The Impatient Lord (5 page)

“
I would rather face battle,” Mirek said to Bron. “This anticipation is torture.”

Bron nodded in agreement.
“I cannot believe our little brother does not have to stand in even one of these greeting lines. It is almost laughable that Vladan found his wife before his first ceremony started, and here we are again.”

“
Aye,” Mirek answered, chuckling though he felt no humor.

Befo
re the ceremony, the king had ordered they be presented to a marriageable daughter of a friend of an alien dignitary. Apparently, Lady Clara of the Redding was above attending their
primitive
festival and refused to marry beneath her station. She’d barely even acknowledged them, showing absolutely no emotion on her face. In fact, when Vlad’s crystal had glowed, she’d merely nodded, turned her back on them and left the tent. Mirek would never say it out loud, but he was glad Clara was not meant to be his bride, and he felt sorry for Vlad.

Mirek continued,
“I do not envy him that bride. I only hope that was paint on her body and not her true flesh. She will scare the children and deliver them into nightmares.”

“
I did not see the paint. I was too busy staring at her head. Do you think that tower of hair hides a skull beneath it?” Bron asked.

“
Our nephews will be born with skulls the shape of pyramids.” Mirek was hardly concerned. It would be unfortunate if the only heirs to his family line were deformed in such a way, but he knew he shouldn’t question the judgment of the gods—especially on this night.

His brother kept talking, and Mirek automatically answered, though he did not pay attention to what
was said. The women had begun to make their way from the ship toward them. That thin thread of hope tried to surface inside him when the first one stepped forward. He studied the female faces as they moved past, and with each opportunity he felt absolutely nothing. No stirring inside him. No connection. No piercing need to claim one of them as his own. Sure, they were pretty, and he’d gladly spend the night in their beds enjoying physical pursuits, but there was nothing to indicate they were his mate. Then, as the last bride made her way through the line, he looked down to his chest to see his crystal resting dormant against his flesh. He was not blessed.

The ache that swelled within him was almost too much to bear. It started in his chest and radiated from
his heart into the rest of him. Tension gathered along the back of his neck and shoulders. The world became dull and bleak. It had happened again. What had he done to deserve such treatment from the gods? He worked hard. He did his duty to his people. He lived a fair and just life. He fought against the Var whenever his uncle, the king, commanded it of him. What more could he do?

What more could he do?

What more can I do?

Mirek swallowed against
the lump forming in his throat, resisting the urge to scream. There was nothing more he could do. He was cursed to be alone.

Seeing the grooms beginning to move from their lines, he glanced at Bron. His brother
’s crystal glowed, pulsing with light. He quickly turned his attention to the far end of the line where Alek waited. He too had a glowing crystal. A quick assessment told him that his four prince cousins were also so blessed. Four cousins, all three brothers, all blessed. Mirek was the only one without a mate. The only one.

Alone.

What more could I have done?

T
he lump came back, this time to settle permanently in his chest. He had to be happy for his family, and he would be…eventually. But right now, in this moment of supreme disappointment, he could barely muster the smile he needed to congratulate all of them on their good fortune. It was one thing to be alone together, but now in light of his brothers’ good fortune, Mirek was really and truly alone.

Why do the gods deny me? What more could I have done?

* * *

Riona waited for the first of the brides to walk b
y her hiding spot before slipping into line to go to the feast set out on a raised platform. It had been easy to walk through the festival grounds while everyone’s attention had been diverted toward the visiting ship. Riona was only too glad to avoid the mating part of the ceremony. The last thing she wanted was some barbarian taking a liking to her, especially when she got a closer look at them. Bronzed warriors with the bodies of genetically enhanced soldiers weren’t exactly the most manageable type. Guys like Charl, she could manipulate because there was absolutely no attraction on her part. And if manipulation didn’t work, she could take them in a fight. But these barbarians? Trained warriors who’d probably come by their talents completely naturally? No, thank you. It was best to avoid trouble before it started.

How strange life was. She should have been enjoying her fifty
-thousand space credits. Instead, she was deep in debt, hiding out on a primitive planet…with her sister. Her
sister
.

Riona gave a
short laugh. Aeron on this planet was worth seeing. Her tidy, uptight sister would probably run back to the ship screaming. She just wished the sight wasn’t costing her fifty-thousand space credits.

Fifty-
thousand. Where in the galaxy was she going to find that kind of money? Her laugh faded into a frown. Not that she’d let on, but she was in some serious trouble. When word got out that she’d reneged on her bet to Range—and he would make sure everyone heard about it—she wouldn’t be trusted on any jobs. Her credit was shot. Without high-dollar games or any somewhat legitimate work, she wouldn’t be able to get her cash up.

The sound of music and cheering drew her from her thoughts. Riona wasn
’t one to dwell on what couldn’t be changed. Seeing her home world explode had been a hard lesson, and after that nothing else had really compared.

Riona liked these
alien people. They seemed wholesome. Not many planets would turn their backs on scientific and technological advancements.

Seeing her sister in the procession
of brides, her head down and her steps short and stunted, Riona laughed. Aeron looked absolutely mortified. Riona wondered if her sister had even seen a half-naked male in the flesh, so to speak. Aeron had spent all her time stuck in a small room looking at uploads, keeping herself isolated from other life forms. In a way, Riona understood it. Aeron chose to isolate herself to keep from getting too close to anyone. It was a way of protecting herself from the pain of what had happened. Riona chose to do the opposite, surrounding herself with life and distractions to keep from thinking about such things. Life was hard and brutal and unfair, and she was going to squeeze every ounce of pleasure from it she could before it killed her. The only way to ensure she lived was to make herself feel alive. Otherwise, she was nothing and had nothing, and that emptiness would fill her until she choked on it.

The crowd quieted. Seeing the veil over Aeron
’s upswept black hair, Riona frowned. She’d forgotten to wear her short veil. Hopefully, no one would notice. A servant moved by the table with a pitcher of wine. Riona held out her goblet for him to fill.

“
What is it?” she asked him.

The man grinned. “
Maiden’s Last Breath.”

Riona tossed back her head
and laughed. “Ha! That is priceless. I love this place.”

Seeing her good humor, the man
’s grin widened. He motioned toward the food laid out in trenchers along the wooden table. “Eat. Drink. You are most welcome, my lady.”

Not one to turn down a
free meal, Riona helped herself to the roasted two-horned pig meat and Qurilixian blue bread with whipped cheese. The wine tasted sweet, almost too sweet, but with a name like Maiden’s Last Breath, she couldn’t resist partaking of it. Other than the sweetness, she actually liked the alien food. Real food had more flavor than the stuff that came out of a simulator.

Riona thoroughly enjoyed herself.
The brides whispered and giggled as they filled the table and joined in the feasting. Some flirted with the handsome servants. The belt that held her wrists down made maneuvering hard. She let one of the servants place food in her mouth when she was unable to reach across the table for herself.

The low
, euphoric rhythm of music wound over her senses. The Draig knew how to celebrate—food, liquor, bonfires, half-naked men. When the handsome grooms appeared to claim their brides, their chosen women obeyed with little protest. Riona didn’t understand it. Okay, so in theory she understood the desire to be with one man for the rest of her life, but she didn’t get how these women could simply choose a guy based on a glowing crystal and a two-second evaluation. They didn’t know anything about their new partners. The grooms could be the rumored princes of the planet or servants or farmers or soldiers. They could be psychotic, or liars, or cheaters, or pirates. They could be diseased, or abusers, or into some really strange sexual practices. And the grooms had no way of knowing what kind of crazy they were apt to marry when they took the alien brides. So much blind faith. So many arranged marriages.

The last of the men came to the table. Instead of choosing a bride, he walked the length only to stop in front of Aeron.
His crystal necklace glowed brilliantly, more so when he was near Riona’s sister. Aeron and this man? No. It couldn’t be. Aeron knew the price of finding someone to physically mate with. Playing and flirting was one thing, but it wasn’t Aeron’s thing. Riona’s smile faltered a little before she caught herself. She forced a laugh she didn’t feel, waiting for Aeron to send the man away.

Aeron
would
send the man away, wouldn’t she?

The man touched Aeron
’s cheek and urged her to follow him. Riona’s eyes met her sister’s. If Aeron so much as blinked in hesitation, Riona would jump over the table and save her. Her body tensed, ready. Riona forced a bigger smile and pretended to laugh at something the woman next to her said. Her smile faded as Aeron disappeared down an earthen path toward the tents. A servant came to her, trying to engage her in conversation. Riona frowned at him, waving him away.

She stared into the distance, waiting for Aeron to reappear. She didn
’t.

Well played, Aeron, making me think you
’d get married. Ha, ha. Joke’s over. Come back now.
Riona swallowed, silently willing her sister to her.
Come back. You got your payback for me not telling you about the ship being a bridal one. Any second now…

“
My ladies, we thank you for your attendance,” a woman announced. If the man waiting behind her was any indication, she was one of the married natives. “Please, enjoy the celebration and be on the Galaxy Brides ship by the rising of the sun.”

A few of the women immediately
went to board the ship. One woman started to cry at her bad luck. Riona numbly stood, not feeling much like celebrating. Her sister had chosen a man.

As she made her way through the campground, staying along the edges of the
festival, Riona passed a few of the unmated grooms. Fur loincloths clung to masculine hips. Golden bands of intricate design clasped around sinewy biceps. From their solid necks hung crystals bound with leather straps. Firelight glistened on their oiled bodies. The Qurilixian males were every inch the proud warrior class they were rumored to be, some even seemed to tower nearly seven feet tall in height. She could see the appeal, but to marry one? To give up a long life for a night of passion?

“
Don’t do it, Aeron,” Riona whispered, unsure which tent her sister had disappeared into. For all their fighting, Riona didn’t wish her sister dead. “Don’t leave me to spend an eternity alone in this universe.”

Dawn came in a soft green haze of diffused light. Riona had watched most of the night for her sister to embark on the Galaxy Brides ship. Aeron hadn’t gotten on. Now, as the ship’s crew made the last calls for boarding, Riona had a decision to make. She could take her one and only ride off the planet, or she could find Aeron. Her sister had asked only for a way to Qurilixen, nothing more. Riona could technically leave with a clear conscience.

She watched the docking plank lift and heard the engines engage. Soon
, the ship broke atmosphere and Riona still stood on the red earth of the primitive planet. There was no decision to make. Aeron was her sister. Asked for or not, Riona was going to help her.

D
uring the night, she’d ripped the straps holding her arms. In the end, she’d decided the gown really was a nuisance. It didn’t allow her to blend with the crowd, considering everyone she saw was in the traditional tunic attire of the Qurilixian people. As she’d made her way around the edge of the campsite, she’d received curious stares. Riona had walked with purpose, hoping if she pretended to know what she was doing no one would question her presence.

The dining platform from the night before had been dismantled
, and now a low stage was in its place. A royal couple presided over the crowd in matching purple clothes in the middle of the stage. The crowns gave away their rank. Riona looked at the jewelry, wishing she was that kind of skilled thief. In the right market, she could get several thousand for them. If Aeron was right and they saved this world, maybe they could collect a reward. That would go a long way to helping her make good on her debt.

Riona took a deep breath, instantly dismissing the thought. She would not
exploit tragedy. She might be many things—degenerate gambler, petty criminal, thrill seeker, bad sister, borderline pirate—but she would not seek to profit on the lives of others.

Around the king and queen
, several older, very serious-looking men stood. Politicians, no doubt. People gathered to watch, though not nearly the numbers that had been at the party the night before. She could well guess the majority of the celebrants slept off the excess drinking.

Movement in the crowd
caught her attention, but it was too hard to see what was happening from her place hidden in the back. If she was going to watch for her sister, she needed a closer view of the proceedings.

* * *

Mirek spent the night alone, overlooking the festival ground from a cliff above the low valley. Normally, his brothers would have joined him there, but they were all with new brides. Liquor and sadness made for hard company, and his sour mood did not lessen with the sunrise. Despite this, he knew his duty. Light only deepened the profound feeling of loneliness, as he faced the first dawn of his brothers’ happiness.

“
Many blessings, my brothers,” he whispered, meaning it. His self-pity would not reach beyond this moment. He would bury the pain deep and return to work for that is all he had. Work. Duty. Work. Duty. The endless cycle felt meaningless with no wife and sons to share his life with.

After packing up the makeshift ca
mpsite, he headed back down to the valley to watch his brothers announce their marriages. His presence in the crowd would show his support. How could the others begin to understand how hard it was for him to be there?

Climbing down
the cliff was easier in shifted form. He took a deep breath, letting the tough dark brown flesh of the dragon work its way over his skin. A ridge grew from his forehead to create a protective shield over his nose and brow. Fangs extended in his mouth and talons grew from his nail bed. His body remained relatively the same shape, but he was stronger this way, tougher. In his dragon form, he could move with great agility and he didn’t hesitate to jump off the side of the cliff, turning in midair to land against a rocky edge. He swung his feet back and forth like a pendulum, falling a little with each pass only to catch and release his weight with his hands. Within a few moments, he reached the bottom.

Instantly
, he focused his senses to gauge his surroundings. It was an old habit, one drilled into them during their youth when training to fight. The ceremonies had started. A couple made love in the forest a few miles to the southeast. Birds sang, signifying all was well to the west. And…footsteps.

There w
as something off about the way the person walked. The steps were too light and measured. Mirek frowned. Could it be the Var dared to come to their festival? The enemy cat shifting race ruled the lands to the south. King Attor would be a fool to send his soldiers so close to the Draig palace. He listened a moment longer. The steps did not sound like Var.

Curious more than concerned, he followed the
sound. For the first time since the failed ceremony, his mind was distracted by something other than self-indulgent misery. His heartbeat quickened. Perhaps he was a little drunk, or overtired, or emotionally drained, but he thought to detect the faint scent of a woman on the breeze. He followed it, mindlessly needing to discover the end of this trail. All of his senses focused on the sound of those feet. His breathing deepened, not from the exertion, but from a strange sense of excitement.

“
Welcome to the family of Draig, Lady Aeron. I hope you will enjoy your new home,” the queen’s voice announced loudly from the ceremonial stage. A bride had just been presented to the council of elders. Mirek listened past the sound as he followed his prey.

“
Aeron.” The word was soft, almost too soft to hear. “Aeron, what have you done?”

He
concentrated on the feminine voice, finding the bearer pressed against a thick banner post. Overhead, the royal standard flapped heavily in the breeze. He narrowed his gaze, taking in every tiny detail. She wore the gown of a bride about to walk through the procession line. However, he’d seen all the women. He was sure he’d have remembered the deep reddish brown of this one’s hair and the lush curve of her hips.

As if sensing his interest in it, t
he woman ran her hands through her hair and shook it lightly. Mirek couldn’t help but smile at the way the sunlight rippled over it. Her temple hit hard against the post. He moved closer. She didn’t hear his approach as she spoke to herself in the old star language. “Blast it all, Aeron. What did you do? This wasn’t the plan.”

Plan? The woman mus
t have known she was fated by the gods to marry during this particular ceremony. Only, he hadn’t found her. No wonder she was upset.

Mirek caught her scent
—exotic and sweet but tinged with the floral perfume Galaxy Brides had provided. He breathed deeply, drawn closer still. Desire rippled through him and he had no power to control it.

As if sensing him, she glanced in his direction.
The woman stiffened and gave a small gasp of surprise. Her eyes swept down the length of him. He realized he was still shifted into dragon form.

Mirek let the shift fade from his features. “
Don’t be frightened.”

The woman
remained stiff, but he didn’t sense fear in her at his physical change. Quietly, she said, “Where did you come from? I didn’t hear…hear…green.”

Light
brown eyes found his. Her mouth continued to move, but no sound escaped her as she stared at him. She was perhaps the most stunning creature he’d ever seen. How had he missed her during the ceremony? Just her nearness sparked a rock-hard interest between his thighs. No, it was more than lust. He felt her inside him. The energy between them snapped and pulled. He leaned toward her, drawn by her eyes, her scent, the pant of her breath. Her lips parted. Her eyelids fluttered.

“
Really green.” She reached for his face, staring at his eyes. The touch of her hand was like heaven. It warmed him and sent a chill through him at the same time.

“
How did I miss you?” he wondered aloud, moving to caress her cheek as she did his.

“
I don’t know,” she whispered, as dazed as he.

“
Do you feel?” he asked.

“
Yes,” she sighed.

Her lips were right there, waiting. Mirek moaned softly, unmindful of where he was. He kissed her hard and she let him. The magnetic pull between them grew, crushing their bodies together. Somehow
, he knew he stole her breath and he forced himself to let go. She gasped for air. Her chest heaved against him. The taste of her tongue was in his mouth. Impatient hands begged him to rip her clothing from her. He flexed his fingers.

Seeing a soft glow
against her jaw, he looked at his crystal. The stone gave off a brilliant light. He’d found her. His blessing.

The sound of voices drew him back to reality
—at least enough to where he could reason about what was happening. As much as he hated to, he let her go for the sake of propriety. The memory of her body against his still burned into his length.

Urgency filled him. He
’d taken his mask off the night before. This was all wrong. It wasn’t happening the right way. Tradition dictated they spent the night together in a tent. She was supposed to remove his mask, a symbol of her acceptance of him, and then they would talk and explore each other without consummation. In the morning, they made their commitment known by going in front of the council and crushing the crystal, thus cementing their bond. Only then could they come together in the most glorious of lustful acts.

He couldn
’t wait another year for her. Already he felt as if he would explode. Surely the fact all his brothers and cousins had found mates meant this was his time as well. A lot could happen in a year. She might not want to wait for him. His body could not wait to claim her, not with the memory of her willingness and the taste of her kiss to haunt him.

“
What is your name?” Mirek demanded. Desperation filled him. He had to act.

“
Riona Grey.”

“
I will make it up to you, Riona,” he whispered, “but I cannot wait a year. Surely the gods meant for me to find you this year like the others found their wives. I feel you deep in me.”

She blinked, not answering.
Her attention turned to the crystal and then back to his face. The glassy-eyed look meant the crystal’s power was taking a fierce hold on her.

“
Come,” he said impatiently.

Mirek took her by the hand and led her to the stage. He didn
’t stop to think. How could he? He’d spent the entire night convinced he’d be forever alone. Now that he found her, he wasn’t letting her go. He’d figure out the rest later.

The king was absent as Mirek led her up to the stage. He pulled
his bride before his aunt. “Queen Mede, may I present my bride, Lady Riona Grey.”

The queen
eyed the woman’s bridal attire curiously. It was not customary to wear the garments in the morning light, but neither was there a law against it. Mirek had already changed his loincloth from the night before into breeches, but he wore no shirt. Mede glanced behind her throne toward the forest, clearly looking for her husband. When his uncle the king didn’t appear, she said, “Proceed.”

Mirek took the c
rystal from his neck and pressed it into Riona’s hand. “Break this.”

She lifted the glowing crystal, studied it
and then grabbed hold with both hands. Pressing her thumbs up, she cracked it into two. The light faded. The crowd cheered.

“
Ow,” Riona gasped, sticking her thumb into her mouth. Mirek detected the scent of blood. She’d cut herself. Blinking heavily, she looked at him and then the crowd. “What…? What am I doing here?”

“
Welcome to the family of Draig, Lady Riona. I hope you will enjoy your new home,” the queen said.

Confusi
on passed over Riona’s face as she glanced at the queen and then Mirek. “But…?”

The queen stood
from her throne and came to Mirek. Placing a hand on her nephew’s arm, she squeezed it tight. There was no other indication that she was displeased as she smiled brightly at them. Under her breath, she ordered, “Mirek, there is a reason we send fresh clothing to the tents. You may enjoy your bride in such a state, but stop whatever game you play and give her the tunic dress.” She eyed his clothing dispassionately. “And change into your formal attire as well. You look as if you’re about to run straight home dragging this poor woman behind you. I expected better of you, Ambassador.”

Mirek nodded, unable to help his grin of excitement. “
Yes, my queen. She may have whatever she wishes.”

“
Good. See to it. If I get a report that you are not treating her properly, I will not be pleased.” The queen let go and moved to take her seat just as the king reappeared. The royal couple spoke in low tones as the queen explained what had happened in his absence.

“
What am I doing on stage?” Riona whispered. A tiny trail of blood ran down her uplifted finger, but she didn’t seem to notice it.

Mirek took her by the arm and led her quickly from the onlookers. “
Don’t worry. It’s done. We’re all right. The blessing has been received.”