Authors: Milly Taiden
SIX
They followed a path of big red-and-yellow flowers that reminded her of sunflowers, only the center of the flower was yellow and the petals and stem were red. She didn’t get too close for fear her allergies would go crazy. She’d been taking her allergy meds since she arrived. Gerri told her she didn’t need meds, because she should not have allergy problems in Aurora, but she didn’t want to chance it.
“Razzy, you have the prettiest purple eyes,” Becca said when the girl smiled at her again.
“Thank you! Charlotte said the same thing. It’s so strange to hear someone else say that. Since we all have different eye colors, it’s normal to see such variety.” Razzy picked up one of Becca’s shoulder-length curls and rubbed it between her fingers. “I love the texture of your hair and the color of your skin.”
Unlike Razzy’s paler complexion, Becca had a warm-cinnamon coloring that allowed for her to tan nicely. “Thanks. I love the color of my skin, too. Not sure about the hair. You should see it when it’s wet. It’s everywhere.”
Razzy sighed. “I wish my hair curled. It just falls in this long, straight, boring mess.”
“Darling, you have beautiful hair. I’d kill for the shine in yours.” She laughed at the irony of life. “Isn’t that always how it is? We want what we don’t have.”
They neared a massive stone wall. A doorway appeared out of nowhere, and Razzy grabbed her by the hand and led her inside. “Come on. You’re going to love the flowers.”
Doors appearing out of nowhere. Two suns. Weird colored flowers and blue snow. Yeah. She really hadn’t had enough of that wine yet.
They crossed into an open courtyard. They passed people who stared at Becca with curiosity. She stared back. Their eyes amazed her. Orange, blue, green, silver, pink, and every color of the rainbow she had ever seen looked back at her. This was the most colorful planet in the universe.
Hallway after hallway they went until a giant opening brought them to a massive garden. She gasped, her gaze busy taking in the beauty of the pristine garden.
“Holy shit!”
Razzy chuckled. “You have the best reactions.”
“Are you kidding me? This isn’t just a garden. This is like every garden ever made put together,” she whispered in awe. She took a few steps toward the closest flower: a deep green with specks of red and pink and a blue stem. The flower was the size of her head. She lifted a hand to touch it but stopped mid-way.
“What’s wrong?” Razzy asked. “Don’t you like the baby flowers?”
Becca snorted. “Baby?”
“Yes. They can grow in size. We call these babies, because they are hybrids and much smaller. The originals grow in the wild and can be the size of a dragonling.
She’d never heard of a dragonling flower, so she wasn’t sure how big that was. “The flower is beautiful, but I shouldn’t touch it. I’m allergic.”
“I promise they will not harm you. Our flowers do not contain the same pollen your earth flowers do.”
She was tempted. After an internal debate, she leaned forward and touched the petals with the tips of her fingers. “This is unreal. They’re so soft.”
“We have a bed of pillis,” Razzy said. “Come. I’ll show you.”
She turned to follow the girl and frowned. “I don’t know what ‘pillis’ are.”
Razzy stopped suddenly and lifted a hand to point in front of her. “That’s them.”
Becca’s jaw dropped. Tiny flowers with petals in every color ever created covered a large section of the garden, making them look like they were a kaleidoscopic wave.
“Wow,” she gasped, her legs refusing to move, keeping her rooted to the spot.
“We call the bigger ones rainbow flowers. The babies are called pillis.” Razzy turned to her with a wide grin. “I knew you’d love it. Charlotte loves these flowers. We don’t pick them. We admire nature as it is meant to be. Unless someone is getting mated, to celebrate the union, we do not kill plants.”
“Your planet is beautiful.”
Razzy nodded. “I love it. I’m glad you’re here. I hope you will come to my ball.”
“Ball?” she asked, still a little dazed from the walking, the wine, and the high altitude.
“Yes. Charlotte promised to come. We’re celebrating the turn of the seasons. Our people are coming out of sleep, and I think a celebration is in order.” Her lips tipped down and sadness filled her gaze. “Mother loved having one every year when she was alive.”
Damn. How could she say no to that face? “I’ll be here. I think it’s a great thing you’re doing. Keeping her memory alive with tradition.”
“Thank you!” Razzy’s eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile. “I didn’t think anyone else understood.”
SEVEN
Becca glanced at the blanket she’d been given to wear as a dress. She had no idea how to make something elegant out of it. The best she could do was tie the thing over her shoulder and go toga-style. Her bedroom door swung open, and Charlotte waltzed in wearing a gorgeous gown in the ice blue color of the mountains she lived on.
“Wow. You look amazing,” Becca said. “Meanwhile, I’m going to look like I’m wearing your curtains to the ball.”
Charlotte frowned at the way Becca had draped the blanket over her shoulders. “What in the world are you doing with that dress?”
Dress? The blanket was a dress? “Um…wearing it?”
Charlotte slapped a hand on her forehead. “I’m so dumb. I forgot you don’t know how to wear these. I thought Gerri or someone in Alyx’s castle would have shown you how.” She rushed to Becca and held the sheet under Becca’s arm. “Strapless ball gown in her favorite color.”
Becca gasped as the material tightened around her bust, fitting over her breasts and flaring down into a gorgeous, golden dress. There was no need, or space, for a bra. “How in the hell did this sheet turn into a dress?”
“It’s all artificial intelligence. Your favorite color is gold, and it picked a design that will flatter your curves,” Charlotte said with a smile. “You look beautiful.”
Becca still couldn’t believe the thin sheet she’d been playing with had reshaped itself, and even changed thickness and color, to become a gorgeous dress.
“I felt really bad for Razzy,” Becca said, putting on a pair of diamond studs she rarely used. Her grandmother had given them to her on her sixteenth birthday. Their nana had been such a nice woman—more caring to her and Charlotte than their own parents.
“I know,” Charlotte said. “If it weren’t for Razzy, I don’t think I’d be going anywhere near that castle.”
Becca frowned, taking the shawl Charlotte handed her and watching it change to match her dress. “Why not?”
“There’s a lot of stress over there. I’d rather stay on this side.”
Becca nodded. But that poor girl was trying to do something nice for her mother’s memory. They couldn’t leave her hanging, not when she was waiting for them to show up. “Come on. Let’s visit with her and meet your neighbors.”
* * *
Becca gasped at the number of beautiful and colorful gowns she saw. Every color in the rainbow, much like the flowers in the garden, filled the massive hall. She took a glass of wine from a passing waiter and smiled a thank you.
“There’s Razzy,” Charlotte said. “She looks amazing.”
Razzy wore a beautiful A-line gown that matched her eyes. She glanced around the room full of guests and made a beeline for them. “You came.” She hugged Charlotte first and then Becca. “I’m so happy you two showed up.”
“I’m sorry Bella couldn’t make it.” Charlotte sighed. “Pregnancy can make a woman exhausted.”
Razzy nodded, her eyes sparkling with delight. “I can’t wait to meet their babies.”
Charlotte glanced away and then smiled at Becca and Razzy. “Give me two minutes. Brecc is calling. He has that look on his face that scares most people. It’s his way of getting me to pay attention to him.”
“Go on,” Razzy said. “I have Becca. We’ll have fun.”
“I’m a little afraid to hear that.” Charlotte laughed as she walked away.
Becca’s gaze roamed the massive hall. Decorated in silver and gold, it was truly fit for a king. “This place is amazing.”
“Come on,” Razzy said, looping her arm with Becca’s. “Let me give you the grand tour. I have something very fun in mind.”
They went down a hallway, farther from the mass of guests, and through a doorway that appeared to be a quiet set of private rooms. “I don’t think we’re supposed to be on this side.”
Razzy giggled. “I have a dare for you.”
“Uh-oh.” She glanced around the long, dimly lit hallway. “Am I going to get arrested?”
Razzy frowned for a moment. Then she shook her head and laughed. “No. No getting arrested. I just want you to go into the library and find the book with the woman on the cover and spine.”
That was it? “A woman?”
Razzy’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Yes.”
“There’s a catch. I know there is. I bet there’s fifty books like that, aren’t there?”
“No, no. Just one. I’ll even tell you that the books are filed by color. The one you’re looking for is black.” Razzy pointed down the hall. “Fourth door to your left.”
Dammit. The girl tempted her so much. “What do I get if I do this?”
“I hear you like dragons,” Razzy’s smile widened. “I happen to have a very cute purple, dragon-eye gem that’s been passed down my family line. I will part with it for you.”
“Are you insane? I don’t want a family heirloom.” She shook her head. “I’ll do this, but no giving me stuff that should go to your children.”
Razzy blinked her eyes wide. “Okay, but you’ll do it?”
Ah, hell. Of course she would. Now she wanted to see what was so special about the damn book. “Yes.”
EIGHT
Vikter took the back stairs, staying away from the guests and the majority of the castle employees. He was in no mood to speak to anyone. The last thing he needed was to accidentally see someone who wondered why he looked the way he did and decided to make idle conversation.
He stomped his way to his office. His dragon pushed at the skin, seeking to fly again. For a second, he stopped at the door, his rage pushing him away. Something felt different about his space.
He entered the room quietly, wondering why his dragon roared internally. He scanned the room until he found what he was looking for: the intruder. He watched a pair of hips swing side to side as a woman in gold shifted from foot to foot.
“Holy shit,” she breathed. “I knew there had to be a catch.” She flipped through a page and gasped. “Wow. I wish I knew a man with enough strength to do some of these.”
He frowned, wondering what she could be looking at. The scent of her arousal reached him. Something turned her on. He wanted to know what that was. He took a step closer. Then another. She wiggled her hips again, and that’s when he realized she was squirming.
“Oh my god! This chick knows how to have fun,” she choked. “Three guys? Who the hell takes on three men? Half the time I can’t even deal with one without wanting to murder him.”
He frowned. She really loved talking to herself.
He wasn’t in the mood to play host and wanted the chick gone. The rage filling him pushed away any other emotion. “You’re trespassing,” he said, his voice full of authority.
She whirled around, holding a large volume of sexual acts pressed to her chest. “Christ! Have you ever heard of knocking?” Beautiful, big-brown eyes the color of soft honey, framed with thick, dark lashes, stared at him. Her generous lips formed a slight pout.
She was breathtaking, and not just her rounded face with flawless brown skin. The curves hidden under her dress sent desire shooting through him—something he hadn’t felt in almost a year. He frowned. “No. This is my office. Why would I knock?”
She glanced at him, up and down, scrunching her nose in distaste. “Forget knocking, have you ever heard of a brush? A razor?” She sniffed. “Cologne?”
“Once again,” he said, his voice deeper than before. “You are trespassing. The ball is down the hall.”
She winced. “I’m sorry. Razzy asked me to come in here and get a book.” She gave an apologetic smile. “I didn’t think this was anyone’s office.”
“It is. Now, get out.” He heard the words come out of his mouth and wished he could take them back. It wasn’t her fault he was angry with life. Watching her lovely dark features as she continued to stare at him, he thought about how long it had been since he’d been with a woman. Too long.
Her perfectly lined brows flew up until he saw a spark of anger light her eyes. “Wow. You’re in need of some manners.”
“I have manners.” He turned to point to the door. “You can get out through there.”
She blinked, gripping the book so tightly he saw her knuckles discolor. “I thought people on this planet were supposed to be nice and happy. What the hell crawled up your ass and died?”
“You are trespassing where you’re unwanted,” he said, his rage growing. She took a step closer to him, and through the cloud of fury and anger, his dragon got a whiff of her essence. The animal pushed harder to be let out. Desire bloomed in him for the annoying stranger. Something about her got to him. He’d lost a lot of himself in the need to keep his dragon awake. The only way to do that was closing off all emotions other than anger.
A knock sounded at his door, and it opened to his cousin Drayken. He stared back and forth between Vikter and the ball guest.
“I heard yelling,” Drayken said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” Vikter growled.
“No,” the woman with the striking honey-brown eyes and tempting lips said. “I’m going to need someone to show me back to the ballroom.”
Drayken grinned, showing more interest than necessary in the curvy goddess. “Allow me. I’d be happy to show you back to the ball.”
He passed Vikter on his way to the woman. The ire in Vikter knew no bounds; he clenched his hands at his sides. The dragon urged him to interfere, to yank her away from Drayken and rip his cousin limb from limb.
She smiled at Drayken. Jealousy roared to life inside him. What did he care if she smiled at his cousin? She wasn’t his. Another emotion tried to tug at his anger-filled heart, but there was little room for anything other than fury in Vikter.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the arm he offered. Then she turned to Vikter with pursed lips. “Sorry about your office. I didn’t mean to intrude in your space.”
Her words and the hint of hurt he heard in her voice tried to call forth emotions he’d locked away. His dragon huffed, pushing him to be let out.
Vikter watched Drayken escort the woman out of the room. He listened intently as they walked.
“Hi, I’m Becca, Charlotte’s sister,” she said softly. “Thanks for showing me back to the ball.”
“Hello, beautiful Becca. I’m Drayken of the Dragos house. I’m happy to keep your company. A lovely woman like yourself shouldn’t be alone.”
Their voices faded until he couldn’t hear any more of their conversation.
Becca
. Why did he care? He shouldn’t. He’d closed off any and all thoughts of mating. But he could still be with a woman. And Becca’s curves tempted and aroused him more than anyone had in a very long time…if ever.
He needed to fly. His gut told him there was something he was refusing to see. It was harder when his dragon could barely communicate with him. There was a broken link where his emotions were concerned, not that he needed emotions. They would only weaken him now that he knew death was imminent.