“Like recognizing someone’s role in your life at first glimpse?” she said, then reached out her hand. A spark leaped from her fingertip to him, sizzling when it touched him. Arkan jumped, then a warm heat spread through his body, as if he had been illuminated from within.
Or had his toes held to the fire.
He cleared his throat. “If I take this apprenticeship, I’ll insist that your father learn an old secret.”
“One that has been kept from him?” Enigma watched as Arkan nodded. “That may make him angry. I suggest you take a dragon with you for that event, so you can meet fire with fire.”
Arkan found himself smiling. “Good idea. Do you know one who might be interested?”
She smiled back. “I do, especially if it means you remaining at the palace.”
They stared at each other, the heat growing between them with every passing second, and Arkan couldn’t think of a single reason to decline an apprenticeship with his uncle. He would train to become the viceroy of Incendium, under his own terms, and have the protection of a dragon princess, too.
He wouldn’t have been the man he was if he hadn’t hoped for even more.
Arkan didn’t remember.
Enigma didn’t know whether to be disappointed or relieved. It had been twenty years, just the blink of an eye for her, but she knew that men perceived time differently. It could have been yesterday, the memory was so clear in her mind. Arkan was more of a man than a young rebel, more concerned with convention, more responsible—more attractive.
And less drunk. That could explain a lot.
He wasn’t her HeartKeeper, she knew that, and he wasn’t the Carrier of the Seed for her. He was just a delicious temptation, and one that Enigma couldn’t deny now any more than she’d been able to then.
When Kraw took him to her father, she couldn’t stay away. She followed at a distance, blending into the shadows as she could do so well, making sure neither of the men were aware of her.
It would be more tricky to deceive her father.
But she had to know what Arkan was going to do, whether she’d see him again, whether he would be living at close proximity. She had to know whether there might be another interlude like that first one.
His children were cute, although she wasn’t particularly maternal. Kraw found a maid to watch them with his usual ease of sorting out details and they seemed happy to go with her. Enigma hoped they would be similarly occupied after Arkan took up his post as Kraw’s apprentice.
She slipped into the audience chamber after Kraw and Arkan, no more substantial than a ghost, and neither noticed her silent presence. Her mother was there, as were Thalina and her HeartKeeper, Acion. Thalina looked as pleased as Ignita, and Enigma guessed that they had been talking about the child she carried. Her sisters and mother always shared the same little smile when there was a young dragon on the way. Acion’s hair had grown long enough to curl over his collar, though she couldn’t forget his origins. He still seemed passionless to Enigma, though Thalina might be sufficiently lively for both of them.
Maybe it was true that opposites attracted.
Enigma remained back against the wall, listening as the entire story of the viceroy Narkam and his deception was explained to the king. Her father listened, a frown marring his brow, but she knew he was more puzzled than angry.
“Who was the Regalian woman?” he asked when Arkan fell silent.
“Witch,” Ignita corrected.
“No witches on Incendium, Ignita,” Ouros said under his breath, the words so low that Kraw gave no sign of hearing them. Arkan, however, appeared to be startled for a moment, perhaps taken aback by her father’s bluntness.
“We don’t know, your majesty,” Arkan said. “We have only the contents of this confession for reference.”
Ouros rose to his feet. “So, we don’t know where Blazion and Embron went, much less whether they survived. We don’t know the woman’s full role, and we don’t know whether she truly could bend time. They haven’t come back, and neither have any of their descendants.” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “The matter seems to be resolved.”
“With respect, your majesty, it has always been anticipated that the crown would perceive my forebear’s actions as treason.”
“Defiance of a tyrant in the hope of saving the realm isn’t my definition of treason,” Ouros said mildly. “If it reassures you, I’ll issue an official pardon, but I would like to keep the tale a state secret.”
“Of course!”
Ouros glanced at Thalina and Acion, both of whom nodded agreement. Then he wagged a finger at the viceroy. “But here is what I want to know. The ShadowCaster showed me a vision of this incident, presumably to spark my curiosity and your confession. Why has the truth become of import now?”
“Perhaps it has taken the ShadowCaster centuries to reach your hand, sir,” Arkan speculated.
“I don’t think so. It was just sent to me, in quite an expedient fashion, by the Hive of Cumae. Is that the correct name, Acion?”
“It is, sir. The Hive is a sophisticated maker of androids, housed deep beneath the surface of Cumae.”
Ouros nodded, evidently having been told this already. “And this Hive sent the ShadowCaster to me, after the Warrior Maiden Arista retrieved it from Regalia.”
“There is no telling how long it was upon Regalia, your majesty,” Kraw observed. “It could have been diverted from its destination by Queen Arcana.”
“And we will never know the truth of that, now that both she and Urbanus are dead.” Ouros held up a hand. “No, I have no regrets about that situation, but it does leave room for questions. Why did the Hive send the ShadowCaster to me? What interest has the Hive in the affairs of Incendium? What result did the Hive hope to provoke?”
Acion frowned in concentration. “There are myriad possibilities, sir, and it would take me some time to tabulate a list from which to calculate probabilities.”
“Then you had best begin,” Ouros said. “I will also need as complete a list as you can create of the Hive’s capabilities and known facts about it, from which I would like you to speculate upon the obstacles the Hive might present to a party who infiltrated it.”
“Father!” Thalina protested.
“And,” Ouros continued. “Some suggested strategies to counter these obstacles.”
Acion blinked, then nodded. Enigma had the sense he had already begun.
“The wisest strategy might be to appoint Acion a role in the landing party,” Thalina suggested.
“My thoughts, exactly.” Ouros turned to Arkan. “Do you mean to take the post of viceroy?”
“I do, your majesty, if it pleases you.”
“It does. You have six months to learn your duties, memorize the laws of Incendium, study its protocol, and prepare to depart to Cumae as part of the diplomatic mission being dispatched to learn more about the Hive and its intentions.”
“But...”
Ouros turned a sharp eye upon Arkan. “Arguing with the monarch is a poor way to begin your new responsibilities.”
“I cannot go to Cumae, your majesty. I have children.”
“And they will have more than adequate care in your absence. Kraw must remain here to administer the government and I will need a second of command on the mission.”
“Ouros! You can’t mean to lead this mission yourself!” Ignita protested, but there was no question in her tone. Enigma guessed that her mother already knew her father intended to do just that.
“I must, my dear.” Ouros took Ignita’s hand and pressed a kiss to its back. “I have been informed that in matters of some delicacy, I am unrivaled.”
Ignita flushed. “That’s not the same, Ouros...”
“But I can’t delegate this and I won’t. I intend to go, Ignita, and I will spend these six months in rigorous training to ensure that I am as fit as possible for the task.”
Ignita’s lips thinned. “And I will spend it trying to convince you to assign someone else t
o do it.”
Their gazes locked and there was a sizzle in the air, one that promised a battle of wills. Enigma doubted that either would change the mind of the other, and guessed that they both knew as much already.
“No one tickles the belly of this dragon and evades the consequences,” Ouros said with resolve. “We will convince the Hive, one way or the other, to cease its meddling in the affairs of Incendium. Are we all in agreement? In exactly six months, we depart.”
Ignita sighed. “And I hope we have word of Anguissa before then.” Ouros took her hand again and the others filed out of the chamber, departing to begin their assigned tasks.
Enigma followed Arkan at a distance, wondering if she could persuade him to indulge in pleasure before his departure. He had changed and was less predictable than he had been twenty years before.
More reticent.
But then he turned to look back just before he escorted Kraw into that man’s apartments. When his gaze brightened, Enigma knew he had seen her. She stepped out of the shadows, as if she’d intended to do as much all along, and felt his heart skip. He smiled slowly and she smiled back, her confidence in her success growing until he turned his attention back to his uncle.
Two months, at the outside, and she would have him again.
Enigma couldn’t wait.
Wyvern’s Outlaw
The Dragons of Incendium #4
Ryke wants nothing more than to escape the space pirates of the Gloria Furore and go home to his young son. He’s pretended to share their views and has worked his way up the ranks to co-pilot of the Armada Seven, commanded by the most vicious space captain of all. The capture of Princess Anguissa and her ship, the Archangel, is a moment of triumph for his superior—except that Anguissa never plays by anyone’s rules. In a flash of dragon fire, she incinerates most of the crew and takes command of the Armada Seven. Ryke is spared, but he’s not sure why—what plans does the beautiful dragon princess have for his future? And what will she demand to grant his wish of returning home?
Wyvern’s Outlaw
Coming soon!
About the Author
Deborah Cooke sold her first book in 1992, a medieval romance called Romance of the Rose published under her pseudonym Claire Delacroix. Since then, she has published over fifty novels in a wide variety of sub-genres, including historical romance, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, fantasy romance, time-travel romance, women’s fiction, paranormal young adult and fantasy with romantic elements. She has published under the names Claire Delacroix, Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke. The Beauty, part of her successful Bride Quest series of historical romances, was her first title to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. Her books routinely appear on other bestseller lists and have won numerous awards. In 2009, she was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time the library has hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive the Romance Writers of America’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Currently, she writes paranormal romances featuring dragon shape shifter heroes under the name Deborah Cooke. She also writes medieval romances as Claire Delacroix. Deborah lives in Canada with her husband and family, as well as far too many unfinished knitting projects.
Visit Deborah’s Website and Blog
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More Books by the Author
Books by Deborah Cooke
Paranormal Romances:
The Dragonfire Series
KISS OF FIRE
KISS OF FURY
KISS OF FATE
Harmonia’s Kiss
WINTER KISS
WHISPER KISS
DARKFIRE KISS
FLASHFIRE
EMBER’S KISS
THE DRAGON LEGION COLLECTION
SERPENT’S KISS
FIRESTORM FOREVER
The Dragons of Incendium
WYVERN’S MATE
Nero’s Dream
WYVERN’S PRINCE
Arista’s Legacy
WYVERN’S WARRIOR
Kraw’s Secret
Urban Fantasy Romance
The Prometheus Project
FALLEN
GUARDIAN
REBEL
ABYSS
Paranormal Young Adult:
The Dragon Diaries
FLYING BLIND
WINGING IT
BLAZING THE TRAIL
Contemporary Romance:
The Coxwells
THIRD TIME LUCKY
DOUBLE TROUBLE
ONE MORE TIME
ALL OR NOTHING
Flatiron Five
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
Books by Claire Delacroix
Time Travel Romances
ONCE UPON A KISS
THE LAST HIGHLANDER
THE MOONSTONE
LOVE POTION #9
Historical Romances
ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
HONEYED LIES
UNICORN BRIDE
THE SORCERESS
ROARKE’S FOLLY
PEARL BEYOND PRICE
THE MAGICIAN’S QUEST
UNICORN VENGEANCE
MY LADY’S CHAMPION
ENCHANTED
MY LADY’S DESIRE
The Bride Quest I
THE PRINCESS
THE DAMSEL
THE HEIRESS
The Bride Quest II
THE COUNTESS
THE BEAUTY
THE TEMPTRESS
The Rogues of Ravensmuir
THE ROGUE
THE SCOUNDREL
THE WARRIOR
The Jewels of Kinfairlie
THE BEAUTY BRIDE
THE ROSE RED BRIDE
THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE
The Ballad of Rosamunde
The True Love Brides
THE RENEGADE’S HEART
THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE
THE FROST MAIDEN’S KISS
THE WARRIOR’S PRIZE
The Champions of St. Euphemia
THE CRUSADER’S BRIDE
THE CRUSADER’S HEART
THE CRUSADER’S KISS
THE CRUSADER’S VOW
THE CRUSADER’S HANDFAST
Short Stories and Novellas
BEGUILED
An Elegy for Melusine
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Deborah Cooke, Kraw's Secret
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