Enticed & Seduced, page 13
part #7 of House of the Cat Series
Aideen stood and Gryffnn’s gaze shot to the Narendanite pendant hanging around her neck. Whispers began, low and persistent. Gryffnn gulped, his focus on the pendant traditionally gifted from the leader of the Drake dragons to his mate.
He forced himself to speak. “The contest begins in half a mark. All those who intend to take part should meet at the training field, where my flight captain will show you the flying course.”
“You dare to flaunt your tramp in front of your mate?” Aideen’s voice rang out, cutting through the whispers.
He noticed Kaya caress the butt of her blaster, but thankfully commonsense stayed her impulsive action. Pulling a weapon here would start a war. Kaya smirked at Aideen, her attention on Aideen’s hair. Gryffnn had no idea why but Aideen’s expression turned icy.
Aideen clutched the pendant in her right hand. “Gryffnn gifted me with this pendant last blacklight and I accepted his proposal to join our clans.”
“No,” Gryffnn snapped. “I did not. Kaya is my betrothed. The flying contest begins in half a mark.” He grasped Kaya’s forearm and propelled her out the door.
“Is that pendant special to your clan?” Kaya demanded as soon as they stood in the private gardens.
Gryffnn didn’t understand. “You said the drug incapacitated me last eve, and I was incapable of walking without help.”
“Yes.”
“There is a family pendant that the leader of the Drake clan gives to his mate. I am not the leader. I am standing in for Ransom until he recovers. Ransom has the family pendant, and I presume he has it locked in his personal safe. I don’t have access since only his fingerprint and an eye scan opens the security lock. The pendant Aideen is wearing has to be a fake. Ask Sable if you don’t believe me or contact Jacinta, and she will tell you the same thing.”
“What are you going to do?” Kaya asked, her calmness now going a long way to settling the angst writhing through his gut.
“I’ll call my people together this blacklight and tell them the truth,” Gryffnn said. “I’ll speak to those entering the flight contest now.” He sucked in a huge breath. “Kaya, I have a confession.”
Kaya’s expression hardened. “If I learn you’ve been lying, I will fill you with holes.”
Gryffnn nodded. “Asking you to act as my betrothed was only part of my plan. I have wanted you for a long time, Kaya. You didn’t see me, so I grabbed this opportunity to spend time with you. I have feelings for you and want to build a future with you. Lys too.”
She stared at him, her emotions screened. Fear tiptoed through him, his mouth drying again as he returned her regard.
Her breath hissed out, and the stiffness left her muscles. “I-I want to believe you. Catching you with Aideen wounded me. It made me realize this wasn’t a pretense for me either, that you had the power to hurt me.”
Gryffnn stared at her, his throat tight. “We still have a chance?”
“Let’s take one cycle at a time. And I would speak with Jacinta.”
“Fair enough.” Gryffnn pushed a button on his comm and handed it to Kaya. “I’ll be at the training field, organizing the start of the race.”
“Once I’m done, I’ll bring you your comm.”
Gryffnn hesitated, wanting to kiss her. Too soon. He confined himself to a squeeze of her shoulder and a nod. As he walked away, he prayed he’d done the right thing because he’d hate Kaya to leave him.
Aideen Continues to Fight Dirty
Later that cycle, blacklight, communal dining hall
Gryffnn glanced around the hall, and the muted whispers and disgruntled looks sent in his direction had his scales rising to the surface of his limbs. Most of his clan seemed to believe him, although a few wore open disenchantment. Surely Aideen would leave soon? Her presence was stirring agitation he could do without. Phrull, he’d rejected her in front of everyone, yet she continued to maintain they were affianced mates.
She’d informed everyone they’d consummated their relationship, and now that she wore the Drake pendant, all that was left to complete their joining was the exchange of dragon fire.
According to her.
Gryffnn darted a quick glance at Kaya. Ry and Sable had also joined them in the communal dining hall.
“I demand you get rid of that woman.” Aideen bounded to her feet, her voice ringing out. “I dislike the way you’re flaunting your blue alien in front of me. It’s not seemly, and I refuse to suffer the humiliation for any longer.”
“No.” Gryffnn stood. “For the final time, the sole reason I was in your cottage and in your bed was because you drugged me. I have no memory of last eve. Secondly, I don’t know how you got your hands on the Drake pendant, but I am acting leader. As soon as Ransom returns to Narenda, he will take over leadership again, as is his right. I have no entitlement to the pendant. My family is aware I have no access to the safe, and so I could not have presented it to you.”
Whispers, soft at first, spread from dragon to dragon, each one expressing their opinion to their friends and dining companions.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Aideen screeched.
“Yes.” Gryffnn met her scowl with one of his own. “It’s late. I suggest you and your people leave tom-cycle before this situation escalates past the point of no return.”
In his mind, it had already progressed to that stage, but Gryffnn understood the way his brother thought. Ransom wished to keep the peace between the clans and their interaction to a minimum. And as acting leader, Gryffnn intended to follow Ransom’s wishes.
“Fine.” Aideen stalked from the hall, pausing in the doorway. “With me,” she snapped to her entourage.
They abandoned their half-eaten meals, some with obvious dismay, and trailed Aideen.
A burst of chatter came from his people as Gryffnn sat and resumed his dinner. His security team would watch and make sure Aideen kept from further mischief. He didn’t even care about the precious stones it appeared they’d stolen. With his new security in place, they’d find it difficult to repeat the theft. Getting rid of Aideen was more important than regaining their property.
* * * * *
After the abrupt end of socialization between the clans, Kaya walked with Gryffnn through the private gardens. One moon was visible overhead, a crescent hanging against the velvet black sky. She’d spoken to Jacinta, Sable and the security head Storg. All had confirmed Gryffnn’s words about the pendant. He’d definitely been drugged—she’d witnessed this herself—so she could hardly fault him for his actions. Still though, a faint sense of betrayal persisted.
Aideen’s fault.
The dragon leader had a game plan, part of which seemed to be to create chaos within the Drake clan. And she kept pushing toward closer relations. Caley getting back with Gryffnn and when that idea fell flat, Aideen had pushed herself into the spot. Was it her imagination? No, for some reason Aideen wanted firm ties between the clans again.
“Have you thought about us, Kaya?” Gryffnn asked.
She had.
Incessantly.
“I’ve considered everything you said, and I’m willing to see what happens between us. Wait.” She held up her hand when he took half a step toward her, a huge beam lighting his happiness at her decision. “I’ll continue to share your chamber, but we won’t have sex again. Not yet. I wish to proceed with caution.”
Gryffnn sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I understand. I will accept your edict. Am I allowed to kiss you?”
“Yes.” She clenched her fists as she tried to convince herself this decision was for the best. The truth. This would hurt her as much as it did him.
Whenever she’d craved sex, she indulged herself. It was true she hadn’t dabbled as much in the past rotation, but when she was with a sexy male, she enjoyed physical contact. This truth made her realize Gryffnn was special to her, and she was right to explore where their friendship might lead.
Gryffnn reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. “Let us continue our stroll.”
“You’re not angry with my decision?”
A heavy sigh escaped him. “After what you walked in on, it’s fair. I mightn’t want this, but I understand. If I’d been the one to walk in on you with another male, I don’t think I would’ve behaved with the same dignity.”
Kaya’s lips quivered, and she shot him a glance. “Did you notice Aideen’s hair?”
“Yes. What happened to it?”
“I shot her with my blaster when she refused to get off you. Um, there might be a hole in your cottage wall too.”
Gryffnn’s lips quivered. “I see. I’m glad Hallam isn’t here to hear the squabbles and see Aideen’s behavior. If he’d been here, she or Caley would’ve used him to needle me.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Hopefully, Aideen will leave tom-cycle.”
Kaya ran her palm over the head of a red flower, releasing its sweet scent into the air. “And the stealing?”
“I’m prepared to let it go, as long as she and her people leave. I’ve been thinking about Caley,” he added. “Let’s release her now. Then they’ll have no excuse to delay their departure.”
“Why don’t you issue the order?” Kaya lifted her head from the plant to glower at him. “Why do you need to see her in person?”
“I intend to give her a last chance to apologize to you. I’m tired of Caley and her sister. Once the pair of them leave, they’re not welcome to visit again. At least not while I’m acting leader. Ransom can make his own decision.” Gryffnn’s comm buzzed. “It’s Jacinta. Hey, do you have something for me?”
Kaya watched Gryffnn as he spoke to his sister. Affection shimmered in his voice and his easy manner displayed their comradery. It was the same when he interacted with Ransom and Sable. His son too.
“They what? The entire clan? I’d heard the rumors of the stone deposits giving out, but I wasn’t certain if they were true. I hate to question Aideen—she’d take my queries as a challenge. You’re certain?” Gryffnn listened to his sister. “Thank you, Jacinta. You’d make an excellent spy. Tell Pade he can take two cycles rather than rush back. Sure, you can journey back together. See you soon, and thanks.”
“Have you discovered something helpful?” Kaya asked once Gryffnn ended the call.
“Everyone from Aideen’s clan is here on Narenda.” Gryffnn replayed everything he knew about Aideen and the Gwilym clan and shook his head. “They’re all here because the rest of her clan perished from a mystery epidemic. And that’s not all. Rumor says their precious stone deposits are depleted. Jacinta and Pade will visit their lands and observe if the rumor about their wealth is true.”
“That’s a big step—walking away from an existing settlement. Aideen is looking to build a future for her clan.”
“Yes, at our expense. She wants to either grab a mate from our clan or steal our resources to start afresh somewhere else.”
“If that’s the case, she has achieved part of her goals. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I empathize with her people, but it pisses me off that she sneaked around and try to use my inexperience as a leader to take advantage. Why didn’t she front up and tell the phrullin truth?”
Kaya shrugged. “I don’t know. Pride, maybe?”
“If our people were in trouble, if they were sick or our resources were running out, we’d try to fix the problem. We’d find another way to survive.”
A snort escaped Kaya. “The woman is a me-me-me parasite. I don’t trust her, and I can’t wait for her to leave Narenda.”
“I’ll be happy to see the back of her,” Gryffnn agreed. “Let’s release Caley. Then, tom-cycle, if they refuse to leave, I’m booting their asses off Narenda.”
“What about Aideen’s people? What if they don’t want to follow Aideen?”
“An excellent point. What would Ransom do?” he asked.
“I don’t know. You have a better idea of how he might react.”
Gryffnn pursed his lips, his brow crinkling as he considered that. “I know he was angry on my behalf. Father blamed me.”
“Pfff.” Her unladylike snort drew a smile from him and created a flash of a dimple on the right side of his mouth, one she hadn’t noticed before. Kaya found herself leaning toward him to place her lips on the dent and made herself stop.
“I’ll think about whether to offer them a place here. Aideen has skilled craftsmen who work in a different style to our clansmen. Whether I can trust them is another matter.”
“Aideen’s people. Enough said, I don’t envy you your decision.”
Gryffnn led her to the end of the garden. Before they left the privacy of the tall plants and muted lighting, he drew her to a halt. “Can I kiss you now?”
Without hesitation, Kaya stepped into Gryffnn’s personal space. She breathed in his amber, smoky scent and her heavy thoughts faded. Despite the drama of earlier cycles, she wanted this. Gryffnn cupped her face with his hands, his eyes more elongated, the pupils more dragonlike than she’d seen.
“Thank you for giving me another chance,” he whispered before he covered her mouth with his.
Kaya closed her eyes and relaxed against his broad chest, enjoying the caress of his lips, his closeness. Also, a tiny part of her—the bitchy part—enjoyed his apology and his careful treatment of her. He wasn’t taking her for granted and was prepared to fight for her.
He nibbled on her bottom lip and she opened to allow a more intimate contact. Their tongues twirled together and a slow burn of pleasure coasted through her.
Finally, Gryffnn parted their mouths, his quiet sigh of regret at having to stop echoing inside Kaya. He smoothed her hair away from her face and clasped her hand.
“I guess it’s time to face Caley again.”
Hand-in-hand, they entered the area where they’d incarcerated Caley.
“Gryffnn, sir.” His security team member straightened to attention.
“Everything all right?”
“Caley has been quiet since I delivered her meal. Her sister visited her and they argued, but the shouting didn’t last long,” the guard said. “I was about to collect her dishes and check if she needs anything.”
“Do you have the cell keys? I’ve decided to release Caley. She’ll be leaving Narenda tom-cycle,” Gryffnn said. “You can clear the cell once she’s gone to her allocated cottage.”
Kaya followed Gryffnn deeper into the area they used as a prison. The thick stone walls held the heat of the cycle at bay, the temperature cooler than outdoors. Kaya shivered, preferring the tropical temperatures. A strange scent drifted to her as they walked deeper into the building.
Gryffnn cursed and took off at a run, sprinting along the dim corridor to the cell at the far end.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Kaya called after him, lengthening her steps to catch up with him.
He skidded to a halt, cursing.
Kaya pulled up beside him.
Caley sat slumped on a chair, a pool of blood beneath her.
Gryffnn cursed again and unlocked the door. He slid it across and hurried to Caley’s side.
“Is she dead?” Kaya stepped closer, studying Caley. The blood came from her mouth rather than a body wound. “Poison?”
“I think so,” Gryffnn murmured. “It must’ve been something quick acting. Her dinner plates are empty, so it might be something she ate. But I doubt it. I’d bet my left wing that if we search, we’ll find an injection site.”
“Aideen?”
“That’s my best guess.” Gryffnn jaw tightened until his expression turned moody. “Aideen will blame me. She’ll allege I killed her sister.”
“She’ll refuse to leave tom-cycle.”
“She might even issue a challenge.”
Kaya guessed from his tone this wasn’t good. “Which means?”
“We fight in dragon form and the winner takes everything. If Aideen bests me, she’ll take over the clan because Ransom isn’t in any condition to exert his leadership rights.”
“But you didn’t kill Caley. I’ve been with you the entire time. The guard said Aideen was here and she and Caley argued. He didn’t check on Caley again after Aideen left. I mean, why would he? They’re sisters. You wouldn’t expect Aideen to kill family.”
“Perception is everything,” Gryffnn said.
“Ry is here. He’ll help.”
“He’s not a dragon,” Gryffnn said. “Crap, this just gets worse. Can you speak with the guard and get him to call Storg for me? Tell them to come to the cell. I don’t want to shift Caley without witnesses. Once we record the surroundings and her position, I’ll get Storg to start an official investigation.”
“What about Aideen?”
“If she is our killer, she’ll be waiting to see how I handle this situation. And she’ll toss accusations, placing the blame squarely on me.”
Murder and a Fire
Gryffnn tracked Aideen down at her cottage. “Stay with me,” he murmured to Kaya and Ry, who had accompanied him. “Don’t let Aideen get me alone.”
“We won’t,” Kaya said.
Gryffnn knocked and asked to speak to Aideen.
“Ah!” She broke into a broad beam. “You’ve come to your senses and see the benefits of a closer relationship between our tribes. Very sensible. We shall make a formidable team.”
The dragon woman held delusions if she believed he’d ever consider them a team.
“No, it’s not that.” He paused, waiting for her to invite them inside. When she didn’t, he straightened. “I have bad news. I’m sorry, Aideen, but Caley is dead.”
He watched her closely and at his back, he sensed Kaya and Ry doing the same thing.
“Caley is dead? How? Why? No, you’re joking.” She patted her chest, a small laugh escaping—a sound of disbelief. “She can’t be dead. I spoke with her recently. She was in perfect health.”
Was that a hint of calculation? Frag it! If someone informed him of a family death, he… No, he didn’t truly understand how he’d act.
“Kaya and I found her. I’m so sorry, Aideen, but Caley is dead.” Gryffnn watched Aideen’s reaction again, attempting to decipher her expression, her feelings on hearing of her sister’s death. She wasn’t giving him much. Disbelief, yes. But not a shred of guilt.
