Dragon Chains by Grace Goodwin
11
Katy: this isn’t funny anymore. i’m worried. are you ok?
Katy: omg please answer me so i know you aren’t dead, ok?
Katy looked at herself in the full-length mirror and did not recognize the woman staring back at her. She looked like a fairy-tale princess.
Or villain.
Either way, she was stunning, and Katy never saw herself as stunning.
The long black dress Ryker had sent to her hugged every curve as if it had been custom-made. The shimmering material was something she did not recognize, but the soft black gown clung to her like silk, glittered like diamond dust. The dress hugged her shoulders and arms, dipping to a sexy valley between her breasts. Not so much that she was afraid she would fall out of the dress, but definitely enough to feel like a goddess. Ryker had even sent shoes to match with heels just high enough to complement the dress, but not so high she would be cursing his name within the hour.
The servants he’d sent to help her get ready were lovely women who apparently did not speak a word of English. They poked and prodded and helped her into the gown. They’d applied her makeup with a professional touch and styled her hair in a corona atop her head that she never would have dared on her own. They’d left several minutes earlier, and now she didn’t know what to do with herself.
A soft knock startled her, and she turned at the sound.
“Come in.”
Ryker stepped into her room, and her heart skipped a beat. His black suit hugged every muscle, the black shirt beneath made of the same material as her gown. All she could manage was to do was stare. And blush.
And want.
Damn him and damn Emily and damn this whole mess. I’ve fallen in love with him and one hundred percent betrayed my sister. I’m a worm. A villain in a fancy dress.
Her heart didn’t care.
“Mia Regina, I have brought you a gift.”
Mia Regina.My queen. She’d looked the phrase up after that first night and now wished she hadn’t. She wanted to be his queen. Wanted to keep him for herself. “But I didn’t—”
“Hush.” He placed a warm finger over her lips, and it took every ounce of self-control not to suck his finger into her mouth and start something. “These were my mother’s, her mother’s before her. For generations.” He opened a velvet box he’d been carrying under his arm.
Katy gasped. “But—” Oh…wow. There had to be a genuine fortune in diamonds and gemstones in the box. They were too much. “They’re too expensive, Ryker. What if I lose an earring?”
He chuckled as if that were funny. “It would please me to see you wear them tonight.”
“I’m not kidding. What if the chain breaks on the necklace? I can’t. I just can’t.”
Ryker lifted a stunning black diamond pendant from the box and walked behind her. He lifted the necklace over her head from behind, and she shivered as the cool metal settled between the valley of her breasts. The huge, rare black diamond, shaped like a teardrop, was surrounded with at least two dozen sparkling, flawless white diamonds. He leaned forward and kissed her bare shoulder as he fastened it in place. “You are mine, Mia Regina, and you will allow me to honor you tonight.”
He nibbled on the side of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her close. His gaze locked onto hers in the mirror. Held.
With a groan, she finally closed her eyes and leaned into him, tilted her head to give him better access. Tomorrow this dream will be over. Emily will be here. I’ll have to give him up. I’ll have to confess everything and hope she can salvage something from the mess I’ve made. Hope she can forgive me.
Because tonight? God. Tonight, I want to be his queen. I want him to look at me like he is now, always, like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. Like I’m the only woman who exists. Like he loves me.
Ryker pulled her in closer. Whispered nonsense into her ear. Nibbled on her neck. Her heart both melted and shattered in turns.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would confess the truth to him and watch his gaze turn to hate. But not yet. Not. Yet. She opened her eyes to stare once more at the image of them together in the mirror and could not look away. This was her fantasy come to life, staring back at her from the smooth glass. “All right. If it means that much to you, how can I refuse?”
“Excellent.” He kissed her shoulder one more time before returning to the box and lifting a pair of matching black and white diamond teardrop earrings. As she fastened them in place, he brought her the ring. The setting she’d refused to choose but had desperately wanted was there, perfectly highlighting the large center stone.
“How did you…?” Her voice trailed off as he slid the ring onto her finger. Of course, it fit perfectly.
“I pay attention.”
She stared at the ring as tears gathered in her eyes. This wasn’t right. This ring was Emily’s. He belonged to her sister, not her.
Not. Katy.
Emily. Emily. Emily.
If she told Ryker the truth now, he would hate them both. Emily and Katy had both lied to him. Tried to trick him. He would demand Emily pay back the advance, and their mother would be kicked out of rehab.
Katy squared her shoulders. So be it. She would work three jobs if she had to. She couldn’t keep up the charade. Things were too intimate. Too personal. Too much falling in love and not enough pragmatic distance from her sister’s business partner.
“I don’t deserve this, Ryker. You don’t understand. I have to tell you—”
“Hush.” He placed his finger over her lips again. “Not now. Do you hear that?”
She listened closely and realized music was drifting through the hallway outside her room. Beautiful, haunting music. And the soft rumble of many voices.
“Our guests have arrived. The party has begun. Nothing would please me more than having you on my arm. Please, Mia Regina. Give me this night.”
She loved him. Heart and soul. Head to toe. Every cell in her body ached to give him anything he wanted. “Yes.”
His smile could have melted an iceberg. He turned from her and snapped the lid closed on the velvet box before she could make out the final piece that lay inside. She wanted to know what was in the box, what he hadn’t given her. But she was beyond spoiled already and didn’t dare ask. She was already playing the villain; no need to make things worse.
He held out his arm, and she wrapped her hand around his elbow, allowing him to escort her from her bedroom toward the party. Vector stood just outside her room.
Ryker handed the black box to him. “When the time is right.”
“Of course.”
Vector walked away without a backward glance, leaving Ryker and Katy alone in the hallway. The music was louder now, clearly a waltz, and it sounded as if Ryker had an entire orchestra inside.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Not even close.”
Her honest response made him throw back his head and laugh. The sound made her entire body tingle with longing. She wanted to hear that sound again. A thousand times.
“You are very intelligent. I have enemies here tonight. Stay close to me. Do not go anywhere without one of the Guardians. Do you understand?”
“No. What enemies? And why invite them to a party?”
All levity gone, he turned her in his arms and lifted one hand to caress her cheek. “I do not fear my enemies. I only fear losing you. I will explain later. Just know you mean everything to me. Everything. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She understood all too well, for she felt the same way. She just could not lie to the man she was falling in love with for another minute. Her eyes burned at the thought of losing him. Of hurting him. Leaving him behind and going back home. Never seeing him again. But she couldn’t do this anymore. She would find a way to make things right with her mother. “Ryker, I have to tell you—”
His lips crushed hers before she could complete the sentence, his kiss stealing her breath. Her will. Her very soul from her body. When he finally released her, they were both fighting for control. “You promised me tonight.”
“Yes.” For one night she wanted to be his queen, the gorgeous, mysterious woman by his side. She wanted him to look at her like he’d never get enough. A few more hours would change nothing. The truth was coming for both of them. If he wanted the dream to go on for one more night, she would play along. She could deny him nothing. Didn’t want to deny either of them this last night together. “Yes. I promise. Tonight, I am yours.”
He kissed her once more, softly this time, then turned them toward the din coming from the grand entrance of the palazzo. When they reached the top of the long, winding staircase, Ryker stopped and surveyed the room, Katy with him.
Hundreds of people mingled below. Beautiful ball gowns, dazzling jewelry, and women so stunningly beautiful Katy was sure they had all walked straight off a fashion runway. They were tall, the women lithe and elegant, the men shockingly handsome in designer suits and shoes that looked like fine Italian leather. No one in the room looked a day older than Ryker or herself. And not one person in the room looked less than royal. Katy had never seen such a thing in her life, not even in the movies.
Ryker placed his hand at the small of her back and led her, slowly, carefully down the winding stairway, his touch a burning brand at her back.
With every step, the room quieted more as head after head turned in their direction. By the time they reached the first landing, even the orchestra stopped playing and literally every eye in the room was on her.
Not Ryker. Her.
Her hand clenched, unseen in the crook of Ryker’s elbow. Her throat tightened. Was she having a wardrobe malfunction? Had she grown horns? What was with these people? Was she so far below Ryker’s class that they would not accept her among them? No, not her. Emily. Emily. Emily.
Ryker stopped at the landing and walked with her toward the railing, the edge waist-high, and stared down over the throng of guests like a king addressing his court.
“Thank you all for coming this evening. I know many of you are curious about the beautiful woman by my side. I assure you, you will have a chance to meet her after the ceremony. For now…” He lifted his hand toward the orchestra at the far end of the courtyard. “Play something slow. I wish to dance with Mia Regina.”
Multiple gasps reached Katy’s ears before the music grew in volume to overtake them. Ryker ignored them all and turned to look at her. “Dance with me?”
Just as he had the first night, he held out his hand. She slipped her fingers into his hand and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor, her smile as shaky as her knees.
This time they danced alone, the other guests leaving the dance floor empty as they stared.
“Why are they staring at us?”
“Not us, you. Your beauty dazzles them all.”
She felt a blush warm her cheeks, but she was no fool. The women here were gorgeous. Every single one of them. She found herself extremely grateful for the stunning gown and jewelry Ryker had provided. Without them, she would feel naked in this crowd. Even with the glittering gown and priceless jewels, many women here were much more beautiful than she.
Still, who was she to argue with the man of her dreams? Especially when he was looking at her like he wanted to devour her.
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
Ryker threw back his head and laughed again, the sound causing a ripple of shocked looks to pass from person to person in the room.
“I take it you don’t laugh much.”
Ryker looked away from her to glance at the crowd. Less than a second later, his gaze was once more focused on her. Their gazes locked, and she could not look away from the pain she saw in his eyes. “I have not laughed in years.”
“Why not?”
“Because I had not found you.”
Katy gasped as pain, sharp and deep, stabbed her heart. She had to tell him the truth. Bracing herself, she took a slow breath. Perhaps if she asked him to go back up to her room for a moment, she could find the courage to tell him.
“Ryker.”
“The rest of the world can wait. You are mine tonight, remember?” he whispered. “You promised.”
Katy shuddered. Nodded. Ryker was right. She would give them this happy night. I bet this is what Cinderella felt like when she went to the royal ball. She went knowing it was just for one night, too. I can do the same for my very own prince.
With a grin, he swung her around, twirled her until her head spun, and she collapsed against his chest, trusting him to catch her.
After the first song, more couples joined them on the dance floor, but Katy was oblivious to them all. Ryker’s gaze rarely left her face, and the warmth in her body spread with every step, every moment she belonged to him.
“It’s time, Brother.” Vector’s hand appeared from nowhere to rest on Ryker’s shoulder.
“Of course.” Ryker slowed his steps and lifted a gentle hand to her cheek. “Are you ready to formally meet our guests, Mia Regina?”
She wanted to stay in his arms and dance all night, but she knew he was important to these people. Why, she wasn’t sure, but he was rich. Maybe even nobility of some kind? She had no idea, but she would stand next to him, smile and shake hands. She could do that. “Lead the way.”
Ryker placed her hand in his and led her toward the stage where the orchestra played. There was an open space between the violins and the front edge of the raised platform that had been erected for the event.
Ryker led her to the center, Vector on their heels carrying the black velvet box. From either side, the group that had picked her up from the airport fanned out and stood at attention. They’d been intimidating at the airport. Tonight, dressed to kill in suits and gowns, they looked like deadly assassins straight out of a movie…too pretty to be real.
Ryker held her hand gently as he raised the opposite above his head. Immediately, the room fell silent.
“My people, I am Ryker of the Draquonir.”
A low rumbling noise came from the crowd, and Katy would have sworn the temperature in the courtyard jumped ten degrees. But that had to be nerves. Right? What was going on here? Why was she standing in front of a crowd of people with Ryker at her side and Guardians lined up around them like ancient warriors ready to kill to protect them?
Worried, she looked at Mist for a hint about what was happening. Mist caught her look, winked, and grinned back at her.
Katy did feel better, but not much as Ryker continued.
“Tonight I introduce Mia Regina and place the sacred Dragon Eye upon her head.”
Vector stepped forward and knelt before her. Lifting the black velvet box toward Katy’s waist, he held it steady as Ryker opened the box to reveal a crown. A real freaking crown that Katy realized perfectly matched the rest of the jewelry she was already wearing. In the center of the crown was a gigantic black diamond surrounded by sparkling white. The pattern repeated in a full circle with the black diamonds decreasing in size from front to back. The crown sparkled like it had stars inside each gem. Or fire. She’d never seen anything more beautiful.
“Ryker. I—”
He paused, crown in both hands, his gaze lifting to meet hers. “You promised me tonight.”
“I know, but—”
He leaned forward and kissed her in front of everyone. When he ended the kiss, the crown was on her head, clinging there as if by magic. She’d felt nothing. No pins, no poking or prodding. In fact, the thing felt light as air.
The crowd erupted with a sound she’d never heard before. Not clapping or shouting.
Are they roaring? Mia Regina. Mia Regina. Dear God. They think I’m going to be their…their what? Their queen?!
Frantic, about to be sick with her new level of betrayal, she grabbed Ryker by the hand and dragged him off the side of the stage and into a side corridor. Once they were alone, she lifted the crown from her head and placed it in his hands. “Ryker, I can’t. I can’t accept this. You don’t understand.”
With a grin she now found more infuriating than adorable, he lifted the crown back to her head and then cupped her face in his palms, gently, his thumbs stroking her cheeks, as if she might break. Which wasn’t far off the mark. She was about to shatter into a thousand tiny pieces.
“Tell me then. Why can you not be my queen?”
Katy closed her eyes. “Stop touching me. I can’t think when you touch me.”
“Then I shall never stop.” He chuckled but let her go. “My attention is yours. Tell me what bothers you.”
She closed her eyes and sucked in air, hoping courage would come with it. “I’m not Emily Toure. I’m Katy Toure, her twin sister. I’ve been lying to you the entire time.”
