Page 1 of Vex (Dragon Brides #12)

His brother was going to get himself killed.

Lord Vex stalked back and forth across the room and grit his teeth. A wisp of smoke came off of his shoulders, which only made him more frustrated. That lack of control was emblematic of some fledgling, not a dragon warrior of Vemion.

If he left today, he could be on Earth in a week.

Would Rook already be dead?

His last call had left Vex, well, vexed.

What in all of the stars could have induced his brother to walk into a situation like that without backup?

That settled it. He was going.

Vex yanked open the armored cabinet beside his bed, the biometric lock recognizing his fingerprint with a soft chime.

His field kit was already assembled: backup power cells, currency chips, tactical armor folded into a compression pack no larger than his fist. He grabbed his travel bag from the closet and began shoving items inside with military efficiency.

Extra clothes, his personal sidearm, the diplomatic credentials that would get him through jump gates without questions.

He paused, holding a formal dress jacket. When had he become the brother who dropped everything to chase after the others? Rook was a grown dragon. A lord of Vemion. He could handle himself.

The jacket went into the bag anyway.

His communicator buzzed against the nightstand. Vex lunged for it, hoping for word from his brother, but the display showed only routine fleet reports. Nothing from Earth. Nothing from Rook.

His butler, Orinn, stood in the doorway, and Vex stopped in his tracks. His own expression was bland, he knew, but he'd torn up half the room looking for his things rather than calling a servant to do the job.

This was not like him.

He didn't like to worry.

If Rook survived, Vex was going to kill him.

Orinn's weathered face remained perfectly composed, but Vex caught the slight tightening around his eyes as the butler surveyed the chaos.

Drawers hung open, formal uniforms draped over chairs, and navigation charts scattered across the floor like fallen leaves.

The old servant had seen Vex prepare for dozens of missions over the years, each one methodical and precise.

This was neither.

"What?" Vex demanded. It was a bit snappish.

Damn it. Damn Rook.

He straightened, running a hand through his hair. Taking it out on servants was unbecoming.

"A message from your uncle, my lord." His tone was perfectly neutral, the way it always was when delivering news that might not be welcome.

His uncle. The king. Orrin seemed to take a certain pleasure in always referencing the familial relation. The parchment was sitting on a silver tray in his hands.

Vex snatched it and read, his scowl growing deeper with each word. The parchment was expensive and thick between his fingers, the kind that crinkled softly when handled. His uncle's personal seal was pressed deep into the crimson wax, the dragon sigil catching the light.

Assistance is requested at your earliest convenience.

Then there was an address. Nothing else.

His uncle did like to be brief.

Vex looked up to find Orinn watching him with that patient expression that meant there was more coming. The butler's hands were clasped behind his back now, the silver tray tucked under one arm.

The butler cleared his throat. "There was also a message from your brother, sir."

Vex's grip tightened on the parchment. "Which brother?" he snapped.

The one on the suicide mission or the one who wouldn't know responsibility if he was chained to it?

"Lord Rook, sir." Orinn's voice remained steady, but his gaze flicked toward the scattered belongings on the floor. "He is on his way home." The butler's expression flickered, just for an instant, like a man who'd tasted something sour and was trying not to show it.

"What is it?"

Orinn straightened his shoulders, as if bracing for impact. "He's bringing his mate. And he invites you to dinner."

The words hung in the air between them. Vex felt his jaw clench, the familiar heat building in his chest. Smoke curled from his nostrils without his permission.

"His mate," Vex repeated slowly.

"Yes, my lord."

"The brother who was supposed to be on a simple retrieval mission to Earth has found his mate."

"It would appear so, my lord."

Vex was going to kill Rook.

He looked at the mess of his rooms. It looked like a whirlwind had torn through the space, leaving chaos in its wake. Then he looked back at his butler, who was watching him with the resigned patience of someone who had witnessed many family crises over the years.

"Very well." Vex's voice was clipped, controlled. "Send him my regards."

Orinn inclined his head. "Shall I convey any particular sentiment, my lord?"

The question was asked so blandly that Vex almost smiled despite his frustration. Almost.

"Tell him I look forward to meeting his mate," Vex said. "And that I'm pleased he's returned safely."

It was better to let the butler do it. If Vex sent his own message full of his actual feelings and the curses to back them up, Rook might never come back to Vemion.

Orinn moved toward the door, then paused. "Shall I have the household prepare for your departure, my lord?" Departure was what usually followed a message from the king.

Vex carefully folded the parchment in hand. "Yes."

"Very good, sir." Orinn hesitated for just a moment. "If I may, my lord, Lord Rook has always been remarkably adept at landing on his feet."

The comment was offered quietly, but Vex caught the gentle reassurance in it. His butler had watched all three brothers grow up. He knew them better than most.

"Thank you, Orinn."

The butler bowed and withdrew, leaving Vex alone with the royal summons and his scattered belongings.

At least he was no longer torn between his duty to save his brother and his duty to the king.

An hour later, he was walking up the high street, trying not to wonder what the king wanted him to do. King Venin was family, but he was still a king. And he had no qualms using Vex's skills, no matter what kind of danger that put Vex in.

Vex had the scars to prove it.

He really hoped there weren't any slime monsters this time. He'd lost his favorite suit on that mission.

Royal Matchmaker.

The sign on the door stopped him in his tracks.

Was his uncle setting him up? Vex supposed it might be time to find a bride of his own, but surely this was not the way to go about it.

It didn't stop him from going in. If the king wanted him there at his earliest convenience, then there he would be.

But no one was there.

The shop was all soft femininity that made Vex feel like a weapon in a jewelry box.

Pale walls were adorned with watercolor paintings of flowers and romantic garden scenes, their frames curved and delicate.

A low velvet couch faced two matching chairs across a polished table where he might have expected a desk.

Lace curtains filtered the afternoon light into something dreamy and diffused.

Crystal figurines lined the windowsill, catching the light and casting tiny rainbows across the carpet.

Everything had rounded edges, soft textures, gentle colors. Not a single harsh line or sharp angle in sight. The air smelled of vanilla and roses.

This was definitely not designed for dragon warriors.

A voice drifted through the room, apologetic and slightly breathless. "I'm sorry, but I have an appointment." A woman in a silky blue dress came out from a room in the back.

She moved with an odd, ethereal quality, as if she was listening to something he couldn't hear. Her dark hair was pinned up in an elaborate style that somehow managed to look both elegant and slightly disheveled.

Vex held up the parchment, the royal seal visible. "I believe that would be me."

The woman stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as they fixed on the parchment. Her shoulders dropped as if a weight had been lifted from them.

"Thank the gods." The relief in her voice was strong. She gestured toward the seating area with a graceful wave of her hand. "Please, sit. Would you like tea? I have an excellent blend from the eastern provinces."

Vex remained standing, studying her face. There was something unsettling about her gaze, but he wasn't sure what. "I'd like to know what this meeting is about."

She tilted her head, considering him for a moment before moving to one of the delicate chairs. Her movements were fluid, practiced, but there was tension in the line of her spine.

"Of course. Please, make yourself comfortable."

She took a seat in one of the chairs, and he chose the couch. The moment he sat down, the cushions seemed to swallow him. It was so soft he wished he had stayed standing.

The woman folded her hands in her lap, her posture suddenly very formal. "My name is Shade. I'm the Royal Matchmaker."

Vex shifted, trying to find a more dignified position on the overstuffed couch. "Yes. If you wanted to make a match for me, I'm not sure a royal summons was necessary."

She looked at him then, head tilted to the side, and seemed to gaze off somewhere he couldn't see. Her eyes went unfocused, almost cloudy, and for a moment, she seemed to be listening to a conversation only she could hear.

"Hmm." She blinked, shaking her head as if clearing it. When her gaze refocused on him, it was sharp and businesslike. "I need your help with a delicate situation."

Vex leaned forward slightly, his hands braced on his knees. "A lady in trouble?"

Shade's smile turned rueful. "Only if I'm the lady." She paused, seeming to weigh her words carefully. "Someone has stolen confidential data from my parent organization, the Intergalactic Dating Agency. I need you to retrieve it."

Ah.

That kind of help.

At least it didn't sound slimy.

"What do you need?" he asked, his voice taking on the clipped efficiency he used for mission briefings.

Shade's shoulders relaxed a fraction more. "The stolen data contains highly sensitive information about our clients. Names, profiles, personal details of some of the most powerful individuals in the galaxy."

"Including members of the royal family?"

"Yes," she confirmed quietly.

Vex felt his jaw tighten. No wonder his uncle had sent him personally. "Who took it?"

"A criminal syndicate operating out of Aetis." Shade's voice carried a note of distaste. "They're using it for blackmail, extortion, and worse."

The name of the planet made Vex's stomach sink slightly. Aetis was not known for its hospitality or its law-abiding citizens.

"I see." He stood, the soft couch finally releasing him. "When do I leave?"