7
Katy: i need to talk to you. it’s an emergency.
Katy: answer! please! i totally messed this up. EM!
Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
Ryker put his phone down on the desk, his heart heavy. He’d just sent out the word to his advisors; they were to cancel all the events they had so carefully planned to introduce his new queen to his kingdom. His clan. All but the annual royal ball, which was a tradition even he could not forgo.
The plan had been simple; since he couldn’t find his true mate, he would continue his line using modern technology. Emily Toure had been carefully selected. He and Vector had interviewed hundreds of candidates, but Emily was the only one his dragon had grudgingly agreed to consider. And without his dragon’s initial help, a human woman would be unable to carry a Draquonir child in her womb.
Now, he and Emily would marry to make sure she was accepted as his queen, and his children would have a mother. All he had to do was remain in control of his dragon until then, escort Emily to a few official functions. Once she was established as queen, the executioner would provide his unique service and it would all be over. No more Ryker.
Now, everything had changed. He’d met Katy. There was no doubt she was his true mate. Ryker combed a hand through his hair. She was everything to him, had been from the moment he’d seen her in Discoteca Reale. She was everything to him, yet to her, he was nothing.
Ryker slammed a fist onto his desktop. The heavy wood splintered into dozens of smaller pieces. A long, particularly slender piece jammed into the fleshy part of his palm. He hissed at the sting and yanked the offending splinter out. Blood dripped from the wound onto his expensive slacks. In dragon form, his skin, his scales were nearly impenetrable. His human form, however, was extremely sensitive, just like a real human. He didn’t care about the pain, just turned back to stare out the windows again.
Nothing mattered now. He had finally found his true mate, and she was not interested in him. He gazed out at the ocean from the large wall of windows in his private study. His dragon had finally stopped shouting at him for being all kinds of fool. For once they were in complete agreement. He was a fool. Katy had just made it clear that what they’d shared the previous night meant nothing to her. She’d refused to even read the new contract.
His dragon wanted to show himself to Katy. Ryker couldn’t have that. Draquonir law forbade him from saying anything until she was fully committed to him. To tell her now would only result in her death.
A brief knock sounded at the door, followed by Vector and a tall figure dressed in black Elven armor, the color so deep Ryker felt slightly dizzy looking at it, as if he were falling into a black hole. A long black sword, etched with ancient Elven symbols, hovered at the man’s back, held in place not by a scabbard, but by magic.
Ryker turned from the window to face his brother and their friend, a Dark Elf prince, now uncaring that the executioner himself had come early. Katy was gone. Nothing mattered now. “Elf.”
“Dragon.”
Ryker looked at his brother in askance, one brow arched.
Vector grinned and waved his hand at Prince Alrik. “Cheer up, Ryker. I’ve explained everything, and considering our friendship, and the fact that you may have found your true mate, Prince Alrik has agreed to postpone your execution so long as you remain in control of your dragon. You see, no one wants you to lose your mate or your life. So, the solution is simple, Brother. You must woo your woman the way a human man would woo the woman he wants more than life itself so that Alrik doesn’t have to kill you.”
“Woo her?” Ryker frowned in confusion. “She is my true mate. She either wants me or she does not. She walked away. Her refusal was clear. I need to tell her the truth. Tell her what I am, and let her decide once she knows everything.”
Vector shook his head. “Don’t be an ass. She is human, and she feels betrayed. I saw it on her face. Whatever happened between the two of you, she now believes it is all a lie. You must woo her. Trust me on this. You can’t break Draquonir law and tell her about us. You would put her life in danger. The law is absolute. It protects all Draquonir and the other magical races. It can’t be broken without consequences, not even by a king.””
“Then how does a human man woo a woman?” Ryker’s shoulders straightened. If there was a way to win her back, he would try anything.
“Wooing is simple. I do not know why human men have so much difficulty. Respect her. Listen to her. Pay attention to what she likes, and shower her with gifts. And if she lets you into her bed, make damn sure she never wants you to leave it. Got it?”
“Respect. Pleasure. Gifts. Pay attention.” Ryker nodded thoughtfully. “If this is wooing, then you are right. Every Draquonir male puts his mate first. Does all those things.”
“Exactly. So, get out there and convince her that you are the only dragon for her.”
Ryker gave a half smile, grateful he had Vector on his side. He would make a truly formidable enemy. “I assume you have a plan?”
Vector sniffed. “First, you smell like burnt charcoal. Best get cleaned up. Try wearing one of the Armani suits you have hanging in your closet but never wear. They look sharp.”
“My suit looks just fine.” Ryker stiffened, waved a hand, and changed his clothing. “See?”
Prince Alrik laughed. “Fine indeed, dragon, if you prefer the uptight, twenty years out-of-date look.”
Ryker’s lips quirked. “That’s rich, coming from an elf wearing tights under that armor.”
Ryker’s barb was met with deep, booming laughter. “No room for tights, dragon.”
Vector raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. “Idiots. You would think we were still schoolchildren. Stop bickering and listen. I sent Mist to convince Ryker’s mate she has to be at the helipad in an hour, ready for some shopping in the city.”
Ryker began to pace, his mind fully engaged in Vector’s plan. “Shopping is easy enough. But what about Emily? I cannot have Katy’s twin show up here while I am ‘wooing’ my mate. They do not know we are aware of the substitution, and I dare not tell them or Katy might use it as an excuse to run. It is the reason I said nothing last night, and will continue to say nothing until she trusts me enough to tell me the truth on her own. Vector, figure out where Emily is and keep her occupied until further notice.”
“Good idea,” Vector agreed, nodding thoughtfully. “I believe I know just the Draquonir for the job.”
Ryker turned to his old friend, his tone sober. “If my true mate does not accept me after this wooing, I welcome the executioner’s blade.”
Prince Alrik bowed low. “My blade is yours to command.”