Copyright 2017 by Julian Clearwater - All rights reserved.
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The Dragon’s Flight
Gay Romance
By: Julian Clearwater
Contents
The Dragon’s Flight
Bonus Book: Burning for His Dragon
Bonus Book: Bearly Knocked Up
Bonus Book: Arrested by the Dragon
The Dragon’s Flight
The clangs and clashes of metal against dragon hide echoed through the clearing as David Shallows engaged in combat with the dragon that had been chosen for him. His mentor, an older man named Jacob Marsters, watched from the sidelines while shouting out encouraging remarks. If David were to slay this dragon, it would be his final task before approval as an official member of the Dragon Slayers Society.
“Hyah!” he cried out, swinging his broadsword toward the giant reptilian creature. The dragon attempted to blast a lungful of flames at him, but David simply rolled to the side. He jolted upright, just scarcely able to hear Jacob over the pandemonium.
“Strike now, while he’s exhausted his energies!”
David inhaled a shaky breath, his armor beginning to feel heavy as his energy was slowly depleted as well. Just the same, he pushed forward, swiping his sword against the underside of the dragon’s throat. Several thick scales had been knocked loose from that particular spot, and David’s attack struck true in the tender meat beneath the scales.
The dragon roared in pain, blood spurting from the wound on its neck. It swiped a clawed hand toward David, who just barely missed avoiding the attack, though his armor took the brunt of the damage. Still, it was enough to shake David. He gasped for breath, trying to stumble back as the injured yet enraged dragon lurched toward him.
“David! You can’t quit now! Get up! Get up, goddamn you,” Jacob roared.
The order was enough to force David to his feet. He faced the dragon with a sneer, taking no small amount of pleasure in the blood seeping from the open wound on the massive creature’s throat. One more strike in that specific spot would surely be enough to see it killed, but David knew that the dragon was just as aware of that fact as he was. As such, he expected the fire breathing beast to put on a defensive front unlike any other.
“He’s just a fledgling… I can do this,” David muttered under his breath, circling around the dragon in an attempt to get a better position. The dragon trilled angrily, blowing another plume of flames at David.
David made no attempt to avoid the flames, instead pushing through them in spite of how molten hot his armor seemed to get. He didn’t stop his charge until he was directly under the dragon’s long neck, and with a small yet victorious smile, he plunged his sword upward and directly into the throat of the beast. The bleeding, which had begun to slow, began to gush once again, coating David from head to toe. The dragon stumbled away, its red blood showing in a sharp contrast against its pale blue scales. The creature wheezed, bringing a clawed hand to its throat in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
However, it was for naught. Some mere moments later, the dragon lurched forward, hitting the ground with a loud thud. David watched quietly for a moment, just to ensure that his enemy was truly dead. Creeping closer, he got a better look at the dragon and could clearly see that all life had faded from its eyes.
“Good job, boy,” Jacob called out. “Now, collect the scales. You may be able to fetch a pretty penny for them. They won’t be worth as much as the scales of a full-grown dragon, but the color is brilliant.”
Jacob leaped down from the nearby rock that he’d used as a vantage point.
David nodded, his smile almost wicked as he began to meticulously pluck each scale from the dragon’s body. It was tedious work, but he and his mentor alike had bags full of scales once they were done. A few scales remained littered across the dragon’s corpse, those with obvious defects that the slayers could afford to leave behind.
“He put up a hell of a fight, for a fledgling,” David muttered, considering the corpse a moment longer before turning to trail after his mentor.
Jacob merely chuckled, glancing toward David with a grim smile. “It only gets harder from here. Make no mistake, I’m beyond proud of you. When I first took you under my wing, I was sure you would never make it this far.” The elder man paused, considering his young trainee with a real smile. “But you’ve gone beyond my expectations, and moreover, the expectations of the society.”
David smiled to himself, shoving his sword into his hilt. He could have taken offense about the lack of confidence in him, but when he’d first started this gig, he’d been nothing but a plucky little kid. He couldn’t blame Jacob nor the Dragon Slayers Society for not expecting him to come far. Had the roles been reversed, he doubted he would have even given such an ignorant young kid a chance. Then again, what David Shallows lacked in experience, he made up for in tenacity. He supposed that’s why the society had chosen to take him on.
Idly counting the scales in his bag, he could only hope they would fetch enough of a price to repair his equipment for his next dragon slaying venture. When they returned to headquarters with the proof of the test dragon’s demise, David would be allowed to take his pick of jobs from the bounty board. Bounties were where the slayers got most of their income, and it was always a toss-up whether one would come back from one of their bounties. There were dozens of tales of men taking on bounties, only to come home in body bags. The Dragon Slayers Society was not one to mourn the loss of a member for too long, always seeking to replace even their most well practiced members with a new era of dragon slayers. That, too, may have had something to do with David landing the job.
As it were, he couldn’t ask for a better mentor. Jacob was warm and caring, playing the part of the father that David lacked. They didn’t always get along, but then again, who did? David knew if it came down to it, Jacob would put his neck on the line for him. Hell, the elder dragon slayer already had in his efforts to see his mentor granted the chance at full membership. He couldn’t wait to join a group on a mass hunting mission, or even pursue his own solo hunt if the pay was good enough, and the risk low enough.
It wasn’t as if the young slayer had a death wish. At least, not as far as his own death. Regarding the death of dragons, however… well, the thought alone was enough to bring a smile to his face. That was what made him so good at his job, in some ways—his eagerness to see the creatures killed. He wanted to protect the masses, though that wasn’t his most prevalent reason for taking the job. He simply had a thirst for dragon blood. He wasn’t the only one with a grudge though, and he certainly wouldn’t be the last. At least his mentor, Jacob, seemed to be of a like mind.
“So, are you excited to finally be part of the society?” Jacob asked with a sly smile.
David nodded happy, brushing his fingers along the weathered sheath that contained his broadsword. Perhaps with the payment from this fledgling dragon’s scales, he could afford some new gear. It had been some time since he upgraded and it was difficult to find people who actually provided for the service he needed, but perhaps he would treat himself for once. He deserved it, after all the work he’d done.
The slayer walked with a pep in his step as Dragon Slayers Headquarters came into view. He resisted the desire to r
un like a child running to his long-lost relative. Now was not the time to ruin the perfectly molded perception that the other slayers had of him. He had to appear strong of will, and strong of mind. He would allow himself time for celebration later—much later—but for now he had to remain in control of his emotions.
“Do you think that there will be a suitable job for me, on the bounties board?” David asked nervously, continuing to fidget with his sword. Nerves were something that very rarely afflicted him, but in the face of his potential rising in the ranks, he supposed that even the steeliest of men might lose his confidence. Every step he took in the Society was a make or break situation, every single glance meticulously calculated so as not to offend the higher-ups nor the other fledglings.
“I think you’ll find something suitable. If you’re lucky, you’ll be the first to the board after the new bounties have been listed. It’s the optimal time to choose a target,” Jacob said, performing the society salute for the men guarding the doors.
They glanced toward David, who repeated the salute impeccably. The first time he’d attempted to gain entry on his own, he had been so clumsy that he’d nearly been labeled an outsider. Never again, he vowed. This was his home, and these were his people.
Jacob led David through the barracks, stepping through the hall that led to the certification area. David’s mentor had filled out the majority of the forms before they’d set off on their attack. It seemed his confidence in his pupil was well served. All that was left was for David to have his thumbprints taken, a sample of his DNA analyzed, and then he would be set. After several moments that seemed to last an eternity, David posed in the society salute in front of a white screen, where his identification picture was taken. Nearly immediately after, his identification badge and certification were produced for him to take. His eyes nearly welled up at the sight, but he managed to swallow his tears. Composure, David, keep your composure.
“Come along, now. If we hurry, there may be some good jobs available on the board,” Jacob urged, guiding David to an area of the headquarters he had never previously had the opportunity to explore.
A large electronic interface sat in the middle of a large room, where the hustle and bustle of other slayers could be heard. Taking the initiative, David parted the crowd and forced his way toward the board. He scanned quickly, eyes widening as he viewed the low threat section of the board. Most slayers wouldn’t consider this particular section past their first year, strictly for prideful reasons, but considering that David was just starting out, he felt no such obligation. At the very bottom of the list, a slender dragon with opalescent scales was pictured, next to a brief description as well as his threat level. Opal dragons were considered prized among slayers for their scales, so it was a wonder that the bounty had been overlooked for so long. The young slayer could only attribute it to the gods watching out for him. He quickly scanned his ID, claiming the job and waiting for the printout that would contain further details.
“An Opal dragon,” he murmured under his breath, looking in awe at the clearly printed picture. If he didn’t hold such disdain for dragons, he may have thought it a rather lovely creature. As it stood, all he could picture was his broadsword slicing through the underside of its belly, leaving its prime scales for the taking.
“My, my. What a spot of luck,” Jacob mused, reading over David’s shoulder.
David smiled proudly, folding up his documents and placing them into his shoulder bag. “It’s meant to be, Mr. Marsters. I can feel it,” he said.
Jacob chuckled, placing a hand on David’s shoulder. “You’re one of us, now, Dave. It’s just Jacob, from here on out.”
With confidence flowing through his body anew, David nodded his head and quickly strode out of the building. According to his information, the dragon had been spotted in the town nearby. If he was lucky, this job would end rather simply, and quickly.
CHAPTER TWO
Breathing a sigh, Ethan leaned back in the pilot’s seat of his trusty helicopter, waiting for the next group to pay for their turn. When he’d gone through the training for his pilot’s license, he hadn’t expected to spend much of his time working for city fairs, flying kids around on a ride that’s advertised as being much more exciting than it actually is. Not that he would scorn being on his helicopter any day of the week, but the man couldn’t deny he would much rather spend his time exploring a wider radius. For the purposes of the fair, he was simply intended to soar above the fairgrounds, showing off the various rides and attractions.
At night, it was a bit more fun, at least. The lights of the fairground were a beauty to take in from above. From Ethan’s perspective, everything was prettier from high above. However, right now the sun was shining brightly and making it almost unbearably hot inside his flying gear. He’d had his share of young women suggesting he disrobe, only if he was more comfortable, of course. If he had any interest in women, he would enjoy the job a lot more. Ethan had talked to plenty of flirty bombshells eager to go on the wildest ride of their lives. As it stood, none of the women caught his eye, at least not in the way they obviously desired. There were rumors regarding his sexuality among the other fairground workers, not that it really bothered him either way. If they wanted to assume anything about him, he’d rather it be his sexuality. He had other skeletons stuffed much deeper in his closet.
Not that anyone cared to ask about the deeper facets of his life. He scarcely allowed anyone to get close enough to invade his personal privacy. If anyone dared ask about his life, he wasn’t entirely sure what he would tell them. The safer things, he supposed. Things like his desire to be a pilot since he was a child, and his fascination with flying machines. Well, not just flying machines, but all forms of flight. Ethan was a bit of a geek in that sense, known to go off on tangential rants about the mechanics of a bird in flight, compared to a commercial jet plane. It wasn’t a conversation that often charmed people.
He found himself drawn from his thoughts at the shout from the man collecting the payments for the helicopter rides. He shook his head, trying to focus on what the other man was saying, in spite of how scatterbrained he was feeling today.
“Yo, Ethan! This guy wants to pay extra for a longer ride. You reckon you can pull it off?” the carnie called out to him.
Ethan couldn’t help but quirk a brow. It wasn’t often that people wanted to spend more than the bare minimum on his rides, not that he was complaining. He still pulled in enough of a profit to make it worthwhile. He glanced out the side of the chopper to consider his potential customer, the wind knocked clean from his sails as he noticed just how gorgeous the other man was. He was wearing a simple hoodie, though God knew it was much too hot for that. The hood was pulled back, revealing dark chocolate hued hair and brilliant green eyes. Ethan was sure for the briefest of moments that his heart would simply cease beating in his chest.
The money collector was giving Ethan a curious look.
Ethan tried to speak in a steady voice. “I’m sure it can be arranged. Take the payment.”
He was all too aware of the blush darkening his cheeks despite his wish to be calm and cool, and he tried to pull himself together as the customer climbed into the helicopter. Ethan could feel the other man’s eyes upon him, and he cursed himself for being so transparent. It was just so rare for cute guys to hop in the chopper with him, unless they were being dragged along by their girlfriends.
Realizing that he was being too silent, Ethan offered his hand to the other man with some hesitation. The green-eyed man raised a brow, smiling cheekily as he gripped Ethan’s hand in his own.
“Hello, there. I’m David Shallows. I was hoping you could give me a more expansive ride, going a little ways beyond the fairgrounds, ya know. I don’t know if that’s a request you receive often…”
“It’s not,” Ethan retorted, wincing at the faintly affronted look David turned upon him. “It’s a relief, though. I’m a bit tired of circling the same path. I’ve been doing it all day, every day,
for the past week,” he amended, looking a bit nervous.
David smiled, seeming to take no small amount of pleasure in the shy flush on Ethan’s cheeks. “That’s great to hear. If you decide you need more payment, it can be arranged. I happened to cash in pretty big at work today.”
Ethan tilted his head in curiosity, beginning to shift the helicopter into the proper gear to begin ascending off the ground.
“What do you do for a living?” Ethan asked, paying little mind to the actions required to take flight. It was second nature for him at that point. He spent almost every day of his life in the skies, at least for some period of time. He noticed that David seemed to flinch a bit at the question, his expression darkening for a short moment before he seemed to shake off whatever was bothering him.
“Oh, you know. A bit of this, a bit of that,” he said dismissively, only serving to pique Ethan’s interest even further.
He could sense that David was reluctant to talk about his job, however, so he simply shifted the helicopter into a speedy path out of the fairgrounds. David whooped in excitement, gripping his seat tightly. There was something exhilarating about being closed up with the mysterious man, taking him to God knew where. Ethan rarely got to experience much excitement in his line of work. Sure, his job may have been the peak of excitement for other people, but the opposite was true as far as he was concerned.
It wasn’t that he disliked kids, or their mothers, or even the teenagers with their blockhead boyfriends. It was just that he wanted…more. It seemed strange that he’d finally been presented with the opportunity for more, but he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. David seemed all too excited by the experience as well, nearly lurching out of his seat to get a look at the earth below them.
“Is there anywhere in particular you want to go?” Ethan asked, trying to remain casual in spite of the pounding in his heart.
The Dragon’s Flight: Gay Paranormal Romance Page 1
