Ethereal King

by Ariana Hawkes

She made a disgusted face. “I don’t want to hear about that, Xephyr. Bella is very precious to me. As her human, I have a responsibility to take care of her. Provide her with food, water, empty the litter box—which is my least favorite aspect of raising a feline.”

  Xephyr waved his hand dismissively.

  She scowled. “Xephyr, you can’t make light of this. I have to go home.” She turned her back to him and went over to the table where some of her possessions lay.

  He reached into his pocket and retrieved a curious little device—a cell phone—that Eurus had found in the sand a couple of days earlier, along with the small card that Tamika had given him several days earlier. He typed her number into the keypad, tapped ‘call,’ and pressed the phone to his ear.

  “Hello, Tamika,” he said a few seconds later.

  Josie spun around, her eyes wide, her mouth open.

  He cleared his throat. “It’s Xephyr. I’m with Josie.”

  “Oh, hello, Xephyr! How lovely to hear from you! How is everything going for you?” Tamika’s delighted shriek was piercing to his sensitive ear.

  He sighed. “Not well. Josie is my mate, but she doesn’t want to stay with me on Fire Island.”

  There was a silence.

  “Are you there?”

  “Josie? My goodness. Put her on, darling. I’ll talk to her,” Tamika instructed.

  He offered the phone to Josie, hoping Tamika would be able to talk some sense into her.

  Josie snatched the phone from his hand. Her eyebrows lifted, and she clamped the phone to her ear. “Tamika? Xephyr’s abducted me and he’s holding me prisoner here on Fire Island.” Her fingers whitened around the device. “Prisoner might be too strong a word. But I am an unwilling guest, and I can’t seem to talk any sense into his majesty.” She listened for a while, the features on her face relaxing. “Thank you. Hold on.” Triumphantly, she thrust the phone at him. “She wants to talk to you.”

  He accepted the phone and put it against his ear. “Did you convince her to stay?”

  Tamika gave a polite cough. “Not exactly. Xephyr, my dear, you have to return Josie.”

  He pulled his hand away and stared at the phone.

  “Xephyr? Do you hear me?”

  “She’s mine.”

  “But that’s not how we do things here.”

  “In my lands, it’s an honor to be kidnapped by a royal dragon. Each female dragonlet grows up dreaming of this day. Dragonettes vie for the opportunity to be a royal captive.”

  “I understand. I do. But you are now in our world. We prefer a softer approach.”

  “Such as?” He scratched his chin, not sure what a softer approach meant. This world was so strange. Talking into a box to communicate with someone. Females resistant to his particular brand of charm. He didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Woo her a little. Make her like you.”

  He risked a glance at Josie. “You mean like court her?”

  “Exactly.” Tamika’s smooth voice purred over the line. “Even if she is destined to be your mate, every woman likes a little romance. Make her feel special. You’ll have her eating out of your hand in no time.”

  Xephyr wasn’t sure why she should eat out of his hand when she had two of her own, but he suspected it was another expression that meant something different.

  “What’s she saying?” Josie demanded.

  Heart sinking, he raised his eyes and looked at Josie. “She says I have to return you.”

  “Exactly.”

  He groaned deeply and spoke into the phone. “I will fly her home.”

  “There’s a good lad. I’m sure we’ll be talking soon,” Tamika said.

  Then there was a click, followed by complete silence. Xephyr stared at the phone, perplexed.

  “So we’re leaving,” Josie said.

  “Yes,” he said, the word sticking in his throat.

  “No flying this time.” Josie’s voice was firm.

  Xephyr wilted, as he often did when she didn’t like his ideas. “But it’s the fastest way.”

  She snorted. “Sorry if I don’t have good memories of being hauled across the ocean against my will with no idea who you were or where I was going to end up.” She crossed her arms over her breasts and proceeded to stare him down.

  “I cannot win this, can I?” Living in this place was like playing a game where he didn’t know the rules. It was possible he’d never be able to win her over in this strange world. “There is an old boat on the beach, a short distance from the harbor. We can leave whenever you’re ready.”

  10

  Josie let Xephyr lead her down a steep trail toward the harbor. She was secretly touched by his agreement to bring her back home by boat. Tamika may have had to twist his arm to convince him, but Josie knew that it was difficult for him to let her go. They’d had fun together, and it was probably distracting him from how much he missed his home. She was so affected when he told her about his family. It had given her the courage to open up about her own childhood. She’d never talked about losing her mother with anyone before but, as weird as it seemed, she found herself trusting him.

  On their walk to the harbor, a thrill raced through her each time he gripped her elbow or her waist to steady her. While his attitude could be overbearing, his touch was gentle and sure. Several times, he grasped her hips to help her over a tree branch lying across the path, lifting her as though she weighed nothing. No man had ever been so considerate of her. So adoring. She wanted him; wanted him to take her into his strong arms and make her feel good all over.

  Emerging from the tree line, the beach came into view. Waves broke upon the shore with a rhythmic crash. The crystalline blue sky was scattered with clouds. Some white and fluffy, some gray and glowering. Kind of like Xephyr.

  “There it is.” Xephyr pointed to the beached boat about one hundred yards down.

  The closer she got to the boat, the more dismay churned in her gut. Peeling paint, splintered gunwales, a motor that appeared older than she was. She prayed the thing started and had enough gas to get to the mainland.

  She nudged the rickety wood with her toe. Thankfully, there weren’t any visible holes. It appeared seaworthy. One of the plank seats was broken. “It does look very old, but it seems to be solid,” she proclaimed.

  Xephyr braced a hand on the outboard motor, a wary eye on the sea. “Sure. And I can fly you home if you change your mind at any point.”

  His biceps and forearms bunched as he dragged the boat into the water. It rocked in the breaking waves. “Be careful when you get in. It may be slippery.” Holding the craft steady with one hand, he offered the other to Josie, assisting her over the gunwale.

  The boat tipped precariously, floundering from side to side as she climbed aboard. She sat on the unbroken seat and held on as Xephyr leaped in after her. He stared at the motor as though perplexed.

  Josie pointed out the rope pull. “You yank on the string, and it should start.”

  With a curiosity in his eyes, Xephyr grasped the handle and gave a mighty tug. The engine sputtered, but didn’t catch.

  The boat rocked wildly as Josie scrambled around to help. He tried again. Same result. Working at a machine shop had its advantages. She’d learned her way around a motor. Twisting the fuel cap open, she peered into the tank. “There’s plenty of gas.” She adjusted the choke and studied the rest of the outboard. “Oh dear, the spark plug is gunked up.”

  “What do we do?”

  “If we had a heat source, we could take care of some of the corrosion.”

  He thumped the center of his chest. “I am a dragon. I come with a heat source.”

  His low, sexy chuckle tickled right below Josie’s rib cage. “Well, you don’t want it to be too hot. Just a smidge, so the rust softens. Take off your shirt.”

  Heat flickered in Xephyr’s eyes, the pupils elongating. “Why?”

  “I need something to—” She gulped as he grasped the collar of his shirt and pulled, revealing taut abs, ridge
d muscles, and a smooth bare chest.

  She’d seen him naked before. But the sight of all those muscles, the indents on his hips visible above his low-slung jeans, and his strong arms and shoulders nearly had her swooning.

  How could a man as sexy and fit as Xephyr be interested in a curvy girl like her? Surely, he just wanted to distract himself from dark thoughts about Ethereum. She knew her best feature was her sense of humor, and some days, it deserted her. No man liked a woman with extra padding on her body. Her ex had constantly harangued her about her food choices, her weight, her appearance. Toward the end, he couldn’t bear to touch her unless he’d been liquored up.

  Josie slammed the brakes on her careening mind. Not helpful at all. She focused on Xephyr as he stooped in front of the motor.

  “Which is the spark plug?” he asked, casting a gaze at her over his shoulder. A breeze lifted his chocolate brown hair, and the morning sun made the light stubble glisten on his square jaw.

  Focus, Josie. “Um, there.” She pointed to the piece of plastic and metal. Xephyr reached for it. When she laid her hand on his shoulder, a bolt of electricity shot up her arm. “Try not to touch the metal ends. You’ll get—”

  Xephyr emitted a roar as he touched exactly where she’d told him not to. He jerked backward, knocking her to her butt. Her molars clacked together painfully.

  “—a shock.” She wagged her head like a dog shedding water.

  “I am so sorry, Josie.” He loomed over her, brow furrowed and a touch of fear in his eyes. “Please tell me you aren’t hurt.” He held out his hand.

  She took it and let him pull her back to her feet. He held her close for a second, searching her face. Her heart fluttered to be the object of such caring.

  “I’m fine.” She wobbled as the boat reeled.

  “Is that jolt what you call energy?”

  “Yeah, but that was nothing. Just a baby spark.” His fingers were unmarred. No burns that she could see. Lifting his hand to her lips, she kissed the sting away.

  “Is your saliva magical as well?”

  “Not really.” Josie laughed. “It can’t heal like yours, but mothers everywhere believe a kiss cures all boo-boos. I just kissed it to make it better.”

  A rumble sounded deep in his chest as he squeezed her fingers. “You have succeeded. Much better now.”

  He turned to the engine and puffed out his cheeks. Bending toward the plug, he released a puff of steam through his puckered lips, directing the mild heat at the rusty component.

  Together, they finished cleaning the plug, removing the corrosion with his discarded shirt. This time when Xephyr tugged the string, the engine fired to life. He tossed his shirt to the floorboards. Good. It would be such a shame to cover up all that masculine beauty.

  Joining her on the one unbroken seat, his breath came in short huffs. “Are you ready?” Beads of sweat were breaking on his forehead.

  The wind picked up, flipping her hair into her face and rocking the boat. She clawed the strands from her mouth. “Yes, captain. Let’s go.”

  Xephyr’s fingernails whitened on the rudder stick as he steered them out of the harbor and into the open sea.

  “We should be in Windpecking in just over an hour,” Josie estimated. At least she thought so. The ferry had taken forty-five minutes at full speed when she’d first come to the island.

  Xephyr nodded, keeping his gaze on the horizon.

  Leaning over the side, Josie trailed her hand in the sea, enjoying the rush of wind in her hair and the splash of water on her fingers. Xephyr laid one hand on her knee, and she welcomed the warmth of his palm as they sped across the ocean.

  Thirty minutes into the voyage, dense clouds suddenly blocked out the sun, then drops of rain pelted them. The wind was more forceful now, both from the front as they rushed forward and buffeting them from the side as well.

  Josie laid her hand over his on the rudder, helping him control the direction.

  “The wind is strong,” Xephyr shouted.

  Lightning jagged across the sky, followed by an angry crash of thunder. The rain came straight down in sheets. She was quickly soaked, her T-shirt clinging to her breasts and waist. Her feet were cold in the bottom of the boat where they were covered by water. A glance at the horizon showed nothing but sea. Not a single glimpse of dry land.

  “We need to go faster. We’re taking on water.”

  Xephyr swallowed, panic flitting over his face, his eyes full of uncertainty. And then, as sudden as thunder, the realization came to her. How could she not have seen it before? He’d been very hesitant to join her in the pool yesterday, reluctant to take the boat today. Fire and water don’t mix.

  “Xephyr, are you afraid of water?”

  He looked at her, nodding. “Water can douse a dragon’s fire. I prefer the sky to the seabed.”

  Guilt pierced her. He’d been so sweet to agree to take the boat for her. Because of her fear. He’d even waded into the ocean and steadied the boat so she didn’t get wet. And now, here they were, surrounded by the sea on all sides, Xephyr tamping down his fear for her.

  She yelled over the wind, “I’m sorry, Xephyr. I had no idea. I should have let you fly me home.”

  He shrugged, his lips in a tight line. “I believe I can steady us. Take the rudder.”

  With a look of intense concentration, Xephyr thrust out his arm. Color rippled along his flesh; yellow then purple then fiery red scales burst forth. The powerful muscles on his left arm bunched and grew bulkier. Lightning crackled across the sky, illuminating everything with a harsh glare, glinting off his fingers as they elongated into claws, lengthening before her very eyes.

  It was a curious sight since only his forearm had taken on his dragon form, while the rest of him remained as human as she was. From his back, one wing burst forth. He gave it a mighty shake, unfurling it fully.

  Rain pinged off them as he plunged his arm into the water at the side of the boat and dragged his wing through the sea like an outrigger. The lurch of the boat became a gentle sway despite the violent wind surrounding them. His scales morphed to a more sedate blue-green as he gained control of the boat.

  “Aim for the shore,” he hollered, his mouth close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her cheek.

  “Will do, Captain Obvious.” Josie let an adrenaline-laced laugh free as she gunned the engine, steering them toward the now visible shore.

  The water in the bottom of the boat was now over her ankles, but relief crashed through her. “We’re almost there.”

  Xephyr wrapped his unchanged human arm around her shoulders and drew her close to the safe harbor of his body. She was so touched, so grateful that he’d pushed himself, overcoming his fear of water to accommodate her refusal to fly…to get her safely home. For the third time that day, he’d suppressed his desires for her sake. It made her feel that he cared. She pressed her body closer to his, encircled by his arm, and she felt safe and protected in a way she never had before.

  The storm lessened as they neared the harbor. Lightning rent the sky less frequently now, cracking thunder shifting to gently rolling sonic waves, and the sea calmed enough for them to slow to a coasting speed as they entered a deserted marina. The storm had driven everyone inside.

  “Um, humanity alert,” she warned. She nodded to his wing. “Unless you want to be on the cover of National Geographic, or Oddities in Nature, you might want to put your dragon stuff away.”

  “Good idea.” The scales on his arm retreated, buried under his flesh.

  She watched with fascination as he folded his wing in upon itself until it was a compact line. He tucked it away, fitting it neatly under his shoulder blade. Touching the skin along his spine, she marveled that nothing, no ridge or bony spine was obvious under his skin. “I wish I could pack things that neatly. I just toss stuff into a suitcase and worry about wrinkles later.”

  “You have many other talents.” Admiration lifted his voice as he leaped from the boat to the pier and tied the mooring line to
a metal cleat. He turned and offered her a hand.

  He took his shirt from her and pulled it over his head, tugging it down to his waist. “We made it.”

  “Xephyr,” she began, facing him. She bit her lip, then continued. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. I am sorry for putting you at risk and not understanding that you’re afraid of water.”

  “That’s okay, Josie. I’m really glad I had a reason to battle it.”

  “You were marvelous.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. Putting his hands on her back, he pressed her body to his and claimed her mouth. His lips were soft and adoring. Rising on her toes, she slid her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as mist fell softly around them. The kiss turned hot as he delved his tongue inside her mouth to explore. His torso was so heated the scant amount of air between their wet bodies turned to steam.

  He skated his hands down her back until they came to rest on the curve of her behind. With a sound of hunger, he moved his mouth away from hers and dragged his lips down the column of her neck. Letting her head fall back, she granted him better access, losing herself in his touch. Her heart pounded, the core of her body ached with need, and she was becoming very aware that it was going to be difficult to say goodbye to this dragon.

  11

  At last, they broke apart, staring at each other, stunned by the passion that had erupted between them. She had driven him crazy with desire, and he was ready to mate her now, but sadness tempered his arousal. She wasn’t to be his.

  “I guess I’d better go get the bus,” Josie said, and he picked up the regret in her voice.

  “I’ll accompany you there,” he said, and they started to walk.

  They hadn’t gone a hundred yards when she stopped dead.

  “Xephyr, would you like to stay with me for a few days?” she asked.

  He searched her face to see if she jested. “Do you want me to?” He tucked a finger under her chin, lifting her face to his.

  She swung her head from side to side. “I think I may have Stockholm Syndrome, but yes, I want you to.”