Ragnar: Dragon Lord of Wye Page 11

  Not that she thought she’d get much sleep, despite her bone deep tiredness. The stress of meeting Ragnar’s family still lingered in her body. His mother, the Lady Sorrel, had only been kind and welcoming but Priya had sensed a coldness from his sister.

  Priya lost herself in the details of the room. Her bare feet sank into the plush carpeting. The bed was an overstuffed concoction of the softest linens she’d ever touched. She flung herself backwards into the bed, letting her body sink in. The mattress cradled her. Turning her head, she spotted a vanity table and a dozen bottles and jars. Intrigued, Priya climbed out of the bed.

  She recognized a jar of cold cream and moisturizer and some make-up, even though she never really bothered to wear lipstick or mascara. She failed to recognize a jar of brightly colored, reflective powder. Holding up a buffer to the light, Priya decided it was way too harsh for human nails and must be used to buff Wyer scales or talons, if they had talons. They might. Ragnar didn’t seem to but his fingernails were much harder than her own. Most intriguing was the dozen jars of body paint. After poking at the scentless, wet paste, and having her finger come back stained red, Priya decided it had to be a body paint rubbed onto Wyer scales for color. Then the reflective powder was added. She dipped her finger in the powder, admiring the shimmer. Very pretty but she hoped no one expected her to do this. She liked her color as nature made her.

  The cleansing room was massive with a huge tub for soaking. Priya played with the faucet controls, letting cold and then warm water course over her hands. She hadn’t soaked in a proper bath in ages.

  The sound of the open double doors closing jarred her out of her thoughts. It was silly to leave those open on a ground floor room in a totally unknown environment. Anyone could be in her room now.

  Ragnar appeared in the door. “You shouldn’t leave those doors open. Father keeps peakoke and they’re rather brazen. They’ll flit right in and steal anything shiny.”

  “What are you doing here? I thought we’re not suppose to see each other until the ceremony.”

  “My mother will keep you busy from dawn to dusk tomorrow. So I figured we had to have our date tonight.”

  “Our date?” Priya couldn’t fight her grin.

  “Oh yes, your mate has made extraordinary preparations.” Ragnar preened with his own praise. “Shall we?”

  A hovercycle waited outside the patio. He helped her on and her arms wrapped around him tight, the vibrations from the cycle shaking her whole being. They made their way down a deserted lane, through a village, the lights dark at the late hour, and then into the forest. The light from the cycle’s lamp picked out a twisty, narrow path. Finally, they came to rest at the bank of a creek.

  “Where are we?” she asked, knees wobbling as she dismounted.

  “There’s something I want to show you.”

  He led the way up a stone path that ran parallel to the creek. After a bend, the trees opened up to reveal a tall building, glowing amber in the dark. As they approached, Priya realized it was not a building at all. It was a collection of tall trees, the branches shaped to resemble a pitched roof. There were no walls but it had a defined shape. Lights glowed in the branches and were also embedded into the stone paving.

  It was a cathedral, grown from trees.

  Inside, three pools bubbled and cascaded into one another. The interior of the pools glowed a calming purple, as if illuminated from deep down. Stone steps were hewn from the living rock.

  “What is this place?”

  “A natural hot spring. I thought you might enjoy it.” He smiled, pleased with himself.

  Priya sniffed the humid air. “And what is that smell?”

  “Sulfur. A tiny amount. It’s good for your muscles.” He stripped immediately, dropping his clothes as he made his way to the first pool. Priya couldn’t help but lick her lips and admire his posterior. Hard to believe all that was hers.

  “What if someone catches us?”

  “That’s the great thing about being nobility. My family owns this land.” He dove in, disappearing under the surface before resurfacing. “Come on, don’t be shy.”

  “I don’t have a swimsuit,” she protested weakly.

  “Did I tell you to pack a swimsuit?”

  She glanced around. They really were alone. Sighing, Priya kicked off her shoes and stripped as quickly as possible. If someone did arrive, she wanted to be in the water.

  The water was warm but not unpleasant. Once up to her shoulders, she couldn't smell the sulfur anymore. She floated on her back, letting her hair fan out in the water. “This is wonderful.”

  “Ready for the next pool?”

  “Aren’t they all the same.”

  “This is the cold pool.”

  He swam to the edge, where water cascaded down from a higher pool. Steps were carved directly into the rock as access to the next level. Priya followed. This pool was much warmer. Her skin turned pink but her muscles melted.

  Ragnar pulled her into his lap and she rested her back against his chest. “This is perfect,” she said with a moan. “Thank you.”

  “I know my family can be overwhelming. I thought you might need to relax.” His voice was low, rumbling in her ear. “Look up.”

  Priya tilted her head back. There had to be zero light pollution because the stars shone vividly in the night sky, like she could reach up and pluck them down. At the center was a swirl of vivid blue clouds around a dark middle with a faint blue star. Black streaked through the clouds, giving the illusion of a human iris. Violent red clouds swirled around the blue, giving the impression of an otherworldly eye.

  “What is that?”

  “We call it the Celestial Eye,” he said, stroking her arms. “Legend says that the Celestial Mother watches over us.”

  “That’s the eye of your god?”

  He murmured in the affirmative. “It is lucky for mated pairs to make love under the stars, under the gaze of the Celestial Mother. Any nestling conceived will be favored.”

  “Lucky huh?” Sounded like he just wanted to get lucky. Then, “But the pupil is round. Terran. That’s weird.”

  He chuckled. “It’s a nebula. Just gases in space. And it’s visible to the naked eye. It’s featured in Wyer art and literature since… since we’ve made art. There are cave paintings of it.”

  “So it’s important and I shouldn’t question your sacred ball of gas in space?”

  “I don’t question your bizarre Terran beliefs.”

  Priya twisted in his arms and gave his shoulder a playful slap. “Yes you do! All the time.”

  He leaned in and sniffed at the base of her throat. His rough tongue licked the salt from her skin. “Mmm. I like the way you smell tonight.”

  “And you brought me out here to stargaze? Or did you have something else on your mind?”

  His hands cupped her breasts and teased her nipples. Something else was definitely on his mind. “There are some things I’ve always wanted to try.”

  “Hot spring related things?” She shifted in his lap, feeling his hardened cock digging into her backside.

  “Things related to my mate.”

  “I think you better show me.”

  And he did.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ragnar

  “Well, you said it wasn’t much and you certainly delivered.” Hamish stroked his chin, considering the foundation as they walked the perimeter of the building.

  Nisha ran up, cheeks flush with excitement. “Dad! Dad! You have to see the garden! It’s overgrown but you can just tell that it’s amazing. And there’s this fruit—” She held up a bright orange globe. “It looks like an orange but tastes like blueberry muffins. No joke!” She tossed the fruit to her father and dashed off again into the overgrown wilderness of the garden.

  “So there’s an orchard?” Hamish asked. He gave the fruit a sniff before peeling away the outer rind. The tart and sweet aroma filled the air.

  “I believe there are ornamental fruit trees. That is a myr
til. It is a summer fruit. Good for jams.”

  “Hot damn, it does taste like blueberry muffins.”

  Nathaniel ran up, long hair in his face and clutching some hunk of rusted out metal. “Dad! You won’t believe what I found in the barn!” Then he darted off.

  Hamish watched the retreating figure of his son. The twins’ enthusiasm for the place told Ragnar that Hamish would accept.

  “Are you sure you want to live with your in-laws? You newlyweds have better things to do than worry about us.”

  “If this makes you uncomfortable, I could give you the credit to set up anywhere. I believe Priya wants to give you the New Leaf but we will have need of it.”

  Hamish shook his head. “A house can’t have two masters. We’ll be underfoot and in your hair.”

  Ragnar used a hand to shade his eyes and he searched the sky until he found a familiar glint. “Do you see that?” He pointed. Hamish nodded. “That is the Wye spaceport. It is over a thousand years old.”

  Hamish gave an appreciative whistle.

  “It is derelict and the orbit wobbles. It should have spun away long ago. The planet needs a new port for a modern military, to welcome trade and travelers. The queen has charged my cousin to build a new port and the queen has also charged me with protecting my cousin. Priya and I will spend the majority of our time there.”

  “In a derelict space station?”

  “Onboard the Firestar. We have the occasional need to travel. That is how I met your daughter, at Aslan Station.”

  “So your house will be empty.”

  “And my fields fallow. Your proximity will make Priya happy and making her happy is my priority.”

  Another chin rub. “It needs a new roof.”

  “You will be given adequate funds for renovations.”

  “Let me discuss it with Nora. You should know up front, you can’t make decisions for these women. They’re stubborn and they like to resist you if they think it wasn’t their idea.”

  “Believe me, I’ve noticed.”

  Priya

  Her day started at dawn. The doors to the room were flung open wide and the blankets stripped back. Startled and nude, Priya scrambled for a sheet.

  Aelth stood above her, a smirk on her pretty face. “Mother said to wake you. We’ve a busy day.” She leaned in and sniffed. “You smell like sulfur. Take a bath. Assuming you Terrans bathe.”

  “Yes, we bathe,” Priya snapped. “Give me thirty minutes.”

  “And wear something pleasant. None of your peasant clothes.”

  “I’m afraid all I have are my rags, your ladyship. Will they do?”

  Aelth waved her hand, completely missing the sarcasm in Priya’s voice. “I’ll have something suitable sent. Be sure to use soap, you really do smell.”

  Wow. Priya scrubbed her skin red in the shower, letting the hot water rinse away her shock and frustration. Ragnar’s older sister had been curt last night but not outright rude. What a snob.

  Curious and wanting to wash away any trace of hot springs, Priya tried every bottle in the cleansing room. She particularly liked the shampoo that smelled like apple blossoms in the spring. It reminded her of home. By the time she dried and braided back her wet hair, her anger was forgotten. An outfit consisting of a flowing top and loose fitting pants in white linen waited for her. The top had a halter and no sleeves. Priya recognized the cut as being designed for Wyvern wings. The trousers were too long and the halter top reached her knees. Priya decided to add a belt and wear the top as a dress. With white sandals, it was a perfect summer outfit.

  Lady Sorrel, Aelth and Nora waited at a table on a wide, stone veranda overlooking the gardens.

  Sorrel nodded as Priya joined them. “I knew it was the tradition for Terrans to wear white at their wedding. I did not know it started so many days ahead of the ceremony.”

  “It is only the day of,” Priya said. “Aelth kindly found me something suitable to wear today.”

  “I did not think you unsuitably dressed before. No bother. We’ll have new items made for you today.”

  Sorrel and Nora discussed the wedding details while Priya added sugar to coffee and spread jam on toast. Lord Raes, Ragnar’s father, had researched Terran wedding customs and they had several ideas to implement. A tailor had been hired and Priya had a fitting that day. Then hair and make-up.

  “What about flowers?” Priya asked.

  “Ragnar will see to the flowers. He had a very particular idea.”

  “And where are the twins? And Dad?” She took a sip of the sweet, black coffee.

  “They went off with Ragnar this morning. He wouldn’t say what they were up to but he had a plan,” Nora said.

  “I bet.”

  An hour later, Priya found herself in the midst of a gleaming, modern city on a river. It was such a stark contrast to the easy, elegant charm of Lady Sorrel’s estate that Priya found herself staring at electronic billboards and automatons as they swept debris from the streets.

  The appointment at the dressmaker lasted hours. The helpful male brought out several styles of gowns, dressing Priya in haste and trotting her out for Lady Sorrel’s approval. Finally they agreed on a gown with a deep back and equally deep front. Then the fabrics. The color had to be just right. White was not enough. They had to have the correct shade and texture.

  “How will this be ready by tomorrow?” Priya asked, in the middle of a flurry of measurements.

  Aelth turned her nose up at Priya’s ignorance.

  After settling the matter of the wedding dress, the tailor moved onto Priya’s wardrobe. She needed a morning gown, and at least three good evening gowns, a dress for an afternoon stroll in the gardens, and a dress for receiving visitors. Every social situation called for its own outfit which meant more measurements, more fabrics and more of Aelth’s barbed comments.

  After noon, the tailor declared he was finished with Priya and released her. Sorrel and Nora broke off to do their own shopping, leaving Aelth and Priya to go to the hairdresser.

  “I don’t know why we should bother,” Aelth said, tossing her own glossy black hair over an elegant shoulder. “There’s nothing we can do with that frizzy mess.”

  Priya frowned. Her hair was not frizzy and she didn’t want to argue with Ragnar’s sister, but the bitch was making it difficult to keep the peace. “I’m not thrilled either. Let’s just get this over with.”

  “I suppose you can benefit from a facial. Your pores are huge. Are they supposed to look like that?”

  “And you can get your scales polished, unless you like them looking raggedy.”

  The hairdresser proved a pleasant experience. She got a hot towel for her face and neck while the female trimmed up her ends and applied a deep conditioning mask. As her hair dried, she experimented with three hairstyles, taking a photo and letting Priya pick her favorite.

  “I wear my hair in a braid all the time. How about we leave it down?”

  The female nodded. Tomorrow morning a small team would arrive and do her hair and make-up.

  Finally free, Priya stretched in the warm summer sun. “I’m starving and I need something to drink.”

  Aelth took her to a sidewalk cafe and rattled off an order. Priya ordered a tall glass of something sparkling yellow and cold. She expected a flavor similar to lemonade but was delighted at the sweet tea taste. A plate of little sandwiches arrived, artfully arranged.

  “I know you don’t like me,” Priya said, taking a bite of the tiny sandwich and chewing carefully.

  A look of disgust flittered across Aelth's face. “No, I don’t.”

  “You’re not even subtle about it and yet everyone seems to ignore your bad behavior, but we should try to get along for your brother’s sake.”

  “My bad behavior? You show up dressed like an intergalactic hobo with your destitute family in tow and all my mother can do is pretend to be pleased.”

  Priya frowned. Sorrel did not seem to be feigning her friendliness or excitement for a wedding. “So
you don’t like me because my clothes aren’t fancy? Or because I have to work for a living?”

  “I don’t like you because you’re Terran,” Aelth hissed. “We come from a long, distinguished Wyvern line and you’ll dilute our superior genes with your muddy Terran genetics. Prince Korven married a Terran. I don’t know how the Queen allowed it but that must be where Ragnar got the idea.”

  Priya stuffed another tiny sandwich into her mouth before she said something she couldn’t take back. Aelth wanted to make her mad. Wanted her to storm off or, perhaps, call off the wedding.

  “I’m not his first Earth girl,” Priya said at length. She didn’t like to think about it but her fiancé was a playboy. Had been a playboy. That was in the past.

  “No,” Aelth said with a predatory smile. “And do you really think you’ll be his last?”

  Priya grew cold. “What are you trying to say?”

  “I’m not trying to say anything. Did he say you were his mate? His one and only? How long do you think all that,” she gave a dismissive wave to Priya, “can hold onto a male like him? For the life of me, I don’t even know why he wants to build a nest with you.”

  Two instincts warred in Priya. One cautioned her to say nothing and not give Aelth ammunition. The second shouted for her to admit the ugly truth; it was simply a marriage of convenience and had no meaning. Perhaps it would be like ripping off a bandage: unpleasant at first but she’d rob Aelth of the chance to use it against her.

  Screw it. She’d own the ugly truth.

  “He needs a wife to get his inheritance, of course,” Priya said.

  “He told you what!” Aelth mean spirited laughter spilled out uncontrolled. “Oh, sweetie, he doesn’t need to make a nest for that old rubble heap.”

  Her cheeks burned a furious red. Priya felt as if she would burst into flames. “He said there was an entailment.”

  “Oh, sweetie—” Aelth’s dulcet voice mocked her in the most pleasing tones. “There’s no entailment. He must be playing a game. Why else would he do any of this?” She waved a dismissive hand in Priya’s direction.