by Erin Bedford
“Maya!” Aeis cried out, her full mouth curved into a delighted smile. She was dressed in a floor-length cream-colored gown which exposed her shoulders, and she moved across the room with such grace she seemed to float.
“Aeis,” I almost sighed. For all my sister’s faults and my father’s favoritism, I still loved her. It was hard not to. We might be different in every way but just seeing her made a part of me relax. All thoughts of sleeping on the rug flew from my mind as my sister raced toward me. I let myself be engulfed in her embrace, my dragon practically purred from the familiar scent of family.
After a moment, Aeis spoke. “I didn’t think you would come.”
“Father didn’t really leave me a choice.” I frowned and pulled out of her arms. Matching emerald eyes met mine as we both assessed the other. She, probably because of the length of time apart, me because I was sure I’d never see her again after I’d last talked to father.
“You’ve changed, Maya,” Aeis concluded, dropping my gaze and circling around me like a vulture. “One would hardly think you were one of us now.”
I shrugged, not wanting to get into what I had to do to become what I was now. “I adapted.”
Aeis frowned, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I’m sure you have, but father will not be pleased with your changes. We will need to postpone the meeting of your suitors until I have had time to get you cleaned up.”
Though I should have been offended, I could have kissed her. Any chance to stave off meeting father and his suitors was a blessing to me. It took everything in me to look contrite and not bursting with joy as I murmured, “If you think so.”
“Don’t even pretend to be upset,” Aeis snorted, crossing her arms over her chest, “You might have been gone, but that doesn’t mean you will suddenly be able to pull one over me. I’m still your sister.” Aeis smirked and headed for the door.
“Aeis.” I stopped her before she could leave. “I’m really sorry about—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Aeis cut me off with a sad smile. “These things can’t be helped. In any case, father can wait until you are presentable. I’ll be back in the morning to help you prepare.” She started to leave but stopped. “Maya, I’m just really happy you are back.”
“Me too,” I answered as she shut the door behind her. With her words still ringing in my ears, the reality of my situation crashed down on me, reminding me I wasn’t here by choice. No matter how much I wished otherwise.
To try to get my mind off the impending doom that was my father, I decided to see if my favorite garden was still intact. I creaked the bedroom door open, half-expecting a guard in front of it. With the hallway utterly deserted, I wasted no time hurrying down it, in case someone tried to stop me.
Each familiar turn down the stone corridor made my heart beat faster. The same tapestries lined the walls, the same mixture of sulfur and cobblestone filled the air. Panic and excitement caused my pace to quicken until I almost sprinted down the halls.
I would have kept running until I arrived at my destination had it not been for the brick wall I slammed into as I turned the corner. My feet came out from under me, and I braced myself for the impact of the hard floor, but it never came. A large, warm hand grabbed my arm, jerking me away from the inevitable pain and into the most delicious scent I’d ever smelled.
Rain and thunder. It filled every cell of my senses making it hard to breathe and my body to react in the most erotic way. The creature holding me inhaled deeply, and a growl rumbled through his chest and my nipples hardened in response.
Embarrassed by my reaction to my savior, I eased away from him. My eyes met a strong jawline and a crooked grin. That grin alone caused things to become slick between my thighs. My dragon wanted him. No, that wasn’t quite right. After all these years away, it needed him in a way I couldn’t explain.
I swallowed thickly, licking my lips as I took in his olive complexion and dark eyes. They crinkled at the sides but at the same time bore into my soul.
“Why hello there,” he said playfully.
“Uh, hi,” I squeaked and shook my head. Stepping away from him, I cleared my throat and wrapped my arms around my middle, “I mean, sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He chuckled, running a hand through his short dark hair, the ends of them tipped white. “You’ll hear no complaints from me. Feel free to run into me anytime.”
“Heh heh, okay.” I ducked my head down and glanced up at him beneath my lashes. What was wrong with me all of a sudden? Have I been away from my kind for so long that the first male I come across makes me turn into a cat in heat? I didn’t react that way to Ned, but then again, he was my cousin.
During my internal war, my savior had closed the distance between us, his scent overwhelming my system once more. I gasped and backed up a step my back pressing against the wall beside us. He braced his hands on either side of my head, and for a moment I thought he might kiss me, but his head dipped down bypassing my lips and burying into my neck.
My eyes fluttered closed as his nose trailed along the line of my neck, my breathing coming in ragged pants. We weren’t touching anywhere important, but with his nose pressed against my throat, we might as well have been screwing given the effect it had on my body. The place between my thighs pulsated and ached to be touched. A mewling sound escaped my mouth and my hips arched to find some kind of release but the moment I pressed against the hard front of his pants, he jerked away from me.
The heat of his body disappeared, leaving me cold and wanting. My eyes shot open, and I found myself utterly alone. What the hell was that?
In a desire filled haze, I made my way back to my room, no longer interested in the garden. I didn’t bother undressing as I slid into bed, my head full of rain and thunder. Who was he?
3
The time difference didn’t make it any harder to fall asleep. With the little sleep I’d had the night before and all that had happened in such a short time, my body was ready to pass out.
So, when Aeis pulled the curtains aside early the next morning, I couldn’t help but groan in displeasure. I shoved my pillow over my head to block out the light, but my sister was having none of that.
“Come on now, you can’t sleep all day.” She tugged the covers off of me, and I pulled my legs and arms into myself curling into a ball for defense.
“You slept in your clothes?” Aeis made a noise of disgust as her presence moved away from the bed.
“It was a long night,” I croaked, peeking up from underneath the pillow. Aeis opened the wardrobe and flipped through the clothes that had been picked out for me. From my spot on the bed, I could make out enough to know my father hadn’t picked them. There wasn’t a frill or bow in sight.
“You know,” she withdrew a long burgundy gown and studied it for a moment before laying it on the bed, “if father had his way, you’d be laid out naked on a platter with nothing but bows covering your bits. And maybe not even the bows.” She frowned and stared off into the distance like she was imagining that very scenario. “For some reason, he doesn’t think any suitor will want you without being distracted by your body first.”
Eyes narrowed, I crawled out of bed with a raging fury. “Fine, I get it. I’m not the ideal candidate for this position, but he’s the one who demanded I come back, not the other way around!”
“And that is precisely why we are going prove him wrong,” she gestured for me to disrobe, and while I wasn’t sure what her plan was exactly, I complied. If there was one person I could trust in Waesigar, it was Aeis.
“Fine,” I muttered, stripping off my clothes and standing there in front of her in just my undergarments.
Aeis looked me up and down, a sly smile on her lips. “At least, you have filled out a bit in the places that matter.”
Placing my hands on my hips, I growled, “I’m so happy you approve.”
“Don’t take your anger at father out on me. I’m just following orders.�
�� She held her hands up in defense before going over to the bathroom door. Ducking inside, she came back out with a washcloth and a comb. “We don’t have time for you to bathe fully so this will have to do.”
Grimacing, I took the cloth from her and proceeded to wash my face and all the other important parts. Aeis worked on my hair, twisting it this way and that until it was bound in a long braid down my back and decorated with an ornate comb. When she was satisfied, I slid the dress over my body and let it settle over my shoulders and cling to my hips.
“There, that’s better,” Aeis said, rubbing her chin between her thumb and forefinger. “You can hardly tell you’ve been gone.”
“Banished you mean.”
Aeis rolled her eyes. “Semantics.”
“Not semantics,” I snapped, spinning around. “Let’s not forget what this is. I’m only here to provide an heir, and I wouldn’t even be that if you could have children.” A cloud of sadness covered Aeis’s face, and guilt filled me. “Oh god, Aeis. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“No, you’re right. No need to pretend this is something that it’s not.” She gave me a half-hearted shrug.
“But I shouldn’t have made it sound like it was your fault.” I shook my head, feeling worse and worse about how I’d acted. “I know how much being a mother and the heir meant to you. Much more than it ever meant to me.”
Aeis smiled softly. “It’ll become important to you too. Just wait, you’ll see.”
I opened my mouth to tell her not to hold her breath but stopped when at the hesitant knock on my door. We both turned as the door opened to reveal my mother Lanays, Queen of Northern Waesigar.
Her eyes were the same shade as mine, but her hair had more of an auburn color to it like our brother, Ricon’s. Unlike, Ricon’s, hers was streaked white. Time had not been good to her. Her face had gained several lines since I’d been gone. But when she saw me all that didn’t matter. Her face lit up, and she looked years younger.
Without a word, I rushed into her arms. Burying my face in her hair, I inhaled deeply. Home. She smelled of home.
“Maya, my daughter,” she murmured in my ear, her hand stroking my back and hair while being careful to avoid the metal clip. “I never thought I would see you again.”
“Well, I’m here now. Let’s go see these suitors father has lined up for me.” I leaned back from her with a smile. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed my mother until right then. I could have all the friends in the world but nothing compared to being with one’s mother.
“I think they’ll be quite surprised,” my mother said right before she licked her thumb and rubbed a smudge on my cheek. “You’re just positively radiant.” My chest warmed at her words, but another part was embarrassed by her gesture. I wasn’t a dragonling anymore.
“Mom,” I said, ducking away, but before I could, she snagged my arm.
“Oh, come now. Can’t a mother have some fun?” she chided as Aeis took my other arm. “Now let’s go. Everyone has waited quite a long time, and while I’m sure the boys will think it was worth the wait, your father won’t.”
On that cheery note, my mother and Aeis led me down the corridor. “Many things have happened since you were gone.”
“Oh really?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “Ned said something along those lines as well.”
“Yes,” my mother added. “Your father and the other lords, unfortunately, are repeating the mistakes of their forefathers.”
“What do you mean?” I turned to her, watching her face for any clues to what they were talking about but my mother would put a statue to shame with how guarded her expression was.
My mother pressed her lips into a thin line seeming to think on what to tell me, then after a moment, she stopped Aeis and me from going any further. “Your father, while I love him dearly, still believes that brawn before brains is the answer and rather than talk through his issues with the other lords. We’ve already had more than a dozen raids in the last year, and we have had enough.”
“So, what am I supposed to do about it?” I placed my hands on my hips. They didn’t know what they were talking about. I’d never been the one with the answers or even someone who could persuade others to my side. More often than not, they had already decided what they thought about me after the first meeting. Which I hoped my family would see sooner rather than later. “I couldn’t make him listen when I was here before why should he now?”
“Because,” Aeis placed her hand on my arm, “once you have produced an heir, you’ll have all the power. You and your new mate will make the rules. No more raids. No more hit first and talk later.”
What Aeis said made sense but - boy, were they barking up the wrong tree. I couldn’t lead anyone let alone a whole kingdom. It would only be a matter of time before they realized it and banished me back to Earth once more. Part of me urged me to make them figure it out sooner rather than later but the other half missed home and wanted to stay as long as possible. Hard know what to do when I didn’t know myself.
We stopped in front of the entry to the throne room where my suitors and my father no doubt waited. I dropped their arms and took a step back.
“Maybe we should do this later?” I glanced between the two of them, anxiety building up inside of me. “I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet. I can’t meet my suitors on an empty stomach.” I placed my hand on my stomach and gave a nervous smile.
Obviously seeing through my façade, Aeis stepped forward and took my hand. “Everything will be fine. You act as if you’re about to be thrown into a pit of snakes rather than meet two strapping men just dying to make your acquaintance.”
“I doubt that,” I grumbled, letting her bring me toward the entry once more. Holding onto Aeis’s hand tightly, I tried not to vomit as all my nerves and worry threatened to come flying out of my mouth.
Unlike the rest of the palace, the throne room had changed. There used to be an intimidating throne at the top of the room, one in which I had cowered before on more than on occasion, but now three smaller chairs sat where it once was. I could only assume they were meant for my mother, sister, and I.
As I glanced around the wide-open space of the throne room which was usually filled with nobles and soldiers, I only saw three people. My father stood at the head of the room, his gray hair, which used to be a dark brown, caught my eye immediately. Hands behind his back, he spoke in a low voice with the two other occupants.
The taller of the two had long silver hair pulled back in a ponytail. His shoulders were stiff, and his hands were behind his back mimicking my father’s posture. The other one had a familiar head of dark hair with white tips, and the sight of him made my stomach sink.
“Ah.” My father’s face lit up as he saw us. “Here she is now.”
At my father’s announcement, the two backs turned, and my sinking feeling was fully realized. Dressed in a pale-yellow shirt, my eyes instantly went to the long span of skin showing where several buttons were undone. Hands tucked in his pockets, they were barely big enough to hold him let alone his hands and I half wished he’d turn around so I could see the effect on his backside. When my eyes finally landed on his face, his familiar knowing grin made me swallow hard.
The sexy, playful male I’d met last night was one of my suitors. There was a twinkle in his eyes which made me think he knew exactly who he had accosted in the hallway. I’d been virtual putty in his hands all while he took advantage of my ignorance.
“Maya,” my father called to me, gesturing for me to come forward. As I approached, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders in a side hug. I didn’t get the same sense of home from him as I did from my mother. I forced myself not to tense against his touch, but I wasn’t able to make myself smile. I wasn’t that good of an actress.
“It’s good to see you back in these walls.” There was a warning in his tone, which was hard to miss. “Where you belong.”
Lips pressed into a thin line, I replied, “It’s good to be back.�
� Before he could draw out the home warming, I turned my attention to the men in front of us. “Can I correctly assume you are my father’s choices for my future mate?”
“Yes,” my father unfortunately answered for them giving me a bit of a nudge forward. “This,” he gestured to the male with white hair and a cool expression on his handsome face, “is Jack from the Northern Area. He comes highly recommended by his cousin, Vincent, who as you may remember, is the High Lord of the Frozen Mountains.”
Jack, an odd name for a dragon, and it didn’t exactly match the composed demeanor of the male in front of me. His eyes were pale almost translucent except for the hint of blue as they caught the light. Through his perfectly tailored suit, I could tell he had a nice build, but something about him gave me the impression he might be more of a politician than a fighter. There was an ethereal beauty to him, but the stony expression on his face left me wary.
An awkward silence filled the room when I didn’t take a step toward him but thankfully, Jack seemed to know what to do. Holding his palm out to me, I placed my tanned hand into his pale one, the contrast of my warm temperature to the coolness of his a bit of a shock to my system. Even more so when he bent at the waist brushing his lips against the back of my hand.
As soon as I was able, I snatched my hand back and fought back the need to rub it against my skirt. My skin tingled from where his mouth had touched me. Before I could think more on the tingle racing through me, I turned my attention to my other suitor.
The moment my eyes settled on the white-tipped male, he stepped forward into my personal space. The scent of rain and thunder filled my senses, and once again my body reacted to his overwhelming maleness. I pressed my thighs together, trying to stave off the need while standing in front of my family.
“We’ve actually already met,” the white tipped male said, looking at my father who had been about to introduce him. Unlike Jack, this guy definitely didn’t feel the need to be a gentleman. Something I found both alluring and annoying. He turned his gaze to me. “Haven’t we?” His eyes twinkled mischievously as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my body against his own while pressing his lips to my cheek. Warmth ran through me from where his lips touched my skin and landed straight between my thighs. Damn. These guys were going to make it hard to be annoyed about the whole forced mating thing.