Dragon 4 Chapter 3 (Patreon)

The engines on Jadelyn’s private jet whirred up as the six of us leaned back in our seats.

The inside of the plane was all suede leather and white paneling. A cluster of circular seats filled the front, with a bed in the back. It only had a thin white curtain for a barrier, if it was even needed.

I didn't love that Kelly was staying in Philly. A part of my dragon nature hated being apart from any of my mates, but the pack really needed her leadership. She couldn't go gallivanting all over the globe right now.

Twenty of her bitches were pregnant after their beta males been given a special serum, curtesy of Hestia’s alchemical skills and my special ingredient.

The sudden pregnancy of so many of the cheerleaders by the football men had caused a bit of a scandal. She needed to be there to run PR and keep everything in check.

The paranormal world was eating it up, though. Packs had always needed the alpha male to impregnate the women, so the speed with which the pack was getting pregnant was considered a miracle. Not to mention Kelly had some very happy beta males.

Her pack had gone through an expansion with the news spreading. Wolves were breaking away from their packs and coming into town, hoping to join Kelly’s as the news of her pack spread.

"Have a good night with Kelly?" Jadelyn asked. Her question roused the curiosity of the two dragons aboard the plane.

Larisa and Chloe leaned so far forward in their seats that I thought they might topple out if it weren’t for the seatbelts I’d insisted they wear.

The two of them couldn't have been more different. Larisa was sinuous, with subtle curves along her athletic form. Her hair was always up in a different, yet equally intricate style. And she usually had two wisps of her white hair framing her face. She was also very petite, a whole head shorter than Chloe.

Chloe was all curves, with dark black hair that looked slightly blue when the light hit it just right, like lighting on a dark night. Her midnight hair trailed down her back, over whatever band t-shirt she wore that day.

"It was a fantastic night, even if Morgana had to poke her." I looked over at my partner in my mercenary business and the world's only drow vampire.

"I didn't poke her. I just came and sat on your lap. In fact, if I remember correctly, you were the one poking me." She smiled wide enough to show off her fangs.

"Poking you with his dick!" Scarlett howled with laughter.

Both of the dragons on the plane fiddled with their seatbelts. It didn’t take a genius to know what they wanted to do.

Scarlett put out a hand to stop them. "Do not go and try to sit in his lap."

Larisa let out a deep growl, far too deep for her petite frame. "You do not get to order me around. I am a dragon, daughter of the bronze king." She unclicked her seatbelt with a finality, but didn’t move yet.

"You get out of your seat, and I will guarantee that you never get my approval for Zach's harem." Scarlett rebuked her, remaining completely calm.

Larisa looked like she was fighting with herself as her eyes shifted and her nails grew into claws. Chloe placed a hand on top of hers.

"Calm down. You are speaking to the next Dragon King's harem." Chloe stared hard at Larisa.

The white dragon snorted, but she calmed herself and rebuckled her seatbelt. "I'm just surprised the dragon king gets his harem limited by his mates."

"You'll have to try harder if you want a rise out of me." I said calmly. "Scarlett is my first mate, and I've given her the task of screening potential mates. Do you realize there is an entire app dedicated to women wanting to date me?"

Larisa's eyes flashed with recognition, but her words said another story. "Nope. That's probably someone preying on women. Right?"

"Actually, I have a login for it. Well, Kelly has my login for it too. She has swiped through quite a few."

Larisa’s mouth nearly fell open. "You mean you actually can swipe through all of that? Why haven't you swiped right on me?"

I pulled out my phone and showed her the app. "I have thirty thousand matches. There's not enough time in the day for me to go through all of these."

Larisa swiped it out of my hand and leaned back as Chloe tried to peer around her shoulder. "Holy shit. She's hot. This is my competition?"

"No." I paused. “Well, I guess. But what I’m saying is that Scarlett is doing me a favor. She’s helping screen who would be a good match in my harem. And anybody who cannot share me or respect my current wives is definitely not going to be a good fit.” I stared Larisa down, making sure to set the boundaries.

"So if Scarlett is filtering them, why download the app and look through it?” Larisa kept swiping, clearly wanting to find herself as if that would make a difference.

I shrugged. "The girls found it first, and I couldn't help but be curious. The authentication they made me go through was insane."

Both of the dragons raised their heads, curious about that, but I wasn't going to repeat that memory.

"Anyway. Scarlett is my first mate, and she will help me pick suitable candidates." I could already see them about to interject, so I held up my hand to forestall them. "We all know the considerable pressure that will be applied to me to mate with other dragons. Something about me being able to restore lost lineages. But I think it would be overall detrimental if those people disturbed my harem and then me."

Chloe kept a firm hand on Larisa as she spoke. "We understand, King. But you should know that we are under considerable pressure as well. We were given an opportunity to meet you ahead of many of the eligible dragons at the conclave."

I nodded, remembering how pushy their mothers had been before leaving the two women with me. "You've helped me understand some of what will be expected of me at the conclave and how things work. I am very thankful for that, and I’ve enjoyed the time getting to know you a bit."

Larisa snorted. "You've avoided us except for when we scheduled a session to coach you on dragon traditions."

"This might surprise you, but I'm quite busy." I crossed my arms and leaned back, not at all happy with the direction this was going. I did not intend to defend myself when we weren’t even dating. "Have you even tried to get to know the rest of my mates?"

"She tried to bribe me." Scarlett piped up. More than happy to tell me anything.

"Not the point." I sighed. "The point is I need a group behind me, supporting me through all of this, not bickering." I turned my attention to the dragon's. "Not bribing my other wives or accepting bribes from others. The last thing I need is for any of you to become my weakness, either by distracting me or giving away information about my family."

My glare seemed to mellow the two dragons out.

"We understand. You are young and on the precipice of great burdens. A distraction among your harem could be disastrous." Chloe nodded slowly. "But there is still the issue of bringing back draconic lineages. Even if you do not take them into your harem, you should still mate with several of the dragons."

A growl rumbled up from my throat as my eyes shifted and my hand became a claw. "Anyone I mate with becomes mine." The beast rose up so fiercely inside of me; I felt a possessive urge unlike anything I'd ever experienced before my dragon half had started to reveal itself.

I took a deep breath, working to pull myself back from my partial shift before I broke through the plane.

"It is--"

"You've told me. It is unbecoming for a dragon to shift from their emotions. Spare me. I'd rip out the throats of anyone who looked at my mates the wrong way, let alone touch them. Once I take a mate, she's mine. And she will be a part of my harem.”

Jadelyn leaned over and was rubbing my neck and shoulders, running her fingers over my skin to help me relax.

Once I was calmer, I continued. "As a result, I need to be careful who I choose as a mate. She needs to fit into my harem, and Scarlett is going to help me filter down the options."

Larisa grumbled as she crossed her arms and the seatbelt light went out.

I unbuckled myself and went over to the bar. After having that conversation, I needed a drink.

"So, Scarlett, what do you do besides screen women from the next King of Dragons?" Larisa tried to get to know my other women.

Morgana slid past me, opening the cooler and finding a wine bottle with a blood drop sticker on the top. She popped it open for her own enjoyment.

Jadelyn had begun stocking everything with blood for Morgana since she’d joined us. My siren mate thought of everything.

"Don't feel guilty. You are doing this right for yourself, even if dragonkind would like another approach." Morgana sipped from her glass of blood, savoring it. "Besides, this way is more fun." A twinkle entered her eye.

"More fun?" I asked.

"Of course. Watching Scarlett deal with dragons and their mothers is going to be a blast. I cannot wait to see all the dragon mothers realizing they have to woo a kitsune."

Morgana slid behind me, her leather corset scratching my back as her free hand slithering around my waist to tease me. "But that's later. Why don't we have a little pleasure before business?"

Her tongue flitted out and licked my neck, followed by her fangs, which just barely grazed my skin as they traveled along my neck. Small tingles spread where her saliva touched me.

I wanted her badly, there and then.

I looked down the cabin at our guests. Larisa was still talking to Scarlett, but her eyes seemed to keep glancing in our direction as Morgana teased me.

"That would be so cruel to those two." I replied, my body not agreeing with my brain.

Morgana snorted. "I don't give a shit. You are my mate, and Kelly denied me my fun last night. Soon you’ll be distracted, and I want my mate." Morgana’s hands became insistent, pulling at my clothes hungrily.

I knew she was right. As the conclave took my attention, I’d do my best to make sure my mates got the time with me they needed, but it would become more difficult.

I took her hand and pulled her towards the bed in the back of the plane, pulling the thin white curtain closed behind us.

"Hold this." Morgana handed me her glass of blood. I took it from her, and she immediately sank down toward the ground, her leather clad knees hitting the floor. "You are always so much sweeter when you are horny."

She smiled as she leaned forward, unbuckling my pants and pulling out my member, her eyes lighting up as she took it in.

“Time for you to relax.” She purred before she slipped me into her mouth.

***

The plane shook.

"Everyone, back to your seats." The pilot called over the intercom.

"What's wrong?" Jadelyn wrapped a sheet around herself and pushed the curtain to the side.

As much as I was curious about what was happening, I couldn’t help but notice that beyond the curtain, Larisa’s chair was nearly in shreds, the armrest torn apart.

Chloe looked unsettled, but she seemed to be doing better than Larisa.

"Congratulations. You passed the first test." Scarlett said, putting on a sorority t-shirt and jeans before swinging a leather biker’s jacket over her shoulders.

"Test?" Larisa asked eagerly.

I had a feeling I knew where Scarlett was going. "You didn't push yourself into the back. Good job. It shows restraint, and that you’d be able to share me with my other mates. You have to be able to respect their time with me."

Holding my shirt in my hand, I walked over to both of them. I lifted Larisa's hand and kissed the back of it before doing the same to Chloe.

I wanted to show them some sort of affection and progress. I knew they’d both been trying in their own ways, even if their way hadn’t meshed with my own very well.

Just that kiss on the back of Larisa's hand was enough for her smile to blossom and her face to flush red.

"That was a very difficult test. You may want to be careful with how much you mess with a bunch of dragon women.” Chloe had a smug grin on her face.

They both felt like they had made a stride forward, which, despite my reluctance, was likely needed before we made it to the conclave.

I went back to my seat. Scarlett was up front in the cockpit, seeing what was going on.

Morgana slid into the seat next to me, and I put on my shirt with all the ladies watching me.

"What's that?" I heard one of the pilots shout.

"Uh... Zach, I think we need you." Scarlett called from the open door.

I got up and ducked through the door into the small room filled with buttons and blinking lights, wondering what the hell I could do to help them.

"Look up." Scarlett pointed through the window.

I looked and immediately found what had caused the disturbance.

Flying above the plane was a huge dragon with the sun behind it. With the glare of the sun, I was having trouble seeing what color it was.

"My King." Its voice rumbled, breaking through the sound of the wind and the plane. Though it sounded winded trying to keep pace with us.

The pilot looked at me strangely. "Think it is talking to you."

"Slow the plane down as much as you can." I told the pilot. He nodded a little frantically, getting to work immediately..

I shifted my throat and spoke in the same deep tone that it had, hoping that it would hear me through the plane. "Why are you disturbing my travels?"

The dragon glided lower and bent its head at a strange angle to look in the window. This time I could see it; the dragon was blue, but it was not Chloe's mother. "There appears to be a problem at the airport. Brom has asked that I help guide you to his island."

I nearly snorted. Of course, the bronze dragon had an island.

"What kind of problem at the airport?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Your travel plans are known; a large number of paranormals have gathered there today." The dragon's massive maw twitched in a grin.

I sighed, deciding to face it head on rather than appear to be elusive or hiding. "No need to redirect the flight. I will deal with the issues that it presents."

"Then we will meet you at his Dubai palace. Travel safe, my king." The blue dragon broke off its flight, rolling down and to the side.

Scarlett looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "What does he mean?"

"I think I have groupies waiting at the airport.” I could already see the wheels turning in Scarlett’s head as she went through the various security protocols.

I decided to distract her a little. “Also, something told me the dragon would want to guide us more directly than just leading. I thought I shouldn’t let Jade’s jet get all torn up. Her father may like me a little less.”

I held my arms out, and Scarlett smiled, snuggling into me.

"Twenty minutes to touchdown." The pilot informed us.

Scarlett pushed out of my arms. “I need to verify all of our security personnel are ready.”

I smiled and nodded, letting her do her job as I returned to my seat.

"What was that?" Jadelyn asked.

I sighed. "There is a surge of paranormals at the airport. Apparently, I have some fans gathered."

Jadelyn only smirked, a little knowing grin spreading on her face. Jadelyn had grown up in the limelight, so she was more than used to fans and media. I was still getting used to it.

I got my first taste when we’d traveled to Sentarshaden and the train had been swarmed by reporters. They seemed to have no care for the invasiveness as they tried to get the best picture.

"You'll get used to it." She shrugged.

"My king, can we help in any way?" Chloe seemed far more eager than she was when we’d begun our flight.

"Yes, My King. Please allow us to help Scarlett in protecting you at the airport." Larisa echoed.

"That’s Scarlett’s call. This is her space, and she has protocols that must be followed. Interfering with her plans will not work in your favor.”

The two dragons moved quickly over to Scarlett, who seemed to be already modifying protocols on the fly to incorporate the two dragons.

Jadelyn sat beside me, chuckling to herself.

"Is this what it's always been like for you?" I asked Jade.

"Sort of. The novelty of people watching me has faded with time. I don’t notice it so much anymore. And I worked hard to live a dull enough life that people got less interested in hearing about what I was doing. The press often filtered away to go to other more exciting celebrities.” She looked over at me, both of us knowing that wasn’t an option for me at the moment.

She verbalized what we were both thinking. “You are brand new and will have a prestigious position among some of the most unknown and powerful paranormal. The press are going to eat it up and try to dig for anything they can publish. But eventually, I imagine it will settle down." Her optimism was sweet, but we both knew it was going to be a long time before anything settled down. I was potentially leading all of dragon kind into a war.

I grunted. This was just another burden that my responcibility had laid upon me.