Zunix:

Yesterday, Olivia had looked exhausted and drained. This morning, after a night’s rest, she looks much better.

The five women file into the clearing. I’ve learned their names now. The curly brunette already introduced herself yesterday; she’s Paige Watkins. The woman with the broken hand is May Archer. The one with pale yellow hair is Bryce McFarland, and the other woman, the one with hair as dark as night is Felicity Rollins.

And of course, there’s Olivia Buckner. Our mate.

Liorax has distributed translators to everyone in camp, asking for nothing in exchange. He didn’t do it to gain an advantage, but we’ve gained one nonetheless.

Dariux is perfectly capable of ruling against me if it means that I will be weakened. The two of us are too evenly matched, and our rivalry goes back a long way.

But Liorax’s generous action has ensured that if Dariux does something flagrantly unfair, the others will speak up on our behalf in order to repay the assumed obligation.

Dariux signals for quiet and the conversations die down. “We have ten Draekons that shifted when they saw their mate. Of those, six are easy.” He turns to the human women. “In exchange for your safety, I ask that the Draekons be allowed to court you. You will spend a portion of each day with your potential mates. If, at the end of three months, you have not completed the mating bond, you will be allowed to dissolve this arrangement.”

Olivia says something to the woman next to her, Paige Watkins, too low even for my Draekon hearing to pick up. Whatever it is, Paige Watkins nods grimly.

“Now we come to the more complicated situation. Olivia Buckner has two sets of potential mates. I have thought about how to resolve the matter fairly, and I propose a contest.”

Olivia looks up warily. “A contest?”

“Yes. Both pairs of Draekons will be allowed to court you on alternate dates. They will have six months to persuade you. In order to be fair to all, you cannot choose a pair before that time.”

So Dariux seeks to delay my ability to transform for six months. Maybe longer.

“What happens if I can’t choose?” Her voice is clear and unafraid.

Dariux’s gaze is cold. “The men will keep courting you until you decide. No matter how long it takes. There is no other option.”

Dariux is asking more of Olivia than he is of the other women. I wait for her to collapse in tears, but she surprises me by nodding her agreement. She’s full of contradictions, this woman. Yesterday, she was in tears because her clothing was left behind. Today, she seems in full control of the situation. Which woman is she?

Does it matter? She’s a means to an end. Nothing more.

“We begin today,” Dariux announces. “To decide who goes first, I propose a test.”

He makes a discreet hand signal, and Bolox and Narix, Dariux’s two pet Draekons, carry out a target. I snort inwardly. Dariux likes his theatrics.

“Where should we put it?” Bolox asks.

Dariux gives the four of us an assessing gaze. “Herrix is a fine shot,” he says. “Put it at the far end of the clearing.”

Herrix is indeed a fine shot, but the TwelfthBorn of Laris is nowhere as good with a bow and arrow as his kinsman. Liorax never boasts, but he is the best hunter in the camp, though he takes care to conceal it from everyone.

“The Draekon with the shot closest to the heart will have the first chance to court the human woman.”

I move next to Liorax. I’m well aware that he does not want a mate. He will not want to compete for the woman, so I’m going to have to approach this from a different angle. “I know you’re thinking of throwing this contest,” I say under my breath.

His shoulders stiffen, but he does not acknowledge my words in any other way. “But before you do,” I continue, “I want to remind you of your kinsman’s reputation. We both know Herrix has hurt more than one of his Lowborn servants. Ask yourself this. Would you have Olivia spend a day with him, unwarned?”

He still doesn’t speak, but I know I’ve said enough. Despite everything that’s happened to him, Liorax has an innate sense of honor and chivalry. He won’t allow Olivia to blindly walk into danger.

* * *

Liorax:

Bast.

I want to strangle Zunix for pointing out what I’ve been doing my very best to ignore. I want no part of this stupid contest. Yes, the ability to shapeshift at will is a useful one, but no matter what my dragon thinks, I’m not going to take a mate.

I’m not concerned about the other human women. I trust Rezzix and Magnux, Yasix and Thesix. Luddux and Xanthox are a little too inclined to be swayed by the opinions of others, but they too are honorable men.

Herrix, on the other hand…

Zunix is always startlingly well-informed. Herrix has a nasty temper. When he loses it… there have been stories. Rumors. The Laris scion is wild and uncontrolled.

I fetch my bow and arrows as Bolox and Narix set up the target. Belfox lines up to shoot first. He draws the string back and releases his arrow. It flies straight and true and hits the target in the chest.

“A very good shot,” Dariux says, sounding impressed. “But you missed the heart.”

“I’ll go next.” Zunix steps forward. I watch with interest as he steps up to the mark. With a minimum of fuss, his arrow flies through the air, landing next to Belfox’s.

“Another good shot.” This time, Dariux’s voice is grudging, not admiring.

Herrix’s arrow is closest to the heart, a mere finger’s thickness from the center. He turns to me, his smile mocking. “Your turn, Liorax.”

The House of Laris is famous for its marksmanship. I medaled in the Empire-wide Skill Games ten times in a row. It was a long time ago, but I’ve lost none of my abilities on the prison planet.

I met Kat’vi at the Skill Games. She’d grown up in Beleris, and she’d been awed to be on the homeworld for the first time.

She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I’d been flattered by her attention, so flattered that I’d ignored all the signs that she was more interested in power than in me.

I’d been young and foolish, and I paid the price.

This human woman, Olivia, is beautiful as well. Too beautiful. This time though, I’m better prepared.

I lift my bow and draw my arrow to my ear. For some strange reason, I think of the feel of Olivia’s hand gripping mine as her leg healed, her green eyes swimming with pain. Yet not a word of complaint had crossed her lips.

The bowstring rings. The arrow speeds through the clearing, and I don’t have to look. I know my aim is true.

I’m still not going to court her. But my honor demands that I warn her about Herrix.