couldn’t take the look on Steph’s face, like he was breaking a promise by telling her to stay here. But even he could tell her breathing was ragged, and she needed medical care. His tough Marine wouldn’t show it, wouldn’t even admit it to herself. But the problem was, the longer she remained with him, the more trouble she was in. This dragon, whoever he was, provided a perfect cover story by appearing when he did. Ryan would be a fool to waste it. And he’d be crazy to expose Steph to more danger.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “I’m your lawyer. You need me.”
Yes. He suspected he did need her very much.
“What I need is you off this dragon right now,” Ryan said coldly.
“Hey,” said another voice. “Who the hell are you.”
Ryan looked over the dragon’s wing to see a man dressed in dark blue hospital scrubs.
“This woman is hurt. Her car was run off the road by government operatives. She’s injured and needs care.”
“Ryan, don’t do this.”
“Come on, lady.”
“Her name is Steph Brooks, a lawyer with Peters, Watins and Roe. And no, contrary to reports, I did not kidnap her. She was assigned to keep me out of trouble, which due to no fault of her own, she couldn’t. And this dragon here showed up and got us out of a bad situation. I don’t know why. But you must take her now. She’s putting on a brave front but she’s in pain. She was hit by an air bag two times in two days, and her forehead hit the dashboard before today’s deployed.
The man in the scrubs extended his arms. “I’ll catch you. Come down and we’ll help you.”
“Ryan?”
He couldn’t take the plaintiveness in her voice or the sadness on her face. She had to leave, now. Because if she didn’t he wasn’t sure he could let her go.
“Ms. Brooks,” he said as steadily as he could, “you’re fired.”
Steph blinked as if she couldn’t believe what he said. But she stood and crawled backwards down the dragon’s leg. Thankfully, the man in the scrubs caught her. Ryan looked away, not wanting to see pleading in her eyes asking him not to go.
Ryan!
The final plea in his head was too much.
“Let’s go, dragon,” he yelled.
The dragon took several steps to the ledge of the building and leaped. With powerful sweeps of his wings he rose higher toward the clouds. The air grew chill. The dragon looked over his shoulder toward Ryan and the young man got the idea. He clutched the ridge that rose before him and the dragon dove. Ryan held his breath as absolute cold clothed him like a shroud. But this dragon, unlike Ryan, knew exactly what he was doing. Before Ryan could blink, they were diving into atmosphere again.
They leveled out over a mountain range and they swept over the majestic snowcapped peaks. Ryan was cold, and the air was thin but the view was breathtaking. If he didn’t feel the tug at his heart for leaving behind Steph, he would be gloriously happy. There was a reason this dragon came for him and Ryan hoped he would get answers to his many questions.
Soon enough a line of broken buildings broke into view. The crumbling walls circled a large grassy area. The dragon backstroked slowing his descent, and then lightly landed on the grass. Ryan was amazed at the grace that the large dragon displayed. The dragon trumpeted and then shifted to human form.
The human form of the dragon was dark skinned and had piercing black eyes. With a shock Ryan recognized him as Calvin Porter, one of the dragons that escaped from English prison. The man crossed quickly to a large stone table in the center and put on a cloak that covered his naked body. Then he turned to Ryan.
“The queen comes,” he said urgently. “When she arrives bow before her.”
Before Ryan could ask question, a woman swept out from shadows in the ruins. She was tall, and stately, and her perfectly proportioned face was framed by long blonde hair that flowed like a waterfall down her shoulders. But though her face was lovely, her eyes were cold and Ryan thought she could make ice freeze with her gaze. She stopped before the dragon and Ryan. The dragon bowed and remembering his words, Ryan bowed as well.
“Rise, Captain. And this is one of our weyrlings?”
“Yes, your majesty,” said the captain. He has the name Ryan Kaur.”
“Rise Ryan Kaur. Welcome home. Long have we missed you.”
Ryan stood as she circled him looking him over.
“You’ve grown well in the care of humans.”
“He does not know our language,” said Calvin.
“That is to be expected. Do you know who I am, boy?”
Ryan bristled at being called a boy. “Your captain here called you the queen of the dragons.”
“That’s right. My name is Rhea Gentrix. It is acceptable that you don’t know my name. I am also your parent.”
“Parent, as in mother?”
“If you want to use the human term.” She spoke in a bored tone, as if the subject was not important.
“And my father?”
“Dragons reproduce in different ways, as those of our kind can. Females have the ability to reproduce asexually. You have no father, Ryan. Your genome is mine and only mine.”
“Now let me think back on biology class. Asexual reproduction produces only females.”
“In other species, yes. Not dragons. In a sense, we are both male and female though one gender tends to assert itself more than the other.”
“My lady,” said Calvin. “The lad’s past few days have been strenuous.”
“Of course. You will come to dinner later and tell me about your life in the human world. My captain will see to your needs.”
“Excuse me, your majesty,” said Ryan. He found it difficult to keep sarcasm from his voice. “I appreciate the offer but I must get going. My father will be very worried.”
“And did I not just explain to you that I am your family? Captain, did the weyrling get hit in the head?”
“Not that I’m aware, my queen. Go and attend to other matters. I will talk to the boy.”
Rhea Gentrix nodded and walked serenely away from them. When she receded into the shadows of the building Calvin turned to him swiftly.
“Do not anger the queen!” said Calvin. “You may be her child, but you are one of many. She does not have the instincts of human mothers, but a dragon’s. If you prove to be a problem she will have no problem ending your life.”
“Well, gee, Cap. Thanks for the warning. This sounds like the perfect time for me to take off.”
“You do not understand. You have placed your seneschal in grave danger. The queen has many connections in the human world, one of them the law firm in which your seneschal is employed. She needs to send but one message and your seneschal shall be murdered. Rhea is aware that Stephanie Brooks is a seneschal from the reports she receives from her contacts. It was her that arranged for Ms. Brooks to work with you hoping that the bond between seneschal and dragon would form. That would give her leverage against you. The thing that Rhea does not know is that you mated the seneschal. Never, never let Rhea know this. She will kill both of you.”
“I don’t understand. You said she wanted a bond to form between Steph and me.”
“Dragon and servant only. Not the bond of mates. That is against Rhea’s law.”
Ryan threw up his hands. “Where on this earth am I not fucked?” He began to pace a patch of grass now worried sick he delivered Steph into the hands of people that could do her more harm than good. His concern grew for his father who faced more enemies than he knew.
“Stop, weyrling. This will do you no good. There are things you must learn and it is best you do it here. Your Steph will be safe as long as you remain at this palace and you refrain from saying or thinking stupid things. Remember, here a great many dragons can read your thoughts. Not all of them, but many.”
“Like Rhea.”
“Most certainly Rhea. I will teach you to shield your thoughts, but it will take time. And I will teach you other things, like how to travel between dimensions so you can travel anywhere in the world.
“Why do I get the sense you aren’t entirely the faithful captain Rhea seems to think you are?”
“Make no assumptions about dragon loyalties, Ryan. The situation here is complex. Many threads are pulled at the loom of fate. When the final threads are pulled, we may all be surprised at the result.”
Ryan blew out a long breath. “Well then, I won’t be placing any bets.”
“It is best not too,” said Calvin.