Chapter 3
“Some things never change.”
Inez glanced sideways at the dark mutter. Bejon glared at the man entering the throne room with an arrogant swagger ahead of two males from his sect. Today started the week of Fate’s blessing. Before the birth of a child, kings from each Dracol sect were invited to the home of the hosting king, bearing gifts.
It was customary, but none before Rylin ever expected more than one. Inez agreed with her fellow soldier and guardsman though. King Varyk wore his lofty attitude like a thorny crown.
He was handsome enough she supposed, gaze lit with taunting amusement as he surveyed the gathered crowd. Shoulder length green hair fell about his face, longer than Rylin’s short black waves. The traditional vest in the green of his sect brought out the amber tones in King Varyk’s eyes. His gaze paused briefly on her. Amusement transition into something dark, wicked. Against her will, Inez shivered and her nipples budded with interest.
No, absolutely not. She curled her lips in dismissal. As if. His response was a knowing tilt of his chin as he acceded to her rejection easily. Probably another reason no one called him out on his behavior. When he showed for public events, it seemed as if he went out of his way to be abrasive. But in the next breath he shrugged off whatever slight he received. She’d also witnessed him tear another Dracol apart for harming a female.
King Varyk stopped in front of Rylin’s dais and barely tipped his head in acknowledgement. The sneer on his face spoke volumes. It was obvious he only came out of duty. Rylin, showing true grace, waved his hand toward the left of his seat where Dara stood by a table already overflowing with gifts. Then he ignored the leader of the Green by speaking to the next in line.
Varyk snorted at the casual dismissal as he turned away with a half recognizable bow in Rylin’s direction. Inez was proud of her Queen. Her smile never wavered as Varyk stormed in her direction, a wrapped box clutched in his right hand. He tossed it on the table, causing the other items to clink and shift.
Inez was in motion without thinking. Dara tried to signal her away, but the slight couldn’t be ignored. As soon as she was in ear shot, Inez growled, “Have you no sense of respect for the mantle you claim?”
Varyk swiveled around to face her, smirk firmly in place. “Ah, another one who has fallen under the alien’s spell, I see.”
“What’s your problem, King Varyk?” she asked from between clenched teeth.
“It’s not important, Inez. Let it go.” Dara grasped her forearm.
The noise and laughter dimmed as they drew stares. Rylin in particular focused his attention on them. Inez forced a smile to her lips, the gesture tight with checked frustration. There was only so much recourse for her. This was the head of the Green. If provoked, the king could slaughter her where she stood with little effort.
“Yes…Inez, let it go.” His smug superiority goaded.
The opportunity to push the issue tempted her, but Inez relaxed and blew out a breath. King Varyk elicited this reaction from others all the time. Apparently, she wasn’t as immune as she’d like. “You’re not worth it.”
“On the contrary—” His sneer twisted into a smile of seduction. His posture adjusted as he turned fully to face her. Arrogance morphed to enticement. “I am worth it. Very much so.”
Inez restrained the urge to take another look. She hated that she agreed with him to some extent. Surrounded by beautiful males on a daily basis, she shouldn’t be affected. She’d learned the hard way that character counted for far more. Yet here she stood with hard nipples and a thudding heart rate.
Assuming a relaxed stance, Inez arched a brow. “Guess I’ll never know.”
His gaze narrowed, the air between them heating. Unwanted desire continued to tease at her senses. Her eyes dropped to the v neckline of the vest he wore. The sliver of a bronze chest hinted at the muscles which lay beneath.
She swallowed. Not going there.
“Thank you for the gift, Varyk.”
Dara’s voice broke the growing tension. Varyk slanted a glance toward her queen, dismissing Inez with seeming ease. If he said something insulting to the human from Earth who’d won all their hearts, nothing would stop Inez from shoving her boot in a certain place.
Dara’s ankle length black gown hugged her slight figure in a manner that enhanced her slim body. Inez expected the king to leer, but he didn’t. “Enjoy.”
He sauntered away, stopping only to grab a glass of wine from a nearby table. Quinn and Layne, close guards to Rylin, appeared out of nowhere and followed him at a respectable distance.
Inez sighed again, unsure why the leader of the Green got to her. She’d been in Varyk’s presence on a number of occasions and always had such an irritable reaction toward him with a strong dose of attraction. Afterwards, she’d counsel herself to do better the next time. It never worked.
“Are you alright?” Dara touched her arm lightly.
“Not a problem.” Inez worked up a smile and met her gaze. Seeking to distract, Inez pointed out a young male with brown hair and a lean form on the verge of manhood. He stood in earnest conversation with Rylin, who swiped at his cheeks as laughter spilled from his pursed lips. “Isn’t that your first unofficial guard?”
Olivan had once been responsible for protecting Dara and took the role very seriously. Because of him, the Earth female survived an attack by a Dracol gone mad. It was also because of that incident Rylin realized his Queen would need her own personal guard. Inez had been assigned to Dara right after.
Dara’s gaze brightened and she stepped away from the table, shedding all decorum. “Van!”
The young Dracol turned and grinned. Showing admirable restraint, Van finished with Rylin before coming their way.
Inez eased back and allowed the two a semblance of privacy, if such was possible in a room with a crowd of excitable Black awaiting the birth of their king’s children.
Any day now.
***
Varyk muted the growl trying to rip free. Every one of the Black with their presumptuous ways grinded on his nerves. The female…Inez was no different. Varyk watched from the corner of his eyes as she chatted freely, never straying far from the female Rylin had made his lira and Queen. On top of that, the alien did something totally unheard of—she was about to gift Rylin with five young.
It reminded Varyk of the unusual circumstances surrounding his own birth. The Goddess of Fate apparently considered Dara worthy, which meant Varyk would have to keep a closer eye on her.
“Why do you seek to antagonize them?”
Varyk didn’t startle as Faris, King of the Silver, came to stand at his side. “Plenty of reasons, starting with Rylin.”
Faris snorted, his gaze roaming the crowd. “One would think it your personal mission to try and destroy an important sect which makes up our very existence.”
Sliding his hands into his pants, Varyk glared at everyone around him. Spirits were high, laughter in abundance. Still, he didn’t want to be here, wished to be anywhere else, but even he wasn’t as uncouth as to avoid the celebrational gift giving. When a shell sparked with life, all gave thanks. Multiply that by five and it was an event not to be missed.
“Rylin took care of the one threatening our females. Give him credit for not shirking his duty.”
Varyk shot Faris a look of disbelief. “Give him credit for killing one of his own only after the maniac took the life of sixteen of our liras? Females who left devastated mates behind mind you. Never.”
“I’m only stating a simple fact. He who wears the mantle pays a steep price for the responsibility.”
Dressed in a silver vest, with calm gold eyes and a silver braid flowing over his shoulder, many assumed Faris the least dangerous of them. Varyk saw beyond the smooth veneer and kept an eye on him more than the others. Well, with the exception of Kon. The King of the Purple was not to be trifled with. Varyk held in a chuckle of amusement. He didn’t trust any of his brethren much.
“Don’t you agree?” Faris asked.
Indeed the price was high. Of that Varyk had no doubt. Uvem was a perfect example of such and Varyk to a lesser degree. “Power is power. If one can’t handle it, he should step down.”
He’d grown tired of everyone extoling the virtues of the head of the Black. Rylin this and Rylin that. Those among all the sects admired him as the youngest Dracol to be selected by the Goddess for the mantle.
Lie! Varyk was the youngest. He knew true power at an age long before Rylin ever broke from his shell. But he couldn’t share that or he would dishonor the male who had risked his life on Varyk’s behalf. It had taken Uvem ninety years to deem Varyk prepared enough to accept the mantle again.
“I see you’re going to be your usual charming self.” Faris sighed and shrugged his shoulders, then set his empty glass down. “I’m going to speak with Dara and offer my gift.”
Varyk stayed as long as necessary then excused himself to head to the bedroom reserved for him. As was customary, the Kings had to spend the night in order to do a morning Dracol flight. The minute he landed, Varyk planned to teleport as quick as possible and return to the Green.
Otherwise, he’d want to fight Rylin on principle. In addition to the fact Rylin was on his second lira while Varyk was too afraid to take one.