The events of the last twenty-four hours have changed everything for me. I'm no longer a kidnapped captive being fought over by two alien beings. I'm a princess of this world, and it is my duty to choose one of these men. That makes all the difference in how I allow myself to feel.
I smile back at him as he reaches up to brush a lock of flowing hair away from my face. "Your human form was lovely, but now you are stunning, my princess," he says in his silky smooth voice.
"Thanks, I guess," I say, looking into my lap.
He puts his finger under my chin and tilts my face up so that I am looking him in the shining blue eyes. "I would have loved you either way," he assures me. I nod. He lets go of my chin.
"Tell me about yourself, Conyac," I say, changing the subject.
He grins and leans back, putting his arm on the back of the bench and behind me. "I am the son of Lord Car Blackwell, son of Darrek, son of Ur. My people have been royalty for hundreds of generations going back to before the last Org invasion. The upstart Warrens stole the throne in the last two generations. They are thieves and liars."
"Let's keep politics out of it, okay?" I say. Trav isn't here to defend himself, and even if he were, I wouldn't want to hear about it. I'm making this decision based solely on my own feelings for each man and nothing else. "Tell me about your childhood. Your life. What do you do for fun?"
"I grew up in Castle Blackwell. I had a sword in my hand before my first shift at age five. My father trained me to be a great warrior. The Blackwell skill is a mighty, deep frost that can freeze all living things with one blast. In the form of a man, I am a match for fifty common men. I rule my kingdom with compassion and justice. My people thrive and respect me for it," he says, looking proud of himself.
His black hair and blue eyes contrast against the white fur of his cloak that hangs over one shoulder, leaving the other bare. He wears a tight, short sleeve leather tunic underneath with strips of leather that bind around him like some kind of S&M costume. It's hot as hell, with silver studs that accentuate the dangerous look.
I bit my lip. A crisp alpine scent is pouring off of him. I could let myself fall into his arms right here and now. My inner dragon is hissing and scraping inside my brain. She's whining to mate.
I put my hands to my temples and try to drawn out the horrific sounds she's making in my head. Squeezing my eyes shut just makes the racket worse.
"What's wrong?" Conyac asks, his voice tender.
"The dragon. She woke up when I transformed. I can't make her go away."
He laughs, the sound warm and inviting. "She wants to come out. Perhaps you should let her," he raises and eyebrow. "Come." He stands and takes my hand, leading me to an open space in the overgrown lawn. "Change now. Your clothing will be spared. Don't worry about ripping them."
I look down at my clothes and wonder how that works. Then I look back at Conyac who is gazing at me expectantly. How in the hell am I supposed to shift into a dragon? I close my eyes and focus on the beast within. Do I even want to let this thing out from inside of me? It doesn't seem like a good idea. What if I never get myself back? Changing into a weird alien elf was bad enough.
I think hard and see a vision of myself standing in front of a massive silver dragon. She puffs air at me and shows her teeth. "Well, come out, then," I say to the dragon within. She looks away and lays her head back down on her front feet.
Nothing happens.
Chapter 13
I open my eyes again and see Conyac standing before me with his hands on his hips, a few paces back. I shrug, and he frowns. "It won't come out," I say. I don't want it to come out anyway, so I'm a little relieved.
"Give it time," he says, striding toward me. He takes my hand and pulls me against him as the sun glints in my eyes. I feel his hard chest against my breasts and smell his intoxicating scent.
"Perhaps this will entice her," he says, leaning down to press his lips to mine. I'm taken aback. I wasn't expecting him to kiss me. I push gently against his shoulders, trying to get away, but his tongue is pushing through my lips and slipping inside my mouth. My nipples prick, and a surge of desire flutters up and down my body, opening me up. I relent to his passionate kiss as his tongue leads mine in a writhing dance. He runs his hands down by back and grips my ass, pulling me against his growing hardness. I'm still about a foot shorter than he is, and much more delicate. He is strong and holds me so tightly; I know I'd never be able to get away.
He runs his hand down my thigh and lifts my leg up, to pull my pussy even closer to him. He rubs me against his thigh, exciting my hungry clit and making me so wet I could scream.
I think we're going to get down and dirty right here on the lawn. My inner dragon is going crazy with lust, rolling over, her ass in the air, her tail wagging. She's clawing the ground inside my mind, begging for his cock.
My elfin body is alive with lust, just like the dragon within. I am ready to let him take me wherever he wants to go. Rationality be damned. These men are making me crazy, and I'm ready to go along for the ride.
I feel hands behind me, pulling me away from Conyac's embrace. I open my eyes as my back hits a hard body. Hands wrap around my front, my breasts and my hips. I see Conyac's eyes darken with anger as he narrows his brows.
"How dare you interrupt," he bellows.
"She's mine," Trav growls. I can feel him harden against my back. Now that I smell Trav's scent, my inner dragon is yowling for release. I'm more turned on than ever. What is wrong with me? I try to turn in Trav's arms, but he holds me tight, his hand wrapped around my swollen breasts.
Conyac comes closer, grabbing my waist. He pulls me away from Trav, but Trav comes along with me. I'm sandwiched between two growling dragon shifters. My body is on fire, and I'm about ready to let them both take me right here and now. I almost suggest it when what's left of my human mind snaps me out of it.
"Let me go, you assholes. Right. Now," I screech, pushing frantically against them both.
They reluctantly let me out of their grasps, and I huff, brush myself off, and stomp away. I storm through the front doors and up the stairs. Running down the hallway to my chambers, I hear Gizmel call after me.
“Princess!” he starts. I didn’t even see him when I passed.
“What!” I scream, angry as hell with everyone and everything.
“Princess, please, I wanted to speak with you about your, your… transformation. If you would follow me to the laboratory. I’ve been able to retrieve more information from the scrolls.
“Fine,” I say with an irritated sweep of my hand. Gizmel hurries ahead of me down the hallway until we come to a narrow door that leads into a winding stairwell.
We take the stair up several floors to the laboratory. It seems cleaner today. Multiple scrolls are rolled out on the table, and a scrying bowl full of water glimmers in the sunlight.
“What have they told you about the dragon born queen?” he asks me as he shows me to a place to sit on a long wooden bench. He paces in front of me, wringing his hands.
“Not much,” I confess. “I’m supposed to choose the next king, and then somehow we both get our powers,” I say, shrugging.
“Yes. That’s right. Prince Trav’s dragon has the power of fire, and Prince Conyac’s dragon has the power of frost. We don’t know what your power is, my lady, but your mother was a sonic dragon.”
“Meaning?”
“She could use sound as a weapon. She could also heal and enchant with song. A very powerful skill. If she had not been promised to your father from before birth, I’m sure she would have been queen herself.”
“Go on,” I say. “Tell me about hilock and the power of the king and queen. What is that all about?”
“Ah. When dragons mate, they bond. When the king and queen mate, they also bond, but with the added bonus of an additional boost of power.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand any of this.”
“The king and queen are the alphas of all dragons. With that dominio
n comes a magical change that takes place between them during hilock. It unlocks the alpha powers dormant inside them.”
“So I’ll have this alpha power? What will that be?”
“Generally, it is an increased intensity of the power the dragon already possesses. Your mother’s power was quite rare. We do not know what it would look like as an alpha. But, if you pick Trav, his fire will be stronger. If you pick Conyac, his frost will be stronger. They would be able to use it without waiting.”
“Who do you think I should choose?” I ask offhandedly.
“That is not for me to decide, my lady. The reason I brought you up here was to ask you about your inner dragon. Have you felt it emerging?”
“Yes. I have. It’s…Ahhh. I don’t enjoy it.”
“You haven’t shifted yet, have you?”
“No.”
“Have you tried?”
“I did. It didn’t work,” I say, not really disappointed. I tried to let it out, but I can’t say I really wanted it to.
He rubs his chin in thought, a concerned expression etched in his comically wide face. “I wonder why not. At your age, the dragon should already be a big part of your identity. I need to think about this,” he says, moving toward his scrolls. “Excuse me, my lady.”
I stand just as Trav and Conyac burst through the door.
“There you are,” Trav says, reaching out to grab my arm. I try to pull away, but it’s useless.
“What?” I demand, irritated that I’m in their grip again.
“There has been an Org attack on Castle Warren. We leave now. I want you back in your rooms until we return.”
“No. I’m coming. I want to see what this whole Org thing is all about. If they are the reason I have to get married to a man I barely know, I want to see the threat myself.”
“No,” Trav growls.
“She’s a dragon born, Trav. She will be in the battle field soon enough,” Conyac says, coming to my defense.
I smile and pull out of Trav’s grip. “Maybe my dragon will come out,” I say, looking Trav in the eye.
He frowns. “Very well,” he grumbles, crossing his arms. “We leave now.”
We all hurry down to the entrance hall and through the front doors of my palace before walking over the hill to were the carriage sits. As I crest the hill, I take in the landscape. This island of rock, called Skyland, truly sits perched in the middle of nothing. It’s like some huge mesa in the Grand Canyon with a castle on top. My breath is taken away, and I stop short.
“Hurry,” Trav calls as he grabs my hand.
I growl at him, my inner dragon clawing in my brain. That’s new. The princes fight over who is going to carry my carriage. Finally, Conyac wins their battle of wills. I climb into my seat beside Gizmel as the dragons shift. Conyac grabs the handle of the carriage, and we are off.
As we approach Castle Warren, I see a horde of bodies crushing toward the fortress from the south. I gasp as Conyac sets me down in the courtyard and comes to sit beside me inside the carriage.
“It’s worse than we thought,” he says grimly.
“Will they overtake the castle?” I ask, gripping my seat until my knuckles are white.
“Not if I can help it. I’ll defend the keep with my life. Even if the keep belongs to my enemy.” He smiles at me, showing his long pointed teeth. Conyac never ceases to impress me. He always seems to do what’s right. Unless you count stealing kisses.
Trav lands beside the carriage and begins to bark orders at his staff. His people scurry in all directions as Conyac walks at his side into the keep. I scurry after them, trying to make sense of what is going on.
Chapter 14
I have no idea what to do as I watch the princes prepare for war. I stand on the battlements above the fortress. In the distance, there is a rumbling of stomping feet and roaring voices. It echoes through the valley, and I can see dust rising over the fields. Conyac and Trav are in the war room behind me, looking down at a map with Trav's knights. I glance back at them. Just hours ago, the most important thing in the world was me, and I somehow feel jealous of this war. Stupid.
Squelching such a ridiculous thought, I look back out over the wall. I wonder what these Org look like. Are they elf-like creatures like the rest of Endor, or are they something else? I guess I'll soon find out.
Trav and Conyac come out of the war room, flanked by the soldiers. Trav comes to me and puts his arm gently around my waist, a tender gesture for him. He looks down at me with a grave expression in his eyes. I tilt my head, not pulling away from his embrace. His scent fills my nose, and I am at once light-headed and turned on.
His nostrils flare, and a faint smile crosses his tightly drawn lips. "Are you well, lady?" he asks in a low voice. I see Conyac over Trav’s shoulder, frowning as he speaks with the knights.
"I'm fine. What will happen now?" I ask, lifting a hand to his hard, defined chest. I can feel his heart beating underneath my palm and feel his breath on my forehead.
"We will destroy them."
"How will you destroy them?"
"Conyac and I will lead the charge, using our dragon powers to take out the majority of the army; my men will come in behind and take out the rest as Conyac and I shift and join the fighting."
"Can't you just burn them to a crisp or something?" I ask. They are dragons. It doesn't seem like much of a challenge.
"We can only use our frost and fire breath once an hour. To use it more, we must perform hilock with the queen. It is the only way to defeat this enemy, Princess. Now that you see what we’re up against, perhaps this will help you make up your mind."
I look away. My indecisiveness is putting the entire planet at risk. But try as I might, I can't wrap my head around the fact that I am somehow responsible for this place. I never even thought about marriage when I was traveling alone in the RV with Clancy.
Sometimes I felt a little lonely, but the thought of a boyfriend just freaked me out. I knew I was way too broken for a relationship. Normal dudes don't usually go for girls who wake up screaming more often than not. Even looking in the mirror now that I've changed feels like a dream. None of it seems real.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I'm trying." A tear flows down my cheek, and Trav tilts my face up to his, looking at me with concern.
"This is no time for tears, my lady. Save your tender heart for my return." He bends down and kisses me firmly on the lips in front of everyone. I can hear Conyac rumble behind Trav, but my body is singing in response to his kiss. I wrap my arms around him and let his tongue slip inside my mouth.
Suddenly, I feel hands behind me, pulling me away from Trav and turning me around. I open my eyes to see Conyac tilting his head down to claim my mouth. I don't have time to protest before his lips are on mine. His tongue darts against my tongue, and I'm melting. I smell his deep scent and feel his kiss all the way down to my toes.
Trav pulls me against him, his hard shaft on my back. Oh God. These two are going to drive me insane. Lust fills me, and I am vaguely aware of the fact that there are a dozen knights watching us. I hear them snickering. I know I should pull away, but I can't make myself. Trav’s lips are on the back of my neck.
"My lord!" Gizmel shouts over the sound of laughter and wind. "The horde draws near!"
The princes simultaneously let me go, and it's as if all the air is released from my lungs. I almost hate that they let me go, even with everyone watching, even with a horde of Orgs descending on the castle. What's wrong with me? I need to stay away from them. I've been told I need to choose one, and every time they sandwich me between them, my body demands I choose them both.
My inner dragon roars in agreement, whimpering to mate. She's such a slut. I swear. That beast is as horny as a teenager is on prom night, all the time.
The princes give me one last kiss on each cheek, for luck, they say, and hurry off down to the main courtyard in the middle of the keep. I see them speaking to their knights and the assembly of a few hundred fighting men. Beyon
d the gate another small army gathers, made up of what looks like farmers and tradesmen. For the first time, I realize that they aren't ready for this kind of war, not if the dragons can only fight using their breath once an hour.
A handful of men stay behind to defend the castle should things go wrong. The rest hurry outside the gate. I watch from the battlements as the men coordinate.
Gizmel hurries up to me. "My lady," he says. "Come with me. We can watch the battle from the safety of my tower." I follow him through the castle and up the stairs into his laboratory. Out his lattice-covered windows, I can't see anything.
"Look, my lady," he says. I turn and see he is pointing to a scrying bowl. The scene pans around Conyac, Trav and his men. The princes are both so heroic and strong, like the soldiers from the war in Iraq, but larger than life. I feel my core twitch, thinking of how powerful they both are, how much they both want me.
I bite my lip as I watch them organize the army. They are so commanding. It reminds me that they were both just holding me between them. To have that much alpha male attention directed at a woman like me makes my heart thud hard against my chest.
There had been men in the war who'd been interested, but they mostly saw me as a fellow soldier, even though I was a photographer. I suppose I was more feminine to them than the actual female soldiers were, but I was pudgier and less toned than the girls they fought alongside. Many of them had women back home who embodied everything I was not, namely the kind of woman who stays behind and waits.
Even though I’m screwed up by all the action I saw back in the war, staying behind grates at me. I narrow my eyes. My inner dragon growls an agreement. We should be out there too, fighting.
When the men are organized, both Conyac and Trav shift in a glimmer of light and movement into massive, powerful dragons. They are as big as semis and dangerously beautiful. My inner dragon groans at the sight of them. She wants them. She wants to claim them as her mates. Both of them? I ask her. She shoots my brain with her sonic blast of sound waves. I grip my head and moan in pain.