Smolder (Dragon Souls)

  Pasha stepped back and clutched her wrinkled hands to her bosom to see the overall effect. “You look pretty,” she concluded.

  Marina glowered at her, and started moving, gaining speed when her skirts didn’t hinder her as much as she expected. “I really want to dislike you right now.”

  The bell rang outside Marina’s door, and she took one last look in the mirror. She shrugged. At least she didn’t have the white stuff on her face.

  Pasha led Marina down to the lower levels of the palace and helped her sit down in front of the table set inside the tearoom. Marina had been told since there was not a hostess in residence, since Mikhail had not visited in years, she had to fulfill the role until one was found.

  Pasha waited until Marina wasn’t scowling before sliding the screen open. She bowed. Pyotr shuffled in followed by Daniil, who he directed to the cushion opposite her.

  Daniil risked a glance at Marina, expression amused, and she glowered at him. He stifled a laugh and waited for her to begin, waving his hand to dismiss the other two when Marina’s eye twitched.

  Pasha and Pyotr politely excused themselves and slid the door closed.

  “This sucks,” Marina said sweetly. “But look at how docile and pretty I am.” She smiled sickeningly, showing all her teeth, her eyes a bit too wide. “Would you like some tea, my lord dragon?”

  Daniil had tears running down his face as he tried not to laugh. Both of them were conscious the screens left their shadows visible to those outside. “Yes, I thank you, princess.”

  Marina went about pouring the tea as best she could remember, trying not to dunk her ridiculous sleeves in the bowls, or drop tea leaves all over herself. Once she had successfully brewed and poured the tea, she picked up the cup to present it to Daniil, bowing her head.

  Her fingers were slippery and the bowl fell, splashing all over the table.

  Marina squealed, and dived back to protect her clothes. There was no way she was standing still for Pasha to wrap a new one around her.

  Daniil held his stomach, eyes red as he struggled to breathe and contain his laughter.

  Satisfied her dress was safe, huffing, Marina picked up the tray and tossed it out the window. She heard a satisfying crash when it hit the garden below. She was loving the glassless windows.

  Daniil outright bellowed with laughter and she joined him. “Okay, so I need more practice,” she confessed.

  “May I suggest you leave the tea ceremony to others until you learn the art?”

  “That was kind of my plan, but Mikhail only has a skeleton staff here. I’m hoping that I’ll find an eager do-gooder to do it so that I won’t ever be needed. Ever.”

  He patted his eyes dry and stood. “It was a good effort. Thank you for your hospitality princess Marina of House Zar.” He offered me a hand to stand.

  “Thanks for being my guinea pig, lord Daniil of House Kol.”

  “Did you just call me a pig?” She waved him off. He smiled warmly, eyes wandering over her face. “You look beautiful, Marina. You always do, but tonight Pasha has done something wonderful. I have never seen a Chosen shine so brightly before.”

  She flushed. “Even without the white stuff?”

  “Oh, that is what is different? I couldn’t put my finger on it at first. Yes, even without the white stuff.”

  She beamed and let him lead her from the room. “Are you ready to face Koen?” he asked quietly.

  Yes, she was. She’d missed him, and the whole time she had been in Tzion, he was never far from her thoughts. “He’s going to be mad, but there’s nothing I can do about that is there?”

  “Mad is a gentle word for what I think we shall see tonight. Koen truly has no idea that you’re here. He never looks at the lists. He hates Aver, and avoids all court functions. He only turns up for the ceremonies because it is one of the rare times he is safe from hunting, and if he didn’t he would incur the wrath of the Regent.”

  Marina felt a pang of apprehension, and her step slowed. “Maybe this surprise wasn’t the greatest idea I’ve had. I should have found him first and explained….”

  Was it really a good idea to surprise a surly dragon king when he had spent his life dodging surprise attacks, and killing the women who orchestrated them?

  “It’s not too late to back out,” Daniil said, stopping them completely as he felt her tension grow. “If that is what you want, I will not stop you. This is not an easy road you have chosen.”

  Marina pushed her reservations aside, and nodded firmly. “No, it will be hard, but I’m not exactly easy going either. I have the strength to do this.”

  He looked down on her with a soft smile. “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I’m Koen’s mate. If I can’t do this for him, who else will?”

  Chapter 16

  Marina tightened her hold on Daniil’s arm until she was worried she might hurt him, but he made no complaint.

  The gentry they had passed when they entered the Red Citadel and made their way to the great hall had all stopped whatever conversation they had to gawk at her and whisper.

  Daniil was wonderful, nodding respectfully to the people they passed and smoothing over any ruffled feathers with a smile when Marina accidently let a scowl cross her face when a bold lord or lady’s gaze flicked over her contemptuously. Instead of starting a fight that could later come back to haunt her, Marina focused on her surroundings and her purpose for being there.

  The Red Citadel was spectacular. The volcanic rock had been carved and smoothed into hundreds of passageways that were lit with rows and rows of candles set into specially carved crevices. Humungous and delicate vases with intricate blue patterns lined the main hallway, and depictions of old legends were woven into beautiful tapestries that hung from the ceiling by brass rods.

  Occasionally, they would pass a large cleft in the wall and there would be a golden statue of a dragon. Important dragon lords of history, Daniil had explained.

  What really astounded her was the sheer size of everything.

  When a purple dragon had rounded a corner, and gone stomping passed she grinned at Daniil, the size no longer seeming so strange.

  He patted her arm in warning before he swept her into a hall filled with exotic looking men and women. At first, there was little reaction, since they moved through a crowd of people.

  Slowly, a ripple passed through the gathering, and more eyes turned their way.

  The dragon Council sat in their semi circle on golden benches. Council mon Isaak tipped his snout down in respect when he saw Marina, and her eyes went to his right to see Mikhail greet her the same.

  It was the figure of the man slumped in on of the thrones that captured her main attention.

  Koen.

  He looked weary, disgruntled and disgusted all at the same time as his gaze roamed the crowd of people waiting for the ceremony to begin. Marina could imagine him visualizing all the gentry going up in flames for the dangerous look in his eye.

  He was dressed in black, and one muscular leg was flung over the throne’s arm. Held loosely in his hand was a state crown that occasionally scraped the floor when he moved.

  The companion crown sat on the padded seat of the smaller throne adjacent to his.

  His gaze wandered over her head, unfocused. Marina felt as if a wave of heat had had passed over her, and she squirmed.

  Koen Raad the dragon king became motionless, and the constant ennui the court gentry had come to expect from him bled from his expression.

  He straightened, his dark eyes narrowing and intensifying as they pierced the crowd and sought her out. His gaze came back to her, and he cocked his head, his lips moving as he silently said her name.

  Marina, feeling emotion swell in her chest at the sight of him, smiled.

  Koen’s dark visage lit brightly, and he beamed a smile back at her. Amazement and relief warred on his face as he stared at her, his eyes not once flickering as if scared she would disappear.

  Marina began to thin
k her gamble had paid off.

  He looked glorious, and she was awed by the powerful authority he commanded. He was one of the youngest lords in the room, but none were his equal. Koen Raad answered to no one, even the mighty phoenixes he was preceded by. Soon, he would be a law unto himself. If he had been anyone else, Marina would have found that prospect terrifying, but it was her dragon, her man, and it pleased her.

  Suddenly, she could see past Aver and hunting him. It was clear to her, even the little she had seen, that people were suffering. They needed peace, an Emperor to see the injustices straightened out and the gentry kept in check.

  Life was sweet in Marina’s imagination.

  Reality came crashing back.

  Koen’s face dropped, and his eyes turned stormy. He blinked repeatedly as if trying to clear a daydream, and a furious scowl slashed across his expression when Marina still smiled at him, if somewhat smaller as she watched his secondary reaction to her presence. Dropping the crown onto the floor, he picked up a goblet to take a deep gulp then glanced at her again.

  His face paled as her smile faltered completely. His gaze pinged from her to Daniil, and he started to quiver on the spot as he took in what she was wearing, and more importantly, where she stood.

  Koen exploded.

  Shooting up, knocking the throne over so it fell onto the stone floor with a calamitous crash, he hurled the goblet across the room and bellowed, “What in the name of the goddess are you doing here!”

  Silence fell.

  The twinkly music stopped mid song, and the court froze in place, suspended in horror and fear. Marina was sure that somewhere in the crowd a woman had fainted.

  She decided for definite this surprise had been a bad idea.

  Koen smoothly jumped down off the dais and marched towards them.

  People hastily skittered out of the way, and Marina was trying to join them, but Daniil still had hold of her hand on his arm.

  She tugged.

  He held firm.

  “We should be running,” she hissed.

  “This was your idea,” he muttered. “Stand strong. He’d never harm you….” Koen pushed a young lord who was too slow to move from his path so forcefully the man flew away like a wayward cannonball. “Intentionally,” Daniil finished.

  Koen reached them and was breathing hard, his eyes sparking. His brow was so furrowed Marina worried it might set that way permanently.

  The good thing was that now he was closer she remembered that this wasn’t some crazed man about to attack her, but that this was Koen, her dragon. The bad thing was that by the way he stripped her with a glare and curled his lip at Daniil, she remembered how aggravated he made her.

  How dare he act this way at such a grand and romantic gesture on her part. He should be kissing her toes. At the very least gazing at her in the soulful way his younger brother had down to a veritable art form.

  “And what, pray tell, was that all about,” she demanded.

  “I cannot believe you did this,” Koen seethed. “Daniil, have you no heart? What have I ever done to deserve such disloyalty from you?”

  “Oi!” She poked Koen’s chest. “Do I not even get a hello? I’ve travelled a bit of way to see you. And don’t think for one second I’ve forgotten how you left me high and dry in that goddamned cave, Koen Raad. We both could have been paying for that mistake for the rest of our lives had I not done the sensible thing and come after you.”

  Koen’s eyes twitched. “Daniil, you will take Marina back to Earth. Now.”

  “He can’t,” Marina said, in the same breath Daniil replied, “I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Koen barked.

  “Because I’m a high princess, and I outrank him,” she answered gleefully.

  “I outrank you,” Koen pointed out.

  ‘But not us,’ council mon Isaak boomed.

  All three of them froze.

  Koen spun around to look at the dragon Council who watched them.

  “She should not be here,” Koen shouted. “Do not interfere, you have no right.”

  ‘Do you deny your dragon approves of this woman?’ Isaak asked. We have had … compelling evidence to suggest that he does.’ Though Isaak had been careful with his words he pinned Koen with his stare that left little interpretation.

  Mikhail snorted noisily. ‘Compelling evidence indeed! The man has no honor.’

  Horrified gasps sounded throughout the gathering, and the gentry swelled further back from Koen, expecting another explosion at the slur.

  ‘Council mon Mikhail!’ Isaak snapped. ‘Remember yourself.’

  ‘I speak nothing but the truth. I will defend the honor of my House with a trial by combat if needs be.’

  Marina turned to Daniil. “These dragons may as well be speaking double Dutch because things just stopped making sense. Trial by combat?”

  “A duel,” Daniil whispered urgently. “Your father is challenging Koen to a fight over the charge of lost innocence.”

  “Oh, for fu–Pete’s sake,” she groaned. “Settle down and give us a minute.” Marina finally got Daniil to let go of her hand and placed them on her hips as she planted herself in front of Koen, tilting her head back. “I’m going to need a stool,” she muttered. Marina started up into Koen’s face, searching for answers. “Koen, forget everyone else. It’s you and me. Talk.”

  “I can’t talk to you like this,” he flicked at the sash of her robe. “I can’t do this Marina.”

  “You don’t have to do anything. You just have to support me.”

  “Go back.”

  “No.”

  “Goddess damn you,” he barked. “I’m trying to save you. Woman you really are–”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I think I’ve warned you about a certain word before and I sense it was about trip off your lips. I advise against saying it.” Marina was exasperated. Her and Koen flinging insults at each other was not part of the fantasy she had envisioned on the flight over. “I don’t want to argue with you in front of the entire bloody kingdom.” She pointed to the dragons behind him. “Not in front of the ones who I stood in front of and begged to let me in Aver because I want to claim you as your tradition dictates.”

  “I left you for a reason.”

  She’d had enough of explaining herself and was conscious of the hundreds eyes burning into her. “I’m here,” she screeched. “Get the fuck over it.” Her face flushed bright red, and she cursed.

  Koen stepped closer, and in a low voice laced with pain asked, “Why? Why did you have to disobey? Why have you come here?”

  “Because you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you.”

  “I never would have asked this of you.”

  “I know.” She placed a hand on his chest and rubbed the spot over his pounding heart. “If you want me to go I will … actually that was a lie. I wouldn’t leave, I’d stay and build a happy life here, but it would be perfect instead of just good if you were in it.” She rubbed him in encouragement. “I can do this.”

  Some of the anger radiating from Koen dissipated. Placing one of his larger hands over hers, he raised them both to his lips, and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. His face was sad, but he did indulge in a strained smile. “You do realize during Aver you are not allowed to touch me?”

  She scrunched her nose up. “Say what now?”

  “Any Chosen who wishes to court me must keep her hands off until she claims me. It’s supposed to stop jealousy interfering with the tournament, and allows the Chosen to stay focused.”

  Marina, though not thrilled with this news, duly took her hand off him, and clasped it with the other behind her back. She inched closer. The heat from his body was marvelous, the crisp masculine scent of him just like she remembered, and she sighed in appreciation.

  Her heart flipped. “I know now. I’ll deal with it just like everything else.”

  “I’m upset, Marina. The first quest is in less than six days. What is your strategy? Have you even begun training?” br />
  She resisted the urge to fist pump the air when he spoke as if her participating was a forgone conclusion rather than something he could change.

  “Koen, don’t worry. Daniil, Nikolai, and I have this all figured out. It’ll be fine. I’ve made it this far haven’t I?”

  “She did nearly fall to her death once,” Daniil muttered and Marina slowly turned to give him her best glare … with creepy wide eyes, and motioning his demise by dragging a finger across her throat.

  Koen gave her a sharp look, but nodded once, his demeanor becoming one of resigned acceptance. “Fine. I cannot show preference to one Chosen over the other during Aver, but … I will be thinking of you.” He paused. “I care.”

  He tuned to walk away, but knowing this would be the last time she could touch him, Marina grabbed his tunic, and yanked him down to crush her mouth to his. She poured all her desire into that kiss. She was thrilled when he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up so her feet were dangling.

  They both broke away at the same time and Marina breathed in his ear. “Good. I care too.”

  He set her down and held onto her for a while longer, his head remained bowed as he regulated his breathing.

  Koen turned on his heel and strode away.

  “That you care was all I needed to hear,” she murmured. Turing back to Daniil, she beamed and thumped him on the arm. “See. That went well. I have no idea why you were so worried.”

  Clearing his throat, Regent Myron stood, and called in a clear voice, “Chosen, your vows.”

  One by one, woman moved forward towards the dais, and said a sweet vow to the Regent and Council. Most declared that they would honor Aver, and fight for her selected dragon. There was a lot of love in some of the words, and Marina felt a pang when the young women backed away and their dragons sent them soulful gazes from afar.

  Some vows were certainly ribald, and were met with sheers and applause by the Houses.

  The entire time Koen’s gaze burned into her. She let herself meet his gaze once of twice, but the constant study was disconcerting. Eventually, it looked like he was trying to tell her something, and Marina was no fool, she guessed what he wanted her to know.