Mating the Dragon (Dragon Ruins Book 6) (2 page)

Not that she’d said no.

Karla shook her head. Not her problem. She needed to focus on the task at hand.

Like how to find Vesrian, she thought, as she stared out at the large group of dragons, all gaping open mouthed at Taurian and Ultrima standing in the middle of the room. Karla could hardly blame them, the sight of the two dragons talking like they were old friends set her own heart thumping uncomfortably. No one seemed to be wondering what had happened to Wayrian, or trying to figure out how to keep up the charade of the mating ceremony.  

Karla picked a dragon at random, a middle aged female near the edge of the crowd, and approached her, making sure she stayed in the shadows, and out of sight of Taurian and Ultrima.

“Do you know Vesrian?” she hissed.

The woman dragged her eyes away from the two leaders in the centre of the room, and focused on Karla. As soon as she recognised her, her face screwed up. “I have bigger problems to deal with than you.”

Karla ground her teeth. These dragons were so busy hating anyone who wasn’t like them that they didn’t seem to realise who the real enemy was. Why was she even bothering?

Her eyes fell on Taurian, bravely hiding his own fear, and pretending nothing was wrong, and her heart ached. 

She was bothering because she couldn’t just give up on him. Even if he couldn’t ever be hers. 

“I’m trying to help,” she said firmly. “If we don’t produce a mating, Ultrima will kill us all. I need to find Wayrian a mating outfit, and she tells me Vesrian may have one.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Why would you want to help us?” she whispered.

Somehow, Karla suspected she wouldn’t believe her if she told the truth—that Karla would try to help anyone in this situation. So she answered with the more believable, but no less true, reason. 

“Because I’m stuck here with you. You think Ultrima is going to care that I’m human? If we give him the slightest excuse, he’s going to kill everyone in this lair, including me and my family.” 

The woman regarded her for a few moments, then obviously decided to trust her. She glanced back at the two dragons in the centre of the room, but since they were paying no attention to anything other than each other, she turned back to Karla. “I’ll get her. Where do you want me to send her?”

That would probably be less noticeable than Karla wandering around looking for her. Ultrima knew her too well. “To Wayrian’s chambers.” 

Another step closer. Surely she didn’t need to do anything more. Karla had no wish to watch Wayrian dress for her mating ceremony. Just the thought twisted her stomach. It wasn’t her business, or her problem. Surely the other woman could help her?

Unfortunately, Wayrian had shown no more ability to figure anything out for herself than the rest of the dragons had. Karla heaved a sigh. She was going to have to see this through. She shot one last, longing look at Taurian, and then headed back to Wayrian’s chambers.

Vesrian arrived not long after. The young woman, not much older than Wayrian, stared at both of them, her arms crossed. “What do you want?”

No point beating about the bush. “We need to borrow your mating outfit,” Karla said firmly.

“What?” Vesrian stared at her wide eyed. “No. Just… no. You’re a human, so you don’t get it, but you don’t ‘borrow’ a mating outfit. They’re only used once.”

“So Wayrian told me,” Karla said flatly. “I may not know all the dragon customs, but I do know that the only reason Ultrima hasn’t attacked Taurian yet is because he was promised a mating. Do you want to be the one to go out there and tell him that isn’t going to happen?”

Vesrian’s pale skin went a shade paler. “Whether Ultrima attacks Taurian or not isn’t my problem,” she said resentfully. “This whole fight has nothing to do with me. I just want to get mated next week. Do you know how long it takes to organise a mating? Or to make a mating outfit?”

“No, I don’t, but if it’s anything like human matings, I can guess it takes a long time. But do you think that matters right now? While Taurian may be Ultrima’s first target, do you think he’s going to stop there? If we don’t find a way to escape from Ultrima, you’re not going to have a mating. Not next week, not ever.”

The young dragon folded her arms and glared at Karla. “There has to be another way. Now that we have our prince back, he can defeat Ultrima, can’t he?”

Did these dragons not get it? Vesrian was acting like a spoilt teenager, or one of those bridezillas. How was Karla supposed to get through to her?

“All six of the princes and princesses couldn’t defeat Ultrima before they went to sleep, what gives you the idea Taurian can do it on his own now?”

“Well, why should I sacrifice everything I’ve worked for because he’s too weak to protect us? The elders should have let Ultrima into his Mesmer chambers long ago, and then we wouldn’t be dealing with any of this.”

“How dare you speak of your prince like that.” Wayrian’s forceful voice shocked Karla. She stared at the young water dragon, who glared at the other woman, her hands on her hips. “Do you realise what price you could pay for such treason? Why are you even hesitating? If your prince requires your service, you should be bowing and asking what more you can do to help.”

Vesrian looked just as surprised at Wayrian finding a backbone as Karla felt. “I… I didn’t mean that. I just…” She glanced over at Karla, then back to Wayrian. “I wouldn’t talk to my prince like that, but she’s just a human.”

Karla was getting even more sick of these dragons looking down on her because she was a human. She bit back a sigh. Why was she even bothering?

“She is assisting the prince, and assisting me,” Wayrian said. “So do her bidding at once. Fetch the mating outfit. You shall be justly compensated once this matter is taken care of.”

Vesrian actually dipped her head respectfully. “Of course, Wayrian. At once.” Without further argument, she left the room.

“I’m impressed,” Karla said.

She turned back to Wayrian, only to see the young woman shaking like a leaf. “I didn’t want to threaten her.” She bit her lip. “Do you think I did the wrong thing?”

How would this uncertain woman ever be the princess Taurian needed to defeat Ultrima? How would she ever help him rule his clan, or wake his brothers and sisters? She wasn’t even confident in her own choices and actions, how could she ever be a ruler?

Karla bit back a laugh. Would she be any better? At least Wayrian was ready to defend her future mate when someone threatened him. That said something for her, didn’t it? Maybe she would rise to the occasion.

The thought was like a stab to her heart. Karla didn’t even want to consider the possibility that Wayrian might be good for Taurian. She felt like a traitor to her own heart, even thinking it. She shook the feeling off. Saving the clan. Saving Taurian. That was her priority, and she’d take anything that helped her do that with open arms.

“No, you did the right thing,” Karla said firmly. “What else needs to be prepared for the mating?”

“Nothing more tonight,” Wayrian said. “The first night of the mating ceremony is simply feasting and celebrating. The public bit anyway.” Her face went bright red and her eyes slipped away from Karla’s down to the floor.

Karla’s chest constricted painfully and with a suddenness that took her breath away. She hadn’t even thought about what would happen after the mating ceremony. Or during it. Even though she knew that Taurian would have to sleep with Wayrian three times to mate with her, she had pushed that thought to the back of her mind.

Now it was there, out in the open, taunting her with the fact that tonight, if all went to plan, Taurian and Wayrian would be having sex. 

Karla shoved that thought away before it could really take hold. She couldn’t change anything now. She’d already been through all this, and made her peace with it. More importantly, right now she had a job to do. 

“We only need to concern ourselves with what’s done publicly,” she said quickly. She didn’t think Wayrian was going to volunteer any details, but she didn’t want to risk it. She most certainly didn’t want to know what would be happening after the celebration that night.

Luckily, Vesrian turned up with the mating outfit at that moment, cutting off the conversation. 

“Right, if the two of you can handle this, I’m going to check on Taurian,” Karla said. 

“No, please,” Wayrian said quickly. Then she blushed, and asked, “Would you mind helping me dress? It takes two, and I’d really appreciate your help.”

Couldn’t Vesrian do it? Karla looked at the young woman, and though she was hiding it, she still looked sullen. Perhaps asking her to help dress another woman in her own mating outfit was a bit unfair.

Then again, was it fair to ask Karla to help dress the woman who was about to mate the man she loved?

Karla heaved a sigh. None of this was fair. None of it could be until Ultrima was defeated. No point arguing about things being unfair when there were bigger things at stake. 

What she needed to do right now was make sure Wayrian turned up for the mating. And the best way to do that was to stay here with her until she did.

“Sure,” she agreed.

Vesrian disappeared almost before the words had left her mouth.

Wayrian carefully unwrapped the leather bundle the woman had left, a slightly awestruck expression in her eyes. 

Curiosity overcame Karla’s reluctance. Just what sort of clothes did dragons wear to their mating ceremonies anyway? Taurian had spoken so highly of it, that she couldn’t help wondering.

Wayrian held up a small, white, leather bikini top, elaborately decorated with several rows of beads, their colour exactly the same as the red earth of the entrance mound to the lair. Hanging off the bottom, on strips of leather, was a row of white feathers.

Karla bit her lip. Perhaps a good thing that she wasn’t the one mating Taurian. She wasn’t sure she was up to wearing this sort of outfit. A bikini at the beach was one thing, but to a wedding?

Somehow, she couldn’t help imagining Taurian’s eyes when he saw her in something like this. How they’d widen, and sweep over her appreciatively. Her body reacted instantly, and suddenly the underground room seemed hot, even though it should have been cooling, with the temperature dropping rapidly outside.

“It’s beautiful,” Wayrian whispered, reminding Karla that she wasn’t going to be the one Taurian was staring at. Wayrian was.

The realisation was like a bucket of cold water on the flames. 

“No time for admiring, let’s get you dressed,” Karla said shortly. No point in prolonging this. She didn’t have the time, or the inclination, to pretend this was a real mating—even if the end result would be the same.

Wayrian nodded and began stripping. Since she only wore a simple tunic, that process took mere seconds, then she was slipping on the mating bikini. Luckily, the simple design was easily adaptable, as it was a little large in places. 

Karla pushed aside her own issues, and helped tie the leather strips to make it fit with at least a degree of acceptability. The matching leather skirt that Wayrian pulled out next covered a little more than the top. It went at least half way to Wayrian’s knees, and the tip of the row of feathers brushed her knees. 

The young woman, with her blushing cheeks and uncertain look, looked every bit a tribal bride. Karla could hardly bear to look at her. 

But apparently avoiding it was easier said than done. 

“Does it look okay?” Wayrian’s voice was uncertain.

“It’s fine. What it looks like doesn’t really matter right now,” Karla said firmly. “So long as Ultrima believes it’s a mating outfit.”

Wayrian didn’t reply, but her shoulders slumped and she looked down at the ground. Karla almost didn’t care that she’d hurt her feelings. But it wasn’t the young woman’s fault. It wasn’t like she’d picked Taurian out and blackmailed him into marrying her.

“You care about him, don’t you?” Wayrian’s voice was soft.

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Karla said roughly, before the young woman’s words could release the tears she was only just keeping at bay. The last thing she needed right now was understanding from this woman. She needed to stay strong, and do what had to be done. And she could only do that if she didn’t think about it.

“I’m sorry,” Wayrian said. “If it helps any, I’m going to do my very best to be the best mate he could have.”

Damn her. Why couldn’t she be awful, so Karla could hate her?

Karla looked up at Wayrian, the tears filling her eyes making the young woman’s solemn and serious face look blurry. “I’m sure you will. Now don’t make me cry, that’s not a good look for a mating. Is there anything else you need to do to get ready?”

Of course there was. Wayrian’s hair had to be braided, and the included feathers strung through it. And there were strings of beads to be wrapped around her ankles and wrists. Karla could see why Wayrian had needed help, some of these dressings were too intricate to be donned alone.

Finally, it was all done. Karla took a step back and surveyed the bride. 

She tried to see the young woman objectively. Would it convince Ultrima that this was, indeed, a mating ceremony? 

Wayrian blushed. “Will it do?” She echoed Karla’s thoughts.

She looked beautiful. The outfit might be nothing like anything Karla would have worn as a bride, but it was stunning none the less. 

And it just rammed home the fact that this young woman was about to marry the man Karla loved. 

No, not just marry, mate with. In dragon terms, that meant even more than marriage. The ceremony would tie Wayrian and Taurian together with a magical bond so strong they would even die together. 

Taurian would forget all about the human he had cared for so briefly. 

Okay, that might be a little dramatic. He’d remember who she was, and the things they had done together. He might even be able to remember that he’d felt strongly for her. But those feelings would be gone, never to return.

For him, anyway. Karla wasn’t sure that the things she felt for him would ever fade. Would she ever be able to conjure up a memory of his face without a resulting stir in her heart, like the one she was experiencing now?