by Viola Grace
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.
Torm wrapped an arm around her waist and held her while they kissed, and when Meadra lifted her head, they were on their circuit around the room. All she had to do was leave her focus behind and trust him. Once she managed that, the rest was easy.
She glanced around, and more than half of the couples were gone. “Where did they go?”
“I imagine that they are making use of the hotel’s amenities.” Torm kept waltzing.
“Oh. Oh!” She blushed as she caught on. “Right. Of course. Should we go?”
“No. Not until you are comfortable touching me. That is part of the reason for the uniform we are dressed in. It gives you the advantage to learn what your mate feels like.”
“You feel like mine.” She smiled and ran her hands over his chest, down his abdomen, and around his waist to hold him tight.
His shudder was all self-control, and she fought a smirk. She had been around farm animals all her life. Sex was no great mystery, but knowing that he wanted to ease her into the idea was rather sweet. She was going to have to stop that immediately.
“Torm, I understand that you want to behave in a decorous manner, but do remember that my family could come after me or send someone at any time. My image was in all the evening news media. It would be better for both of us if we could confirm our connection.”
He blinked. “You would like to...”
“Seek privacy. With you. Lots of privacy and more kissing, perhaps tangled limbs—” She squeaked on the last words, but he had heard enough. He gathered her up, sprouted his wings and took them up and out of the ballroom.
Torm still had plenty of self-control, but he used it on his own body to the satisfaction of them both.
Chapter Twelve
Getting everyone back to Creata’s for a change of clothing had been a bit of effort. Trin smiled at her friend and gave her a hug the moment that Brommin touched down.
“Well. That was an interesting night, and now, I know why there is a non-disclosure agreement.” Trin blushed. “I think you can figure out most of it.”
The men had tunics delivered to them, so Brommin looked practically normal with comfortable trousers.
He kissed her softly and whispered, “I will pick you up this afternoon. Senator Weekon has already been in touch.”
She nodded. “I will be dressed and ready.”
Creata was smiling as Brommin left. “So, you have your mate.”
Trin blushed. “I am going to get breakfast first. After a shower.”
“Good, I can smell him on you from last night.”
Trin headed up to her room and called out, “That was from this morning.”
* * * *
Meadra had seen Apraxa head upstairs while on a business call, so now, she was staring at her host. “I think I should change as well.”
Creata smiled. “I think you should. Those gowns don’t leave anything to the imagination.”
Meadra nodded. Torm had dropped her off, given her a short kiss, and left her, murmuring that he had things to do. She didn’t know when she would see him again, but they were mated now, so she had legal recourse.
He had been so focused, so tender last night, that now she was completely knocked off her feet by being left like a sack of potatoes.
She headed up to her room and quickly changed. She had showered in the morning, and Torm had simply gotten dressed and waited for her.
To boost her spirits, she put on one of the outfits that had been made expressly for her. She loved Trin’s taste in clothing, but it was time to figure out what she wanted. This dress was nearly there. It was easy to move in, fit over her corset and undergarments without too much difficulty, and it was a brilliant amethyst with silver piping. Her new hair colour nearly matched the gown, and it didn’t look quite right, but it was hers.
She headed down to meet with Creata and try to make sense of Torm’s actions.
* * * *
Trin headed downstairs, and she saw something that filled her with horror. Meadra was crying.
“What is it? What did he do?”
Meadra sniffled and blew her nose delicately into one of Creata’s handkerchiefs. “It’s Torm. He dropped me off and said he had things to do but didn’t say anything else. He just left.”
Trin scowled. “That sounds rather rude.”
“I don’t know what happened. He was fine last night, he held me all night, but when we woke up, he was all determined, but he wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”
Trin blinked and nodded. “Right. I don’t think there is any problem.”
Meadra sniffled. “Really?”
“Really. If you don’t hear from him by tonight, I will find him and find out why.”
“Thank you, Trin. I don’t want to be a burden, but this caught me off guard.”
Creata nodded. “It would do that to anyone after a mating night. If Vasic had acted that way, Esty might never have become a reality. I would have neutered him.”
They laughed together and ate a lot of heavily sweetened pastries.
Apraxa came down, and she was frowning.
Trin groaned. “Not you, too.”
“My brothers saw the picture on an online post. They are furious that I kept this from them, and more than that, they want to meet Romak. Now.”
Trin sighed. “It sounds like we are scattering.”
Creata grinned. “That is life. We come together, we ease apart, but we never forget when we were interlinked.”
Trin blinked and smiled. “I see that the counsellor is working.”
Creata made a face. She paused and looked at Meadra. “He didn’t say anything, and then, he left. I think I know where he is going and what he is doing.”
They all looked at her while waiting. Finally, Meadra said, “What? What is he doing?”
“He has to get his family’s engagement ring. He is the oldest son, so he has to go to the family seat and retrieve the ring from his parents. That might not go smoothly, or there may be no problem. He won’t know until he gets there.”
Meadra blinked. “Really?”
Trin muttered. “I hope so. There is about to be a rash of pregnancies in the dragon world.”
Three surprised faces turned to her.
Apraxa whispered, “What?”
“It is a side effect. When my dragon is happy, she spreads the fertility energy around.” Trin coughed. “I was happy a few times last night.”
It was embarrassing, but it was a fact that she retained from the documents on diamond dragons that she had found.
Meadra and Apraxa put a protective hand over their bellies.
Apraxa bolted to her feet. “I have to make a call.”
She left the breakfast area, and Meadra looked down at her hand. “I really hope Creata was right about Torm. If not, I am going to have to work on suing him for breach of contract.”
Trin patted her hand. “It won’t come to that. Besides, it would be nice not to be the only bastard in the family.”
“Not funny.”
“A little funny.”
Creata snorted. “Don’t tease her. Not everyone bounces back like you do.”
“I work at it. Hey, I know. Why don’t I take y
ou two to one of the shops for a proper high tea? We can meet up with Niida and chat.”
Creata sighed. “I have to feed Esty.”
“Feed her before we leave and bring her along.”
Creata blinked and slowly grinned. “Right. I can do that. I had forgotten.”
“So, put on some outside clothing and proper shoes, feed the baby, and we can either go for a walk, or I can fly us all.”
Creata bolted from the table and headed upstairs.
Trin smiled. “I think Apraxa is going to find a flight home. If she needs a suggestion, I think I know of one dragon who might just be done with the capitol.”
Meadra had flickers of hope in her eyes, and Trin hoped that Creata was right. All Trin could manage was a diversion.
Trin held little Esty for most of the walk. By the time they arrived at the tea shop, they were all hungry again and taking a seat was most welcome.
Niida had brightened when they came through the door. They chose a table with an extra seat, and when she had a moment, she sat with them.
The conversation about the night before had to be kept in low tones. There were interested ears at every table, and some were reading copies of the morning news. Trin’s skin had reflected most of the light into a dazzling glow, but Apraxa was clearly a sea creature. In all the flashes, her eyes had gone shark black. Meadra was glittering in the images, and the speculation about who their trio was, was evident.
Trin nibbled at the treats on the tray and relaxed as she was finally able to eat out in public without worry of being poisoned. Sure, the poison probably wouldn’t have an effect, but it could injure or kill her friends. Last night’s efforts were an example of someone trying to get at her in a safe space, so part of her was going to always remain on guard.
Niida had asked Meadra if anything they spoke of last night had set Torm off.
“He asked me why we were drinking sodas when the guys came in, and I laughingly told him about you stopping the bartender and him apologizing. Torm went quiet after that and kissed my shoulder before holding me until I fell asleep.” Meadra looked at Trin. “Could that have been it?”
Trin looked at Creata, and she nodded. “It might have been a contributing factor, but it just means that Torm has to take your welfare more seriously than he thought.”
“So, when we woke up...”
“He got moving.” Trin sipped at her tea. It was one of the blends she had bought in Breaker City. The light citrus mixed with the green tea in a delightful way.
The door was dropped back into its frame, and Esty startled, snuffling and wailing softly. She was such a little lady.
The women who had disdainfully dropped the door looked over and sneered at the infant. “What is that doing in here?”
Niida got to her feet, and she spoke firmly. “She is a guest, as you are. How may I help you?”
The ladies appeared to be older dragons. Why they were in the shop was anybody’s guess.
“We wish to have tea.”
Trin looked around and raised her brows. The shop was full.
“I am sorry, madam. We are full to capacity, and we do not rush our clients. They may remain as long as they wish.”
Trin smiled. That was exactly right. The rushing was all done across the hall at the coffee shop.
“You don’t understand. We are here for tea, and perhaps that table of your friends will make room for us.”
Niida stiffened her spine. “No. They are enjoying their time here, and I have no inclination to run them off.”
The entire shop was watching the woman, and she had her head high. When she said her next sentence, Creata and Trin mouthed the words with her.
“Do you know who I am?”
Niida cocked her head. “I do not care. You are welcome to return in half an hour when the clients may or may not have completed their socializing.”
The woman jerked her chin up and doubled down. “My daughter is the diamond dragon, and she will see this little shop destroyed.”
Niida smiled. “Is she? Please. Let her come. I welcome her destruction.”
The woman was huffing. “She will be here in a moment, and then, you will see.”
Niida inclined her head. “We have waiting chairs near the door. Please be comfortable while you wait.”
Trin was fascinated. This was going to be interesting.
A woman with white-blonde hair entered the shop a moment later and stopped still when she saw her mother by the door, along with her mother’s two cronies. “I told you to get a table.”
Her mother jumped to her feet and went to face Niida again. “She is here. Will you deny her a table?”
Niida cocked her head at the young woman. “You are the diamond dragon?”
The girl snorted fire. “I am, and I will burn this place down around you unless you find us a seat.”
Trin got to her feet. “That’s it. Please excuse me.”
The girl was working up a ball of fire, and Trin reached around to grab it, shoving it back into her throat. The girl squawked, and smoke came out of her nostrils.
The mother was sputtering. “What are you doing? She can destroy us all.”
Trin gave the woman a bland look. “She really can’t. Crystal fire can work on thermally shocking pottery and scorching hair, but it can’t do much to anything else.”
Trin turned the girl to face her, and the rage drained from the girl’s face. Trin leaned in and whispered, “I am up for a queen fight, but I don’t want to kill anyone on my first day as a bonded mate. Start acting your age, behave, and tell your mother what you actually are, scorched crystal dragon. Oh, and stop bleaching your hair. It is getting all dry and brittle. It is not a good look for a young lady.”
The mother was stunned, the cronies looked ill, and the girl burst into tears at having the fiction ripped away.
“Don’t play at being me, youngling. I don’t like it.”
Trin released the girl, who staggered back into her mother’s arms. She explained about seeing the dragon at the Wheel, but no one else knew who she was, so it was easy to bleach her hair and call herself the diamond dragon when the identification came out.
The mortified mother still didn’t understand, so Trin hardened her skin from head to toe. The four bowed and apologized as they backed out of the shop.
Trin resumed her normal appearance and sat back at the table, sipping at her tea. There were gazes on her from around the room, but it was Creata giving her a thumbs-up that made her relax. This was her city, and she was going to have to learn to live in it as the diamond dragon of the Lefarge family, as soon as Brommin got the paperwork arranged.
Chapter Thirteen
Torm’s panicked expression eased as he entered the tea shop and saw Meadra sitting and laughing.
Trin watched the flicker of emotion as it moved through him. It was sweet.
“Meadra, I have looked everywhere for you.”
Creata leaned toward Trin and said, “By that, it means he went to my house, and the maids told him where we were.”
Torm scowled at her, swallowed, and refocused on Meadra. He went down on one knee and lifted a hand holding a box. “Meadra Anders, will you marry me... today?”
Meadra blinked and looked down at the box. “What is in it?”
He smiled. “Open it.”
Meadra opened the box, and she gasped. Inside the small box was a ring with a wide stone in it, marked with a swirl of tiny gems. “It is a constellation.”
“It is our family name, the griffon. Will you be Meadra Anders Griffin?”
She smiled and nodded. “I will.”
He fumbled a bit as he handled the ring box, but he slid the ring onto her left hand, and he kissed the knuckle above the ring. “Right. Let’s go.”
He paused and looked at Trin. “With your permission.”
“Take her, just know that a formal ceremony will be in your future. I want to give my aunty-m
om away.”
Meadra grinned, and Torm smiled. He pulled her to her feet, and they headed out of the shop.
Trin turned her head and watched them get into a karros to be delivered to the magistrate or however dragons got married on paper.
“Registry office. That is where they are going. His family is surprisingly upbeat for siring such a scowling and brooding fellow. I think Meadra will be good for him.” Brommin spoke from behind Trin.
She whirled. “When did you get here?”
Creata smiled. “When you were watching the proposal. It was so cute. He couldn’t believe you didn’t see him.”
Esty was hoisted up so she could watch what was about to happen.
Brommin smiled, and he went down on both knees with astonishing grace. His wings grew and flared out behind him.
“Trin Lem, diamond dragon, will you do me the honour of being my wife? My mate? My partner in life?”
She liked that he was addressing both of them. “Brommin Lefarge, obsidian dragon, will you be my husband, my mate, and my partner in life, because I am going to live for a very long time.”
He grinned. “I will if you will.”
“I will.”
He reached behind him and pulled out a long and slender object. He extended it to her on his fingertips.
The object was wrapped in black silk, and she blinked in surprise when she opened it. The blade that was inside the silk was small, but it was studded with a march of faceted stones that wrapped around the hilt.
“You had this made for me.”
He smiled. “From the moment I met you I knew that we were going to be together. The family has a ton of jewels, but this is yours and yours alone, as am I.”
She carefully folded the knife so that it laid along her skin, and then, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you. All I have for you is the next Lefarge.”
He paused and his hands wrapped tight around her. “How can you be sure?”
“She’s sure, so I am sure. Apparently, it is what diamond dragons do and why we are known to be so benevolent and generous. Fertility goddesses of ancient times. I didn’t know it worked on me as well.”