The Dragon's Queen (Dragon Lords) (18 page)

“
You really don’t know how to be quiet, do you? It’s bad luck for you to talk yet.” Mede stood closer to him now that they had some privacy. The material of the veil swept behind her back, keeping her wrists tied together so she couldn’t easily wrap her arms around him.

“
I’ll be quiet if you tell me you’ll marry me.” He cupped her face and leaned to kiss her mouth. Llyr moaned against her lips. “Say you’ll be my bride. Say you’ll have me forever.”

Maybe she was crazy.

Somehow she didn’t care.

“
I’ll have you, Llyr,” she answered. “Forever.”

“
Llyr? Llyr are you back here? They need you so we can begin the ceremony,” Rolant called. He came around the tent. Seeing Mede with her face in Llyr’s hands, he grinned. “Greetings, Mede.”

“
Prince Rolant,” she acknowledged, not bothering to hide her happiness.

“
Llyr, the king and queen wait for you,” Rolant said. “Unless you want me to tell them you’re setting a poor example by kissing your bride behind the tents before the ceremony officially begins?”

“
Ignore him,” Llyr told Mede. “He can’t handle his drink.”

“
Who said I was his bride?” Mede asked, wondering how Rolant knew what she herself had only just confirmed.

“
You’d better be. I cannot stand my brother’s pining for you. It’s rather pathetic the way he carries on.” Rolant surged forward and grabbed Llyr’s arm. “Come, brother, there are other grooms waiting for marriage. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can come back here and get to the wedding night.”

“
Go,” Mede urged. “I’ll watch you from here.”

“
I don’t want to leave you. Come with me.”

“
No. I don’t want to be on stage. This gown has already brought me too much attention. You go. I’ll wait.”

“
Perhaps you’re right. I don’t want anyone else trying to steal you away from me.” Llyr kissed her again. He slid his tongue forward for a brief second before Rolant jerked him away. Llyr chuckled, letting his brother drag him. He faced Mede, stumbling backwards, and lifted his hand to his heart. “I love you.”

Mede was about to say it back when Llyr was pulled out of her sight. Her heart pounded violently. She smil
ed in happiness.

“
Gods, please don’t strike us down if we defy you, but I can’t live without him,” she whispered. Mede passed behind a tent and then another, walking until she could get a clear view of the thrones. Llyr wasn’t yet through the crowd and so the king and queen sat alone.

Her smile faltered. Queen. She would someday be queen. Mede stared at Queen Lorna,
narrowing her eyes so that the distant face came into focus above the crowd. The woman looked as if she’d been born to the throne, regal and elegant. Just moments before Mede had wanted to rip out of her dress and run feral through the forest. How could she be queen?

Llyr and Rolant joined their parents. She looked at the people facing the royal family. How could she lead
them? She was just a dragon from the mountains.

Panic filled her. She loved Llyr so much, but had she thought
through what life would be like with him?

Llyr turned to the crowd and she focused on his face. A feeling of calm invaded her and she relaxed. Nothing would be as bad as
life without him. She could do this.

“
I found you.”

At
first, Mede didn’t think the words were for her. She stood up on her toes, leaning to see over the heads that swayed into her field of vision.

“
I knew we were meant to be together.”

The words were clos
er. Mede frowned, turning around. She eyed the man before her. He was dressed in a tunic shirt and pants, both of the Var style. His blond hair was slicked back from his face. Somehow, the hairstyle made his features more severe. It took her a moment to place him.

“
You’re the man from the forest,” she said, gesturing at his arm. “The one who gave me the fur.”

“
You remember me.” He lifted his arm and traced his finger down a thin scar her cut had left. “I told you that you would be thinking of me since our time together.”

Mede frowned, confused. She really hadn
’t thought about this man at all. Not since meeting Llyr. “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

The man laughed. “
As if you don’t know already.”

Her frown deepened and her body tensed in warnin
g. “I don’t know. You’re trespassing. This is a sacred event. What is a Var royal guard doing at a Draig festival?”

The
catshifter tossed back his head, laughing harder. “You worry about me trespassing? After the way we first met? Dragons hardly respect our borders. Do you really think your king could keep me from the ceremony?”

“
What are you talking about? Why would a Var guard even want to be at this ceremony?” Mede glanced back. All eyes were still turned to King Tared. She heard the tone of the king’s voice but could not concentrate on the words of his blessing.

“
I’m hardly a mere palace guard,” the man stated.

“
Then who are you and what do you want?” Disgust filled her. She hated the catshifters. She knew it was wrong to hate a group of people for the actions of a few, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She didn’t need solid proof to know deep inside that Var hired the scientists. The death of Cynan was too new.

“
I’m your groom. I’ve come to marry you.”

Mede shook her head in d
enial. “I will never marry a cat. I’m to marry Prince Llyr. It’s already been settled.”

“
So that is why King Tared denied my request to come tonight? He wanted you for his son. But don’t worry. I can protect you. I am heir prince to the Var throne. I have come to claim you as my wife and take you to your new home. So you see, you do not have to fear for my life if you come with me. The dragon king cannot hurt me.”

Mede wondered if the
catshifter had always had that wild look in his eyes. The small kindness he’d shown in giving her the fur kept her from yelling out. “That’s not how this works. There are customs. Laws. I’m to marry Prince—”

“
Here.” The Var man tossed a small object in her direction. On reflex she caught it against her body. The veil hindered her movement and she cupped it to her stomach. “Break it and let’s go. I can’t stay long.”

“
Who do you think you are coming here to make decrees?” She noticed a soft glow and looked down. The crystal she held shone in the dark night. She gasped, dropping it as if burned. “It can’t be.”

“
I knew it. I knew you were meant for me.” The glow excited the Var prince and he came for her. She stumbled back, stunned. “Now you have seen our fate—”

“
Who do you think you are?” she repeated more forcefully.

“
Prince Attor, future King of Qurilixen.”

“
There is no King of Qurilixen, only Var and Draig.” Why was the crystal he threw at her glowing? She was in love with Llyr, not this man. Why would the gods betroth her to a Var? And the Var prince? “I don’t understand. Are we to make peace? Does our marriage somehow stop a war? I can’t…I don’t…”

Why would the gods expect this sacrifice?

“Break the stone and let us go back to my palace.” Prince Attor grew progressively more irritated with her. His smile faded and she saw his jaw clench.

“
How did you get a stone?” The evidence of this man’s claim was staring up at her, but she didn’t want to believe it. Who did he hurt to get it? “Var don’t have stones.”

“
What does it matter?” Attor leaned down, picked it up and then reached forward to forcefully hook the strand of leather around her neck. The stone glowed brighter when it touched her skin.

If this was a sign from the gods then why did she want to scream for help and run for
Llyr? “I don’t…” She shook her head in denial. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you. You did me a favor once, which is the only reason I’m not screaming for a guard right now.”

In irritation, Attor reached for her arm and grabbed it. “
I don’t have time for this. We have to go.”

“
Unhand me.” She jerked but her feet caught in the skirts of the wedding gown and she tripped. A heavy fist hit her from behind and she stumbled forward, dazed. Her vision blurred as she fought to right herself. She opened her mouth to scream. Another smack sent her flying to the ground. Her head bounced up and then there was nothing but blackness.

“
For those of you blessed with a bride, it will be one of the
hardest
nights of your life.” King Tared’s voice boomed over the crowd. The men cheered in excitement and the teasing started. Council elders had joined the royal family on the stage to show support.

The queen gave her husband a properly exasperated look but did not interrupt. She leaned to whisper to Llyr, “
Every year he does this.”

“
Every year you let him drink before his speech,” Llyr whispered back.

“
We are strong!” the king yelled, pumping his fist up into the air.

“
We are strong!” Llyr yelled with the crowd as they answered the king’s cry.

“
We are brave!” King Tared prompted.

“
We are brave!” Llyr put his fist in the air as they returned the king’s chant. He grinned at his brother who shook one of the more stoic council elders by the arm. The older shifter tolerated the younger prince’s playfulness.

“
We are Draig!” everyone yelled in unison before cheering erupted over the field.

Llyr patted his father
’s shoulder as the king resumed his place on the throne. He laughed as the rowdy crowd didn’t settle.

The queen
let them have their moment before she moved to where her husband had been standing. She stood graciously, smiling at their people as she waited for them to calm. Seeing her, the onlookers quieted in respect.

“
My wonderful people,” the queen said, not quite as loudly as her husband, but with dragonshifter hearing they would be able to make out her words just fine. “Many blessings on you and many blessings on this night. As once an offworld bride coming to your planet, you welcomed me. I ask that you welcome the women who come tonight. Some will be lucky enough to stay. Treat them well, my dragons, respect them, and the gods will smile on you as I smile upon you now.”

“
To our queen!” a voice from the crowd yelled.

“
To our queen! To our queen!” the chanting started.

Queen Lorna took a seat n
ext to her husband. The king lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. Llyr saw his father mouth, “To my queen.” His mother touched the king’s face and leaned her forehead lovingly to his.

Llyr
glanced to where he’d last seen Mede watching him from between two tents. The crowd shifted and moved as the visiting spaceship began to open. Grooms went to line up to greet the brides. Their excitement was palpable.

“
Go.” The queen had turned to look at him. “Find your bride. We won’t expect to see you until the morning.”

Llyr leaned to kiss her cheek. He felt Rolant slapping him on the back.

Excited, he jumped off the platform into the crowd. His progress was slow as he tried to make his way to where he’d last seen Mede. Everyone he passed wanted to wish him luck or tease him about his upcoming night. He took their attentions in good-natured stride, but all he really wanted to do was go back to kissing his bride.

* * *

“Sacred cats, be careful!” Attor commanded Myrddin. “I would like her conscious when I take her to my bed tonight.”

“
She was about to alert the others.” Myrddin hefted Mede over his shoulder and hurried for the nearby tree. “You were taking too long. We have to get back before your father knows we’re missing.”

“
I’m not scared of my father,” Attor stated. “And I’m not scared of these animals.”

Myrddin nodded with pride. “
Even so, we should get back. We cannot fight the entire crowd with an army of two.”

“
Do you see how her stone glows?” Attor dropped behind Myrddin to take the crystal from Medellyn’s neck to show the man. “The gods speak to me—what? Where did it go?”

“
Come, prince, we must hurry,” Myrddin insisted, walking faster.

“
We are strong!”
the crowd cheered. Attor glanced toward the Draig and grimaced.

Attor l
ooked around at the ground. “You must have dropped it. I need to find—”

“
You don’t need a stupid Draig custom.” The man turned and strode back to where Attor stood. “All you need to do is decree she is your half mate. You’re the prince. No one will dispute it. I’ll witness. The only one who can undo your claim is the king and he’s probably passed out drunk by now. If she protests and doesn’t behave, we’ll lock her in my dungeon until she does.”

Attor didn
’t like being ordered around. His eyes narrowed. “Stop talking and move.”

Myrddin blinked in surprise at the hard tone.

“We are brave!”

“
We are Draig!”

“
You are imbeciles,” Myrddin muttered under his breath, dismissing the dragons at real threats.

Attor brushed past him.
“Let’s go while they’re distracted by this nonsense.”

* * *

Llyr’s smile faded as he finally made it across the field to the tents. Mede was not there. He glanced around, wondering where she could have gone. Did she go to their wedding tent? She said she’d wait for him.

This
was not right. A strange feeling of foreboding came over him. She would not leave him, not after she said she’d marry him. Mede was not some flighty creature who changed her mind on a whim. If she said something she meant it. That could only mean something had happened to her. He closed his eyes, trying to feel her. The connection between them had tried to form, but the ceremony wasn’t complete. They weren’t truly mated, and until that happened he would not hear her call inside his mind.

Instead of
once again trying to cross through the thick crowd to get to his tent on the far side of the grounds to look for her, he decided to run the long way around the outside circle of wedding tents where it was less crowded. A servant passed him, nodding happily and wishing him luck. Llyr automatically smiled and answered without really hearing what he said.

As he came around the tent, he whispered, “
Gods, help me. We’re so close to joining. Let me feel her. Let me find her.”

His boot caught on a loose stone and he near
ly tripped. He glanced down, intent on running. A glow caught his attention. Llyr reached for the abandoned crystal. The glow brightened when he touched it. The familiar shape was as known to him as his own hand, for he’d had it almost as long.

My crystal?

He glanced around. How did his crystal come to be where Mede had been standing when last he’d seen her?

The realization hit him like a fist to the gut. He
’d lost the stone in the Var forest.

“
Mede,” he whispered.

If she was in his tent, she was safe. But
if his stone was a sign from the gods, it meant that King Auguste had ignored their denial of his request, and sent men to capture Llyr’s bride. They must have slipped in while the guards were distracted by the king’s speech. As much as he wanted to find the men and shake them from their tree perches for the inattentiveness, he knew finding Mede and getting her home safely was more important.

He scanned the ground for tracks. Boot prints led into the trees.

“Prince Llyr, what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be in the receiving line with the others?”

Llyr looked up.
He pulled the mask off his face and tucked it into his waistband. “Saben, come, help me.”

The Dead Dragon instantly dropped his goblet on the ground and joined the prince.

“I think the Var have taken my bride.” Llyr pointed to the tracks.

Saben
looked at the glowing crystal Llyr held and then at the ground. “Should I alert the guards?” He made a move as if to go.

“
No, I don’t want them to realize we are on to them,” Llyr said. “If we raise an alarm they’ll know something is up and we’ll cause a panic in the crowd. It will be chaos. You’re the best tracker. Help me find her quietly.”

“
But if the Var attack—”

“
Trust me, Saben. They came for Mede. King Auguste wants her. He already tried to take her through diplomatic channels. We refused, so he’s come to take her by force.”

“
That is why you sent us to guard her,” Saben said, again looking at the glowing stone in Llyr’s hand. “Gods’ bones. Are you saying Mede is your bride? How did we not know this?”

“
Saben,” Llyr insisted sternly getting the man to focus.

Saben
turned his attention to the ground and led the way from the tents to the trees. Once they were concealed, they both shifted to full dragon to better see in the dark.

“
I smell cat,” Saben whispered. “It’s faint.”

“
What about Mede? Is there any sign of her?” Fear tried to creep in and Llyr endeavored to draw comfort from his stone. Surely the gods were with him. They would find her. They had to find her.

“
I only see two tracks. They look too big to be Lady Mede.”

“
They have her. I know it.” Llyr slipped his necklace over his head where it belonged.

Saben
did not question the claim. “They did not try to hide their path. It could be a trap.”

“
Or they hurry to escape before Mede is discovered missing,” Llyr answered.

Saben
picked up the pace. Llyr practically felt the man’s tension. After Cynan, they all resented the Var—though they had no solid proof of the Var involvement. The fact King Auguste had dared to send men over the border to kidnap one of their women only turned resentment to rage.

Saben
suddenly stopped and glanced around. Llyr could see for himself that two tracks ended in a struggle of some sort and then became one. They both instantly looked up to the trees. A sickening cat-like
rawr
sounded as a flash of paws showed from above. Llyr leapt, grabbing an ankle and pulling to throw the dark-furred shifter off course.

“
That way. Find her!” Saben pointed that Llyr should follow the tracks before he jumped onto their attacker.

Llyr hurried through the forest.
The sounds of a fight came from behind him. His heart pounded violently now that his suspicions had been confirmed. The Var were in their forest.

He
ran farther from the ceremony into the trees. It was too late to turn back. He had to go after her alone.