Dragon's Quest (Dragon Princes Book 1)

by Cyci Cade

  How could they be so romantic and affectionate too? How much did the beast influence the man? The princes were seductive and extremely dangerous to her; it was impossible not to surrender to their charm. They knew how to seduce a woman. Comparing the animal and the man, the man was the most perilous, a tireless hunter and his claws dug so deeply that it was impossible to heal after an encounter with him.

  She had already fallen into their traps. At that moment, those predators fought for their prey, her, and she was fated to end up alone, with none of them because when their parents returned they´d choose princesses to marry them. She would return to the village, to Phillip, or any other man.

  Other factors could pull her titanic love from her; the wound would bleed and then run dry. She´d become a zombie married to someone else and with many children on her apron strings. That was her destiny. Why should she expect anything better?

  She needed to be cautious, her relationship with the princes was thorny and it was a signal, they didn´t belong to each other. She should heed the red alert flashing in her mind, showing the dangerous way she had trodden. She recognized the signs very well; her reasoning showed her the pros and cons of the relationship, so why did she resist so much to put an end to it? Why did she follow her heart that beat for Liu?

  The servant returned, pointed to the plate and spoke in her native language with a sad expression. Kate realized that the food remained untouched in front of her, so she gripped the fork, finished the meal to satisfy the woman and left the kitchen. Kate still had a mission to accomplish. She´d not allow a situation where two brothers fought for her. They had to be friends, like Samantha and Kate were, and would be again when she released her sister.

  Why was she in love? She might suffer at the end no matter what happened. She was in a dead end, her thoughts only made a fuss in her mind, in her senses. What did she really feel for Wei? She was his friend, but her feelings for him were stronger than her feelings for Phillip, and Phillip´s kiss didn´t disturb her as Wei´s kiss. The more she tried to figure it out the more she sank in a mess.

  It was evening when she saw a blue tail fanning between the buildings. She walked in the garden just in case, knowing Wei didn´t go there. That garden was Liu´s territory. She followed the blue tail across the labyrinth of walls; small colored lanterns lit a little a path that showed ruins of a temple. She was tired of following the dragon, but she had a purpose and she wouldn´t give up. She went ahead until the middle of the garden. The dragon became smog, vanished.

  Kate turned around. She lost his trail. She wondered if she had seen Wei or her eyes played tricks on her after an exhaustive day chasing a person, a dragon or whoever that didn´t want finding.

  Feeling defeated and ready to go to her room, she put her hands on her hips and turned. Her eyes weren´t playing tricks, the blue dragon was there, his big yellow eyes over her, his head lowered, his wings spread. He walked toward her. Kate moved back. The dragon didn´t blink, didn´t lose her for one nanosecond from his sight. He snorted and shifted, slowly closing the gap between them. Wei had cornered her; he was chasing her.

  Kate stepped back and leaned against the wall. She froze. The blue dragon´s tail fanned back and forth smugly, she was exactly where Wei wanted. He was so near that she smelled his breath. Why did she have the same sensation as when she faced the lioness? He was just a man; a handsome prince lived inside that blue leather and he´d not kill and eat her, not literally.

  She closed her eyes and waited for the outcome, her heart beating in her throat. His nose glided across her face, she tried to escape, but she was stuck between his arms, not the dragon, but the man´s arms. The rough scales gave way to the soft skin that touched her in a pleasant way, so pleasant that she almost forgot that it was totally wrong; her goal was the opposite of that.

  Do something, Kate. “Don´t!” Be more specific.

  “Don´t what?” His lips touched her cheek when he spoke.

  “Don´t kiss me,” she stammered. Was that her best? She didn´t convince herself! It sounded like, kiss me, please, instead of don´t kiss me! Did she really want a kiss?

  “I will not kiss you.” His voice had a conspirator tone.

  If he wouldn´t kiss her, what was he planning?

  Kate opened her eyes and glanced at him. “No? Why not? I mean, I thought…” She wished she hadn´t said that. It sounded like an invitation, a permission for another kiss.

  “If you want, I kiss you how many times you wish.” His face stroked hers and he pressed his body against her.

  His skin became so hot against hers; his scent flooded her nose and puzzled her senses. It was impossible to mix the brothers, Wei´s scent was completely different form Liu´s, but just as good as.

  Kate returned to reality. “No!” she objected.

  “Why have you chased me all day?” His voice was silky, inviting.

  He didn´t seem annoyed with the fact that Kate walked miles in the palace just to… what did she have to do? Oh, yes! She´d put an end to that flirting.

  “You knew I was looking for you and you hid from me, this is not funny!” she admonished him and tapped his muscled arms.

  He laughed, maybe finding it funny, her attempt to hurt him or having pursued him all day. “I wanted to know how persistent you were, how much you wished to see me.” He smiled triumphantly.

  A point to him. “I didn´t wish to see you. I want to tell you to stop…”

  He approached her again; his nose grazed her ear mixing her thoughts. “Stop what?” he whispered; his lips brushed her neck.

  Kate gulped. “Stop flirting with me… You are… confusing me… I mean… you and Liu are identical, I love him and…”

  “No.” He was incisive.

  “No what?” she protested.

  “I will not stop flirting with you.” He stroked her cheek. “I will stop only when you don´t have any doubt that you desire me.” He stepped back, his eyes shone bright in the darkness. He extended his hand for her to hold it. “Let me guide you back. You don´t know how many dangers this place has.”

  Her trembling hand lay in his palm and she staggered beside him. That was the most peculiar experience she had ever experienced. What would Liu think seeing that scene? She, holding hands in the darkness with the man she was supposed to be far away from.

  When they reached the garden he kissed the back of her hand, grinned satisfied, and left without saying another word.

  Nice Kate, very persuasive she was; instead of her discouraging him, she encouraged him. What was wrong with her? Why did she never do the right thing? To talk to Wei was her worst idea. How would she explain it to Liu? Because he might end up knowing what just happened. Wei wouldn´t keep quiet regarding their encounter; he´d boast and tell how Kate shivered in his arms while she tried to form one coherent sentence.

  Chapter 29

  Wei

  The next day, Wei met Fu Chow, Liu and Kate at the entrance of the palace. Fu Chow and Liu examined the new cars, Kate just waited, uncertain what to do. She glimpsed at Wei, he smiled, winked at her and blew a kiss. Kate grimaced and walked next to Liu. Wei laughed and walked to the cars.

  Fu Chow bought the best vehicles he could find. A black Toyota; a silver Mitsubishi pickup with club cab, two plus two seats; a convertible BMW in gold; and two motorbikes.

  The driving instructors were there too; one of them kept his eyes fixed on Kate. Liu scowled at the man when he approached her and started an animated conversation with her. Wei would have laughed, if he wasn´t jealous either. He started to think that it wasn´t a good idea; on the contrary, a waste of time.

  The man laid his hand on Kate´s elbow and guided her to the BMW. He opened the door, helped her to get in, leaned toward her, and started to explain the procedures. Wei folded his arms in front of his chest and watched the scene. Kate paid attention to the instructor and smiled at him frequently. He put a hand on her shoulder, gave other instructions and stepped slowly to the passenger seat.

/>   Wei heard the engine start; the convertible moved and disappeared downhill in a split second. Where was that man taking Kate? He turned to Fu Chow and protested, “Kate should stay here.” The princes spoke in unison and scowled at each other. For the first time they agreed with something.

  “Your driving instructors are waiting for you.” Fu Chow gave a short glance at them and ambled toward the palace leaving them stood there. Their master was still angry with them. Did he know the real reason for that fight yesterday morning?

  Wei strode in the direction of the pickup. The man bowed, opened the door and told him a lot about the vehicle. Wei just thought, where Kate had gone with that man full of fingers on her and with a big smile and what was that man doing to her?

  “Let´s get this pickup moving and see what it can do.” He turned the key, the instructor leaped inside; the pickup jolted when Wei put it in movement and after a number of further jolts he set off in the same direction Kate had taken.

  The man asked him to slow down, but Wei increased his speed as he wasn´t able to see Kate´s car. The man held on to the dashboard; he begged Wei to drive carefully and gave a speech about speed limits, defensive driving, and other safety concerns, but Wei didn´t listen to him, he was looking for Kate´s car and listening for the voice of the instructor flirting with her.

  He drove for hours. It wasn´t a vast land or that busy a road to lose a car. Wei took each road and drove miles on them without success. Defeated, he turned around and made his way back to the palace. The instructor seemed relieved when Wei kept to the right speed for the terrain and restarted the conversation. Wei gave short polite answers but didn´t encourage the man to continue. He was mad, angry, and wanted to punch someone; at this moment it wasn´t his brother.

  He pulled over. The convertible was there, Liu had parked behind it. He walked to Fu Chow and Kate who talked with the instructor. “We can set another driving instruction tomorrow if you wish,” Fu Chow suggested; he appeared very interested in Kate´s instructor.

  What did he have in his mind? Why did they need those cars? Why did Kate need to learn how to drive?

  The man opened his mouth, showing all his teeth. Wei clenched his fists ready to hit that mouth and break those white teeth. “I can teach her; tomorrow morning I´ll be here…”

  Wei held up a hand and interrupted the man, “I don´t think it´ll be necessary.”

  Liu approached them and frowned; that was the second time Liu agreed with his brother. “I can teach Kate. I don´t need more instructions.”

  If the instructor knew best, he would say no more. Fortunately, the man stayed silent while Fu Chow considered Liu´s offer for several minutes and turned to Kate. “It is your decision, young lady. If you want, the instructor will return tomorrow.”

  Kate grinned and glimpsed at Liu and Wei. “It won´t be necessary, thank you,” she said, probably reading the message in their faces. ‘If you get in that car with this man, he´ll be dead.’

  Everything was resolved and with everybody coming to the conclusion that they didn´t need more driving lessons, Fu Chow dismissed the instructors.

  Liu glided his hand around Kate´s waist; Wei noted the scene. He had helped Liu. Why on earth had he done that? Liu was his rival, not that poor man. Now, he discovered another kind of feeling, envy, he was envious of Liu getting Kate, being her date and taking the girl after he had lent a hand to shoo away the instructor.

  After lunch Wei retired to one of the living rooms where Fu Chow had created a library for the technology classes. The shelves were full of books written in several languages, novels, biographies, politics, and maps. Did Fu Chow expect that they read all that literature? Would he be able to read in his dragon shape? How would he turn the pages using his claws?

  He sat across from Liu and Kate. The technology teacher entered carrying a box and put it on the table while he explained what he would teach them. He was only another guy with a mouth full of teeth smiling at Kate. What was wrong with these men? Nothing, Kate was beautiful and attractive, only a blind man wouldn´t surrender to her charm and keep his eyes far from her.

  The instructor gave them a tablet, a laptop and a GPS. Wei enjoyed his new toys; he turned all of them on at the same time and they were already on line. How did Fu Chow get an internet connection so fast?

  He scratched his head. The teacher instructed them to click on the colored disk symbol; another page appeared full of options. He taught them how to use search programs and find information about the world, forecast, maps, books, news, music, etc. Then they took the tablet, it was almost the same but he only explained how to download books and music.

  Wei enjoyed the class, he was excited downloading music, clicking the icons, and trying to discover a way to send them to Kate, but the teacher interrupted that activity and changed the topic.

  They picked up the GPS. The man explained that the device was a global positioning system connected to a main computer and Fu Chow would know where they were. A pointer indicated his starting point, the man encouraged them to write or speak an address, and the GPS traced the route. Wei tried many addresses, his mouth gaped open in front of its rapid answers.

  Without a shadow of doubt that was the best part of the day. He could be that teacher´s friend if the man stopped flirting with Kate. Two hours passed too quickly and the class finished with the teacher saying that the classes would continue for the next few days, always at the same time, and he´d explain the complex programs.

  Wei was about to express his satisfaction when the man added, “Kate, Mr. Fu Chow asked me to teach you Chinese thirty minutes before the class starts. Is it okay with you?” He grinned at her, his eyelashes fluttered while he waited the answer.

  “Great. I´d like to communicate with people, but our languages are so different, thank you.” She grinned back, gathered the machines and left with Liu.

  Nice, now the man would get thirty minutes alone with her every day, it was more than he had had with her all those days. He felt miserable, cheated, and knew that he had no reason. She was Liu´s girlfriend, not his, but he couldn´t change that feeling. He loved her, and it just got worse.

  Wei dressed in his martial arts clothes and went to the gym. Fu Chow, Kate, Liu, and another three men were there. Kate wore a beautiful white satin garment and talked with another man in the corner of the room. Liu started with the sword, he seemed more furious than never. He´d slaughter the poor man.

  The other guy waited for Wei near the spears. Wei approached the man, grabbed a spear and slid his fingertips on the weapon as if stroking a beautiful girl. His fingertips tingled and he knew he had managed a spear for years. The sensation was bracing, he felt alive, as if he had never left that land, as if he had never forgotten his past. Wei closed his eyes and waited for his memories; they didn´t come.

  Wei opened his eyes and sighed; it still wasn´t the time to regain his memory. He wondered if he would ever be able to remember his past. He held the spear and faced the man who kept an attacking stance in front of him. They began the practice.

  Wei brought his right hand up and down, the man blocked his assaults; a sequence of attacks and blocks gave way to more dangerous movements. Soon, Wei felt confident handling the weapon; his feet reached the right position and moved fast.

  He stood perpendicular to his opponent, with his feet shoulder width apart, and bent the knees to lower his center of gravity. He twisted his body, snapped his foot toward the opponent and attacked. Wei had true kill opportunities to stab the adversary in his face, throat, and groin; as the class wasn´t a massacre and the wise man kept his eyes far away from Kate, he didn´t hit his opponent.

  Wei felt alive, he couldn´t remember, but he knew, he was unbeatable handling a spear. It was what he was, a warrior from the Dragon´s Empire. He was raised for that, to handle that kind of weapon and defeat his enemies. Now he understood Liu, why his brother attacked him fiercely, full of anger, ready to exterminate, to eliminate his enemy. When it started, it
only finished with the opponent on the ground.

  Chapter 30

  Kate

  The days passed swiftly with all those classes and Christmas soon arrived; Kate´s first Christmas without her parents. Kate had never felt as alone as she did that day. The boys disappeared. Mr. Fu Chow was out; the servants prepared her meal and disappeared. Kate tried to practice her Chinese and get some information about the whereabouts of Liu and Wei, but her poor Chinese was not understandable by any servant, or they pretended not to understand.

  She traipsed to the library, took the ‘Water Margin’ novel and lay on the sofa. The story, set in the Song Dynasty told how a hundred and eight outlaws gathered at Mount Liang to form a considerable army before eventually gaining forgiveness by the government. Then sent on campaigns to resist foreign invaders and repress rebel forces.

  She turned over the pages, read quickly, interested in the story of how the outlaws worked for the government after the pardons. After several pages her eyes burned and she felt sleepy, her eyelids became heavy, she fought to keep her eyes open, but she was beat, and the only option was to take a nap.

  Kate awoke at dusk with her back full of knots due to her bad position on the sofa. She sat up, stretched her arms, tilted her head to the sides, got up and carried the book with her, deciding to finish it during the night.

  Before she entered her room, she stopped in front of Liu´s bedroom and knocked on the door expectantly. It was open; as no one answered, she pushed it and entered. He wasn´t there. She closed the door, walked three paces to her room and stopped. She turned to the side and examined Wei´s door. She moved back and forth undecided what to do.

  She stood in front of his bedroom, raised a hand to knock on the door, but thought it wasn´t a good idea. She considered the pros and cons, the file of cons had many reasons why she shouldn´t knock on that door, so she shuffled away to her room.