“No, Ellard is over there.He will talk to me.”
Patrice nodded and gripped Gweneth’s arm, forcibly directing her in the direction.Her fingers sent a cool blast along Gweneth’s arm.“Snap out of it, Gweneth.”
“It hurts,” she said, not trying to pretend with her new friend.
“Yet you’re mature enough to realize that acting mean to Sable isn’t the way to win Ellard.Come and meet my brothers.They will love you and fall over themselves to give you compliments to boost your morale.Ransom might even decide to have dancing later.He does sometimes, and he likes you.You intrigue him, and he is pleased you have taken an interest in his sister.”
“My feline doesn’t react to him.”
“How do you know?”Patrice asked, guiding rather than tugging her across the room.She stopped and introduced Gweneth to several elders during their trip to the far side of the reception room.“Have you given other males a chance?”
Gweneth blinked.“I…no.My cat reacted so strongly that I haven’t considered anyone else.”
“Maybe you should.At the very least, you will make more friends.I would love to have you visit Narenda again.”
Gweneth studied her new friend.“You could visit me on Viros.It’s not a long journey—unless you manage to stray into a debris field.”
Patrice’s smile faded.“I seldom leave Narenda.It’s dangerous for me to leave others of our race, which is why we live in groups, amongst people we trust.I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you much more.”
“Of course.I’ll ask your father if my curiosity gets too much for me.You’re right, Patrice.I can’t make Ellard love me.All I can do is show him the possibilities of a relationship between us.”
“Exactly.”Patrice linked their arms again.“I see my oldest brother over there.Jacinta is hanging off him.He’s demanding that I rescue him.”
“What is your telepathic range?”Gweneth asked.
“It’s not that far, and we need to be healthy and well-fed in order to communicate.Another reason it is difficult for any of us to leave our clan groups.There have been instances of long-distance telepathy, but it is rare.Normally, we can do it if we’re in the same building.Across the city is difficult.”
“I’d better reinforce my mental walls then,” Gweneth said.
“I try not to intrude, but I find you fascinating,” Patrice admitted.
Gweneth wrinkled her nose.“In a non-stalkerish way, of course.”
“What is a stalker?Oh,” Patrice added as Gweneth provided a mental picture for her.“No, I’m not one of those.Ioannes, this is Gweneth.”
A handsome male with messy white hair—the style her friend, Olivia, referred to as bedroom sexy—smiled at her.He wore more casual clothes than his father—plain black trews that molded to his muscular body and a shirt of a mixture of blue and green.
He held out his hand.“I match your dress.”
“Your shirt changed color during our shimmer from home to here,” Patrice said in a tart sisterly voice.
“Go away, little sister, so I can acquaint myself with this lovely visitor.”He squeezed Gweneth’s hand, one of his white eyes closing in a sly wink.
“I promised Father I would introduce Gweneth to Wendron and Urvan,” Patrice said.
“I’ll do it.”Ioannes’ grin died a fraction as he glanced across the reception room.“I have promised Father I will make the introductions.”
“Will you be all right with Ioannes?Father wants me to make nice with two of Ioannes’ friends.”She pulled a quick face.“Neither of them is very interesting.”
The rest of the night passed in a blur of faces, interrogations by elder dragon shifter females who had beckoned her with imperious fingers for an audience, and a slightly better part—meeting the single males.Patrice’s brothers were all handsome and attentive.Gryffnn and some of the other dragon males danced attendance on her too, but not one of them dragged a reaction from her cat.Her feline expressed her boredom with an inner yawn and drifted back into slumber.
Gradually, the guests started to depart.Gweneth had repeated her spiel about the Viros festival so often she scarcely needed to think to answer questions.She scanned the remaining guests for Ellard and found him with Sable, their heads close together in discussion.A pang of distress pierced her chest again.She wanted to confront Ellard and tell him he belonged with her.She took half a step before forcing herself to halt.Making a scene wouldn’t aid her cause.
“You look fatigued,” Patrice said.
“I am,” Gweneth said.“I didn’t get much rest during the trip here to Narenda.Would it be rude if I retired for the evening?”
“Not at all,” Ioannes said.“Father is summoning us.I believe we intend to leave now.”
