The Dragon King: Not So Ordinary: Ethereal Foes, Book 4

by Marie Harte

  “It was with him—the walking condom ad? So was he Peter-sized or bigger?”

  She didn’t have to think about it. “Bigger.” And he’d been inside her, skin to skin. No protection. No prevention against pregnancy. Not to mention the really bizarre stuff. The day took on surreal proportions until reality reasserted itself.

  Her sexual adventure seemed a lot less exciting in the dim light of the bar. She felt a little queasy. Pregnancy-scare. Oh my God.

  “Hey, you okay? He didn’t hurt you did he? Want me to talk to him?”

  “I, ah, no. I’m fine. All good.” She would be, just as soon as she saw her Aunt Jo for a checkup. Her timing wasn’t right for a baby, but one never knew.

  “If you’re sure.” Milo didn’t look convinced. “But I have to know. Why him? You just met him. This is so not your M.O. when it comes to guys.”

  “It’s been that kind of day.” She paused, but she knew Milo would understand. “He had the vibe.”

  Milo perked up. “Oh?” He knew what she meant, as did her mother and aunt. They’d all been born a little different, but only Ella’s mother continued to act the part. The rest of the Nelsons tried to blend into the normal world. Ella worked for Care & Concern Medical. Milo tended bar and Aunt Jo was a naturopath.

  Jennifer Nelson, on the other hand, never went anywhere without her trusty tarot cards and psychic hotline number magnetized to her car. Not an easy thing making friends when one’s mother was known as the Empress of Tarot.

  Milo frowned. “I didn’t read anything strange from him. You sure?”

  “He was buzzing. And that was before, during and after our happy time in the closet.” I had happy time. Oh wow, I really did.

  “The closet. I’m almost proud of you.”

  Should she mention the weird eyes and disappearing trick? Maybe not, at least not until she’d gotten a checkup with her aunt. What the heck had she been thinking to go at it without protection? And why wasn’t she more freaked out than pleased at her performance?

  “You know, I’m thinking you rarely walk around with condoms in your pockets.” Milo raised a brow, as if reading her mind. “You were safe, weren’t you?”

  She felt her cheeks heat but could do nothing about it. Sometimes having a close-knit family could be a curse. “Can we not talk about this?”

  “Did he have some?”

  “Milo, shut up.”

  “Please tell me you didn’t do the guy without protection.”

  “Milo.”

  “Oh God. Well, you know there’s the morning after—”

  She pulled out a wad of bills and slapped them on the table. “I’m not discussing this. My head hurts, and I’m going home.” She left the table and rushed through the crowd to the door.

  “I’ll call you later,” Milo yelled.

  Ella darted outside and hurried home, pleased the fall weather hadn’t taken a turn for true cold yet. The mild temperature allowed for her to get away with slacks and a light jacket. She drove with the windows open to clear her mind.

  But she couldn’t stop thinking about Zelec and what he’d done to her. Rocked her body seven ways to Sunday then vanished.

  What the heck did he mean about wings?

  After a thorough shower and a small glass of wine, she fell asleep on her couch with the television on. She dreamt of things that made no sense, of demons and dragons and herself, smack dab in the middle of all the fiery crazy.

  * * * * *

  “I hope this is a real emergency and not a joke at my expense,” Zelec muttered as he teleported into the eastern mana fields outside Asael’s keep. His boss, Lord of the Abyss, had a bad habit of screwing with Zelec just for fun.

  A creature who had once lived in the upper realm, Asael had known joy and serenity for a time. He’d even loved a human, but his soul had been doomed to Descend. His mortal wife had given birth to demons, and he’d taken his rightful place in the lower realm, ruling over all while reigning Lucifer and his other lieutenants managed life between the realms and in the Ordinary, where balancing souls continued to be of the utmost importance.

  Having so much power could have gone to Asael’s head. Not only did he have complete control over the lower realm, he often mesmerized with just a glance at his beyond-beautiful features. Dark yet fair, he had a face that had toppled kings and bewitched innocence. Despite Asael’s fall from grace, he maintained a nimbus of light, having been so close to a higher power. He used that light to maintain order, ruling with fair, if disruptive, intent. His perpetual glow bothered everyone in the Abyss, and he liked it that way.

  Since Zelec prized living so much, he’d never directly disobeyed his boss—or at least, not in such a way that he’d been caught. Fallen angels made lethal enemies. Asael had been known to torment his foes, never outright killing them, which would have been a blessing by comparison. Instead he made good use of The Pit, a place of utter despair to those who entered, and other such devices to best torture those who opposed him.

  According to Asael, Zelec was needed back ASAP. Something about fighting over mana—raw magic. Nothing unusual about that. While devils kept mortal souls in line and in constant torment, demons bartered for magic with the other races in the lower realm, started one mischief or another over territorial lines and basically kept the dukes of hell busy keeping an uneasy peace. In demon lands, cruelty was a way of life.

  “Asael, I’m—shit.” Zelec darted out of the way of out-of-control fangs, claws and pitchforks—a hellish weapon of choice down here. Chaos ensued while demons, devils and imps fought over Asael’s mana—with Asael!

  None of it made any sense, since everyone knew that crossing Asael directly meant true death, not just rebirth into another form. Even Lucifer treated his lieutenant with respect, and he outranked everyone. The Fallen could be deadly, especially to their own kind.

  “Really, Cuthbert?” Asael sounded bored, but Zelec knew well that tone. Nothing good would come of it. “Shield yourself, Zelec.”

  Zelec teleported behind a large boulder, grew wings and wrapped the large black leathery appendages around himself. He liked to think of himself as angelic-plus—a creature as black as pitch in demon form. No feathers for him, just expansive wings, much like the dragons used, only better.

  A bright flash of white lit the red sky, and he tucked his head in tighter, dreading the wave of purity that washed past him.

  “I hate that.” He shook his wings free of any residual dust of holiness and teleported back to Asael, only to find the mana field free of combatants. Nothing left but ash and bone. Not even a trickle of mana remained. “Where’s the mana, sire?”

  Asael frowned. “It should still be here, and it’s not.” He muttered a few choice words. “That’s why I called you. Something odd has been happening.”

  “Something odd is always happening. It’s called hell for a reason.” At Asael’s scowl, he quickly added, “I admit I’ve never seen the minions come at you before. Fucking with me? Sure. I get that. But not the Lord of the Abyss.”

  “This is the third such insurrection in the past week. There is something at play here beyond typical corruption.”

  Zelec felt Asael reach out with a Fallen’s power. To his surprise, Zelec sensed something more to Asael than he normally did. A touch of someone…feminine?

  He studied his boss, curious because he hadn’t known Asael had been consorting with anyone since he’d dallied with a few blood elves a decade ago. Asael had once loved a human, of course, and rumor had it he’d cavorted with demons centuries ago, but for some reason he’d given up on them. Now, though he rarely made time for carnal companionship, when he did he sought anything not demonic or angelic. And certainly no one human.

  “Where have you been, Zelec?” Asael asked in a quiet voice.

  Taken aback by the question since he’d been wondering the same about his boss,
Zelec answered with caution. “Ah, I was in the Ordinary, scouting about.”

  “You seem different.” Asael studied him with fathomless eyes, and Zelec did his best not to cringe from that all-seeing gaze. “Darker, somehow.”

  Zelec had the blackest skin of anyone below. He prided himself on the color, and he reveled in the vanity of his complexion. In the lower realm, he wore black flesh and looked through blood-red eyes. His natural form was that of a human’s body with the wings he now sported, and he dressed in a higher demon’s protective trousers, keeping his upper body bare. Though he often teleported, flying was a joy. It used less energy, and his wings were an added source of defense, hence he didn’t like hampering his chest with clothing.

  He tried to make a joke of Asael’s observation. “I’m different? I’m even more handsome, is that what you’re saying, sire?”

  Asael crooked a finger. “Come closer, Zelec.”

  Unnerved and not liking it, he bared his teeth. “Why?”

  Asael blinked. “Did you just disobey me?”

  “No.” Zelec shook himself. “I just…why do you want me closer? If you wanted to kill me, you could easily do it from right there.”

  “Why would I want to kill you?” Asael sounded surprised.

  “Do you need a reason?”

  “No, I don’t.” Asael chuckled, and Zelec knew the tension had passed. “Keep your secrets, for now. But you seem changed, no longer just you.”

  “What does that mean?” The female had done something to him. He’d felt different after leaving her. Bereft, which wasn’t like him at all. Zelec liked to fuck. Men or women, blood elves, demons or humans. With the exception of angels, he was an equal opportunity lover.

  But Ella… What was she doing now? Was she thinking about him? And what had happened that second time he’d come, when he’d poured more than seed inside her? He’d felt as if another part of him joined her as well, that and something—someone—else.

  Bothered and not sure why, he frowned at the mana field, not seeing it past the memory of Ella’s dark eyes. With her he’d felt more than sexual. He worried he might have developed…feelings…for the strange female. In all his years, love had eluded him. His mother hadn’t felt it. He’d never known his father, and demons in general dealt in pain and suffering. Not the feel-good stuff of humanity and the upper realm. So how could he know this wasn’t just a fanciful shining he’d taken to the best piece of ass he’d ever had—

  Asael shoved him out of the way as demonic chant filled the air and daggers streamed where he’d been standing a moment ago. Zelec roared and turned to pursue his attackers, but a dragon descended from the sky and did it for him.

  Zelec swore, annoyed he’d been denied his revenge. “What’s Ranton doing here?”

  Asael’s eyes narrowed. “Just what I’d like to know.”

  They watched as the general of the dragon legion ripped through several lower demons with ease. He shook his talons free of blood and guts and approached Asael and Zelec.

  Alone.

  Eve had mated a male with brass balls for sure. Zelec liked Ranton, and he especially liked the fact Ranton didn’t stand on ceremony with anyone, not even Asael. But letting the dragon see that wouldn’t be good form.

  “Ranton, a pleasure to see you,” Asael greeted him.

  “Asael.” Ranton nodded to Zelec. “Jackass.”

  Zelec returned the nod. “Bitch-boy.”

  Asael raised a brow.

  “Your daughter keeps him in line,” Zelec explained. “It’s embarrassing.”

  Smoke curled from Ranton’s nostrils, but Asael laughed. “She’s a good girl. Is she breeding yet?”

  Ranton shook his head, but to Zelec, the dragon seemed disconcerted. A slight shimmer lit his lower flanks, a telltale sign of unease. Zelec knew a dragon’s blush when he saw one. He studied Ranton, wondering.

  Asael continued to make polite conversation. “And how is your king faring?”

  “Jentaron’s just fine. It would be nice if you’d stop pricking his ego. He’s roasting your demons left and right lately.”

  Zelec froze, because Asael hadn’t given permission for his demons to harass the dragon king for months.

  Asael flapped his wings before settling them against his back. Like Zelec’s, they were large of wingspan and leathery, but angelic white. “Is that so?”

  Ranton looked at him, then Zelec. “Yeah.” He glanced around. “So what happened here?”

  “A small rebellion that’s been corrected,” Zelec said smoothly. “Not that we owe your unwelcome visiting ass any explanations.”

  Ranton ignored his rudeness. “Good. Got to put out the fires when they happen.” He paused. “I don’t suppose you can tell us when our next supply of mana might be ready?”

  “You should have gotten a large one two days ago.” Zelec had a bad feeling about the recent unrest in the Abyss.

  Ranton sighed. “That’s what I thought. I’ll come clean. I think we’re having a problem with some of our dragons. And from what it looks like here, your demons are the same.”

  “How so?” Asael asked.

  “It’s like they’re out of control, not able to think for themselves.” Ranton lashed his tail against the earth, scattering bones. “I’m checking in with the other sects in the realm, and so far the blood elves have been similarly affected.”

  “Hmm. I wonder…” Zelec turned to Asael and flared his wings. “Sire, I’ll be right back.” “I want to see what Uriel’s minions are up to.”

  Asael nodded. “But come straight back. I need you here with me.”

  Zelec teleported into the upper realm and immediately transformed. His skin turned pale, his hair blond and his eyes a pristine blue. Gone was the leathery texture of wing he prided himself on. Instead he grew ugly, fluffy white feathers over his wings. He took a quick look around, delving into thoughts of lesser angels, divine beings that wouldn’t feel the quick intrusion, there and gone before they could blink.

  Finding what he’d sought and a few surprises he hadn’t expected, he left heaven and returned to the Abyss. The journey between realms always took a lot out of him, and after having visited the middle realm not long before, he teetered on exhaustion.

  “There too,” he said to Asael and Ranton, breathing hard. “Apparently a few angels have become rowdier than usual. And…” he paused to right himself from toppling over. A dragon tail propped him up. “Thanks. Something that’s really bizarre—there’s talk of a new war brewing.”

  Asael frowned. “War?”

  “With us.”

  Ranton and Asael exchanged a look.

  “Is Uriel so foolish that he’d risk war with dragons and havoc?” Ranton frowned. “He has to know if he moves on you, we’ll retaliate.” Because a dragon prince and dragon general had mated demons. Alliances had been made.

  Asael rubbed his chin. “No, he’s not. Uriel is a lot of things, but foolish isn’t one of them. Something is affecting all the realms.” He paused and turned to Zelec. “When you’ve recuperated, I need you to check on the middle realm. Report back to me and only me. We need to keep this quiet until we find out what’s behind it.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  Asael turned to Ranton, a grim look on his face. “I think it’s time I talked to your king again.”

  Chapter Four

  Ella had spent the next morning reassuring herself that Zelec had in fact been real. She had difficulty concentrating at work, and not just because of her one-night stand or talk of Lauren’s suspension. While the boss looked into the incident with Lauren’s video, Ella had been dealing with some very bad mind mojo.

  Not only had her headache from the previous day not gone away, it had grown worse. With Aunt Jo out of town helping a friend, she had to put off a medical visit. Things were starting to spiral out of control, and for a woman
who needed to be in charge of herself at all times, the notion Ella wasn’t scared her.

  Perhaps by using her abilities she’d tapped into a greater power. Usually she only felt the vibe from certain people—those with a large dose of psychic potential. Folks like Milo, like her mom and aunt. Like Zelec.

  But today she’d felt it in several people, even a few in the office. It made little sense, but then, not much had since waking from one messed-up dream.

  She still felt as if she dwelled in a place where the sky was red and a black sun burned. Where supernatural creatures reigned. Where Zelec was pitch black and had wings, and where he and a huge blue-scaled dragon fought for her heart. The dream had turned even stranger, when instead of fighting over her, the pair had fought together, for her, to save her from some seriously creepy alien-like things that wanted to take over the world. In the process, she’d somehow ended up riding—sexually—the dragon and her winged lover. Together, filling her right up.

  Holy Hannah, had that been hot. And weird. And still hot.

  She fanned herself while she erased the nonsense she’d just typed and tried to focus on her report.

  “Ella, did you see the news?”

  She glanced up to see Diana standing in her cubby, peeking down at her over the wall. “What news?”

  “It’s on the news. People all over the city freaking out. Fighting, stealing, looting.”

  “Zombie apocalypse?” Ella’s answer for everything.

  Diana didn’t smile back. “It’s not a mob thing. It’s a person here and there. One man in a bank, a woman at a grocery store and some teenager at a doctor’s office. They’re speculating all kinds of things on the news. Mass hysteria. Biological attacks.” Diana glanced around. “Let’s hope we don’t have any issues here today.”

  “Weird.” Ella thought again to the vibes she’d gotten from a few typically normal people in the office.

  “Oh wow. You have to see this,” someone said from the far side of the room, where a group of employees had already gathered.