Emerald DARE

by Tianna Xander

  "Thank you. Can I put my clothes back on now?" She tried to sit up and Aegon helped her.

  "It's a pity, but yes, I suppose you can." His grin was unrepentant as he left her and her companion alone.

  "What next?" she asked as she donned her leathers once again. They seemed a bit tighter than usual. She blamed the feeling on her newly healed ribs. Perhaps she was a bit swollen.

  "What do you want to do next." Aegon looked her up and down. "Would you like new clothing?"

  Emerald shrugged. "Perhaps, but not now." She grinned up at him. "I want to see those worlds you promised to dazzle me with." Reaching out, she took his hand. "What?" she looked up at him, confused. "Why did you inhale so sharply? Are you injured?"

  "No," he replied, chuckling. "I am not injured." He looked down at her, his gaze unreadable and squeezed her hand. "You surprised me. That's all." He pulled her out onto the balcony and they stood watching the arrival and departure of many dragons. They flew through the air as though it was nothing. Perhaps it was for them, but for Emerald, it was an amazing sight.

  The shimmered around her and she shivered. Before she knew it, a large dragon stood by her side on the stone balcony. Turning, she gave Aegon a smile as he bowed low. His head nearly touched the white marble floor.

  Would you care for a ride, lady?

  "Where would you take me, sir?" She arched her brow, following his playful mood. No one had ever teased her quite like he did. It amused her. It felt…right when he did it. She didn't know why, it just did.

  I would take you to worlds so beautiful, you cannot possibly imagine.

  "Would you take me to your world?"

  If that is your wish. He bowed again.

  "Would you take me to see my sisters?" While this was a beautiful world and Galen was a nice enough man, Emerald longed to see her sisters, Ruby and Topaz. She wanted to know they were all right. Her mother had taught her to love them well and she missed them.

  Aegon tilted his big head. In time.

  Emerald narrowed her eyes. "Would you truly show me the wonders you have promised?"

  I would show you them and more. Aegon bowed his head once again as he stretched his leg out. Climb up onto my back and we shall be off.

  Quickly, Emerald climbed upon her dragon and settled herself between his shoulder blades. When she was secure beneath the ridges, Aegon pushed off.

  Emerald squealed with delight as they shot into the air. The ascent felt strange, as though she had left her stomach somewhere on the balcony of Galen's beautiful home below. They climbed high into the air and Aegon glided through the thick clouds, the strange cooling mist dampening her clothes.

  Aegon's ridges tightened on her legs just before he performed a spinning dive toward the ground below. His giant wings flapped powerfully as they spiraled downward. Just when she began to worry that they would crash into the ground, he pulled up, opened a portal and shot through it.

  They emerged from the rift over crystal blue waters. Waves crashed over a nearby shored of a tiny unpopulated island, the mist mixed with the wind in her hair. The sugar-white sands beckoned her to take off her boots and sink her toes into its warmth.

  What looked like mountains made of jewels glistened in the distance. Aegon never lost his enjoyment of her wonder as they flew over the jade green grass beneath the strange lavender sky. She felt it in his mind.

  Emerald lifted her arms and basked in the heat of the large sun. She tilted her head back and smelled the misty air. So, this is what freedom smelled like. She laughed. She'd never thought it would have a scent. She reveled in the differing sensations of the warm sun and the cool mist on her skin that Aegon created as he dragged his large feet through the swells beneath them. This was what freedom felt like. Closing her eyes, she licked the saltwater from her lips and tasted her newfound liberty.

  She looked down and marveled at Aegon's other shape as he carried her over the water as they grew ever closer to that distant and glittering shore. She took a deep breath and sighed. "This is what it feels like to have a complete lack of restrictions. To be independent and have free will." She gazed around with awe. No wonder the people on Earth would die for it--had died for it, according to their history books.

  Yes, lady. You are finally free. Free to be yourself, to be what you want, what your true destiny meant for you to become.

  Emerald bit her lip and worried for a scant moment before she threw her head back and laughed. She never dared dream of such a thing. In fact, had anyone asked, she never thought to want such a thing.

  While living in the compound, she never felt like a captive. Not until her sisters began to disappear and she met this amazing dragon who called her lady.

  When she looked to the mountains once again, she gasped. They were like large jewels set in the ground, jutting up like diamonds and smoky crystal with shades of Red, green and blue.

  "They are beautiful."

  They are the jeweled mountains of Hern. Dragons come here from everywhere to see them.

  "I can see why."

  Aegon flapped his powerful wings, took them higher and opened another portal. I think you will like this the best.

  When they emerged on the other side, a great castle stood before them. She saw very few people around and no village was nearby. "Where are we now?" She stared at the beautiful fortress before them, noting the tall towers and unmanned ramparts.

  This is my home. I have been adding to it through the centuries as I awaited my mate. I have dreamed of bringing her here for a long, long time. Aegon landed in an inner courtyard and waited for her to dismount before changing into his other self.

  Emerald spun around in a circle, admiring the beautiful gardens that surrounded them. She saw a woman emerge from a side door and for a moment, she felt something strange in her middle. Like disappointment. Then another woman emerged and when she turned to look at them, she realized they were her sisters. One was dressed in a flowing red gown that hugged her figure to perfection, while the other wore a dark blue outfit that was very reminiscent of the leathers Emerald still wore, but of a much more elegant material.

  "Ruby, Topaz!" She ran to them, taking them both in her arms. "I never thought to see you again." She turned to Aegon. "Then Aegon found me and told me of the men who captured you."

  "No one captured us, Emerald," Ruby said with a grin, her eyes glowing as red as the precious stones the earthlings named her after. "We went with them willingly." She gestured to Aegon. "Did your man bring you here against your will?"

  "No." Emerald shook her head, still unable to release her two sisters. She couldn't wait to have this reunion with all of their other sisters, especially Sapphire and Opalite. "He did not bring me here against my will." She grinned. "But he did capture me in a way."

  Topaz scowled over at Aegon. "What did he do to you?" Her eyes narrowed and she took on a bloodthirsty expression that Emerald knew well. "I am certain we can all take him together. If not," she paused as she turned to watch two more men emerge from the set of double doors behind her. "I am certain our men can."

  Ruby and Topaz both held their hands out to their mates. It was so good to see them, to know they fared well and were happy. She smiled at the two men and, in Earth fashion, held out her hand. "I'm Emerald and I am happy to meet you."

  "As are we, lady," the two said in unison.

  Ruby wrapped her arm around a man who towered over her. His black hair brushed wide shoulders and a wide silver belt drew attention to his narrow waist. "This is Draven, my mate." She turned to Topaz and the man she held by her side. His black hair gleamed blue in the bright sunlight. He smiled at her, his almond-shaped eyes crinkling at the corners. "That is Kirai with Topaz. He is her mate." Ruby frowned and turned to Draven. "Our sister thinks you captured us. Can you remove her from Aegon's possession if he has harmed her?"

  Emerald laughed aloud. She felt more carefree than she ever had in her life. To think that her sisters would assume she allowed a male to capture her and drag
her to his home without a fight. She took each of her sisters' hands in hers. "Aegon has not brought me here against my will, sisters. He has done the same thing your men have done to you. Somehow, he has captured my heart." She turned to Aegon who stood behind her with a pleased smile upon his handsome face. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

  * * * *

  From deep inside a cryo tank in the heart of the D.A.R.E. Project labs, Eiwyn sighed as her daughters caught up on their time apart.

  Seventeen more children needed to find their mates before she would call her husband to bring her home. He wouldn't be happy, but he would do as she asked and let the girls keep their men.

  She may be a prisoner now, but she was still the mother of his children. If he ever wanted to touch her again, he would do as she asked.

  A grimness took her over as she touched the minds of her unmated daughters. Each was on assignment or returning from one and the time for them to retrieve the stray humans was running short. The dimensional fabric was being held together by her will and she was getting tired.

  The thought of grandbabies in the future made her smile. Her vision was slowly coming to pass, even if it had taken over thirty years to bear fruit.

  She loved it when a plan came to fruition, but she wanted to be warm again. Three decades in the freezer was quite enough.

  Eiwyn chortled in her mind and rubbed her psychic hands together. Her freedom was right around the corner, she just needed to get all of her daughters safely wed.

  About the Authors

  Tianna Xander is an eclectic author of numerous paranormal, sci-fi, time travel romance erotica books. Gaining inspiration for her characters and dialogue through her family and her addiction to the internet, she never fails to amaze readers with each new book she creates. As a reading junkie herself, Tianna has no problem reading whatever is available at the moment from romance novels, murder mysteries and encyclopedias to books on solar energy.

  Tianna's life wouldn't be complete without a happily ever after of her very own. She resides in Michigan with her husband, two children, three cats, two dogs and an intimidating bunny. Never one to fail to give credit where it's due, she commends her family for their constant support. After writing many books and receiving rave reviews, her family is just as proud of her. Always full of ideas, Tianna rarely puts the pen down, so readers can look forward to many more exciting stories in the future.

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

  Viola's fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.