Dragon Storm (25 page)

Connor stepped forward, a frown on his handsome face. “Do you have time to join us for lunch, Lady Krysta?”

Krysta smiled cunningly. “My mates await us in the best tavern in Jinntown.”

Darius and Connor burst out laughing. “Nico warned us about you, spymaster,” Darius said with lingering laughter.

At that point Josie realized their accidental meeting by the gates hadn’t been an accident at all. Krysta had set this entire meeting up.

They walked together from the old section of Castleton, over a wooden bridge, into the newer settlement they called Jinntown. The signs of new construction were everywhere, and the colorful pennants and tents all around were a dizzying sight. It had a carnival atmosphere with the big tents and smell of sawdust in the air. The horses were amazing-looking creatures. Working alongside them were dark men, some with golden hoops in their ears.

Josie was enchanted. She even saw a few dragons helping with the heavy lifting while men secured the giant tree logs the dragons held in place for them. Everyone, it seemed, was pitching in to help the Jinn build permanent shelters here in their new homeland.

Krysta led them past a bustling marketplace, and Josie’s eyes strayed to the multitude of wares the vendors were showing for sale.

“We’ll stop in the market on the way back,” Darius whispered in her ear.

“We don’t have to,” she said quickly, well aware of the fact that she didn’t have any money these people would recognize.

“Yet, we will,” Connor assured her, his hand warm on her shoulder. “There are many delights the Jinn traders bring from all parts of our world. We never had a mate to shower them on before. Let us enjoy spoiling you, just this little bit.”

She turned to her men, stopping in the road. “You spoil me already” she whispered, “with your love.”

She hugged them both, then turned to resume walking. Krysta grinned at her, but the moment was too tender to laugh about. Josie nodded and moved silently forward, toward the tavern Krysta had pointed out earlier.

The doorway was big enough for a dragon, which shouldn’t have surprised her, really. In fact, there were two dragons sitting within the tavern, munching on what looked like watermelons. She recognized them from the night before. It was Jenet and Nelin, their necks rubbing against each other as they sat close together in the bustling tavern.

Mace and Drake stood when they entered and motioned the group to the table beside the dragons. It had been set for six.

They stopped to say hello to the dragons before joining the men. Darius greeted the knights while Connor seated Josie and Mace saw to Krysta’s comfort. Each woman sat between their men, and the care Josie felt from her own mates was reflected in the obvious love between Krysta and her knights.

They shared a delicious meal of roast chicken with beans and potatoes, followed by some kind of sticky desert that reminded Josie of baklava. They talked more of the Jinn and their customs, but nothing that seemed as sensitive as the things Krysta had said on their way here. That made sense if they were in a tavern surrounded by people who were mostly spies, Josie thought with amusement.

As they lingered over their lunch, the tavern began to empty out. People who passed their table had a smile and nod for them, and Josie felt glad to be included in the welcome. It was clear the royal family and the knights were well respected. And even those who gave the dragons a cautiously wide berth, spared a chance to look at them with the same awe Josie still felt.

“Now that we have a little more room to breathe—” Krysta gave a pointed look to the now-unoccupied tables around them, “—we can talk more about what little I know of your people, Josie. The clans that roam farthest northward had dealings with snowcats last, over a hundred years ago. At that time, it is said, they had few women. In fact, the snowcats were interested in trade for information about others of their kind or any other from which they could find suitable mates. The situation was dire.”

“Do you know what happened?” Josie asked, fearing for her snowcat brethren even though she didn’t know them.

“The Jinn spread word through the clans looking for any news of other such creatures, but there were none to be found. In all the years since, no other clan has ever happened upon another group of snowcats. That one encounter was unique and never repeated.”

“The far north, you say?” Connor asked. “Do any of your people know exactly where they encountered the snowcats?”

“Unfortunately, not much is known about that initial meeting. The snowcats just arrived one night in the Jinn camp. They’d walked right past all the security measures both mundane and magical. The Jinn were understandably upset by this until they realized who they were dealing with. The snowcats were said to be holy men. Men of peace who were also strong defenders of the innocent. There were rumors of them in the north, but no Jinn before or since have ever seen them. Just that one time, when the snowcat stalked the Jinn in their own camps. They were seeking information about their own kind. The Jinn promised to help and sent out word, but were never able to learn anything to help the snowcats.”

“That is so sad,” Josie whispered.

“And more than a hundred years ago,” Darius added, at her side. “If they still survive, they could be anywhere.”

“Don’t forget, if Shanya is to be believed, they will soon find us,” Connor reminded his twin.

They spent a few more minutes lingering over dessert and talking of many different subjects. When Krysta mentioned her responsibilities for the Guard, Josie was interested to learn that both women and men served in the peacekeeping force within the city and elsewhere throughout the land. There was some equality in this medievalish world, and women weren’t held back simply by reason of their sex.

Score one for the dragon princes, Josie thought. They were strong men who seemed to enjoy the same of their partners. At least her men did.

What she’d seen of the knights who partnered dragons was just as good. Drake, for all his roguish ways, was devoted to his new wife and the dragon he’d grown up with. Josie had heard the story of Drake’s checkered past over lunch, including the way he’d been raised alongside the dragoness, Jenet, and the way he’d denied her by leaving his family, his potential dragon partner and his country, to seek his fortune among the Jinn when he was just a teen.

He was back now, older, wiser, famous and much more magical than when he’d left. He was one of the king’s top advisors, alongside his fathers, who were also knights, and his fighting partner, Mace. While they’d been on their journey to rescue the stolen prince, they’d discovered a hidden magic and learned how to use it. From what Josie could grasp, they could actually call magical flames and hold them in their hands.

The dragons could flame and breathe fire, of course, but Drake and Mace could hold fire in the palms of their hands. They could also throw it at their enemies and control it. Now that was something she’d like to see in person, even though the thought of such power was more than a little frightening.

Luckily, both Drake and Mace impressed her as steadfast, good-hearted men who would use their powers wisely. They balanced each other out, from what she could see. Mace was thoughtful and quiet while his fighting partner was flamboyant and talkative. Both were quick-witted, and both were devoted to their mate and their dragon partners. They were a family to be admired, in her opinion, and she was glad to have begun a friendship with them.

They parted on friendly terms, and Josie hoped they could build on this initial acquaintance. She needed some friends in this world, and Krysta seemed like the kind of woman she could both learn from and share with. In fact, they’d already made a date for the next day to work out. Krysta had invited Josie to the self-defense class she taught in the Castle Lair for the women and youngsters who wanted to learn the basics of hand-to-hand fighting. From what she’d said, there were all levels of skill in the class, and Josie thought that a good place to start in learning the kinds of fighting forms they used in this world.

She suspected Krysta might also be interested in learning some of the
kung fu
and other skills used in Josie’s world. While she’d never be as skilled as her grandfather, the grand master, Josie wasn’t a bad martial artist. Among non-snowcats, in fact, she was considered an expert. It was only among snowcats that she felt her skills were lacking. Of course, these people weren’t snowcats. They didn’t expect anything of Josie. She’d be able to join their number without any expectations placed upon her shoulders, weighing her down.

She was really looking forward to it. The twins hadn’t forgotten about their promised stop at the marketplace either. On their way back to the castle, her mates took her from one stall to the next, into well-lit shops full of lovely wares and brightly colored fabrics. The girly, feminine part of her that loved pretty things was in heaven.

The part of her that had secretly craved someone to shower her with love just once in her life, was drunk on the attention her mates lavished on her. They bought all kinds of things—clothing, jewelry, trinkets and more—paying extra for them to be delivered to the castle.

They were on their way out of the shopping area when Darius and Connor took her by the arm, one on each side, and escorted her into a jeweler’s shop that had been built recently and well. The walls were sturdy, the door brightly painted as most of the Jinn buildings were. The sign out front proclaimed the jeweler within as a Master Craftsman approved by the Jeweler’s Guild.

As they walked in, they were greeted by a young girl who wore a pretty pink gown. She looked to be about twelve years old and had been reading a heavy book until she saw them. She smiled as she hopped down from the high bench on which she’d been sitting.

“Welcome, Prince Connor and Prince Darius.” She gave them a polite curtsey, nodding at each of the twins in turn, getting their identities correct, which seemed to surprise both men. “And you are especially welcome, Princess Josie. My Mistress is expecting you.”

“Expecting us, poppet?” Darius asked in a curious but friendly tone.

“Mistress foresaw your coming about a month ago. She’s been working on something just for you.” The twins looked at each other with raised eyebrows but said nothing. Josie felt tingles run down her spine. There was magic here. Lots of it. And it was coming toward them.

“Welcome, your highnesses,” a cultured female voice came to them from the doorway to the back room. The pale-haired beauty who emerged could have been Shanya’s mother, or maybe her older sister.

“You’re not Jinn,” Darius said, surprise in his voice.

“I was born in the northland enclave of my people, but left to ply my trade and was adopted among the Jinn. I am an elder of the snowbear clan.” She turned to the girl, who came to her side. “My apprentice, Emma, is from Wayfarer. She has the true gift. The stones sing to her.” The lovely woman smiled at the girl and touched her shoulder with obvious pride and love for the child. “Emma, please fetch the ring tray from my workroom.”

“We did come in looking for a set of rings,” Darius said, scratching his head as the woman slid behind the counter.

“You are a seer, are you not, madam?” Connor asked as they stepped up to the counter, Josie between them. The pale beauty nodded.

“I am Liliana, Mistress of the Jeweler’s Guild, Elder of Snowbear, and now with the Lady’s blessing, jeweler to the Royal House of Draconia.” She seemed amused with herself at the bold pronouncement. “If I did not get too ahead of myself on that last. I believe you will be pleased with the work I have done expressly for you.”

The girl emerged from the back room with a tray in her hands. She gave it to her mistress with almost reverent movements.

Liliana put the cloth-covered tray on the counter in front of her. With great ceremony, she removed the embroidered cloth to reveal a set of three rings. Josie’s breath caught in her throat at the face of her snowcat in the center of each design, embraced by dragon wings.

“I worked the design in platinum,” Liliana said as she lifted the smallest of the rings in her hand and held it up to the light before handing it to Josie. “The eyes of the snowcat are diamond.”

“They’re exquisite.” Josie examined the smallest version of the ring, then lifted each of the larger rings that were meant for her mates. Josie had no doubt about the woman’s skill though it was hard to believe she’d foreseen so much about them.

“We’ll take them,” Darius said impulsively.

“I have been cautious of late concerning gifts of jewelry.” Connor gave Liliana a sideways glance that lightened his suspicious tone.

“But my prince, you came to my shop. I did not seek you out to press these items on you.” Her smile was understanding and cunning at the same time. “I cannot help what I am and what I foresaw. As a businesswoman trying to make her way up in the world, I could do no less than prepare for the gift fate would bring me when you walked into my shop.”

“Well said, Mistress,” Connor allowed with a grin. “I have learned that sometimes impulsiveness is a good thing.” He turned to Josie, taking the smallest of the rings in his hand. “There is a custom among the Jinn of exchanging rings as a token of love and commitment to each other.”

“We noticed in your world, mated pairs seemed to wear rings as well and thought you’d like to do the same,” Darius added.

Tears gathered behind her eyes. “How did I get so lucky as to find you?”

“Luck had little to do with it, princess,” Liliana said softly. “The Mother of All had a strong hand in your mating. More so than with others who serve Her. She smiles on you.”

Darius took her left hand while Connor slid the ring on her finger. The moment stretched while she looked up at both of them, seeing the love in their eyes. The shop faded, and it felt as if they were the only people in the world.

Josie took each of the larger rings and placed one on Darius’s finger, giving him a lingering kiss to seal the promises the ring stood for. Then she did the same for Connor. Time stood still for a breath of a moment.