He makes a discreet hand signal, and Bolox and Narix, Dariux’s two pet Draekons, carry out a target. I snort inwardly. Dariux likes his theatrics.
“Where should we put it?” Bolox asks.
Dariux gives the four of us an assessing gaze. “Herrix is a fine shot,” he says. “Put it at the far end of the clearing.”
Herrix is indeed a fine shot, but the TwelfthBorn of Laris is nowhere as good with a bow and arrow as his kinsman. Liorax never boasts, but he is the best hunter in the camp, though he takes care to conceal it from everyone.
“The Draekon with the shot closest to the heart will have the first chance to court the human woman.”
I move next to Liorax. I’m well aware that he does not want a mate. He will not want to compete for the woman, so I’m going to have to approach this from a different angle. “I know you’re thinking of throwing this contest,” I say under my breath.
His shoulders stiffen, but he does not acknowledge my words in any other way. “But before you do,” I continue, “I want to remind you of your kinsman’s reputation. We both know Herrix has hurt more than one of his Lowborn servants. Ask yourself this. Would you have Olivia spend a day with him, unwarned?”
He still doesn’t speak, but I know I’ve said enough. Despite everything that’s happened to him, Liorax has an innate sense of honor and chivalry. He won’t allow Olivia to blindly walk into danger.
Liorax:
Bast.
I want to strangle Zunix for pointing out what I’ve been doing my very best to ignore. I want no part of this stupid contest. Yes, the ability to shapeshift at will is a useful one, but no matter what my dragon thinks, I’m not going to take a mate.
I’m not concerned about the other human women. I trust Rezzix and Magnux, Yasix and Thesix. Luddux and Xanthox are a little too inclined to be swayed by the opinions of others, but they too are honorable men.
Herrix, on the other hand…
Zunix is always startlingly well-informed. Herrix has a nasty temper. When he loses it… there have been stories. Rumors. The Laris scion is wild and uncontrolled.
I fetch my bow and arrows as Bolox and Narix set up the target. Belfox lines up to shoot first. He draws the string back and releases his arrow. It flies straight and true and hits the target in the chest.
“A very good shot,” Dariux says, sounding impressed. “But you missed the heart.”
“I’ll go next.” Zunix steps forward. I watch with interest as he steps up to the mark. With a minimum of fuss, his arrow flies through the air, landing next to Belfox’s.
“Another good shot.” This time, Dariux’s voice is grudging, not admiring.
Herrix’s arrow is closest to the heart, a mere finger’s thickness from the center. He turns to me, his smile mocking. “Your turn, Liorax.”
The House of Laris is famous for its marksmanship. I medaled in the Empire-wide Skill Games ten times in a row. It was a long time ago, but I’ve lost none of my abilities on the prison planet.
I met Kat’vi at the Skill Games. She’d grown up in Beleris, and she’d been awed to be on the homeworld for the first time.
She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I’d been flattered by her attention, so flattered that I’d ignored all the signs that she was more interested in power than in me.
I’d been young and foolish, and I paid the price.
This human woman, Olivia, is beautiful as well. Too beautiful. This time though, I’m better prepared.
I lift my bow and draw my arrow to my ear. For some strange reason, I think of the feel of Olivia’s hand gripping mine as her leg healed, her green eyes swimming with pain. Yet not a word of complaint had crossed her lips.
The bowstring rings. The arrow speeds through the clearing, and I don’t have to look. I know my aim is true.
I’m still not going to court her. But my honor demands that I warn her about Herrix.
7
Olivia:
Ladies and gentlemen, let the games begin. In one corner, we have Belfox and Herrix—or the fox and the hare, as I’ve nicknamed them. Both men are tall, muscled and tattooed. Their long blond hair hangs in braids down their backs. Remember the ghost twins in the Matrix Reloaded? That’s what the two men remind me of.
In the other corner are Liorax and Zunix. If I’m being purely objective, the ghost twins are actually better looking, but something tugs me toward Liorax and Zunix.
Here’s the deal. Whatever Dariux might believe, I’m not going to pick a pair of Draekons to mate with. The whole thing is a little too ‘barefoot and pregnant’ for me, thankyouverymuch. However, I fully intend to exploit this situation to my advantage, for as long as I can.
The five of us have nothing. No clothes, except for the NASA-issued garments we’re currently wearing. Last night, we’d shared two thin sleeping mats, stripping our grubby clothes off and sleeping in our underwear.
This morning, I had no other option other than to wear the same clothing again, even though the left leg of my pants is crusted with dried blood.
And it’s not just clothes. Had I not had two sets of Draekon suitors, we would have been short of food. None of the Draekons seem to think that Bryce needs to eat. I don’t like being so dependent on their goodwill for survival.
We need to figure out what plants on this strange planet are edible, and what aren’t. Whether we can cultivate crops or not. We need to learn to hunt—shudder—and fish.
These Draekons have had sixty-five years to figure out how to survive. We have three months.
Because it’s perfectly obvious what’s going to happen at the end of that period. Dariux was vague, but I can read between the lines. The others might be technically allowed to reject their mates, but I’m pretty sure that if they do, all the goodies will come to an end.
No more free lodging. No more food. No more protection from the freaky crab-like detsena. We’ll be on our own.
I’m self-aware enough to know that I’m in shock about the prospect of never going back to Earth. If I think about the future—about spending the rest of my life on this primitive planet—I’m going to lose my mind and become a sobbing, whimpering mess.
I can’t go there. I have to leave the whining and the crying to May and Felicity. I have to concentrate on learning enough to ensure our survival.
Then there’s Step 2: Finding Viola, Harper, Ryanna, and Sofia. We flew a long way to get to this camp. How long would it take to get back to the Fehrat 1 on foot? Days, if not weeks.
Can I convince one of my suitors to make the journey to look for the others? I’m fully prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen. If I have to put out, that’s fine. Four lives are at stake, after all.
I’m watching the proceedings in the clearing as I plan my next move. Herrix is not happy about losing. The moment he sees that Liorax has beaten him, he throws his bow down on the ground and stalks off in a huff.
He’s not the only one who is pissy about the outcome. I get the distinct sense that Dariux is just as annoyed, but he’s less obvious than Herrix.
Zunix moves purposefully to me, Liorax a half-step behind him. “Olivia.” His eyes rake over me. “You look better today.”
Charm school dropout. “That’s a very backhanded compliment,” I reply acidly.
He laughs unexpectedly, his hazel eyes dancing with merriment. “I can see why you would think that,” he acknowledges with a smile. “How’s your leg?”
“A little tender.”
“That shouldn’t happen,” Liorax frowns in concern.
“It’s not that bad,” I hurry to assure him. “Look, no bones sticking out anywhere.” I definitely don’t want to seem ungrateful, because whatever I might think about this whole mating thing, there’s no denying that I owe Liorax and Zunix.
It’s time for an appearance by Ditz-Olivia. I intend to pump Zunix and Liorax for information, and I need to convince them I’m as dumb as a bag of rocks. “Are we going on our date now?” I ask, looking up at them with wide eyes. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
Liorax exhales in irritation, but Zunix’s lips twitch. “That’s a pity,” he murmurs. “You’re going to have to manage for just a bit longer.” He looks at the crowded clearing with distaste. A couple of the Draekons are very obviously trying to eavesdrop on our conversation. Stepping closer, he inclines his head toward me. “Let’s go somewhere more secluded, Olivia.”
My insides do a funny little quiver as he draws near. “More secluded?” I stammer and immediately scold myself for my reaction. For fuck’s sake, Liv. You’re not a horny teenager. Pull yourself together. “Is that against the rules?”
“Dariux isn’t in charge here,” Zunix replies dismissively. “He just thinks he is. We aren’t going far. Just to my house.”
He leads the way, and I follow, Liorax bringing up the rear. We walk through the woods for five minutes. Our pace is leisurely, and I suspect that they’re slowing down to accommodate my tender leg.
I’m looking straight ahead, so I don’t realize we’ve reached our destination until Zunix comes to a stop and gestures to a nearby tree. “We’re here.”
So far, the Draekon treehouses have been nothing to write home about. They’re small. Kind of poky. Pretty bare-bones and minimal.