Dragon Chains

by Becca Brayden

  The tallest one, clearly the leader of the group, responded with a grin. “An oversight, I’m sure. Your king would not introduce the first contract breeder without inviting the other clans.”

  Contract breeder? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Katy stiffened. She knew an insult when she heard one.

  Mist actually growled, the sound making Katy tense. And maybe just a little scared. “You’re an ass, Erik. Take your Guardians and get out.”

  The man in the center had hair so blond it appeared white. His suit looked expensive, and he was far too handsome. But then, so were the three men surrounding him. They looked like Nordic myths, fairies or elves or something she might see in a fantasy movie. No one had that coloring in real life. Compared to Mist and Fury’s dark hair and eyes, they looked like aliens.

  Erik, the leader, ignored both Mist and Fury and looked straight at Katy. “Ms. Toure, I presume.”

  Mist swung her blades in a threatening arc. “Do not come any closer.”

  Erik tsked at her. “That won’t be necessary.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Gentlemen?”

  The two closest to Erik stepped forward and raised what looked like a cross between a harpoon and a crossbow, took aim, and fired. A net of floating silver shot from each of their weapons to cover and entangle Katy’s two protectors.

  Mist screamed in pure feminine rage, not pain. Katy knew the difference. Mist wasn’t hurt, but she was really, really angry. Spitting mad. “How dare you use Elven magic against us! That is an act of war.”

  Erik placed a hand on top of one of the crossbow-style weapons and pushed it down. The other man lowered his weapon as well, and Katy realized she’d been holding her breath in anticipation of being shot as well. Adrenaline raced through her system.

  “Ms. Toure, you are in no danger from me. I give you my word.”

  “Don’t listen to him. He’s an ass,” Fury ground out between frustrated struggles against the net holding him prisoner. The netting was so fine it looked like spiderwebs covered with fresh dew. It should have been easy for either Mist or Fury to break.

  Both struggled. Katy lifted her head to the men who stood before her, her eyes wide. “What do you want?”

  “Simply to speak with you. You will not be harmed.”

  Katy looked at Fury, who growled, to Mist, who glared at Erik but clearly spoke to her. “Don’t be afraid. Ryker will kill him if he touches you.”

  Erik chuckled at Mist’s words. “He is welcome to try.” He turned his gaze from Mist back to Katy. “However, that will not be necessary. Ms. Toure, please, I assure you, I simply need to discuss your recent bargain. You will not be harmed.”

  He looked at Mist and raised a brow as if chastising a small child. “And this would not have been necessary had your king been reasonable regarding my request to meet the lady.”

  “She is no concern of yours.” Fury pressed so hard against the net Katy could see blood welling up on his cheeks in a pattern that matched the net’s. The fine thread was literally cutting through his flesh.

  Katy tried not to show them how much she was afraid and hid her trembling hands behind her back, her shoulders straight. With both Mist and Fury out of commission, she didn’t have much choice. She was no match for four huge blond men, each at least a head taller than she and probably twice her weight. She could try to run, but she hadn’t taken running seriously since middle school when she would run from boys shoving worms in her face.

  “You won’t hurt them?” she asked.

  “Mist and Fury will remain unharmed. Please.” Erik held out his hand, and Katy stepped forward but kept her hands behind her.

  “I am perfectly capable of walking. Don’t touch me,” she said in her most regal, you-can’t-scare-me voice, walking sedately as if she were out for a casual stroll around the gardens. She may not be a real queen, but she could pretend for a few minutes.

  “As you wish. Follow me please.” Erik turned on his heel and walked back the way they had come. Behind her, Mist shouted Erik's name as Fury bellowed in rage. The three Guardians with Erik fell in around her like a circle of protection. Erik walked for a few minutes then turned and walked down a stone stairway to what felt like private tunnels or underground passages. Katy had no idea as she had never explored this part of Ryker’s estate.

  She’d been too busy in Ryker’s bed to look around.

  Erik paused before a heavy wooden door and turned to face her. “If you would please remove the crown, my dear, we shall leave that behind. The pendant as well. There are rules even I will not break.”

  Katy had completely forgotten she was still wearing a fortune in diamonds. She lifted the sparkling crown from her head and looked around for a place to put it.

  “Anywhere will do.” Erik pointed to the floor.

  Seemed a shame, but…

  Katy set the crown on the floor, followed by the necklace, and stood to face Erik. “Now what?” She covered the ring she wore with her opposite hand. That she could not bear to remove.

  “Now we shall go somewhere we can have a nice, sensible discussion.”

  One of Erik's Guardians opened the door and led the way outside. Each lifted their weapons as they moved together across one of the smaller courtyards, with Erik and her in the center of the circle.

  Thunder rumbled in the sky, and Katy looked up, expecting to see clouds. A storm. It was early evening, but dusk had not yet given way to night. She shivered with apprehension.

  The sky was clear. Beautiful. She could hear the crashing of the sea far below the cliff the estate rested upon.

  Erik and the others led her to a door in the estate’s tall stone wall. “Where are we going? We can talk here.”

  Erik laughed. “Oh, no. Not here. Ryker is too hot-headed at the moment to see reason.”

  Obviously arguing would do her no good, so Katy followed as Erik led her through the gate, her arms crossed protectively in front of her.

  The cliff edge was no more than thirty paces away, then dropped off to the Mediterranean Sea far below. The smell of salt and seaweed, fish and sand surrounded her. The rhythmic sound of crashing surf and thunder made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

  Then she heard a roar. Not that of a lion. Nothing so small. This sound came from the sky itself, loud as the thunder from twenty simultaneous strikes of lightning.

  She jumped. Looked up. And up.

  What the…?

  Two large beasts crashed together in midair, their bodies twisting and turning around one another as they plummeted toward the water. One black, one red. The black creature released the other and soared back into the sky as the red creature careened out of control toward the water.

  Katy blinked. Eagles? Seabirds of some kind? Huge, gigantic scary seabirds?

  What was that?

  “I see Ryker has not told you everything.”

  Tearing her gaze from the strange sight, Katy looked at Erik. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

  “He has not told you what we are.”

  Erik watched the same spectacle as she, except he did not look confused. He was smiling.

  Another roar grabbed her attention, and she whirled back to face the open water just as the red creature erupted from the water. It climbed toward the black as the black—God help her, she was going to say it—dragon plummeted from high in the sky in what looked like an attack dive. Fire, or what looked like fire, came from the black dragon’s mouth.

  “Oh my God.” Her hands closed over her mouth in shock. Disbelief. Fascination.

  One of the men behind her chuckled. “God isn’t going to help you.”

  “Silence.” Erik chastised the man, but it was too late. Katy’s heart, already pounding with adrenaline and fear, beat double time.

  The black dragon attacked the red once more, biting, clawing, tearing at the red dragon’s wings, locked in a deadly battle.

  “My lord, you’d better send Talon up there. Ryker is in a killing ra
ge.”

  Erik nodded, his gaze never losing sight of the two dragons. “Yes, I see that.”

  Katy gasped. Surely they weren’t implying Ryker, her Ryker, could be one of those dragons up there? She looked up again, her fear growing exponentially as she watched the red dragon slash at the black dragon’s underbelly.

  She turned to look at Erik, who was watching her with a speculative look in his cold blue eyes. They were like ice, a glacier frozen behind each eyelid. “Go.”

  One of the three Guardians took off at a run, and Katy lost sight of him.

  “The car is this way, Ms. Toure. If you’ll follow me.” It wasn’t a question nor a request; it was an order, and they both knew it.

  In a matter of seconds their small group walked under cover of overhanging rocks and spindly trees that clung to life on the side of the cliff, the thin roots a chaos of twisting white lines just above her head. The ledge they walked on was not wide, yet her shoulder repeatedly brushed the rocks as one of the Guardians kept pace, walking between her and the steep drop on the opposite side.

  The roaring faded the farther they walked, and in a few minutes Erik led her to a small clearing where a long black limousine awaited their arrival, another blond giant opening the door for them as they approached.

  “After you.” Erik stepped aside and waved his arm, acting the gentleman, as he waited for her to climb into the vehicle. Adjusting her gown, she stepped inside the most luxurious car she’d ever been in. Erik followed her inside, sat beside her. She scooted as far away as she could get from him.

  Erik sighed.

  She glared. She’d just been kidnapped, and he had the nerve to act like she was the one being unreasonable.

  Seconds later the car was in motion.

  Totally faking a bravado she didn’t really feel, she tapped her foot impatiently and demanded, “Where are you taking me?”

  “Somewhere you’ll be safe.”

  “Why?”

  “Many lives depend on the answers to my questions, Ms. Toure.”

  Katy crossed her arms defensively. “I don’t know anything.”

  “We shall see.”

  13

  Dragon:

  * * *

  Idiot human! Remove chains!

  Dragon threw himself against the sand, his tail thrashing wildly. A large, stray boulder that had fallen from the cliffs years earlier burst into pieces with one swipe of his tail. The dried remains of a tree limb splintered in half, broke, and were driven deep into the sand. With a monstrous roar he tried to throw off the chains holding him prisoner, focused his magic in an attempt to melt the offensive Elven metal for the thousandth time.

  Nothing. His human had been silent since the two dragon opponents had turned tail and run away. Dragon was too weak to give chase. Bleeding. Torn. His wings badly damaged. He needed half a day to heal.

  Too long! His mate was gone. Taken.

  Dragon seethed. Ryker! Remove chains! We go. Destroy enemy.

  No! Ryker argued, the human voice inside the dragon’s mind. We don’t know where Erik took her. Let me out.

  Hunt! Now! You failed. Human Ryker had his chance to protect our mate. To claim her. Dragon will make things right. Find mate. Destroy enemies. Give true mate my dragonfire.

  Every swipe of his tail caused ripples in the sand like raindrops in a shallow pool of water. Around him, the rocks and sand took on a reddish hue as dragon blood soaked the earth. Eventually he would break free. He was ancient. The oldest of all living dragons. He would not be defeated.

  “Ryker!” Someone farther up the beach yelled his human’s name. Who dared approach? Dragon waited until the fool drew near and blasted the intruder with fire. A fellow dragon would be immune to the flame. An ignorant human would burn.

  Dragon was out of patience.

  Rather than turn to ash, as Dragon expected, the intruder continued to advance on his position, enveloped by a silvery glow.

  Dragon sniffed. Elven magic.

  Dark elf.

  Dragon roared in fury.

  “Ancient One,” said the dark-haired man covered in black Elven armor. “You called for the executioner. I am here.”

  Dragon turned his head. Raged. Swung his massive body to face the elf. Bits of sand, rock, and salt water flew from Dragon’s tail to douse the elf, but the ancient magic woven through the elf’s armor held steady, and the assault melted away, not harming the elf at all.

  A low rumble was the only warning Dragon would give. If Dragon could not burn the elf, he would crush him under talon and claw. Tear the elf to pieces. Break free of these chains.

  Hunt. Go to his mate.

  “Dragon! Do not force me to kill you today. We were friends once. Do you not remember?”

  Dragon swung his head back and forth, fighting the memories that accompanied the all too familiar voice. Dragon had great magic inside him. Magic so ancient, so wrapped in mystique and legend, few could comprehend the extent of his power. He narrowed his gaze. Lowered his head to stare at the one sent to kill him.

  I remember you, Prince Alrik. Dark Elf scum. You dare threaten me? You cannot kill me. I am a dragon.

  “Old friend. Do not make me do this. Calm yourself. Allow me to speak to Ryker.”

  Dragon snarled. Roared. Breathed fire at the Dark Elf, but the bastard stood his ground, hand on his sword hilt, completely unaffected.

  Asshole.

  That finally had an effect. Prince Alrik threw back his head and laughed.

  Tired from the battle and from berating the human inside him, tired of trying to break free of the dragon chains, Dragon gave one last heaving breath of fire and allowed Ryker to regain control over his form, gave in to the change.

  Exhausted and bleeding, Ryker pulled himself slowly to his feet, his only thoughts of Katy. He had ruined everything. He never should have allowed the invaders to breach his defenses. Should have tripled his guard. Not been so arrogant. Should have listened to his dragon and told Katy the truth, revealed his true nature, Draquonir laws be damned, and bound her to both parts of him. Once she was fully his, he would have found a way to keep her by his side.

  Coward. His dragon scolded.

  “I know, Dragon. Silence. I’ve had enough.” Ryker had acted out of a need to protect his mate from the Draquonir laws, but also out of fear. He admitted to himself that he had been terrified of losing her when she discovered the truth; he was centuries old, an ancient dragon shifter. A creature of myth and legend. A monster in disguise.

  Now she was gone.

  He shook his head and stumbled forward, blood dripping with the steady beat of a leaking faucet into the sand.

  “They ripped you to pieces.” Vector had arrived on the beach and now stood next to the dark elf, Prince Alrik.

  “You are fortunate they did not kill you.” Alrik’s tone held no jest, merely a statement of fact.

  “It wasn’t me they were after.” Ryker’s voice was dry and rough from battle and breathing fire. “I welcome your presence, Alrik. I need only your skill with that blade in battle, not as my executioner. My true mate has been taken from me.”

  Alrik nodded solemnly. “Your brother has informed me of your mate’s abduction. If she is your true mate, you must fight for your sanity. Your dragon has become too powerful. You know this. Remain in control of him and lead the hunt to find her. I will honor my vow to your kind if necessary, but your death would be a great loss to all Draquonir. And”—he scowled—“I believe Vector has located King Erik’s private jet.”

  Katy sat in her cushioned leather seat aboard Erik’s private jet, looking out the window wishing she had her cell phone. She had no idea where Emily was or when she would arrive in Italy. Ryker knew who she really was, she’d been kidnapped and she couldn’t even warn her twin. Or beg for forgiveness.

  They’d been in the air for several hours. Plenty of time to contemplate her situation.

  Whoever Erik was, he had money. Power. Big, scary, Viking-looking hunks crawling al
l over the place. The few words he’d said to Katy since she’d been whisked away in the car gave her no clue as to who he was. He had the same strange, not quite familiar accent that Ryker did. Erik signaled one of his Guardians to come over.

  Erik sat in the seat facing her this time. “Can you bring me a whiskey, please? Ms. Toure? Anything for you? White wine? A spritzer? Sparkling water? Are you hungry?”

  She shouldn’t, she really shouldn’t, but she could not get the image of those dragons out of her head. Either she was seeing things, or the world no longer made sense. “I’ll take a double shot of tequila.”

  Erik grinned at her as the large man left them to get the drinks. If she wasn’t totally in love with Ryker, then Erik could definitely turn a girl’s head. The man was drop-dead gorgeous. Even if he had kidnapped her.

  “Now, Ms. Toure, or may I call you Emily?”

  Holy shit. He thought she was Emily? Of course he did. She was an idiot.

  What the hell had her wonderful, amazing, dear, dear sister gotten her into now?

  She took a deep breath. Mentally reviewed the twin swap rules again. Gave Erik a super fake smile. “Sure. Emily is fine.” Might as well try to appease him for the moment. Be polite. Give Ryker and the Guardians time to come after her. Because they would. She was sure of it. This guy was on borrowed time.

  “Thank you, Emily. You may call me Erik.”

  “Okay.” The giant Viking set the double shot of tequila in front of her, glass perfectly rimmed with salt, along with a fresh slice of lime. She settled a generous number of the salt crystals onto her tongue and gulped down the tequila, grateful for the instant warmth spreading in her gut, and ignored the lime. This was not the time.

  Erik sipped his whiskey on ice and watched her in silence.

  Finally, tired of waiting, she spoke first. “Why did you kidnap me, Erik? What do you want?”

  “I want the truth.”

  Well, that was fine with her. As long as she knew what the truth was. “All right.”

  “How did Ryker recruit you for this contract?”