Defender Dragon (Protection, Inc 2)

You just have to get through the next half hour or so, he told himself. That’s all. You can do it.

He didn’t feel like he could get through one more minute.

Both his hands were occupied with the duke, but Journey put a gentle hand on his back. “How are you feeling?”

Lucas jerked his head at Duke Constantine, trying to convey that he couldn’t confess to weakness in front of his enemy.

“Right.” Journey said no more, but kept her hand where it was. It was a small touch, but it comforted him. Her love and support gave him the strength to go on.

At the doors of the throne room, the guards stared at him, then the duke, then Journey, then back to him.

“Your highness...” A guard ventured at last. “Shall I summon a doctor?”

“Not now,” said Lucas. Speaking hurt, too. “I will see one later.”

“Yes,” said Journey. “Summon one right now! Tell the doctor he was forced to swallow dragonsbane.”

Lucas was touched by her concern. “Very well. Have the doctor wait outside the throne room. Also, please dispatch the police to Castle Abur. They will find four criminals tied up near the rubble. They should be arrested and held on charges of assault and kidnapping.”

“Rubble?” asked a guard.

Journey jumped in. “And tell the doctor he had a castle collapse on top of him! Though that was when he was a dragon.”

The guards stared.

“Open the doors,” Lucas commanded.

The guards obeyed. It was late in the day, most of the ordinary business done. No petitioners were present. The throne room was occupied only by King Andrei, Queen Livia, Grand Duke Vaclav, Princess Raluca, several of Lucas’s cousins, and a handful of courtiers and guards.

If Lucas had any lingering suspicions of his great-uncle, they were put to rest by Grand Duke Vaclav’s sincerely bewildered stare. Lucas scanned everyone else’s faces, just in case, but not one of them betrayed anything but surprise, confusion, and concern.

“Duke Constantine attempted to murder my mate,” Lucas began, then briefly recounted the entire story.

Everyone listened in shocked silence. But as soon as Lucas concluded, Duke Constantine drew himself up to his full height and blustered, “This is all a pack of lies. The prince has gone mad!”

Journey’s glare could have cut diamonds. “I saw the entire thing. Every word Lucas says is true.”

Duke Constantine shot her a contemptuous look that made Lucas want to slap him, then turned back to the onlookers. “Would you take the word of an American tourist against the word of a duke? But your majesties, Princess Raluca cannot marry a madman. Nor can a madman inherit the throne. Prince Lucas must be stripped of his title, and the marriage agreement and all its associated treaties must be transferred to your eldest son.”

Before Lucas could say a word, Raluca stood up and marched across the marble floor. She wore the traditional wooden heels, and every step was loud as a gunshot.

Raluca stopped in front of Duke Constantine. Each word rang out with cutting clarity, like shards of broken crystal. “You are a liar, a traitor, and a criminal. And I am not your property.”

“Of course you are not.” The duke spoke with a false kindness that made Lucas’s skin crawl. “But it is your duty as a dragon and a princess to marry to benefit your country.”

“I am tired of being used,” said Raluca. “I want to be more than a pawn in someone else’s game.”

“You are no pawn. Some day you will be a queen.” Duke Constantine’s tone was halfway between a promise and a threat.

Raluca stepped forward, encroaching on the duke’s personal space. Lucas noticed for the first time that she was taller than her uncle. “I am tired of being any sort of game piece. I wish to have a life of my own, independent of politics.”

Duke Constantine glared at her, puffing out his chest as if to make up for his lack of height. “Don’t be childish. Royalty can never be independent of politics.”

“I know.” Raluca held her ground, pale but defiant. “And that is why I renounce my title and my claim to the crown.”

“What! You can’t—”

“I do.” Raluca’s precise tones cut him off more effectively than if she’d shouted. Turning away from him, she said, “Lucas, we may not meet again, but I will always consider you my friend. Be well. I wish you the best of lives. King Andrei, Queen Livia, thank you for your kindness. Farewell.”