Rising Dragons Omnibus

by Ophelia Bell

  Erika would be the death of him. His cock twitched in agreement.

  The interior of the castle that was his family’s home centuries before was not quite the same as he remembered. True, the same pattern of polished marble shone beneath their feet, and the same grand, gilt details graced the walls and high ceilings, but as they climbed the wide, low steps that led from the foyer to the grand hall, the subtle differences became more apparent. The lights were first to capture his attention—the chandeliers that hung at intervals glowed much brighter than they ever had. They were as bright as the magic lights from the Temple he and his brethren had hibernated in for so long—a luxury dragons had to avoid when living among humans, but that humans had apparently caught up with. He wondered if there had been a dragon influencing the creation of these electric lights.

  He’d encountered all these things over the last six months since awakening. Technology as she referred to it. He took it all in stride. In particular, he was fascinated with the tiny “gadgets” she used for her work and for communication with the others. He loved the sleek shine of them and their compact, symmetrical shapes. When Erika implied that the small object she called a “smartphone” was particularly valuable, his interest piqued, prompting a slew of questions. She finally had to resort to some not entirely unpleasant means to shut him up.

  Seeing what he knew now to be surveillance cameras scattered around the place where he had come of age was jarring, however. When they reached the grand hall he stopped in his tracks. The hall was lined with cages, each one with a human standing calmly behind the bars, some having smiling conversations with other humans who stood on the outside. There were gaps midway down each cage where he could see exchanges being made.

  “Are they prisoners?” he asked Erika in a low voice.

  “No, sweetie. The place is a bank now. A very exclusive one, from the looks of things and how far we had to drive to get here. The cages are for protection. The clerks can come and go. Come on, let’s find someone who can help.”

  Geva let her take him by the hand and lead him to one of the cages. He still marveled at the alien newness of the place in conjunction with its bone-deep familiarity.

  “Welcome to Hayden Capital and Antiquities,” a chipper male voice said, with only the barest hint of the familiar lilting accent Geva had grown up hearing. He looked away from the bank of huge, flickering screens on one wall that streamed numbers in a steady ribbon, each value he believed represented some form of wealth worth acquiring. He stored the information away to ponder later. Right now he was faced with an attractive, clean-cut young man with a mop of curly blond hair and blue eyes that took him in with a sense of familiarity Geva was unaccustomed to from humans.

  “Good morning,” Geva said, letting his lips curl into his most charming smile.

  The man’s eyelids fluttered when the breath carrying Geva’s words reached him. His pupils dilated and then his cheeks flushed brightly when his gaze flicked over to Erika. His eyes rested on her face for a split second before sinking lower. The man cleared his throat and tore his eyes from Erika’s chest. He was flustered when he met Geva’s gaze again, but made a concerted effort at formality, even going so far as to feign haughtiness.

  “How may I help you today, sir?” The man’s words came out in an almost seductive drawl. Geva hadn’t intended his breath to be more than a calming influence. The reaction surprised him.

  Erika muttered a curse. “Remember we’re here on business,” she said in a low tone. He got the sense she was trying to remind herself of that detail as much as him. He’d seen the way her nipples hardened and pushed against the fabric of her dress when the man’s gaze rested there. He’d also seen the way the man had licked his lips at the sight of her. This might be a more rewarding outing than he’d thought.

  He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the small, flat piece of metal that he’d acquired months ago, shortly after joining the world again after his centuries-long hibernation. The object had no intrinsic value. He’d been informed that the embossed figures on its surface were the true key to his legacy. He had expected an actual key to his family’s treasures, something he could shove into a lock, just as he accessed Erika’s pleasure on a regular basis. Things were very different now than they had been before he slept.

  The man in the cage—“Benjamin,” the tag pinned to his lapel proclaimed—took the key and studied it curiously. He glanced at Geva with a somewhat eager expression, picked up the nearby handset and placed it against his ear. After a brief exchange, he nodded, replaced the handset and pointed toward the side of the hall.

  “Mr. Hayden, please walk to the double-doors. I will escort you down to the vault.”

  The man left his post and began traversing the open area behind the other cages. Geva turned in the indicated direction with Erika at his side.

  “Hayden, huh?” Erika said. “You didn’t tell me that was your name on the sign out front. What else don’t I know about you?”

  “It was a name my mother chose before I slept. The one she began using then. It’s what’s marked on this.” He held his key out to her.

  “Sir Gavin Hayden the Fourth,” she read. “Gavin’s a nice name. It’ll take some getting used to, though. Are you royalty? By human standards, I mean.”

  “Hmm, minor nobility most likely. We used to seek ruling positions over humans, but it became problematic to maintain the relative anonymity we prefer. And please don’t call me Gavin when we’re alone. Mother was just trying to conform. I’ve grown to like Geva much more.”

  Erika gestured at the blond clerk who was scouting his way past the other clerks to meet them at the other side of the room. “Mister Helpful over there certainly knew who you were. That’s a far stretch from anonymity for someone who’s been out of the public eye for several lifetimes.”

  “It’s his job to know who I am. This is my home. He is a bonded servant of my family. Employee is the right term now, I believe.”

  “Even your employees are marked?”

  “Not as such, no. Their bond isn’t permanent.”

  Benjamin stood waiting by the double-doors. Geva watched his eyes rove over both him and Erika and wondered if the young man had been acquainted with Geva’s mother to be so eager. His mother had been striking in her human form. She had been a Green, but more passionate and desiring of power than her own parents. His human father had been an ideal mate, a true partner in all things, the way he hoped Erika would be to him.

  “My condolences on your mother’s passing, sir. She was well loved.” The light flush that colored the back of Benjamin’s neck betrayed his true feelings.

  “You knew Geva—er—Gavin’s mother? What was she like?” Erika asked, picking up her pace to walk beside the young man.

  “Beautiful, and very generous. God may strike me down for saying this, but I daresay she was better loved than the Queen.”

  Erika faltered for a second. “Oh, you mean the Queen of England?”

  Benjamin gave her a curious look. “What other Queen is there, ma’am?”

  Geva smirked at Erika’s amused expression, then bent to whisper in her ear. “Mother was our Queen, so it stands to reason.”

  Erika glanced ahead, but Benjamin had outpaced them and was now out of earshot.

  “Your hierarchy confuses the hell out of me. How do you decide who’s boss?” she murmured back.

  “The Council makes the laws. The Queen is their enforcer, chosen by a combination of familial wealth, gender, and color. Racha was the highest-ranking Green female born to our generation, so they cultivated her as our next Queen. It fits her, but no other dragon could have ranked higher, either.”

  Benjamin turned and led them down a narrower passageway that Geva knew led to the Keep as well as the dungeon beneath the castle. He was eager to see what modern improvements they had made to the rest of the place. Another heavy door
lay ahead, this time with a small, silver box set into the wall to the left of it.

  “Swipe your key card and place your thumb like so,” Benjamin said, demonstrating.

  Geva pulled his key out of his pocket and inspected it. One edge was smoother than the other. He slid it through the groove of the metal box, observed the blinking light, then placed his thumb on the shiny glass window at the top of the box. A heavy click sounded from somewhere inside the door and Benjamin moved to let them through.

  Geva became more impressed with the measures of security as he went, but kept his interest to himself. Everything he had seen so far represented his inheritance. He had expected his family’s wealth to be his when he awoke. Before he slept he had lived with a sense of entitlement that had only gotten him into trouble. His mother had graciously tolerated his transgressions. His father had inflicted him with passionate lectures about being worthy of the legacy. He’d had centuries since then, during his hibernation, to let it all sink in. Now with the memories of his parents haunting him like ghosts as he traveled the halls of his childhood, he was determined to be a son worthy of those memories. And to be a mate worthy of the beautiful woman at his side.

  They descended down the narrow, spiral stone steps into the dungeon.

  Erika chuckled. “Deja vu. Are there sleeping dragons down below?”

  “Not below,” Benjamin said, surprising them both. “The living quarters are in the upper floors of this tower. Lord Hayden liked to call the bedroom ‘where the dragon sleeps.’ I believe that was his term of endearment for her Ladyship.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet,” Erika said, shooting Geva a playful look.

  Geva smiled back at her, and when he looked away felt the pleasant squeeze of her hand through the trousers covering his ass. He tensed just slightly under the familiar caress, then let out a hiss of breath when her hand ventured further between his legs from behind. The pressure against the back of his balls sent a jolt into his cock, which became instantly rigid. Sweet Mother, the woman was testing him. He’d have taken her right there on the stairs if he wasn’t trying to prove to himself he could assume the role of Lord here.

  At yet another heavy door, Benjamin paused and waited for Geva to repeat the unlocking procedure. The young man’s eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of Geva’s groin. Erika’s hand still rested against Geva’s hip and she had a devious smile on her face. She was using his reactions to test the other man. Geva didn’t exactly disapprove but his focus was faltering as a result.

  He wasn’t sure what to expect on the other side of the door. His memory of the dungeon was of a place filled with dark corners to hide in, and it had very rarely been used to house prisoners. Considering the level of security, he’d predicted they would find a majority of his family’s collection. He wasn’t wrong, but the elaborate arrangement of every priceless object was far more impressive than he could have imagined.

  The doors of each jail cell had been removed, the small alcoves converted into elaborate displays organized by century.

  As they stepped silently down the corridor, Erika gripped his hand, her fingers clasped tightly around his. Her breath sped up and Geva caught the sweet, warm scent of her sex. She was only that aromatic when she was ready to be fucked. And very ready if the pink glow of her skin indicated anything.

  “This is all yours?” she said, her voice sounding like she had trouble finding the breath for words.

  “It’s ours,” he replied, squeezing her hand.

  They reached a wide chamber at the end that had an open staircase leading to the deeper dungeons. The chamber was filled with priceless objects from a time even before Geva had been born, and the pieces were arranged in the manner of a large and luxurious boudoir including rugs, cushions, tapestries, armoires, and chairs. A massive wooden bed featured prominently, the headboard taller than Geva.

  Erika gasped. “Is that an original Byzantine bed? And in perfect condition, too. Oh, baby!”

  She rushed toward it and brushed her hand reverently over the elaborately carved footboard, then up along one of the columns that supported a heavy red velvet canopy.

  Geva had never seen the bed before, but then if his parents had always used parts of the dungeon in this manner, it was no wonder.

  “Can I?” Erika asked, making as if to climb onto it. “I don’t want to break it.”

  Benjamin nodded. “It is really quite a sturdy piece of furniture. It has easily held her Ladyship, his Lordship, and guests.” Geva shot a surprised look at him and Benjamin stammered. “I—I mean her Ladyship and—oh, bugger.”

  “Exactly how close were you and my parents, Ben?”

  “Ah—um—they were lovely, lovely people. Took me in and made me welcome. And—well, your mum—I should say it was quite a blow when they were killed. In the prime of their lives, too. I’ll just—go now. Leave you two with the, er, bed.”

  Geva resisted the mirth that bubbled forth hearing the young man fumble for an explanation

  “Do stay,” Geva said, not looking at Benjamin, but watching Erika.

  She kicked her shoes off and slid onto the bed, her eyelids fluttering as she sank back against the cushions and velvet. She made pleasant little noises of appreciation and looked for all the world like she didn’t even need a partner. She watched him in return, turning on one side to face him and slide her hand down over her body as if to smooth her already wrinkle-free dress.

  Instead, the tug of her fingers caused the skirt to slide up over her thighs a little higher until Geva could almost catch a glimpse of the lacy underthings she’d put on that morning. A garment so spare as to be almost pointless, aside from his arousal to see her wear it.

  Benjamin was even more enthralled by the sight. Geva stepped over to him and slid his hand across the man’s shoulders, then bent and murmured in his ear, “Shall we see if it’s sturdy enough for us three?”

  Breath of Destiny: Chapter 2

  Erika was in heaven. The treasure trove of antiquities that Benjamin had led them to was even better than a wet dream. And the bed! It was in pristine condition from top to bottom. It had a real down-filled mattress and velvet bedding. The bedding may have been new, but it was still rich and luxurious and she wanted to be naked on it with Geva fucking her.

  She’d all but forgotten about the young clerk who had led them down there. She glanced away from Geva and looked at him. Benjamin was certainly well-built, with broad shoulders, and a trim waist, but nowhere near as tall and imposing as Geva. He did have almost as impressive a bulge in the front of his trousers, however. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her, and clenched them shut when Geva whispered something in his ear.

  Erika leaned on one elbow and watched, enthralled by Geva’s slow seduction. Benjamin had the look like he wanted to turn and run at first, but Geva kept whispering in his ear. Ben’s pink tongue darted out and he licked his lips, then opened his eyes again.

  The young man’s posture tensed for a second, then relaxed as Geva began to undress him. Her lover’s movements were gentle, but methodical. He stood behind Ben, tugged his jacket off his shoulders and slid his large hands across Ben’s shoulders and down his arms. Cufflinks clinked to the floor and the shirt soon followed.

  Geva bent his head to whisper something else in Ben’s ear. Ben nodded and Geva looked at her.

  “Your turn, my love.”

  He was making a game of it, and Erika was eager to play. Pleasant tingles raced over her skin and between her legs in anticipation.

  She unbuttoned the front of her dress, taking her time to draw it out. Ben’s breathing quickened with each inch of flesh she revealed to him. Geva augmented the teasing by beginning slow caresses with his hands up and down Ben’s smooth, toned chest and abdomen.

  Witnessing the increased flush of arousal in Ben under Geva’s touch was far more erotic than she could have anticipated. She’d seen her lover with
another man before. He’d seen her with another woman. But something was different about this encounter. Perhaps because their partner this time was human rather than dragon, and completely at their mercy.

  Every few seconds Geva would glance back up at her and their gazes would lock. His caress on Ben’s skin seemed like a signal to her. His large palm brushed down one of Ben’s pectorals and he teased at the man’s nipple. In reply, Erika slid her palm down her chest and cupped her breast, teasing her own nipple until it grew as hard as a small pebble beneath the black lace of her bra.

  Geva repeated the action with his other hand, so both were now reached around Ben from behind, teasing his tight, pink nipples. The younger man sighed and tilted his head back against Geva’s shoulder.

  Erika repositioned onto her knees so she could continue the game. She cupped both breasts, pushing them together and squeezing her nipples a little harder. Ben let out a gasp and closed his eyes when Geva followed suit, taking her lead for a change. It was like Ben was a surrogate lover, but she could feel the intensity of sensation just as if Geva’s hands were the ones touching her.

  She unfastened the remaining buttons of her short dress, leaving herself exposed from the front. She spread her thighs just slightly and slid her palm down the center of her abdomen and over the tingling circle of the Mark Geva had given her during the ritual to awaken the dragons. When she reached her pubic mound, she cupped herself, letting her fingertips sink just a little past the edge of her panties into the slick wetness between her legs.

  Geva’s nostrils flared and his irises flashed red. His hand slid down and cupped Ben’s bulging erection. He bent his head to trail small bites along the young man’s neck and shoulder.

  Ben moaned and his eyelids fluttered, but he kept them open, avidly watching to see what she would do next.

  She reached between her breasts and popped the clasp of her bra. The two halves sprang apart, releasing her breasts to their view. She shrugged out of both bra and dress and cupped her breasts again, squeezing her nipples and thumbing them in slow circles. Her clit throbbed a heavy beat between her thighs.