A Dragon’s Tale

Chapter 21: Toss a coin to your Drago

* * *

Selene followed ’the suit’ through the forest, noting the irony of the fact that he hadn’t been forthcoming with his name.  The forest was lovely, but the man she was following was making the experience harder to enjoy.

”Where are we going?”  She asked.

”Local police chatter indicates that there’s another man from 10k1 in the area.  I’ve been ordered to detain him.”

”10k1?”

”Well, that portal doesn’t lead into a black hole.”  He replied. 

”Fair point.”  She admitted.  ”So, 10k1 is your codename for wherever the portal leads?” 

”That’s one possibility.”  He said evasively.

”You know where the portal leads, don’t you?” 

”I can neither confirm nor deny that.” 

”Of course.”  Selene muttered under her breath.  His response amounted to a confirmation in her mind, not that he would admit to it; whoever he was.  ”And seriously, what is your name?” 

He stopped, turned, and then in a very good impression of Hugo Weaving’s character from The Matrix series said:  ”The name is Smith, Agent Smith.” 

She raised an eyebrow.  ”You couldn’t come up with anything more original?” 

He shrugged, then in an affected British accent said:  ”The name is Bond; James Bond.” 

”Smith was better.”  She sighed. 

He chuckled and started walking again.  ”You can spell it with a ’y’ if you like, or add an ’e’ at the end if it’ll make you feel better; or both.” 

”So, Agent James Smith-Bond, where are we going?” 

”Agent Smithbond; I like it.”  He nodded approvingly.  ”It captures my suave, dashing side don’t you think?” 

”I wouldn’t know; I haven’t seen it.”  She retorted dryly. 

He touched his finger to his eyebrow in a mock salute as he glanced back at her.  ”Touché”

”So, where are we going?” 

”We’re here.”  He said as the path ended by meeting the parking lot of the forest preserve.  He indicated a non-descript van that would’ve been completely innocuous in almost any city setting, but stuck out like a sore thumb here.

”Cute.”  Selene said.

He led the way to the back of the van, pulled the door open, and led her inside.

It was tight quarters, but also very impressive.  Every inch of the inside was covered with monitors and other high-tech equipment.  She didn’t even recognize most of it except the 4k monitors.  The resolution was so sharp that she wondered if it was something new, like 8k.

”Where are we?”  Agent Smithbond asked a tiny woman with bright purple hair whose fingers were flitting over fifty different keyboards at speeds closer to The Flash than most computer nerds. 

”Hang on, the satellite’s coming online...”  She typed for another few seconds before a screen came to life showing a real-time aerial video feed that looked like thermal.  ”...now.  I’ve got an AC-130 on standby for fire support, and we should have this fellow dead to rights in a few minutes.” 

The purple-haired woman glanced back and saw Selene, then with an oddly masculine affectation in her voice, she said:  ”Who are you?  And who’s the broad?”

”Broad?”  Selene raised her eyebrow.

”Oh, I’m nobody.”  Smithbond said in a different British accent.  ”I’m, I’m just a sort of local missionary chap...” he carelessly made the sign of the cross in the air with his fingers.  ”...spreading the good word and all that.  But this is my newest recruit, Selene.

The purple-haired woman shrugged dismissively, then said with the same odd masculine affectation:  ”Oh well, I guess she’s not a total loss.” 

”I beg your pardon...”  Selene started to say, when something clicked in her memory.  ”That’s from The Mummy; the version with Brenden Frasier.  You’re both...”  She cocked her head to one side.  ”...odd.”

”Well, she’s smarter than the last one.”  The purple-haired girl’s face cracked into a wide smile.  ”I’m Yvonne by the way.  How’d he rope you into this?”  She asked, nodding her head toward Smithbond.

Selene figured ’when in Rome’ and put on an impression of Marlon Brando from The Godfather.  ”He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” 

”Oh, I like her!”  Yvonne beamed.  She turned to Smithbond.  ”Can we keep her?”

”Only if you finish your homework.”  He said with a wink.  ”Speaking of, how are we doing?” 

”The satellite’s up and Sec-Def is waiting for an update.” 

”Sec-Def?”  Selene said, her eyes popping.  They couldn’t possibly be reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense.  Could they?

Yvonne snort-laughed.  ”Works every time.”  She was laughing, but somehow Selene didn’t get the impression she making fun of her.  She seemed like one of those bubbly people who teased everyone good-naturedly.  Selene even smiled back at her.

”Yeah, she’s a keeper.”  Yvonne said before getting a more serious expression and turning back to the monitors.  ”We only have one outlying heat signature and it’s about one klick north of the portal.  I have the tactical teams en-route.” 

Selene then watched in fascination as this bubbly, purple-haired woman spent the next ten minutes expertly guiding four different teams into the perfect positions to ambush the lone heat signature that wasn’t tagged with a callsign.  She was fairly certain it was the kidnapper they had been tracking.

”Remember, we need this guy alive.”  Smithbond said once they were in place.  ”Tasers and bean bags only.” 

”Copy that.”  She clicked her headset.  ”All teams, remember we need this one breathing; Tasers and bean bags only.”

”Nest, this is Alpha leader.”  A voice came over the radio.  ”Please confirm the rules of engagement.”

”This is a priority one hostile extraction; I repeat, a priority one hostile extraction.”  Yvonne said into her headset. 

”What’s priority one mean?”  Selene asked Smithbond. 

”It means the target’s life is more valuable than any soldier out there.”  He replied. 

”You’re asking these men to sacrifice their lives for a kidnapper?”

”They volunteered and I don’t expect you to understand right now.”  He replied.  ”Frankly, if I had to choose between saving the President of the United States or bringing this guy in alive, there would be a funeral in Washington.”

”But why?”

”Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers?”  He replied in a passable imitation of Sir Ian McKellen’s Magneto from the first X-Men movie. 

She raised her eyebrow.

”All things in time.”  He said, then turned to Yvonne.  ”Now, let’s bag us a target.” 

”All teams, you are a go.”  Yvonne said into her headset.

* * *

Ethan was enjoying leaning against the Argo’s railing with his three wives clustered around him when he heard Rachel calling his name from the direction of the earthen ramp.

”Ethan, you have some visitors.” 

He turned to see the strangest creatures he’d ever beheld.  The three of them looked very much like young, beautiful women in overall form, but that’s where the similarities to humans ended. 

Their skin looked like the smooth bark of a young tree and was an attractive grey-brown color.  They wore no clothes, but there was a growth of green moss that artfully covered their breasts and pelvic regions similar to a conservative two-piece swimsuit.  Their green ’hair’ resembled the dangling vines of a weeping willow, only much finer. 

Their feet resembled the base of a tree.  He couldn’t tell if they were barely lifting their feet to walk or if they were simply wading through the ground like a human would wade through a shallow pool.  They stopped just short of the Argo’s gangplank, so their feet remained ensconced in the earth.

”Um, hi.”  He said. 

The three dryads bowed low at the waist.

”This one is honored to meet you, honored dragon.”  The lead dryad said.  She looked nearly identical to the others, and he could only tell she was the leader because the other two stayed a half step behind her. 

Behind them, Rachel mined bowing and mouthed:  ”honored to meet you.”  With an urgent nod toward the dryads.

Taking the hint, Ethan bowed in a similar manner.  ”And I’m honored to meet you...”  He trailed off not knowing how to end the sentence. 

*Honored dryads.*  Beth suggested telepathically. 

*...Honored dryads.*  He finished, then straightened up.  ”Um, what can I do for you?” 

The dryad inhaled sharply and looked both completely shocked and very impressed.  She bowed low again; twice.  ”You are beyond magnanimous revered dragon, to offer to help one who is so lowly as this one.  Truly, your generosity knows no bounds.” 

”Uh, you’re welcome?”  He replied a bit confused. 

”This one thanks you for your bountifully generous offer to help this one, but we wish to extend an invitation.”  The dryad continued.  ”I represent the king of the wood elves, as your wife has no doubt informed you.”  The dryad gestured towards Alana. 

He looked at his first wife to see a shocked look on her face.  She was staring at the dryads like they presented a threat, yet he could tell from looking at their bond that she wasn’t the least bit scared of them. 

She was scared of something though, or at least very worried.

*What’s wrong?*  He asked telepathically.

She looked at him, fear and sadness in her eyes.  *I’m sorry.*  She said, her tone almost pleading.  *I should’ve told you sooner.  I...*  She looked down in shame.  He almost said something else, but the dryad continued just then. 

”The most glorious king of the wood elves requests the honor of your presence at your earliest convenience.” 

”Uh...”  He said, mind still preoccupied by Alana.  ”Why does he want to see me?”  He asked, stalling for time to figure out what was going on with his wife.

”As you well know, word of your fame is spreading throughout the land.  The king would like to meet a possible prophet of Illuminar -- blessed be He -- and entertain His prophet so the grace of the Most High God might fall upon his kingdom.” 

”I think you have me confused with someone else.”  Ethan replied.  ”I’m not a prophet of Illuminar.” 

”This one is confused.”  The dryad said.  ”Did you not use lightning, the weapon of Illuminar -- blessed be He -- that only He Himself can wield?”  

”Well, yeah I did.”  He admitted.

The dryad looked more confused.  ”And did you not show such compassion and mercy as is unheard of in the land by bringing a mortal enemy back to life without the dark arts?  A feat which only Illuminar Himself -- blessed be He -- has ever done before?”

”Yeah, I did that too.”  He admitted again. 

”Then if you wield the weapon of the Mighty God of Light, and use His power to raise the dead, how could you not be His prophet?” 

Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but Beth interrupted telepathically.  *I wouldn’t say that you didn’t use Illuminar’s power to bring Kendra back.  They think only Illuminar or dark magic can do that.  And if you didn’t use Illuminar’s power...*

*...then I used dark magic.*  He nodded and considered the dryad.  In the end, he decided his best option was to simply not answer the question. 

”So, the king of the wood elves wants to see me.”  He looked at Alana, who was still hanging her head in shame, then back at the dryads.  ”Could you give me a minute, I need to talk with my wives.”

”Of course.”  The dryad said with a bow, but she still looked confused. 

”I can keep our guests entertained.”  Anthiel offered, coming down the stairs from the quarterdeck. 

”Okay, let’s talk in the captain’s cabin.”  He said to his wives. 

They all nodded.

”You too Rachel.”  He called as they headed towards the captain’s cabin. 

* * *

Rachel felt her heart swell as Ethan asked her to come too.  She started following him automatically, without even thinking about it. 

Why did he want her around when he talked to his wives?

Alana looked like she was marching towards her execution, but Rachel couldn’t figure out what was upsetting her.  She clearly had been afraid of something when she saw the dryads, but also clearly not afraid of the dryads themselves.  Judging by the way she kept glancing at Ethan, it had something to do with him.

She followed them into the captain’s cabin and closed the door behind her. 

”What’s wrong?”  Ethan asked his chocolate-haired bride as soon as the door was shut.  Rachel could see the deep concern he had for his wife, and it not only made her heart melt but also made her slightly jealous.  Not that she wanted to take what the wood elf had, but that she wanted the same for herself.  She wanted someone to look at her with such concern.

Alana bit her lip.  ”Promise you won’t hate me?” 

He scooped her into a hug and planted a tender kiss on her lips.  She almost resisted, which -- as far as Rachel was aware -- had literally never happened before.  Not since they had gotten married anyway.

”I could never hate you.”  He said kindly. 

She nodded.  ”Promise you won’t leave me?” 

”Never.”  He said with conviction.

She nodded again.

Beth and Taloni came up to her and wrapped her in a group hug along with Ethan, putting her in the center.

”It’s okay, you can tell us.”  Beth said. 

Taloni fluttered her wings.  ”You’ve been so wonderful to me, I don’t think I could ever even dislike you; much less hate you.” 

Rachel stood there awkwardly, wanting to comfort her friend but feeling slightly like an outsider because they were all bound by marriage; she was the odd one out.  Then Alana glanced at her, and she couldn’t stay back any longer.

She walked up and put a comforting hand on her best friend’s shoulder.  ”You’ve been the best friend I could imagine; I think you’re stuck with all of us.” 

Alana smiled weakly.  ”Okay. 

”So, what is it?”  Ethan asked, his arms still around her waist as the others gave her a bit of room.

”Um.”  She bit her lip and looked down.  ”My mother’s last name...  it’s...” She took a deep breath.  ”My mother’s last name is Kalon.” 

Rachel felt her jaw drop.

Beth gasped. 

Taloni stared open-mouthed. 

Ethan looked confused.  ”Um, and that means...  what?” 

”She’s royalty.”  Beth breathed.  ”Or nearly royalty.” 

”Wow.”  Taloni stared at her star-struck.

Ethan looked at all of them, confusion still written all over his face.  ”Okay, tell me why the name ’Kalon’ is so significant.” 

”They’re one of the two most powerful noble houses in the Wood Elf kingdom, the other one being House Nalfigar.”  Rachel explained.  ”Both houses rival the crown in terms of both power and influence.  While the king technically holds all the authority, Kalon and Nalfigar hold nearly as much influence.” 

”So, I married a princess?”  Ethan looked at Alana. 

The wood elf didn’t meet his eye.  ”No, I’ll never be in line for the throne because I don’t have any royal blood.” 

”But isn’t your mother...?”  Beth cocked her head to one side. 

Alana shook her head.  ”No, that was my mother’s sister who wed the king.”

Ethan’s eyes bugged out slightly.  ”So, you’re the king’s niece by marriage?” 

She nodded.

”But what were you so afraid of?”  Rachel asked.  ”I assume there’s more?” 

”Yeah.”  Ethan agreed.  ”I mean, that’s really cool and all, but what has you so worried?”

Alana stared at them. 

”What?”  Ethan and the redhead said in unison.

”That was it.”  The wood elf said quietly.  ”I thought you’d be mad that I didn’t tell you.  That’s a pretty important thing to keep secret.”  She bit her lip, looking at them hopefully.

”Mad?”  Ethan looked even more confused.  ”I mean, I would’ve preferred that you’d told me.  But why would that make me mad?”

”I kept something from you; something I should’ve told you about.”  She replied.  ”That doesn’t make you angry?”

”Well, I can try to get angry if you want.”  He said with a wink. 

”No.”  Alana said quickly. ”No, I don’t like it when you’re mad.”  

”Well okay then.”  He said as if the matter was settled.  He kissed her on the forehead and then looked her in the eye.  ”Honestly, I don’t care if your parents were paupers or the rulers of the universe; I married you for you, not for your family.”

”Really?” 

He nodded.  ”So you have family drama; who doesn’t?  If I was going to be mad at something -- and I’m not -- but if I was going to be mad, I’d be more mad at myself than you, because you felt like you needed to hide it from me because of my temper.”

He lifted her chin with the side of his index finger.  ”Okay?” 

She nodded.  ”Okay.” 

”Now, do you have any objection to visiting the wood elf king?”

She shook her head.

”Then I’m going to accept the dryads’ invitation.  We can talk more later...  princess.”  He winked. 

She chuckled. 

He kissed her tenderly on the forehead and then left the captain’s cabin. 

”So...  a princess?”  Rachel asked, not being able to resist teasing her slightly now that the wood elf was feeling better. 

”I’m not a princess.”  Alana said with a sigh.  ”I can never be in line for the throne because I’m not blood-related to the king.  Therefore, not a princess.” 

”Wow.”  Rachel said, barely able to prevent herself from laughing.   ”I’ve never been dressed down by royalty before.” 

Alana blushed scarlet.

”Your Highness.”  Beth did a little curtsy with an impish grin.

”Your Grace.”  Taloni followed suit, her wings fluttering as she suppressed a few giggles. 

The wood elf did look like she was feeling better.  Not completely better, but certainly much better.  Since that was the case, the redhead figured a little humor might lighten the mood even further.

”Ladies.”  Rachel turned to Ethan’s teenage wives with a mischievous grin.  ”Shouldn’t you show a little more respect for greatness in our midst?” 

”Okay, that’s it.  This is getting out of hand.”  Alana said with a smile.  ”I’m officially calling our first ever wives’ meeting to order.”

”I’ll um...  I’ll just help Ethan with the dryads.”  Rachel said taking a step toward the door and feeling slightly left out.  She obviously didn’t belong at a ’wives meeting’ because she wasn’t actually one of Ethan’s wives, but she felt a twinge of jealousy anyway. 

”Not so fast.”  Alana said almost imperiously but also barely suppressing an impish smile.  ”As chairwoman of the wives’ committee, I hereby move to make Rachel Delmar an honorary member of the wives’ committee.”  She paused.  ”Though without the most enjoyable part...”  She said with a twinkle in her eye and red cheeks.

”I’ll need someone to second the motion.”  She finished. 

”I second it.”  Beth said almost instantly. 

”I sec--  rats.”  Taloni said as she was a hair slower than Beth, so she looked at the wood elf.  ”Can I third the motion?” 

”Sure.  All those in favor say ’aye’.”

”Now wait just a moment--”  Rachel began. 

”Aye!”  All of Ethan’s wives chorused as one. 

”Opposed?”  Alana asked, eyeing Rachel as if daring her to object. 

Rachel hesitated, wanting to object and yet not wanting to at the same time.  She would love to be included with these other wonderful women but wasn’t sure she belonged since she wasn’t married to Ethan. The devious wood elf pounced on her hesitation.

”Resolution passed unanimously, three to zero.”  Alana pronounced.  ”Welcome to the wives’ council Rachel.” 

”Um, thanks?”  Rachel said, caught completely off guard by the strange turn of events. 

”Now, do you understand your duties as a member of this committee?”  Alana said with barely suppressed laughter. 

”Not really.”  Rachel replied honestly.

”As a full member, you’d be expected to rock Ethan’s world in bed as often as possible, but as an honorary member, you merely need to give him advice and be a good friend.” 

”I can do that.” 

”Oh, and you also need to occasionally pretend to be one of his wives to get a little well-deserved revenge on his horrible ex.”

Rachel smiled.  ”I don’t know about that; it sounds a little over the line.” 

”No, we’ll allow it.”  Beth said shaking in silent laughter. 

A sly smile spread across Rachel’s face as an idea occurred to her.  ”Well then, as an honorary member, I’d like to suggest a more respectful title for our fearless leader.” 

Alana eyed her.  ”What do you mean?” 

”Well, in light of her auspicious heritage, I think that ’princess’ would be a more appropriate title than ’chairwoman’.” 

”What!”  Alana said incredulously. 

Beth grinned broadly.  ”I second the motion.” 

All eyes turned to Taloni.

”A tie means the motion is defeated.”  Alana clarified.

”Uh...”  The Fey teen seemed unsure about suddenly being put on the spot. 

”A ’no’ vote might mean less competition for Ethan in bed tonight.”  Alana said in a slightly sing-song tone.

”I’ll match that offer.”  Beth replied, returning the challenge.

Rachel couldn’t help but add with mock resignation.  ”Oh fine, I won’t sleep with him tonight either.” 

Everyone laughed. 

Rachel felt slightly sad that her statement was 100% true, but...

Wait,

What?

Barely had the thought formed before Rachel realized the extreme oddity of it.  She didn’t want to sleep with Ethan...  did she?

Taloni finally spoke.  ”Um, I think Ethan might use ’princess’ as a nickname for Alana occasionally, so maybe we shouldn’t?  You know, it might be something unique for him?” 

”Okay, motion withdrawn.”  Rachel said almost absent-mindedly as something new started occupying her thoughts.  She could admit to herself that she was attracted to Ethan, but wanting to share his bed?  That seemed a bridge too far.  As a noble lady -- a Lord’s daughter -- she wouldn’t even entertain the idea of sharing a man’s bed without marriage.

But marriage to Ethan? 

She shook her head slightly.  She didn’t want to share a husband so there was no way she could share his bed.  Besides, there was no indication that Ethan was romantically interested in her anyway.  He’d done absolutely nothing to make the redhead think he was even attracted to her, much less romantically interested.  He seemed to value her opinion, but that’s all.

She frowned. 

Was something wrong with her? 

She considered; she might not be the most beautiful woman in the Ten Kingdoms, but she thought she was reasonably attractive.  She thought she was about the same level of attractiveness as his other wives too.  Maybe she wasn’t?  Maybe she simply wasn’t beautiful enough for him to show interest? 

Then she remembered that just hours ago he had called her a ’hot redhead’. 

Hmm.

Maybe he was attracted to her? 

But if he was, why hadn’t he said or done anything to indicate he was?

She didn’t think she was less attractive than his other wives, who were all beautiful women.  Perhaps not the most beautiful woman in the Ten Kingdoms, but definitely beautiful.  She thought that Alana was especially lovely, but didn’t think she was significantly less attractive than the wood elf.

Why wasn’t Ethan attracted to her?

Rachel didn’t think her own personality was unpleasant compared to Ethan’s other wives either.  She was perhaps a bit more aloof and quieter, but he seemed to enjoy her company.

What was wrong with her?

Why was Ethan attracted to all these other women and not to her? 

”Rachel, is something wrong?”  Alana asked.

”Um, no I was just thinking about...” She was spared from having to answer when Alana cocked her head to one side, in a motion that Rachel had grown to recognize meant that she was listening to Ethan.

”We’re needed outside.”  Alana said to the redhead.  ”Ethan thinks he might’ve offended the dryads.”

”Not hard to do.”  Rachel sighed.  ”Let’s go.”

* * *

Selene watched through the satellite feed as the roughly two dozen armed men converged on the lone heat signature’s location.  The feed was such high resolution that she could make out arms, legs, and even the outline of some equipment, even though she was looking at a screen displaying thermal vision.

”All units, don’t forget this target is armed and extremely dangerous.”  Yvonne said into her headset.  ”Remember the briefing; he’s likely lethal from a distance even when unarmed.” 

Selene looked at Smithbond.  ”Wait, he’s ’lethal from a distance even when unarmed’?  How is that possible?” 

His face darkened slightly.  ”Hopefully, you never find out first hand.”

Selene got the distinct impression that he knew this from personal experience and wondered how.  She didn’t think he would share though, so she let it go. 

The radio crackled slightly as one of the operators whispered into it.  ”Making contact in five... four... three.... two...” 

”Freeze!”  The microphone sounded as a half dozen of the soldiers stepped out from behind cover simultaneously.  Their target whirled around and made some kind of sweeping gesture with his hands. 

The men went flying. 

Selene saw them be thrown back at least a dozen feet; maybe more.  Her jaw dropped.  What in God’s name could do that?  At least the men didn’t seem to be seriously hurt. 

”Second squad, move in.”  Yvonne ordered. 

”Fireball!”  Someone shouted over the mike as the target’s heat signature blazed ultra-bright.  Then the bright spot streaked through the air, narrowly missing one of the soldiers because he dove out of the way.

”What the hell?”  Selene breathed. 

Yvonne glanced at her.  ”You’ve never seen a mage fight before?” 

The former FBI agent raised her eyebrow.  ”Mage fight?” 

”There’s a reason that this one target is more valuable than an entire tactical team.”  Smithbond said as he watched. 

Selene turned back to the screen to see a scene reminiscent of the Neo/Smith fight in the Matrix Reloaded.  Specifically, the part where Neo kept throwing the copies of Smith out from the center.  The target was throwing the soldiers like rag dolls while never touching them.

”They’re getting creamed.”  Selene said. 

”They knew the risks going in.”  Smithbond said.  ”They knew it might be a one-way mission.” 

”Can’t we do something?”  She asked.

Yvonne shook her head.  ”If we just wanted him dead, I have an AC-130 on standby.  This mission is to capture, not kill.” 

”Green light, Green light!”  One of the soldiers shouted.  Moments later, one of the soldiers seemed to stop in his tracks and then fall like a sack of potatoes.

Yvonne and Smithbond gave each other grim looks.

”Firing tear gas; masks on.”  One of the men barked over the speakerphone.

There was a momentary flash from one of the soldiers.  Several seconds later, the target seemed to start stumbling around like he couldn’t see.  Selene could just make out a smoky haze on the thermal. 

”Tasers; lots of Tasers.”  Yvonne ordered.  ”I want this guy one step short of the electric chair.” 

Selene heard the sound of multiple Tasers firing and the target dropped to his knees but didn’t go down. 

”Trank him.”  Smithbond ordered, talking into Yvonne’s headset. 

One of the men ran up to the target and swung his arm down quickly like he was hammer-fisting the target.  Moments later, the target fell to the ground and lay still. 

”Medic!”  Someone shouted.  ”We need a medic and burn trauma team here fuckin’ yesterday!”

”They’re on their way.”  Yvonne said, then tapped a few buttons on her keyboard.  ”Medical team you are a go.  Be advised, multiple burn victims.” 

”Copy that, we’re inbound.”  A calmer voice answered.

Yvonne tapped a few keys again.  ”Alpha leader, this is Nest; medical team inbound.  ETA ninety seconds.” 

”Mission accomplished.”  Smithbond stood up.  ”Yvonne, could you please get us back to base?”

”Sure thing.”  She stood while still wearing her headset, slipped through a sliding door into the front of the van and closed it behind her.  Moments later, the van started up and began moving. 

”Now Miss Dawson.”  Smithbond said, sitting down and indicating that she should do the same.  ”Let’s have a conversation about what you just witnessed and exactly where our target is probably from.” 

* * *

Ethan shook his head.  ”I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

The dryad bowed again -- for probably the ten millionth time -- before straightening up.  ”This one is not offended, and you were very gracious.” 

He noticed her use of the past tense ’were’.  He was truly at a loss for what to say and breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the captain’s cabin door open as Alana and Rachel answered his call for help.

”Give me a moment please.”  He said to the dryad and went to meet them. 

”What happened?”  Alana asked. 

Rachel seemed slightly distracted. 

”I said I’d be happy to meet the king of the wood elves, but that we had to visit someplace first, thinking about that Drago.  She didn’t say she was offended, but she certainly looked it.”

”Yeah, I think I know what happened.”  Rachel sighed.  ”Do you want me to try and smooth it over?”

”Please.”  Ethan nodded, feeling more than a little relieved.

”I will, but pardon the frankly sickening amount of flattery I’m about to give.”  The redhead said with another sigh.  She walked a few steps closer to the dryad and bowed deeply.  ”Honored dryad, I must offer my deepest and most sincere apologies.” 

The dryad returned the bowed.  ”This one is confused.  You haven’t offended this one in any way.” 

”I offer my apologies for the dragon.”  Rachel clarified.  ”He didn’t properly communicate the urgency of our next destination, nor the excitement with which he looks forward to meeting the wood-elven king.  Truly, it is among the greatest honors that one can receive.”

”This one agrees.” 

”However, the dragon has sworn an oath; made a formal bargain, with the most helpless people who are beset by a wicked dragon.  Doesn’t the Book of Light command us to keep our oaths -- our bargains -- and to help the oppressed, and to strive against wickedness?” 

”This one has heard many passages to that effect.”

”Then, as much as our dragon wishes he could set aside all of his other business and rush at full sail to meet the king of the wood elves, he cannot.  He must first pay his vow, thus abiding by the command that Illuminar -- blessed be He -- gave to uphold our vows, to help the oppressed, and to strive against wickedness.”

”This one understands.”  The dryad said with another bow.  ”The commands of Illuminar -- blessed be He -- must always guide all lives in all things.” 

”We shall make haste to visit the honored king of the wood elves as soon as our business is concluded.  Please convey our deepest and most profound thanks to the king for this most generous offer of being graced by his presence.” 

The dryad bowed low again.  ”This one would be honored to communicate such noble and exquisitely put sentiments to my king.” 

Rachel returned the bow.  ”Then I am in your debt.  Please, if you will give us leave, we shall make sail immediately so that we might sooner accept the generous invitation of your king.” 

”This one will do so, and looks forward to enjoying the honor of your company again if Illuminar -- blessed be He -- wills it.”  The lead dryad said.  Then as one, the three of them turned and left using their strange ’walking-but-almost-wading-through-the-earth’ gait. 

Ethan had watched the whole exchange and it was only with some difficulty that he kept his mouth from hanging open. 

Wow.

Just wow.

”There, that should smooth things over.”  Rachel said as she returned to the stunned dragon. 

”You were right; that was a hell of a lot of flattery.”  He said after a moment. 

The redhead looked confused.  ”What’s a ’hell’?

”It’s...”  He considered trying to explain it, but had a feeling that both Alana and Rachel would be horrified so he decided not to.  ”I just meant it was a lot.” 

”Yeah.”  Rachel replied.  ”The wood elves live in an honor culture, so you need to couch everything in those terms.  There are benefits to being a Lord’s daughter; I was forced to learn these things so I wouldn’t offend them when they came to call.”

He nodded.  ”Why do people keep saying ’blessed be He’ after saying Illuminar’s name?” 

”Tradition.”  Alana replied.  ”The idea is to honor Him every time you speak His name.”

”Okay.”  He shrugged and turned to Rachel.  ”You need to teach me how to talk to them so I don’t put my foot in my mouth and give us yet another enemy.” 

”Yeah, you’re very good at making enemies aren’t you?”  Alana observed. 

”That’s not my fault.”  He replied. 

”Let’s see, there’s my father when you arrived in Alana’s forest.”  Rachel counted them on her fingers.

The wood elf looked at the redhead.  ”You when we returned to the forest.” 

”Ladies, I don’t think--”  He started to say.

Rachel nodded.  ”That dark elf who attacked as we left Gralden, and then again when we arrived in Arcanum.” 

Alana continued counting on her fingers.  ”Plus the champion and Magistrate Haglath in Arcanum, then Kendra, then Havorleth, then Gonorran, and most recently that FBI woman.” 

”Okay, but the champion is dead, Rachel joined us, and we’ll never see the FBI agent again, so they shouldn’t count.”  He countered.  However, that was quite a list of enemies he’d managed to gather in less than two months of being in the Ten Kingdoms. 

It was a long list.

Too long.

And now he was about to add an elder dragon to that list.  Perhaps he already had when he fought Havorleth.  He sighed, they could barely deal with Lord Delmar and the black dragon supporting him, and they were about to make more draconic enemies.

”Hey, it’ll be okay.”  Alana said, coming up and wrapping her arms around one of his. 

”God I hope so.”  He said.

”Come on, it’s dinnertime soon.”  The wood elf said and then got a sly grin.  ”And after dinner, you have three lovely wives who’d like nothing better than to help you forget your troubles.” 

”Hmm.”  He almost purred in satisfaction. 

A moment later he noticed that Rachel’s cheeks were fast approaching the color of her hair. 

”Sorry.”  He said.

”You’re married, it’s okay.”   Rachel replied, but she had an odd look on her face.  It was almost mournful, despite her looking happy for the couple.

 * * *

Taloni found herself alone with Beth in the captain’s cabin after Alana and Rachel had left to help Ethan.  She suddenly felt slightly nervous, because she and the blonde had only just been introduced. 

”Um, hi...  again.” Taloni said with a nervous flutter of her wings. 

”Hi.”  Beth smiled back.  ”It’s so nice to finally meet you in person.” 

She really did look happy to see her, which put the Fey teen’s mind at ease a bit.  ”Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about you; it’s nice to meet the legendary Beth.”

”Legendary?”  The blonde smiled, though raised an eyebrow.

”Okay, maybe not legendary.”  The Fey teen replied.  ”But master and Alana talked about you a lot.  I think they really missed you.”

Beth got a slightly faraway look in her eye as she absentmindedly said.  ”Yeah, they were very clear about that last night.”

Taloni blushed slightly as she remembered the lust coming over their bond the previous night.  She was pretty certain that both Alana and Beth had accompanied him to bed simultaneously.  She hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask yet though.

The thought made her loins quiver.

”What?”  Beth asked, as the Fey’s curiosity must’ve showed on her face. 

”Then last night...  I mean, were you and Alana...  were you both...?” 

Beth blushed slightly too.  ”Both there?  Yes, and by Illuminar in heaven it was amazing too.  I’ve never felt so satisfied in my entire life.  I thought just being in bed with Ethan was amazing.  But with Alana there too...” 

”Yeah, she’s pretty amazing.”  Taloni sighed. 

”She absolutely is.”  Beth agreed.  ”I feel so blessed that she doesn’t mind me being around Ethan.” 

The Fey teen felt her heart leap.  ”You too?  I feel the same way!  They’re both so kind, and generous, and loving, and just...  just...”

”The best people ever!”  The human beamed.  

”Exactly!” 

”And they both love having us around.”  Beth sighed.  ”I could hear them while I was on the Astral Plane and they really do love both of us.”  She blushed a slightly deeper shade of red.  ”He especially loved it when the two of us...  I mean, when Alana and I...”  The blond faltered and seemed to lose her nerve. 

”When the two of you what?”  Taloni pressed, the old Fey curiosity rising like a tidal wave. 

Um, when Alana and I were...”  Beth smiled sheepishly but averted her eyes nevertheless.  ”We sort of were...  Um, kissing.” 

”Kissing?”  Taloni felt her jaw drop.  ”You kissed Alana?  In front of master?”

Beth closed her eyes, bit her lip, and nodded slowly.  ”Mmm, she’s a good kisser.” 

”What did master think of that?”  Taloni asked, knowing how protective he was of his wives.  He was almost possessive, and she couldn’t imagine how he would’ve responded. 

”He loved it.”  Beth said opening her eyes, and it looked like a fire was being kindled in them.  ”I’ve never seen him so...  Um, ’big’.” 

Taloni’s eyes bugged out of her head.  ”Master gets bigger?” 

Beth sighed softly.  ”Oh, I think he might have.” 

Taloni bit her lip.  ”So, do you think...  I mean, if I was...  would he mind?” 

Beth got a mischievous glint in her eyes.  ”I don’t think he would mind at all.  In fact, I bet he’d love it so much that he would...”  She blushed.  ”You know.”

Taloni moaned slightly, her arousal returning in full force after having felt master make love to his wives and being completely unable to do anything about it.  She simply couldn’t finish without him there; without him touching her. 

”Oh Illuminar, I missed that so much.”  She said thinking about sharing a bed with him.

”Amen.”  Beth said.  ”Amen.” 

”Oh, I forgot.”  Taloni said.  ”You had to wait two weeks, didn’t you?” 

”Longest two weeks of my life.”  Beth nodded.  ”But at the end of it, I shared a bed with both Ethan and Alana.  That was just...”  She blushed even redder.  ”I can’t wait to do that again.  And um...”  The blond glanced at Taloni, then glanced away.

”And what?”  The Fey teen asked.

”Um, I wouldn’t mind if you...”  She hesitated and then finished quietly.  ”If you were there too.” 

Taloni moaned softly as her wings fluttered slightly of their own accord.  ”I wouldn’t either.” 

Beth’s bright red face beamed.  ”I think we’re going to be wonderful friends.” 

”So do I.”  The other teen said with an equally large smile.  ”So do I.” 

*Hey honey.*  Ethan called to her telepathically.  *Prayla says she’s going to ride back instead of traveling with us on the Argo.  You probably want to say goodbye because we’re leaving soon.  Also, Anthiel said she wants you on the quarterdeck when we depart, so you can see how it’s done.*

Taloni nodded. 

Good old Prayla; her friend probably wanted to stay as far away as possible from any dragons.  That meant the Argo was out because it not only had one, but was going to meet another one; a Drago too.

*I’ll be right there master.*  She replied, then turned to Beth.  ”I’m so glad we got to talk.” 

”Me too.”  The blonde beamed. 

On a lark, the Fey jumped up and gave the blonde a chaste peck on the cheek before heading out to bid Prayla farewell. 

* * *

”Wow.”  Selene said as she leaned back in her chair to digest what she’d just heard from Smithbond.  ”I never would’ve guessed.” 

”The best cover stories contain as much truth as possible, Area 51 is no different.” 

She shook her head.  ”So, there were aliens and no spaceship; it was just a portal.” 

He nodded.  ”It’s not the first one either.  There’s artwork from medieval Europe, Feudal Japan, the various Chinese dynasties, and even several from ancient Egypt depicting these portals.” 

”Then why haven’t I heard of them?”  Selene asked.  ”It seems like this would make headline news, or at least the conspiracy theory websites.” 

He pulled out his phone as he answered.  ”We bought all the original copies and duplicates very quietly, long before the digital age, though a few eluded us.”  He held up his phone to show a website proudly proclaiming that the government was hiding portals and the existence of other worlds. 

”Again, wow.”  She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  ”I would’ve dismissed that as a conspiracy theory two days ago; heck, two hours ago.” 

He chuckled.  ”Yeah, the CIA coined the term ’conspiracy theory’ in the sixties to dismiss people without having to answer their claims.  It’s proven very effective.” 

She raised her eyebrow.  ”Seriously?”

”Don’t you dismiss any so-called ’conspiracy theories’ without needing much evidence -- if you need any at all?” 

She opened her mouth to disagree but then realized that she had in fact done so.  She frowned.

”I rest my case.”  He smiled.

”So, Area 51 is the first active portal you found?” 

He nodded.  ”We were never able to open it though because we couldn’t figure out how it worked.  It uses a power source we don’t fully understand.  Mostly it was mothballed until the early 90s when it powered up without warning.” 

”We captured the people who came through, and they were wearing what looked like medieval garb.  One of them had the strangest ears you’ve ever seen.” 

”How so?”

”Pointed, like an elf from lore.”  He replied.  ”He eventually died in custody, but we couldn’t figure out from what and none of his compatriots would say.  The autopsy was inconclusive and turned up several irregularities too.  Anyway, one of them eventually cracked and told us how the portal worked.  Apparently, it runs on some sort of ’death magic’ which requires something to die -- like a cow -- to power it.”

The hair at the back of Selene’s neck stood on end.  ”That sounds... ominous.” 

”Yeah, they didn’t want to use the power either.”  He said grimly.  ”The one who told us eventually agreed to open the portal for us if we would allow his friends to go home.  He volunteered to remain behind so our men could return.” 

”Your men?”

He nodded.  ”In late ’94, we sent a dozen of our best scientists and agents through the portal, along with all the people we had captured except the mage.” 

”What’d they find?”  Selene asked, leaning forward in her seat. 

”We don’t know?”  He replied grimly.  ”The moment the portal had closed, the mage went berserk.  He killed some of our best men using powers out of a fantasy story.  He was killed in the firefight, so there was no way to reopen the portal.”

”Wait, so you’ve had a dozen agents stranded on another world since 1994?” 

”Half were scientists, but essentially correct.”  He nodded.  ”This man we just captured is the first person in over two decades who might be able to open the portal.” 

”And get your men back.”  She nodded. 

”Exactly.”  He said, but something about the way he said it made her feel like the men weren’t his primary concern. 

”What now?”  She asked.

”Now we return to base and see if we can get this mage to cooperate.” 

She nodded but had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.  If these portals really did use some kind of ’death magic’ that required killing an animal...  That didn’t sit right with her.  Something about it just seemed wrong.  She wasn’t a vegetarian and enjoyed a good steak, but something about using power gained from killing something made her skin crawl.

Then she realized that she was actually considering what kind of creepy magic was used to open a portal to another world. 

Her life certainly had changed a lot in the last few days, and especially the last few hours.

* * *

Alana wanted to crawl under the nearest rock.  Her husband had so easily forgiven her that it didn’t feel real.  She’d hid something incredibly important from him and he hadn’t gotten mad or angry, nor had he shouted or yelled.  She almost wished he had.  The disappointed look on his face when he discovered that she hadn’t trusted him had hurt.

Badly. 

She looked around to see everyone sitting around the dinner fire chatting away.  The coals were smoldering in the iron firepan suspended above the deck.  Her mood might as well have been the coals slowly turning to ash.  Rachel and her fellow wives had done a lot to cheer her up -- and she was grateful -- but she still felt awful when she thought about it. 

*Alana, what’s wrong?*  Ethan asked telepathically.  *You’ve been out of sorts since we pulled anchor.*

She swallowed.  *I’m sorry.*

*Because you didn’t tell me that you’re a princess?*

*I’m not a--* she started to reply, then caught the twinkle in his eye.  *You’re really not mad?* 

*No, I’m not mad.*  He replied with a reassuring smile.  *Though, I am confused about why you didn’t tell me.  Especially if it was such a big deal.* 

*My adoptive parents had some tutors from the wood elven kingdom come through on a regular basis to teach me.  The few who learned my real name suddenly treated me differently.*

*How so?*

*It was like they suddenly thought I was made of glass.*  She sighed.  *Suddenly I wasn’t their pupil anymore and they treated me like a...  a...*

*Like a princess?*  He teased with a toothy grin. 

She went slightly pink as she nodded, though also couldn’t help but smile.

*Hang on.*  Ethan then turned to look at Beth, then Taloni, then back at her.  *We seriously need to figure out how to get a group chat going.*

*Group chat?*

*Yeah, so we can each say something once and the rest will hear it.*  He frowned slightly and made a thoughtful sound.  *Beth and Taloni both just asked what we were talking about, and I didn’t want to repeat it out loud for everyone to hear, so I had to give them each a short version.*

The wood elf’s face fell.  *A ’group chat’ would be nice, but I’d miss being able to talk just the two of us.*

*I don’t see why we can’t do both.*  He replied.  *Both a group chat and one-on-one, because I can’t carry on a conversation with three people at once.* 

She smiled.  *If we can keep the one-on-one, then I’m all for it.*

*Any idea how to start?*

She shook her head. 

He tapped his claw on the deck as he made a thoughtful sound.  *I bet Rachel could help us come up with something.*

*Yeah.*  Alana said wistfully casting a furtive glance at the stunning redhead.  As usual, Rachel did more listening than talking when they were just chatting around the fire.  She had a contented smile on her face, though occasionally cast a furtive glance at Ethan. 

*Penny for your thoughts?*  Ethan’s own thoughts interrupted hers. 

She realized she’d been staring and felt her cheeks grow warm.  *Nothing.*

She felt him check their bond and then he raised an eyebrow.  *You’re not attracted to Rachel, are you?* 

She froze. 

* * *

Ethan had to resist the urge to chuckle as his wife went all stiff.  She might as well have screamed ’yes’ in answer to his question. 

*I...  Uh, I mean...*  She said turning a rather interesting shade of magenta.

*Relax, it’s fine.*  He thought to her smiling.  *I don’t mind at all, I was just asking.* 

Her jaw dropped.   *You...  you don’t mind?* 

*Not a bit.*  He shrugged.  *Actually, I think it’s kind of cute.* 

She just stared at him. 

He stared back as comprehension dawned on him.  *You didn’t tell me this because you were worried about how I would react to this too.*

She looked down and nodded. 

That’s when he realized that everyone was staring at them.  He supposed he didn’t blame them.  They had been making all the common conversational gestures and reactions while facing each other, only there were no words.   

Anthiel seemed quite amused.  ”Ah, young love.” 

Everyone chuckled and his teen wives managed a nervous giggle. He noticed that Rachel seemed a bit out of sorts though.  Her expression was conflicted, though she was hiding it well.  He made a mental note to ask her about it later. 

*So, about your attraction to Rachel...* He said, resuming his telepathic conversation with his lovely wood-elven wife, this time trying to be less obvious about it.

*Am I that obvious?*  She replied nervously. 

*Only to me because I can check what you’re feeling through our bond.*  He cocked his head as he realized something.  *Normally, I would’ve noticed a lot sooner because I would’ve felt it automatically over our bond.  Come to think of it, I haven’t felt anything from you without looking for days now.*

She hung her head so her lovely chocolate-brown hair was partially concealing her face.

*Did you change something?*  He asked. 

She nodded, though most of her face was still concealed.  *I changed my mental defenses so you would only feel my emotions if you looked at them.  I didn’t want you to know that I was attracted to Rachel because I thought it would hurt you.*

*I don’t mind that you’re attracted to Rachel.*  He replied.  *Though, if another man ever tried to touch you, I’d tear him limb from limb.*  He said suppressing a growl. 

She winced. 

*But.*  He hastily added.  *But, I don’t mind if you’re attracted to another woman, especially one of my wives.*

*Rachel isn’t one of your other wives though.* 

*Right, I knew that.*  Ethan said, though her statement had momentarily caught him off guard.  He wasn’t sure when or how, but he’d started thinking of Rachel in a not-dissimilar way to his other wives, except for the sexual aspect of course.

Hmm. 

Curious.

*I don’t mind if you like her; I really don’t.*  He repeated.  *I’m sorry that you felt like you needed to hide this from me.* 

*I didn’t want you to be mad, or think I was replacing you, or...  I’m just really happy and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.* 

*You haven’t.*  He reassured her, then something occurred to him.  *You changed your mental defenses before the fight at Havorleth’s lair, didn’t you?* 

*Yes.  Why?* 

He frowned.  *I thought it was a little weird that I didn’t sense anything from you when Kendra knocked you out.  At the time, I thought she must’ve taken you unawares, but later you said she hit you with some kind of knockout fumes on a cloth.*

*Yeah.*  She nodded.

*So, you were awake and startled for a moment or two before you were knocked out?*

She nodded again, then comprehension dawned on her face.  *You would’ve known.*  She breathed. 

He nodded.

*Oh God; if I hadn’t changed my mental defenses, then you would’ve felt...  You would’ve known something was wrong and she wouldn’t have been able to surprise...*  Suddenly, she looked aghast and covered her mouth with her hand.  *I put you in danger.*

*It’s probably best if you don’t block me out like that again.*  He said kindly, but somberly. 

*I’m sorry.  I’m so, so sorry.*  She said.

He saw some tears starting to collect at the corners of her eyes as her hand went protectively to cover her stomach. 

”Alana and I are beat.”  He announced aloud, subtly moving to hide her face from view as he got up and helped her up.  She didn’t need an audience right now.  ”We’re turning in.” 

Everyone bid them goodnight, though the wood elf’s mood didn’t escape the notice of the ever-watchful and insightful redhead.  She raised her eyebrow at him.

*Could you tell Rachel that I’ll explain in the morning.*  He thought to Beth, who was sitting next to the mage. 

*She says she’s looking forward to it.*  The blonde replied a few moments later.  *Do you want Taloni and I to come too, or do you need some time?* 

*Yes I want you to join us, but could you both give us a couple of minutes first?* 

*Yes Dominus.*

He relayed the same instruction to Taloni as he helped his distraught wife to the captain’s cabin door.  Once inside with the door shut, she turned and wrapped her arms around him, clinging tightly to his chest as if she never wanted to let go.  He wrapped his arms around her too and -- despite her being upset -- greatly enjoyed the simple pleasure of holding this wonderful woman in his arms. 

She held onto him for over a minute, softly crying into his shoulder. 

”I didn’t mean to put you in danger.”  She finally said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

He kissed her forehead tenderly.  ”I know you didn’t mean to.  I know you’d never do anything to hurt me, or our baby, and I’m not mad.” 

She half-smiled through her tears.

”I love you Alana.”  He brushed her cheek affectionately with the back of his hand.  ”I always have, I always will.  Nothing will ever change that.  Ever.” 

She sighed softly and leaned in for another hug.  ”I love you too, and I’ll never keep anything from you ever again.” 

”I’m okay with that.”  He said as he held her, thanking his lucky stars for whoever or whatever had brought her into his life.

* * *

Kendra couldn’t help but think she was being stupid.  She’d hurried back to her airship when the dragon had struck anchor, after a curious visit from some Dryads.   She’d abandoned her usual practice of following low on the horizon because they had quite the lead by the time she’d set sail. 

She deployed all her sails and made up the distance, but was now about level with their airship; not a good idea if you wanted to avoid being spotted.  Still, it was getting darker and she’d already adjusted the color of her sails to match the twilight sky.  She didn’t think she’d be spotted.

Or at least, she hoped she wouldn’t. 

There was no way her airship could outrun a dragon if he came after her.  It just wasn’t possible.  And while she had saved one of his wives and the ship’s navigator, which might’ve bought her some goodwill, she wasn’t willing to chance it. 

She pulled out her enchanted spyglass and looked at the dragon’s airship again.  In the fading light, she could just barely see into the captain’s cabin through the enormous glass-block window that covered almost the entire rear of the airship’s main level, where the captain’s cabin was located.  She pushed a drop of mana into the spyglass to activate the light amplification spell so the spyglass would draw more light from its surroundings so she could see better in the dark.

That was better. 

The dragon and the wood elf were standing in the captain’s cabin holding each other.  The wood elf looked somewhat distraught and the dragon held her like a man comforting his wife.

It was strange to see. 

A dragon comforting an elf like he actually cared?  Then again, he had threatened to tear Kendra limb from limb if she ever hurt the elf.  Maybe he did care?  Certainly, she would’ve given almost anything to have a man hold her like that.

As she watched, the door opened and the little Fey teen and a young blonde woman walked in. 

Kendra’s jaw dropped. 

It was the blonde who’d been stiff as a board when the dragon had dropped her off the night they left Arcanum.  She had looked dead with all the blood, yet there she was, living and breathing.  She thought she’d caught a glimpse of her just before the airship set sail, but hadn’t been sure then.  Now she was.

What in Illuminar’s name was going on? 

She watched as the two women surrounded the wood elf and enclosed her in a group hug with the elf at the center.  They were clearly all comforting her about something.  What’s more, she could tell that they all truly and deeply cared for the elf. 

Kendra put down the spyglass as she felt her eyes moisten and her throat get tight.  She blinked a few times trying to clear her eyes, but they were being stubborn. 

She well remembered the hug that the Fey had given her.  It had been so wonderful that she’d teared up thinking about it later.  Now she was watching a group hug that she didn’t doubt for a moment was every bit as heartfelt and meaningful as the Fey’s hug. 

How?

How did a dragon -- a dragon of all beings -- manage to get what she’d secretly dreamed of her entire life?  And he got it not once, not twice, but thrice.  She could no longer deny what was before her very eyes. 

The dragon loved those women. 

Those women loved the dragon. 

No spell, no enchantment, no dark potion, or incantation could create real love.  Passion, yes.  Lust certainly.  Infatuation definitely...  but not love; not real love.  It couldn’t be done.  She was pretty sure even the Book of Light said it couldn’t be done, calling it a ’fool’s errand’ to try, though the associated emotions could be simulated with magic.

She wasn’t seeing a simulation right now though.  She was seeing real, true, genuine, heartfelt, and caring love.

This dragon had it. 

How? 

How did a dragon find love? 

She had no answer, so she raised her spyglass again.  The hug had broken and they were all climbing onto the bed.  She thought it was a bit small for all four of them, but failed to take into account how closely they were all sleeping together.  The dragon had the wood elf wrapped in his arms, then he tenderly spread his wings and rested one on each of the other two women, holding them too and pulling them closer to him. 

She had to put down the spyglass again.

Now her tears really did start to trickle down her cheek.

He was so caring and loving in the way he spread his wings over them.  It was at once caring and protective; gentle and affectionate; possessive and loving.  She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, wanting to kick herself for getting so emotional. 

”Get a hold of yourself Kendra.”  She said rubbing her eyes again.

It took her quite a while to get control of herself again.  When she did, she found a sense of disbelief washing over her again.  How had a dragon found love with three women? 

It just didn’t seem possible.

Without meaning to, she pulled the spyglass up and looked at them again. 

The women seemed to be asleep but looked like they were restless.  As she watched, they all seemed to sit up in their sleep and pull their dresses off.  She was so surprised that she didn’t think to look away until they’d already lain back down and snuggled back up to the dragon and each other...

All completely naked.

The dragon spread his wings again and seemed to tuck them in even closer. Three women and a dragon lay completely naked on the bed and seemed perfectly content.  For one brief moment, Kendra felt like she would’ve given anything to join them on that bed. 

Then she came to her senses and shuddered, her stomach lurching at the thought. 

She’d sooner spend the night with a necromancer than a dragon.

* * *  

Selene would’ve preferred going another round with the dragon to spending her night with this necromancer.  More accurately, spending it interrogating him.  Something about him made her skin crawl. 

”Problem?”  Smithbond asked as they looked through the two-way mirror into the containment cell that the necromancer was currently occupying.  He was sitting with his arms in a straightjacket and appeared to be blinking trying to clear his vision.  She wasn’t surprised with the cocktail of drugs they’d shot into him to keep him calm.

”I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”  She said.

”Don’t worry about it kid, it’s just your imagination.”  Smithbond replied in a passable imitation of Han Solo in Star Wars episode four. 

”Yeah, I’d rather face the trash compactor on the Death Star than this fellow.”  She jerked her thumb towards him.  ”Something about him just isn’t right.” 

”It’s the eyes.”  Smithbond said.

Selene looked and noticed his eyes were entirely black with no pupil color whatsoever, which made the whites of his eyes contrast heavily.  The effect made her skin crawl. 

She shuddered. 

”They say the eyes are the windows to the soul.”  Smithbond continued.  ”What does it say if your eyes are entirely black?” 

”You’re kidding right?”  Selene gave him a look.

He shrugged.  ”Like I said, you weren’t around when we had that fellow open the portal.  His eyes turned black before he died, right after he pulled magic from the cows we slaughtered.” 

”A portal powered by death magic.”  She shook her head.  ”Doesn’t that seem like something best left alone?” 

”Yes.  But since the government won’t leave it alone, I can either run the program and see that it’s done right, or hand it over to unknown men who will do God-knows-what with it.  Which would you pick?” 

”Fair point.”  She looked back through the two-way mirror.  ”I guess we should get started.” 

”After you.”  He indicated the door. 

She hesitated.  ”You’re really going to let me -- a brand new agent with less than a week on the job -- be involved in an interrogation this important?” 

He shrugged.  ”If you fail, you’ll just disappear and no one will ever see or hear from you again.”  He said cheerfully, then pulled a piece of wrapped gum out of his pocket and offered it to her.  ”Gum?” 

”Are you serious?”  She asked, not able to tell. 

”I never kid about gum.”  He replied, his face and body language unreadable.

She took the offered gum but didn’t put it in her mouth.  She really couldn’t tell if he was serious about her disappearing or not.  If he was that good at concealing his body language, he was probably that good at lying too.  That didn’t bode well for her long term.

She took a deep breath, turned, and went through the door leading into the interrogation room. 

It looked rather like all the interrogation rooms she’d seen on TV.  It was spartan, made of concrete, and only had a single table and three aluminum chairs inside.  The necromancer occupied one of them, and she and Smithbond sat down in the other two.

The captive eyed them appraisingly, much more alert than she would’ve guessed given the amount of drugs he’d been given.  His eyes were even more unnerving up close, and were clearly devoid of warmth, compassion, or pity.  They were like a reptile’s eyes, though strangely not like that dragon man’s eyes. 

Hmm...

”What can I do for you?”  The necromancer asked, ignoring Selene and addressing Smithbond. 

”You can tell us how you got here from the Ten Kingdoms.”  He replied.

”No introductions.”  The mage shook his head.  ”Such rudeness simply won’t do.” 

”You declined to introduce yourself first.”  Selene pointed out, hoping to keep him off balance.

”You let your woman speak?”  He sneered at Smithbond, not even looking at her.

”Occasionally.”  Smithbond said casually.  ”But she has a point.” 

The captive eyed him for a moment, still completely ignoring Selene.  ”Gonorran.  You?”

”The name is Smithbond; James Smithbond.”

”Selene.” 

Gonorran glanced at her like a parent might glance at a child who was misbehaving or being annoying.  ”No one asked you.” 

She wanted to glare at him but figured the interrogation might be better served by not doing so.  She clenched her fists under the table but kept her face calm and neutral. 

”Now, about that portal...”  Smithbond said. 

Gonorran eyed them and that’s when Selene realized that he was too awake.  They had given him enough drugs to stupefy a rhino and yet he was perfectly lucid.  She assumed that Smithbond had noticed this too so didn’t say anything, but it was troubling. 

”You aren’t mages.”  Gonorran said matter-of-factly.  ”None of your soldiers were mages, and probably no one else on this Illuminar-forsaken world is either.” 

Selene noticed him moving under the straightjacket, and it almost looked like he was feeling something that was invisible.  

”No.  No, it’s too thick for mages to exist here.”  He said with a subtle smile.  ”So, how do you even know about portals?”  He leaned forward, and for some reason that was creepy too.  ”I’m not the first to come here, am I?”

Suddenly, Selene wasn’t sure who was being interrogated.

Smithbond locked eyes with him for a moment.  There seemed to be a struggle of wills for several moments before Smithbond smiled slightly. 

”Selene; give us the room.”  He said as Gonorran smirked.

She only paused a moment before getting up and starting to leave.  She wasn’t sure what either of them were playing at, but she was almost glad she wasn’t being included. 

”Oh, and Selene.”  Smithbond said.

”Yes?”  She turned back towards him, but he was still looking at Gonorran as he spoke to her.  ”If you share any of what you’ve seen today, you’ll face court-martial charges... if you make it to trial.” 

She nodded and left.

Once the door was closed, she left out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.  She would’ve said that something wasn’t right here, but so many things weren’t right.  It would’ve been easier to count the few things that were right rather than the ones that were ’off’.

Yvonne was sitting in the observation room watching a thermal image of Gonorran on a laptop.  Oddly, his body seemed cooler than she would’ve expected.  The purple-haired computer geek glanced up as she entered, her short spiky hair barely moving.

”Keep walking Miss Dawson.”   Yvonne said absent-mindedly.  ”There’s a sergeant outside who’ll take you to your bunk.”

Selene frowned, not liking being kept out of the loop.  ”I can watch from here, and I won’t get in the way.” 

”No, you can’t.”  Yvonne said, and then tapped a couple of keys on her computer.

The door swung open and a burly man in military fatigues stepped inside.  ”Miss Dawson, will you come with me please ma’am.” 

It wasn’t a question. 

She followed him down a veritable maze of concrete corridors.  She still had no idea where they were, as the van in which she’d ridden to the base didn’t have any windows in the back section where she had been.  However, this place was huge.

”Where are we?”  She asked.

”Close to your bunk ma’am.” 

”I meant geographically; what state, county, etcetera.” 

”I’m afraid I can’t disclose that ma’am.”  He replied, then stopped near a steel door that had a lock on the outside.  It didn’t look like a prison cell, but if someone closed the deadbolt she’d be stuck.

”That looks... cozy.”  She said sarcastically.

”Yes ma’am.  You will make yourself comfortable.  Do I make myself clear.” 

Again, not a question.

She sized him up.  He had probably a hundred pounds of muscle on her and carried himself like a trained fighter.   She shrugged and entered the room, hearing him close and lock it behind her. 

The room was very spartan, with only a steel dresser, an aluminum chair, and a cot with a very uncomfortable-looking mattress.  She peeled her suit jacket off, unbuttoned a few buttons of her dress shirt, kicked off her shoes, and flopped onto the cot.  It wasn’t as uncomfortable as it looked, but she wasn’t planning to get the manufacturer’s number.

She would’ve loved to call her parents and let them know she was okay, but even if Smithbond hadn’t taken her phone, she doubted she would get reception through all the concrete.

She sighed.

Her mind went back over the day, and what a day it was.  She’d found the dragon, been beaten by him, lost her job, gotten another job, learned that magic and portals to other worlds were real, witnessed a mage fighting, and then interrogated that same mage. 

But setting all that aside, possibly the strangest thing about the day was her encounter with the dragon.  She wasn’t sure why, but that stuck out as the weirdest thing.  Especially what his wives -- plural -- had said before the portal had closed.

They were both clearly in love with him, and both clearly and fondly recalled sharing his bed.

Selene thought back to how he had looked at her; like a sex object that was just barely worthy of his notice.  No one had ever looked at her like that before.  Not like they were looking down on her as if she was beneath them.  Many had fallen all over themselves to get her attention, but never had she felt like she was barely worth someone’s attention.  She had felt like that with him.

He had beaten her easily. 

Pathetically easily.

She would’ve been embarrassed at how easily if another emotion wasn’t rising to challenge her embarrassment.  She had never before felt as powerless as the dragon-man had made her feel.   She had been utterly helpless before him. 

For some reason, that started a small itch between her legs.

For some reason, that powerlessness combined with the look he’d given her lit a fire inside of her that she’d never felt before.  He’d looked at her like a sex object for him to use.  She had never felt ’appraised’ like that before.  No one had ever looked at her purely as a sexual object without regard for her humanity or personality.  For some reason, that added fuel to the fire.

She felt ashamed of that though. 

Almost worse, it seemed like the dragon was deciding whether she was worth his notice, his attention... his bed.   For some reason, she felt a slight shiver run down her spine that ended between her legs.

She had always tried to be honest with herself, and she now couldn’t deny that his treatment of her had made her feel something that she’d never felt before.  It didn’t even make any sense: why should she be aroused by him treating her like a piece of meat -- a sex object -- for him to toy with? 

Maybe because no one else ever had?

Maybe because other men fell at her feet? 

She didn’t like it. 

She didn’t like that he made her feel so good because of that.  She wanted to be treated with respect and admired for the accomplished woman that she was.  She was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need a man.  Sure she wanted one, but she definitely didn’t need one.   She especially didn’t need one that seemed to view her as nothing more than a sex object to be used.

However, the itch between her legs begged to differ.

* * *

Ethan slowly returned to the waking world feeling better than he had in a very long time.  He had slept through the entire night without a single dream or interruption, and now he was waking to the most wonderful thing he had ever experienced.

Before he’d even opened his eyes, he felt a smile creep onto his face.  He could feel all three of his wives snuggled up against him.  He was lying on his side, spooning with Alana cradled in his arms.  He opened his eyes a crack to a vision of the peaceful, sleeping beauty that was his first wife.

Her face was completely relaxed as her chest rose and fell in time with her peaceful breathing.  Her chocolate-brown hair was splayed over the pillow and framed her face perfectly.  For some reason, her tiny, cute, button nose stuck out to him as particularly adorable this morning.

Just beyond her, facing both him and Alana, was Beth’s young and very beautiful face.  While the wood elf was cradled in his arms, he only had one hand resting on the blonde.  He had his wing draped like a blanket over her naked body, which felt incredible.  She also looked very content and peaceful, and her blonde hair framed her lovely face perfectly.

Behind him, snuggled up against his back was Taloni.  Like Beth, one of his wings was draped over her naked body like a blanket.  The Fey’s honey-blonde hair was perfect as always, even when it was a mess.  Every so often, he could feel her wings flutter slightly against his wing.

He sighed contentedly. 

It was wonderful. 

For the first time ever, he was waking up with all three of his wives around him. 

This was perfect.

Oddly, it had very little to do with the fact that they were all naked.  He loved that of course.  They were all beautiful women and he was very much looking forward to enjoying each and every one of them in bed this morning. 

But that wasn’t what made it wonderful.

No, it was wonderful because they all adored him and he adored them.  He truly cared about each and every one of them very deeply, and they felt the same about him. 

He also realized that the most wonderful thing about having wings wasn’t being able to fly, though that was wonderful.  His wings were spread over them like a blanket, and he could feel all of them through the thin membrane of his wings.  It was almost like being able to ’hold’ all of them at once. 

That was the best part about wings. 

He adjusted them slightly and -- as one -- all of his wives made a soft, contented sigh, wiggling slightly closer in their sleep. 

It was heaven.

Of course, all those beautiful, naked, nubile women moving against the skin of his wings -- not to mention their soft sighs -- had a very predictable effect on his cock.  He savored the feeling, knowing that they would soon be awake and wanting to thoroughly wear him out in bed.  He wasn’t sure his stamina was up to all three of them, but he was certainly ready to find out.

Ah, harem problems

As he lay there semi-aroused, he idly wondered what each of them was thinking. 

* * *

Beth felt a strange sensation as the night’s sleep slowly waned.  She could feel the comfortable mattress beneath her as she lay on her side, but her other side, back, and front had something touching them that she didn’t recognize. 

It was comfortable though. 

She sighed softly as she let sleep leave enough for her to open her eyes.  In front of her was a mass of silky-smooth chocolate-brown hair draped over the face of a beautiful wood elf.  Alana had a subtle, contented smile as she slowly breathed in her sleep, and Ethan’s arms were wrapped around her protectively, with one of them touching her.

She smiled at that.

Beth glanced down to see her legs and the wood elf’s legs were slightly intertwined.  It felt very odd because she’d never woken up half-snuggling with another woman before, but the skin-on-skin contact felt really nice.  Then she realized both of them were completely naked and suddenly her cheeks got very warm.  

She turned her head to see what was touching her side and back.

She smiled.

Ethan had one of his wings wrapped around her.  The membrane felt exactly like skin because it was, but it was also like a blanket wrapped around her.  It felt wonderful.  Weird, but wonderful.  It was also surprisingly warm, especially with how thin it seemed to be.

It took her a moment to realize that the way his wings felt wasn’t the strangest thing about this morning.  The strangest thing was her completely non-reaction to seeing her husband snuggling with another naked woman.  She truly didn’t mind anymore; not one bit.   In fact, she felt happy for Alana and only hoped they’d trade places soon so she could take a turn. 

She sighed at the thought. 

Behind Alana, Ethan’s head poked up and smiled at her.   *Good morning beautiful.*

She smiled back.  *Good morning handsome.*  She scooted a bit closer to both Him and Alana. 

He reached up with his wing and affectionately brushed her face, as one might with their finger.  It was loving and tender, and just made her heart melt.  She’d never had a more perfect morning, and couldn’t believe that she could look forward to this for the rest of her life.

She couldn’t imagine anyone being as happy as she was now. 

* * *

Taloni had been dreaming of flying through the forest when a minor earthquake woke her up.  Wait, an earthquake?  While flying?  She opened her eyes to see Ethan’s back shaking slightly with what looked like suppressed laughter. 

She smiled and snuggled closer to him. 

He twisted his head around to look at her.  *Good morning honey.*

She felt her smile get even wider.  *Good morning master.* 

His wing pulled her slightly closer to him.  *I’d turn around, but Alana is still asleep and I don’t want to wake her.*

Taloni nodded, then slid up the bed so she was half lying on Ethan’s pillow.  If they had been standing, she would’ve been looking down at him with her stomach on top of his head.  He looked ’up’ at her and she kissed him. 

A soft, contented sigh made her look up to see Beth’s beautiful face resting on her pillow watching.  Ethan’s wing was draped around her almost like a blanket and she looked incredibly beautiful.

”Morning.”  The blonde mouthed. 

”Morning.”  The other teen mouthed back with a slight wave of her hand. 

Alana’s chocolate-brown hair was splayed all over the pillow in front of Ethan and -- for some reason -- Taloni felt an enormous surge of contentment watching her husband snuggle with his two other naked...

She went red. 

She closed her eyes and pointed her head determinedly at anything over than Beth’s firm, proud breasts.  Fortunately, Ethan’s head and her arms were hiding her own naked body from view.

He chuckled again.  *They don’t bite, and seeing as how you all keep taking your clothes off in your sleep, you’re likely to see a lot more of them.*

The Fey teen nodded, not sure if he was talking about his wives in general or Beth’s breasts in particular.  It didn’t really matter, he was right either way.  She wasn’t sure why, but she was shy about being naked around his other wives.  It didn’t bother her, but she was a little self-conscious.

She slid back down so his body was blocking Beth’s view of her own body, and then rested her chin affectionately on his shoulder. 

He grinned at her appreciatively.  *You are wonderful, you know that?* 

She felt her heart swell as she beamed.  *Thank you.*  

The exuberant Fey teen closed her eyes and just savored the simple pleasure of snuggling with her husband in bed.  True, he had two other wives there, but she didn’t mind.  He truly cared about her and made her feel loved and cherished.  Plus, his other wives were truly delightful; almost like sisters. 

She never would’ve chosen to share a husband before meeting Ethan and his other wives.  Now, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She sighed contentedly. 

* * *

Alana drifted towards the waking world, exquisitely aware of Ethan wrapped all around her.  His legs were entwined with hers, his arms around her torso, and his front was pressed against her back. 

It was heaven. 

His legs did feel a bit strange though...

She moved them experimentally and felt skin instead of scale.  Beth?  She knew the blonde had fallen asleep right next to her.  She cracked her eyes and saw a beautiful cascade of blonde hair rolling down the pillow onto the sheets right in front of her.  The hair sprung from a slightly sleepy but very happy-looking teenager who was as naked as the day she was born.

Unlike the first time, the wood elf didn’t feel the slightest bit uncomfortable with that.

”Good morning.”  Her husband whispered into her ear. 

She sighed.  ”Good morning sir.” 

”Sir?”  He remarked on the title she usually used when she was feeling horny.  ”Feeling frisky this early in the morning?” 

She wiggled her butt against him playfully.  ”For you, always; whenever you want me... sir.” 

He kissed her cheek.  ”Yeah, that means I’d never slide out of you, and that might make a few other ladies feel slightly neglected.” 

She smiled and moved her head to snuggle closer to him.  The movement moved a lock of her hair, which fell across her nose.  She tried to blow it away with her mouth, but it didn’t want to move and Ethan had her arms delightfully pinned under his. 

Moments later, a soft, delicate finger brushed the lock away and tucked it behind her ear.  Beth was in front of her, so...  ”Morning Tee.”  She said turning to face the very content-looking Fey teen, then cocked her head to one side. ”Can I call you Tee?” 

”I don’t mind.” She replied, then blushed slightly.  ”As long as you don’t hog master all to yourself.” 

The wood elf chuckled.  ”I wouldn’t dream of it.” 

”Is it weird that I don’t mind if Dominus takes you two to bed, just so long as I get a turn too?”  Beth asked.

Alana shrugged.  ”Maybe, but I feel the same.” 

”Me too.”  Taloni chimed in.  ”And I’m glad we all feel that way.  This could be, Um...  unpleasant if we didn’t.” 

”No kidding.”  Ethan said, turning slightly to see the Fey girl better.  Alana adjusted so she was laying on her back, still very much in contact with Ethan, but now she could turn her head to see both her fellow wives too.

He looked at the three of them in turn, his smile getting wider as he did so.  ”Damn, I must be the luckiest guy in the world with you all here.  Life just seems complete with you three.” 

Alana sighed and Beth followed suit, but Taloni hesitated before also doing so. 

”What?”  The wood elf asked.

”Nothing.”  The Fey teen said quickly.  A little too quickly.

Ethan tucked his wings and rolled onto his back so he could look at her properly.  ”That didn’t sound like nothing.” 

She bit her lip.  ”You promise you won’t be mad?” 

”Yes, I promise.”  He replied kindly.

”Um...”  She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked at him in much the same manner a kitten might look at its master after being caught doing something wrong.  ”I think...  I think that there’s, um...  there might be someone missing to make it complete.” 

The other three stared.

Alana’s mind immediately jumped to her best friend and their resident mage.  She quite frequently thought about that dream-kiss with Rachel and waking up next to her in the hammock, dearly wishing that it would happen again.  Especially if the redhead was wed to Ethan.  But surely Taloni wasn’t thinking the same thing...

Was she?

Ethan seemed equally speechless, at least for a few moments.

”Who?”  Alana and Ethan said at the same time after a few moments.  Beth and Taloni laughed at their synchronicity, though the latter much more nervously than the former. 

”Um.”  The Fey bit her lip and then looked guiltily at Ethan again.  ”Remember, you promised you wouldn’t get mad.” 

”And I won’t, but who could you possibly be thinking of?”  He cocked his head to one side.  ”Prayla?” 

Taloni shook her head vigorously. 

”Okay, good.”  Ethan breathed a sigh of relief.  ”Then who?  Rachel?” 

Alana’s heart skipped a beat, but unfortunately, Taloni shook her head at this too, though almost reluctantly.  ”No, I mean Rachel is wonderful and I think she’d make a great wife for you, but no.” 

”Then who?”  He asked. 

All three of them looked at the Fey expectantly, which seemed to make her nervous. 

”Um, I think...”  She took a deep breath.  ”I think there’s someone who’s really lonely who would really like to have the closeness we have here.  Not now, but maybe eventually?” 

Alana was trying to figure out who she met, but couldn’t think of anyone she knew who was that lonely.  She couldn’t even really think of any other unattached women of marriageable age for Ethan to marry. 

”Someone who’s lonely?”  Ethan raised an eyebrow.  He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.  ”Who?” 

Taloni still seemed hesitant, so the wood elf propped herself up on her elbow while still lying down to look at her properly.  Of course, this meant she blocked Beth’s view, so the blonde then proceeded to sit up behind her.  Taloni blushed scarlet at seeing their naked fronts, but at least she didn’t hide herself this time. 

”Hey, it’s okay.”  Alana said kindly.  ”We won’t judge you or laugh at you.  We’re here to help, and we value your opinion.” 

Taloni smiled nervously.  ”Really?”  She then looked at Ethan, seemingly for confirmation.

”Absolutely.”  He nodded.  ”I couldn’t have put it better myself.” 

The Fey teen seemed to relax at that.

”Now, who?”  Ethan asked.

Taloni took a deep breath and then said the absolute last name that Alana would have ever expected. 

”Kendra.”

* * *

Kendra sighed in contentment.  She had fallen asleep alone in her airship with no one next to her, but now was waking up on a beautiful bed with her husband’s scaly arms around her.  It was like a dream.  The silk sheets felt better than she remembered, but she didn’t remember installing a bed on her canoe-sized airship... or getting married.

Oh well. 

She opened her eyes, seeing the chocolate-haired wood elf in front of her, as naked as the day she was born.   Beyond her, the blonde girl was equally naked and awake with a slightly hungry look in her eyes. Just behind her was the Fey teen, who was also naked and looked at her kindly.  Beyond the Fey teen, she thought she could see some red hair which faded to blond at the tips, but she wasn’t sure.

Her husband moved behind her, his hand roaming down the curve of her hip.  That’s when Kendra realized something.

She was naked too.

She could feel her entire naked back pressed up against the dragon.

She moaned.

She felt a fire in her loins ignite as she was naked with a man for the first time in her life.  Suddenly her breasts ached to be touched.  Her slit began to feel slightly moist and empty as if begging to be filled.  She started to subtly rock her hips against him. 

The dragon growled appreciatively. 

Quick as a flash, she felt herself being rolled onto her back as the dragon pinned her underneath himself, her hands trapped by one of his above her head.  His eyes bored into her, seemingly looking into her very soul; just as they had done the last time she’d confronted him. 

”Not yet.”  The dragon said firmly. 

She felt like a little child being told off.  For some reason, that made her all the more wet.

”Please.”  She pleaded.

”No, you’ll have to wait.”  He replied gently.

”Yes Drago.”  She nodded meekly and averted her eyes. 

Wait, Drago?

She shook her head trying to clear it.  Why was she addressing him with the title of a dragon lord? 

”Good girl.”  He said with a smile. 

”Thank you Drago.”  She said meekly, bowing her head in deference.  For some reason, it felt amazing to be called his ’good girl’. 

He laid back down and pulled her close and she sighed in contentment.  All his other wives were looking happily at her.  They all smiled, and one-by-one scooted forward and wrapped her in a huge group hug. 

Kendra felt her eyes start to tear up. 

They weren’t exactly sad tears, but they weren’t completely happy tears either.  She had desperately wanted to feel this close contact for longer than she could remember.  Now that she had it, her emotions were leaking out of the corners of her eyes. 

”Why are you all being so nice to me?”  She asked when they had finished.  ”I tried to kill Ethan, and I hurt some of you.”  She looked at him.  ”How can you be so wonderful?” 

”Because he’s the best man we’ve ever known.”  Taloni replied.  ”He’s just that good. 

”But I tried to kill you.”  She said, the full weight of what that meant hitting her at that moment.  ”If you really are a good man, and I...  I...”  She worked her mouth soundlessly, unable to get the words out. 

Her throat got very tight. 

She made to sit up, but he stopped her and pulled her against himself. She fought him half-heartedly, but it felt so good to be held that she stopped resisting after only a few moments. 

In front of her, Taloni smiled, climbed over her fellow wives, and pressed her front up against Kendra’s back.  Oddly, despite their mutual nakedness, it wasn’t a sexual move, nor even a sensual one.  Rather, it was simply comforting. 

It was also heartbreaking. 

If these people really where like this -- and she had no reason to think they weren’t -- then if they really were like this and she’d been hunting them...

She didn’t know how she would live with herself. 

* * *

Kendra opened her eyes to realize it had been a dream.  She was lying on her airship with a nice thick blanket over her.  The sun hadn’t risen yet, but would soon.  A quick glance into her spyglass confirmed that she was still following the dragon’s airship from a great distance.  She wasn’t in bed with anyone, she didn’t have a husband.

She was alone. 

Completely and utterly alone.

There was no one around for miles except the people she had been hunting.  She pulled up her enchanted spyglass, braced it against the side of the ship to keep it steady, and looked into the captain’s cabin. 

The dragon appeared to be snuggling with all three wives.  They were all awake and talking, though about what she had no idea.  They all looked happy and content.  She wondered if she could have that too.   Not with the dragon obviously, but with someone. 

The trouble was, she didn’t think she’d ever be able to trust someone enough to have that.  She wouldn’t even know how to go looking for someone she could trust enough to comfortably be naked with them.

Her mind drifted back to Luminar Kossel’s prediction that the one who killed her and then saved her life twice would be her last, best chance to find true friends. 

It wasn’t possible.

She shook her head.  Maybe with his wives -- especially Taloni -- but not with a dragon.  Ever.  He was a dragon, and therefore pure evil clad in scales...

Or was he?

Could a being of pure evil be so tender and affectionate with his wives?  Would a being of pure evil even take a wife?  Wouldn’t he just seduce them and then discard them instead?  Somehow, she couldn’t see this dragon doing that.  She couldn’t see him hurting or taking advantage of any of his wives. 

She wasn’t sure what to make of that.

* * *

”Kendra?”  Ethan felt his jaw drop.  ”You mean, Kendra the dragon huntress?  Strong as an ox, disposition like a pit bull?  That Kendra?”

Taloni nodded slowly. 

”Why?”  He and Alana said at the exact same time. 

Beth laughed.  ”How are you two always doing that?” 

Alana grinned, though the shock still hadn’t left her face.  ”I have no idea, but I don’t mind.”  She snuggled up a bit closer to him.

”Me either.”  He returned her smile, then turned back to his Fey wife.  ”So, what makes you say Kendra?  Why her of all people?”

”Um, she seemed really lonely.  When I gave her that hug she seemed... well she tried to hide it, but she was tearing up afterwards.” 

”Kendra was crying?”  He raised his eyebrow.  ”The ice queen herself was crying?”

”Please don’t call her that master.”  Taloni said quietly.  She looked at into his eyes and he saw great sympathy there.  ”I’m not excusing what she’s done, but she saved my life when she had no reason to and nothing to gain.  She can’t be all bad.”

”Maybe.”  He wasn’t convinced.

”I actually think you two have a lot in common.”  The Fey teen added quietly.

”What?”  Ethan, Alana, and Beth all said incredulously at the same time. 

Taloni flinched slightly. 

He put his arms around her comfortingly.  ”We’re not mad, just surprised.  What could we possibly have in common?”

She sighed into his hug.  ”Um, well you both risked your lives to save strangers.” 

”That’s true.”  Alana admitted. 

”You both did it when you had nothing to gain, so it wasn’t selfish or to get something.” 

”Also true.”  Beth nodded.

”And since neither of you got anything out of it, that makes you both good, selfless people.”

”I can’t deny you logic, but...”  Ethan grimaced.  ”I just can’t see it.”

”I know master, and that’s another thing you have in common.”  The Fey teen said very softly as her wings fluttered nervously.

”Oh?”

She nodded.  ”You both refuse to see the good in each other.”

”Ouch.”  He said with a wince.  ”Touché, but ouch.” 

All three of his wives looked at him confused. 

”What’s a ’touché’?”  Beth asked. 

He explained the fencing reference and they nodded.  He nodded too, not able to fault his Fey wife’s logic in the slightest.  It hurt, but she did have a good point.  He could feel something else coming from his bond with her though. 

”There’s more.”  He said matter-of-factly.

Taloni bit her lip and averted her eyes.  ”Are you sure you want me to say master?  I’d rather not.” 

He opened his mouth to reply, then closed it and chose his words carefully.  Knowing Taloni, she would do whatever pleased him regardless of how she felt about it. 

”I would like to know, but--”  He gave her a serious look.  ”--but I don’t want you to say something that makes you uncomfortable.  So only say it if you want to say it.  Understand?” 

She nodded, looked at him, looked down, then back into his eyes.  ”But you’d like me to say, even if it makes you unhappy?” 

”If you want to, yes; even if it makes me unhappy.”  He replied, but could see her mind was made up the moment he said ’yes’.  She was so incredibly devoted to him that she would completely set aside her own wants and desires to fulfill his.  That sounded flattering in theory, but in practice he wasn’t sure it was healthy; at least, not to the level that she took it.

”Um, she helped me even though I’m married to you.”  The Fey said hesitantly.  ”She helped one of her enemies, and I can only think of one other person who’s done that...  and he did it...  um...” 

”To her.”  Ethan finished.  ”I saved her life in The Arena, and then she saved yours.” 

Taloni nodded.

He had also helped Rachel, though that was a little different because he had sort of known that she wasn’t doing things of her own will.  As he thought of the redhead, he was then struck by mild annoyance that she wasn’t here in bed with the rest of them.  He wasn’t sure why and it didn’t make sense. 

The Fey teen took a deep breath before continuing.  ”You and Kendra are the only two people I know who selflessly risked their lives for their enemies.  I think only good people would do that.  Do you agree master?” 

She sounded hopeful that he would agree. 

”You make a good point.”  He admitted.  ”I’d love to disagree because she’s done a lot to try and harm us, but you really do make a good point.” 

”I think she’s a really good person.”  Taloni said.  ”And she’s a dragon hunter, so couldn’t she help us against the black dragon?” 

Alana smiled mischievously.  ”Why Taloni Ejder, are you playing matchmaker for our husband?” 

The Fey teen got the hugest smile on her face, fluttered her wings excitedly, and beamed as her eyes got slightly watery.  ”I...  You mean I have a last name?” 

”Of course.”  He said. 

She hugged him tightly.  ”I’ve never had a last name before.  Thank you so much!” 

He hugged her back as Alana and Beth crawled over him to make it a laying down group hug with the ecstatic Fey teen at the center.  It got slightly hard to breathe for a moment, but he didn’t mind.

”Dominus, I think Taloni should be given a...  reward for her insight.”  Beth said seductively as she ran her finger up Taloni’s side, causing the Fey to shiver as her face turned red. 

Ethan smiled as he looked at her.  ”Yes, you’ve been a very good girl this morning.  Would you like to be rewarded?”

”Oh yes please master!”  She exclaimed. 

He leaned up to kiss her, reveling in her soft lips and naked body pressed up against him.  With so many wonderful women in bed with him, the only question was which one he should take next.  He had so many wonderful--

”DRAGON!!!”  Someone shouted from the deck. 

”DRAGON INCOMING!!!”

Everyone froze for a moment, then sprang into action.

His wives immediately leapt off him in a flurry of hair and naked limbs.  He himself rolled off the bed into a standing position as the girls rummaged around for their discarded dresses.  He called his weapons to his hand, growling at the intruder who had dared to interrupt him from enjoying his wives.

Damn dragons.

”Be careful.”  Alana said as he headed towards the exit, weapons in hand.  He nodded, then turned towards the door and snarled as he stalked through it, closing it behind him so no one else would see his half-clothed wives. 

Fortunately, the deck was clear.

It was early morning and the sun had just crested the horizon.  There was a beautiful mosaic of reds and oranges painting the sky, which he was too annoyed to appreciate.  Below the Argo, he could hear the birds singing and the insects chirping.  He scanned the sky, looking for the beast that had interrupted his morning plans. 

The dragon was in front of the Argo and still relatively distant, but getting closer.  He had a strange copper color that reminded him of gold reflecting the firelight.  Something about this dragon just seemed...  different. 

Strange.

Unlike Drousin and Havorleth, there was something regal about this dragon.  There was something noble about the way he held his head and flapped his wings that just screamed ’lord’.  It felt like he was looking at a superior being; a superior dragon.

Even his dragon side seemed slightly cowed. 

The copper dragon approached slowly, lazily; as if he owned the sky and so was taking his time.  He finally arrived, circling high above the Argo and looking down at them from on high, as a king might observe his peasants from the parapet of his castle. 

The door to the captain’s cabin opened and his three wives made to leave, but he held up his hand to indicate they should stop. 

*Stay in there.*  He instructed Alana, who was leading the way.

She stopped, preventing the others from leaving.  *What’s wrong?* 

*This dragon; something about him is...*  He trailed off, not sure how to describe it. 

Alana backed into the captain’s cabin but didn’t close the door.  Beth and Taloni were peeking over her shoulder trying to figure out what was going on. 

*Explain it to them.*  He thought to Alana.  *And we seriously need to figure out how to all talk to each other at the same time.  This repeating everything to everyone multiple times thing is bullshit.*

She nodded and then turned to his other wives. 

The copper dragon seemed to deem the Argo worthy of his presence and so he lazily swooped down and landed on the foredeck on all fours, in front of the mast.  He held his head up high, and looked down his snout at them.  He wasn’t much larger than Ethan himself but somehow seemed to tower above them. 

His dragon instincts wanted to give this dragon a respectful bow, but he fought that impulse with his human mind.  Why should he give this interloper such a respectful gesture?

”No bow?”  The copper dragon sneered.  ”Did your sire not teach you manners?” 

Ethan stared right back at him, refusing to bend the knee despite the dragon inside him wanting to.

The copper dragon emitted a low growl. 

Ethan’s draconic side pulled even more strongly to make him bow, but still, he didn’t. 

”Fine; we’ll do this according to the old ways then.”  The copper dragon took a deep breath, then looked up and let loose the most powerful roar Ethan had ever heard. 

It hit him like a freight train.

It wasn’t like Havorleth’s roar, which sounded like a challenge.  This copper dragon’s roar contained a powerful note of domination and power.  He could feel the primal terror and dread from each of his wives as the piercing sound washed over the whole ship; over the whole area.  The Argo was flying low enough to hear the birds singing and insects chirping.

That abruptly ceased.

There was no sound except the dragon’s roar. 

He could feel his own body starting to betray him.  It wanted to freeze when confronted with this dragon’s roar.  Failing that, it wanted to follow his draconic instincts and bend the knee.  That part of him had never wanted to kneel to anything before. 

Ever. 

He steeled his will, fighting both the roar and his dragon side to remain upright and defiant. 

The copper dragon ended his roar and an unnatural silence filled the air.  Not a single creature dared to make a sound after that.  Even his dragon ears couldn’t hear a single sound made by any living creature; whether a beast of the field, or bird of the air, or creeping insect. 

All had been cowed into complete silence.

All had rendered themselves mute before this Drago; this Dragon Lord.

The silence was deafening.

That’s when he realized he’d been holding his breath, and exhaled.  Doing so seemed to break the spell.  From deep inside of him, a fierce resistance sprang up.  One that originated not with his dragon side, but with his human side.  He could feel his draconic instincts telling him to bow to this copper dragon, but he wouldn’t. 

He wouldn’t bow.

He wouldn’t submit. 

He took a deep breath, thinking of his wives and his unborn child who were counting on him for protection from this invader, and then opened his mouth and roared right back. 

It didn’t have near the force of the copper dragon’s roar. 

Not by a long shot.

He wasn’t even in the same league.  It was like comparing a little-league player’s swing to Babe Ruth on his best day.  They were worlds apart and Ethan’s roar didn’t carry the same awesome power.

But it carried conviction. 

It carried his will to defend those around him, especially his wives and unborn child.  It carried his determination to never bow and never surrender as long as there was breath left in his body.  As long as he could fight, as long as he drew breath, he would fight for his family and crew no matter what; copper dragon be damned. 

Ethan’s roar hit the other dragon much like a feather pillow would hit a linebacker.  He looked mildly surprised, but nothing else.

”Curious.”  The copper dragon mused when Ethan finished.  ”Most dragons would’ve bent their knee by now, or at least nodded in respect.  You are a feisty one, aren’t you?” 

He didn’t look amused. 

Not in the slightest.

”What do you want?”  Ethan asked. 

”What you took from me.”  The copper dragon replied with a low growl.

”Which was?”  Ethan asked.  He assumed it had something to do with Havorleth, but there was no sense tipping his hand if it didn’t. 

”I don’t suffer fools lightly hatchling.”  The copper dragon took a step forward.  ”Restore what’s mine, or...”  He glanced around at the wooden ship and exhaled a small puff of smoke.

He heard a door creak behind him and chanced a glance.  It was Rachel coming up from the lower decks.  She had the grenade satchel slung across one shoulder and a determined look on her face.  Still, she held her tongue.  He guessed because she remembered the derision that Havorleth had shown towards other humans and didn’t want to anger this dragon. 

The copper dragon looked at Rachel’s flame-colored hair and licked his lips.  ”Or perhaps you could give me this cow for a broodmare instead.” 

The first thought that crept into Ethan’s mind was entirely shocking.  His first thought was ’She’s mine to breed, not yours’.  He felt a strange sort of possessiveness over the beautiful redhead that was akin to what he felt about his other wives.  He shook his head at his subconscious use of the word ’other’. 

No, his wives; period.  Not ’other’ wives.

Rachel wasn’t one of them.

He heard a low growl escape his throat. 

”No?”  The copper dragon raised his eyebrow.  ”It’s clear you haven’t bedded her, no matter how much the bitch pants for you.”

”I do not--”  Rachel started to say, but fell silent at a single glance from the copper dragon. 

”Silence cow.”  He sneered at her before turning back to Ethan.  ”Now, pay what’s owed or give me the loud cow.” 

Ethan growled.  ”You can’t have her.” 

The copper dragon shrugged.  ”Then pay what’s owed.” 

”I wasn’t aware that I owed you anything.”  He growled low in his throat.  His dragon side at least was on his side about not giving up gold.

”Speak your name young one.”  The copper dragon commanded. 

”Ethan.  Yours?”

”Yours, Drago.”  The copper dragon corrected with a sneer.  ”You will at least respect my status.”

Ethan snorted.  ”I’ll do nothing of the sort, asshat.” 

The copper dragon’s eyes went wide and he leaned his head back slightly in surprise.  He blinked several times and then cocked his head to one side. 

”You come onto my ship making demands of me like you own me when we’ve never even met.”  He snarled.  ”Fuck that.  Get your ass off my ship.”

The copper dragon blinked a few more times, then started laughing.  It was a deep from-the-belly sort of laugh that sounded like he was genuinely amused.  Ethan glanced at Rachel and then his other wives to see what they thought.  Then reminded himself yet again that the redhead wasn’t one of his wives.

They all shrugged.

”What’s so funny?”  Ethan finally asked as the dragon visibly shook in laughter. 

”It’s been over a century since someone addressed me that way.”  The copper dragon mused as he calmed down.  ”You are a strange dragon, Ethan.” 

”Um, thanks?”  He replied, not knowing what else to say.

”Kyrupto.  I am Drago Kyrupto.”  The copper dragon said and then the mirth vanished from his face as quickly as it had come.  ”Now, where is my gold?” 

Ethan’s patience was beginning to wear thin.  He realized this dragon was probably a lot more powerful than he was.  Judging from Prayla’s story he definitely was.  But that didn’t mean he was going to roll over and play dead.

”Okay, Drago Kyrupto.”  He emphasized the word ’Drago’ almost comically.  ”What the hell are you talking about?  How can I owe you gold when we’ve never met?”

”You stole it from my vassal.”  Kyrupto replied.  ”Therefore, you stole from me.” 

”Wait, I’m confused.  I assume you’re talking about Havorleth and his hoard.”

Kyrupto nodded.

”So, did his hoard belong to him, or to you?” 

”To him.”  The copper dragon sighed with the air of someone who was tolerating stupid questions from an idiot child.

”If it belongs to him, how could it belong to you?” 

”Because he’s my vassal.”  Kyrupto replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

”So then, it ultimately belongs to you?” 

”Of course not.” 

Ethan sighed.  ”So if it doesn’t ultimately belong to you, how could I have stolen it from you?” 

”Because Havorleth is my vassal.” 

”Because it’s what plants need.”  Ethan mumbled, remembering the movie ”Idiocracy” which contained a similarly pointless back and forth exchange. 

”So Havoleth’s hoard ultimately belongs to both of you?” 

Kyrupto clearly had enough of this back-and-forth because he growled and narrowed his eyes.  ”Havorleth is one of my vassals, meaning I protect him from other dragons in exchange for him delivering a portion of his gold to me.” 

”Hmm.”  Ethan mused. 

He glanced at Rachel, who like him had a sly smile on her face.  She had clearly noticed it too.

He turned back to Kyrupto, smiling widely.  ”So just to be clear, you protect Havorleth from other dragons in exchange for him giving you some of his gold.”

”Twenty percent of whatever he acquires... plus a penalty if he isn’t acquiring enough.” 

Something told Ethan that this ’penalty’ was both substantial and frequently exacted.  He was even more sure because of what Beth had said about the size of Havorleth’s hoard.

”And you only protect him from other dragons?  Nothing else?” 

The copper dragon looked insulted.  ”Why would a dragon need protection from anything except another dragon?” 

”So if I didn’t take Havorleth’s gold, but a non-dragon did, I wouldn’t owe you anything.” 

Kyrupto was not amused.  ”Don’t lie to me hatchling.  I can feel the mana flowing into you even as we speak.  You might’ve used an incantation to hide it from my dragon senses, but this ship must be heavy with gold for so much mana to be flowing into you.”

”I didn’t take the gold.”  He replied.  ”I beat Havorleth, but didn’t take a single gold coin.”

”Liar.”  The copper dragon spat, then puffed some more smoke.  ”Give me what’s owed; now.” 

The threat was clear and apparently Ethan had gotten on this powerful dragon’s last nerve.

He considered. 

He didn’t like the idea of revealing that his wives were the ones feeding him so much mana.  However, he didn’t see a way out of this without revealing that fact.  Judging by Prayla’s story, fighting wasn’t an option either.  He thought back to the first time he’d encountered a dragon -- Drousin -- and how he’d escaped then.

Perhaps this dragon’s pride would also be his own salvation?

”I challenge you to a battle of wits.”  Ethan announced. 

The copper dragon looked at Ethan much as a parent would look at a small child who wanted to arm wrestle them.  ”You would be completely unarmed hatchling.  I’m centuries older than you.”

”Then you should have no fear of playing.”  Ethan replied. 

Kyrupto narrowed his eyes.  ”The terms?” 

”I’ll pose a riddle to you.”  Ethan said.  ”If you can correctly guess the answer, I’ll tell you where the source of my mana is.  If you can’t guess, then you leave us alone and never return.” 

”You overreach hatchling.”  Kyrupto sneered.  ”Perhaps I’ll tear you limb from limb and find it myself.” 

”Okay, if you answer incorrectly, then you must hear me out while I explain that I didn’t take a single gold piece from Havorleth’s hoard.” 

Kyrupto narrowed his eyes at Ethan.  

Ethan decided to goad him a bit more. ”Come on; you just said I’d be completely unarmed in this battle of wits.  You aren’t scared of losing to a hatchling are you?”  Ethan asked, mirroring the derogatory nickname that the copper dragon had been using for him.

The other dragon gave a low, menacing growl.

Apparently, he had worn through the last of this dragon’s patience.  There was a primal threat beneath that growl.  He’d heard something very similar from his own vocal cords whenever anyone wanted to claim his gold or wives.  If he didn’t win this, or Kyrupto didn’t agree, he got the distinct impression that this Drago might just rip him apart. 

Finally, the copper dragon nodded.  ”Agreed.”