by Randi Darren
“East,” Berenga said.
Turning in that direction, Vince saw it.
Them, really.
One large black Dragon and two red. They were on the furthest edge of the city’s range, waiting.
“Apparently her wings healed up enough that she can fly,” Vince said.
“She? You know her?” Berenga asked.
“She’s my… pet… of sorts now. I beat her down with the intent of stealing her gold, except it had already been stolen,” Vince murmured.
Elysia came scurrying out of the house, her ledger tucked under one arm.
“Ah, good timing, my pretty little Elf,” Vince said, moving in front of Elysia.
“Ah? Vince?” Elysia asked, her cheeks coloring immediately as he invaded her space.
“Do you still know your military signals?” he asked.
“Of course, husband.”
“Sound the all clear. That’s my Dragon up there. Though I don’t know what’s going on with the two red ones, yet.”
Elysia stared at him for a second more. Then she went back into the mansion.
“She’s going to do it from the roof,” Berenga said, apparently in response to the strange look Vince chased Elysia with.
“Ah. Alright.
“In other news, I need to get a vault built that will double as a roost. Apparently for multiple Dragons,” Vince said, peering up at the three in the air.
“I can take care of that, Sweetling,” Meliae said. “I needed to go see the Dwarves anyways.”
Vince nodded and then looked out to the open green field behind his home.
It was the only place for the Dragons to land easily right now.
“I’ll go with you, Mel,” Berenga said. “The master smiths wanted to look at my arm again today if possible.
“Come on, Red. I want to talk to you a bit as well. You left me that interesting note, after all.”
Red nodded quickly, moving out of Vince’s shadow and to Berenga.
Vince left immediately, since they had their own chores to do.
Moving at a quick trot, he made it to the green grass at about the same time he heard a high-pitched whining sound.
It lasted several seconds and then fell away.
Standing there in the field, Vince had a moment of thoughtless futility as he realized he didn’t have a good way to signal Taylor.
“Let’s hope that eyesight of hers really is as good as I think it is,” Vince said.
Pulling his hunting knife out, he immediately angled it with the sun and tried to bounce the rays back toward Taylor.
It only took him three passes of moving his blade around to realize she’d spotted him.
The massive roar she let out, immediately followed by darting forward to his location, was a dead giveaway.
With massive beats of her wings, she cut through the distance as if it were nothing at all.
Transforming into her human form as she hit the ground, she smiled at him.
“Nest-mate, I’m glad to see you. We saw what was left of the third Dragon you took on,” Taylor said, unperturbed by her nakedness as usual.
“Got it in the first pass. Heart didn’t seem as strong as the others, though,” Vince said.
“Yes, we noticed you’d eaten it. There wasn’t much left,” Taylor said.
With a shrug of his shoulders, Vince looked to the two red Dragons who were just now landing.
They immediately swapped into human forms.
Looking similar to Taylor, they had horns and scales in all the same places.
One was almost six feet, however, and the other was five-foot-six, he’d wager.
Both were far more endowed than Taylor, and a bit prettier as well.
Brown hair bordering on a red hue reached their bare shoulders. They each had a pair of green eyes watching him closely.
They shared many of the same features and looked almost like sisters.
“They are not sisters,” Taylor said, as if reading his thoughts. “Though they are from the same brood, so they share many similarities.”
Taylor walked over to the shorter one and wrapped a hand around one of her horns.
“This one is my second for now; I’ve named her Shelly.”
Shelly bowed her head deeply to Vince.
“Nest-mate,” she said.
Moving to the second woman, Taylor repeated the gesture, grabbing her by the horn.
“And this one I have named Leanne. My third for the time being. They’ll need to earn their place as I add more to my wing,” Taylor said.
Leanne bowed her head further than Shelly had.
“I await you, nest-mate,” Leanne said.
“Taylor… I don’t quite understand,” Vince admitted.
“Ah. They’re very young. Very, very young. But they have talent and potential. I told them they could join my wing, and give me their Word in all things, or I could carve their hearts out and bring them back to you as a meal offering from your nest-mate,” Taylor said.
She reached out and grabbed both women by a horn, pulling them forward several steps.
Then she pushed on them, forcing them both to their knees in front of Vince.
“Now, as I told you, this is Vince. He is my nest-mate, and therefore yours.
“If you do not please him, or me, I will pull your heart out and serve it to him with a smile.
“Do you both understand?”
“Yes,” they said in unison.
Taylor nodded and then forced their heads back to look up to Vince as she held their horns.
“Now, I will decorate your horns accordingly tonight for our ranking in this wing. Do either of you have any questions for your nest-mate or me?”
“No,” said Leanne.
“Yes,” said Shelly.
Taylor looked to Vince askance.
“Go ahead,” Vince said, smiling at the three of them. He wasn’t quite sure how to take this situation, but if the bottom line was he had two more Dragons serving him, he’d take it.
“Do you truly eat the hearts of Dragons?” Shelly asked.
“I do. I’ve eaten three now.”
“And… and you defeated our mistress in single combat?” Shelly asked.
“I did. Taylor is very strong. The strongest being I’ve ever fought. But I took everything from her in the end.”
Taylor nodded with a smile at that, which seemed odd to him.
“And you’re building her a nest with all your gold? For her?” Shelly asked, her questions still coming.
“I am.”
Shelly nodded, then prostrated herself low on the ground to Vince.
“I look forward to serving you personally, nest-mate,” she said.
“I leave for a short period of time and you end up creating a Dragon harem?” came an angry drawl from the back porch of the house.
Vince’s head snapped around, and he found Ramona standing there with her hands on her hips.
Alive and well.
Chapter 27
“Ramona!” Vince said loudly. Moving away from the Dragons, he got to her quickly, snatching her up in a tight hug.
Ramona’s wings fluttered around her as her taloned hands dug into his shoulders.
Vince kissed her soundly, holding her tight to himself. When he finally let her go, her cheeks were a deep red.
“Ah… dear,” Ramona said, looking embarrassed.
Reaching up above her head, he immediately started to rub her horns, massaging the area around them.
“My dear Dragoness, I missed you,” Vince said. “I worried. I feared the worst.”
Ramona trembled at his attention, her wings quivering as she lowered her head to him.
“I needed to nest. It took a bit longer than I expected, but… I nested and brought them back with me. I had two.
“Mouth took them and is caring for them personally. I’m very… happy,” Ramona said, her chin resting on Vince’s shoulder now. “My Dragon is extremely happy, though she’s a b
it annoyed you brought three Dragons home with you.”
“Oh? I think it’ll all be fine. Your Dragon should know where we stand since you… I mean… are they eggs?” Vince asked.
“Yes… two eggs. And yes… my Dragon is very calm and happy. Just a touch annoyed, but nothing terrible. Nothing one of your horn massages can’t fix.”
“Good. Come, let’s go introduce you to them. Then you can show me our eggs, and I’ll give you that horn rub you just mentioned.
“How’s that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful,” Ramona said, practically purring. “You know just what my Dragon wants.”
Releasing the Dragonnewt, Vince took her by the hand and brought her over to Taylor.
“Taylor, this is Ramona, my Dragonnewt.
“Ramona, this is Taylor, my black Dragon,” Vince said by way of introduction. “Behind her is Shelly, and Leanne. They are part of her wing.”
Ramona walked over to Taylor and made an almost uncomfortable amount of eye-contact with her.
Then she grinned and lowered her head, putting her horns forward.
Taylor did the same, and the two women smashed their heads together. The sound of their horns cracking together made Vince wince.
Taylor immediately grinned at Ramona, putting her hands to the other woman’s shoulders.
“You’re an amazing specimen of Dragonnewt. Your mother was a green?” she asked.
“She was! How’d you know? Everyone always thinks she was a blue because of my coloring,” Ramona said, clasping Taylor in the same fashion.
“You’re too strong to be a blue. I’ve met a few blacks who wouldn’t be your equal,” Taylor said, giving Ramona a real once-over. “Your nesting was very successful as well? Your smell is lovely, as if it went perfectly.”
“Very well. Though… your own nest?” Ramona asked in a strange tone.
“One has been promised to me by our nest-mate,” Taylor said, indicating Vince with her head. “He will fill it with his gold and I shall guard it accordingly.”
Ramona blinked at that and then laughed, her smile growing wider.
“You would willingly take the possibility of Dragonnewts as your own?” Ramona asked.
“Of course. The strength of them will match even the strongest of Dragons. I’d be pleased if you would take them on as a secondary brood-mother?
“It would be invaluable to have a Dragonnewt around them.”
“I’m flattered! Of course I will be. And the reds?”
Taylor glanced over her shoulder at the other two women.
“When they earn it. They must grow stronger first. We were going to do some horn decorations tonight, if you’d like to join us.
“For now, how about you show me around? And let me see your eggs? I’m very excited to be here.
“We blacks don’t get chances to socialize without our inner nature ruining it.”
“Of course! Vince, dear? I’ll see you later tonight, maybe. Taylor and I are going to go out now.
“And I’ll introduce her to everyone as well.”
“Oh, alright then,” Vince said.
He wasn’t quite sure why Ramona had bonded so quickly to Taylor like this, but he wasn’t about to complain.
“I’ll go see about the gold, and then maybe pay Felix a visit,” Vince said, looking at the mansion.
Ramona waved a hand at him, then escorted the three Dragons.
“Actually, before you go or do anything, I’d love an explanation,” Elysia said. She tapped Vince lightly with her ledger. “That and I’d enjoy your company. I feel as if I haven’t seen you in forever.
“Come on, I had something privately made and taken up to my room. I only invited Mouth, as I know she’s as close to you as anyone now.”
Vince didn’t hesitate, just nodded.
A few quiet minutes alone with Elysia and Mouth sounded grand.
Maybe we’ll get a moment to process all this. I feel raw and torn open on the inside.
As if reading his thoughts, the Elf gave him a gentle pat on his arm and then offered him hers.
No sooner had he taken it than she began leading him through their home.
Multiple Dryads were moved around, each with eyes for him, but every single one only offered him a warm smile and a wave as she went about her chores.
“They’re all quite lively now that you’re home. I think they’re all a bit nervous when their grove isn’t around,” Elysia said, her voice soft. “Not that I can blame them. I feel a certain cold fear in my heart when you’re not home.
“Especially after everything… everything that’s happened.”
Opening the door to her room, Elysia pulled Vince through.
Mouth sat at a table with a teacup in front of her.
In fact, it was an entire tea service that looked like it had only been brought in moments ago.
Mouth was idly stirring her drink, looking rather bored after clearly having put together multiple sandwiches.
When her eyes fell on Elysia and Vince, her entire face lit up.
“Oh! I’m so glad you managed to bring him, dear,” Mouth said.
“Go ahead and take a seat. Let Mouth serve you while I get the information,” Elysia said to Vince and gestured to the table. “I’ll start with the gold you sent back and the Centaurs, too.
“Mouth, sweetie, make sure he gets at least one in him?”
Vince was pulled down into a chair by Mouth after Elysia practically shoved him in her direction.
“You two are awfully close,” Vince said, looking from one to the other.
“Of course we are. Considering how often you bed myself, Mouth, and Meliae at the same time, we often find ourselves sharing a bed when you’re occupied,” Elysia said as she read through her ledger.
Then she frowned and looked up from her work.
“That doesn’t bother you, does it? You make us go down on each other so often we all just assumed you were ok with us keeping one another company.”
Vince froze at that. Exploring his feelings quickly, he realized that no, he didn’t mind it at all.
He really did often make two of those three go at each other while he took the third.
It was the logical conclusion to having sex regularly with another person for years.
Vince shrugged when he felt himself starting to get turned on about tumbling all three of them at the same time. Preferably tonight.
In fact… let’s make it more fun.
“No, it doesn’t bother me that you three are doing that. Though you should probably start bringing Blue in. I plan on using her in our bedroom antics,” Vince said, picking up the teacup Mouth put in front of him.
Mouth smiled at him and then scooted closer. Her right hand slipped down between his legs as her left hand picked up a sandwich.
“That’s wonderful news. I can use her as a surrogate wife for a bit and let a pregnancy develop. I know just which child I want next, too.
“I’ve been really going through every baby we’ve made together. I’m really, really looking into what I can see of them. Their latent talent and abilities.
“This one I’m very confident about, though. He’s going to be amazing. A son after your own heart.
“We made him a couple years ago when we were alone in Kansas,” Mouth said excitedly.
As she pushed the sandwich into his face, Vince had no choice but to bite and chew.
He knew Mouth wouldn’t relent if she got it in her head he needed to eat.
“You do realize how crazy that sounds?” Vince asked as carefully as he could around a mouthful of food. “And how do you know he’ll be that?”
“Every Dryad has their own strengths, you know that very well,” Elysia said, laying her ledger down in front of Vince. “Mouth is… very different from most Dryads. As you already knew as well.
“Meliae picked her specifically for her gifts. Not the least of which is being able to see some of what a child has the potential to become in the fu
ture.
“The fact that she’s gorgeous is secondary.”
Placing a finger to something written in her book, Elysia cleared her throat.
“Deskil has his goldsmiths working on the gold right now. They made a mold out of one of the ingots and are melting everything down into the same purity, then pouring it into the molds.
“Rather than waiting to determine how much there is in the end, I had the bricks all sorted out, split in half, and shipped accordingly.”
Vince closed his mouth. She’d answered his question before he’d even been given a chance to ask it.
“Felix has sent his warmest regards and asked for you to visit at your earliest convenience, or to let him know when he can come visit again,” she finished. “For our own gold, I have had it all delivered to the vault. Though I understand you now wish to have a second vault made above ground. For the black Dragon to roost in.”
“Yeah. She said she’d guard it, treating it like her nest. She also recruited two other Dragons as well.
“That’ll help free up all those guards we had posted at the vault.”
“‘Like her nest’? Or is it her nest, my liege?” Elysia asked. “Because those are two different statements. I’m no lore master on Dragons, but if it is her nest, then it’s very likely you propositioned her as a mate would.”
Elysia watched him neutrally, a delicate blond eyebrow quirking at him.
Shit. That’s a pretty good qualification. Though in hindsight, it does kinda make sense given how she phrased it.
More so when I think about Ramona and how she took what Taylor told her.
Hm.
Well, we’ll handle it as it comes. No use crying over it now.
Before Vince could respond, though, Mouth made a shooing motion with her hand. Neatly dismissing the entire conversation.
She then reached up and tilted Vince’s face towards her.
“Even if Dragons are joining our marriage, I’ll welcome them. Berenga will cheer with glee if you actually managed to successfully woo the black. The reds are just a bonus,” she said, pushing another sandwich up to Vince’s mouth. “Now eat up. Whether it’s with my group and me or someone else, you’re more than likely getting a workout tonight in bed, and you look a bit on the lean side right now.”
