Chapter Three

 

 

She kept her invisibility up until she was fifty feet from the ground. With care, she set Ystine down near the garage, and from there, she came to a loping stop in the middle of the expansive yard.

Creata came out of the house with the baby on her shoulder. Trin shifted from dragon to woman, shucking out of her harness and passengers in one move.

Apraxa and Meadra went tumbling across the rich lawn, landing at the feet of their hostess.

Trin sauntered across the grass and reached out her hands. “She has gotten so big! And you are looking so happy!”

She hugged her friend first, and then, she kidnapped the baby for a blast of air pressed against the chubby cheek.

Creata grinned. “You hardly ever do that to me anymore.”

“You started fighting back.” Trin eased the baby onto her shoulder and patted her back.

“Well, it got a little silly at my wedding.”

“You started it.” Trin chuckled. “Oh, I have introductions to make. Creata Tal, this is my friend Apraxa and my aunt, Meadra.”

Creata was surprised. “Meadra, you look just like Trin, well, close enough to be sisters. I mean, Trin told me, but this is still amazing.”

Apraxa nodded. “It has to be seen to be believed. Who knew that Trin wasn’t one of a kind? It is good to see you in person, Creata. I have enjoyed chatting with Ystine, but hearing my own voice does get a little wearing.”

Trin smirked. “I had my suspicions that the novelty would wear off for you.”

Creata grinned. “I think she sounds great. Her voice is very soothing, like sleeping next to rushing waves.”

Trin rolled her eyes. The baby snuffled and rubbed her face against Trin’s shoulder. There was a little drool involved, but that was the least evil that tiny Amesthet could unleash.

Creata called out, “Ystine, can you head to the garage? I will do an overhaul in the morning.”

“Yes, Creata. It will be nice to be out of the clutches of a madwoman for a while.”

Trin grinned. “Thanks for the compliment, Ystine.”

Creata sighed and walked across the yard in her ruffled robe and silky nightgown. She escorted the velocipede into the camouflaged workshop, and then, she came back to those waiting for her.

“All right. Give her back.”

Trin turned away from Creata, letting the baby look at her mom. “Give who back?”

“Esty. Give her back, it is time for her feeding. Ladies, shall we return to the house?”

Trin pouted. “Can I hold her while we walk?”

“Fine, but if she cries and I start dripping milk, I am blaming you.”

A child had never been passed over that quickly in the history of dragons and lions.

Creata laughed softly and took her daughter back.

The sight of the two together was a relief for Trin. Time and a therapist had healed a lot of wounds.

“Before you ask, there was an emergency council tonight, so Vasic is at the Wheel.”

Trin was a little disappointed. It looked like Brommin was going to be busy.

Creata walked through the garden door that a maid was holding open. She carried her child through the house and into a sitting room.

Trin glanced behind her, and her travel companions were right behind her.

They all settled around Creata as she arranged herself to feed her daughter. “I will be happy when she can make it through the night, but since we were going to be up anyway, I am glad the timing matched up.”

“I live to serve.” Trin winked and sat back with a groan.

Meadra was looking around in shock. “Is this a palace?”

Creata smiled. “No, it is a mansion. It belongs to my husband’s family. We only have three servants on duty at any given time and two gardeners. I do love the gardens.”

Apraxa nodded, and she slowly slumped into an upright sleeping posture.

Creata was alarmed. “Is she all right?”

Trin nodded. “She’s fine, just tired. I am pretty sure that she swam most of the Atlantic today.”

Meadra yawned.

Creata smiled. “Mina can show you to your bed if you can help Apraxa up the steps.”

Meadra looked at the maid who was next to the doorway, and she nodded. “I will get her.”

Trin watched in amazement as her aunt picked up Apraxa and flipped her over her shoulder. While upside-down, Apraxa began to snore with enthusiasm.

The baby snuffled but calmed when the audible disturbance moved out of her range.

Trin looked at Creata and shook her head. “Wow. I had no idea she had it in her.”

Creata chuckled. “Neither did I. She seems so ladylike.”

“Yes, well, looks can be deceiving. So, how are you really getting on?”

“It has only been a few weeks.”

“I know, but it feels like longer. Little Esty is already so big.”

Creata smiled. “Brommin was here this afternoon. He just came by to check on us with Vasic being stuck on administrative duty.”

Trin felt her cheeks getting a little warm. “Was he?”

“He asked how you were doing. Really doing. Apparently, he doesn’t trust your reports.”

“Well, I have tried to be direct, but sometimes, it isn’t easy. Telling him that Apraxa was a dragon was a little tense. He never really unclenched after that.” She twisted her mouth.

“Are you ready for the ball?”

“Not quite yet. I still need to check in with Mirbella.”

Creata smiled. “She will be here in the morning. Apraxa called her.”

There was a shy look in her eyes as she looked at Trin. “It is nice having visitors. It is sort of like a sleepover.”

“I am glad you are enjoying it. As long as we don’t put you in danger, we will stay here and lie low.”

Creata gave her a sly look. “You are going to go visit him.”

“Of course not. That would be inappropriate.” Trin chuckled. “I have a great respect for decorum; I just can’t seem to manage it.”

“Oh, it is good to have you home. I feel better when you are here.”

“I feel better, too. For better or worse, this is home. Now, I just need to take out the assassins that have been tracking me, and I will be fine.”

“Don’t put yourself in harm’s way.”

“I am already there. I am just going to try and injure all those who would take a shot.”

Creata frowned. “You are suddenly very cocky for someone whose favourite accomplishment was drawing a happy face in the foam on her coffee.”

“I have learned a few things about my dragon. She’s a lot more durable than I first thought, and I am going to get use out of that.” She paused. “I do need to get more knives, though.”

“Are you still getting them from Takka?”

“I hope so. Is she all right?”

“The last time I heard from her, she was doing great. I needed some parts for Ystine, and you know she does some of the best machining in the city.”

“I do know that, and that is why I am going to go to her place tomorrow.”

“Today.”

Trin nodded in agreement and held up her index finger. “Right. That one.”

“Trin, are you okay? You seem a little punchy, well, more than normal.”

“I am fine. Well, a little giddy. The transformation does that to me. It is still fairly new.”

Creata chuckled. “You are lying, but it is all right. You’re in the north guest room, and there is a balcony. You can take off and land from there.”

“So, you know that I have mastered all the forms?”

“Oh, I expect nothing less from you. Now, go. I want you back before I have to do the next feeding. I will need a situation report.”

Trin laughed and got up to press a kiss to Creata’s forehead. “I promise not to skip the details. Be back before dawn.”

“Good. Details are what I live for now that I am stuck here and in my lab. Esty is coming along really well. She can tell the difference between wires already.”

Trin grinned and winked, heading out of the living area and up the steps. Her room’s door was open, and the bed was turned down. It was like being in a high-class hotel.

She closed her door and locked it before crossing the room to the balcony doors and opening them to the night air. Her dragon was urging her to her destination, so she concealed herself on the way through the doors and took off when her wings had filled out enough to support her weight.

It was a different feeling to fly from wings positioned in a human body. Her dragon form was almost liquid in the air, but her arms and legs were constantly tugging her off balance. She flew to the centre of the city and circled the tower before locating the scent that she was looking for. There were a lot of very powerful dragons in the tower right now. More than normal.

It seemed that with the ball so close, guests were arriving. Dragons from every corner of the globe were invited if they were single. The eligible men would gather, and the eligible women would choose. There were always more men than women, so it meant that the odds were better if you had breasts.

There! Her dragon focused on the long windows in question, and when she reached out, she peeled them open and stepped into Brommin’s quarters.

He wasn’t sleeping, he was standing next to his desk, and he was bare to the waist. “Are you coming in, Trin?”

She folded her wings behind her and let her concealment fade. “How did you know?”

He walked up to her and ran his hands down her arms. “There is no other invisible dragon in the country.”

She would have replied, but his kiss was wild, strong, and headily seductive.

His hand held the back of her head, and she slid her hands across the fascinatingly hot and smooth skin of his chest. The wild flapping in her mind was her highly excited dragon beating out any thoughts of slowing down.

His arms pulled her in and stroked the folds of her wings while he covered her lips with short, biting kisses.

His frenzy was a little startling, but Trin was all for it. He pulled back, and she dug her nails into his chest. She whispered, “Don’t go.”

Brommin slowly leaned back, but he kept her in his arms. “I have missed you.”

Her lips felt a little swollen. “I can tell. How are your parents?”

“That is an odd question after the kiss, but my mother is fine, and my father is as he ever was, serious and nervous about the plans for the ball.”

Her palms were flat on his chest, and her dragon was doing a slow happy roll in her mind.

“Why did you come, Trin?”

“I missed you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Too trite?”

“No, just right. Where are you staying?”

“Creata’s. I brought guests with me.”

“Dragons?” He raised his brows.

“Yes. Apraxa and Meadra. We are going to see if we can get Meadra to shift tomorrow. If she does, she can attend the ball.”

He nodded slowly. “They will have to be tested at the door, as will you. With no family to register you, it will be difficult to get in.”

She grinned. “We will get in. I just need to know where and when it is being held.”

“Didn’t my mother tell you?”

Trin shook her head. “No, she just said it was this weekend.”

He exhaled, let her go and went to his desk, scribbling madly. “You have already missed the meeting of the maidens, so your next event will be the cocktail hour tomorrow afternoon and then the ball itself on Saturday.”

“Cocktail hour?”

He sighed. “I will have my mother brief you. As your trainer, she has really dropped the ball.”

She looked at him with amusement. “You are in charge of my education, Archivist. She wasn’t the only one with a slack grip.”

He sighed. “I did want to keep you hidden, but if you are in the capitol, your attendance is mandatory. Others are coming in late as well.”

“Can Rish come to Creata’s tomorrow? Can you ask her?” Trin looked at the paper he handed to her, folded it up, and tucked it against her collarbone for security.

“I can, but a call from you or Creata in the morning might be an excellent reminder.”

She grinned. “To you or your mother?”

“A call from you in the morning? I might never get out of bed. Call my mother. She has been broody and irritated since you flew off. Hunting down your would-be assassins hasn’t occupied her nearly enough.”

“Is the capitol clear?”

“No. The price is now on your head from two sources, but one wants you dead, and the other wants you alive.”

Trin smiled and leaned up to give him a small kiss on the cheek. “It is nice to be wanted. I will see you when it is socially appropriate to do so.”

She stepped back to the edge of his window, backed out, and went invisible before she flared her wings and let the wind take her.

Trin needed a few hours’ sleep if she was going to deal with the woman who would be her mother-in-law. Rish was a powerhouse in a small body that could kill with the flick of her fingers.

It was an excellent thing that Rish could be bribed with tea and cakes.