Dragon Engaged Read online

  A light pink fire began on the ballgown, starting at the hem and creeping upward. Every smudge, every speck, every trace of the attack had been removed.

  Mirbella looked to Creata. “Would you like me to take care of the dead?”

  Creata nodded. “Please. Thank you.”

  More of the pink fire began under the assassins, and they flared brightly before disappearing entirely.

  In five minutes, the two survivors had been tied up, and the others had bled to death and been dispatched.

  Trin had tried on both gowns and was very happy that she had gotten naked for the attack. The beads would have given her away.

  The heavy beat of wings above them heralded the arrival of the dragons. Rish had called for bodyguards for the remainder of the day.

  Trin got back into her daywear before she exited the changing area. The last thing she wanted was to be naked in front of dragons who might be interested in her as a mate. She had her sights set on Brommin.

  The assassins had been taken into custody, and the dragon shifters were interviewing the ladies. Three men, in particular, were speaking with Meadra, and to Trin’s amazement, one of those men was Torm.

  With Sosa having fallen for a silver dragon and gotten a quick dispensation for an immediate mating while Trin was in Breaker City, it looked like Torm’s attentions were wide open for his next target. As the dragons were at the helm for this, there was no problem that Trin could see if his dragon was choosing another likely lady. Perhaps the best match of all.

  Trin watched him and smiled as his fascination for her aunt was apparent. Maybe a match would be struck.

  Brommin stood in front of Trin as she continued to walk with a split focus. “Trin, do you know what happened?”

  “Well, I was in the change room for most of it, but I am guessing that the guys came out of the shadows. One grabbed Meadra, so I am thinking it was the idiots in the valley who sent them to get her.”

  “That is a good guess. So, you were in the change room the whole time?” He arched his brow.

  “Um, what did everyone else say?”

  “They said that they didn’t see anything. Knowing you as I do, that can only mean that you were involved.” He quirked his lips.

  “I may have jumped out naked as a distraction. That was toward the end.”

  Vasic must have arrived with the dragons. He was holding Creata and the baby and looking furious and concerned.

  Creata gave Trin a look from under her lashes, and then, she winked.

  Trin smiled; it was so nice to see her spirit back.

  Apraxa was speaking with two more dragons, and Rish was at her side. Takka had disappeared.

  “Do you know how they figured out you were here?” Brommin asked the obvious question.

  Trin wrinkled her nose. “There are two guesses. One is breakfast, and the other is Mirbella.”

  “What?”

  “Breakfast. Creata’s maids went out and got enough food this morning for about nine people. That isn’t normal, and it is what someone who knew my relationship with her would expect.”

  Brommin nodded. “Plausible.”

  “The other one would be to watch Mirbella because if I were in town, I would need a dress, as would Meadra. They wouldn’t know about Apraxa.”

  “Right. So, you are going to be at the introduction tonight?”

  “I am. We all have outfits for it, so Rish just has to go through the details.”

  “She didn’t?”

  “She didn’t have a chance. We do know about the confirmation scans and the non-disclosure agreement. That is about it.”

  He leaned down and whispered in her ear. The details were dispensed quickly, and as he moved his head, he brushed his lips against hers.

  She smiled. “See you tonight.”

  He smiled. “Yes, you will.”

  She watched him go over to speak to his mother. Two days and then forever, or two days plus the engagement and then forever. After tomorrow, he would be hers.

  Chapter Six

  It was with great amusement that she introduced Torm to Meadra.

  “Torm, I see you have met my aunt. Meadra, this is Torm. He has excellent protective and possessive instincts.”

  Trin blinked as Torm caught on before her aunt did.

  He extended his hand, and when Meadra took it, he brought her fingers to his lips. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Meadra blushed a brilliant red. “I feel the pleasure... I mean it is wonderful... I mean... I am glad to meet you.”

  Torm smiled, and he inclined his head. “I look forward to seeing you this evening.”

  “Me too. I mean, yes. I mean, how did you know?”

  He grinned. “You just told me.”

  Trin backed away, and the other two dragon shifters were bemused by what was going on in front of them.

  She sighed in relief. This was right. This was why Torm was attracted to her, she was the closest thing to the right woman. Well, she had been. Now Meadra was his focus.

  She walked toward Apraxa, and the water dragon was only too happy to cling to Trin’s arm and get away from the dragon who was interviewing her.

  The man looked at Apraxa with an intense gaze, so Trin led her to one of the rosebushes. “Was he making moves on you?”

  Apraxa made a face. “Yes. This group was all confirmed as selected elite mate candidates. There are eighty of them. With us, there will be eighteen ladies looking. It is one of the largest balls they have had in the last ninety years.”

  “Wow. Okay. That is news to me. Well, I have the details for this evening from Brommin. Once Torm leaves, I will fill you in.”

  “Is that the same Torm that was stalking you?”

  “Yup. His dragon was going through rut and was attracted to me, but Meadra is much more his type. It seems that his dragon was looking for a specific energy pattern. So, formal introductions have been made, and it seems they have hit it off. It feels right.”

  Apraxa sighed and looked around the yard. “So many dead so quickly.”

  “Yes, and that thing you did with spitting water blades was extremely impressive.”

  Her friend shrugged. “It was a skill I mastered as a teen. Underwater you can’t even see it. It makes fishing very quick.”

  “What do you think your brothers will think about this?”

  Apraxa smiled. “My family will be delighted. They have wanted me to find someone for years.”

  “So, tonight and tomorrow you are coming along for us?”

  “You will need someone to watch your back.”

  Trin grinned. “Thank you.”

  “No problem. Aside from the mayhem and the attack, I have been having a good time out here. It has certainly distracted me.” Apraxa winked. “You did a very good job in keeping my work up to date.”

  “I needed something to take my mind off home. The shops now have enough supply to keep them in pottery, teas, and coffee for six months.”

  She caught a glimpse of new arrivals, and she turned in welcome.

  Brenner and Niida came in, and Brenner looked at the chaos of the situation. “Trin, what the hell did you do?”

  Trin grinned and walked over to hug her friends. “Nothing you wouldn’t have done in my place. But, they did start it.”

  Niida laughed and hugged her. “And you finished it.”

  “Nope, Apraxa finished it. You should see her spit.”

  Brenner looked surprised, but Niida giggled until she realized that Trin was serious.

  Brenner looked past her and asked, “What are all the Track and Restrict agents doing here?”

  Creata answered from her position against her husband, “I called them. Well, me and Rish. She called her son, I called Vasic, and here they are. They were in an etiquette briefing for this evening.”

  Rish clapped her hands. “Ladies, we need to finish our own briefings. Gentlemen, please take the assassins away and get as many details from them as you can. Dr. Dred
ock can help.”

  Trin looked to Brommin and inclined her head.

  He grinned, grabbed one of the men, and flared his wings. He was up and out of the yard in an impressive display of thigh strength.

  Apraxa whistled softly. “So, that one is yours?”

  “He is. If any other female even tries, she will be up for a fight.” Trin sighed. “I don’t know about your dragon, but mine is exceptionally possessive.”

  “He does seem to have that tendency. That is why I am here, and he is there. When I am ready to face him again, I will head back to the sea.”

  “Well, I wish you luck with him. Did he really want control of your businesses?”

  Apraxa waved her hand. “Control, input, they are my businesses, and he has no business in them.”

  Trin grinned. “I can understand that.”

  They began to walk over to where the others were gathering. “Does he fly?”

  “Yes, he does. He’s a tempest.” Apraxa stated it like Trin should know what that was.

  “I am not from the dragon world, remember?”

  “Oh, right. He’s a water and air elemental but mostly air.”

  Trin took that to mean that he was a blowhard. She paused, turned, and walked over to Meadra and Torm.

  “Torm, don’t you think you should be rejoining your group?”

  His eyes were glazed over with fascination, as were Meadra’s. Trin wouldn’t be surprised if their dragons were chatting.

  “Meadra, we need to finish our briefing. We need to know what to do.”

  Meadra smiled sleepily. “I know what to do. I say yes to Torm, and then, we have a fast courtship.”

  Torm smiled. “As fast as my family will allow.”

  “As the only member of her family here, if I am sure you two are going to be together, I will throw whatever clout I can manage behind a speedy connection.”

  Torm smiled. “You were not for me.”

  “No, I wasn’t, but now, I understand why you might have been confused about it.”

  He nodded, bowed a formal farewell to Meadra, sprouted his wings, and he took off with only a little hesitation.

  Trin gathered Meadra with an arm around her back, and she gave her a squeeze. “Feels odd, doesn’t it.”

  “It does. It is like something else has made up its mind and is hell-bent against anyone interfering. And she is willing to use me as a battering ram to get what she wants.”

  “She will. Do not doubt it for a moment. I don’t know where they come from, but they are only playing in to our human sensibilities for so long. If we keep them from what they want, they will push us aside. We have given them a door into this world, and they will take it.”

  Meadra looked ill. “Will she hurt me?”

  “No. No. Not for a minute. She wants a mate, and you are her pathway to it. His wants a mate, and he will ride Torm to your doorstep.”

  “Him?”

  “Torm’s dragon. He is as much a part of this as yours is.”

  Meadra sighed as they approached the others. “This is complicated.”

  “Shifters have four beings in every mating. They all have to agree, or nothing can go forward, but if they are thwarted, the mating is sterile. That is what happened with my father and mother. His dragon didn’t want the lady that it was engaged to, so no children.”

  Meadra nodded and then looked uncomfortable. “Will he want me?”

  “No. His dragon was bound to my mother. When she died, so did his chance at a future.”

  Meadra looked at Trin. “Maybe he got exactly what he was trying for. The child of a sleeping dragoness is now one of the dragons of myth and legend.”

  Vasic looked away from his family. “What?”

  Creata patted his chest with one hand. “Trin isn’t a crystal dragon, she’s a diamond.”

  He stared at Trin, looked down at his wife, and then back to Trin. “Is she joking?”

  Trin looked around and wrinkled her nose. “No, she is not joking.”

  Around her were her friends and what she considered her family. Not one of the ones who didn’t already know looked surprised.

  Vasic looked around and sighed. “You all knew?”

  Mirbella smiled. “I did, but I am a little odd.”

  Brenner and Niida stood together, grinning. Niida said, “When she found out she was a dragon, what else would she be?”

  Vasic sighed and cuddled his family close. “Of course, she is.”

  Creata patted him again. “You knew she came along when you met me.”

  He let out a low chuffing sound that Trin had never heard from him before. It was surprisingly intimate.

  “I knew, but this is going to another level. You know what this means.”

  “I do. We all do, but Trin isn’t like that. She doesn’t have any interest in ruling the world or even the city. She just wants to have her business with Brenner and spoil our children rotten. We are enough for her.”

  He exhaled slowly. “Right. I need some coffee, and then, I have to get back to the Wheel. We have dignitaries coming in, and I need to be there. I will order an honour guard for our three participants in the upcoming events.”

  Creata smiled. “Thank you, dearest. I would be helpless without you.”

  He leaned down and kissed her softly. “I can smell the ozone, Creata. You are never helpless.”

  She was blushing and rocking little Esty when he left her for the buffet. Coffee was on his agenda but so was bacon.

  The crowd of women and Brenner moved away slightly. Mirbella was firmly in their midst, and Rish was bemused by the gathering.

  Brenner grinned. “This reminds me of the time we ran from the orphanage to go camping.”

  Trin chuckled. “How?”

  “We all bundled together with the others near the wall, and while they remained huddled, we slipped out. Who is slipping out this time?”

  Creata stated. “No one. We are all staying here, and tonight, the ladies go to the cocktail party.”

  Rish nodded. “Right. Now, you are going to be dressed and ready by six-thirty. A car will pick you up, and you will have your invitation and the verifier. Once that is registered, you will be entered into the selection process for the ball tomorrow.”

  She looked at the three ladies in question and smiled, “Tonight, you will each be escorted to a kiosk where you will meet the candidates, four at a time.”

  Meadra cleared her throat. “The candidates?”

  “The men. The men will speak with you, and you will try to determine which one you are most interested in and which come second and third if the male you choose has already been chosen by a dragoness of higher rank.”

  Meadra gasped. “That can happen?”

  Rish nodded. “It has happened before that two females choose the same male. The females need to either choose their second pick or battle it out. For the sake of decorum, we generally urge that they try to commit to their second selection.”

  Trin cocked her head. “And if you know which males we are already leaning toward, you put them last in the greeting process.”

  Rish nodded. “It is best that way.”

  Apraxa smiled slightly. “And the next day, we proffer our invitations, and we are escorted into the ballroom?”

  “Yes. Mingling is done until all the females are there, and then, the men form a line and the first female to choose is announced. She makes her selection and offers her hand, and when he takes it, they leave, and the next female is called up. The courtship can now begin, and Trin, if you try and stop my son from the wedding he deserves, I will make your life a living hell.”

  The gathering laughed at the way Rish described it as if Trin and Brommin were a sure thing. There could be a dragon out there with a higher rank by virtue of birth. There was no guarantee of the happily ever after.

  Chapter Seven

  With blood sample units in hand and the driver of the luxury karros smiling at them, the ladies left the vehicle and walked toward the
heavily guarded archway.

  Trin kept her head high as she slid over the smaller invitation and presented the verifier with her name embossed in it.

  He set the small box into a much larger one and smiled. “Thank you, welcome to the night of meeting, Miss Adolla Venatrin Lem. A guide will take you to your station.”

  She inclined her head. “Thank you.”

  A young male in the livery of the dragon council was waiting for her, and he bowed low. “Miss Lem, please come with me.”

  She followed him and noted the few other females who were standing near tables containing snacks and beverages. So, it could be a heavy drinking evening if she was so inclined. Nice to know.

  Apraxa and Meadra showed up and were stationed three tables to the left and two tables across respectively. The other stations were filled with women who looked nervous and excited. Some even looked bored.

  Trin gave a little wave to her friends, and they smiled and waved back.

  To her consternation, a chime rang, and panels of shadow rose from the floor, cutting off her view. Shouts of consternation were coming from the other tables.

  “Ladies, please do not be alarmed. As there are more entrants than normal, we had to use an open room. An illusionist has been asked to participate in maintaining the sense of privacy. We will now begin.”

  It was the warning before four men walked through the barrier, and she was blinking at strangers.

  She put on her best polite smile, honed behind the counter at her coffee shop, and she greeted the men, gaining their names one by one.

  They were with her for ten minutes before the next batch was brought in. They greeted her, and she greeted them.

  The men spoke about themselves, and she listened encouragingly. When they left, she spoke to the third round, and so it went. Not one man asked her about herself.

  The eleventh group held a surprise. Four men who were obviously water dragons walked into her space.

  Introductions didn’t even begin. One of them stood straight with his nostrils flaring. “You. You are the one she has been speaking to.”

  Trin grinned. “Yes, that would be right.”