Dragon Engaged Read online

  “You guys didn’t see that, and you came to help me anyway? Aw, how sweet.” Trin smiled. “I had to go and rescue Brommin from a set of young guardsmen who were upset that he had made himself available to me instead of one of their female relatives.”

  Apraxa sat up. “What?”

  “Oh, yeah. They had him chained up. I set him free and then gave the young men something to remind them that messing with the mating process is not allowed.”

  “And then?” Creata took a huge bite out of her tiny sandwich, endangering her fingers.

  “He flew us back to my cubicle just in time for the shadows to drop.” Trin snagged some more food and sat back to eat. She mumbled, “There may have been some kisses exchanged, but then, the senator showed up and our relaxing moment was over. I honestly thought they would come after me.”

  Meadra and Apraxa asked her question after question, but she smiled and shook her head. “No one knows what I am yet. It is just us, our friends, and Brommin’s family. Tomorrow will be the public reveal. I am just hoping that no other dragon female outranks me.”

  Meadra stared at her, and then, she started laughing. “That is very funny. That is the funniest thing I have heard all evening.”

  Trin smiled and sipped at her tea. “How was your introduction with Torm in the room?”

  She smiled shyly. “He kept all the men in a corner, facing the wall while he stroked my hand and my cheek.”

  Apraxa smiled and turned her head to Trin. “Did you know that Romak was here for this?”

  Trin shrugged. “I had a feeling. I didn’t call him if that was your worry. I am guessing that he checked and you weren’t home, so he thought of the next largest gathering of dragons and came here. He was probably panicking a little.”

  “He’s arrogant, so panic isn’t his forte. He simply expects things to go his way.”

  Trin asked, “Did you talk?”

  Apraxa nodded. “We did. I think he is salvageable.”

  It was high praise from the hurricane dragon.

  Creata was nibbling on food with her eyes wide. “Will you talk about this sort of thing after the ball?”

  Trin winked. “We have a non-disclosure agreement. Of course, we will.”

  Chapter Nine

  Four hours of sleep was all that Trin was going to get. She slipped on her robe and walked down the stairs and to the rear of the house.

  The nearly full moon was setting, and it made her smile. Of course, the ball would be held at the full moon. It made no sense because the dragons wouldn’t be affected by it, but it would make it harder for the females to fly off when they had to make their choice.

  Trin stood out where the wind could pull at her robe, and she breathed in and out.

  She sensed Vasic before she heard his footfalls. “Are you nervous, Trin?”

  She inclined her head slightly. “My human mind is in a whirling panic, and my dragon is digging her claws in. She wants him, and I don’t really have a say in this anymore.”

  He walked close to her and stood a few feet away, looking at the same moon she was. “It was the same for me. I looked at Creata and saw a sweet and timid creature. I didn’t want sweet and timid, I wanted fire. My lion knew what he wanted, and he saw the mother of his children the moment that he looked at her.”

  She chuckled. “When did you find out?”

  “After the engagement had been announced. We were scheduled for a chaperoned trip to the ballet, and I arrived early at her grandmother’s home. I heard the clash of loud music and off-key singing. I followed the caterwauling, and there she was, working with a ratchet to assemble some sort of wiring harness.”

  “Her singing has always been an acquired taste.” Trin smiled softly.

  “Esty loves it. But, she looked at me, and I actually saw her, dressed in her evening gown without a smudge on her and surrounded by metal, cables, and computing devices. I finally saw her.”

  “And you knew.”

  “I knew. Much to her surprise, I kissed her, and we completed our courtship and booked the wedding that week. I finally learned to trust my lion. He had seen what I wasn’t even looking for. My mate.” Vasic’s voice was soft.

  “Regrets?”

  “I wish I had seen the signs that she was being smothered by the niceties of family, obligation, and motherhood.”

  “She was gotten to in time, and you now know what to do.”

  He chuckled. “Her lab was always waiting for her. She had to decide it was time to return to it.”

  Trin inhaled and exhaled slowly. “It was. Her inventions have always ridden just above public technology, and she could do amazing work if she just let herself go.”

  Vasic chuckled again. “Perhaps wait until the breastfeeding is over before you encourage her to lose track of the world around her.”

  “Perhaps you should trust your wife to know what is best for her daughter.” Creata’s amused tone rippled through the night.

  Vasic turned, but Trin kept her head trained skyward. The stars were fading, and the light was slowly edging along the eastern horizon.

  She stood and watched the sunrise with her friend and her husband, the first mated couple in her little circle.

  Unlike Vasic, she had only had knowledge of her beast for just over a month. Trusting her dragon was the sticking point for her. The dragon gave her power and protection, but what did it want in return, and what did it want from Brommin?

  Trin was reading a book to Esty when Mirbella came into the room.

  “There you are! I have been looking for you for ten minutes.”

  “Why? I fitted the gown yesterday.”

  “I have made some alterations. Takka has offered a few enhancements, and I installed them. You need to be walked through their release procedures.”

  “A moment.” Trin continued reading until she finished the last six pages of the fairy tale.

  The nanny that had been waiting nearby came to retrieve her charge. Trin kissed Esty on the head and then handed her over.

  It was time to get dressed for the ball.

  Trin went through the locations of all the fine and deadly filaments that had been secreted in her gown. She was still wearing an ancient-styled tunic, but the back-laced corset that wrapped around her waist and supported her breasts was loaded with everything from razor-thin blades to small smoke bombs.

  “Why is she giving me all of this?”

  “Because there is a price on your head. It is a very large price, and while Takka isn’t interested, others might be.”

  She looked to Mirbella. “A wizard wouldn’t be?”

  Mirbella didn’t take offense. “I am much better off with the diamond dragon as my friend than I would be if I tried to end her reign before it started.”

  “I am not going to reign. That has never been in my plans.”

  Mirbella chuckled. “The world has changed, but it hasn’t seen a diamond dragon for a very long time. It will react to you, one way or another. I hope Brommin knows what he is in for.”

  Uncertainty rocked through her, and she swayed. “I am not sure that he does. Oh, no.”

  Mirbella held her upright when she would have sat down. “Oh, no. You are not going to sit in this thing until after you have chosen your mate. The silk is lovely and flowing, but it doesn’t like direct pressure.”

  Trin glanced toward the fading light of the sunset. “So, I am on my feet until midnight?”

  “I believe that the moon’s zenith will be somewhere nearer ten thirty.”

  “Four hours then. I can be on my feet for four hours.” She watched as Mirbella fluttered the skirts and checked to make sure that the fall remained decorous.

  “Do the others have boots?”

  “No, they have the proper slippers. You needed something to hold the crystal spikes.”

  She smiled slightly. “I do feel better knowing that I can defend folks if the valley idiots show up. They are the only ones who have a claim on Meadra.”

  “An
d you.”

  “No. The Home for the Unknown had to name me, so they had to legally sign on as my family. At the same time, all ties to family past or present had to be severed. The notice was posted in the papers, and no one showed up to claim me. Their time in my life has passed. Even my father has no claim.”

  “Have you met him yet?”

  “No, I think that facing him will be better done when Brommin and I have our link. I have a few things I want to say to him, and I might need a witness, so I don’t hurt him.”

  “You are mad?”

  “Furious, but she was desperate to escape, and he thought he couldn’t get her pregnant. It was monumental stupidity on both parts.”

  Mirbella sighed and stepped back. “You are beautiful. The gown is beautiful, even the armoured corset is lovely. You are a vision, and Brommin will be stunned.”

  “I doubt it. I am pretty sure that he is never stunned. Are the others wearing the same thing?”

  Mirbella rocked her hand a little. “More or less. The idea is to give the males a hint of your colour before you arrive. Dressing you in clear was out of the question, so I chose white and crystal. They might still think you are a crystal dragon, but we know the truth, and so does Brommin.”

  Trin nodded and took a deep breath. “Right. No surprises. He knows.”

  Footsteps rapidly approached the door, and Creata opened Trin’s door. “The karros has been destroyed.”

  Trin nodded. “As I expected. I am going to fly us there.”

  Mirbella blinked. “All of you?”

  “I can do it in my human form with just my wings. We will look correct when we arrive though I may crease their gowns a little.”

  Mirbella whistled. “Wow. Okay. You can... all right.”

  Creata blinked. “You are going to fly there?”

  “I am. This outfit can shift with me, so we will just get to the top of the house and fly from there.”

  Mirbella nodded. “It can shift with you. It took most of last night, but it will shift with you.”

  Trin smiled and put a hand on the designer’s shoulder. “I know. I was hoping that this would all be a normal night of blushing and giggling. Now, I am ready for what happens as the backup plan.”

  Creata sighed and smiled. “You look amazing. I wish I looked half that good on my wedding day.”

  “You did. You glowed, though part of that might have been nervousness.”

  Creata chuckled. “I still didn’t look half as majestic as you do right now.”

  “Let’s hope that the night flight doesn’t ruffle my hair.” Trin grinned.

  Mirbella gave her one final look. “There you are. You are perfect. Not a hair out of place.”

  “It never lasts long, but thanks for the compliment. I was designed to be scruffy.” Trin winked.

  She straightened her shoulders and walked to Creata, giving her a gentle hug. “Where are the others?”

  “In the drawing room.”

  “Good. I am going to get them to the roof, and we will go from there.”

  She grabbed her invitation and tucked it inside her corset. With her mind focused on action, she headed downstairs.

  Trin swept into the drawing room with her gown fluttering. She paused. “You two look amazing.”

  Meadra was wearing a bright violet with hot pink-embroidered trim gown, wrapped with gold cording. Her hair was a pile of curls that exposed her neck. She looked delicate and lovely.

  Apraxa was a study in power. Her gown was patterned with blue waves, and thin crimson streaks ran through it turning the design into storms where the red coalesced. Her hair was twisted together into a thick column that hung over her shoulder and down to her waist.

  Apraxa held her invitation up. “We would be sitting ducks out there. So, what do we do?”

  “Give me your invitations and get on the roof. We are flying there.”

  Meadra blinked. “Torm said there would be press. They can’t come inside, but they love to get images of the queens arriving.

  “I will try and let us down slowly, so our skirts don’t fly.”

  Apraxa cackled and clapped her hands. “Let’s go. The sooner we are there, the sooner we will be on our way to our men.”

  Meadra handed over her invitation with a smile. “Take us to the ball, niece.”

  Apraxa followed suit. “Try not to ruffle my hair.”

  “That is up to the wind, friend. Try and hang on.”

  They all headed up to the roof via the attic rooms. Meadra and Apraxa were wearing sandals, so Trin got into place and held out her hands.

  She gathered Meadra in her left arm and Apraxa in her right. Her wings bellied out, and she took a deep breath.

  Creata and Vasic were watching them from the window, and Creata gave them a thumbs-up. “Don’t be late. And don’t flash your undercarriage.”

  Trin lifted her friends off their feet before they could hesitate, and she jumped off the four-story roof. Down below, she made out a few folk who were watching and who scrambled for vehicles. It was time to put some speed on without ruffling their hair.

  Her dragon provided them with a wall of energy that led the wind to slip around them, and they crossed the city in under a minute.

  Lights started flashing below them as they approached the grand hotel where the ball was being held. It seemed that the press was out in force.

  Trin murmured on the descent, “Ladies, check your skirts. We are landing right in front of them.”

  With that last warning, she landed right in front of press representatives from across the new world.

  The light was blinding.

  Chapter Ten

  Trin’s eyes adapted to the light, and she took her friends by the hand, leading them past the reporters who stepped aside as she approached.

  She walked them to the entryway, guarded by a bemused elder dragon with dark hair liberally streaked with silver. She produced their invitations, sorted them out, and handed hers to the man watching the door.

  He smiled. “You would be the one who has chosen Brommin.”

  She inclined her head. “One of them, I am sure.”

  “The whispers about your defense of your mate last night have spread far and wide. Those who had an inkling for him have wisely chosen others.”

  She smiled brightly. “Good.”

  “Please enter, and may you find peace in your choice.” He waved her through.

  She nodded and entered the doors that were being held open by some younger dragons, who watched her pass with interest.

  Once inside, she checked her gown for wrinkles and scowled at the stray curl that had made it down to hang against her collarbone.

  Meadra came inside with a blush on her cheeks, and Apraxa was laughing brightly.

  “What did I miss?” Trin grinned at the contagious amusement.

  “A gust of wind and Meadra’s quick hands. She nearly showed her lack of underpinnings to all and sundry in front of the cameras.”

  Apraxa glanced back. “And there are a number of irritated ladies who got out of their karros to a sadly distracted audience.”

  Trin shrugged. “They shouldn’t have sent their siblings to wreck the Tals’ karros.”

  The line of honour guards was a good clue as to where they were to go.

  Apraxa muttered, “You are certain it was them?”

  “I am. I caught the scent on Creata when she came up to me. There were young dragons just after their first shift. Younger brothers are my best guess.”

  Meadra was still blushing as she walked next to Trin. “I can’t believe that almost happened.”

  Trin chuckled. “I read up about fairy dragons. You attract airborne imps and other magic.”

  Meadra blinked. “But why now?”

  “Because now you are a dragon, sweetie, not just a potential genetic carrier.” Trin whispered it as the line of guards directed them into a huge ballroom.

  There were two small clusters of ladies in the room, and when their t
rio entered, there were eleven total females in the space.

  Trin led her group to the bar and asked for some sparkling soda.

  “Yes, miss, for the others?”

  “The same. This isn’t the night to lose one’s head.”

  He smiled. “Of course.”

  She watched as his hands moved smoothly over the tops of the glasses, and she shook her head when she saw the telltale fizz. “On second thought, we will get our refreshments elsewhere.”

  He paused and paled when he looked at her expression. He whispered an apology and removed bottles from under the counter. “Here. These have not been tampered with.”

  She took the bottles, inhaled, and confirmed that it was just plain soda. “Thank you.”

  She passed the bottles to Apraxa and Meadra, who looked at them, shrugged, and as one, they put the caps on the edge of the bar and smacked the bottle.

  There was a light fizz, and they giggled. Trin made sure that all three were clear before they drank.

  They walked to the windows, and Trin was shocked. “When did we climb stairs?”

  Meadra smiled. “The twelfth member of the guard.”

  “The larger hotels have had enchantments put on the stairs so that they are not taxing. I am guessing that we went up three flights of stairs in that compressed space.” Apraxa sipped from the bottle and looked over at the giggling groups of women.

  Trin chuckled. “I think we look a little low class, drinking from the bottle.”

  Meadra shrugged. “I am low class. I am a farm girl.”

  “I am a shark-raised bastard who does international trade. I have had worse things to drink in slightly more bizarre conditions.”

  They laughed and watched as the final seven women arrived, heads high and knowing their worth.

  Trin’s dragon did an assessment, and none of the other ladies were even close to the level of their little gathering. If the order of selection went by power level, Trin and her group could gather up all the men and keep them.