by Kate Rudolph
“Besides,” Safa picked up the thread, “there’s the portal. I hear ships take forever to go anywhere. Why bother?”
“Portal?” I could work with a portal.
“In the Gods Clearing,” Ceri said, as if I was stupid for not knowing. “It’s where we first came to this planet and where those too weak to stay flee. Everyone knows about the portal.”
Gods Clearing. Portal. Okay. I didn’t know if it would take me directly home, but I’d deal with that when the time came. At least there was a way out of this place. Now it was time to deal with all my other problems. My stomach growled and I hoped whatever they served for dinner was something I could eat.
I ran my fingers over the material of the dress they’d laid out for me and let my mind run on autopilot. I still didn’t have much clue of what was going on and the guy in charge already didn’t like me, even if his mother wanted us to hook up. I didn’t know what else was in store, but if I could survive the night I’d figure it out. I’d survived worse.
Chapter Four
Drikal
Veyne flew up beside me as I approached the border between my territory and the wyvern lands. We’d been at war with them for thousands of years before an alpha a century ago had fallen in love with a wyvern and pleaded for peace and unity. We’d managed the peace, but unity was another issue altogether. And peace seemed to be fraying by the day.
In his dragon form Veyne was a sight to behold, a bit smaller than me and covered in blue scales that shined with gold as the sun bathed him. As children I’d been jealous. My scales had little shimmer, obsidian with only the vaguest hint of silver when I turned a specific way. But while I couldn’t preen, I was a being made for stealth and war. My enemies couldn’t see me in the night and I’d embraced the darkness to rise to the seat of high alpha.
Veyne coughed out a puff of smoke and angled his body back towards the guard post. If he’d been sent to retrieve me, it must have been at my mother’s request. He rarely took this form for fun, but he was one of our fastest fliers and my mother had never let him get away with making excuses about using both sides of himself.
We couldn’t speak in this form, but that didn’t mean we didn’t communicate. Gestures, puffs of smoke, growls, and roars were beyond sufficient to make needs known and clearly Veyne wanted me away from the border and heading towards home. The sun was getting low in the sky and my mother was sure to demand my attendance at dinner tonight with that mate here.
I didn’t mean to singe Veyne, but just the thought of some strange mate, a woman I didn’t know, one who wasn’t even a dragon, was enough to bring out my fire. It was easier to suppress when I wore my other skin. But when I flew, I was too close to the fire, too embroiled in it. Veyne sent a lick of flame my way but it puttered out before it could reach me.
The flight back home was uneventful and rushed. Veyne naturally flew faster than me, his compact body gliding through the air like he didn’t have to work for it, and today he pushed as if it were a race. By the time we landed in the courtyard my lungs threatened to burst and my muscles burned in a way that had nothing to do with the fire that lived inside me. Veyne grinned and didn’t look like he’d put in any effort.
“If you were truly trying, could any beast hope to catch you?” I managed not to pant, but only because the shift between forms went a long way to letting my lungs recover.
Veyne laughed. “I’m sure we’ll see one day. Now let’s go find Riga. It’s not every day she uses me as an errand boy.”
Not every day, no, but probably every week. Perhaps that was why Veyne wished I’d send her away. But she handled the day to day functioning of the keep and outlying lands with enough efficiency to make an Oscavian bureaucrat weep. I’d be a fool not to use her. An alpha might be the leader of these lands, but it was too big of a job for a man by himself. It was probably too big a job for ten men, but Riga could do the work of five, so on most days we stayed ahead of things.
And as long as the wyverns didn’t attack we would continue to do well. No strange mates needed.
“She’s sure to be waiting in my chambers.” If Riga had decided to send Veyne out to fetch me, she wouldn’t risk missing me by waiting anywhere else. “I will see you at the feast.”
Veyne looked ready to say something, but he wandered off after a moment. And just as I’d predicted, my mother was waiting for me at my door. A lesser man might have fled, given the look in her eye, but I stood tall and approached. I wasn’t some little boy anymore who could be chastised by a pointed look. Then again, she was my mother, and any woman strong enough to raise an alpha who could lead the Hoard was strong enough to stare me down even now.
“That was badly done,” I told her before she could try and scold me. The only way to win an argument with her was to go on the offensive. And I hadn’t done anything wrong. Not this time.
She inclined her head but didn’t apologize. “The timing was not as I would have wished,” she conceded, following me into my quarters. Secrets didn’t keep long when conversations were held in the open. If there was one place in the entire castle where privacy was guaranteed, it was my quarters.
“I told you I’m in no rush to take a mate.” Fire roiled inside of me, aching to flash out and show my dragon’s displeasure. “Things are dicey enough as it is with the wyvern alpha making his moves. To take a mate from another planet? To go begging to some alien dating service? This is not who I am, and that… woman is not the mate of an alpha.”
“Celestial Mates are renowned throughout the galaxy for finding impossible matches,” my mother pushed in that implacable voice of hers. “You are not getting any younger, and since you seem determined not to take a mate from among the many suitable people around you, I took matters into my own hands. I want you mated, Drikal. It’s unseemly that the alpha would remain unmatched. The wyvern alpha’s first act once he took the mantle was to take a mate and secure an heir.”
“Greer has a harem, not a single mate. And he has shown no willingness to elevate any of his women to consort, not even one of those who bear his young. And there’s no guarantee he’ll hold his position long enough for one of his children to take on the mantle.” It wasn’t common. My own father had been the alpha, but he’d been defeated when I was still a boy. I was much more likely to step aside in favor of an unrelated successor rather than hold my position in the hopes that one day my own child could hold my seat. I was the alpha, not a king or an emperor. When someone in my position was no longer effective, it was time for a change in leadership. Clinging to power would only lead to senseless chaos and bloodshed.
That didn’t mean I planned to step aside anytime soon.
“He has solidified his position. His… women,” Mother scowled at the word, “are each part of an influential family. You could have done that, you know plenty would gladly give a daughter to stand at your side. And while that position is open they will continue to jockey for power. It’s not sustainable. Just give this Kristen Mora a chance. She must be compatible in some way. It took them months to find someone for you.”
“So you’ve been holding this behind my back since before the last new year?” If I didn’t have an entire lifetime of respect for the woman in front of me, I might have thrown her from the keep. I didn’t want to deal with scheming and palace intrigue.
“There was no use in saying anything before a match was found. And I was planning to say something before she showed up, but it didn’t happen. You know things change, that plans must be altered. Now please, I am begging you as your mother and as a trusted adviser, at least speak to this woman before sending her away. The Celestial Mates people are rarely wrong. If they saw something in her for you, you might just see it for yourself.”
“And if I don’t?” It was madness to even consider the plan. My mother was a master tactician and if I gave in here I knew I’d most likely be mated by the year’s end. But as we spoke, I could begin to understand her point. It was true that many eligible daughters had been th
rown in my path since I rose to my position, most of them less then suitable mates. I didn’t want a simpering court lady who barely sparked with dragonflame. And surely someone without dragonflame at all would never work, but if I took control of this now, talked to the woman before sending her away and then began the search for a mate in earnest, there would be some sort of reprieve from scheming matchmakers.
“If you don’t like the girl, we’ll send her away. No complaints from me,” my mother promised. She was usually good with her word, but there was no way her matchmaking would end.
“I talk to her, give her a true chance, and you let me choose my own mate when the time comes,” I countered. “No more Celestial Mates, no making deals within the court, nothing but your support when I do find a woman who suits me.” It was a tough life to be mated to the alpha, and I wouldn’t wish it on any woman who didn’t already want the job.
My mother grinned as if I’d just given her the greatest gift. “That would be wonderful! And if she doesn’t suit, at least you’ll have a better idea of what you want in a mate. Now let’s go to dinner. Your woman is waiting.”
A flicker of smoke escaped when I breathed deep, but I kept the rest of my fire under control. I didn’t know how long I had to keep this charade up to satisfy the agreement I’d just made, but it couldn’t end soon enough.
Chapter Five
Kristen
No one was dressed like medieval peasants, despite the furs draped over the shoulders of a few people, but the great hall where they were holding the night’s feast would have fit in at any ancient castle. And just on time, the king entered with Riga at his side. A hush fell over the gathered subjects, but no one stood or bowed to him, and once he and his mother had taken their seats all the talking resumed as if nothing special had happened.
They were used to him, I guessed.
Ceri and Safa hadn’t left my side since bringing me to dinner and I was thankful for it, but they kept talking about things and people I didn’t know, only looping me into the conversation when they remembered that I was sitting there. I wouldn’t call myself a quiet person by nature, but I was a bit overwhelmed and a little afraid that someone might decide to go medieval on my ass if I said the wrong thing. So I ate the delicious fruits that were put on my plate and chewed through the gamy meat as if it were the best thing I’d ever tasted. The wine, though, was excellent, and after I downed a glass in two sips I knew I had to watch out for drinking too much.
Though things might not have been as intimidating if I tried to do this whole thing while drunk. No. Bad idea.
Ceri and Safa were on another one of their tangents and I tuned them out. I didn’t know who Veyne was or why I should care about him taking a new lover. Instead my gaze wandered until it settled on the alpha, and I nearly jolted out of my seat when I caught him staring at me. Our gazes locked and I was hooked like a fish, the shock of it sinking deep inside me and pulling me towards him. I wanted to stand up and cross the room, move towards him until I could touch him. I wanted to drape myself over the guy and taste him.
How much of that wine had I drunk?
But I couldn’t blame it on alcohol. Not this time. There was something about him, some inescapable force that was stronger than any magnetic pull. It didn’t hurt that he was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen, but this felt like more than that. It was just attraction, it was compulsion. Maybe this was why the Celestial Mates had wanted me here. If there was some crazy chemistry that meant the two of us would burn the house down if we ever made it to bed together, no wonder they were so successful at finding people mates.
Not that I wanted Drikal to be my mate.
I tore my gaze away and forced my mind back to thoughts of escape. I wanted to find out more about the portal in the Gods Clearing. It sounded like a famous place, like somewhere everyone would know about. I didn’t know if famous translated to popular, and there was no doubt that the portal had to be guarded, but I had to try. I couldn’t let my only path home be dependent on an alpha dragon man’s kindness. What if he wanted to pawn me off on one of his favorites instead of letting me return to Earth? Or if he wanted to keep me as a sex slave or something? No, I had to be in charge of getting home myself. If there was one thing life had taught me, it was that relying on other people only led to disappointment and pain.
Maybe it wasn’t the brightest outlook, but my muscles still ached from that run from my friend’s problems. I knew what I was talking about.
I reached for my wine, deciding it was time for another fortifying sip, but my stomach roiled and I clutched the edge of the table as my vision suddenly went a little wonky. It couldn’t be the alcohol; I hadn’t had enough and this didn’t feel like being drunk. No, I felt like was going to throw up and sweat popped up on my forehead, suddenly dripping down as if I’d just run a marathon. I pulled in breath through my mouth, trying to keep it even, but my lips trembled.
And just as soon as it began, the discomfort passed. What the hell? I’d heard of a twenty-four hour flu, but twenty-four seconds? Maybe it was just anxiety. I could still feel Drikal’s eyes on me and I didn’t know how that was going to turn out. The man was intimidation and temptation personified, and I was sure it would be better for my well being to stay as far away from him as possible. Not that it was likely, seeing as I was a guest in his castle, but I wanted to avoid him for as long as I could.
I took a bite of my food and almost gagged. Turned out the sickness hadn’t gone away, it had just been hiding. I covered my mouth with a hand and glanced around desperately, looking for a convenient place to barf. I was in the middle of the room and no one seemed to be paying any attention to me. If I shot up out of my seat, I was sure that was going to change. But it would be even worse to lose my dinner all over the table.
I must have made a noise. Safa turned her concerned gaze to me and her eyes widened. “Is something amiss?” she asked.
To talk, I would need to remove my hand from my mouth, and if I did that I was going to hurl. But my own eyes must have spoken loud and clear. She and Ceri stood, arms going around me and ushering me out. Once we were out of the great hall I could breathe a little easier, and after a minute I felt comfortable enough to remove the hand from my mouth. Everything was shaky and I was cold and exhausted. That nap from earlier hadn’t done nearly enough to shake off my sleepiness.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered hoarsely. “Can I just go back to my room? I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning.” I felt like a pathetic child, and I wished I had a mother I could curl up next to. One who would soothe me and tell me that everything would be alright. But I’d never had that, and clinging to a pillow and hoping the sickness passed quickly would be good enough.
My two new friends shared a look I couldn’t interpret, but eventually Ceri darted back into the great hall and Safa took me back to my room. If I had pajamas or something I was supposed to sleep in, I didn’t see them, and I didn’t care. I collapsed on the bed and darkness closed in around me, giving me a reprieve from whatever illness I’d managed to catch since coming to this new planet.
***
Fire engulfed my body, covering me from finger to toe and everything in between. My eyes burned golden and my lungs should have combusted from the force of everything inside me. Instead, when I breathed, a steady stream of yellow and red heat blasted out and burned everything in front of me. I was so hot and breathing out the fire only offered momentary relief. It built again, stoked by some invisible force, and in what seemed like minutes there was too much of it for me to do anything but let it surround me and fill me up.
I didn’t know if I was dreaming or if this was some symptom of whatever bug I’d caught at dinner. A distant memory tickled my mind of a childhood sickness that had put me in the hospital for the better part of a month. But when I reached out to try and snatch hold of the thought, try to make it clearer, it dissolved like sand in my fingers. Sand that turned to glass as my hands glowed red hot.
Som
ething cool touched my forehead, but it offered no relief, quickly turning water to steam and making the air around me thick and harder to breathe. I tried to turn away from it, but I was too weak. I needed… something. There was something out there that would soothe this fire, I was sure of it, but I had no idea where or what it was.
And just like that, it was over.
My eyes snapped open and for a moment everything was darkness. Then I became accustomed to the lack of light and could make out the shadows in the early morning air. It wasn’t pitch black outside, but the sun was barely a hint over the horizon and it could be hours until morning.
My dress from last night was plastered to me, sweat making me damp and uncomfortable. My stomach still gurgled with the memory of the night before, but I didn’t feel like I was about to throw up or anything like that. It was hot, almost unbearably so, and I stripped off my clothes and tossed them away, trying to get some relief.
That barely did anything. Heedless of my nudity I stumbled towards the window, and it took a few tries but I got it open and breathed a sigh of relief as cool air streamed in.
The air wrapped around me like cool silk and for the first time in hours it was like I could breathe. I could see a dragon flying in the distance and this time it didn’t make me panic. The morning light was almost too faint to make the beast out, but what I could see was beautiful, all dark grace gliding through the sky like a swimmer in a lake. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine myself flying beside the beast as the wind through my window picked up, blowing hard enough to make me shiver as cool air met sweat.
I opened my eyes, and for a second I could have sworn that I was thousands of meters up and looking down at the ground far below me. I flailed for a second and was back in my room just as quickly.
This place was driving me crazy. But at least I wasn’t physically ill anymore.
I retreated from the window when I spotted a few people outside. I was pretty sure that I was too far away for them to see me, but I didn’t want to put on a show in case the people on this planet had eagle eyes. The clothes that I’d slept in were in a heap beside the bed and looked a bit moist. I really didn’t want to slip back into them so I spent a minute snooping and found a drawer filled with serviceable clothing that was just a little big. The wool breeches buttoned and zipped and the tunic top clung to my body just enough to give the suggestion of curves I was in no mood to show off. I wished I could pull my hair back, but there were no ties or ribbons, so I ran my fingers through it and called it good.