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“THIS LOOKS LIKE THE kind of planet dragons would occupy.” Helena peered out the observation window as the spacecraft descended. Through breaks in the planet’s thick, foggy atmosphere she spied the rocky surface. Rivers of lava wound around mountains and black stone spires. She lost count of the number of volcanoes she spotted spewing smoke, ash, and fire. No wonder the atmosphere was hazy. “How can humans survive here?” This is what we are fighting over? Let the Draconians have it.
“With hazmat suits, it’s no problem,” Henry said.
“Inside the biodomes it’s just like home,” Patsy quipped.
“If you’re a hamster.” The human habitats came into a view: a bunch of reflective half-spheres connected by transparent pass-throughs. The smaller domes spoked off a larger central one that flew a massive, tattered gray flag. “So much for the red, white, and blue. The flag is in bad shape.”
“They swap them out every week,” Patsy said.
It resembled a giant rag flapping in the breeze. Like the colonists had hung out their dirty laundry. “The flag is a week old?”
“Or less.”
“How do you know?”
Patsy shrugged. “I read it in some report. The sulfuric acid, other caustic gases, and the ash are very hard on fabric. Flags don’t last long. Some catch fire from volcanic sparks.”
She had been a fountain of information—and support. They both had. Besides coming to her rescue with travel documents, they’d bolstered her spirits and kept her sane—but fed her shame. I have them, but Rhianna had nobody. She reminded herself, tricking her friend had saved her life—and she appeared happy with Prince K’ev. However, the positive outcome didn’t assuage the sharp pangs of guilt. There should have been another way.
But was there? Once you crossed Biggs, your options became limited. She’d decided to flee quickly, impulsively, but after a lot of reflection and analysis, she still didn’t know what else she could have done. She glanced at Patsy and Henry. They had chosen to leave, too.
At least they wouldn’t have to become the consort of a shape-shifting, fire-throwing alien. She shivered. Worry about that when you have to. Take it one day at a time.
As the ship drew closer to the surface, the colonists could be seen moving from one dome to another through the tubing. “I hope the locals are friendly,” she joked.
Patsy took it seriously. “Why would you think otherwise?”
“They shot Rhianna.”
“Because she came with a dragon, and they believed she was one. No one’s going to mistake us for anything but human.”
“But Prince T’mar and I will rendezvous tomorrow.” Helena gulped.
“It’s going to be okay.” Patsy squeezed her hand. She glanced at her brother. “Henry and I have talked it over and decided to accompany you to Draco.”
The idea brought her immense relief, but she shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that. Stay on Elementa. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not asking. We’re offering,” Henry said.
“We insist.” Patsy smiled.
“On Elementa, you’ll live with humans. On Draco, you’ll be surrounded by dragons,” she tried to dissuade them. She desperately wanted them to accompany her, but she couldn’t risk their lives.
“Yes, but Elementa is an Earth territory,” Henry said.
“Biggs’ territory,” Patsy added.
“Since he’s aware we’ve helped you escape, well...” Henry spread his hands.
“Your lives are in danger.” Helena finished the sentence. If Patsy hadn’t shared information with her, they wouldn’t have lost their jobs and wouldn’t be on the run.
“Letting us come with you will be doing us a favor.” She grinned. “You’ve felt indebted to us, so we’ll call this square. We got you on the ship. You help us get to Draco.”
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
“None of this is your fault. This is all on Biggs.” Patsy hugged her.
“Thank you for that,” she replied, still feeling guilty. “If you’re certain you want to come with me, I’ll do everything I can to make it happen, but the decision isn’t mine. It will be up to T’mar.”
“That’s all you can do. We understand,” Patsy said.
Would the prince give her request any consideration at all? She was his consort, but she was also his enemy—by his estimation anyway. This was the kind of situation she avoided thinking about. At first her entire focus had been on escape—now that the imminent danger had passed, the other threats loomed. T’mar is a dragon. His father, the king of Draco, has threatened to destroy us. Her government had fired the first volley by laying claim to Elementa—but the Draconian response had been immediate and punitive. There hadn’t been any “let’s talk this out” message from King K’rah.
But if she had to choose between dragons or Biggs, she’d prefer the former. “What’s to prevent Biggs from having the colonists arrest us and ship us back?”
“The prince arrives tomorrow, and he’s expecting you,” Henry said. “It would be a major diplomatic gaffe if you failed to show.”
“Diplomacy doesn’t matter to Biggs—or the dragons, for that matter.” The Draconians and the special advisor shared some traits—aggression and a “take-no-prisoners” attitude. However, the Draconians risked nothing; Biggs risked everything.
The first day aboard the vessel, Helena had received a subspace message from her father. They had figured out where she was, what she was doing, and who had helped her. Fortunately, recalling a ship of people and critically needed supplies had been too exorbitant to consider. Or maybe she was dispensable, as she’d always suspected. She couldn’t count on anybody, least of all her father, to tell her the truth. Honesty had been the first casualty of the hostilities.
“I don’t understand why you did this. I wish you had come to me before committing to something so rash,” her father had said. She didn’t doubt Biggs stood next to him off camera. She wished she had been able to confide in her father. “Unfortunately, we have no alternative but to proceed with the plan you’ve put into effect,” he’d said.
As plans went, hers was thin on the details: fulfill the Draconians’ demand for a consort and then find other ways to achieve a peace settlement. By doing so, she could make the sacrifice she’d forced on Rhianna mean something. And maybe Rhianna would forgive her. Maybe she could forgive herself.
“What will you tell Prince T’mar about us?” Henry asked.
“That I need you? You’re my assistants?” Since her father and Biggs already knew where she was, the three of them had dropped their false identities and disguises. It felt good to get rid of the itchy wig and the scratchy contact lenses.
“I could be your lady’s maid!” Patsy curtsied.
“Yeah, because ladies’ maids are so common.” Her friend’s jest made Helena aware of the flimsiness of her off-the-cuff idea. I’m so unprepared for this.
“How about if you say we’re key policymakers?” Henry suggested. “We’re advisers to the president who share your commitment to peace. You brought us along as reinforcements to convince the president that vacating Elementa is in Earth’s best interests.”
“That’s a great idea!” Helena said. “That might work.” Patsy and Henry didn’t advise the president, but they did share her concerns and wished to save Earth from annihilation.
“And if it doesn’t”—Henry grinned—“you can tell them Patsy desires to become a concubine, too.”
Patsy punched his arm. “You’re full of...great ideas, aren’t you?”
He rubbed his arm and grinned.
The ship settled down with a bump, and Helena’s gaze flew to the observation window again. “We’ve landed!” Her stomach lurched. Arrival put her one step closer to the point of no return in more ways than one. She still didn’t trust her father’s promise she wouldn’t be dragged back to Earth. Upon setting foot on Elementa, she would either be taken into custody—or tomorrow a dragon would take her as his concubine.
Outside the window, jagged black peaks and obsidian tors thrust out of the ground like spires against a smoky scarlet sky. Colonists in protective gear and gripping blasters emerged from the biodomes and marched toward the craft. “They’re armed!”
“They can’t take any chances,” Henry said. “A dragon could swoop in and grab them.”
“That’s why they fired on Rhianna,” she said.
“Rhianna dropped in unannounced with a dragon. We’re human, and they’re expecting us,” Patsy reassured her. “Like Henry said, they’re being cautious.”
“Or maybe they’ve come to arrest me,” she said.
“Stop worrying!” Patsy squeezed Helena’s shoulder. “We’re in this together. We got this far. Trust me. Tomorrow you’ll get to meet your dragon.”
