Dragon 3 Chapter 25 (Patreon)

“That wasn’t so bad.” Scarlett said as we ended the call with their fathers. She tilted the tablet down, putting the camera against the table for good measure.

“I think they took it quite well.” Jadelyn agreed.

Kelly burst out laughing. “Pretty sure they are going to cling to your husband more than you.”

“They were… eager to meet you again.” Morgana’s lips twitched with mirth. “And they will push harder for grandchildren.”

I leaned back into the couch. “I’m not a show pony.”

My women nervously looked at each other. “People are going to have extreme reactions to you, either positive or negative.” Morgana responded.

“Great.” I sighed, then grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. “Let’s see what other surprises your dragon is in for.”

The Bronze King was due to speak soon. But at the moment, we were only looking at an empty podium with microphones mounted all over the front.

A man stepped up to it. If he was the bronze king, he wasn’t exactly what I had pictured in my mind. He was actually kind of short.

He was caucasian, with skin so sun kissed that he could easily be confused for middle eastern, but his blue eyes and light brown hair indicated otherwise.

Dressed in a simple but immaculately tailored black suit, he paused, waiting for the camera flashes to stop.

“Hello.” His voice rumbled, much larger than made sense for his human body.

All the camera flashes stopped at his voice and even through the TV, it commanded a certain kind of respect.

“Today, I had a speech planned to invite young dragons from around the world to celebrate our heritage and welcome the newest green dragon.”

He paused, his gaze hardening.

“But today, for the first time in a long while, I was surprised. Two lineages of dragons thought lost appeared today in Switzerland. One will be celebrated, the other mourned. A tragedy occurred, one that tells me the world has long forgotten the destruction of a dragon’s wrath.” The podium crackled, and the corner that his hand held splintered underneath it.

“So today, instead of a heritage celebration, I am calling a conclave of all living dragons. There must be a response to the atrocities seen here today. There will be repercussions, and our enemies will learn the consequences of awakening a dragon’s displeasure.” The Bronze King’s face flickered with anger, then relaxed as if purposely giving the world a brief glimpse of what was to come.

I couldn’t help myself. I swallowed. He was pissed. And the Silver Slave had shown me just how large a dragon could become. I could only guess how powerful and impactful the Bronze King could be.

Cameras flashed again, and reporters started shouting questions as the shot panned out from where it had been focused solely on the podium.

“Is this a declaration of war?” A particularly loud reporter shouted.

The Bronze King leaned over the microphones again. “You should expect change. For the first time in centuries, a gold dragon has appeared. With the absence of the gold and silver clans, I have led dragon kind. But the appearance of this gold will change many things.” He gave a non-answer that sounded suspiciously like he was going to hand over his role to me.

Jadelyn looked at me. “Wait, is he implying that you’d lead dragons going forward?”

I held my hands up, baffled at the concept. “Don’t look at me. I know less than you all do.”

“That is what it sounded like.” Morgana commented, as we all watched the broadcast closely. “I didn’t know their hierarchy was that strict.”

“No one knows that much about them.” Scarlett reminded everyone. “Dragons have pretty much secluded themselves from the world for hundreds of years, and before then, they were still fairly secretive. Their history goes so far back, no one but them has it well documented.”

I was feeling a headache brewing, the weight of potential responsibility already hitting me. I wasn’t sure I wanted all of it.

There was one person who might understand that I could call, but she was struggling with her own issues. I didn’t want to burden Yev further.

“That is a matter for dragons.” The Bronze King answered another question that I hadn’t caught. “Thank you all for your questions, but I am not in the mood today. To all those dragons out there, be safe and look out for my messengers.”

The broadcast suddenly cut back to the two news anchors. The male anchor sat with a stunned look for a moment before snapping out of it and speaking.

“That was… news. It seems the Bronze King is upset at the actions of the Church today.”

“And rightly so.” His co-host threw in to soften his language. “The footage that’s been made available showed enslavement of a dragon. I don’t imagine the Bronze King will stand for that.”

They paused, letting the weight of that settle before the female co-host perked up. “And we have new information on the gold dragon that’s even caught the interest of the Bronze King.”

Poorly taken pictures of me flying into Jadelyn’s home in Sentarshaden filled the side of the screen as it zoomed in on the attractive co host. “Tonight, the gold dragon was seen flying into the Scalewright home here in Sentarshaden. Our sources say the home has been active recently, housing the heir to the Scalewright shipping empire, Jadelyn Scalewright. She and guests have been in the city for the last few days. We can only wonder what dealings this new gold dragon has with the Scalewright family.”

I covered my face with my hands. “Fuck. Everyone is going to know by the end of the night, aren’t they?”

Jadelyn’s phone chirped once, a new text popping up.

Then again.

And again.

We all sat there waiting for it to stop, but for the next five minutes, her phone continued to ding with new texts.

“Are you going to answer those?” I asked.

She looked over at the phone as if it might bite her. “I think, maybe, I should just let them sit for a while.” She turned the volume off.

The phone sat there vibrating, nearly falling off the table.

Her tablet started ringing, and Scarlett turned it over to see their fathers were calling again.

“Hello?” Scarlett answered. “Forget something?”

“We are tripling the guard around the Sentarshaden home. Please work with the men to include them. Also, we’ve been contacted by the Bronze King’s people… do we tell him who Zach is?”

Scarlett looked to me for an answer.

I was honored they would refuse the Bronze King if I wanted a bit more time under the radar. But it would come out soon, and I needed to stop hiding in the shadows.

“Yes, you can tell him. We plan to stay in Sentarshaden a little longer to help retrieve Tyrande, but then we’ll be coming back to Philly.” I told the fathers.

“Alright. Good luck, son.” Rubert smiled broadly as he said son. “We just watched the announcement too, exciting stuff.”

“Thanks, bye dad.” Scarlett hurried them off the call. “Sorry, I know this is all a lot.”

“Are you okay?” Jadelyn asked me.

“No? But I’m not sure I have the option of freaking out.” I looked to my women. “Today has been a lot. I knew we’d likely be fighting the church, and I knew my secret would come out, but it’s still a lot to process. As a result, one of the most powerful paranormals in the world is hinting at war, and also me taking a position leading a group of paranormals when I didn’t even know I was a dragon until recently.” I let out a frustrated sigh.

We knew this was coming, and I thought I was prepared. But it was a hard change to prepare for. Apparently I would either sink or swim.

I had expected the media attention, but the Bronze King’s deferral to me and suggestion of war was additional weight dropped on my back.

The ramifications of that made my head spin.

“Zach.” Kelly got my attention and she had a tight jaw. She didn’t often have such a serious look on her face, so I paid attention. “You have responsibilities now. They might have been placed on you, but you can’t change what you are. Buck up, Alpha. Because it sounds like you were just promoted to Alpha of the dragons.”

“That doesn’t make this better.” I groaned. “I don’t want that level of responsibility.” I gestured towards the TV. “I’m not exactly excited at the prospect of deciding if I drag everybody into the next paranormal world war.”

Kelly grabbed my hand and forced me to look her in the eye. “Suck it up Alpha. I know you can do it. We all do. Remember, you aren’t even just a gold, you are this whole Pendragon thing. Whatever that means. There’s no running from this responsibility. Besides, I’m sure the Bronze King isn’t going to just walk away and leave you on your own.”

I nodded, realizing what I was feeling was probably similar to what she’d felt when I’d made her an Alpha of the pack. It might have been on a different scale, but she’d never thought it would be possible and definitely hadn’t prepared for it.

I looked back at her, this time seeing a bit more of her. She nodded, giving me a soft smile. She knew what I was going through. She’d done it, and I could too.

The idea of leading a bunch of dragons should have been thrilling, and a part of me relished the idea of the power. But the weight of that role wasn’t lost on me, and I needed to process it.

I could cause the deaths of millions of people based on my actions. All of those lives were now resting in the back of my mind for every decision to come.

“This doesn’t change anything.” Jadelyn patted my hand. “We are still here for you. Your short term decisions don’t need to factor this in. We have time to figure it out.”

“Yes, we need to refocus. This distraction could cost us saving Tyrande.” Morgana agreed. “You promised to talk with the Highaen tomorrow.”

Grinding my palms into my brow, I pushed aside all the possible outcomes of meeting with the Bronze King.

It actually felt good to focus on a problem I could solve in the short term.

Tyrande had been taken. It was a change of plans from the templar’s original goal of capturing a dragon, but it still gave them a huge opportunity. Through her, all of Sentarshaden was at risk.

“We can’t let them use Tyrande. Not just because it is wrong, but because she’s a friend.” I firmly told the girls.

There was no way that I’d sit around while they did to Tyrande what they did to the Silver Slave.

As I called him that in my head, I realized that I didn’t even know his name. I made a mental note to ask the Bronze King, and make sure I did something in the dragon’s memory.

“How do you intend to save her?” Scarlett asked, all of my mates sat, waiting to hear my answer.

And I paused. I hadn’t decided on a course of action yet.

“You can ask for help figuring that out. Just because you are a leader doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help; part of being a leader is gathering a knowledgeable group you trust.” Kelly prodded me.

I nodded. Her reminder was just what I needed.

“What do you think, Morgana? In all of this, both dealing with the church and this kind of mission, you have the most experience.” I leaned on my mate for ideas.

“Your main options are to try to negotiate, run a stealth operation, or ram in their front door.” Morgana narrowed my options down for me.

“I doubt negotiation is going to work.” We all knew that wasn’t the answer. “Ramming in their front door is very appealing, but that might be a better backup plan.” The Church also had the ultimate bottleneck if they decided to retreat through the portal to the celestial plane.

Their girls all nodded, knowing which one that would leave.

“To confirm, you, a giant ass dragon, are going on a stealth mission.” Scarlett’s face was amused, her tails swinging behind her.

“Not exactly.” I said, a plan starting to form in my mind. It could even be called two plans. “Morgana, what do you think of this?” I started laying it out.

***

The girls were helpful in ironing out the plan, yet it was still rough. It was getting late. We still had more details to hash out, but sleep was calling for me.

It had been a stressful day, and I knew I’d feel loads better after a good night's sleep.

The plan wasn’t ironed out, but it all hinged on the Highaen agreeing to half of it anyway. And we were only willing to tell them half of it.

Scarlett had pointed out that the angels had been ready and waiting to snatch the SUV, which meant the Highaen evacuation plans were compromised. We didn’t know where their leak was, so we couldn’t risk them knowing too much.

“Alpha.” Kelly grabbed my shoulders from behind and kneaded them. “You need to relieve some of this stress. When the Alpha is stressed, so is the whole pack.”

“I think these stress knots just settled in for life.” I muttered as I leaned back into her. I groaned as she found one particular knot, her thumb wriggling into it. It hurt so good.

Kelly kissed the side of my neck. “Now, if only dragons had women ready and waiting to help them relieve stress in the most natural way possible.” She kissed the other side of my neck. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

I nuzzled her head as she brushed up against my neck. “Kelly, I don’t know if that’s what you want for your first time.”

“Helping my alpha relieve some stress is exactly what I want. You do so much for us, even if you don’t realize it. I’m more than happy to do what I can for you.” She kissed my cheek this time.

I turned my head to claim her lips, my mind already pushing aside all of the worries and stress from the day.

My body followed suit, starting to dream up more pleasurable ways to spend my time.

I pulled back, checking Kelly out. Her shirt was tied up, putting her toned abs and firm chest on full display. And the short cheerleading shorts she wore fit her toned thighs like gloves. She smiled, turning and grabbing my hand, pulling me up as she led the way down the hall with her butt swinging back and forth.

“That’s it.” Kelly turned into one of the guest bedrooms. “Though, I’d like to be just me and my alpha for the start.”

“Of course. You don’t all have to share.” I knew that might be awkward for them.

“I don’t know. It sounds a little fun.” She gave me a coy smile that sparked my imagination. She laughed as she took in my expression.

I had to admit, the idea of two of them at once was making me excited.

Kelly tugged me further into the room, looking back towards me with a grin that promised a good time. “Maybe later. Come on, Alpha.”

I grabbed her ass and lifted her up, suddenly thinking entirely about what I would do with my favorite werewolf. “I have a lot of stress.” My warning fell on deaf ears.

“Werewolf, remember? I’m tougher than you might think. Now, show me what all that noise on the plane was about.” She bit down hard on my shoulder, and I tossed her into the bed.

She bounced, and I was on her before she settled.

I trusted what she’d said and took what I needed. Soft and loving wasn’t what I needed at this moment. I needed hard. I needed mind-blowing pleasure that made me lose all my other thoughts.

Claiming Kelly’s lips, I pushing her into the bed and twisting her about as my hands grabbed and claimed every inch of her.

Kelly came up for a breath as I kissed down her neck, pulling a breast out of her shirt and sucking on it vigorously enough that her nipples peaked in an instant.

“Yes! Use my body.” Kelly cupped the back of my head and pulled me over to her other breast to repeat the action.

Smiling down, I was more than happy to help. I slurped up her nipple, curling it between my lips, playing with it.

My hands weren’t idle as they dove into her tight shorts. I expected to find fabric, but my hands slid along smooth skin.

She wasn’t wearing any underwear.

“All ready for you.” She kissed me when I lifted my head off her chest.

Our kiss was fierce and feral. She bit my lip, tugging it out just enough to give a twinge of pain.

Encouraged, I played a little rougher.

My fingers found her folds, slipping in and feeling the wet warmth of her desire. I probed her folds, stroking them while I pulled beads of her juices out.

I nipped at her chest, loving how her skin gave to me, only to bounce back.

Her fingers ran through my hair as I played in her incredibly perky chest. My lips and tongue covering them with my saliva.

She was wonderful, and all mine.

The beast butted his head inside my chest, claiming her too.

“Roll over.” I slipped my fingers from her folds. They were soaked, and I knew she was ready.

Kelly rolled over, putting her bubble butt up in the air. She wiggled it a bit, smiling over her shoulder at me. “Whenever you’re ready, Alpha.”

Jerking down her tight shorts, I left them at her knees. I liked keeping her legs bound together.

Sitting up behind her, I let a possessive hand trail over the curve of her ass and down her back before grabbing her hips with both hands and leaning over her.

I sank myself into her ready and waiting sex. “You feel good.” I moaned.

She was slick and she expanded easily, taking my girth.

My body pulsed with satisfaction, tension beginning to leave me as I stroked into her.

I savored the slick friction as her tight pussy wrapped itself around my cock.

“Alpha, I can handle harder. Stop being delicate with me.”

I swayed my hips, driving myself deeper with the next thrust and deeper still, until I bottomed out in her.

Her legs held together, making her so deliciously tight as I started pumping harder and harder into her.

Our flesh slapped as I started pushing and pulling her hips opposite of my own driving. I plowed faster and faster into her.

I craved more..

Picking her up by her hips, I started to slam her down onto me as I pumped into her, chasing my release.

Kelly moaned, only encouraging me as I went harder.

All of the tension, the stress of the day built up in me and threatened to boil over.

I had one hand on her hips while the other braced her chest, my forearm neatly between her breasts. I used that grip to pull her off the bed, hammering into her with intense need.

Her sex clenched down on my cock, tighter than anything I’d felt before. It only took two more strokes before I emptied myself into her.

I felt like I was a fire hose inside of her, my own seed spilling out onto my thighs. When my release finished, I kept twitching inside of her.

“There you go, Alpha. Now do it again. I want to suck you dry of all that stress.” Kelly wiggled her ass up against me and started twerking on my cock.

My brain was foggy, but I realized she might have interest in my seed. “Should we get something to collect this?”

“Later. The others will join us in a bit, and we’ll see if we can’t fulfill Hestia’s order.” She continued to ride me, looking back over her shoulder. “Or do you not have enough stamina for that?” She egged me on.

The challenge was just what I needed. I pushed her face into the pillows and shook the bed with round two.