Ethereal King

by Ariana Hawkes

  14

  Xephyr raced to Josie’s place after work the next day, elated to get back to Fire Island and see his friends once again. Telling Albert he had to quit his job had saddened them both, but he promised that he or his friends would come by once every two weeks and help out. He’d also been thinking a lot about what he could do to make the island habitable for his kind. And for Josie. She was his home. And he wanted her to feel comfortable on the island and among his clan.

  He couldn’t wait to bring her back to the island and announce to the whole clan that she was his. At first, he’d seen the Oracle’s prediction as an obligation—that being with Josie was something he was supposed to do. Like an arranged marriage. But the longer he spent with her, the more he realized she was his mate. His real mate. She meant more to him than he could say. More than anyone had ever meant to him.

  “Josie?” he called out as he shut the door behind him. The house smelled amazing, like chocolate and sugar.

  “Back here. Just packing.”

  Excitement spurred each step. He burst into the bedroom to find Josie folding a lacy top.

  She beamed a wide smile at him and crammed the blouse into a large backpack. “There, now I’m ready. And some great news—Dad’s organized for us to borrow a boat belonging to a friend of his, so we can go tonight if you don’t mind going in the dark?”

  Xephyr smiled. He’d been secretly hoping she’d be willing to fly, but he wasn’t going to press her about it. He didn’t want her to do anything she was afraid of. “I’m sure that it’s in a much better condition than the old tub.”

  “Yes, it’s much more seaworthy.” She zipped the bag shut and handed it to him. “I know you’re eager to fly, and I promise I’ll work harder on overcoming my fear.” She gave him a wide smile.

  She hefted a cardboard box, hugging it awkwardly, and walked out of the room.

  “I’ll carry that.” He followed her then traded the container for the pack. The box was heavy with plastic containers and blankets. There was even a plant tucked inside. “What is all of this?”

  “It’s just some odds and ends to make your lair homier. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies. I left work early today to bake a treat for the boys.”

  “For my friends?” He propped the box on one hip and dug through, looking for the cookies. His mouth watered with the delicious aroma.

  Josie playfully slapped his hands. “Not until after dinner.”

  “I am a prince. If I choose to have them now, I will.” He grinned at her, mischief in his eyes.

  “Oh, yeah? Well, I’m the queen of this castle, and I said no.” She shouldered the pack and sauntered away from him.

  Like a cow being led by a rope through its nose, Xephyr followed, gaze pinned to the sassy sway of her hips. His cock stood at attention, throbbing with each twitch of her backside. He mumbled, “It is probably a good thing we are taking a boat.”

  “Why?”

  “The journey will take my mind off how much I want to strip you bare and devour every single bit of you.”

  Josie’s head snapped in his direction, a vivid blush climbing her cheeks. “Xephyr!”

  “Ah, Josie. My name on your lips ignites the flame deep inside me. When I hear you scream it as I make you come, it drives me wild.”

  “I…uh…we should go.”

  “Before you jump me?”

  She nodded and slipped out the door.

  When they boarded the boat, it was eight-thirty p.m. and almost dark. Josie handed him a large, orange vest. “It will help keep you afloat if we run into trouble,” she explained. Then she helped him put it on and made a game of fastening the buckles. One buckle, one kiss.

  This boat had a steering wheel and a motor that didn’t reek of fuel. It seemed sturdier, but it was still a boat. He repressed a shudder.

  Josie sat in the driver’s seat and pointed to the chair next to hers. Her competent driving made the trip less terrifying.

  His dragon didn’t care for the restriction of the flotation device, as she had called it. Or being surrounded by so much water, but Josie needed his keen eyesight to enable them to navigate through the dark sea.

  “This the beach, right?” She nodded to the approaching land mass that was barely visible aside from some small lights twinkling here and there from the dragons’ torches.

  “Yes. You should brake now.”

  She giggled and moved one hand to the throttle, the other guiding the wheel. The roar of the motor was silenced, and they coasted onto the beach. Sand and slag scraped the bottom as the bow emerged from the waves. “And we’re here.”

  Xephyr jumped out and landed in water up to his knees. Shoulders tense, he tugged the keel farther onto the sand. After finding an oversize rock, he plunked it down on the mooring line then turned to help Josie from the boat. Holding her in his arms was ecstasy, but inside his dragon was giddy at being back on the island.

  “Xephyr!”

  He whipped his head around at the sound of Boreas’s deep voice. Setting Josie down, he sidestepped away, removing her from the strike zone, and braced for impact. His old friend and Eurus barreled toward him from the tree line, while Notus limped behind them, as fast as he was able.

  With a shout of excitement, Boreas charged straight into Xephyr, grappling him to the ground. “Damn glad to see you. But, what the hell are you wearing?” He grasped the armholes of the vest and shook him.

  “Something to keep me afloat should I need it.”

  “Why didn’t you fly?” Boreas leaped to his feet and gave Xephyr a hand. He jerked him upright.

  “Josie did not wish it. I wanted to make her happy.”

  “What?” Boreas sent Josie a smirk, then looked over his shoulder at the other dragons. “Notus, Eurus, can either of you remember a time when Xephyr put another’s needs and wants ahead of his own?”

  Both dragons shook their heads. Xephyr banked his ire and cuffed Boreas on the side of his laughing face.

  Josie stepped forward and greeted his three friends. “I think he’s sweet.”

  “Xephyr, sweet?” Eurus brayed like the ass he was.

  She offered a hug to each in turn, and Xephyr watched, checking they were keeping their wandering hands to themselves as his dragon growled possessively. Then she tucked herself under Xephyr’s shoulder and rested her palm on his chest. “I’m sure you and the boys want to catch up. I’m going to take my supplies up to the cavern.”

  “I will assist you,” Xephyr said, moving toward the boat.

  “It’s okay, Xeph. I can help Josie,” Notus cut in. “I’m sure you’re eager for a flight.”

  Xephyr gazed at him, understanding, then pulled him to one side. “Still not healed?”

  Hanging his head, Notus muttered, “My stupid wing will probably never be right. I’m worthless as a dragon.”

  “That’s not true. We’ll ask Josie what to do for you. She’s very wise,” he said, but guilt rode him hard. He hadn’t flown in a week and his dragon was clawing its way out. Notus hadn’t been able to fly for three months.

  Heart heavy, he watched his injured buddy shuffle over to the boat, shoulders slumped and head down. “Notus!” he called.

  Notus turned. “It’s okay. Enjoy your flight. I’ll see you back at the camp.”

  “Enjoy your flight,” Josie echoed, and she lifted onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. There were those sexy, swaying hips again as she followed Notus, and like clockwork, his cock twitched to life, and at the same time, his heart roared for his mate.

  “I’m never letting that one go,” he informed his friends.

  “Good idea,” Boreas said.

  “Xephyr, come on. The last tourist boat left twenty minutes ago. We’re free to fly,” Eurus hollered as he shucked his sneakers.

  The temptation was too great. He stripped off his shirt, shoes, and jeans. Giving his body a massive shake, he freed the beast within.

  Claws sliced through his fingertips and his arms doubled in size as musc
les bunched with the shift. The heady ripple of scales claimed him…almost as strong as his orgasms while deep within Josie’s body. His chameleid coloring shifted from silver to green to blue with pleasure. His nose elongated to a snout, his canines protruded. Lengthy dragon horns stretched out from his skull. A dragon’s prowess as a lover was predicated on the length of his horns, and Xephyr’s marked him as a true king.

  He shook out his wings in tandem with Boreas and Eurus. And with a mighty flap, he took to the sky.

  Elation swept through him as he went airborne again, free from the restraints of gravity and his human form. Rolling, twisting, he soared through the sky. He swooped low over the beach, thankful there weren’t any tourists around, and caught up a smooth round rock. He fired it with a mighty breath of flame before tossing it from one hand to the other. Then he heaved it toward Eurus, whose scales had turned sunny yellow to make him more visible in the dark, except for a white streak that ran from forehead to tail. The dragon swished his tail and batted the fireball toward Boreas, who caught the rock and juggled it on his foot.

  Thick black wheals scarred Boreas’s scales, marks left by his birth father. But Boreas hadn’t let the abuse he and his mother suffered change his personality. He’d always been Xephyr’s best friend; there to get into trouble with, and skilled at talking their way out of it as well. Boreas was what Josie would call a silver-tongued devil. Xephyr gave a mighty flap of his wings and jetted higher.

  They frolicked, swooped, soared, and played with the fireball until they were all exhausted. He’d missed the companionship of his friends and the energy of their games, but he also missed Josie already. He landed on a slaggy part of the beach, his claws scrabbling, and reclaimed his human form. The guys followed suit.

  His brow was drenched with sweat by the time they’d all shifted back to their human forms. Eurus and Boreas were equally soaked and panting from the exertion.

  “Get dressed, boys. And assemble everyone. I need to speak to all of you.” Xephyr clapped them both on the shoulder and strode to where he’d left his clothes in a pile.

  15

  The path that led to the dwelling caves was lit with little torches. Josie smiled to herself as she negotiated it. She knew the guys could see just fine in the dark, and she was touched by their efforts to make their habitat more attractive. Notus, the huge man-dragon, Xephyr’s friend, caught up to her halfway up the path. His messy blond hair flopped over his forehead and his lips quirked in a friendly grin. His deep indigo eyes would have seemed unsettling on someone less kind, but on him they looked soulful.

  “Allow me,” he insisted, taking the box and the backpack.

  But when he shouldered the heavy sack, his face tightened in a grimace.

  “I can handle it.” She tried to take the bag from him.

  He shifted the box away from her grasp and shook his head, blond hair falling across his forehead. “Josie, I’ve got it. Xephyr would want me to carry you if you won’t let me take the box.”

  “You have a point.” She resumed strolling up the path.

  He accompanied her to the room and stayed while she put out her things.

  “Would you like a cookie?” She opened the box and held it out to him.

  He took one and sniffed it before licking the bottom. Chomping into the cookie, his eyes widened then closed with pleasure with the first bite. “This is delicious.”

  Josie smiled and returned to work as he helped himself to another.

  Josie angled the potted plant slightly on the shelf in Xephyr’s lair. “There, that’s better.”

  He frowned. “Will a plant do well here?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, casting him a quizzical glance.

  “There isn’t any natural light in this cave. Don’t earth plants require light to grow?”

  Deflated, Josie stared at the green leaves. “I didn’t think about that.” All she’d thought about was making the place homier for Xephyr. She’d even brought a set of soft striped sheets to replace the Spiderman linens. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Maybe we can place it in the main room where there is an opening at the ceiling. It allows some light in. It might do well there.”

  “Or I could just replace it with a silk plant.” She wasn’t a fan of fake anything, but in a case like this, where her intent was to add grace and comfort to his home, it might be necessary.

  Notus lifted his chin her direction. “It is still a plant. Won’t it require light as well?”

  “It isn’t a real plant. Silks only require occasional dusting, not water and sunlight.” She grabbed the plant from the shelf and walked it over to the box she left next to the table. “Can you help me move this table a bit, so it’s not so close to the entrance?” she asked.

  “Sure thing.” Notus went to one side of the table.

  The quality of the workmanship of the table surprised her. It hadn’t been in the room last weekend. The six-foot-long rectangle appeared to be oak. In the center, there was an intricate inlay in a different kind of wood. She ran her hand over the smooth surface. “This is exquisite. And solid. Did one of you steal it for Xephyr?”

  “Boreas made it. In our world, he was always carving designs into little bits of wood.” They lifted the table together, Josie directing the new placement. A grimace of pain crossed Notus’ face as they were putting it down, dulling his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Josie asked, concerned flooding her.

  “I was injured in our fall to Earth, and I haven’t been able to fly.”

  “Oh no!” Josie scurried around the table and folded her arms around his torso, offering comfort the only way she knew. “I’m so sorry.”

  Clumsily, Notus patted his hands on her back, as if afraid to touch her. After the way Xephyr had reacted to Eurus laying a hand on her, she understood his hesitation.

  Behind her, the door banged open, scaring the crap out of her. She spun, and sharp pain rocketed up her side as she knocked her hip on the corner of the table.

  Caden sauntered into the room. “Aw, look. Xephyr’s sharing with his gimpy friend first. Maybe if I had a broken wing, I might have gotten preferential treatment.”

  Alaric crowded behind him, hissing a laugh through his nose. “Or you could just go to the head of the line.”

  Taking a step forward, Notus slipped in front of her, becoming a blockade between her and the two nasty men. “You should go.”

  Caden barked out a harsh laugh. “And if I don’t? What are you going to do? You can’t even fly. You’re worthless.”

  “You have no business here, Caden.” A deep warning growl rumbled in Notus’s chest.

  “It isn’t the way of our people to not share females.” Caden grabbed his crotch, as if checking to see if his equipment was still there. Typical guy. “We’ve all been without attention here. We can be diplomatic about this. I’ll even be nice. You may go first.”

  The leer he gave Josie sent chills up her spine. “No chance,” she yelled. “That’s a hard oh-hell-no!”

  Drawing himself up to his full size, Notus had the advantage of three inches on either of the other dragons. He shushed her—but his fingers trembled when he fisted them on his hip. “You will leave Xephyr’s lair immediately. And believe me, he will hear of this.” Notus pointed to the door, his hand much steadier.

  “Not until I’ve tasted the pleasure of her body.”

  Pleasure? Eep! She cringed behind Notus’s broad back.

  Caden jerked his head sideways, and Alaric made his way to her left while Caden dodged to the right.

  “Oh crap, Notus. They’re doing the divide and conquer routine.” She clutched Notus’s waist, casting a wary, frightened glance first at one then the other as they slunk around the room.

  A mighty roar echoed down the tunnel leading to the lair. The sound cracked and bounced around the rocky space, almost masking the furious, pounding footsteps that approached.

  Caden and Alaric both froze as the door crashed open, wrenc
hing free of its top hinge.

  A thunder-faced Xephyr hulked in the entry, fire erupting from his nostrils, golden eyes snapping with rage. “What are you two doing in my lair?” He stalked into the room, Boreas and Eurus flanking him. He pulled even with Caden and jabbed a finger into the man’s chest.

  Caden knocked Xephyr’s hand aside. “Are you going to mate with a human, Xephyr? A little beneath you, isn’t it?” Caden raked his gaze over Josie, his lip curled in contempt.

  “That is none of your business,” Xephyr snarled at him, fire in his eyes.

  “Well, if you insist on diluting our dragon blood with inferior human qualities, then we will all share her as a breeder.”

  “You will not lay a finger on her. Here, on this planet, we are not sharing! Humans don’t share, and neither will we. Is that clear?” Xephyr barked.

  Bowing his head, Caden nodded. But the look he shot Josie beneath a lowered brow told her they weren’t done yet. Feet shuffling like they were a million years old, Caden and Alaric snuck out of the room.

  “Boreas, assemble everyone in the main cavern. We’ll meet in fifteen minutes.” Xephyr’s voice had lost the menace, but his commanding tone was undeniable.

  Boreas nodded and left the room, Notus and Eurus following him. They moved quickly for big men, disappearing out the door in seconds. The wood slapped crookedly in the frame when Notus let it fall shut.

  Xephyr stalked toward Josie. He gripped her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she whispered. She coughed, loosening her throat, which had tightened with dread. “Notus stood up for me. Why in the world would those two think they could fuck me?”

  “In Ethereum, it is normal for a single dragonette to be with many dragons.”

  “Like all at once, or one at a time?” She blinked. “Hang on, did you share?”

  Xephyr raked a hand through his hair. “It was the way of our people. Even the most devoted dragon pairs shared their bodies.”