Dragon Engaged (The Covert Dragons Book 3) Read online

  It was an excellent thing that Rish could be bribed with tea and cakes.

  Chapter Four

  Quiet laughter was not horrible to wake up to. Trin pushed herself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom for a quick shower.

  By the time she was clean and had fluffed her hair out, a set of clothes had been laid out on her bed, and the bed itself had been made. Creata’s staff was efficient.

  Trin pulled on the layers of clothing that she wore on a daily basis. The feel of the fabric was unmistakable, it was one of the shifting outfits that Mirbella had crafted for her. It was nice that the maid had paid attention.

  When her boots were on, she checked her hair and ran a brush through it before pinning it up against the back of her skull in a semi-neat bun.

  She headed downstairs, and the maid nodded toward the rear of the house. Trin walked out, and the other three were already out, sitting and having coffee and tea.

  Creata smiled. “Lady Lefarge is on her way. Apparently, her son gave her a message at dawn.”

  “Ah, yes. I did manage to find him.”

  Meadra stared. “You went to visit a man, after nightfall, without an escort?”

  “I flew. No one was needed.” She walked over to the teapot and lifted the lid for a sniff. She grinned and poured herself a cup of Bright Blueberry.

  She sat and nodded as she sipped before she said, “It is a good thing that she is coming. She will be far better at helping Meadra than I would.”

  Meadra got nervous. “Help me what?”

  “Your dragon. We are going to wake her so that the valley won’t have a hold on you. You will be able to choose a male of your own, and from there, you will be protected.”

  Meadra cupped her hands around her coffee mug. “You don’t seem to need protecting.”

  “That is because she has been on her own most of her life.” Rish’s voice was calm but firm. “Trin is an excellent role model for self-sufficiency, but she still has chosen to take a mate.”

  Trin shrugged. “My dragon chose for me, and Brommin hasn’t objected yet.”

  Rish came toward them, and Creata went to stand up, but she was gracefully acknowledged and urged to remain seated.

  “Brommin’s dragon would chew its way out of his skull to have you as a mate. Don’t doubt it. My son is just a master of self-control, or you would have been applying for authorized dispensation for an existing relationship.”

  Trin got to her feet and hugged her soon-to-be mother-in-law. “You are looking well, Rish.”

  “You as well. I hear that you have mastered invisibility.”

  “As much as I can.” Trin smiled. “I would like to introduce you to my aunt, Meadra, and my friend, Apraxa.”

  Rish acknowledged Apraxa first. “I have heard of you this week. You are Erhadenia’s granddaughter.”

  “I am. Her daughter’s bastard.” Apraxa inclined her blue and crimson head.

  “But still beloved, if her incessant conversations about you are any indication. Now that you have come out to the dragon court, you are welcome to join the ball.”

  Apraxa grinned. “I know. I checked. My gown is on the way today.”

  Rish inclined her head, and then, she looked at Meadra. “And you are Trin’s aunt.”

  “Yes, Lady.”

  “Call me Rish. So, it is entirely likely that you have a dragon within. May I look?”

  Meadra got to her feet and nodded. “Will it hurt?”

  “It won’t. Let’s step this way.”

  Trin watched as Rish walked Meadra deep into the yard, and when she had gauged the distance as appropriate, Rish took Meadra’s hands and looked at her face.

  Trin felt the power building, and she was glad that Meadra was wearing a shifting outfit.

  Colour began to flow through Meadra’s body, settling slowly on a rich purple and hot pink. Once her face and hair had set the colour, she began to expand in a slow movement that was lovely to behold.

  “Oh, my.” Trin watched as her aunt expanded into a dragon that was brilliant violet and hot pink. The wings were folded tightly against her back, and when the transformation was complete, she extended them, and everyone got a shock.

  Meadra’s wings were not a leathery construction, they were gossamer, pink, gold, and rich purple at the tips. The wings belonged on a large butterfly, not a slender dragoness.

  Trin walked toward Meadra, and Rish gave her an amused and knowing look. “Your family can’t do anything the regular way, can you?”

  Trin shook her head. “Apparently not. Meadra, you look lovely.”

  The dragon looked at her and blinked huge golden eyes with long dark lashes. She was just so pretty.

  Trin shifted slowly and nuzzled her aunt’s cheek. The other dragon was only a third of Trin’s size, but the power in her was nearly bursting out of her.

  Trin nuzzled her again, and then, she slowly shifted to human. Meadra did the same.

  “Did I do it? I did it, didn’t I? What do I look like?”

  Trin curled her lips inward for a moment. The brilliant violet with hot pink streaks was a look that her aunt would have to get used to. “You are a fairy dragon.”

  Rish nodded, and her expression was definitely amused. “You certainly are. They are normally seen near the mountain ranges, but you definitely are a fairy by type.”

  Trin put a hand on her shoulder. “And I am no longer the most obvious hair colour in the family.”

  Meadra immediately grabbed a chunk of her hair and pulled it around. “Purple?”

  “And pink. You have some hot pink running through your hair. It is quite lovely.”

  Rish laughed and laughed, doubling over.

  Creata picked up her baby and came over. “What is so funny?”

  Rish straightened, wiping her eyes. “The three strongest dragonesses of our generation and no one knows they will be at the ball. The city elite is going to be shocked.”

  Trin grinned. “I can work with shocked.”

  Meadra blinked. “So, I can go to the ball and pick a man?”

  Trin corrected her. “Technically a mate. You and your dragon have to agree, or she will take you along for the ride. Do you hear her now?”

  Meadra closed her eyes, and then, she opened them in shock. “There’s a voice in my head!”

  “She has always been there, but it took Rish to show her what needed to be done.”

  The whites of Meadra’s eyes were showing. Trin took her arm. “Okay, we are going to sit down and have a cup of tea.”

  Creata nodded. “And breakfast. We are having breakfast.”

  Meadra nodded and allowed herself to be led to the table where she resumed her seat.

  Creata frowned and then thrust Esty toward Meadra. “Here. Hold the baby.”

  Meadra took the infant out of reflex, and she visibly relaxed when Esty was settled.

  Trin returned to her seat and looked at Creata with gratitude. Creata smiled and picked up her teacup.

  Their little gathering was quiet while Rish went inside to make a call.

  Creata smiled. “Mirbella is also on the way, and she mentioned contacting your other supplier, who may arrive with her.”

  Apraxa cleared her throat. “I mentioned to her that you had run low on blades, and as she knows who makes them for you, they might be arriving together.”

  Trin thought of Takka and Mirbella, and while the two were both artists, their mediums were dissimilar in the extreme. “I see. This is going to be a very interesting morning.”

  Creata nodded and got to her feet. “I had better warn the staff.”

  Meadra finally came out of her daze. “Why am I holding the baby?”

  Apraxa grinned. “You needed it. She calmed you right down.”

  Trin toasted her with the teacup. “Congratulations. When I first transformed, I got stuck. You managed in and out on your own.”

  Meadra nodded. “You were joking ab
out the purple hair, right?”

  “I am afraid not, but look at Apraxa. You don’t even notice that she has a head like a tropical fish anymore.” Trin ducked the sugar lump that came flying at her head.

  “At least I don’t look like I was frightened by my own reflection.” Apraxa made a face.

  Trin laughed, Meadra laughed, and Apraxa winked. The joke had done its job to relieve tension in their group. When the food began to be set on the outdoor sideboard, the scent was distraction enough to keep Meadra from thinking about what she had just become.

  Rish returned, and she was smirking. “You are all on the list. The invitations are being drawn up and will be delivered here in the next few hours.”

  Apraxa raised her brows. “Invitations?”

  Rish nodded. “There will also be confirmation modules that you will hand over when you arrive. A blood sample will be suspended and analyzed, granting you your order in the choosing.”

  Meadra looked down at the baby and then up again. “Me too?”

  “You too. This is not an opportunity that we will let pass us by.”

  Apraxa cocked her head. “What if my mate isn’t there? What if I don’t choose?”

  “You will be invited to spend more time with the elite of the capitol, and if you make a choice before the next dragon ball, you will be ratified in the records.”

  Apraxa nodded. “Good enough. I will be there.”

  Creata came back out and took her daughter when she began to fuss. She fed her little one with a light gauze covering over her head for decorum’s sake.

  Creata smiled. “I wish I could be there.”

  Trin frowned. “Why can’t you?”

  “Dragons only, Trin. You even have to sign a non-disclosure agreement when you get there. No one that isn’t a dragon is allowed to know what happens.”

  Rish rocked her head. “You aren’t allowed to see it. You can still know what goes on.”

  Creata grinned. “Nice. Please, spill the details.”

  Rish filled her coffee cup, added cream and sugar, and sat back while she began the process of explaining the details of the most powerful beings on the planet and how they engaged in strictly monitored courtship. It was an eye-opening lecture for all of the ladies sitting around the table.

  Chapter Five

  To Trin’s relief, Creata was loving the visitors and the conversation. Her staff brought out tray after tray of food, and Trin’s stomach growled at the scents.

  Creata smiled. “Help yourselves. I am stuck here until the little miss finishes.”

  Trin winked and balanced two plates on her arm while she went through the selections. When she was done, she slid the plate in front of her friend, and Creata grinned. “Thanks. You got all my favourites.”

  “Sweetie, everything is your favourite. It is your buffet.”

  Creata took cutlery from the maid standing by, and she stabbed the scrambled eggs, wrapping them in a strip of bacon with a deft twist.

  Trin dug into her meal with a smile. Vasic might have met her because she was suitable, but he fell for Creata because she had excellent appetites. No food was made in her home that she wasn’t willing to eat. As long as Trin had known her, the lioness never turned down bacon, and from hints Creata had given, she enjoyed Vasic’s intimate company very much. It was nice to see what a couple could do in their first year together.

  Rish cleared her throat and started the briefing. “Right, well, as you know, tomorrow is the ball, but before that is the meeting.”

  Trin cocked her head. “Brommin mentioned a cocktail party?”

  Rish rocked her hand from side to side. “Sort of.”

  Meadra leaned toward Trin and asked, “Do I have a dress for that?”

  Trin nodded. “You do. Do not worry.”

  She sighed and continued to work at her fruit salad.

  A maid came up to Creata and whispered in her ear. Creata smiled. “More guests have arrived. This is turning into a weirdly fun day.”

  Esty was lifted to her shoulder while Creata tucked her breast away. When she was set, she burped the little mistress of the house, and the noise made all the women smile.

  Rish gave Trin a sly look. “Brommin made a noise like that when he was a baby. It nearly deafened me.”

  Trin coughed as she caught the hint. “Uh, right.” She felt heat climb in her face.

  Mirbella came through the house with two assistants and Takka walking in behind her. “Okay, so cocktail dresses first. We are going to do this right here for the sake of speed.”

  Meadra held up her hand. “I got a gown made in Breaker City.”

  Mirbella gave her a long look and grinned. “Keep it for another day. Today, you are all wearing my designs.”

  Apraxa grinned. “Excellent. I have seen your workmanship, and I look forward to it.”

  “Good. You will be first.” Mirbella looked to her assistants, and they erected a framework from thin rods and fabric until a changing room had been set up.

  Apraxa looked down. “I am not done with my meal.”

  Meadra was done, so Trin volunteered her. “Mirbella, my aunt is done. She’s a fairy dragon.”

  Meadra looked a little nervous as she got to her feet.

  The seamstress looked her over and nodded. “I have something for you. Love your hair, by the way.”

  Meadra was whisked behind the curtain, and one assistant left the back garden to get more samples from their vehicle.

  Trin listened to the surprised squawk and guessed that Meadra had just lost her clothing to the seamstress.

  Rish cocked her head. “Your aunt looks a lot like you.”

  Trin smiled. “Yes, close enough to be my mother. Genetically, anyway.”

  “So, what Makros was saying was right. They are trying to build elite dragons.”

  Trin nodded. “That is what is going on. Fortunately, my mother’s and father’s lack of self-control resulted in me. Unfortunately, it cost my grandmother my life.”

  “How?”

  “My aunt is younger than I am, and she looks exactly like my mother.”

  “Oh, oooh.” Rish nodded. “Right. So, this might be a problem for your father.”

  “No. He met my mother before her dragon was drawn out. Meadra is a completely different person. She has her own hopes and dreams and is going to find her own mate. Her life will diverge from mine, and that is a good thing. She has dreamed of life out and free. This is her chance.”

  Mirbella backed out of the changing area with a smirk on her face. “I am amazing.”

  Meadra came out, and her hair was pinned up on her head as she stepped forward wearing an opalescent gown with hints of purple in it. The gown was simple, stylish, and showed no hint of the corset. It was a classic style with gossamer panels of fabric running from shoulder to wrist. She looked delicate, feminine, and magical.

  Trin smiled. “Meadra, you look wonderful.”

  Her aunt grimaced. “I feel naked.”

  Mirbella snorted. “You are wearing four layers of fabric. It just feels like nothing.”

  “Meadra, twirl.”

  Trin watched as her aunt took a few steps forward, and then, she spun. The fabric whirled out in a cascade of colour and movement. When she stopped spinning, she was smiling. “Thanks for that, Trin.”

  “Trin, you are next.”

  Trin got to her feet and smiled at Meadra. “You look wonderful.”

  “Thank you, Trin. Your turn.”

  They both went into the changing area where the assistant helped Meadra into the ball gown while the second assistant returned with armloads of garment bags.

  Mirbella made sure that Meadra was getting into the formal and boned gown for the ball without issue. It was a soft mauve with gold trim that made her hair even more vibrant.

  Trin removed her clothing and set it down on the ground while Mirbella found the gown she was looking for.

  “Aha! Come
here you wily thing.” The weight of the gown was apparent when Mirbella lifted it out of the bag.

  “Is this for the ball?”

  “No, this is just for the introduction night. The one for tomorrow night is in a bag on its own. That one is really heavy.”

  The gown was pooled at her feet, and Trin got herself into it, pulling the dress upward until the weight was hanging from her shoulders. The clash of the beads was a delicate chime while Trin breathed.

  “What is this?”

  Meadra had left the changing area, and Mirbella was the only one there.

  “This is a masterpiece. I mean, I have been looking for a client who could wear it, and you wear it very well. Go and show it to your friends if you don’t believe me.”

  Trin was about to step out when she heard a sharp whistle. She paused and grabbed Mirbella’s arm, mouthing “Stay here. Keep talking.”

  She went invisible, shucked off her dress, and crept out of the changing area.

  Men cloaked in shadow were surrounding the gathering on the patio. Their eyes were all directed toward the changing area, but one had his arm around Meadra’s throat.

  Takka’s bag was laid out and spilled open beyond the circle, so that is where Trin headed.

  The focus was on the change room while Trin carefully grabbed the knives and crept up behind the one holding Meadra. She said a silent apology to Creata for the damage that was about to happen to her garden, and then, she moved.

  All the training that Rish had given her came into play as she struck with a blade to the neck the man holding Meadra.

  Rish called out. “They are venomous.”

  The distraction of the man howling and clutching his throat got Meadra away from the gathered assassins, and Apraxa inhaled and fired water bullets through three of the attackers. Rish dispatched two of them, leaving four for Trin.

  She sprouted her wings and slashed the hands from two of the men, and when Esty let out a cry, Trin turned, and her body resumed visibility.

  She felt the men behind her, but it was the two sharp shots that made her blink. Creata was standing in front of her baby’s pram with her plasma blaster in her hands. Esty’s cry had been her mother going for her gun.