Dragon Greed

by Kelly Armenta

  Kit pulled back his lips from his teeth and growled at me, his merlot colored eyes nearly snapping. “You shouldn’t be out in public like this, Mistress,” he informed me. “So why don’t we both do what we must so you can be… seen to. I believe it’s Talon’s turn next,” he replied in a nasty voice.

  “I’d take Roa’ before I let Talon touch me again,” I muttered right back at him. Stela looked between us and held his tongue, though his eyes widened in surprise and perhaps delight.

  “Too bad for you he hasn’t declared,” Kit replied then pulled himself upright and gave me a nonchalant look. My eyes slid to Stela, who glanced back at me with a look that said he was all too happy to assist me with whatever I required. Apparently that annoyed Kit, who added, “Well aren’t you the fickle one. Perhaps we should wake Marcus. We’ve been here over a week and you haven’t even asked to see him yet. Are you too good for the youngsters now?”

  I sucked air in through my teeth and glared at him. “You know Kit…” I growled while Owen shifted at my side. “That might not be such a bad idea,” and his eyes tightened as his lips pressed together angrily.

  “Fine,” he growled back and snapped his fingers. I watched in horror as a red haze appeared beside us and Marcus was suddenly standing in front of me.

  “Damn you Kit,” I growled while Marcus took one look at me and wrapped his arms about my waist and yanked me to his chest. Owen made a low noise and let go of my hand while Stela stood uncertainly, his light bronze eyes irritated.

  “Who is this Marcus?” Stela demanded. Kit merely cupped his chin in his hand and watched Marcus try to devour me. His eyes were still angry and he didn’t offer me any assistance.

  “One of her hybrids. My Mistress put him here on ice because he’s somehow managed to enslave himself to a Master Vampire and this was the only place where Valentine couldn’t get his claws back into him.”

  “He is part of her Court?” Stela demanded angrily.

  “Not yet. But he will be… once The Mistress’ Father gets a hold of him. Junior here was raised by a very angry Red Dragoness named Belinda who doesn’t much care for my Mistress. Of course the woman is insane so that just might be normal for her.”

  “He was raised by a female?” Stela demanded in shock. I couldn’t see his response but Kit must have nodded because Stela let loose with several very foul Elfin words. Words that I had never heard strung together in such a way. “So was Dane, but don’t let that sour you on him. My Mistress was raised by her Mother also.” I lost the rest of the conversation then because Marcus became even more demanding and given the state I was currently in I was having a hard time getting him off me.

  At my wits end, I slammed my shield closed again and screamed at Marcus to stop. Apparently he got the message because he finally pulled back enough for me to breathe. He didn’t want to let go of me and it took several minutes of threatening before he finally released me. I moved back out of range and directly into Owen’s arms.

  “Princess,” Marcus greeted me and I could tell he was having a hard time keeping himself from reaching for me again. “Or should I say…Your Majesty?” and he took a breath and went to a knee before me, his pale brown eyes never leaving my face. “It is wonderful to see you.”

  I swallowed and shifted uncomfortably as I stared back at him. “Marcus you look well,” I replied, completely distracted by his sudden appearance and the twin glares I was getting from Kit and Stela. “Please get up, and no grabbing,” I told him firmly while he grinned and clasped his hands behind his back after standing.

  “I can’t promise anything,” he warned me and I raised an eyebrow at his carefree attitude. Apparently rest had done him good. He smiled at my thought and I dropped my shield and turned my head, silently asking Owen to release me. He dropped his arms but continued to stand directly behind me, his body pressed against mine. I turned and looked at Kit, then leaned around him and my eyes met Cursed’s where he stood at the base of the steps. I raised an eyebrow at him and he stood straighter, and then moved toward me when I crooked my finger at him. Cam glanced at me too and I shook my head, causing him to frown, but he held his ground. Cursed went to a knee for the Queen then rose quickly and crossed to us, parking himself next to Kit. The two of them side by side was distracting and I leaned back against Owen for a moment and closed my eyes.

  “My Lady?” Cursed asked in his deep voice and he too went to a knee. One must keep up appearances, I thought, and motioned him to rise.

  “I need you to take Marcus off the dais and keep him with you,” I told him and he frowned and stared back at me as if expecting the rest of the story. “I’m going to see if I can free the King and I can’t be distracted,” I told him. His frown faded as he glanced at Owen then back to me.

  “Certainly, My Lady, it seems I am becoming quite adept at babysitting,” he replied and bowed his head, then turned and glanced at Marcus who was also frowning.

  “I’d prefer to stay near you,” Marcus replied.

  “Marcus, I’m going to do something that might be distressing to you and if you distract me it might not work.”

  “Then why do they get to stay?” he asked in a calm reasonable voice. Had he been whining or demanding I might have just had Cursed drag him away, but his question was valid and I was feeling badly about having dumped him here, many thanks to Kit.

  “Because Kit is a Demon and I may need his assistance, he will watch Stela to ensure he doesn’t disrupt me either. Owen needs to assist me because he is a Minor God and I require his aide. You are a Dragon and will likely be agitated by what I’m going to do and that could be a problem for both of us.”

  He frowned and pressed his lips together. His hands were still clasped behind his back and he nodded once then asked, “You are going to do something similar to what you did to me in your room… the night you played your flute?”

  My breath caught in my throat and I felt a flash of... was it remorse… guilt? Either way I felt my cheeks heat up and couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Something like that,” I muttered and he nodded again.

  “I will be waiting for you over there,” he informed me and unclasped his hands so he could point to where Cursed had been standing before he climbed the steps. Undoubtedly he had recognized Gareth and Jace, as well as Amras.

  “Thank you.” Perhaps the Prince and I indicated Cursed, “would be kind enough to introduce you to the others while you wait?” Cursed frowned but nodded. “This is Cursed, who you have already met. And Owen, you might recognize as the white wolf from the conference room. You remember Kit, you first saw him as my black and silver dragon. And this is Raimondi Stela who is Bronze and… like Gareth and Jace. Gentlemen, this is Marcus. I’m sorry I don’t know your surname” I told him and he bowed from the waist slightly and smiled.

  “It is ve’ Sca,” he informed us. “The pleasure is mine,” he replied and glanced at each of the others in turn. Stela seemed surprised and his gaze swung between Kit and Marcus.

  “Did you say you he was raised by a Red Dragoness named Belinda?” Stela asked. When Kit nodded he moved his eyes to Marcus and it was clear he was very uncomfortable. “Belinda ve’ Sca?” he asked softly and Marcus seemed to stiffen but then nodded. “That is a name I have not heard in a very long time,” he breathed then turned to look at me. “And I understand why she would not like you, Your Majesty.” Then his eyes turned to view the rest of my men spread out below the dais. “Yes indeed,” he murmured.

  Marcus looked between Stela and myself and added, “Belinda is not my Mother. And I would ask that you do not judge me by any previous association you might have had with her. She has betrayed me for the last time. I am free now and intend to remain so.” And while he’d started out in a calm voice, by the time he was done speaking it was clear he was very angry. His pale eyes flashed at me and I stared back at him and offered a small smile.

  “And we will be glad to assist you,” I told him while he struggled to control his rage and finally nodded
.

  “Good to know,” he breathed, then followed Cursed’s example and went to a knee before trailing him back to the floor.

  “Remind me to be angry with you later,” I growled at Kit and he blinked at me, giving me a look that said he was not impressed. I grimaced and then moved away from Owen toward my Grandfather’s statue. I couldn’t quite handle looking at him from the front so I stood at his back. I was facing my men but blocked from their view, along with the Court. I raised my fingers to his back and gently placed them against his cold smooth marble like skin, and immediately yanked my hand away.

  What is it?” Owen asked from just over my shoulder.

  “Stars and seas! I can feel him,” I breathed softly, my fingers still tingling at the contact. I had sensed something when I touched him, his mind or maybe…his soul? “Owen… he is trapped in there and he is aware. We have to help him.” Owen reached out and placed his hand upon my Grandfather’s arm and shook his head.

  “I do not sense anything, Lexi,” Owen told me, pulling back his hand and shaking his head.

  I chewed my lip and thought about it for a moment. Why would I be able to sense my Grandfather and Owen couldn’t? Was it because I was his flesh and blood, or because I was part Demon? Maybe it was my ability to heal, or that I was part Elf. “Kit?”

  “Yes, Mistress,” Kit replied from just over my other shoulder. I hadn’t heard him approach and jumped.

  “Don’t sneak up on me,” I told him with a frown, which he chose to ignore. “Put your hand on him and tell me if you sense anything.” His hand came over my shoulder and settled on the middle of my Grandfather’s back. He kept it there for several seconds then pulled away and shook his head.

  “I sense nothing,” he replied and I turned to glance at Stela who also moved forward with the same results.

  “Why can I sense him and none of you can?” I asked softly, more to myself than any of them. Something was not right about this. He had been given a potion of lust, but my Grandfather had been a good man. How does one combat lust, I wondered?

  “One does not combat lust, Mistress, which is why we are so powerful.” Kit offered and I shook my head.

  “That cannot be true Kit. What is lust? Is it not an intense desire or craving for self-gratification? The spell overcame his normal inhibitions and caused him to take whatever was available to satisfy his craving,” I told them, my mind working through the issue slowly. “If his need was to satisfy himself, then wouldn’t being satisfied break the spell?” I asked and turned to look up at Kit, who was seriously considering my question.

  “Can one ever be truly satisfied?” he offered and I nodded, a glimmer of excitement growing in me.

  “Yes Kit, I think you can, if only for one brief glorious moment just before the cycle starts up again. But…”

  “Perhaps, but the moment is fleeting and quickly fades as the need to experience that moment reasserts itself,” Kit added.

  I shook my head and glanced back at my Grandfather. “Look at him,” I told them softly. “He is forever caught in that moment just before his satisfaction.”

  Owen rubbed his chin and considered my words. “Then perhaps what he needs is that moment,” he replied thoughtfully, while I nodded and Kit made an agreeable sound.

  “I am not the person to give him that moment,” I said firmly while the others glanced at me and nodded.

  “But maybe you can assist… someone else, that is?” Owen asked softly and I nodded, and my eyes moved to my Grandmother sitting upon her throne. She must have felt my thoughts, because she turned to look at me and our eyes met. He needs you, I whispered in my mind. Her eyes widened and she rose gracefully from her chair and walked toward us. I glanced over to the bottom of the dais and noticed that my parents had moved to join my men, and that my Mother was watching us closely. There was a strange look on Mom’s face and when I tilted my head to the side, our eyes met briefly before she pulled her gaze away.

  Lord Aerandir and the other guard trailed behind my Grandmother, and when she stopped in front of us, they took up their positions and stood calmly while their eyes moved over us. “What do you require?” she asked calmly and I smiled up at her.

  The tips of my ears pinked slightly and I shifted uncomfortably before saying anything. “I think to release him, he must reach release,” I told her, my voice low so it would not carry far. I took a deep breath and continued, “I think to do that I must assist you in assisting him.”

  She frowned into my eyes and nodded her head slowly. “And what will this entail?” she asked calmly. I chewed my lip and glanced behind her at the guards, my eyes meeting Aerandir’s briefly before I glanced back at her.

  “I need to touch you and give you pleasure,” I breathed softly. “I think in this instance, you will be the rod and he will be the chalice. I think this will be distressing for you but that it will not harm you, Ma’am,” I added, while she stared down at me with a calm look upon her face. “I have never touched a woman,” I told her softly.

  She smiled then and brushed my cheek with the back of her hand. “If it will bring back my King…then do not let it distress you,” she replied softly and I swallowed and nodded.

  “It is a worthy cause,” I told her then smiled. “I think the others should step back. I would not wish to have them caught up in the moment and perhaps distract us.” She looked surprised then smiled.

  “No, I don’t think that would do at all.” When she motioned for them to give us space, Aerandir glanced at me and frowned, but he did move back and then stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Stela and Kit also moved back while Owen remained near us. She glanced at him inquiringly.

  “I may need his assistance, and he is used to my sendings and can restrain himself,” I added with a smile. I took a breath and moved us to the front of my Grandfather, careful to keep my eyes above his waist. My Grandmother came with me and stood at my side, her eyes moving over his figure.

  “I have loved him all these years,” she told me calmly. I glanced up at her and I could see the truth of her words shining in her eyes.

  “Hold that thought,” I told her and moved to stand directly behind her. “Lay your hands upon his body,” I whispered and she hesitated, then placed a palm directly over his heart while the other slid up to cup his neck. “Do you feel anything?” I asked and she nodded once.

  “He… senses me,” she replied. I smiled and looked at Owen who had come around to the front with us and was standing a little behind and to my left side. “He has always sensed me.”

  “That is good,” I replied and reached my arms around her and held her in a hug from behind. I placed my palms upon the skin of her upper chest just below her collar bones and closed my eyes. “Do not hold back,” I breathed and felt her stiffen in my arms while I lifted my shields and reached for my red door and shoved it open. Lust rolled off me in red waves and she cried out sharply, her body becoming taut in my arms. I poured my desire through her while she shuddered against me. And when I thought she might fall, taking us both to the floor, I did to her what I’d done to Stela upon the throne and fed her every pleasure I had ever known, pouring my satisfaction into her and through her.

  Behind my lids I could see a blinding light and instinctively my mind reached for Tdem down by the dais, and into his mind I went. I sensed him cry out as I reached for his door and grasped the handle pulling it open. The light in front of me intensified, and then dimmed. I opened my eyes to see my Grandfather’s form coated in a haze of black. I dropped a hand from my Grandmother and reached for him quickly, breathing the word heal as I shoved it up from the center of myself and down my arm into his body. A body that was no longer cold or unmoving. In my arms my Grandmother gasped and I pressed her forward against her husband and lover. Their bodies collided and she cried out again and clung to him while he staggered and pulled her to the floor.

  Around us the Court murmured loudly and I yelled for Kit, who snapped his fingers so that my Grandparents disappea
red, along with their two guards. I stood for a second staring down at the floor where they had fallen. “We did it,” I breathed then felt the itching rear up inside me and consume me. I staggered slightly and went to the floor already convulsing before Owen could catch me. I felt my head strike the marble and voices yelling above me, then shifting colors. I was on something soft as my body continued to convulse. Someone grasped my coat and gave it a heave and snaps gave up the front of me. My partner made eager noises in his throat, and then sheathed himself inside me. I sighed and felt my body relax.

  “Do you always wait this long or should I feel special?” Marcus asked as he leaned back on his elbows and stared down at me.

  I winced and met his pale brown eyes with a touch of chagrin. Marcus? What was Kit thinking? I sighed and reached to push the hair from my face as I watched him search my eyes. Yes, obviously Kit was still angry with me. Or perhaps he just felt this was the better solution. Better for whom I wasn’t certain. “I apologize for the circumstances,” I replied, feeling I should say something to ease the awkwardness of the situation I found myself in. He chuckled softly and worked at shoving his pants farther down his legs.

  “Don’t worry about it. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me. I was almost resigned to the fact that you’d left me here in my room to die of boredom, while everyone else got to have all the fun. Although between your Father and that Cat, I’m not sure I’m ever really bored. Just lonely for you,” he said as I stared up at him in horror.

  That Cat? Did he mean Mi… and what did my Father have to do with this? “Ah Marcus, how long have you been awake?” I asked and bit the inside of my cheek when he looked at me and frowned.

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” he replied. “I usually sleep six or seven hours a night. I’ve been here over a week now. It is not yet time to sleep, though it’s difficult to tell, buried underground as we are.”