Gryffnn stiffened at Aideen’s mocking voice. She still thought the solar system revolved around her.
Kaya brushed a kiss against his ear. “You got this,” she whispered. Then, she pulled away to face Aideen, her lips curling in a sneer. “Who the devil are you calling a doxy? I’m no common trollop.”
Proud and buoyed by Kaya’s attitude, Gryffnn reminded himself he was no longer the same young, inexperienced male who’d gone to Dalcon to join Aideen and her clan. He angled until Aideen entered his peripheral vision.
“Aideen,” he said, not giving her the usual incline of head—a show of respect to those of higher rank. “If you’d troubled to tell me of your arrival time, we would’ve greeted you. Instead, you arrive unexpectedly and have the discourtesy to land in the middle of our training fields instead of at the spaceport. I expect your pilots to clear our fields and park your ships at the spaceport. Now. And you will apologize to my betrothed.”
The dragon leader hadn’t aged since he’d last seen her almost eleven—or was it twelve?—rotations ago. No, it must be eleven, since Hallam had been a newborn. Her copper-bright hair lay in loose curls around her shoulders while her green eyes held surprise at his order. The leader of the Dalcon dragons stood tall for a female since she was only half a head shorter than him. Sculpted muscles packed her upper body and arms, and if one looked closely, her copper-colored scales were visible beneath her skin.
“I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.” Aideen signaled to a member of her silent entourage. “Unload our luggage and have the pilots move the ships to the spaceport. I presume there will be room for our six ships?”
Six ships? Why had she brought such large numbers of her people? Gryffnn hid his concern in polite acquiescence. “There is room. If you have six ships, your people can deal with your luggage. I have arranged for you to stay in the guest cottages. The overflow can stay in the guards’ quarters. I will have my staff ready the cottages for you.”
“Oh, what about the main house? We are family.”
“Not true,” Gryffnn stated in a hard voice. He recalled his ex-wife and Aideen telling him he would receive no help from them, and he couldn’t expect a return of his bride price. They’d invested the currency and the marriage contract had stated it was non-returnable. During all these years, they’d displayed not a scrap of interest in his son. “I haven’t heard you apologize to Kaya.”
“I hadn’t heard of your betrothal.” Aideen avoided the apology and sent a glower at her people when one or two dared to titter. “And we have ties in common. Your son.”
“Why would you have learned of our happiness?” Kaya snapped. “I understood your clan has little contact with Gryffnn’s.”
A brief silence fell as Gryffnn measured Aideen. He found her lacking, her arrogance as devious as ever. There was no way he intended to let Aideen or her traitorous sister get their dragon claws into Hallam. The boy—his son—was the one good thing that had come from his short relationship with Caley Gwilym.
“You wish to discuss private matters in front of your people?” he demanded.
“No, you’re right. Discussions can come later. What you say about our clans is true. It’s time to change this,” Aideen stated. “Hence the overture and this friendly visit.” She turned to Kaya. “We seem to have started our meeting badly. Please accept my words of sorrow. I did not wish to offend.”
Kaya glared at Aideen, not cowed by the fact the dragon woman stood several inches taller than her. Pride surged in Gryffnn as his breath eased out. Kaya’s confidence made him think he could do anything.
Kaya sniffed, not hiding her dislike of Aideen. “We will show you to your accommodation.”
Gryffnn smothered his amusement at Kaya’s reaction as she gestured Aideen along the path toward the cottages. He didn’t trust Aideen. Once burned by her and her sister, he’d never offer his back to this witch. Given the chance, she’d likely shove a knife between his shoulder blades.
“This way,” Gryffnn said. “This path leads to the first cottage. Decide who you wish to stay with you, and I will contact housekeeping to determine if the other cottages are ready for habitation.” He gestured the entourage down the path, his gaze locking with a member of the party he hadn’t noticed to date. “Caley, I didn’t realize you were part of Aideen’s group. I understood you’d left the clan.”
“You thought wrong,” Caley said with a sniff and a toss of her head.
Like Aideen, Caley Gwilym was beautiful with her red hair, creamy skin and flashing green eyes that, at this moment, held malice. The beautiful exterior concealed a rotten heart. He’d learned this soon enough—material wealth interested the dragon woman, that and her own pleasure. She’d never wanted a mate. Not him, at any rate. He’d been too young. Too green. Too unsophisticated for a dragon woman of her needs. She remained unchanged and still wished to bend him to her will. But she’d learn he’d matured, and she and her sister could no longer shift him around like a game piece on a board.
When he remained silent, she rushed into speech.
“It is time for me to meet our son.”
Gryffnn bit his tongue with difficulty. Hallam might have emerged from Caley’s body, but that didn’t make her a decent parent. No, she’d fled with her lover, spurning both Gryffnn and their son. She didn’t get a second chance.
“Before I left Dalcon, you signed away your rights regarding my son. You will see him over my dead body.”
Caley sniffed again and brushed past him, her long skirts rustling with displeasure. She muttered as she stalked away.
That could be arranged.
He was certain he’d heard her mumbled words correctly.
Gryffnn continued to count the number of guests in Aideen’s party. The count ended at forty-three, and he wondered why Aideen had brought so many of her people with her, and if she’d left any at their Dalcon enclave. Grata, he hadn’t numbers for the crew on the ships yet.
Once the last person trailed past, Gryffnn followed in the rear. Hurried footsteps behind him had him slipping off the path.
Aideen’s second-in-command jogged past, a tall, muscular dragon with a scarred face and long black hair braided into a tail that hung down his back. Assured this male was the last, Gryffnn followed Dilan. Rumor had said Dilan was Aideen’s lover, but Gryffnn didn’t know for sure.
Dilan slowed his steps and Gryffnn closed the gap between them, walking at his side once the path widened.
“I ordered the ships to the spaceport. They will leave as soon as the luggage is unloaded,” Dilan said.
“Thank you. My training captain will be relieved to have his field cleared,” Gryffnn said. “You have a large party.”
“Yes.” Dilan glanced ahead and slowed once again. “Be careful, Gryffnn.”
“Of what?”
“Aideen has a plan.”
“Aideen always has a plan,” Gryffnn said. “I learned this to my cost. Why are you telling me? You’re her second-in-command and have her ear.”
“No longer,” Dilan said. “Times change. Alliances.”
“Speak plainly, man.” Gryffnn didn’t trust Dilan either, yet the dragon shifter appeared sincere in his warning.
“I can’t say more. Aideen will know I spoke with you. Watch your back. That’s all I’m saying.”
Gryffnn eyed him, attempting to discern truth and lie. Dilan appeared genuine, but he’d ask Kaya her opinion later. “I need to speak with my staff and organize a meal for your clan. Go. I shall rejoin you shortly.”
“Thank you, Gryffnn.” Dilan gave a quick bow, inclining his head at the same time before hurrying around the corner in the path.
If Aideen and her clan were trying to set him off-balance, they were succeeding. Seeing Aideen again, then Caley. Gryffnn snorted, remembering the innocent youngster he’d been and his determination to be a good mate and make his father proud. Aideen had wanted ties between their clans and he’d ended up the sacrifice since his father didn’t wish to lose his heir. He wondered what his sire would feel now that Gryffnn was leading the Drake tribe.
Leading? Bah! He was bumbling his way through a series of crises, faking his confidence while he prayed Ransom would make a full recovery.
* * * * *
Kaya stomped toward the compound after arranging the guests in accommodation. Gryffnn was right to worry. The leader and Gryffnn’s ex-wife had a goal in mind and it went far beyond extending the hand of friendship.
A flash of color caught her attention. Phrull it. She upped her pace to a jog to intercept one of Aideen’s people.
“You! Where are you going?”
The young male with dark hair and slanted amber eyes paused to grin at her. Twin dimples dug into his lower cheeks. His was a face to make young maidens sigh and coo. Too pretty for his own good.
“Merely stretching my legs after the flight from Dalcon.”
“It’s not that far from Narenda to Dalcon,” Kaya said. “This part of the gardens is private. Stretch your legs on the training fields.”
He shot a surreptitious gaze at the line of windows to his right before shrugging. “Can I entice you to take a stroll with me?”
“No,” Kaya snapped. “Don’t come here again.”
The male tried to grasp her hand, and instinct had Kaya plowing her fist into his belly.
“Oomph,” he said, watching her warily now and taking a rapid step back to increase the distance between them.
Frag it, her hand ached. This male might appear young but his body comprised tight muscle. One of Aideen’s soldiers, she presumed. A spy.
“Tell your people the gardens are out of bounds. You are guests here and must abide by our rules.”
“Some might assume you’re hiding secrets.”
“They can think what they want,” Kaya said, maintaining his gaze. “If I catch you trespassing, I’ll shoot first and ask questions later. I’m an excellent shot.”
“You need a strong male to keep you in line.”
Gryffnn stepped into the light and curled his arm around her waist. “She has a strong male, and I enjoy her sass and attitude just fine.”
The young male stared at them for a fraction longer before giving a miniscule dip of his head, the show of respect almost an insult. He whirled and strode away until he blended with the blacklight.
“Are you all right?”
Gryffnn didn’t release her, and his scent filled her lungs. A hint of amber. A dash of cinnamon and fragrant spices, along with the smoky, salty tang she was coming to associate with dragons.
Her pulse beat a little faster at his proximity. “I’m fine. That is Ransom’s window over there?”
“Yes.”
“I caught Aideen’s dragon creeping along here. He intended to peer inside.”
“We need to move Ransom to an interior room,” Gryffnn said.
“That might be best—if you wish to keep them from learning more about your brother’s condition.”
“I’ll arrange a new chamber for Ransom tom-cycle. Aideen…I didn’t expect her to bring so many of her people,” Gryffnn said. “Her contacting me was suspicious before, and more so now since most of her entourage are young dragons.” He thumbed his comm and spoke to his captain of the guard to arrange security around the family quarters. Once he ended the call, he said, “That will be sufficient for this blacklight. We have plenty of security. Aideen will learn that soon enough.”
“Her people are battle-fit.” Kaya tugged Gryffnn toward the family quarters. “She hasn’t come here for a friendly visit. She has other plans.”
Gryffnn sighed. “My initial thoughts were that since she’s heard Ransom is ill, she is testing our strength.”
“Will she attack?”
“My gut says yes. She has always envied our precious stone deposits. Her hunger to better herself starts with taking us over.”
They entered the dwelling and walked down the cool passage toward the family room. Their boots thudded on the stone floor tiles.
“I wonder if it might be a good idea to remove Ransom and take him to Viros. That way you wouldn’t have to worry about your brother and you could use those men elsewhere. Discuss it with Ry, ask his opinion. Bring Jannike and her men in on the conversation. You intended to speak with them about extra security for your mineral deposits, anyway.”
Gryffnn exhaled heavily. “The burden of leadership is a heavy weight.”
Kaya halted him and gripped both his biceps in her hands. She stared up at his strong tan face and into his hazel eyes. They held kindness and determination and warmth bloomed inside her. “You’re doing a good job in Ransom’s stead. You picked up the reins and have barely stumbled. That snooty Aideen and her friends don’t stand a chance. I have confidence in you.” And she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.
He groaned, wrapped his beefy arms around her shoulders and took over the kiss. Well, she’d managed the confidence boost she’d intended. Kaya looped her hands behind his neck and clung, enjoying the hell out of his dominating kiss. The press of lips. The tangle of tongues. The brush of bodies.
She’d imagined sex with Ransom often but had never set her sights on Gryffnn. A mistake. This dragon shifter had hidden depths, and better still, she’d come to like and admire him when most males needed to work hard to impress her.
Gryffnn pulled back, separating their mouths.
Huh! That was interesting. His eyes had shifted, the pupils transforming to mere slits. Sexy.
Kaya concentrated on regulating her racing pulse and breathing. She expected he’d set her on her feet, but he surprised her again. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent.
“I love your perfume.”
“Even though I still wear odor of plants?”
“I’m not noticing that so much now. It’s the crispness underneath I can smell. It reminds me of when I’m flying high on a cool day and the tropical winds are blowing in my face and buffeting my body.”
Heat collected in Kaya’s face. No doubt her cheeks wore slashes of cobalt blue, but this dragon shifter didn’t offer pretense. Oh, their relationship was fake, but the dig of his cock into her body told her he wanted her. If she were honest, she craved him with the same intensity. She hadn’t wanted a man like this since Ry’s brother…
No, she refused to waste thoughts on that worm and his magical spells that had turned her into his sex slave. His evilness. Good riddance to him. Best she concentrate on Gryffnn and the present rather than a dead man.
“Are the pair of you coming in for dinner?” Camryn asked. “We’ve been waiting while you canoodle in the passage, but I’m starving.” Her stomach let out an audible rumble.
Gryffnn let Kaya slip down his body to regain her own feet. “What is canoodling? I have not heard this term.”
“It comes from Camryn’s place of birth,” Kaya said, a fresh wave of warmth suffusing her face on witnessing the male heat in his dragon eyes. “It means we were doing kissing stuff.”
“I suppose I’d better feed you before we canoodle some more.”
And with that, Gryffnn ushered her toward the dining room door.
When they entered, everyone was waiting and the scent of a rich meaty stew drifted to Kaya.
“Start eating,” Gryffnn said. “Kaya, can you serve my dinner for me? I want to check in with my security team to make sure they’re in place and Aideen’s people aren’t running amok. I won’t be long.”
He strode from the room, and Kaya watched him until he disappeared. When she returned her gaze to her dining companions, she found each of them grinning at her. Even Hallam.
“You like my father,” Hallam said, and he sounded pleased.
Her crewmates didn’t speak, sparing her any teasing in Gryffnn’s son’s presence. Their expressions, however, said volumes.
“My new sister wouldn’t stop crying,” Hallam said. “She sure cries a lot.”
Shame that she hadn’t spared a thought for Lys engulfed her. Kaya half stood, intending to go to her, before Camryn halted her.
“When I stopped by both my twins had crawled from their beds and were chattering to her. My two refused to stay in bed, so I ended up making one big bed for the three. The close contact seemed to quieten them, and when I peeked in later, the kids were all asleep,” Camryn said.
“Thank you,” Kaya said, and it was heartfelt. Lys’s crying scared her. Phrull, what was her brother thinking? He knew she had little experience with children. She accepted the bowl of stew from Nanu and served a generous ladle onto Gryffnn’s plate before adding a smaller one to her own.
Gryffnn strode back into the dining room and took his seat beside her. “My soldiers are in position, and they’ve already forced away two different dragon shifters.”
“Aideen is here to cause trouble then?” Ry asked.
“She’s testing us, learning our weaknesses,” Gryffnn replied.
“What are you going to do?” Nanu queried.
“I can’t challenge her outright without reason. All I have at present are suspicions. My gut tells me to get Ransom away from here. Hallam too. Your children and Lys should leave as well,” Gryffnn said. “Could I send them to Viros?”
“Let’s finish dinner before we contact Jannike,” Ry said.
“Nanu and I could fly Ransom and the children back to Viros,” Mogens said, flashes of black dissecting his cheeks and turning his skin darker as he spoke. “We could leave after dinner before your visitors understand what is happening. Gweneth will take charge of the children. We could send Hallam to Jarlath and Keira. They’ll keep him busy at the farm with their other charges. This is a sensible choice. I disliked the cloud’s appearance before whitelight turned to black.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Ry said. “Camryn, can go too.”
“I’m happy to help with our twins and Lys on the journey back, but I will return with Nanu,” Camryn said in a don’t-mess-with-me voice. “I am capable.”
“Of course you are, sweetheart. But like Gryffnn, my gut is signaling trouble.”
“Which is why I’m returning,” Camryn declared. “I love our children, but I wish to set a good example for them. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t stand up for my pals?”
Ry picked up a goblet of cacjuice and lifted it in a silent toast. “I can’t argue with that, but I will growl and roar if you get injured.”
“Right back at you,” Camryn said.
“Now that your domestic argument has ended,” Kaya said. “This is a good plan. I’m sure Jannike and her men will agree with our suggestions. Bring back the soldiers with you. Gryffnn, maybe you can offer Ellard’s men a bounty for each one of those creepy plants they kill?”
“Not only that, I’ll pay them for guarding our lands,” Gryffnn said.
“You must distract your visitors while we get Ransom and the kids to the Indy,” Camryn said.
“If you don’t mind taking charge, Kaya and I can go to see Aideen and make sure she has everything she requires,” Gryffnn suggested.
“Are the Incorporeal people still here or did they leave?” Nanu asked.
“Niran is still here along with his two oldest sons. The rest of their people removed to Tiraq, a planet near Dalcon.”
“Will Niran help move Ransom and Hallam?” Ry set down his cutlery. “Camryn, Nanu and I can take the babies, and it will appear as if we’re going back to Viros. In fact, if anyone asks you can tell them your friends are leaving. No need to mention that I’m staying or that the others are coming back with reinforcements.”
Kaya witnessed the struggle in Gryffnn. He didn’t want to send his brother or son to Viros even though he knew it was for their safety. She pushed her dinner plate away and reached for Gryffnn’s hand. She curled her fingers around his bigger callused ones, her heart tripping at the contact.
“This is only temporary. You never know. A change of domicile might jerk Ransom from his coma. Mogens will stay with him, and every resident of the castle will protect him,” Kaya said.
“I know you’re right,” Gryffnn said.
“Yay!” Hallam’s jubilant arm flinging sent a plate flying. It struck the floor and broke into three pieces.
“Hallam,” Kaya said, trying not to laugh.
“Sorry, Ma,” Hallam said. “What should I pack?”
A choking sound came from Nanu, and Camryn turned to face Ry.
“Don’t call me Ma,” Kaya snapped.
“Don’t you like me?” Hallam took on a wounded expression, his young face creased in frown lines, and…were those tears?
Oh, frag it. She was messing this up. Phrull, she was right to worry about breaking Lys. “Um, sorry,” she mumbled. “You’re a good kid, okay?” What should she do now?
“Why don’t you call her Kaya, the same as you always have?” Mogens suggested. “She is still your mother, and you must mind her as you would your father.” A wave of white dissected his right cheek. “I suspect Kaya is still getting used to having two children.”
Two children. She swiped a hand over her face. Holy Hannah. Things were moving way too fast for her. Two children and a husband in one cycle was too much for her beleaguered mind to cope with, even if it was a pretense. She sucked in a quick breath.
“I’ll come and help you pack, Hallam. We must do it quickly so I can aid your father with his visitors.” Kaya stood. “I’ll be back soon. You’ll need to confirm with Viros before we go to see Aideen, anyway.”
Hallam brightened and gamboled at her side, reminding Kaya of one of those puppy-pets that Amme and Marcus had purchased for their daughter. Did parents get their children these things? She should’ve paid more attention to Camryn and how she dealt with her twins.
Holy phrull! She had two kids. Two. Now each of the Indy female crew had a pair of children. Even though her children were temporary, the responsibility hit her hard.
“Will I be able to practice my flying on Viros?” Hallam wanted to know.
“Jarlath’s mate is a crow shifter,” Kaya said. “She might help you.”
“I’ve never been away from Father before,” Hallam said.
Okay. That was clear. He was nervous now. “You’ll have fun with Jarlath and Keira. They have a farm and will teach you about animals. Their cook makes delicious meals.”
“But I’m a jeweler,” Hallam said. “Father is teaching me.”
“You’ll still be a jeweler,” Kaya said. “But a wise person learns everything they can. New skills are never wasted. Jarlath and the boys he fosters practice their sword skills and wrestling. They learn about farming and selling things in the market. These are skills you can use as a jeweler.”
Hallam nodded even as she prayed she was telling him the right thing. Actually, she was repeating the lecture her mother had given her when she hadn’t wanted to train one day. She’d told her mother she preferred to dress in pretty clothes. Funny how things changed. She’d never imagined this life in a trillion rotations, yet at the end of each cycle, she fell asleep happy with her achievements. She wished she could tell her mother that.
But it wasn’t too late to tell her father.
He had given her variations of the same lecture.
Kaya turned to Hallam. “Throw in a few tunics and trews. Leave your comm here because it’s possible to trace them.”
“Can I take my jewelry making tools?”
“Yes,” Kaya said. “As long as it will fit into the bag with your clothes. Will you watch out for Lys for me? You won’t be staying at the same place, but on the journey to Viros?”
Hallam nodded and to her surprise, he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re mating with my father. He has been lonely. You make him happy.”
Kaya opened her mouth to dispute this, then closed it again, feeling strangely touched at Hallam’s words. “Thank you.” She zipped up the bag of belongings they’d assembled. “Let’s get this show on the road.”