Dragon in the Dark (Kindred Tales)

“What? A pleasure slave?” Iyanna demanded. “What’s that—some kind of a sex worker?”

“In a manner of speaking. You see, every female that is of age on Lix’dor Prime is either a ‘pleasure slave’ or a ‘cherished wife,’” Rarev explained. “My hope in sending you with Commander Dra’vik is that you can pose as his cherished wife and thereby escape many of the more reprehensible Lix’dorian customs.”

“So you want us to pretend to be Joined?” Dra’vik asked flatly.

“It’s the only way the Lix’dorian Minister of Botany will deal with you and allow Dr. Washington to bring back some of the Lix’dorian pleasure blooms we need so badly,” Rarev told him. “I chose you for your knowledge of botany and your size and strength, Commander Dra’vik. And of course, Dr. Washington is needed because only a Viridi Femma can successfully accomplish this mission.” He leaned forward on his desk, his golden eyes serious. “As I was saying to Dr. Washington before you arrived, this mission can only succeed if both of you are committed to it. Will you agree to go, for the good of the Mother Ship?”

“Well…”Iyanna hesitated but then she saw the big Drake Monstrum giving her a skeptical look. Clearly, he didn’t think she had what it took to get the job done. “Yes,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’m in—I’ll go. Just tell me what I have to do.”

“It might be dangerous,” Rarev warned. “As I said, the Lix’dorian social system treats females with shameful disregard. The female pleasure slaves are expected to, er, please their Masters in public at a moment’s notice.”

“But I’m not going to be a pleasure slave—I’m going to be Commander Dra’vik’s ‘cherished wife,’ right?” Iyanna asked, shooting a glance at the big Drake Monstrum.

“That’s the plan. If Commander Dra’vik also agrees to go?” Rarev raised an eyebrow at the other Monstrum.

“Of course I’ll go, Chief Commander,” Dra’vik’s voice was low and rough. “You’re my commanding officer—I cannot refuse such an assignment. Especially one that might save the Monstrum Mother Ship. She is more than our home—she is our mother and we must protect her as she protects us.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.” Rarev nodded. “But I must still ask for your oath of protection. Dr. Washington—Iyanna—will be risking herself for us in ways that she never agreed to when she first came aboard the Mother Ship. She must feel confident that you will do everything in your power to keep her safe on this distant world the two of you will be traveling to.”

“Oath of protection?” Iyanna asked, shooting the big Drake a look from the corner of her eye. He looked angry about being put on this mission with her, she thought. Probably he’d been hoping that he had seen the last of her on the Dark Side last night.

“It’s an oath that all Kindred swear when a female is put under their protection,” Rarev explained. “On a dangerous mission like this one, it’s especially important.”

“Oh, I really don’t know if it’s necessary,” Iyanna protested, shooting the big Drake—whose face was like a thundercloud—another sidelong look. “Commander Dra’vik doesn’t seem like the type of guy to hide in the dark when there’s a woman around who needs his help.”

At her veiled reference to the night before, he shot her a glare and Iyanna felt a thrill of triumph. She had known it was him! He could deny it all he wanted but that deep, rumbling voice and those golden-yellow eyes couldn’t belong to anyone else.

“As a matter of fact, I think an oath is necessary, and I’ll be happy to swear one, since you seem to be in doubt of my willingness to protect you,” he growled.

Then, to Iyanna’s surprise, he slid out of his chair and came to kneel at her feet. Even kneeling he was still slightly taller and she remembered that they had only been eye to eye the night before because she’d been standing while he knelt. But why was he kneeling now?

As though to answer her question, the big Drake Monstrum took her hands in his much larger ones. Looking deeply into her eyes, he began to speak.

“Iyanna Washington, while we are on this mission together, you are mine to protect…mine to defend…mine to cherish,” he rumbled. “When my heart beats, it shall beat only for you. No harm shall come to you, for I will be your shield. None shall touch you unless my body lies broken and lifeless at your feet and not a drop of your blood shall be shed unless the ground is already drenched with mine. This is my oath of protection—do you accept it?”

“Oh, my!” Iyanna looked at him with wide eyes, feeling her breath catch in her throat. She had never had a man speak to her like this before! Was he really serious about all that—about dying to keep her safe? One look in his blazing golden-yellow eyes told her that he was. “I…I accept,” she said, her voice going shaky on the last word.