California Imperium

by Aaron Crash

  Aria got to her feet, dazed, but she was alive. She shifted into her True Form, just as Zoey raced up, becoming human. The Indian woman grabbed the bear girl, and so all of Steven’s Escort was able to escape the beach.

  Sabina’s voice sounded exhausted in his head. Go west, my Prime. There’s an old lighthouse. We will have some time to recover there.

  “Go west!” Steven shouted to Pru, who was holding him in her claws. His teeth chattered—that rain was cold, and the speed they were going wasn’t helping. And his stomach felt like he’d swallowed razors, the same razors that were currently slicing through his optic nerves. Every one of his cells hurt.

  He checked the skill tree.

  LIKE HE THOUGHT, HE was out of Animus. Breathing was becoming hard. He’d grown so accustomed to the energy that it hurt to be so empty. He fought to hold onto Samael’s Lash.

  And then he felt it—Animus started to trickle in, but only a bit. He felt better as they put some distance between him and the Americos Chamber. However, it was going to be a slow process. He wasn’t killing, having sex, or meditating, so the energy came to him slowly.

  He was aware of other things.

  The ocean was a cobalt plain under them, here and there punctuated with lines of white surf. Pru’s scent filled his nose. She had the odor of bubble gum, but with a little musk to it, not exactly like Chazzie, but close. Chazzie’s scent was sweet, while Pru’s was saltier.

  Pru was flying over the waves, but she caught some wind and ascended. Steven saw the lighthouse, rising from a big slab of rock in the middle of the waves. Below the tower holding the beacon was a long building with a deck attached to it. A ladder led from the deck to a concrete slab. Rubber bumpers edged the cement.

  Pru set Steven down on the concrete dock before taking off again. Chazzie was next with Tessa. Steven grabbed the gunslinger and drew her to him, back toward the cliffs and out of the landing zone. Oh, she felt so warm, so full of Animus. Steven couldn’t help but get stiff. Then he smelled her natural scent, and he felt like a vampire. He needed Animus. Badly.

  Zoey was next, set down on the concrete by Aria, who also took off. The dragons couldn’t land, there would be no room, so they were taking turns. Sabina came last, deposited gently by a struggling Mouse. Even as a dragon, she was smaller than the average Dragonsoul female.

  Sabina came over, naked, her breasts wet with the rain. Her eyes glowed like emeralds. She was in the middle of a Divination spell, so she could see.

  Tessa gripped him. “I healed Aria, she’s okay, so we can do this here, now.” Her voice was husky with desire. But she had clothes on, and Steven couldn’t wait. He hardly felt the cold. All he felt was his lust, shortening his breath, making his heart pound.

  Zoey approached. She sniffed the air and then gave him a smoldering look. She raised a hand and cupped one of her breasts.

  Sabina came up behind Zoey. The Latina reached around and pulled on her other nipple while pressing her cheek against the bear girl’s arm.

  Both were staring at him and Tessa.

  It was Tessa who finally broke. “I can’t wait another second.”

  Steven couldn’t agree more.

  Chapter Eleven

  STEVEN STOOD ON THE cement platform with Tessa. Zoey and Sabina stood naked in front of them.

  Aria, Mouse, and the Wayne twins were forgotten for the moment. Steven had seen a flash of pink scales land on the roof of the building above them, a white structure underneath the glorious lighthouse that reached into the dark sky.

  Tessa laughed, but there was an edge to her laughter. “I always wanted to have sex in a lighthouse. I guess underneath one also counts.”

  Sabina agreed. “Steven needs Animus, quickly.” She kissed Zoey’s arm while pulling gently on her thick nipple. “Zoey, you need to suck on him, get him ready, and I will be behind you, getting you ready.”

  It was a game for Sabina, because it was clear they were all ready.

  Zoey came forward, knelt on the stone, and took him into her mouth as the ocean rose to his right, creating a froth, before sinking down. Her mouth was like an oven on him, and he arched, breathless. Tessa caught his head, and her mouth was equally warm on his tongue. She’d dropped her gun belt as well as the satchel. Her shirt came off and her bra followed. Her nipples and her pale flesh reddened in the cold.

  Steven shoved a hand down her jeans. Tessa had already unbuttoned them, and they fell to her boots. Steven reached lower, between her ass cheeks, until he found the opening of her sex, an inferno compared to the chill air around them. With his right hand, he reached and cupped Tessa’s ample breast.

  Zoey stopped sucking on him and shuddered. She gasped into his thigh, and her breath scalded his skin. He had to see what was going on down there.

  Sabina’s magic had faded, but her pale eyes were closed in ecstasy as she knelt behind Zoey, her face buried in Zoey’s sex from behind. Zoey arched her back, trying to give Sabina the most access she could.

  The Latina Magician rose and slipped her fingers into Zoey. Steven couldn’t see how many, but the result had the bear girl panting. Sabina eased them out. “She’s ready.”

  “We all are,” Tessa said.

  Steven knew that for certain. He’d felt her wet need.

  Sabina took charge, which she loved to do. “Tessa, come down, and offer yourself to Steven. Zoey, turn around and do the same. I will watch and maybe, if you want, you can taste me, taking turns.”

  None of the women needed a bed at that moment, or anything soft. They wanted sex, hard, hot, and immediate.

  Tessa kicked off a boot, got her jeans off, and then put them down so she could kneel on them. Zoey had turned around, and she was using Tessa’s shirt to cover the rough cement.

  Steven knelt behind the two women, both on their hands and knees. Zoey and Tessa had big asses and wide hips, though Zoey was mostly muscle whereas Tessa was more squeezable. And while Tessa had tattoos on her white skin, Zoey’s unblemished canvas was far more bronze.

  Sabina was more on Tessa’s side of things, though she’d lost a lot of weight from the Dragonskin rituals. Steven stared at her breasts, still relatively large on her thin frame. The Latina Magician spread her legs in front of Tessa. Her open sex beckoned, and the pansexual barista answered the call.

  Steven chose Zoey. He knelt, then lined his tip up with her leaking sex and pressed himself into her.

  Under Tessa’s ministrations, Sabina moaned, her skin glowing as she replenished her spent Animus. It was obvious she had used up her reserves. As a full Dragonskin who also needed to use Divination magic to see, she burned through the mystical energy at an incredible rate.

  Zoey was grunting at every one of Steven’s thrusts, her little breasts swinging off her chest. Steven nearly lost it, so he withdrew from Zoey and switched to Tessa. She was equally as warm, equally as tight on him, but whereas Steven could feel the muscles under Zoey’s skin, his fingers dug into Tessa squishy hips, which drove him to pound into her harder.

  She was gasping, squeaking, loving his length as it filled her over and over. She was so turned on, she was making noises she hadn’t made before. And her spicy scent was lovely, even though it was tinged with a new cherry scent.

  Steven’s knees were being shredded by the cement, but he didn’t care. He was glad, however, that Tessa and Zoey had the barista’s cast-off clothes protecting their delicate flesh.

  Sabina had her legs still spread. She moved and lifted her sex to Zoey’s waiting mouth. “Oh, yes, Zoey, yes. There. You know what I like. You know how to lick me.”

  That was too much for Steven, and he let out a bark. The culmination was ecstasy, but the Animus filling his core and radiating out to each of his cells felt even better. He’d been so empty. It was like every inch of skin joined him in the orgasm.

  The barista nudged Zoey a little to the side so they both could pleasure Sabina. The Latina Magician lay back, a hand on Tessa’s head, a hand on Zoey’s, with her wet breasts pool
ing across her chest.

  One orgasm wasn’t going to be enough for Steven. He switched to Zoey, who let out a cry of unexpected joy as he filled her again, still twitching from his last round of pleasure.

  The rain had paused, and the wind felt hot on his skin. The ocean roiled and crashed violently against the rocks just a few feet down, and when the droplets of the surf struck him, they were cold, but it almost felt like he’d sizzled them away.

  Zoey couldn’t focus on Sabina, not with the bliss she was feeling from Steven. He had to pause or lose it again. That wouldn’t do for Zoey. She rammed herself back on him, mouth open, eyes unfocused as she let out a cry, and her skin radiated light as the Animus swept into her.

  Sabina didn’t hide her lust. “Si, Tessa, sí, mi amiga. Taste me. Eat me. Love me.”

  Sabina’s pleasure triggered his own. He filled Zoey even as the Animus filled him, and he let out a sigh.

  A wave struck, just right, drenching them in ice-cold water.

  Tessa let out a laugh, while Sabina scurried into her arms. A drenched Zoey spun to lie on her back, legs open, smiling up at Steven.

  The sex was all so unexpected, but necessary after their battle with Liang Pope and the magic he’d cast to remove the Animus from Steven.

  But it wasn’t just the scroll, it was the Americos Chamber as well. They had a lot to consider before they chose their next move.

  Aria stood at the top of a ladder that connected the strip of cement to the deck above. “Namaste, Steven Drokharis. You now are the Dragonlord of the PNW Primacy. We have much to discuss. I’m glad you are satiated for the moment, but I will also need my turn, as will Mouse and the Wayne twins.”

  Another wave drenched Steven and his wives on the cement. They screamed in protest, laughing, giggling, all so glad to be alive.

  He didn’t care about the waves. And already he was looking forward to servicing his other wives. A Prime’s work was never done.

  But first... they needed to get out of the storm, and he needed some healing on his knees. Sex on rough concrete came with a price.

  An hour later, Steven sat in front of windows in the building that faced north. This place was a mansion out on the sea, with a vast great room, bedrooms, and bathrooms, all kept current with the latest appliances. The kitchen was fully stocked and had miles of marble countertops for chopping. Of course, it was decorated with a definite nautical theme with lots of brass, wood, and ship memorabilia. The place had heat from propane, a cistern to collect rainwater, and some bigger water tanks, so it was very comfortable. The master bedroom had been set up at the top of the lighthouse, with a little staircase that led to the actual beacon, which hadn’t been lit in years. The place wasn’t what it seemed.

  Steven and most of his Escort were in the great room, either at a grand dining room table or sitting in one of the big sofas and recliners among bookcases full of books. A fire burned in the fireplace. Sabina, exhausted from achieving True Form, had retired to one of the bedrooms to sleep.

  Steven was on the green-cushioned window seat. He wore a huge gray wool sweater that hung to his mid-thigh. Liang Pope hadn’t been that big, so it must’ve belonged to one of his vassals. He’d also found a pair of sweatpants that would work for the moment.

  Tessa was in a dress, one of Pope’s wives’, but it was way too small. She’d slit it up the back, but still, her breasts threatened to tear through the fabric. For once, Mouse had no trouble finding something to wear and was comfortable in capris and a nice, warm, light green sweater. Big fuzzy green socks covered her feet. She was on the couch with a big cup of coffee in her small hands.

  Steven’s other wives weren’t so lucky and had scraped together outfits. Nothing ever fit Zoey, so she just changed into a wolf and curled up next to Steven.

  Merlin’s daughter sat at a big desk near the windows with her phone and a pile of books in front of her. Tessa, whose phone had survived the battle inside her enchanted satchel, had given them a little history of the place, which wasn’t a lighthouse, not anymore—it was the secret Aerie of the now deceased Dragonlord.

  “Okay, so, this is the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, renamed Terrible Tillie because getting here was such a pain in the ass, and the storms, yeah, no one liked manning this place. It was decommissioned in 1957. A year later, a private party bought it, and it was sold again in 1980, and supposedly turned into a columbarium... that’s a place where ashes of the dead are kept, like in urns.” Tessa turned off her phone and hefted a big history book onto her lap. “But that never happened. Liang Pope bought it in 1980 and turned it into his secret Aerie.”

  Aria wore a red evening gown, the only thing that really fit her, but she’d thrown on a cardigan. Sweater and dress did not go together, and it was funny to see the Indian woman in something so ugly. She always dressed to perfection.

  She walked between Steven and Tessa. “I contacted Imogene Summers, one of the survivors from the fight, and she understands the situation now. The PNW Primacy and her very life are now in your hands, Steven.”

  Steven frowned. He had an additional five wives, including three children, all girls. And of course, another Primacy, his first on the Pacific Ocean.

  Mouse made a face. “Imogene? Wow, I think my grandmother’s name was Imogene.”

  “I think I know your grandmother,” Tessa said, smiling. “Keeps her teeth in a glass by her bed? Drinks Lipton’s decaffeinated tea? Has cheese in the freezer?”

  Mouse shot the barista a finger gun. “Bingo.”

  Aria didn’t get the joke. “We do not know how old Imogene is or if she’s had children. However, she is trustworthy. She will keep our stay in this Aerie to herself. Also, she scrubbed all the records of Skylar Blacke and Dashell R. Jet in the Portland Airport. We are hidden and safe for the moment because of Imogene Summers.”

  “Dashell R. Jet?” Mouse winced. “Do I want to know what the R stands for?”

  “I renamed the jet again,” Tessa explained. “And the R stands for rainbow, silly.”

  Mouse looked ill. She glanced over at Zoey, sleeping as a wolf, her nose curled up in her tail. “I should go to bed. The banter is not helping my mood.”

  Steven tried to pull them back on task. “What did Imogene say about the dagger, the scroll, and the spell?”

  Chazzie, wrapped up in a blanket, pulled up a dining room table chair. Pru, also in a comforter, stood behind her. Both listened closely.

  Aria paused. “She had no information. Liang Pope had finally found someone to join him. And they knew magic he’d never dreamed of. Tallulah Brahms was the Magician of the group—she’s the yellow dragon you slashed with Samael’s Lash. And Tallulah has fled. We don’t know where she is. Imogene has no other information.”

  Steven thought for a long moment. “Why aren’t the other wives running?”

  Pru let out a sarcastic laugh, half-hushed, mostly not.

  Chazzie clicked her tongue. “Now, Pru, Steven grew up among humans. He don’t know.”

  Mouse piped up. “Us precious little females have to play by the rules, Steven. And the rules are—to the victor goes the pussy. If any other dragon finds Tallulah, they’ll know she’s yours. And they’ll kill her for not playing by the rules.”

  Steven understood. “Maria Diablo was powerful and had enough resources that she took the risk. She bet that no one could do that to her.”

  “Bingo,” Pru said. “I certainly won’t shoot you with a finger gun, Stevie. I prefer the real ones.”

  Again, Steven thought of Pretty and his time with her. You don’t mean it, Steven. You say the words, but you don’t mean them. And then she’d told him her history, lying on the beach, in the blankets, with the waves crashing onto the beach near Surfer’s Paradise. I became their pet, Steven, their pet.

  Pru brought Steven out of his reverie. “So, let’s kind of take a big step back. I’m not so worried about Tallulah. That bit of thread will sew itself, eventually. And we know basically what the deal is. Stevie can’t g
o home. He gets close to an Americos Chamber, and bam, he loses his mojo.”

  Steven and Aria had run tests, flying back toward the coast. The closer he got to the shore, the weaker he became, until his Animus faded completely. It seemed he couldn’t step foot on the North American continent, not without losing all his Animus and feeling pain, terrible, mind-searing pain. It wasn’t just the one Americos Chamber, it was all of them, working in conjunction. That proved they were connected.

  Steven let out a breath. “And then there’s Tessa and the Dragonknights to consider.”

  “Sounds like a new kid’s show on Hulu. Tessa and the Dragonknights!” Tessa smiled. “Yeah, that’s me. Did I happen to mention I’m Merlin’s daughter?”

  “Descendant is more accurate,” Mouse insisted.

  Tessa gave her a friendly middle finger.

  “What did the knights say once the torch was ignited?” Steven asked.

  Chazzie answered right away. “The daughter of Merlin will open the first eye, but the grail will remain hidden until the lost son returns to free us all.”

  Steven stood, went to Tessa’s pile of books, and pulled out the Drokharis Grimoire. He wanted to check the encrypted page. It still showed the sketch of Tessa, on the beach, holding the torch. The news had been good. She was the descendant of a powerful Magician, surely a friend to the Dragonknights of the Round Table. Those had been tears of joy.

  Yet there were still so many more mysteries.

  Steven frowned, thinking out loud. “Before, the encrypted pages said we had to wait for the next torch, and the one eye would be opened. That presupposes two things, that we’ve had torches before, and that there is a second eye.”

  “We have,” Tessa said. “Remember, every bar we went to had something to do with torches, as in the Torchlight, Torchy’s, the Blowtorch Bar and Grill in scenic Odessa, Texas. As for eyes, sure, maybe we need two eyes to find the holy grail.”