Radek Read online

  Their mother had died when she was still a teenager, and Aria had stepped into the role of mother-figure and guardian, while Piper had dealt with her grief by rebelling against anyone and anything she could think of. She’d outgrown that phase years ago, but not before it had set the template for their adult relationship. It didn’t help that she’d moved back in after Aria had her baby. She adored Melody and was happy to help, but the second Piper moved home again, they’d fallen into old habits.

  “And now I’m moping like a teenager. Next thing you know I’ll be digging out my black lipstick and writing bad poetry.” She drained her mug and headed for the bedroom. It was time to get ready for the Gathering. She’d already picked the perfect outfit, a cute blue and white mini-dress that happened to be a perfect match for her freshly dyed hair. She might not be one of the lucky matches, but she planned on looking good and enjoying herself anyway. If nothing else, five hundred hot aliens ready to meet their matches should make for a hell of a view.

  Several hours later, she and her sister’s best friend, Haley, had claimed their seats and spotted Aria among the women nervously waiting to meet their matches. The stadium roof was open, letting the summer sunshine pour in. The organizers had set up a beautiful open-sided white tent decorated with lavish displays of flowers. Aria was seated near the front, close enough to the edge that they could see her as she bounced Melody in her lap. The women were all seated beneath the tent, chattering to each other as they tried to subtly sneak looks at the stage and the men standing around it. Judging by their matching uniforms and serious expressions, they had to be the Pyrosians, but apart from their larger builds, they looked human enough.

  Movement on the near side of the stage caught her attention. She watched with interest as two men, both wearing what had to be hand-tailored suits, appeared. They were followed by several more of the uniformed aliens, who seemed to be acting as bodyguards. They must be VIPs. They were both good-looking, one dark-haired, the other so blond his hair looked almost white. It was the blond who kept her attention. He kept looking around the stadium, his expression one of intense interest. A blonde woman in a bright orange and yellow sundress joined the men, and Piper exhaled in relief when she greeted the dark-haired one with a kiss, but only smiled at blondie. Because it’s totally rational to feel possessive about a total stranger.

  Once she got over her irrational response and focused on the woman, she realized she recognized her. “Is that one of the women from the Star-Crossed ads?” Piper asked Haley.

  “I think so, yeah. So that guy she just smooched must be her mate.”

  Haley started snapping pictures with her phone. Later, Piper planned to ask her for some of them since she couldn’t take any herself. Not with her phone in its current condition. More people started arriving, all of them smartly dressed and accompanied by a camera crew. They exchanged greetings and handshakes with the two men she’d been watching, and then all of them headed for their seats in a roped off area beside the stage.

  Down on the stadium floor, the women waited for their matches with growing nervousness, and around the stage, there was a flurry of activity.

  She didn’t even notice the space shuttle descending into the arena until everyone around her started to gasp and point upward. At the same time, several columns of identically dressed men marched into sight. They were all staring at the women seated beneath the tent, and even from this distance, there was no mistaking their eager, hopeful expressions. One day, she wanted a guy to look at her that way.

  With that wish still in her head, she looked away from the spectacle to scan the VIP seating. The handsome blond she’d been crushing on was watching the shuttle approach, but after a second, his gaze shifted, and she could almost swear he was looking back at her. Before she could be sure, though, the stadium erupted into a cacophony of flames, fire, and screams.

  Chapter Two

  Since the moment Radek entered the stadium, something had been agitating his dragon. That part of his nature had been almost dormant since leaving home, and he was happy to have confirmation that, despite the priests’ dire warnings, he hadn’t lost access to his beast or his magic. Still, the creature’s unease was making it difficult to focus. Worse, he couldn’t tell what the problem was. Was it the planet’s atmosphere? The lighter than normal gravity? The strangely delicious human food called poutine he’d eaten for lunch?

  “Find. Take. Claim,” his dragon hurled the words into his awareness but he had no idea what the beast was going on about. Yes, he was attending a claiming ceremony, but as a guest, not a participant.

  “Find!” The last word came through as a roar that reverberated inside his skull so loudly he winced.

  Lisa, Vadir’s vivacious human mate, reached out to touch his arm. “You okay?” she asked in English.

  “My uh…other half has his tail in a twist about something, and he’s not being quiet about it,” he whispered. The one thing they had all agreed on before arriving on this planet was that it would be best not to mention his abilities or the fact that his entire species were able to transform into a creature straight out of this planet’s mythos.

  “Any idea why?” she asked.

  “None.”

  She nodded and hummed in sympathy. “I’m sure you--he? Will feel better soon.”

  He sure hoped so. It was going to be a long ceremony if he had to deal with his dragon’s foul mood the entire time.

  A few minutes later, the royal shuttle appeared overhead. He was watching with interest as it maneuvered through the relatively small opening in the roof, but something made him look at the mostly female crowd that had been invited to observe today’s gathering. They had all joined the Star-Crossed Dating Agency in hopes of meeting their mates, and they had been offered tickets, so they could see firsthand what they could look forward to one day.

  He didn’t know what he was looking for until he spotted a stunning female with bright blue hair. She met his gaze, and his dragon roared a single word. “Claim!”

  Not possible. He was on his feet even as he denied what his dragon was telling him. Then the first explosion hit.

  He acted out of instinct, summoning his magic and forming a shield of pure energy around himself and the other guests. Chunks of debris slammed into the barrier and bounced away again, but not even his magic could block the ear-pounding detonations and the wails of fear that erupted all around him.

  Vadir leaped up, grabbing his mate’s hand and drawing her in tight to his side. “How long can you hold this?” he shouted the question to be heard over the din.

  “Long enough to get us out of here. Make for that door.” Radek gestured to a large opening behind them. “Go!”

  Vadir and Lisa dashed for the doorway with many of the other guests following them out of blind panic. Radek stood his ground, impervious to the destruction going on around him. By the time Vadir noticed he wasn’t with them, it was too late for him to do anything about it but shout, “Get out of there!”

  Radek shook his head and gestured for the two of them to get to safety. Once his friends were through the door, he dispelled the shield and turned back towards the last place he’d seen the blue-haired woman. The one his dragon was insisting was his mate.

  “Find. Protect!” The beast was in a frenzy, testing the limits of his control as he moved through the chaos and carnage. Smoke and dust filled the air, limiting visibility. He drew in a deep breath, ignoring the acrid smoke and the more disturbing odour of death as he channelled the powers of his dragon to track his mate’s scent. He might not be ready to accept it, but his dragon was convinced the female was theirs.

  He breathed in again, and this time he caught a trace of something. Her. Her scent. Her…blood? No! He ran towards the scent, charging straight through an explosion that left his human-style clothing shredded and charred. The seating area where he’d last seen her was empty, but her scent was stronger the closer he got. She couldn’t have made it far.

  The stairs were s
trewn with rubble, so instead of slowing down to navigate the uneven terrain he leapt over it and kept going as yet another explosion rocked the floor beneath his feet. There was another pile of still-smoking debris twenty meters up. He made straight for it, ignoring the icy knot of dread forming in his stomach. He found her pinned beneath a large chunk of concrete, one hand flung out as if she were reaching for someone behind her. Her face was pale beneath the streaks of blood and dust, her eyes were closed, and there was a trickle of blood flowing out from under the stone pinning her, dripping down the stairs to form a crimson pool.

  “Protect!” The dragon roared in his head. Before he could react, the creature took over, lifting the debris and casting it aside. It landed in an empty stretch of chairs, crushing them flat. The concrete had done much the same thing to his female’s legs. Radek was grateful she was unconscious, so she didn’t have to endure the agony such an injury would inflict.

  He dropped to his knees at her side, fighting the dragon for control. He had to know if she was alive, or if the Gods had decided to punish him for leaving home by offering him his mate, only to take her life before they could be together. He touched her lips, sighing in relief when her breath warmed his finger. She was alive, for now. He looked down at her damaged body and the growing pool of blood. If he didn’t do something, she wouldn’t stay that way for long.

  His dragon uttered a single word. “Claim.”

  “We can’t. She hasn’t given her consent.” But as he looked at her, Radek knew the beast was right. It was her only chance. It would take too long to get her back to the Firebrand, even in dragon form. He didn’t know if what he planned would even work, but he had to try.

  “Ours to protect.” His dragon insisted.

  He leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss to his mate’s lips. “Forgive me for doing this without your permission, sadina.” He bowed his head until his mouth grazed the side of her neck. He opened himself to the beast inside him, and they claimed her together, his fangs sinking into her throat. His magic flowed into her, binding their souls together.

  It was done quickly, and he gathered her into his arms, ignoring the blood and gore that soaked into his already ruined clothes as he cradled her close to his chest, He needed to get her away from here, far from danger and out of sight. If she woke again, they’d both be consumed by the rux, the mating fever that accompanied the claiming. And if she didn’t wake it would be safer for the inhabitants of this world if he, and his dragon, were somewhere isolated while they dealt with their grief.

  “She will wake.” His dragon was far more certain then he was. He knew that in the past, some members of other races had taken Romaki mates. After the mating, they had become dragons, but there was no way to know if it would work with a human. Even if it did, her injuries were severe. It might not be enough to save her life.

  As the thought of losing her loomed in his mind, it happened.

  She gasped, then sagged as she exhaled for the last time. He waited, watching and praying for her to take another breath. Time slowed, then stopped. Grief filled him, as cold and barren as the highest peaks of his homeland. She was gone.

  Bereft and broken, he bowed his head to whisper a prayer for the swift passing of her soul. The moment his lips touched her forehead a surge of power slammed into him, stronger than anything he’d ever experienced. He was dazed for a moment, and when his senses returned it was to the most incredible sight of his life. His mate was looking up at him with eyes the colour of a summer sky. She lived. The conversion had worked.

  Elated, he rose to his feet with her still in his arms. As he stood, he whispered the words of a sleeping spell that would keep her safe and unaware until he could bring her somewhere isolated, so they could talk.

  Once she was asleep, he transformed, giving himself over to his dragon despite his promise not to alter form while on Earth. Vadir and the Pyrosian prince would have to forgive him, but the needs of his mate came first.

  He kept hold of her while he shifted, then cradled her carefully in his talons as he stretched his wings and took to the air with a roar that echoed across the stadium.

  After weeks of being confined to his bipedal form, it felt incredible to fly again. He rose quickly, eager to get away from the chaos. Once he cleared the stadium, the air cleared quickly, but he continued to climb. The higher he went, the less likely it was he’d be spotted. The shuttlecraft carrying the prince and his party were barely discernable in the sky above him. They’d be safe aboard the Firebrand soon. Hopefully, Vadir and Lisa weren’t far behind. He briefly considered returning to the ship, too but rejected the idea almost immediately. While the Pyrosian’s flagship was certainly safe, it hadn’t been designed with the needs of dragons in mind. Over the next few days, he and his new mate would require space, privacy, and possibly room to fly.

  He dipped one wing and changed course, making straight for the mountain range beyond the city. There had to be a spot within all those wild, unpopulated acres where he and his mate could stay out of sight until the rux passed. He was already envisioning the bower he would make for them, filled with every delight and luxury he could think of. He’d need to consult his mate about meals, of course. His magic allowed him to create whatever foods they’d need, but he would have to consider her preferences. Would she prefer sweets or savoury dishes? Spicy or simple? He had so many questions to ask her, and no doubt, she would have even more questions for him.

  Still, the Gods had given him this female to cherish and protect. She was living proof that the future of his race was out among the stars, not hiding away on Romak. The Gods wouldn’t have chosen her if she wasn’t strong enough to accept her new life, and him.

  Piper was having the most amazing dream. First, she’d been flying over the city, watching the buildings and cars pass beneath her as if they were perfectly crafted miniatures. Then she’d left the city behind and flown into the mountains, soaring over forests and peaks that she’d only ever seen from the ground. Eventually, she started to descend, which was weird, considering she hadn’t wanted the flight to end. A clearing opened up below and she circled around it, spiralling in for a landing among the grass and wildflowers that covered the space.

  Like dreams often do, this one skipped a bit, and she found herself stretched out among the flowers, staring up at the sky. Boring. I liked flying better. Things got a lot less boring when she heard someone talking in a strange, sing-song way. A male someone. She lifted her head. The blond hottie from the Gathering was standing a few feet away. He was facing her, but his eyes were focused on something in the distance. The best part about her dream was that he wasn’t wearing anything but a smile wide enough she saw his fangs…Wait. Fangs? Since when did her sexual fantasies include vampires? For that matter, why was she dreaming at all? She was supposed to be at the Gathering with Aria, wasn’t she?

  She pinched her arm, but nothing happened. She was still lying in a field with a hot, naked blond guy. Alarmed, she sat up so fast her head spun, but that didn’t stop her from noticing her clothes were a bloodstained mess. What the hell is going on? She started going over herself with trembling hands, trying to find the source of the blood. Why didn’t she feel any pain? Oh God, was she paralyzed?

  “You won’t find any injuries. You are healthy and quite perfect.”

  She looked up with a start. Blondie was standing right beside her now, his white-blond hair gleaming in the summer sun as he looked down at her with grey eyes. No, not grey, silver. Weirder still, he was suddenly dressed in a blue, toga-like garment that left his arms and lower legs bare and did amazing things for his shoulders.

  “You were at the Gathering. You’re Pyrosian, right? I was there, and now I’m… here.” She gestured wildly to indicate the clearing. “Where is here? And who are you, and what happened back at the stadium? I remember explosions and screaming and…oh god. Haley. Aria. Melody!”

  He dropped to his knees at her side and wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. “I am Radek M
akyrn, and yes, I was at the Gathering, but I am not Pyrosian. I will explain matters once we’re inside.”

  “Hey, hands off!” She shoved his arm away. “And inside where? We’re in the middle of a freaking forest!”

  Radek stayed where he was. Only his arm moved as he pointed to something behind her. “Inside there.”

  “If I look, are you going to try and touch me again?”

  He shook his head. “I will stay where I am, sadina. You have my word.”

  “Fat lot of good that does me,” she muttered. “I don’t know you, so I have no idea if you’re the kind of man who keeps his word or not.”

  His shoulders stiffened, and his dazzling eyes darkened several shades at her words. “I am Prince Radek of the planet Romak, my mother rules the Snow Dragon Clan of my homeworld, and I swear on her life and those of my family that I will not touch you again without your consent.”

  “Uh huh. Sure. I’m totally willing to believe I’ve been abducted by an alien dragon prince. That might explain the fangs, but I’m still not buying it. When I turn around, am I going to see your spaceship?” She turned and looked behind her, expecting to see nothing but trees. Instead, she saw a gleaming building with a vaulted roof and walls that looked like they were made of solid crystal. The structure was only two stories tall, but its footprint took up a good portion of the clearing. “That’s not a spaceship.”

  “It is not. Even if I possessed such a thing, it wouldn’t be as comfortable as the home I have made for us.”

  She looked back to see he had kept his word and stayed still. “You made that? Out of what? It looks like crystal, or maybe snow? But it can’t be. It’s the middle of summer.”