While my four elemental dragons continued flying around and deflecting attacks, keeping the Unseen busy, Varek and I charged forward with our own mission. We each landed beside a pillar and placed our talons on the inky black stuff covering them, then drew out the death magic within them. The pillars collapsed, and we moved to the next ones.
“Sora!” my mother called out from inside a cage, which was also covered in that inky black stuff, probably to prevent her from using magic. My fathers were in identical cages beside her, with elementals in others behind them.
“We’re going to get you out of there as soon as we can!” I roared to her, swishing my tail, then went to work on another pillar.
A huge blast of fire made me dart back. Wrill flew toward me, using air to propel herself through the sky. She attacked me with a combination of swirling air, rocks, and water, creating a hurricane that surrounded me. I threw up a shield of water and air to block it, then unleashed a massive column of fire at her. She threw out an arm and deflected the magic away from her, where it hit one of our shades and made it vanish.
She laughed as she summoned shards of ice, laced with darkness and death. "Is that all you've got?"
I let out a roar and slashed at her with my tail, but she dodged. I was about to charge her and tear her apart with my talons, but then I saw Varek behind her, back in his human form.
"I'm sorry," Varek said. "I love you, sister."
A shadowy bolt stretched out from his hand and hit her in the back, sinking into her chest. Her arms spread wide and her mask fell off as she screamed. It was just like when she’d taken the power from the elementals, but in reverse. Varek pulled out the elemental magic she’d stolen from the others with his death magic, a glowing ball of swirling colors laced with black, which dissolved into thin air before us.
When it was done, Wrill collapsed onto her knees and sobbed, then looked up at us with hateful eyes. She reached out and tried to use her magic against us, but nothing happened. She tried again and again, but it was gone. Even her death magic.
“What have you done?” she yelled.
Varek stood before her, looking down at his sister with harsh pity. “I took back what should never have been yours, and sent those poor elemental souls to the Realm of the Dead.”
“You should have been one of us,” Wrill said. “Our cause was just.”
“Maybe so, but your methods were not.” Varek tied her arms behind her, though it didn’t seem like she was going anywhere now. “I believe in your cause, sister, and I will do what I can to help humans. But this is not the way.”
“What other way is there?” Wrill asked, then glared at me. “If the Dragons can’t help us, who will?”
Her words resonated in me, and I knew I would have to do something to address this problem soon, but not now. All around us the battle was ending, as the other Unseen members were either defeated or were surrendering to my mates. Varek and I destroyed the other pillars, then freed my parents and the other elementals.
Kira burst out of her cage and wrapped her arms around my large dragon neck. “You were incredible. And your dragon form—it’s so beautiful!”
Her praise made me stand a little taller, especially as my fathers came out to hug me too. Now that they were free, it was easy to subdue the remaining attackers and throw them in the cages that once held my parents and the elementals.
Varek showed me how to remove the stolen magic inside each of the humans, and we went through them, one by one, freeing the elementals’ souls. A few of the cultists might have escaped, but we’d be able to take them down if they caused any problems later.
The Unseen were no more.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Peace was restored to Soulspire now that the Unseen were defeated, but I knew nothing will be the same. Those cultists were violent murderers and criminals, but they shed light on a real problem plaguing the world. Humans lacked the power of the elementals or the Dragons, and felt that their voices were not being heard and their lives were in danger. As the chosen representative of the Gods, it was my place to address this problem. If only I knew how.
Wrill and many of the Unseen were sent to prison. The Quickblades were disbanded. My mother called an assembly and gave a beautiful speech about change and acceptance, and though the city settled down again, I knew it wasn’t enough. Real changes had to be made, or humans would rise up again to demand equality.
My mates and I settled into the palace, continuing to train together to become a stronger team, while our love grew every day. Even Varek was fitting in like a true member of the pack.
And then one night, they cornered me in my bedroom.
I had just donned my chemise when all five of my mates walked in. We had a rotating schedule set up so that I shared a bed with one man a night, plus had two nights free. This was one of my alone nights, which I often needed after being surrounded by so much masculine energy all day. However, tonight the men had other plans.
“What are you all doing here?” I asked, as they filled my room. It seemed a lot smaller with five large men inside.
“We think it’s time we all took you to bed,” Carth said, with a naughty gleam in his eye.
“Is that so?” It was something I’d wanted badly, but I hadn’t been sure when the other men would be ready for such a thing.
“We’ve discussed it, and we think it would strengthen our bonds,” Parin said.
Erroh rolled his eyes at his brother. “What he means is, yes, we want to do this. All of us. Together.”
“Tonight,” Zain said.
“Now get that chemise off,” Varek demanded.
I cocked my hip. “Only if you take your clothes off too.”
“I think we can manage that,” Erroh said.
They were done talking then, and before I knew what was happening, they’d removed my chemise and pushed me back on the bed. For a few seconds they each took me in appreciatively, like I was the sexiest woman they’d ever seen. Then they removed their own clothing, and it was my turn to appreciate them. Five gorgeous men, all with different muscular bodies, but each mine.
I wanted to admire their bodies some more, but they had other plans. They moved in on me as one, each taking a different section of my body. Their hands were all over me, gentle yet firm, as they explored me. Zain’s fingers roamed across my calves while Carth stroked my thighs, sending waves of sweet heat right to my core. Varek’s rough palms covered my breasts, squeezing and fondling them, his callused skin brushing against my nipples and making me moan. Parin’s hands went into my soft hair and his mouth found mine, and we kissed while Erroh’s lips moved along my neck and shoulders.
When I was first given my mates, I hadn’t thought I would feel anything for Parin and Varek like what I felt for Erroh, Carth, and Zain, but as Parin kissed me, I realized I was wrong. I loved all five of them. And I wanted all five of them inside me tonight.
I pulled Erroh up to my mouth and kissed him too, while Parin moved to lick and kiss my neck. As Erroh’s tongue slipped into my mouth, Carth gripped my ankles and spread my legs wide. A second later, his lips traced a path up the inside of my thighs, getting closer and closer to where I needed him. I arched my hips, wanting more, but he took his time as he got a taste of me.
Finally his mouth moved to my core and when his tongue slipped inside my wet folds, I gasped into Erroh’s mouth. Parin had moved to my breasts now, sharing them with Varek, their tongues flicking against my sensitive nipples, driving me wild. I had tongues on me and inside me, worshipping me, making me feel things I’d never felt before. I was in absolute heaven.
Then Zain shoved Carth aside and dipped his head between my legs too. The two of them licked and sucked me at the same time, and I cried out when one of them lifted up my leg to get a new angle. I felt the touch of a tongue on my back hole, and all new sensations shot through me. Then the men added their fingers, sliding one of them inside each hole, and I was totally gone. The orgasm shook through me, making me
cry out and grab onto the guys around me.
“That’s the first of many,” Carth said, as he stood up. “Tonight’s all about you.”
“I need you inside me,” I begged. “All of you.”
Varek flashed me a devilish grin. “Patience.”
“We should give her what she wants,” Zain said.
“Yes, she deserves it,” Parin agreed. “And I’m claiming her first this time.”
“Do it, brother,” Erroh said.
Parin stood up and pulled me to the edge of the bed, so my behind was almost hanging off. Then he lifted my ankles and set them on his shoulder, exposing me and stretching me wide. I was shocked at his boldness, but Parin had changed a lot during our time together.
“Beautiful,” he said, as he gripped his cock and rubbed it against my wetness. Then he grabbed my behind and lifted my hips up as he pushed inside. “This what you want?”
“Yes!”
He pulled my hips flush against his, and he was buried so deep in me thanks to this angle. He held onto my ankles as he began sliding in and out, withdrawing almost completely, them slamming back inside in one hard thrust.
The other four men were watching with lusty eyes, and I knew they would want to get in on this soon. I reached for Erroh and he moved toward me, bringing that long cock right by my face. I took it in hand and brought it to my mouth, humming in approval as he slipped inside. I licked and sucked on his hard length, until he closed his eyes in satisfaction, while his brother pumped into me. Varek pinched my nipples at the same time, sending a touch of pain to mingle with the pleasure. I moaned around Erroh’s cock and he dug his fingers into my hair, moving my head as he thrust between my lips. Then he surged against my tongue and his hot seed spilled down my throat. Parin pumped into me harder as he came at the same time, and seeing both brothers come apart sent me over the edge too.
“Our turn,” Carth said.
I didn’t have time to recover before Zain was lifting me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. He turned so he could lay back on the bed with me on top of him with his cock in me, nice and deep. I liked being on top and I began to ride him, my breasts hanging over his face. Carth moved behind and grabbed my cheeks, then spread them wide. I felt some oil being slid into my back entrance, followed by the pressure of his cock there.
“We’re both going to be in you at once,” Carth said, his lips by my ear. “Do you want that?”
“Yes!” I managed to get out, as the feeling became overwhelming. Carth pushed inside to the hilt, filling me completely, while his best friend filled me from the front.
Carth had his hands on my hips, and he guided himself in and out of me, which pushed me on and off Zain at the same time. Soon they found a rhythm and all I could do was give myself up to it, as the pleasure built quickly.
“I need to get in there too,” Varek said, and then his cock was shoved between my lips so fast and hard I almost gagged. Somehow when Varek treated me roughly like that it only turned me on even more. I looked up at him with a challenge in my eyes as he pumped into my mouth, but I was helpless to do anything but let him own me.
Varek grabbed my chin and held me steady as the other guys pounded into me from behind and below. Their skin was touching me everywhere, and I didn’t know where any one of us ended and the other began. We were one entity, writhing in pleasure together, racing toward our release.
It was too much though, and soon I was screaming around Varek’s cock as the most amazing orgasm exploded through my body. That caused both Carth and Zain to climax into me with quick thrusts and rough groans, their fingers digging into my skin. I thought Varek might do the same, but instead he lifted me off the other men, wrapped my legs around his waist, and slid his cock into me. I was already weak from pleasure and could only hold onto him and enjoy the lingering effects of my climax as he came inside me too, while kissing me hard.
When it was over, we all collapsed in the bed, a mess of sweaty limbs and pounding hearts. I understood now why this bed was so large and smiled up at the ceiling. My soul was bursting not just with pleasure, but with love.
“That was incredible.” I touched each of their faces softly. “I love you all so much.”
“We love you too,” Erroh said, and the other guys murmured in agreement as they curled up around me and pressed loving kisses to my skin.
Varek propped himself up on one muscular arm. “Now that we’ve all filled you with our seed, can we expect a child in nine months?”
I gave him a sad smile. “It doesn’t work that way. In ten years, I will have one daughter, who will become the next Ascendant. No more, no less. Such is the price we pay as Dragons.”
Erroh idly rubbed my stomach with his hand. “How do we determine who the father will be?”
“I’m putting in my claim now,” Varek said.
Parin played with my curls. “I don’t think that’s allowed.”
“No, we’ll have some sort of contest when the time comes,” Carth said.
“What kind of contest?” Zain asked.
“We’re not having a contest,” I said, but a pang hit my heart at the thought of not having a child with each of them. I wanted that, more than I could ever imagine.
Then I had an idea.
I untangled myself from my men and stood up, gathering my clothes. “Get up. We’re going to the Life Temple.”
Erroh sat up with a confused expression. “Now?”
“Why?” Zain asked.
“Because I know how to fix things.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
High Priestess Nelsa was very confused by our sudden arrival at the temple in the middle of the night, but she couldn’t refuse us either. With a yawn, she led us to the outside area where we had met the Life Goddess before, and then bowed and left us alone.
Once there, I stood in front of my mates and centered myself. I'd never summoned the Gods before, but the old tomes all said it was possible. They were just vague on how exactly.
Focusing on my power, on the magic deep inside me, I pulled the elements out. The twin forces of life and death, along with fire, water, air, and earth. Tugging on each thread, they erupted from my fingers with a rush of color. Wrestling with them, I forced the colorful magical threads to comply, and weaved them around one another, moving my arms to help me focus my mind until they were braided together. Then I released the magic into the world.
"I call on the Gods to appear before us!" I yelled, as I pushed my power into the fabric of the realm, into the very source of it all. The primal essence of the universe.
My mates then released a burst of their own magic and called out to the Gods, and through our bond I felt their power surging and strengthening mine. We were all connected, with invisible chains tying us together, and through that bond I demanded the Gods appear before us.
And then, they did. First the Life Goddess, in her radiant glory, her dragon scales erupting with light. Beside her stood the Death Goddess, with her bones and poison fangs. Then the four male Gods appeared behind them, all of them in their dragon forms. The Fire God, with skin like shifting lava and flames on his breath. The Earth God, massive in size and made entirely of crystal. The Water God, composed of shifting waves with talons of ice. The Air God, with cloudy wings and lightning in his eyes.
“You have summoned us and we have appeared,” the Life Goddess said. “What do you require, child?”
I glanced at my mates, and several of them nodded, giving me strength. I straightened up and faced the Gods. “You said the Gods wished to retreat from the world and let mortals control their own destiny. Is this still true?”
“Yes, it is,” the Earth God said, his voice like the rumbling of a rockslide.
“We brought much chaos and pain to the world when we were corrupted,” the Air God rasped.
The Fire God flexed his flaming wings. “We will not allow that to happen again.”
“We have faith in our champions to lead the mortal world,” said the Water God, w
hose tail swished, spraying drops everywhere.
"You made this world,” I said. “And now you plan to abandon it?"
"No," the Life Goddess replied. Her smile sent hope and joy searing through my heart. "We'd never leave it. We will still be there, but more as silent observers."
“Including the Death Goddess?” I asked.
She snarled and bared her fangs. “I have done what was required to bring necessary changes to this world. Now I am content to rule the Realm of the Dead.”
I bowed my head. "If you plan to remove yourself from this world, then I have a few requests for things that would bring balance to the world. That is my purpose, after all."
“Name them,” the Life Goddess said.
“Give all mortals elemental powers and the ability to turn into dragons.”
“That is too much power,” the Fire God roared with a rush of heat.
“Agreed,” the Water God said, his voice laced with frost.
Lightning crackled in the Air God’s eyes. “Humans can be troublesome and combative.”
“If they all had magic it would lead to never ending wars,” the Earth God rumbled.
I had a feeling they would say something like that, and I was prepared with an answer. “Then give the power only to a few select humans who embody the traits you each look for in your own champions. Bravery, wisdom, and so forth. Then allow the power to pass down to their children.”
The Gods all glanced between one another, and I sensed they were communicating telepathically. Some time passed, and I shifted on my feet, nervous they wouldn’t agree to my proposal. If this failed, I had no other plan for helping the humans.
"Very well," the Life Goddess finally said. "We will choose the humans who will become our champions, and the ability will be passed down through their lineage. But be prepared. As with other things, the humans may not always make the best choices with their magic."
“If we do this, it will mean the end of the Ascendancy,” the Death Goddess said. “You and your Dragons will no longer be the only champions of the Gods. Are you ready to make that sacrifice?”
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