Dragon 5 Chapter 18 (Patreon)

“Ooh. This should be entertaining.” Amara commented as we watched Ikta come parading in.

“More like bad news.” I grumbled. Thankfully, the vampires and wild fae seemed to be separate. The horrors that would come of them working together boggled my mind.

“Do we have a stake in this, my king?” Amira asked me.

I frowned, trying to work through the same question. “We support the fae if needed. Vampires are a problem for everyone. As for Ikta, we avoid conflict. She can’t do anything to us in her present state.”

The vampires pushed to the stage first. “Queens.” Deniz threw his arms out. “I apologize for our tardiness. It seems that our invitation got lost. Luckily I heard that there was a party to welcome new paranormals to the city and I couldn’t be left out as a new arrival.” He grinned like they were best friends.

Unfortunately, I realized the way he phrased it; he had found a way to be invited.

“Welcome.” Summer’s face had lost its warmth. “Though, no other group brought so many people.”

Behind him were two dozen vampires, many of whom were looking around hungrily at the fae, who were stepping away in response.

“We wanted to experience the fae’s famed hospitality. And I hear the beverages are delicious.” He licked his lips as he looked around. “Although, I doubt my entourage competes with a dragon king’s harem. He has what? A hundred wives?”

“Six.” I snorted.

But my words were drowned out by the rage of Winter. The temperature dropped several dozen degrees. The warm day turned to a chilly fall day in an instant. “You will not drink a single fae while you and your people are here. Our hospitality may be famed, but we have limits.”

“I thought you would treat us equally. Did you not bring food for the others?” Deniz gestured vaguely to the food. “Do the rules of hospitality not declare that all guests receive food and drink untainted by the fae. That includes vampires, no?”

“The rules of hospitality state that no one shall be harmed. Drinking the blood of my people would be harmful.” Summer declared. Her power welled up and banished the cold, instead making it a little toasty.

My skin was getting a little temperature whiplash, but I shrugged off the heat with a slight tap into my gold dragon abilities.

Seeming to ignore the current conversation, the driders came up to the platform and lowered the pallet to make it even with the stage.

Two purple nymphs with faces of pure beauty and lust stepped out, wearing sheer sparkling strips of cloth as clothing. They then stepped to the side, parting the curtains for Ikta to step out in her full glory.

“Ah. It seems like nothing has changed.” The spider queen stated as she glided out. “The two queens still bicker endlessly. It seems we have all sorts of guests, and there’s a conflict in the rules of hospitality. Whatever shall we do?”

Ikta tapped her fingers along her cheek, giving us her most sincere forlorn look, which still wasn’t very sincere. A smile creeped along her face as she spoke again. “Perhaps a third party could settle this? I’d be happy to assist. I’m very knowledgeable in fae laws.” Ikta’s eyes glittered with malice towards the two queens as she tilted her head, waiting for their response.

I cleared my throat to get her attention. She glanced my way, and seemed even more pleased by my attention, but as I glared, she seemed to shrink ever so slightly.

She shifted a little uncomfortably before straightening up and turning to the queens, waiting for their answer.

“A third party with the knowledge of your people. That would be perfect to settle this. We are hungry after all. It would be rude to keep us waiting when the rest of the party is feasting.” Deniz was watching the queens intently.

The queens shared a look before nodding. “Declaring yourself a third party means you have no relation to the fae. We agree you can settle this.”

Ikta laughed. “No relation to the current leaders of the fae, that is certain. However, I and my people are fae.” She pursed her lips.

The queens didn’t acknowledge her statement, but they also didn’t revoke her ability to be a third party decider for the moment.

Ikta stood for a moment, her eyes flicking between the queens, Deniz, and myself as she tried to decide on the best course of action.

“Very well. The vampires need blood.” Ikta started, and I could see the queens’ eyes lighting up with fury before Ikta spoke again. “But… to drink from the party guests is not ideal.”

Ikta walked over to the spider women who had carried her in, whispering in their ears before snapping a finger and a dark portal opening beside her.

The spider women marched into the portal and everyone waited. The party was eerily silent for those moments until they came back with a goat under each arm.

“Goats!” Ikta shouted before cracking up in laughter. “Everyone likes goats.”

“Insulting.” Deniz spat.

“But they have blood, and who doesn’t like goats?” Ikta frowned at the vampire as if he was the odd one. “It is food, and it harms none. Well, the goats won’t love it, but they were going to be food, anyway.”

Deniz bared his fangs. “How about I drink your blood to settle this?” One of his entourage took that as the signal and rushed forward.

The blur that was the vampire disappeared into a portal that popped into existence in front of Ikta, followed by a loud shout from above.

Ikta twirled her wrist, causing the first portal to turn to face upwards. The vampire came screaming down and right back into the first portal, only for his voice to reappear higher up in the air.

He came down faster this time, then faster still the next.

“I demand you stop this at once!” Deniz yelled, and it was the least composed I’d ever seen him.

“Sure.” Ikta dismissed the portal near the ground, but the screaming vampire was still hurtling down towards us all.

The vampire hit the stage in a red messy splatter, killed on impact.

“You twisted bitch.” Deniz screamed. “Hospitality is nothing to you? Fine. Based on your example, we shall feed.”

His entire group launched themselves forward towards the nearest fae.

However, when they each touched their target, they froze. Magic slammed down around them from everywhere. But it wasn’t a single person casting the spell. It felt as if the spell was woven from every other participant; myself included.

It made my little twig enchantment look particularly pathetic.

Ikta clapped excitedly in Deniz’s face. “You broke the rules of hospitality.”

The vampire’s face was twisted in confusion and anger as he stood frozen.

At that moment, the vampire who had been sent falling to his death appeared through a portal, and everyone was bewildered.

I looked back towards the splattered vampire, finding shaggy white fur and a pair of goat horns amid the mess.

Ikta continued to clap excitedly while swirling around the frozen Deniz. “You broke the rules. Even if I played you for the fools.”

Herm laughed. “Serves you right for party crashing.”

The Summer Queen stood and gave Ikta a bewildered look, likely trying to decide if she was friend or foe.

Too bad she was just crazy.

“Given that you were tricked, you will only be expelled. However, your inability to control yourself poses a risk for future parties. You are not welcome among the fae or our celebrations for the next century.” The Summer Queen snapped her fingers, and the vampires disappeared.

Having seen what happened when the rules of hospitality were broken made me suddenly far more comfortable amid the party, although I was deeply aware of the trick Ikta had done. She knew how to play the game, and the other fae did as well. I needed to keep a sharp eye out for traps.

With the vampires gone, the party went back into full swing. Within moments, you’d never know an attack had just occurred.

I snagged a drink from a passing server as I waited for my adrenaline to slow. “Well, that was fun.” I commented to Amira.

“My king, you have someone’s attention.” Amira said as Ikta and two of her nymphs walked over.

“Hello, Dragon King. I do hope that my choice pleased you. Though I cannot act against you, maybe one day you will let me bear thousands of dragons for you.” Ikta licked her lips and bowed low, purposefully making her chest sway.

I struggled with what to say in return. She always was so blunt that it threw me off. Gathering my thoughts after a moment, I responded. “I’m pleased you got rid of the bloodsuckers. They are causing a lot of trouble in the city.”

Ikta hummed to herself. “Are they now? I’d be more worried about the demon. Nasty little pests.”

Raising my eyebrow, I waited to see if she’d say more. But she seemed to be distracted by the two queens. They had moved from their thrones and were walking the party, and Ikta skipped off to antagonize them.

I wanted to know what she was talking about with her demon comment, but with Ikta, nothing was ever straightforward. And whatever it was would emerge with time.

“My favorite son-in-law.” Rupert wrapped a muscled arm around my shoulder and turned me to face several people of various races. “Meet Grim Darkshank and Tilly Flatbottom.”

The dwarf and gnome watched me expectantly.

“Pleasure to meet both of you.” I did a slight bow of my head in greetings.

“The famed dragon king.” Grim bowed. “You had said that you would hold none of our people’s former grudges. I would like to know if you truly meant that.” The man eyed Amira.

Amira took the empty glass from my hand and replaced it with a full one. It was her own way of being affectionate. “Our king’s words are the draconic laws. He has told the rest of us in the city not to exercise any grudge.”

“Truly?” Tilly asked, his voice deeper than I expected for his small frame. I realized I’d expected him to sound like a child.

“There is no reason for me to hold those grudges. They are the past, and we can all move on together.” I said calmly.

They both nodded.

“Well then, it has been a great pleasure to meet you.” Tilly held out his tiny hand nervously.

“It has been nice to meet you as well.” His hand fit into mine like a child’s, and I pumped it gently. He tensed but relaxed and let his hand rise and fall with mine.

I got the feeling that the handshake had been some sort of test.

I wondered if the dragons and gnomes were at such odds that at one point a handshake could lead to attack.

“Are any bribes needed?” Grim asked.

I hadn’t considered it. And a part of me wanted to say yes and demand a mountain of gold, but given the tension, I thought it better we start off on the right foot. “No.”

My beast threw a fit in my chest, and I covered it up with a smile.

“Huh.” Grim traded a glance with Tilly and nodded. “We believe you. Let bygones be bygones. That’s what humans say, right?”

It wasn’t a modern phase, but I went with it. “Yep. What’s happened is in the past, and we will forge a new future. I have no past history or grudges to carry from the issues in the past, but I know there is still anger in my people. And I’m sure in yours as well. Let’s do our best to not spark conflict.”

Both of them nodded gravely, and I was left to wonder again just how much damage our two groups had done to each other.

But the last thing I needed was another enemy to deal with. Between vampire blood lords, celestial angels, Ikta, and a church that wants to kill all of us, I had enough problems.

I nodded to the group before Rupert released me. I noticed Ikta antagonizing the Winter Queen and headed that way. Amira trailed along behind me, clearly my dragon guard for the moment.

“— according to the treaty your great great great grandmother laid out—“ Ikta rambled on as I stepped up, only pausing to give me a slight glance out of the corner of her eye.

One of her nymphs gave me bedroom eyes that felt like she was about to suck out my soul.

“Cut that out.” Winter snapped, breaking the glamor. “I’ll not have you antagonizing Zach in my presence.” She had a slight smile forming on her cold lips at having ‘saved’ me. I made sure not to thank her.

The Winter Queen eyed me. “How are you, dragon king? It has been a while since we last met.”

I couldn’t resist. “You mean the time when you promised to help in the fight with Nat’alet only to back out at the last second after I was trapped inside?”

To her credit, she didn’t so much as flinch.

“It was critical to the balance to restore part of my strength. These years with additional pressure from the world, Summer’s strength threatens to overwhelm mine. To preserve the balance, I would go far.”

She paused and dipped her head. “But to you I do owe you an apology. Please accept it.”

“Apology accepted. Maeve has been working on your behalf to smooth things over.” I wondered if I could twist that into another apology from her.

“Has she now?” Winter’s gaze was down right chilling, but I was unsure if that was just natural.

“Winter, you didn’t tell me you offended the dragon king.” Ikta laughed. “Zach, would you consider owing me a favor for solving her transgression?”

I wasn’t sure what exactly ‘solving her transgression’ would entail, but I wasn’t about to sic Ikta on Winter. “No, that’s quite alright. I’ll be the one to exact any of my own vengeance.”

Ikta rubbed her hands together at the word vengeance. “Perfect.”

“What of you two? Plotting world domination?” I asked the two queens.

“No such thing. This ancient relic was demanding accords struck by my predecessors be acknowledged.” Winter scowled at the Spider Queen who only batted her eyelashes in response.

“I’m not that old.” Ikta tugged at her cheek and it failed to produce any wrinkles as if that was proof.

If I understood one thing about the fae, they loved their beauty.

“You certainly don’t look old. Though, maybe you are weaker. Half of your power was quite tasty.” I teased Ikta. But if she was bothered by the loss of power, she didn’t show it.

Instead, she just shrugged. “There are other parts of me that are tasty, or some say my nymphs are the tastiest. The wild fae were famed for their fertility, unlike the other two.” Her eyes flashed back to the Winter Queen. “I wonder if your populations are declining at all? Without the wild fae, how are you two keeping up your populations? Don’t tell me you are using men of other races?”

My ears perked up. I’d been wondering about the myth that fae used human men for children. I wondered if there was any truth to it from what Ikta had just said.

“We have adapted.” Winter was short with Ikta and turned back to me. “You have grown fond of my daughter?”

“Yes, though she’s made a few missteps in the beginning, her genuine effort in working through that has made her an ally.” I replied.

Both of the queens noted my words. Even the Summer Queen a few dozen feet away looked in my direction briefly.

The queens all wanted my support. While it was nice to be wanted, the weight of each little decision I made weighed on me. I could imply the turning tide of wars based on the smallest comments.

“I sincerely hope that we can push past a slight mistake in the past and forge forward. At the time, I did not know what you would become.” Winter replied, seeming to think that was a good reason for betraying my trust.

But I wasn’t bothered. Instead, I was simply ready to use it to my advantage.

I scowled and pretended to be offended. “That you did not know I would shortly become the dragon king has no bearing on what you did. You still abandoned me in a time of need.”

Amira spoke up. “Even now you underestimate my king. He has the entire dragon race in lockstep with him. When you offend him, you offend all of us.” She of course referred to my heritage.

Summer had seemed to notice after my return from the conclave, but I doubted Winter knew yet. I certainly wasn’t advertising it.

“Amira.” I scolded her, but she gave me a fiercely defiant glare.

“I will not stand for a smudge against your honor.” She held her ground.

“You are relieved. Rotate with another of the honor guards.” I demanded.

I needed to make a show of scolding her, even if it helped towards my cause.

Amira bowed out while Ikta giggled.

“Winter, you really don’t know the fire you are playing with in upsetting the dragons. Maybe when you have your strength back, you’ll understand.” The spider queen teased.

“It seems I find myself making matters worse. I apologize for any slight I may have caused. Perhaps it is better to leave it at that.” She dismissed me, no doubt hoping to avoid apologizing a third time.

But internally, I was pumping my fist high in the air. She had now apologized twice, and I just needed to twist the meaning of their parting gift.

Score one for the dragon king. It was a minor victory, but I was far outmatched in trickery. Every victory counted.

Sarisha joined me as I continued through the party in her brass chain dress. She was far quieter than the other dragonettes, it was easy to forget about her.

The night had moved into full swing, and the fae were celebrating. An orgy developed off the side of the stage. Nymphs drew men of every race to them and rutted in a twisting pile of flesh amid a gully. I was glad that I’d been prepared that it would happen, or I would have been thrown off.

But I noticed that Ikta’s nymphs and Maeve’s assistant stayed out of the orgy, as did the queens and ladies of the fae.

After all, if they got with child, they’d find themselves married. While many of the fae would love just that, those with responsibility seemed to be more discerning.