaze on Sable. What would Olivia do in the same position? She wrinkled her nose as she thought of her friend. First, she’d tell her not to be a ninny and to fight for what she wanted. A fair fight of course. Actually, Olivia would tell her—

  “That is perfect advice, my dear,” Niran murmured.

  “What?”

  “You have never faced competition because you are beautiful. You manage to wind men around your little finger,” Niran explained.

  “You’re reading my mind. Stop that right now.” She rapidly built a wall in her mind in the way Mogens, the Indy’s seer, had taught her. A necessary skill since Ry had been able to read minds when she first joined the Indy. Of course, that had changed since he and Camryn mated. No one knew why, but it had been a relief to all of them. “Can all of your people read minds?”

  “Pardon me. You’re right of course,” Niran said. “You were broadcasting your stress, and it is in my nature to assist those in pain. We have the ability but do try not to trespass because that is rude. You’re right to chastise me.”

  “I don’t require assistance,” Gweneth snapped. “I want a fair fight. It’s right that Ellard should have a choice. I don’t want him to think he’s unattractive to other females.” She turned to an amused Ransom. “If you decide to join the festival, what sort of goods would you highlight?”

  “Would you like to visit our business and trading center this cycle after all?” he asked. “We can check on your ship repairs and you can get an idea of what type of products we make.”

  “Yes please.” Gweneth shot a glance at Ellard and Sable. “Perhaps Sable could come as well. That way I will have a feminine shopping companion.”

  Ransom studied his younger sister before turning back to her. “Yes. That is a good idea. I will inform Ellard and Sable of our plans.”

  Niran reached over and patted one of her clenched hands. “Well played, my dear. The perfect response.”

  A tingle zapped up her arm, and she let out a tiny eep of surprise. The sensations ceased the instant Niran lifted his hand.

  “I believe I will participate in this jaunt to the shops,” he said. “It promises great entertainment.”

  “I live to serve,” Gweneth retorted.

  Niran chuckled. “You are offering distraction, my dear. I am worried and you are helping me function.”

  Gweneth snorted.

  “Ellard and Sa
ble will be ready shortly,” Ransom told them. “Gryffnn, Jacinta, do you wish to come with us?”

  Jacinta glanced up from where she sat with Gryffnn. “No, thank you. I am going flying with some friends. We might go swimming at the green lake.”

  “I’ll stay to supervise my son,” Gryffnn said. “We need to practice fire starting.”

  “Also putting out fires,” Gweneth said with a grin. “That part seems just as important.”

  Ransom barked out a laugh. “True. The youngsters are always setting fire to things. We have an area set aside for them to practice their fire breath but accidents happen.”

  “Let me show you your quarters before you leave,” Niran said.

  Gweneth stood, surprised that Niran was the one showing her to her room.

  Niran smiled at her. “Ellard had better come with us.”

  Five mins later, she and Ellard followed Niran through an ornately carved wooden door, the last one in a long passage.

  “This is it,” Niran said.

  Both she and Ellard came to an abrupt halt just inside the large and very empty room.

  Niran gave a full-out belly laugh, and without warning, a looking glass appeared before them. “I wanted you to see your expressions,” he managed once he’d finished laughing.

  “But there is no furniture.” Ellard shared his puzzlement with Gweneth. “Where did the glass come from?”

  “I conjured it,” Niran explained. “We receive sexual energy from Ransom’s tribe, and in return we gift them with material possessions. There is a catch though. The items we conjure last as long as the user requires them. Once the need ceases, the magic dissolves the gifts.”

  “What if an enemy got hold of you?” Ellard asked, his military mind working differently to hers.

  “We starve without sexual energy,” Niran said. “We continue to exist, but no one can see us and we can’t communicate easily or use our powers.”

  “You become ghosts?” Gweneth asked.

  Niran frowned. “Ah,” he said, his expression clearing. “I understand ghosts now that you have ceased to block me. Yes, a little like ghosts. Now, I want each of you to imagine the room furnished to your specifications.” He stared at them expectantly then barked out a laugh.