Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,77
in, coughing a little as she got used to the workings of her dragon throat and the flame always kept banked within.
“I don’t care if I beat her at anything. I just want to see her!”
Nico moved to the left, riding the air currents as he led the rest of the dragons to the place he alone knew. Or so he thought. In the dim morning light, he could just make out a huge silver dragonet splashing around in the shallows…fishing.
“Tor, is that you?”
“Uncle Nico?” came the young voice piping through all the dragons’ minds. “Where are you?”
“Right above you, boy. We’ll be landing any moment. Is Lana with you? And Roland?”
“Yes. They’re sleeping in the tent. They always sleep so much nowadays.”
Nico chuckled at Tor’s artless words. He realized he’d better give his brother some warning since he was bringing company. Nico was careful to send his thoughts to Roland alone.
“Rol! Stop fucking your wife for a minute and come outside. You’re not going to believe what I’m bringing you as a present.”
The contingent of black dragons touched down as dawn kissed the sky. Six of them landed first, the last one circling behind, waiting her turn and working up her nerve. Riki chose her spot and aimed for the ground, closing her eyes at the last moment as she came in too fast and ended up tumbling ass over teakettle into the shallow part of the lake.
The shining silver dragonet was the first to come over, his diamond eyes sparkling as he laughed. Riki couldn’t hold on to her embarrassment when her antics so clearly amused the young dragon.
“Who are you?” she asked the big youngster.
“I’m Tor. You’re funny. You land like Lana.”
“Lana?” Hope rose in Riki’s throat as she looked around at the dragons, shifting to human form one by one. And then she noticed the small black tent and the woman stepping from it. “Lana!”
Riki’s heart broke open and joy filled her spirit. She stumbled out of the water, shaking off her big dragon body, thinking of her warm, dry clothing as she shifted form quickly to face the woman who was her twin.
“Lana?” she asked tentatively.
“Riki!” The other woman moved closer, then ran forward and pulled Riki into her arms, hugging her close. It was her sister. Her twin. Riki felt the two halves of their souls rejoining as they’d once been when they were children. “Riki!” Lana cried tears of joy, just as Riki did, the twins reunited and hugging each other close for long, long minutes.
“She looks just like Lana,” they both heard Tor whisper to the others some time later.
It was Lana who turned toward the big silver dragon. “Tor, baby, this is my sister, Riki. I told you about her, remember?” Lana turned to her sister and smiled. “Riki, this is Tor. My best friend and companion these past years. I never would have made it without him.”
Riki greeted the young dragon, amazed by the sparkling sight of him. He was gorgeous…and just a baby, though he was huge.
“You fly just like Lana did in the beginning. I can show you how to land better if you want.”
His youthful eagerness touched her heart and she smiled at him, but Nico came up behind her, in human form now, and caught her around the waist. He laughed up at Tor, apparently well familiar with the young dragon.
“Have pity on her, Tor. She only learned how to fly yesterday.”
“Yesterday?” A new male voice entered the conversation and Riki looked up at the tall man holding her sister’s hand. He looked a lot like Nico, but his eyes were emerald-green.
“I didn’t know I could shift until yesterday.” Riki looked at the happiness in her sister’s eyes as she snuggled up to the tall man. “You must be Roland.”
He nodded, pulling Lana back against him much the way Nico held her. “And you’re Arikia. Welcome home.”
Riki’s heart was so full, her eyes welled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She was too happy to mar the moment with tears.
“Roland is my husband,” Lana clarified.
“Yes, I heard. Congratulations to you both,” Riki answered, thankful for Nico’s warm body at her back. “I married Nico the day before yesterday.”
Lana’s smile was wide and genuine. “Yes, I heard that too. Congratulations to you both, but, Riki, are you sure you know what you’re getting into? The Prince of Spies is more than a handful, from all accounts.”
The teasing question made her laugh. “Oh, I wouldn’t