Defender Dragon (Protection, Inc 2)

Much as Lucas longed to rush to Journey right now, he had to admit that Raluca’s idea was less likely to make her flee in horror. Again. “Good idea.”

“And what do we say to the guests at your engagement ball?” Grand Duke Vaclav asked icily.

If the entire city began chattering about Journey being Lucas’s mate before he got a chance to properly court her, she’d probably catch the first plane back to America.

“Raluca, could we claim that you fell ill?” Lucas asked. “We could say it’s not serious, but you don’t want to get engaged when you’re not feeling well.”

“If it will get me out of this marriage, I’ll faint in full view of the entire ballroom.” She winked at Lucas as if she was looking forward to it.

“Raluca!” Duke Constantine snapped. “It is your duty as a princess to marry to benefit your country, not yourself.”

“To benefit you,” Lucas muttered. Louder, he said, “Fainting will not be necessary. You can return to the palace through a different entrance. I’ll make the announcement.”

Raluca ran off, her skirts trailing behind her like a flag. Lucas suppressed a sigh. He didn’t want to marry her any more than she wanted to marry him, but it was something of a blow to his vanity to have two women run away from him in a single night.

Lucas could feel the dukes’ glares at his back as he returned to the ballroom. He waved the orchestra to silence, made his announcement, and left as quickly as possible, claiming that he had to go sit by Raluca’s side.

It was an immense relief to get to his bedroom, dismiss his valet, and close the door behind him. He sat down on his bed, tired but hopeful. Tomorrow he’d see Journey again. He’d have Raluca with him to prove he wasn’t trying to cheat on her. He’d be able to take his time explaining the situation, rather than babbling in an incoherent rush.

And he’d bring her an apology gift. By American standards, the normal dragon gifts of precious jewelry would be far too lavish. But he knew just the thing: a bottle of dragonfire. She’d enjoy that, he was certain. And she wouldn’t know it cost its weight in gold.

Feeling much better, Lucas walked to the closet. He took out a pair of pajamas and started to unfold them to make sure they were new and would fit him, rather than being a relic from his teenage years.

Protect Journey!

Lucas dropped the pajamas, startled by his dragon’s sudden roar.

“What?” Lucas asked aloud. “What’s going on?”

Journey’s in danger! Defend her!

Lucas didn’t pause to ask how his dragon knew. His dragon could be reckless and hot-tempered and uncaring of human concerns, but Lucas knew instinctively, as surely as he knew that Journey was his mate, that his dragon was right.

He automatically looked for his gun before remembering that he’d left it in his apartment in America. He was in Brandusa now, where guns were so thoroughly banned that even criminals didn’t have them.

Then he saw the sword hanging on the wall. In the instant it took him to grab it, he hoped he hadn’t forgotten how to use it. Then his hand closed around the hilt. It was as familiar as a lifelong friend, as familiar as Journey’s eyes.

Lucas buckled on his sword and turned toward the door.

There is no time, said his dragon. Fly!

Lucas ran across the room and threw open the window. He hesitated, looking at the ground five stories below. He’d never transformed in midair before. If he was too slow, he’d fall to his death.

He leaped out into the night. For a terrifying instant, he was a man plummeting through the air. Then he was a dragon, straining to catch the wind beneath his wings and arrest his fall. The tip of his tail touched the ground, and then he was skimming over the garden, his powerful wings taking him up and out, over the palace walls.

Lucas concentrated to make himself invisible, then flew on. The moon shone full, casting a silvery light over the sleeping city. It was easy to spot the Florescu’s neighborhood, though he’d have to land to find the house itself.

But as he started to search for an open square where he’d have room to touch down, his dragon instincts urged him further on, past the homes and to the woods beside the riverbank. Why would Journey be in trouble in that remote area, in the middle of the night?

He supposed he’d find out. He landed as close as he could to the area where he instinctively knew she was, touching down on the empty road beside the woods. Once he became a man, his instincts were less sharp. But where instinct left off, training took over.

Lucas drew his sword and slipped into the woods, moving silently, all his senses alert and focused. His mate was in danger. He would protect her with his life. Nothing else mattered.

Chapter Six

Journey

Journey stood gazing at the rushing river. The moonlight turned it to liquid silver. She tried to fix the sight into her memory, so she could treasure it always.