Free Prince of Dragons by Cathryn Cade

array of libations. Sirena chose a crystal flute of pale blue wine with the delicate scent of rare Pangaean ice-berries. She saluted the prince with it, watching his gaze sweep over her.
    Sipping her wine, Sirena watched the Aquarian ladies drift nearer to Slyde. She snorted inwardly—she wished them luck. He might look good enough to eat, but he would be a cold mouthful, even for an ice princess.
    She sank gracefully onto a cushion and gave Prince Azuran a look over her glass.
    “Lovely wine, Your Highness.”
    “It is a good vintage—very old. You must eat.” He beckoned slightly, and another servant appeared, kneeling beside her with a large tray of delicate hors d’oeuvres. Sirena selected several. She could eat what she liked, as many hours as she spent training with the guard. With a deft twist, the servant activated a hover mechanism on the underside of the plate and it floated at her side, ready for use.
    Slyde sat nearby, an Azurian lady at each elbow. He didn’t appear to be working very hard to fend them off. With laughter like soft chimes, they helped him select a huge plate of hors d’oeuvres. One of them laid a napkin across his lap. When he downed his drink, the other immediately signaled for more.
    Sirena chose a stuffed lii blossom from her plate and bit down on it, hard. The crisp petals crunched between her teeth and the creamy stuffing spurted into her mouth.
    “Umm, delicious.” She licked her fingers slowly as the prince watched.
    “Yes,” he agreed. “I am sure it is.”
    They smiled at each other. From the look in the prince’s eyes, he was perfectly willing to do more than flirt. This knowledge warmed her like healing balm.
    One of the Aquarians leaned over and moved a playing piece on the game table.
    “Do you play?” Azuran gestured at the ornately carved board. “Galacticus, a particular favorite of ours.”
    Sirena shook her head. She didn’t often play games of chance, although she’d enjoyed a match on her last leave with a handsome club owner on Indigon. It had involved forfeiting items of clothing. She suspected he’d used his telepathic powers to cheat, but no matter—they’d both gotten what they wanted in the end.
    “I won’t interrupt your current game, but I would return at another time for a match,” Slyde’s deep voice cut through the hum of conversation, the background of music.
    The prince bowed slightly. “I will await the opportunity,” he replied. The two men raised their glasses to each other and Sirena smirked into her drink. A pair of alpha males, metaphorically pawing at the ground and snorting.
    “But, come,” the prince said, holding up his glass high. “Tonight, we celebrate.”
    At his cue, the party sprang to life. A horn called out a long, triumphant note. The music swung into a swift, lilting beat that thrummed through the very fabric of the room. A burst of laughter drew all eyes to a flurry of movement as several young women whirled into the center of the room. Clad in nothing more than light, shifting veils, they were lithe beauties of every hue from dusky to pale. They shimmied, twisted and twirled to the beat of the music, smiling flirtatiously at their audience as they danced.
    Their audience called out in delight and, as servants circulated again with drinks, the party came to life. More passengers streamed in. Sirena saw the other crew commanders in the crowd, as well as several of the guard. Serpentians were always up for a party, particularly a wild one. Navos and Craig appeared, the only ones in uniform.
    The dancing girls beckoned others to join them, and soon the room was traced with syncopated lines moving to the beat of the music. Guests began to toss items of clothing away, imitating the girls who were now shedding their veils. Cries of approval and laughter echoed.
    Sirena danced with the prince, another Aquarian and a few of the passengers, including one whose mate appeared in the middle of their dance, scowling at Sirena,