Rhani (Dragons of Kratak Book 3)

by Ruth Anne Scott

  “I see. That’s very interesting. My friends and I are anxious to learn everything about your way of life.”

  “It’s really not that interesting. We’re people like any other. I’m sure we have all the same foibles and eccentricities everyone has among the Allies.”

  “Everyone has their own eccentricities, but that’s what makes them unique and fascinating. Take Tanner, for example. He’s spent his career studying alien races. I’m sure he will find your people no less interesting than the others.”

  Rohn puffed out his barrel chest. “I don’t think I wish to discuss our way of life with your friend Tanner.”

  “Why not? He’s a professional archaeologist.”

  Rohn pursed his lips. “I don’t understand the men of your world. I understand the women much better.”

  “Is that because the women are dominant?”

  “If the women are dominant, that must mean the men are subservient.”

  “They aren’t exactly subservient. Men among the Allies enjoy the same rights and self-determination as the women. Everyone does. Our laws guarantee them that.”

  “Then what do you mean when you say the women are dominant?”

  “We aren’t exactly dominant. I suppose I made a mistake when I said that, but women usually occupy the command positions in the military and political life. Women hold the top jobs, and we make most of the decisions in family life, too. That’s just the way it worked out, but the men wouldn’t argue with it. If a man wants to become a general or a leader or a doctor, there’s nothing to stop him but his own determination.”

  “Do they lack the will to take those positions?”

  “Most don’t bother. They would rather study or work in menial jobs like laboring or building. Those jobs seem to suit their temperaments better.”

  He looked her square in the eye. “It seems to me you didn’t make any mistake when you said women are dominant. What happens when a woman gets pregnant and wants to raise her children?”

  “Then she gets pregnant and raises her children.”

  “Is the father expected to support her and the children by working as a laborer?”

  “Of course not. That would be inhuman. We have social structures in place so mothers don’t have to worry about support while their children are young. The society pays for their support, and the women return to work when the children get old enough to spend time away from her.”

  “That sounds very interesting.”

  “It must be very different here.”

  “Of course, it is. Women do not leave their family Keeps, and they have their whole family to help them raise their children.”

  “They’re very lucky.”

  “Luck has nothing to do with it. Clan is everything on Kratak. I am as much responsible for raising Haya’s daughter Asya as Haya and Callan are. Asya has a home here for the rest of her life. I hunt food for her as much for my parents and any woman I marry and children I have with her. Asya receives food, clothing, shelter and anything else she needs. Then when she grows up and marries into another Clan, they will take care of her as one of their own, which she will then indeed be.”

  “That really is fascinating. It sounds like a very civilized way of handling things.”

  “We have to handle things that way. If a man dies in a war, he has to know his wife and children will be taken care of by the rest of the Clan.”

  “How do the wars start? Don’t all the Clans have their own territories?”

  Instead of answering, Rohn pointed in front of him. “Look there. Here we are.”

  They came to the top of the passage where daylight flooded the Keep’s entrance. The sweeping expanse of mountains spread out to the farthest horizon. The sun slanted through the purple clouds and played across the treetops down in the forested valleys below. Rose caught her breath at the view.

  At that moment, the dragon cut across Rose’s line of sight. It banked right in front of the Keep and swept up to the same mountaintop where she first noticed it. It folded its leathery wings against its body and crouched to perch among the rocks.

  “What is that dragon doing there? Is that the only one on the planet? The Command never said anything about dragons on this planet.”

  Rohn didn’t appear to hear her. “There’s your gear. I’ll help you carry it inside so your friends don’t have to come up to get it.”

  He strode down the hill to the spot where the rocket shuttle had dropped off Rose and her team. Their duffel bags and backpacks all lay in a heap on the ground. Rohn picked up two duffel bags in each hand and slung them over his shoulders.

  Rose trotted after him with no further thought for the dragon. She heaved her backpack onto her back and grabbed a duffel bag in each hand. She struggled under the weight up the hill after Rohn when the dragon let out a deafening roar from the peak behind them.

  Rohn whipped around and frowned at it. Rose followed his gaze. The dragon stared right at them. It opened its mouth and let out a spurt of flame. Rose jumped three feet into the air. She would have run away if the bags hadn’t weighed her down.

  Rohn narrowed his eyes at the dragon, but it only chuckled under its breath. Rose could barely hear the low sound, but the vibrations hit her in the chest. Rohn gave the creature one last scowl and walked away.

  Chapter 3

  Rose stopped more than once to catch her breath, but she pushed herself to get back inside the Keep. Every time she paused to look back, she beheld the dragon regarding her with its gleaming silver eyes. Its skin glowed copper red, and the light rippled over its scales. It ruffled its wings at her and opened its mouth…

  (Continued in Rohn…)

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  Rohn takes what he wants, and when he sets his sights on Rose, nothing can change his mind...

  Rose Cooper leads a scientific team to conduct research into the Clans of remote and rugged Planet Kratak. The Clans live in massive Keeps build directly into the heart of the forbidding mountains. The Krataks don’t trust these visitors from the Allies. They suspect the scientific team represents the first survey team scouting the planet for possible domination. When one of the team turns up missing, Rose finds herself in possession of a dangerous secret that could tear her whole world apart.

  Rose must balance her role as Commander of the team even as she falls head over heels for the powerful, dominant Rohn Harkniss, the rugged second son of Planet Kratak’s warlike Clans. He upsets everything she knows about her people, her mission, and herself. He takes what he wants, and when he sets his sights on Rose, nothing can change his mind.

  Can she bring all the pieces of the puzzle together before it’s too late? Will she be lost forever from the world she knows, or will this magical world claim her and send her spinning into a bright future of love and belonging?

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  Legends of Black Salmon Falls (Series Preview)

  Loved by a Bear (Book 1)

  Prologue

  The man took a seat at the counter of the roadside diner. It was late, there was a chill in the air, and it had been drizzling on and off all day long. In other words, just another typical day in the Pacific Northwest. But he was used to it. As a truck driver, he'd made the run up and down through Washington, Oregon, and California more times than he could count.

  But in all his trips up and down the West Coast, he hadn't ever passed through Black Salmon Falls before. He was on his way to Olympia and this popped up as a shortcut that would save him a few hours. So, the man, always looking to do less work than necessary, decided to give it a shot.

  “What can I get you?”

  The man looked up from the menu at the cute, perky little waitress who was husting over to where he was sitting.

  “They got you workin' late,” he said.

  She shrugged. “It's quiet,” she said. “Gives me time to do some homework.”

&n
bsp; The man nodded and looked the girl up and down. She was pretty – had a wholesome look to her, with her long blonde hair and milky white skin. She probably wasn't more than nineteen or twenty. Fresh faced and with a girl next door appeal.

  And the man was suddenly in the mood for something – it just wasn't for food.

  But the man was subtle. Sly. He'd had more than enough practice over the years and all of his trips up and down the left side of the country to know that he needed to bide his time and wait for the opportune moment. He was patient and he was deliberate – skills he'd spent years honing.

  “Homework, huh?” he asked. “What are you studying?”

  She smiled and he thought it made her even prettier. “Nursing,” she said. “I want to be a nurse.”

  The man nodded. “A nurse, huh?” he said. “I bet you'll make a good one too.”

  The girl smiled and her cheeks colored. She had a sweet, quiet way about her. Definitely the girl next door type. Definitely his type. The man felt that familiar surge of energy in his body he got whenever he was on a hunt – whenever he found his quarry.

  And he had definitely found his quarry.

  “So, what can I get you?” she asked.

  He sighed and looked at his menu. “I'll take some coffee. And give me the chicken fried steak special. Fries instead of mashed potatoes, and wheat toast, please.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. “I'll go get your coffee right away.”

  “Thank you –” he squinted and looked at her name tag, “Aubrey.”

  She smiled at him. “Of course.”

  The girl turned and punched his order into her computer. She was a good-looking girl and the man smiled to himself. He hadn't intended to stumble upon this little treasure trove, but he thanked his good fortune for it. He hadn't had a woman in a few weeks and he'd been feeling a little restless. Aubrey had come along at just the right time.

  The man smiled to himself again – apparently, the gods were rewarding him. He wasn't sure what he was being rewarded for, but he'd take it.

  She came back and set his mug of coffee down in front of him. “So, you just passing through?”

  He nodded. “Yup, got a run up north a ways yet,” he replied. “Thought I'd stop in for a little fuel for the last push.”

  “Good idea,” she said. “The last thing you want is to fall asleep on the road.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.”

  She flashed him another smile and then turned and walked off. She checked on two guys at a table in the corner. He felt a surge of anger rush through him as she laughed and flirted with the two guys. The girl belonged to him. And he didn't like the way she was throwing herself at those two guys.

  A few minutes later, she returned and set his plate down in front of him with a smile. “One chicken fried steak special.”

  “Thanks,” he said and then looked over at the men in the corner booth. “You know those guys over there?”

  “Yeah, they're regulars,' she said. “Local guys. They usually come in for pie and coffee a few nights a week.”

  The man nodded and couldn't completely stuff down that surge of dark anger inside of him. “Yeah? So, which one you screwin'?” he asked. “Both of 'em?”

  The girl froze in place and looked at him, eyes wide, her mouth agape. “Excuse me?”

  “Just a question,” he said. “You seem pretty friendly with 'em. Pretty familiar.”

  The girl let out a sound of disgust and turned away from him, storming off to the other end of the counter. It wasn't his smoothest move, but the man didn't care. She belonged to him. She was his property. And he didn't like the thought of his property being handled by anybody but him.

  The man dug into his meal, keeping on eye on the girl, who was trying to concentrate on her books. But judging by the look on her face, she was having trouble doing it. He'd obviously rattled her. Which wasn't a bad thing. It was part of his routine – he usually just set it up a little bit better. But he relied on his quarry being rattled and upset. It clouded their thinking and kept them off balance.

  And that was exactly how he wanted them. Needed them.

  He drained the last of his coffee and raised his cup, indicating he wanted a refill. Still looking angry and upset, Aubrey closed her book, grabbed the coffee pot, and walked down to his place at the counter. She didn't smile, make eye contact, or speak to him as she refilled his mug.

  “Listen,” he said. “I'm sorry about before. I just –”

  “It's fine,” she said, her tone telling him it was anything but fine.

  She turned to go, but he grabbed her by the wrist. She cried out in pain as he forced her to turn around and look at him.

  “I'm trying to apologize,” he hissed. “The least you could do was have a little respect.”

  “Please,” she said, struggling to break free of his grasp. “You're hurting me.”

  “I said I was –”

  The man stopped talking when a hand fell onto his shoulder, gripping him tightly. He turned and looked at the man whose hand was on him. Standing behind him were the two guys from the corner booth – the local boys. The two guys his property was probably banging like drums.

  “There a problem here?” the guy with his hand on the man's shoulder asked.

  “No problem,” the man replied. “Just trying to make a point.”

  “Yeah, you can probably make your point without manhandling her,” he said and then in a tone practically dripping with ice, added, “so take your goddamn hands off of her. Now.”

  The man looked at him, fighting back the rage that was bubbling up inside of him. Now, was not the time to let it out. He'd be able to extract his pound of flesh later. On a field of his own choosing. He let go of Aubrey's wrist and she immediately held it close to her chest, rubbing it like it was sore.

  “My apologies,” the man said. “It was a simple misunderstanding.”

  “Yeah, well,” said the guy behind him, “I think it's time for you to go.”

  “I haven't finished my meal yet,” he said.

  “And you're not going to,” the guy said. “You can get another meal somewhere else down the road.”

  The second man stepped in and took the plate off the counter, walking behind the counter and dropping it in a tub of dirty dishes with a loud clatter.

  “Looks like you're done,” he said.

  The man smirked and wiped his mouth off with his napkin. He didn't like the idea of being told he had to leave. But at the same time, he didn't want to make any more of a scene than he already had. He didn't want to be memorable. He'd let his temper get the best of him and now, discretion being the better part of valor, he knew he needed to retreat and regroup a little bit. Standing up, he reached into his pocket for his wallet.

  “Don't worry about it,” the first guy said. “Your meal's on us. Just go.”

  He looked over at Aubrey, who refused to look at him. She simply leaned against the counter, clutching her wrist, tears rolling down her face. The man sighed and turned to the two men who were looming over him. They were both big men. Thick through the shoulders and chest. Typical jock types. He may have been able to take one of them. But two? The man was smarter than that.

  He cleared his throat and pulled his hat lower. Without another word, he walked out of the diner and into the chill of the night air. Discretion was the better part of valor. He'd already screwed up once, he wasn't going to make another mistake. Instead, he would get his head back on straight and move forward from there.

  He climbed into his truck and looked back at the diner. The two jocks were still standing in the front windows, watching him. The rage within him swelled as he fired up the truck and he imagined himself driving straight through the front of the diner, crushing both of the jocks beneath the wheels. It would have been grisly, but satisfying.

  Instead of doing that though, he pulled out of the lot and headed off down the highway a bit. He recalled seeing a sign for a rest stop half a mile down the road and w
hen he found it, he pulled in and shut down.

  Taking a few moments to collect himself, the man closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. He concentrated, trying to slow his heart rate and clear his mind. He'd let the two jocks get under his skin. He'd let his control slip. But the girl was his. His property.

  And he was going to have her. Nobody was going to stop him. Least of all, a couple of jock frat boys.

  Feeling more grounded and centered, the man grabbed his bag out of the sleeping compartment and climbed out of his truck. He surveyed the lot and saw only two other trucks parked at the far end. The night was dark and the lights in the rest stop were dim – the bulbs in the lights were obviously on their way out. There was more shadow than pools of light, making visibility difficult – something that worked in his favor.

  The man took it as another sign of divine approval.

  Knowing he had about a half mile hike back to the diner, he pulled the dark knit cap over his head, slung his pack on his shoulders, and started the trek back to claim his property.

  ~ooo000ooo~

  The man hunkered down in the bushes along the treeline that separated the forest from the diner's parking lot. From his vantage point, he could see straight through the front windows of the place. The jocks were gone, but the girl was still in there. And it looked like she was getting ready to get off her shift.

  Yet another sign of the divine approval he seemed to be enjoying.

  The night air was growing colder and his breath came out in plumes of steam. The man slipped on his pair of gloves and flexed his fingers, feeling the rush of excitement that always came before he claimed his prize.

  He watched her through the windows as she looked to be finishing up all of her side work. About fifteen minutes after he'd arrived, the girl pulled on her sweater as she walked toward the front door. He smiled and felt the adrenaline surging through him as she walked through the darkened and mostly deserted parking lot.