“Kaya?” Gryffnn had hovered close enough to give Kaya aid should she require it but far enough away so he didn’t eavesdrop with his superior hearing. Oh, he’d wanted to listen, but decency forbade him to intrude in this manner. Two men had entered his parlor and two elderly women departed, yet he’d remained in position, trusting Kaya, despite the odd situation.
Kaya appeared in the doorway holding a squawking baby. The stench of vomit wafted on the air. Kaya’s eyes were wide and round and her muscles clenched tight. “She won’t stop crying! She cries and cries. I don’t know what to do.”
Gryffnn took in the vomit on Kaya’s tunic, the fear on her face, and his heart melted at her panic, the chink in her tough warrior armor.
“Here, let me.” He scooped up the wailing infant, held her against his chest and rubbed her back. The child burped and quieted, her frantic sobs reducing to sniffles. Gryffnn continued to stroke the child’s back, enchanted by her similarity to Kaya. “Has your brother left?”
“Yes. I need to talk to you, tell you something in private.”
She stared at him weirdly, her mouth opening and closing until she resembled an inexperienced dragon youngling who’d burnt his lips on his beginner fire.
“Whoa,” she muttered and shook her head.
“Why don’t we discuss whatever you need to tell me in my chamber? You’ll want to change your tunic. Hallam moved your possessions for me. Well, he started to until he got to your underwear drawer. I had a maid finish the rest of the packing while Hallam did the toting back and forward.” Gryffnn waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “He has questions for you.”
An un-Kaya-like moan slipped from her. “Maybe I could redo this entire cycle. I’m a warrior, not a nursemaid. Two children in one cycle. It’s way too scary for me.”
Gryffnn wanted to smile at her flustered air. Her ruffled manner made her more interesting, as did learning of her family. She had a brother, which meant he’d have another brother, if he got his way. A dragon could never have too many siblings guarding his back.
“This is my chamber,” Gryffnn said, stopping in front of a carved wooden door. He placed his palm on the recognition plate and the door swung open. “I’ll code the door for your palm later this eve.”
Kaya shut the door behind them and turned to him. “This is my sister, Lys. My mother died, and my father and brother believe if those responsible catch up with either me or Lys, they’ll try to kill us. They suggested I pretend Lys is my daughter. Children are a mystery to me. What if I break her?” Kaya almost wailed.
“That’s a lot of information for my poor male brainbox to compute. Start again and tell me everything,” he said.
Although he’d received the gist of what she said, the lift of her nose, the straightening of her shoulders told him Kaya was regaining control. She set the wrapped package she carried in the corner of his chamber.
“What is that?”
“My mother’s sword. Tayte said she wanted me to have it.”
“Are you talented with a sword?”
“I used to train with one. It won’t take me long to regain my muscle memory and strength.”
The baby in his arms cooed and grabbed a strand of his hair. She yanked it hard. “Ow. The little one is a warrior like her sister.” He freed himself and the baby laughed at him. His heart melted with a fierce wave of emotion. If he and Kaya had a child, they might resemble this baby, or they might turn into a big hulking dragon. Either way, he’d celebrate.
Normally, dragons didn’t mate outside their species, but he and Ransom had discussed the matter when his older brother had noted his fascination with Kaya. Ransom had informed him anything was possible. He’d confided to Gryffnn that if he discovered a woman who called to him, he’d follow his heart—no matter what the lectures the remaining elders gave him.
Good enough for him.
Aware his thoughts had wandered onto a different path, he glanced at Kaya. She’d sunk onto the corner of his gel-bed. The next step would be getting her naked.
“Your eyes are glowing.”
Gryffnn blinked. The baby was staring at him too. Best he get his randy thoughts under control. Lys cooed and flung up her little arm, smacking him on the jaw.
“Lys.” Kaya cast her gurgling sister a scowl, and Gryffnn controlled his amusement with difficulty.
“What happened to your mother?”
“She was the ruler of Sitnam. From what my brother said, there was a faction on the planet who wanted to overthrow her and they succeeded. The ruler of Sitnam is always a female. My race never values males, which was why my brother left at the age of twelve rotations. My mother sent him away, but now everything I thought I knew is upside down.”
“Why? Can you tell me?” This slice of her life fascinated him.
“In my world—my mother’s world—a male serves one purpose. To provide seed to produce the next generation. Once a female is breeding, the female kills the male. My father didn’t die until I was around four rotations, which is unusual on our world.”
Gryffnn blinked yet again. “Kills them?”
“Yes. I thought my mother had followed tradition, since my father differed from Tayte’s. But now I find she fell in love with a man from an enemy planet. A man from Morph. Tayte, Lys and I all have the same father, and he is still alive. I-I think he raised Tayte and made sure of his safety. Tayte kept the secret and never told me.” She sounded confused and disgruntled.
“That was your father with your brother?”
“Yes.”
And the Morph connection explained why two women had left. He’d let them go without questioning their changed appearance since he’d been more worried about Kaya.
“Your father and brother think you and Lys are in danger?”
“It’s possible the faction who overthrew my mother will search for us. We’re a danger—well, me—since I have the bloodlines to stir the people to rebellion.”
“Are you royalty?”
“Not royalty, but I possess the bloodlines to lead—if I want.”
His breath caught, his mind racing. He couldn’t leave Narenda. Not again. This was home, and he was needed until Ransom recovered. “Do you want to lead?”
“I left the only home I’d ever known after my maid tried to poison me. My mother asked me if I wished to lead, and I said I preferred to explore life outside Sitnam. In our history, mothers have done away with ambitious daughters.”
“You think she tried to kill you?”
“No. My mother loved me, and if I’d wanted proof, I have it now. She kept my brother, father and me safe, and now Lys too.”
“How long has it been since you saw your mother?”
Kaya’s forehead puckered. “Ah, about five rotations.”
“How did you meet with Ry?”
“I’d never left Sitnam, and it didn’t take long for thieves to part me from my currency. Ry stopped two creepy aliens from abducting me. He offered me passage away from the planet I’d landed up on and later gave me a job on his ship. Ry collected all of the Indy crew that way.”
“He’s an honorable man.”
“Yes. Meeting Ry was a lucky cycle for me.”
“All right. This is what we’ll do. We’ll tell everyone Lys is our child. A baby won’t interest Aideen. It’s you who will draw her attention. I’ll make certain I hold Lys for her to take on my scent.”
“So we need not have sex?”
Gryffnn wished he could read Kaya, but she’d settled and regained her balance. “You’ll be under close scrutiny. If I’m reading Aideen right, she expects me to hook up with her sister again. That will not happen. Have you changed your mind?”
Please say no. Please say you want me.
Tension slid through him as he waited for her answer. Perhaps he should take a leaf from his grandsire’s teachings and abduct her. He’d keep her contained until she agreed to a mating between them.
“I gave my word I’d help you. I stand by that. But what about Hallam? I’d hate him to get hurt by our pretense.”
“I’ve explained everything to him.” He’d told his son the truth about the Dalcon dragon clan and what he hoped to achieve with Kaya. His son would keep Gryffnn’s confidence.
Kaya nodded. “Okay, as long as you’re certain Hallam will be all right.”
Unable to force his relief into casual speech, he dipped his head. He glanced down at Lys and smiled as she sucked her delicate blue thumb, her eyelids almost closed. “Lys is exhausted. Why don’t we take her down to meet your friends, my son and sister, and then to the nursery with Camryn’s offspring?”
“Just as well you know what you’re doing. I’m clueless.”
“You’ll learn. I’ll teach you.” Lys’s presence might prove helpful and cement them into a family.
Kaya gulped, and Gryffnn wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her until they both trembled. Too soon. Play the long game.
He stroked Lys’s head, her blue hair silky beneath his fingertips. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She stood and straightened her shoulders. “Wait. I’d better change my tunic. Where are my clothes?”
“In the closet over there.” Gryffnn gestured with his free hand and watched as she whipped off her dirty garment and donned a clean one. He caught a flash of tempting curves and pale blue skin before he forced himself to study Lys instead.
Kaya’s chin rose as she turned to him. “Let’s do this.”
“Do you want to carry her?”
“No.” Kaya backed away, alarm bleeding the healthy color from her cheeks.
“Perhaps it’s best if I keep holding her so she absorbs my scent.”
“Excellent idea.” She marched to the door and flung it open, allowing Gryffnn a chance to free his grin. No doubt about it, Kaya presented an enticing challenge, and he intended to enjoy every moment.
Gryffnn followed Kaya into the communal room. The animated chatter fell silent as they entered. “I’d like you to meet our daughter, Lys,” he said. The mite had fallen asleep and a surge of protectiveness filled him.
“I have a sister.” Hallam bounded over to them, all long legs and gangly youth.
“You do. Do you want to hold her?”
Hallam nodded, accepting his word without asking any questions. The adults wouldn’t believe the story so easily. His son was a good kid, responsible and mature despite his tender years. Almost twelve rotations old, he’d flown earlier than his peers, making both Gryffnn and Ransom proud.
Hallam stroked her cheek with a fingertip. “She is so tiny.”
“Support her head,” Gryffnn murmured. “Sable, will you go with Hallam to the nursery and put Lys down for the evening?”
“My pleasure.” His sister’s swift glance promised myriad questions in his future.
Hallam exited the room with his aunt.
“I suppose you have questions,” Kaya said.
Gryffnn moved to stand by her and reached for her hand. He squeezed it in silent support. She started before relaxing.
“Is this secret squirrel stuff?” Camryn asked.
“Yes.” Kaya leaned into him.
Gryffnn forced himself not to react, but every part of him registered her scent—still tinged with plant stink—and the weight of her body against his hip. “What is a secret squirrel?”
“Private stuff,” Nanu said, acting as an interpreter.
“I-I can tell you, but it’s better not to share the truth with you. All you need to know is that Lys is m-my d-daughter.”
“And mine.” Gryffnn rearranged Kaya against his chest. He felt the tension in her but refused to let her wriggle free. He bent his head to nip her earlobe, and she froze. A tiny moan squeezed past her pastel blue lips. “We have more important things to discuss. Tell me again about these intruders. You have no idea of their identity?”
“None,” Ry said. “With the arrival of the Dalcon dragons, do you have enough soldiers to guard that perimeter? Kaya, she isn’t your daughter.”
The abrupt subject change had Kaya stiffening in his arms.
“My sister,” Kaya said with a sigh. “But to everyone else, Lys is my daughter. Understand?”
“Interesting.” Nanu’s hair stirred with a whispery sigh. “You never discuss your family. I’d decided you and Tayte arrived via giant bird.”
Gryffnn’s concerns lightened on hearing Nanu’s good-natured insults. “Continue,” he said to Ry. “We have enough soldiers, but the mountain resonance worries me.”
“Ellard wanted to offer his soldiers more training. Would you be willing to have them do the job with Ellard overseeing them?” Ry asked.
“Not a bad idea. I’ll comm Lynx and Shiloh as soon as we finish dinner.” Gryffnn said as he absorbed the offer. “I’d prefer to keep my men on hand here to watch Aideen and her flight. Meantime, can I get you to set up surveillance equipment in the area where the thefts are occurring? We didn’t pick up any arrivals or strange ships in our flight space on our system here.”
“Their ship appeared sleek and modern. It’s possible their technology is new and undetectable.”
“It’s superior, if they can steal our resources from under our noses.” Gryffnn said drily.
“Has your brother left?” Camryn asked.
“Yes, he has urgent business,” Kaya said.
“I’m sorry we missed him. Did he mention Olivia? Has she returned to Earth?”
A quick grin flashed across Kaya’s face. “I think Olivia is driving him nuts, jolting him from his routine. He hasn’t sent her packing yet, which I find interesting.”
A servant tapped for entry. He approached Gryffnn. “The dragons from Dalcon have arrived,” he said instead of announcing dinner.
Damn and blast. This was typical Aideen, always doing the unexpected.
“I’ll meet them at the spaceport. Kaya and I will leave now.”
“Their ships have landed on the training field,” the servant said.
“What do you need us to do?” Ry asked.
“I need two guards on Ransom’s chamber. The visitors must not see him. I also need Hallam kept away from them. I don’t trust Aideen.”
“Mogens and I will take care of Hallam,” Camryn said. “Does he understand why he must avoid the Gwilym dragons?”
“Yes,” Gryffnn said tersely. “He understands, but can you reinforce that Lys is his sister and he mustn’t mention her either—to keep them both safe.”
“Nanu and I will watch over Ransom and free up your guard,” Ry said. “Anything else? Where are you housing them?”
“Decorum states I must have them here at the compound. I’ll decide on the exact arrangements once I see who has arrived. Kaya, with me.”
Gryffnn stalked from the communal room, his mind racing in a dozen directions at once. Kaya strode at his side and her silent solidarity shored up his fears. He refused to let Aideen and her clan get the better of him, and he’d protect his brother and their clan to his dying breath. His only regret—he and Kaya hadn’t cemented their bond yet.
“Aideen will scent we’re not mates,” he said.
Kaya winked. “Maybe not. She’ll take one whiff and avoid me.”
“I get a lungful now and then.” A burst of humor shot through him. “With luck the stench has transferred to me, and Aideen will keep her distance.”
Goddess, he wasn’t looking forward to this meeting.
“You’ve got this, Gryffnn,” Kaya said as they stalked outdoors and headed to the training field.
Gryffnn’s chest swelled, and he tugged Kaya to a halt.
“What?”
He hauled her into his arms and kissed her with all the desperation he’d felt when he’d thought Ransom wanted Kaya. He caught her gasp with his mouth and teased her lips with his tongue before he took the kiss deeper. Sweetness burst over him at Kaya’s acceptance of his rough and unrestrained ardor.
“Well,” a strident feminine voice declared. “A fine meeting to be sure. You’d rather dally with your doxy than greet us. With Ransom out of commission, I expected disarray, and I wasn’t wrong.”