by Amy Sumida
I looked at the remainder of the Squad and shrugged. “I guess we go home?”
“There's nothing else we can do here,” Odin agreed.
“I think we could all use a few hours of rest,” Thor said. “Let's meet back at Pride Palace tomorrow morning.”
The Squad nodded wearily, and we all headed to our individual homes.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Later that evening, my family and I were all out on the drawbridge/veranda, having some coffee and tea while we watched the children play in the fort I'd made them with my territory magic. I'd placed the fantastical construction off to the side but still in front of the palace; near the steps that led up, between the gold and crimson dragon statues, to the veranda. The fort had stone walls, a small keep, and a tower. There was just enough room for all of the older children—my children and Zariel—to fit on the top platform of the tower. So, that's where they were. Both Cats and Dragons love a good perch.
Fallon and Samantha were with us, along with some of the Intare; sprawled across the veranda. Some of my lions sat on chairs but most relaxed along the edge of the wood platform; their feet dangling over our moat/extension of our pool. I sat between Trevor and Kirill—Vero nestled in my arms—while Azrael, Odin, Re, and Toby ranged out to either side of us. Arach stood across the way; leaning against a column as he watched the children with a peaceful expression on his face. The sunset painted Arach in both of our dragons' colors; red and gold. It, oddly enough, softened him even more than his expression did; turning him into a watercolor version of himself.
I was so distracted by Arach's new look that I didn't notice what my sons were up to. Not the son in my arms but the ones playing in the miniature tower before me.
Rian cast off his clothes dramatically, shifted into his dragon form, and flew off the tower. He circled the structure; making it appear to be a movie model in a fantasy film. I saw Arach smile and shake his head, which is what directed my attention to Rian. But as I started to chuckle, I noticed that Brevyn was naked too. As I frowned, Brev launched himself off the tower after his twin brother.
Brevyn didn't fall, nor did Rian catch him. Instead, my son shifted into a crimson dragon—a miniature version of Arach's own beast—and flew after his brother. I jolted to my feet, Vero making a small sound of complaint, and that's when everyone else realized that the children were shouting in delight... and what they were shouting about.
A pair of perfect, beautiful, miniature, male dragons circled the forts; screeching at each other with glee. I stepped up to the edge of the veranda beside Arach and stared at Brevyn's gleaming, sinuous, blood-red body in shock. Brevyn has the magic of Borrowing; he can copy any god's or faerie's magic for as short or as long a period as he wished. His premonition talent was actually meant to support this main power; allowing Brev to judge what would serve him best at any given time. Evidently, he thought that being a dragon was best for now.
When I considered it all, it wasn't so shocking. Brevyn had a small amount of Dragon-Sidhe essence in him that he inherited from my Fey mother, back when he reclaimed her essence from Alfheim. I got a tiny piece of her back too, but Brevyn got the bulk of it so that he could form a connection to the land and rule in my stead. Brevyn is technically King of Alfheim, though he has a steward caring for it in his name until he comes of age. What I'm trying to say is that Brev has magic in him that longs to fly. In particular, it wants to be a dragon. All things considered, it's more shocking that it's taken Brevyn this long to shift.
“He's beautiful,” Trevor murmured as he gently took Vero away from me.
I glanced at Trevor in question, and he nodded toward Arach pointedly. My strong, stoic, fierce, dragon husband was crying.
I slid my arm around Arach's waist and leaned against his side as I laid my palm on his chest; directly over his heart. Arach's hand came up absently to press over mine as he continued to watch our sons entertain the other children with aerial acrobatics and dramatic dives.
“He took my form; he borrowed my magic,” Arach whispered as he finally looked down at me. “Brevyn chose to shift into my dragon.”
I smiled softly. So that was his tears were about.
Brevyn had been born of my magic alone; split from the part of him that had been partially formed by Arach. It had been a sore spot for Arach that one of our twins wasn't technically his. He proclaimed over and over that Brevyn was his son, no matter what his genetics were, and when Brevyn became part Dragon-Sidhe in truth, Arach had rejoiced. But as a partial dragon, Brevyn couldn't shift and so could not be crowned as an heir to the Fire Kingdom. Except we hadn't considered the fact that Brevyn could borrow that ability from his twin. Or his father.
And now, not only could Brevyn shift, but he had also borrowed the ability from Arach; allowing him to turn into a version of his father's dragon. Not his twin's rare, verdure-green or even my gold. No; Brevyn—like so many other little boys—wanted to be like his daddy. He had just announced what Arach had been saying all along; that Arach is his father. And Brevyn had made his declaration in the way of Dragons.
It brought tears to my eyes too.
“You're his father,” I said with a sniffle. “The God of his existence; the ultimate symbol of masculinity for him. You are who he hopes to become. And I hope that for him too.”
“You're not upset that he didn't choose your magic?” Arach whispered.
“I love you both too much to care about that,” I scoffed. “Besides; he probably thought he'd become a female dragon if he borrowed my magic, and Brevyn obviously wants to be a man.”
Arach's chest lifted proudly, as did his chin. “He will be a magnificent man, a deadly dragon, and the kind of king that stories are written about. Our son.”
I let Arach have his moment, even if he was taking it to an arrogant, dragon place. I'm a dragon too, after all. I had my moments. But this moment—watching my husband stare proudly at our sons as tears of joy dried on his face—was one I'd treasure forever.
Chapter Twenty-Six
After all the excitement with Brevyn and Rian, the children were tuckered out. We put them to bed and then went there ourselves. Azrael spent the night with me, but we didn't have enough energy for more than one, lazy round of lovemaking. So, when the Sun rose, Azrael rose as well and coaxed me into an early morning treat.
We were on our way to a delightful orgasm—my angel above me with his midnight, feathered wings spread wide—when Arach burst in.
“The boys are already down at the fort, flying again,” Arach announced as he came in. “Fallon and Sam...” he trailed off as his gaze finally landed on Azrael and me.
If Arach had been prepared, he probably would have been fine. We had used Arach's visit as an opportunity to renew the lioness magic that bonded my men and kept them content with the fact that I had numerous lovers. It made all of those alpha personalities accept that they had to share, even glad to do so because it meant more protection for their mate. But getting around a dragon's possessiveness is tricky. They are the original hoarders. Arach's pet name for me even meant; my treasure. So, he didn't react well.
Arach shifted into his weredragon form with a snarl. Leathery wings sprouted from his back, tearing apart his tunic as crimson scales spread over his body. His body thickened, his face shifted into more angular lines, his eyes began to glow, and a barbed tail grew out of his lower back to lash around his clawed feet aggressively. His hands boasted deadly talons too, and they curled with fury as the remnants of his clothes fluttered to the floor around him.
“Arach!” I cried as I scampered out from beneath Azrael and rushed over to him. “Look at me!” I took his face in my hands and directed his stare down at me instead of Azrael. “Calm down, honey. Just breathe.”
Arach snarled, grabbed the back of my thighs, lifted me off my feet, spread my legs, and settled me on his shaft in one graceful movement. With his claws cradling my ass, he began to thrust furiously—and obviously possessively—into me; grunts and growl
s climbing up his throat as he bared his teeth. I stroked his face and whispered endearments to him as I wrapped my legs around him and held on. My own dragon surfaced in response to him; her golden scales emerging to outline my face and torso. After a few minutes, Arach calmed enough to breathe deeply and lay his forehead against mine.
“I'm sorry, A Thaisce,” he murmured as his tempo slowed. “I shouldn't have burst in like that.”
“It's okay, but you've interrupted my time with Azrael.” I looked back over my shoulder at the angel in my bed.
Azrael grinned. “I don't mind sharing; especially if you're going to look like that, Carus.”
Azrael loved my weredragon form; it reminded him of the female demons he'd grown up around... and lusted after. I looked back at Arach in question. His jaw clenched, and he shoved himself deeper inside me.
“You were okay in the club,” I reminded him.
“That was under the influence of magic.”
“And here, you're under the influence of my magic.” I held my hand out to Az.
Azrael slid out of the bed and stepped up behind me. Arach's jaw clenched but I stroked it until he relaxed. Arach finally nodded and started moving us toward the bed.
“Here works for me.” Az stopped us with his hands on my waist.
Arach frowned as he watched Azrael over my shoulder; his cock still pumping into me steadily and his leathery wings lifted high behind him. Azrael spread my ass cheeks and eased his shaft slowly into that other place, sighing in delight as he worked himself deep. Arach's eyes widened.
“You let him penetrate you there?” Arach asked me in shock.
“The Wolf helped Vervain work through her sexual reservations,” Az said on a moan. “She's discovered that she likes this.”
“You do?” Arach asked me; his tone turning toward fascination.
“My lust magic does something to me,” I panted. “It makes every part of my body come alive. I always assumed this would be painful, or at least uncomfortable, but for me, it isn't. It's... amazing.”
“I wish to try this with you,” Arach declared. “I've never done so before. It seems... wicked, and that intrigues me.”
I looked back at Azrael, and he grinned mischievously. That naughty angel knew that this would not only tempt Arach, but also distract him from the fact that he was sharing me. Az had been raised by the Devil after all; he'd learned how to tempt from the very best.
“Of course,” Az said generously as he pulled out.
Arach eased out of me as well and transferred me to Azrael's arms, turning me to face my angel. I wrapped my legs around Az as I reached between us to angle his shaft inside me. He slid in slickly, and I sank down on him to the base. I grabbed onto Azrael's shoulders as he angled my knees over his inner elbows and supported my ass with his hands. When we had a nice rhythm going, Azrael spread me for Arach. I looked over my shoulder at my dragon husband with a saucy smile.
“I'm waiting, Dragon,” I purred. “Show me how wicked you can be.”
Arach growled, his wings spreading even wider as he positioned himself behind me. Az went still so Arach could ease his slick member slowly into me, and I moaned as he went in all the way until his pelvis flattened my ass cheeks.
“Sweet fire,” Arach murmured against my throat. “You're so tight.”
Arach and Azrael started thrusting in unison as their wings pumped behind them to keep us steady. I leaned my head back on Arach's shoulder as his hands came up to massage my breasts. Now that Arach was inside me, Az let go of my ass to hold me by my thighs and pump harder into me.
“My dragon and my angel,” I whispered. “Pure heaven.”
“I think I like this, A Thaisce,” Arach growled just before he bit my neck.
I shivered with pleasure from the bite and then Azrael kissed me, taking me even higher. With the Dragon's mouth on my throat and my blood flowing into him, the Angel's lips on mine and our tongues tangling together, and their cocks filling me completely as their wings of leather and feathers encased us, I couldn't last very long. I came with screaming and clawing ferocity; shaking uncontrollably between them.
But they were just getting started. Two winged lovers made for very creative lovemaking.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The God Squad showed up the next morning—Artemis brought Apollo too—and I invited some of my lions to join us. These particular lions were the ones I'd assigned to watch Qaus' Portland house and Sampo. Torrent had done a bit of Internet digging to discover that Qaus has rented his house under the name; Quentin Delaney. I thought that sounded rather white for an Arabian god, but perhaps he liked the Q name. When everyone was settled at the dining table, I gave the lions a nod.
Wren started, “Qaus hasn't returned. We've covered his house from all angles, and we're absolutely certain he hasn't been back; we haven't even scented him.”
“Thank you, Wren.” I motioned to the next lion. “Christopher, what have you seen at Sampo?”
“Every night it's the same thing, Tima,” Christopher reported. “Humans come streaming in. But the first night we were there, we noticed something odd that we confirmed on the second night.”
“Yes?” Apollo asked urgently.
“Not all of the humans leave,” Christopher said. “You told us not to go into the club so we can't confirm what happens to them inside, Tima, but we became curious enough that the second night, we took pictures of everyone who went in and everyone who came out. Over a hundred didn't emerge.”
“A hundred?” Brahma asked with rapid blinks. “They can't possibly be sacrificing that many humans nightly.”
“They aren't,” Christopher confirmed. “The next morning, those who hadn't left the night before emerged alive and well.”
“They're having sleepovers?” I asked in bafflement.
“The humans who reappeared had an odd look to them,” David took over for Chris. “So, a couple of us followed them when they left the premises.”
“You followed the humans?” Arach asked.
“Yes; we had to rent a car,” Chris said and shrugged. “But we were able to follow several of the ones who had spent the night in Sampo. They went to college campuses, malls, and downtown Portland. Once there, they passed these out.”
He placed a flier on the table; it looked just like the one I'd found in Comus' mansion except this one was in pristine condition.
“They're handing out fliers?” Finn asked in astonishment. “That's rather tame.”
“This isn't just happening in Portland,” Torrent added. “Vai is making appearances in new clubs that are popping up all over the U.S. All of the clubs are named Sampo—as if it's a chain business—so I think we can assume that they're being run by the Finns.”
“They're branching out?” Hades growled.
“How American,” Kate drawled.
“They're spreading their religion,” Pan murmured thoughtfully. “They just trace around the U.S. and gather worshipers. You know they won't stop here; soon they'll be on the other continents.”
“They might already be,” I whispered as I looked at Odin. “If Qaus is at all associated with the Finns, that could be the reason he went to Europe.”
“Hold on,” Torrent said. His eyes starting moving rapidly as if he were reading something in the air before him. “V's right; there are twenty-three other Sampos all over the world. The one in Portland is just the first on American soil; the original Sampo is in Finland.”
“Of course, it is,” Horus muttered.
“They've been opening these clubs all over the world but have only now come to America,” Blue concluded. “Why?”
“America has the biggest music industry in the world,” I mused. “Perhaps they wanted to test their effectiveness in other places first. Or maybe they wanted to grow their power on their home turf before they used it here.”
“Whatever their plan was, it's working,” Torrent announced. “Remember how I mentioned the enormous social media presence Vai has? Wel
l, it's grown significantly since the last time I looked. It's practically a movement. He has hashtags; #Vainamite, #AllVaiAllTheTime, #Vainamo, and #SampoisSanctuary, to only name a few.”
“Sanctuary?” Thor asked. “They're using old tricks in a new way.”
“What do you mean by that?” Arach asked.
“Gods used to prey on human insecurities,” Thor explained. “Death, poverty, loneliness, heartache; all the traumas of life. We offer to ease their troubles, give them a place to go when they die, and a safe place to worship while they're alive.”
“Sanctuary,” I whispered.
“It may be opportunistic but it sounds as if they aren't physically hurting humans,” Odin pointed out.
“What about Gods?” Apollo asked my lions. “Did you see any Gods go into Sampo?”
