Ethereal King

by Ariana Hawkes

“I don’t think I can do that, Xephyr. It isn’t like me at all.” No way in hell would she share him with other women. Or dragons, or whatever.

  “I meant what I said. I do not want another to touch you. It goes against our customs to not share, but even thinking about another dragon touching you makes my dragon bellow with displeasure. I will not share you.”

  It was more than that, Xephyr thought. He didn’t want to share his body with anyone but Josie. The realization struck him like a blaze of light. She alone held his attention. Even Kitya, the dragonette he’d thought destined to be his mate in Ethereum, couldn’t hold a candle to Josie.

  “Will you come with me, my sweet? I need to tell the dragons that we’re staying here. It won’t be the easiest of meetings. I’d be grateful if you could be by my side.”

  Her palm on his chest was warm, calming. “Of course.”

  Leading her down the tunnel to the central cavern, Xephyr considered what he’d say. He let his dragon rise close to the surface, but stopped short of shifting. He needed the dominance of the dragon, but the man in him tempered it with reason.

  They emerged into the central cavern to find his three closest friends lingering near the fire with four other lesser dragons—Aquilo, Zane, Jett and Quinton. But Xephyr noted tension tightening their shoulders, lowering their brows. He saw their dragons were near the surface as well.

  Across the flames from them were his strongest opponents. Caden slouched in a chair they’d borrowed from a vacant house on the mainland, one leg draped over the arm, a surly frown lowering his brow. He dragged a hand through his red hair. “Why is the female here?”

  Alaric spread his feet wide and crossed his arms over his chest. Tharos and Ciro, the two other lackeys who’d sided with Caden followed suit.

  Xephyr threw him an angry look, deciding to ignore his comment.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Xephyr began. “We’ve tried for three months to find a way through the barrier. We have all dedicated ourselves to seeking a way home.” He swept one arm wide, taking in the entire company. “Every single one of us. We can’t continue like that. It is time to accept our fate and move on. This place, whether we like it or not, is our home now. We need to regain our regal status. We need to start making a living. And we need to continue our race.” Xephyr scanned the room, noting that most dragons were nodding.

  “In Ethereum, I was your royal prince, second in line to the throne. I’m the highest-ranking dragon and this makes me your king here.” He looked at each man in turn, accepting their nods of agreement.

  “I want Boreas to be my Second.”

  Boreas straightened, giving Xephyr a reassuring nod.

  “You’re just saying all this because you found a pretty, sexy female. You have reason to stay,” Caden barked. “Perhaps you aren’t dragon enough to lead us home. But Alaric and I can.” Beside him, Alaric thumped his chest, red and yellow scales like flames rippling and flashing under his skin.

  “If you and Alaric wish to continue trying to find a way home, be my guest. But you will respect the rules of this clan and live by them. In order to survive here, we need to be united and devoted to the clan.”

  Caden tipped his chin down, but the challenge remained in his blue-gray eyes.

  “We must continue to protect the secret of our existence here and coexist with humans peacefully. This island will be our home. We will develop it and adapt it to our needs.”

  Alaric took a step forward. “And how do you propose we live? We have nothing.”

  “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. I believe the stone that ripped open the barrier and brought us here is a precious gem in this world.”

  Beside him, Josie gasped. “The meteoroid is a gemstone? It’s huge. A rock that size is worth a ton of money.”

  He touched his knuckles to the back of her hand. He lifted his chin. “With the money, we will transform this island. We’ll construct homes for ourselves and find a way to make a living. It should also solve the problem of tourists. Once the stone disappears, I believe they will stop coming to the island. We can live here incognito.”

  Xephyr crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked across the room. He could see the approval on all faces but one. Tharos and Ciro, who had been standing by Caden and Alaric, eased closer to Boreas and his group. Even Alaric looked supportive.

  “We can start planning everything tomorrow,” Xephyr concluded.

  Caden snorted, jumped out of his chair, and stormed out of the room, mumbling under his breath.

  “He’ll come around.” Boreas laid his hand on Xephyr’s shoulder. “You know he hates change.”

  “I’m sure he will. Or he can find himself another clan.” Xephyr winked at his friend.

  “I’m honored to be your Second, Xephyr,” Boreas said. “Thank you for your trust.”

  “Good. I’ll need your help. We have a lot of things to do.”

  Josie followed Xephyr back to his lair. Xephyr’s words and enthusiasm had been infectious. When they’d left the others, the dragons had all been excitedly making plans for their new life, the first houses they’d build, and how they’d seek out their mates.

  “Xephyr, you were fantastic!” she exclaimed. “They embraced you as their leader, and they loved your ideas.”

  After closing the door, he led her to the center of the room. The broad grin on his face warmed her, filling her tummy with butterflies and then a deep throb between her thighs.

  He laid his hands on her shoulders and stroked his thumbs over her clavicles. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Josie. I observed you in Windpecking. You have been through so much in your life, and you continued to be strong, to fight, to not give up. You made me want to be stronger.” He paused and swallowed hard. “You’ve been an inspiration, Josie! I will always miss Ethereum, but knowing that I have you by my side… It makes this place home.”

  Inside, she melted. That might just be the most romantic thing she’d ever heard. Since the fiasco breakup with Lester, she’d resisted relationships, commitment. She’d avoided letting anyone too close, and her life had been lonely. Xephyr had turned all of that upside down. He made her want to open her heart to him, but she’d been scared that he only wanted her as his mate because of the prophecy of the ‘oracle’ that he was always going on about. That once he found his bearing he’d dedicate himself to his mission and forget all about her. But now here he stood in front of her, so strong and majestic, the rightful leader of his clan, and he still wanted her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and urged his face to hers. “I’m glad you’re staying here on Earth,” she whispered against his lips. She wanted to tell him more. To explain how special he was to her. How he’d also inspired her to be stronger. But she couldn’t find the words. She pressed her mouth to his, and he parted his lips, his tongue exploring, dancing blissfully around her own.

  He swept his hands down her back and over her behind, drawing her close. Nibbling her way along his jaw, Josie reveled in the feel of her soft curves molding to the hard planes and angles of his body.

  16

  Saturday morning, after a raucous breakfast in the clearing in front of their cavern, everyone got together to discuss building plans for their territory. They agreed they wanted to create a communal area, and probably some cabins for them to live in if the heat from the volcano ever made the caves uninhabitable. Josie made a few suggestions, based on how communities were created on earth, but the conversation soon got very heated, with jets of smoke and even flickers of flame bursting forth from nostrils, and she withdrew and cleaned up the breakfast things. She got the impression that the dragons were the type of guys who’d have to hash things out aggressively, posturing and asserting themselves, and when they were done, she’d step in and speak to them when they were ready to listen. As she worked, she smiled to herself at some of the outlandish ideas that were being floated around and the passionate way they were being debated.

  When she was done, Jos
ie sat by the fire on a rock, gazing into the flames, reflecting on how her life had changed. Gone were the days when, after enduring Cletus and Bruce’s abuse for eight hours, she would trudge home for a lonely night of television with her cat, a dinner tray poised on her lap. She had a new purpose in life. Xephyr’s clan was fast becoming her family as well.

  Twining her fingers in the thin gold chain that was a gift from her mother, she marveled at her good fortune. Xephyr was kind and giving. This stunning man accepted her, maybe even loved her, for who she was. He didn’t mind the extra padding on her curves; in fact, he seemed to adore it. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

  As a shadow fell across her, she jerked her head up.

  Caden.

  Warily, she glanced behind him, but didn’t see his slimy sidekick. Or any of the nice dragons. There was something dark and distorted in his face, and a shiver coursed through her.

  “Good morning, Caden. I thought you were with the others.” She’d try to be nice for the sake of keeping peace among Xephyr’s people.

  “I was busy trying to find a way home. Xephyr is a fool to believe we can exist here. He’s condemning the rest of us because of you.”

  She swallowed hard. “That isn’t true. All of you worked for months to find a way. It was impossible. Xephyr is working hard to make this home for you so that you can get on with your lives.”

  He squared his shoulders. “My home…my life is back in Ethereum. That is where I want to go.”

  It was like trying to reason with a child. A very large, intimidating child. Shrinking against the rock, Josie eyed him warily. “Can’t you just make the best of it? Xephyr doesn’t believe this world is awful. He thinks you can all be happy here.” Inside she was shaking, but to her relief her voice remained steady.

  Caden kicked a stick into the fire, arms crossed over his broad chest. “Is that what he tells you when he makes himself lay with you? That, because of you, he likes living here?” He snorted. “Xephyr hates this place as much as we do. The only reason he’s with you is because the Oracle told him you were the only way he could save the rest of us from certain doom.”

  She shook her head, part of her soul screaming at the thought he didn’t really love her. That he’d lied to her about his reasons for wanting her. “He would never do that,” she muttered, her voice dragged down by the crushing weight on her heart.

  “What’s that? You think he genuinely desires you? A human? Xephyr is a prince of the royal blood, Josie. Humans are inferior to him. He would never fall in love with you.” He spat her name like it tasted vile. “And because of you, the rest of us are prisoners here.”

  Distraught, she leapt to her feet. “You’re wrong. Xephyr is happy here. He loves me. He shows me in many ways.”

  “How? By screwing you? Look at yourself, Josie. Why would a dragon like Xephyr be interested in a female like you? It’s a wonder he can stay hard long enough to mate with you. He’s only with you because the Oracle told him you’d be our savior.” Caden leaned forward, his posture menacing, and lowered his voice, punctuating his point with jabs of his finger. “And if you cared for him, you’d understand that you’re holding him back. His place is in Ethereal, not here. That’s where his family is. Did he tell you that his mother is dying? You’re making him sacrifice his last days with her for you. You are bad for him, Josie.” A shadow flickered over his scowling face, transforming the features to demonic. Contempt flared in his eyes.

  Josie put a hand to her forehead, trying to stop her careening thoughts. Tears welled up in her eyes. As they spilled over her lids, streaking like liquid fire down her cheeks, she raced out of the cavern. Caden’s maniacal laughter chased her down the tunnel to Xephyr’s lair.

  She slammed the door shut and pressed her back against it. She slid down the rough wood to her haunches and buried her face in her hands, sobbing her grief.

  Caden was right. She was bad for Xephyr. She was holding him back. She remembered the pain in his eyes when he told her about his mother. How much he loved her. How lonely she had been since his brother died. She had stolen him away from his mother. She was depriving them of their last moments together.

  Despite all of her insecurities, she had recently started to believe that Xephyr might love her. But she was wrong. Why would a gorgeous man like him love a chubby girl like her? Why would someone who grew up in a royal family love someone as simple as her? Her experience of dating and being harassed by guys had taught her she was only worthy of ridicule. She wasn’t worthy of Xephyr’s love. And she had no right to hurt him by keeping him away from his mother. She was bad for him in every way imaginable.

  Agony pierced her heart, rending it into tiny pieces. She pounded her fist on the floor, scraping her knuckles raw. She was reminded of when Xephyr had licked her hand and healed the minor wound. The first moment true feeling for the man-dragon had hit her heart like a hammer. He might not love her, but they shared a special bond. This she knew for certain. They had so many memories together. And she loved him. She loved him more than anything. That was why she wasn’t going to hold him back. When you love someone, you have to set them free. Yes, she had to set Xephyr free. Her love for him was much greater than her desire for her own happiness. He had suffered so much in his life. He deserved to be truly happy.

  She dragged herself to her feet, stalked to the shelf, grabbed her pack, and started cramming her things into it. She had to leave before he returned. He’d try to convince her to stay otherwise. With time he’d understand that he was much better off without her. Her chest burned with her pain as if someone had touched a flaming torch to it. She pressed a fist over her sternum and attempted to rub the ache away.

  She’d left a notebook on the table, opened to the page where she’d created a list of the things she wanted to bring to the island to make their homes more comfortable. There was a line for every man, even Caden, with notes of things she’d thought they’d enjoy based on conversations she’d had with them. Pillows and blankets, track shoes, or footballs. Things which could bring fun to their lives. She tore the page from the book and left it on the table.

  Then she paused. She owed him a note. She paced up and down, debating what to write. Should she tell him the truth—he’d be much happier without her? He needed to continue looking for a way home? She gripped the pencil tight as she scrawled her note.

  Xephyr,

  You have given me the best days of my life and I will never forget them. I will never forget you. But we are not meant to be together. I wish you the best. You’ll be a great leader of your clan, and I hope you find a way home to Ethereum. Josie

  Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She took off her gold chain and put it on the corner of her note. She’ll always have Xephyr in her heart, and she wanted him to always have a part of her, too.

  17

  “Where is she?” Xephyr roared as he swept back into the main cavern, the small scrap of paper that had destroyed him crumpled in his fist. “Did anyone see her leave?”

  Dirty, agitated from butting heads with the clan over future living arrangements, and frantic after finding Josie’s note, Xephyr’s dragon roared within him, clawing to shift and pursue his mate.

  “Calm down,” Boreas cautioned. He snatched the paper from Xephyr’s numb fingers. “Tell us what’s wrong.”

  “She’s gone.” Xephyr’s shoulders slumped. His woman, his mate—his love—had left without any explanation. Without saying good-bye. He stumbled to the table and braced his hands on the solid surface, hanging his head. His throat closed convulsively, trying to dislodge the knot of despair choking him.

  “I thought she was happy here.” Boreas handed the paper to Eurus.

  “She was. I don’t know what happened.”

  Eurus read the paper and whistled low. “Why would she leave? You saw her at breakfast. Laughing and teasing all of us. She fits in here.”

  Notus read over Eurus’s shoulder. “Maybe someone said something to her.”

 
; Across the room, Caden and Alaric rose and skulked toward the exit.

  “Stop right there!” Xephyr roared. He stomped over to them and fisted a hand in Caden’s shirt, slamming him backward. The man’s head smacked the wall with a resounding crack. “What the hell have you done?”

  Caden sneered. “I told the female the truth. You were only with her because the crazy oracle told you so. You don’t love her. And she is holding us back. We need to continue looking for a way to Ethereum.”

  Shaking him so hard the bastard’s teeth rattled, Xephyr growled and fought to control his dragon. He wanted to rip the stupid man’s head from his shoulders and cleave his wings from his back.

  Boreas stepped in, shoving his arm between their bodies. “Xephyr, harming Caden won’t get Josie back.”

  “Step back, brother. I’m going to end this now,” Xephyr ground out. But in the deep recesses of his mind, he heard Josie’s voice, talking about honey and flies and being reasonable and asking for things instead of ordering them.

  Unclenching his fingers was difficult. His knuckles ached as he released Caden’s shirt. He stepped away, putting enough space between them that he felt he could breathe again, but still within swiping distance of Caden’s throat. He huffed out a breath and pinned a glare on Caden. “How long ago did she leave?”

  “Hours. After breakfast. I watched her leave in the old boat,” Caden said.

  Xephyr shuddered. “You selfish little thing.”

  “Josie was holding us back. We don’t belong here. If we accept this world as our fate, we’ll never get home. I don’t want to stay in this place.”

  Struggling for calm, Xephyr spread his legs, bracing himself. He stripped all traces of ire from his voice. “You’re such a child! Have you asked yourself what the others in the clan want? Don’t you see they’re tired of pursuing something that’s impossible? They want to get on with their lives, Caden.”

  “In Ethereum, I had a life I knew. Here, I know nothing. I’m less than worthless. And thanks to Josie, we stopped trying to get home. It’s her fault.” He paused, looking down. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes held a flicker of cruelty. “And what the fuck do you want with this place? You don’t want Josie. There’s no way a dragon like you, a descendant of kings, would ever want a simple female human being like her.”