by Viola Grace
She was idly wondering if she would collect all the brunettes, Apraxa the blondes, and Meadra the redheads when a loud gong sounded, and a voice rang out. “Would all of the choosers please line up at the edge of the room? Your candidates are about to enter.”
Trin and her group were already at the edge of the room, so they stood by, sipping their sodas.
“Ladies, thank you for attending, I would like to announce the men available for your selection.” The voice was familiar.
Trin smiled when she recognized the voice of the man who took her invitation at the door.
She stopped smiling when the sound of marching rippled through the air and under her feet. Two huge doors at one end of the ballroom opened, and the male dragons marched in, in a straight line. They lined up in rows of twenty, each man three feet from the one next to him. Four rows deep they stood, and each one had Trin’s attention.
She had been expecting to see them in a military uniform, not wearing wide-legged, pleated black trousers, a belt to hold them up, and nothing else.
Trin fought her dragon because it wanted to sweep through and snatch Brommin from the collection of eligible males in front of her. They were nice, but only one was her pretty one.
Trin was amused by the ladies who moved to put themselves in front of her. If it wasn’t a free for all, they were going to have to wait, just like the rest of them.
The man from the door appeared, and his bronze wings were gleaming in the lights of the ballroom.
“Ladies, as this is your first choosing, and hopefully, your only one, the rules will be as follows. Yesterday, the blood samples were taken and analyzed. The most powerful dragon among you will choose first.”
He stepped in front of the men, and he smiled. “The one selected to choose will step forward, identify herself for the record, and shift enough to prove her identity. It can be a hand, a wing, or your features. Take your pick. As long as we can confirm that you are what the tests identified, you have your choice of the men remaining in formation.
“Once you have selected and made your choice, he has the right of refusal. If he refuses immediately, you may move on to your second choice.”
Trin blinked. She had never considered that Brommin would refuse.
The master of ceremonies smiled and nodded. “Right. Now, if you are ready, we will begin.”
Everyone held their breath; the choosing was about to start.
He looked at his tablet, and then, he cleared his throat. “Diamond dragon. Step forward please.”
The gasp that ran through the gathering included sharp inhales from the men.
Trin waited until the fuss cooled, and then, she set her bottle at the edge of the windowsill, and she turned toward the women blocking her path. She stepped forward and transformed her body, making her skin diamond hard from head to toe. The ladies who had their backs to her were simply pushed aside by her body. They cried out and stumbled but went quiet when they actually looked at her.
“I am Adolla Venatrin Lem, daughter of LeeHee Anders, daughter of Lord Minnet, designated human at birth and raised by the Home for the Unknown. I am a diamond dragon.”
The master of ceremonies looked a little weepy, but he nodded. “Identification has been accepted. Make your choice.”
She walked through pathways in the gathered men, and she moved straight to Brommin. She held out her hand, palm up. “Do you accept me?”
He grinned and took her hand, pulling her against him. “I accept you with a joyful heart.”
She smiled and shifted from diamond to flesh as he kissed her. She kissed him with enthusiasm, and when he lifted her off her feet and walked her out of the block, she simply went along for the ride.
She whispered against his lips. “Is this it?”
He chuckled. “This is the beginning.”
She held onto him and hoped that he was right.
* * * *
“The next dragon is the fairy dragon.”
Meadra nearly choked. She had thought for sure that Apraxa had higher value.
Apraxa took her soda and winked. “Go and announce yourself.”
The murmur in the room was less shocked, and most of the folks were still staring at Trin and Brommin in their comfortable embrace.
Meadra stepped forward, and she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Her dragon was amused, but it helped with a burst of power that tinted her skin a brilliant purple with stars made of magic moving under the colouration.
She stood in front of the men and looked at the master of ceremonies. “I am Meadra Anders, daughter of the Delarm Valley, aunt to the diamond dragon, and I am a fairy dragon.”
The master of ceremonies blinked. “Her aunt?”
She nodded. “I am her aunt on her mother’s side.”
“Acknowledged and recorded. Approach your mate.”
She nodded, breathed in, and walked through the columns of men until she was standing in front of Torm. Her dragon was shrieking, but Meadra followed Trin’s example. She held out her hand and said softly, “Do you accept me?”
Torm placed his hand in hers and pulled her to him, kissing her hard. “I accept all that you are.”
Her lips throbbed, and she let her magic drain away. They walked to the side where Brommin and Trin were waiting and stood behind them.
She kept glancing at Torm, and she couldn’t believe it. It was done. She had chosen her mate. All she needed to do was make it to the wedding, and her family would never be able to touch her.
She swayed in relief, and he put his arm around her protectively. Tears pricked her eyes as she realized that the only other comfort she had ever gotten had come from Trin. This was a new life and a new start, it just remained to be seen how soon the new portions could start.
* * * *
Apraxa waited. It was possible that there was another dragon who was stronger than she was, but it wasn’t likely.
“Would the hurricane dragon please step forward.”
Apraxa had already set the beverages down, so she took on the body pattern of her dragon, scaly blue with scarlet hair and black eyes. It was a riveting look, and she knew it.
She moved silently, and the women that she passed jumped in shock at her appearance. It took land walkers a bit of time to get used to the look of a sea dragon.
She settled in front of the men and grinned with her deadly teeth exposed. “I am Apraxa Tiburon, daughter of Harusha, the siren of the North Sea and Morix Tiburon, shark shifter and family master. My grandparents are Menoral and Riika, king and queen of the ocean city. I am the hurricane dragon.”
A breeze in the room started to move fabric, and when she got the nod, she walked through the rows, one row at a time until she got to Romak. She didn’t ask him, she grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to hers, dismissing the bladed teeth before contact.
Their kiss was intense, and his addition to the wind in the room was wild. Her skirt flared up, and he held it down with his palm. “I will take you, Apraxa, for all that you are. I accept your proposal.”
She grinned. “I have made my choice.”
Apraxa let the wind diminish, and she led him to the position where the line was forming.
He leaned down and whispered to her, “Your colouration is astounding.”
She blushed. Strong colours were a sign of fertility, and her colouration was unmistakable. “Thank you. I find your smoke and fire very pleasing as well.”
His fingers wove with hers, and she leaned against his shoulder. They had been engaged since they were children, but with the declaration and action in front of witnesses, it was official.
Apraxa kept her head forward, but her fingers curled in tight to Romak’s. It had been a bit of a fight, but they were together now.
The only thing that could mess this up was themselves.
Chapter Eleven
Trin watched as the next dragon was called. There was a sapphire dragon who had a problem proving her power. When she final
ly managed to make her hands blue, she was allowed to continue.
She made a beeline for her chosen mate, and he smiled and accepted her. They hugged and then joined the lineup.
The colours streamed through, the gemstones and then the metallics.
One woman, one of the three topaz dragons, was rejected by her choice. Tears wobbled in her eyes, but she lifted her chin and moved to the back row, extending her hand to her second choice. He was very classy about it. He accepted her and drew her to him with a tender expression.
Trin let out the breath she had been holding. Her dragon reached out and took the woman’s hand as they passed her. The huge golden eyes were wide and her mouth opened in surprise as she received the surge of energy.
The woman stared at her hand as she and her second choice took their position in line.
Brommin leaned down. “What did you do?”
“The dragon gave her a blessing.”
His smile was smug. “I thought as much. I wonder when it will manifest?”
“After they have sex. It was a fertility blessing.”
He blinked. “You can do that?”
“Apparently. I am new to this. This time last year I was worried about getting the coffee shipment on time.”
They stood and watched as the metallic dragons made their choices. Two of the oceanic dragons were chosen, much to their delighted surprise.
The copper dragon was the last up. She announced herself and walked up to the man who had rejected the topaz dragon. She asked him softly if he would accept her, and she was only halfway through the question when he lunged forward and hugged her tight.
Trin leaned against Brommin’s arm, and she sighed. “That was nice.”
“They have been an item since they were teenagers, but her family isn’t powerful. She’s a copper, he’s a gold, I am glad they were able to connect. He would never be allowed to attend another ball if they didn’t.”
“So, once rejected, you can’t return?”
He quirked his lips. “No, if you reject a female, you surrender your right to attend subsequent events.”
“Wow. It is a good thing you didn’t turn me down.” She smiled.
He wrapped an arm around her reinforced waist, and he grinned. “Never.”
The master of ceremonies looked around, and he clapped his hands. “Gentlemen, thank you for your participation. Good luck on the next day of choosing. Thank you for attending.”
The dismissal was absolute. The words were lighthearted, but the tone wasn’t. Those men would leave or face the elder dragon.
The single men filed out and left the room.
The elder looked at the line. “Now, young couples, the upper levels of the hotel are yours to play with. First, introduce yourselves in the dance, and then, you can seek out privacy to get acquainted with your mate.”
Trin was shocked. She looked at Brommin. “Did you know about this?”
“I was aware of it, yes.”
She gave him a dark look. “Hmm. This shady side of you is rather intriguing.”
He laughed and then noted that the master of ceremonies was coming up to them. “I believe I should make an introduction.”
Trin blinked. “Okay.”
He offered her his arm, and she accepted, walking to meet the master of ceremonies halfway.
“Senator Weekon, this is my mate, Trin. Trin, this is Senator Amathor Weekon, your grandfather.”
Trin blinked slowly and then one more time. “Did you say, grandfather?”
Senator Weekon smiled and extended his hand. “As you are my son’s child, I am your grandfather. You are very welcome to our family.”
She extended her hand to his and noted that her fingers were shaking. Aside from Meadra, he was the first person to claim her as blood.
“I am pleased to meet you, Senator Weekon. You knew who I was when I arrived?”
“I suspected. I never guessed that my son’s daughter would be the diamond dragon that has been making herself known around town.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That happens when you have assassins at your door. They are disruptive little buggers.”
His eyes widened and then narrowed. “Tell me more.”
She opened her mouth, but Brommin stopped her. “Perhaps we can come by your home or office tomorrow?”
Senator Weekon’s cheeks darkened. “Yes, of course. Enjoy your evening. I will call Makros.”
Brommin smiled. “Thank you.”
Music had started up in one corner of the ballroom, and Brommin led her there.
“I don’t really dance. I mean, Brenner and I learned with Creata, but it was a decade ago.”
He smiled. “Just trust me to keep you from bumping into anyone, and we will be fine.”
He swung her around, and she settled against him. Her left arm settled on his shoulder, and all that bare skin was driving her to distraction.
“So, why do they strip you down?” She looked up at him through her lashes as he moved to the music and shifted her around on the dance floor.
“It helps to distract the human and focus the dragon females. They are more likely to let their dragon make the decision when their human is fascinated and aroused.”
She felt a blush heating her cheeks, and she looked down but then was faced with all that tanned muscle and her gaze went up again.
He grinned. “See? Someone once suggested that the women be attired in a similar manner, but the one experiment didn’t go anywhere until the ladies were willing to come out from behind the drapes.”
She sighed and found herself staring at the thick column of his neck as they moved around the other dancers.
Trin checked on her friends and smiled. Torm was teaching Meadra how to dance on one side of the dance floor, away from the others, and Apraxa and Romak were moving with the fluid grace of those who breathed water. They were fine.
“Did you have any trouble getting here tonight?”
Trin glanced up at him and smiled. “Vasic’s government-issued vehicle was vandalized, and the bartender here tried to drug us.”
Brommin tried to get out of her embrace to kill someone, but she held on. “It is fine. I smelled it, and I am guessing that it was a family connection that forced him into this action.”
“He is going to be interrogated for that slight.”
She nodded. “Yes, Brommin, but not tonight. Tonight is just you and me and the music.”
He pulled her tightly against him, and she could feel the outline of his thighs through the silk that he was wearing.
She giggled at the physical hint that there was more than just the silk between them. “Ah. I see.”
“Yes, I am guessing that I am not the only one in this situation, but the others are too polite to do anything about it.”
She smiled. “You know what I like about you, Archivist?”
“What?”
“You can dispense with politeness when necessary.”
Her permission was in her gaze, and she laughed as his arms came around her and his wings sprouted. He swung her up into his arms, and his heavy wingbeats took them out of the ballroom and up the stairwell.
He carried her past the guards in the hall and to one of the doors that had been propped open.
“That is convenient.” She smiled, and he kicked the doorstop aside before reaching out and latching the manual lock.
“I believe so. Would you like a breakdown on the etiquette of what we are going to do?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I think I have it figured out, and it has something to do with why we are not allowed undergarments with these gowns.”
His expression darkened, and he drew his hand up the back of her thigh. He let his breath out slowly. “That is... why do you have a corset on?”
Trin laughed. “I have had a few attempts on my life and Meadra’s custody. Mirbella wanted me armed, so I am covered with a number of weapons. Would you like me to show you or can we get into the interesting part?”
He pulled her in close as his fingers worked at the laces of her corset. She gasped when cool air rushed in against sweaty skin. “I think that we can do both.”
Her giggles lasted far longer than they should have, and it was only when there was no breath for laughter that she focused on the man she was with. Her mate. It was so much better than the romances she had read as a teen.
* * * *
Apraxa watched Brommin fly off with Trin as she danced with Romak. “It seems they couldn’t wait.”
She swayed and crossed her right and left feet before returning to his arms.
“They are fliers. They do not appreciate the pleasures of waiting.”
She gave him a look through her lashes. “I seem to recall you catching me in a hallway and pressing me up against the wall a few years ago.”
“I was young and had no patience for the waiting game.”
Apraxa nodded. “You tell yourself that a lot, don’t you?”
He leaned down and hissed in her ear, “Yes.”
She grinned. “You know there is no reason to wait, right? According to the laws of our people and the senate, we are the next thing to wed. A formal ceremony is all we need for the final documentation, and that is just so that any children I bear will have your name.”
The mention of children made him shudder, and he paused in their intricate dance. “That was cruel.”
She went up on her toes and licked the lobe of his pointed ear. “Why was it cruel? The only one keeping us on this dance floor is you.”
He grabbed her and strode off to the hall, heading up to the rooms that were set aside for them.
Imagine Apraxa’s delight when the tub was large enough to hold six people. The environment was ideal for her first night with her mate.
* * * *
Meadra focused on the steps, but she still ended up stepping on Torm’s feet.
He stopped them and kissed her slowly. She went up on her toes and followed him as he leaned back. He smiled against her lips.