Prince of Spies (21 page)

“I’m glad to see I wasn’t too rough on you last night. Or this morning.” Nico leaned in to kiss her softly. “How do you feel?”

Riki smiled up at him. “I feel like I could do anything!”

“Anything?” Nico challenged her.

She nodded, willing to see what he might suggest.

“How about flying?”

Riki knew he didn’t mean flying as a passenger on his back. He was challenging her to shift. The thought drove fear into her heart, but desire was there too—desire to spread her own wings and take to the sky. It was a fire in her veins as the sleeping dragon within her awakened to her new mate’s challenge.

Riki held his gaze as she screwed up her courage and sought the dragon within as never before, willing it to come forward. She actually felt the dragon blink awake, regarding her from within her own soul with startlement for a moment before answering the call. Riki moved aside, letting the dragon form in her mind and in the physical world. She felt the dragon’s fire envelop her body as a swirling black mist rose before her eyes.

It was happening!

From one eyeblink to the next, the way she viewed the world changed.

Nico now stood below her, refracted in her vision by newly faceted eyes.

Her head felt odd, moving sluggishly until she realized her neck was now several feet long. She was a dragon!

I did it!
She crowed as Nico shifted before her new eyes. Within moments, he faced her as a dragon, walking right up to her and twining her neck with his own in happiness.

I knew almost from the first, you were meant for me, Riki. After this, you
can have no doubt. You are truly my mate in every possible way.

Chapter Thirteen Far away in the capital of Draconia, Riki’s lost family was sitting down to breakfast in the castle. “The Jinn have taken over the town.

It’s like a festival down there. You should go see.” Prince Collin entered the family dining room as his eldest brother, Roland, rose and went to the long window

overlooking the town. His new queen, Lana, sat at the table. “When did this happen?” Roland asked as he surveyed the town of Castleton, far below.

The castle was built into the side of a mountain standing far above the town, sheltering it in its shadow and warmth.

“Overnight, it seems.”

A herald came to the door and drew inside, seeking the king’s attention.

“Your Majesty, an ambassador from the Jinn has arrived and seeks an immediate audience.”

It was unusual, but not unheard of, to entertain ambassadors at breakfast.

Roland looked around the

room. It was just family here. They all knew of the troubles facing their land and were united in helping him protect the people and dragons of Draconia.

“Show him in.”

The herald coughed politely. “It is a woman, Your Majesty. Magda of the Black Dragon Clan is the

name she gave.”

Now this was different. Most often, Jinn women were seen and not heard.

All Roland’s previous contact

had been through male ambassadors, but he was by no means averse to dealing with women.

“Thank you. Show the lady in.”

The herald retreated, appearing a few minutes later with a woman in tow, though she towered over the

teen. She was raven-haired and buxom, a fact he saw his younger brothers note with interest. He sent

them a private warning.

Put your tongues back in your mouths, boys. This is a diplomat and we
cannot afford to offend her.

Lana heard the comment in her mind as well. She rose to greet the woman with a warm smile hiding her amusement.

“Be welcome, Lady Magda. Will you have some breakfast with us?” Lana was already making motions for another place to be set at the long table, across from her and Roland.

The Jinn woman smiled and her beauty only seemed to increase. She had startling green eyes, Roland saw…the color so very familiar.

“You must be Queen Alania. I am Second Steward of the Black Dragon Clan, come to bring news of your sister, Arikia.”

“My sister?” Lana’s face lit with eagerness and went pale with fear at the same time. “What can you tell me of my sister?”

The woman sat as Lana did. Roland took his wife’s hand and squeezed it in support as the other woman spoke.

“Prince Nicolas has found and rescued your sister. They are even now with my people at the Jinnfaire near the northern border of Skithdron. A messenger arrived in the night with the news and bid me gather all the Jinn here, for their homecoming. They were married last night, in the ways of our people, and your sister was crowned Queen of the Jinn.”

“What?” Lana’s eyes were bright with unshed tears of joy. “Nico and Riki? That’s fantastic! But how can she be Queen of the Jinn? Was she with your people all this time?”

Magda shook her head and told them all she knew of Riki’s imprisonment and escape. Magda had a great deal of information from reports of the Jinn musicians Lucan employed. They’d watched the sad, green-eyed girl and reported back news of her over the months of her captivity, each separate report coalescing over time to indicate she might be the girl of whom the seers spoke.

Roland listened with quiet interest. What this Jinn woman told them was nothing short of miraculous. When she explained the origins of the Jinn, he was completely astounded to find there were other descendants of Draneth the Wise spread all throughout the lands. Even more fascinating was the idea the Jinn were a matriarchy, not a patriarchy as he had always assumed. Oh, these people were clever. Not even his infamous Spymaster brother had divined all their secrets.

“There is more, Your Majesties,” the woman continued speaking as breakfast was all but forgotten. “The Black Dragon Clan counts many shapeshifters among its ranks. I am one. The First Steward, Estella, is another. But we add another to our ranks today. The visions proclaim Queen Arikia of the Jinn will find her wings this very morn. Your brother and his mate will fly home together. They will bring an honor guard of black dragons, sent here as liaisons between our forces and yours.”

“More of the Jinn are coming here?” Collin asked from his seat a few feet down the table. “I thought all of them were already in town.”

“All who were within a night’s ride, Prince Collin,” the woman said softly.

“The Jinn are numerous and spread all over the lands in many different clans, but all are ruled by my sister, Estella, Steward of the Black Dragon Clan and now, by your sister, our new Queen, as well. Our seers tell us a time is coming soon when our forces will unite and fight together to prevent catastrophe for all the lands.”

Roland stood, pacing, while he tried to absorb the strange turn of events.

“Your news is both welcome and troubling,” he said at length. “While I’m overjoyed my wife’s sister has been found and my brother married,” he could still hardly believe that part of it, “I’m concerned by these dark visions of the future. While I respect the reputation and skill of your Jinn seers, I can only hope they’re wrong about what’s coming.” He held up one hand to forestall the argument he could see forming on the woman’s lips.

“Nevertheless, all help is welcome, and new black dragon kin even more so. I’m pleased to welcome your people as allies, Magda, and hope we can find a way to work well together.”

The raven-haired girl beamed at him then, and he saw his brothers’ jaws drop as her beauty stunned them. Luckily, the Jinn magic had no effect on him. He loved Lana too much to have his head turned by a pretty girl. Jinn or no.

“With your permission then,” Magda rose and ruffled her full skirts around her legs, “we will set an encampment to the east of the existing town, at the base of the castle mount, bordered by the river tributary on the east, the existing town on the west and the open fields to the south.”

“You planned ahead, I see,” Roland teased as she grinned. “Just how many of your brethren are you expecting?”

Magda shrugged daintily. “Several thousand at least, by week’s end.

Castletown will become a city by month’s end, and we have plans to develop the open fields to the east, to grow crops to support our people. If we have your permission, of course.”

Roland knew when he’d been outfoxed. The Jinn were making plans to settle in Draconia. The idea was mind boggling. The Jinn, who were known far and wide as homeless nomads, were putting down roots in Draconia. At the base of his castle, no less. Never did he think he’d see anything like this in his time.

“Your people are welcome to farm any land not already claimed, Magda, but you realize we must keep the herds for our dragon kin, right?”

Magda laughed and the tinkling sound had his younger brothers squirming in their seats. “But of course! The Black Dragon Clan, above all, knows the importance of working with dragons. We have no desire to rule, but we will fly into battle at your direction, King Roland. We will need training though, with your Lairs. Unfortunately, flying is something we have only done in secret up ‘til now and we need more practice working with other dragons in battle.”

Just at that moment, a dragon-sized door opened at the end of the large family chamber and a gleaming silver dragonet tumbled in. He was huge by dragonet standards and far shinier than any other dragon in the land, but he was family. Tor, the baby Ice Dragon, stopped short when he saw a visitor in the room, eyeing her carefully as he came to sit on his haunches behind Lana and Roland.

“Son, this is Second Steward Magda of the Black Dragon Clan of the Jinn. Her people will be building on to the town below.”

Greetings, Sir Tor.
Magda surprised them all by speaking in the silent way of dragons.
I’ve heard much about you.

Lana,
they all heard Tor’s words in their minds,
she feels like a dragon. Like
you and Roland.

Magda laughed, the pleasant sound teasing everyone’s senses.
That’s
because I am.

* * *

Riki spread her wings, flying in a secluded area near the Jinn encampment with Nico watching over her every move, coaching and coaxing in the most loving way. The feeling was just amazing. She’d never felt so free in her life, or so happy. The man she loved flew beside her, guiding her, showing her how to be a dragon, encouraging her and yet, letting her fly free. He was such a special, thoughtful, attentive partner, but never stifling. He was just perfect.

A slithering form below caught her eye and struck fear into Riki’s heart.

Skiths. A lot of them. Heading straight for the Jinn encampment.

Nico!

I see them.
His voice sounded grimly through Riki’s mind.
Come on, we’ve
got to warn the Jinn.

Turning more sharply than Riki could follow, Nico winged back toward the Jinn encampment, but she wasn’t quite so agile in the sky yet. Cutting her corner too tightly, Riki began to lose altitude, coming dangerously close to the skiths far below.

Nico!

But it was too late. Riki’s panic translated poorly in her newfound dragon body. She began to tumble, falling closer and closer to the danger below.

In her panic, she began to shift, the black mist swirling as her body instinctively sought a more familiar form. The wings slowed her descent at first, bringing her closer to the canopy of tall trees, but then the wings were gone and she started to pick up speed.

Riki reached out blindly, falling through the tops of the trees, breaking the smaller branches near the tops, slowing her descent once again. Leaves and branches struck her tumbling body, slapping her in the face and causing her to cry out in pain until finally she came to rest with a jolting thud.

Caught in a tree.

Blessed be the Mother of All.

Riki!
The black dragon trumpeted Nico’s distress as he made his way back to where she’d fallen.

I’m all right. I landed in a tree. I’m pretty high up. I don’t think the skiths
can reach me up here.

But they certainly had spotted her. Nico could see that easily enough from his position above. Several of the deadly creatures paused at the base of her tree, trying experimentally to spit at her, but thankfully, she really was out of their range.

Can you shift and fly out?
Nico knew it was a long shot. She was too new to her wings to be able to shift and fly from such an awkward position.

I doubt it. Not right now, anyway. I’m too shaken up. I’m content just to
stay here for a bit. Nico, you have to go warn the Jinn.

I can’t leave you!

You must. Nico, even the magical circle around the encampment won’t
keep out this many skiths. This is an attack. An organized one. Even I
know this many skiths don’t just appear on their own. Especially not this far
north.

Nico had to acknowledge she was right. Someone had herded these skiths to attack the Jinnfaire. The

people on the ground were mostly defenseless against such fierce creatures. Only dragons could adequately defend against an army of skiths, with their fire. It was the one thing skiths were afraid of.

But the Jinn claimed there were black dragons among them. Perhaps there would be enough to defend the huge number of people at the Jinnfaire. He wasn’t sure, but it really was their only shot.

Nico, you have to help them!

I don’t want to leave you.

But you have to. You must.

Nico sighed with resignation. He knew what he had to do.

You’re right.
Nico flew in a circle above Riki for a moment more, wishing he could kiss her, knowing he couldn’t.
Stay right there, sweetheart. Don’t
move a muscle. You should be safe from the skiths where you are, so don’t
try to go anywhere else, all right?

Believe me, I won’t move an inch. I’m still shaking too badly, for one
thing.
Her little chuckle carried through her thoughts. Sweet Mother!

How he loved this woman.

All right. I’ll be back as soon as possible, with help. Stay right where you
are and remember that I love you more than anything in this world.
His thoughts softened as he turned to wing away toward the Jinn encampment.
Without you, I’m lost, Riki. Stay safe for me, my dearest love.