Defender Dragon (Protection, Inc 2)

Lucas replied icily, “Do you question my honor or my memory?”

“Neither.” Grand Duke Vaclav’s voice stayed cool, but Lucas felt the knife twist as he went on, “It was a rhetorical statement.”

Lucas unlocked his door without another word. He barely stopped himself from slamming it behind him. Once the door closed, he found himself shaking with anger he was honor-bound to suppress.

And that would be his life from now on.

He looked around his apartment. It was sparely but elegantly furnished, unlike the lavish opulence of the palace. He had enjoyed creating a home just for himself, to please no one but himself. Now everything he did would be a joint decision with Raluca, plus consultation with his family and perhaps some important courtiers and members of parliament.

But there was nothing to be done. He hadn’t taught the horse to fly, and now he had to ride it.

Without giving himself time to think, Lucas picked up the phone and called Hal.

“Ready to tell me what’s going on?” Hal asked, without even saying hello first.

“I am. There is something I have never told you. When I was eighteen, I was promised in marriage. It is part of a treaty between my country, Brandusa, and a neighboring country, Viorel.” Lucas summarized the story of his arranged marriage to Princess Raluca of Viorel and the oath they both had sworn. “That is why I left Brandusa, Hal. I did not wish to marry the princess, and I hoped to find my mate elsewhere. But I never found her, and so I must go.”

“But—” Hal sounded more at a loss than Lucas had ever heard before. “Lucas, have you even met this princess? What if she is your mate, after all?”

“We have met. We are not mates. That is why we were allowed to wait for five years. Every dragon must be permitted a chance to seek out their mate.”

“What happens if you get married, and then one of you finds your mate?”

“Honor takes precedence. Dragons do not divorce.”

“Then don’t marry her!” Hal’s deep voice almost made the phone vibrate in Lucas’s hand. “Tell them all to go to hell. You’ll be doing the princess a favor, too.”

Lucas’s jaw was clenched so tightly, his teeth hurt. He forced his mouth open. “You do not understand. It is a matter of honor. Without honor, I have nothing— I am nothing.”

“I don’t see the honor in marrying someone you don’t love and who doesn’t love you!” Hal spoke in a growl; his bear was close to the surface.

Lucas’s anger and bitterness chilled into an icy numbness. Of course Hal didn’t understand. No American could understand. What did it matter that Lucas had to leave this country, where he had never fit in anyway— could never fit in?

“Hal, I leave you my car, my apartment, and everything in it. Keep them or give them away or sell them, as you please.” Lucas hesitated, remembering how Destiny loved riding in his Porsche Carrera. “No. I leave you my apartment and possessions. Please give Destiny my car.”

“This is crazy, Lucas!” Hal shouted so loudly, Lucas was forced to hold the phone away from his ear. “You sit tight. I’m rounding up whoever’s available, and we’re coming to your apartment to talk some sense into you.”

Lucas spoke quickly; Hal did not live far away. “Ah, and also on second thought, give Rafa my apartment. He jokes about getting a ‘swinging bachelor pad,’ but perhaps he would truly enjoy one.”

“I’m not giving anyone anything of yours, because you’re not leaving!” Hal yelled.

“Let the others look through my possessions. If they see anything they want, please let them take it.” Lucas hated to give up his favorite weapon, a gold-plated custom pistol, but guns were illegal in Brandusa. With a sigh, he said, “Shane may have my Desert Eagle. He will treat it with the care it deserves.”

Hal spoke with quiet urgency. “Lucas, don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there.”

“The key will be under the mat.”

The line clicked as Hal hung up. Lucas hoped Hal had heard him.

Unlike most shifters, dragons could take their clothing and some additional weight with them when they transformed. Lucas had always supposed it was from necessity. If dragons had to leave behind their gold when they shifted, they would probably never shift at all.

He opened the safe that contained his hoard. His dragon’s lust for gold and jewels took him even in his haste, and for several seconds he stood mesmerized by the exquisite glitter of his treasure. Then he poured the precious gems and gold coins into a pouch and tied it around his waist, and put on all the jewelry. The chill and weight of gold was soothing on his skin.

Lucas caught sight of himself as he strode past a reflective window, with jeweled rings on every finger and heavy gold chains wrapped around his throat and wrists. He looked like a king about to ride out to his death in a battle he knew he could not win.

He stepped out into the corridor, locked the door, and slipped the key under the mat. “I’m ready.”

For the first time in Lucas’s life, Grand Duke Vaclav gave him an approving nod. “Now you look like a proper prince.”