Alamosa Arena (American Dragons Book 9) Read online

  Another soft kiss. He loved how hot her skin was compared to the chill air around them—her smell, her skin, the feel of her ass in his hand.

  “You’ve already saved so many of us,” Aria whispered. “Me, Mouse, Sabina, Uchiko, and Nefri. The dark elf gazes upon you with so much love in her eyes now. We owe our lives to you.”

  Steven wanted to protest. He couldn’t. Yes, he had saved them, but they had saved him right back. “No one is going to die. There aren’t going to be any sacrifice plays. We’re not good at them.”

  Aria didn’t say anything. It was clear by the look on her face, the Indian woman didn’t want to argue. Yet Steven saw that she believed otherwise.

  He swore to himself that he’d prove her wrong. They’d be smart. They’d come up with a plan. And when the time came, he’d slay Zothora, and no one would have to die to do it.

  He and Aria flew to the windows of the bridge connecting the main terminal to the A Gates. They shifted human inside.

  Inside, Nefri stood. Behind her ran a shadow. Before Steven could protect himself, that shadow jumped into his chest, knocking him over. Before he knew it, he was lying on his back with thirty pounds of wolf on his chest and a warm pink tongue licking his face.

  “We have got to teach this puppy some manners,” he said, laughing.

  Aria bent to pet the midnight black fur of the flying wolf, caressing the skin that connected his two legs. Aria’s breasts swung hypnotically. Steven couldn’t help but look.

  He wasn’t the only one. Nefri’s eyes drank in the beautiful dark-haired Indian woman. The Shadow Archer was dressed in her black robes, the Hellstring over her shoulder. The cowl of her cloak was back, and her mask was pulled down to cover the scars on her throat.

  Nefri tapped her forehead and pointed at him. She was grinning. Was that the glint of lust in her purple eyes?

  Chapter Two

  “Magica Divinatio.” Casting the spell while on his back wasn’t an issue. Blackfoot, though, was a bit distracting. As was Aria.

  The wolf yipped at the shadows pouring out of Steven’s eyes.

  Nefri’s voice came to him. This woman is naked and very beautiful. The others are clothed, most of the time. But she is different. She is your first wife, yes?

  Steven cracked a grin. Uh, Tessa might have something to say about that. But in some ways, yes, Aria was the first Dragonsoul to believe in me.

  Nefri set the bow down, let her cloak drop, and then unhooked her mask and plopped it down on the pile of fabric. She stood with her white hair tumbling onto her shoulders. Then I need her blessing in your Escort. What are the rules for sex? I would like for us to have sex. I’ll give Blackfoot a bone to chew on. That will keep him busy.

  Aria knelt and leaned back. “What are you two discussing?”

  Steven wasn’t about to lie. “Nefri is wondering about the rules for sex. She’s expressed interest in you.”

  Aria stood, straightened, and addressed the dark elf. “From what I have heard, you are already in Steven’s Escort. Then, there are no rules.”

  “Tessa would say consent is important.” Steven managed to push Blackfoot off him. He sat up and scratched the black wolf behind his ears.

  Aria nodded. “Consent is important. But if Nefri has expressed interest in me, then I consent.” She walked over to the Shadow Archer. “I must admit, I’ve found you intriguing. Can I hold your hand?”

  Tell her yes, Nefri sent immediately.

  “You can hold her hand,” Steven said. The air of the enclosed bridge grew intense. Nefri’s musky scent grew stronger, mixing with Aria’s cinnamon perfume. A bit of the cold leaked in through the broken windows, but Steven hardly felt it.

  Aria intertwined her fingers with the dark elf’s. “Your skin is rough. I expected it to be soft.”

  Tell her I apologize. I use my hands to battle. Soft hands have not been a part of my history.

  Steven relayed the information. The Shadow Archer had spent years alone, watching from the shadows on Earth, working as an assassin for the highest bidder.

  Aria caressed the dark elf’s face. “You are a warrior. That is as it should be. Yes, your cheek is velvety. You’re very beautiful. Why do you want to be part of Steven’s Escort?”

  Nefri cast her gaze down. Her eyes lingered on Aria’s breasts before finding the ground. As you know, at first, I did not want to join you. I wanted to kill Zothora on my own. Yet, I saw Steven’s strength and compassion on Aqualyra. I know your Prime is unique among Dragonsouls. I do not want to be alone anymore. My family is dead. I need a new family.

  Steven summarized her thoughts for Aria.

  The Indian woman smiled. “Can I kiss you?”

  Nefri nodded shyly.

  Steven watched breathlessly as their lips met, then their tongues. Aria’s black hair seemed even darker compared to Nefri’s. The kiss grew more intense until both women were breathing hard. Aria gripped the dark elf’s hips and drew her in for an embrace.

  Blackfoot turned to look, pink tongue lolling.

  Nefri broke the kiss, finding the two sets of eyes looking at her. Now is the time for the bone, I think.

  You know, that’s a perfect opening for a joke.

  You think my opening is perfect? Nefri smiled at him. She dug into her robes, removed a bone, and tossed it across the bridge to the far side, near the hallway that led down to Terminal A. She whistled. Blackfoot took off, chasing after his snack.

  The dark elf undid her shirt and pushed it open to reveal her nearly black nipples on her blue breasts.

  Aria rubbed her chest against Nefri’s as their tongues licked into each other’s mouths. It was a dirty, sloppy, wet kiss. The sexual energy around them thickened.

  Aria gasped. “I don’t feel the Animus in her. I feel that dark energy. I like it, I think.”

  “That’s her Morta core,” Steven replied in a husky voice.

  “She gives you something we can’t,” Aria whispered. She pressed her lips against the dark elf’s again, slowly, sensually. “This only adds to our strength. I like her. Who else has Nefri been with?”

  Steven’s blood was racing, making it hard to think. “Uchiko. Pru. That’s it. Unless Sabina paid her a visit this morning.”

  Nefri shook her head. No, it has only been Uchiko and Prudence. But I find myself drawn to all your wives, Steven. I know some do not care for the touch of women. Mouse, Chazzie, but the others might find my attentions welcome. The dark elf’s hand dropped down to Aria’s sex. I think this one likes my kisses.

  “Do you like what Nefri is doing?” Steven asked.

  Aria could hardly speak through her moans. “Yes. I do. I want to see what she looks like.”

  Nefri stepped back. She kicked off her black boots and let her pants fall. She was as naked as Aria now.

  “Can I taste you?” Aria asked.

  The dark elf nodded.

  Steven stripped out of his clothes, watching.

  Nefri settled back onto her fallen clothes and spread her legs.

  Aria let out a shaky breath. “She’s so big down there. I love it. I’m going to enjoy you, Nefri. I think all of us will.”

  Aria got down on her hands and knees and lowered her face between Nefri’s thighs. Steven got behind her.

  He reached out with AnimusChain, feeling the swirling energies of the two women in front of him. Aria’s Animus burned brightly. Equally as powerful, Nefri’s core spun with the darkness of Morta.

  Nefri let out a long groan, eyes closed, head thrown back. Her white hair reached the floor.

  Steven caressed Aria’s back, her full ass, and her slender hips. Her skin was smooth, her flesh pliant.

  Aria wiggled her hips at him. She was enjoying Nefri, but it was clear she needed some of his attention as well.

  Steven could feel the intricate power around them, Animus and Morta, the light and the dark.

  His divination spell lapsed. He hardly felt it leave.

  Every instinct wanted him to plunge h
is length into Aria’s open sex. Instead, he pulled up the Morta skill tree.

  HE HAD MASTERED THE first two abilities, BlackBlood and NecroMend, but the third ability, Leeze, remained a mystery. It seemed to be like AnimusChain; Leeze allowed you to tap into the cores of others, to draw on their Morta, but there was more to it than that. The dark elf could cast the first two Morta abilities, but she’d stopped there. In a lot of ways, Nefri hated her dark energy. She hadn’t been interested in learning more.

  Steven, though, needed every weapon he could find in his fight against the Zothoric. He focused on his fear and anger. He tried to activate Leeze, almost triggered it, until he felt an explosion of Morta from Nefri. She was coming.

  Aria whipped her head around. “Steven, what are you waiting for?” She sounded both desperate and angry.

  He laughed a little. “I took a minute to train. I was feeling something.”

  “Now?” Aria yelped.

  Steven smacked her butt. “Yes, now. I thought you’d appreciate me furthering my studies. It is as it should be, or that’s what you say all the time, Ol’ Blood and Guts.”

  “Thirteen!” Aria insisted. “And yes, ‘it is as it should be’ might be my catchphrase. But now isn’t the time for that. I need you in me!”

  Nefri watched them, a hand on one breast, a dazed smile on her face. She nodded. She mouthed the words, One more.

  “Nefri wants one more,” Steven said.

  Aria again motioned at him with her hips. “I’ll oblige her if you oblige me.”

  Steven let the Morta skill tree drop, yet he still felt the rage. He gripped Aria, hard, and growled. “I’ll fucking oblige you.” He sank into Aria as she lowered her face again.

  Steven felt himself nearly snarling as he pounded himself into her. Every thrust made her whimper. Nefri must’ve felt the vibrations because she opened her mouth and got her one more.

  Seeing her orgasm pushed Steven over the edge. He lurched forward, fully enclosed in Aria’s tight, wet channel. Sweat dripped onto his back as their Animus cores were filled.

  They collapsed into a heap.

  Once their breathing returned to normal, they could hear the slurp and crunch of Blackfoot gnawing his bone. They laughed, dressed, and retrieved the wolf, who was none too pleased at having his snack interrupted

  They walked to the main terminal, hand in hand. The lights were on in the Señor Chang’s. Machines inside hissed as Tessa made everyone’s morning coffee.

  Steven was brought back to a hundred mornings back at the Infinity Ranch in Wyoming, and all the times the barista brewed up their required doses of caffeine.

  Quinnestri sat in the chairs down below. She wasn’t alone. Stefan Drokharis, otherwise known as SD, sat there with her. Both had their heads down as they talked.

  A bit of fear knotted Steven’s belly. He wasn’t sure what the pair were talking about, but it seemed intense. Knowing Quinn, their conversation would be about defeating the Zothoric.

  Steven, Aria, and Nefri traversed the dead escalators down to the lower level. By that time, Tessa joined them with a tray holding a collection of mugs.

  The barista set a cup in front of Quinn. “We might not have carnivorous sage, but we do have mocha lattes. It’s a bit of magic from us humans.”

  “Thank you,” Quinn said. She didn’t touch the mug. “Stefan and I were talking about his experiences on the Battle World. Things are as dire as I feared.”

  SD glanced up at Steven. “Hello, son.”

  Steven wanted to lash out. He wasn’t this man’s son. No, this man’s son met his end in a star in some other universe. Steven controlled himself. “Steven is fine.”

  “You’re named after me,” the bearded man said. He wasn’t as pale as he’d been the night before. The circles around his eyes were less pronounced.

  Aria shifted into her Homo Draconis form and stood, arms crossed. “Should we wake the twins? We’ll need them to plan.”

  Tessa sat and blew on her coffee. “That is a suicide mission. I’m not going to do it. And don’t send me to wake up Mouse. I don’t think I have enough Animus for that.” She threw a smile at Aria and Nefri. “Speaking of which, what were you three doing?”

  Nefri made a fist with her left hand and inserted her right index finger. She grinned.

  Quinn made a face. “Dragonsouls and their Escorts, the story there never changes. My people have a way of controlling their urges.”

  Steven wasn’t going to talk about sex in front of SD, but Quinn’s reaction did make him wonder about sex among the Lyra. How did they control their lust? Or maybe the elves were simply beyond sex. Quinn seemed to be.

  Tessa giggled nervously. Her eyes went from the mocha to Quinn.

  SD reached and grabbed his cup. He sipped. “Yes, black coffee, strong.”

  “It’s still an Americano, Mr. Drokharis, not an espresso. If you like it black and strong, I can make liquid caffeine that’ll curl your toes.”

  “This is fine,” SD said.

  Nefri sat and got her coffee. She kept smiling at Quinn, and it wasn’t very pleasant—there were daggers in that grin.

  Quinn didn’t seem to notice.

  “So, Steven,” SD started, “Quinnestri and I have been talking. I must say, I’m impressed by all that you’ve accomplished. To think, we are sitting here with the Lady of the Lake. Pity she didn’t bring Excalibur with her.”

  “Attur Dro’s sword. Lost to time.” Quinn leaned forward. “I was foolish to help the humans. It seems not only my world, but entire universes will be punished for my philanthropy.”

  Steven didn’t want them to get off track. “I have a lot of questions for you, SD.”

  “SD?” The elder Drokharis nodded. “Yes, I see. My initials. Stefan and Steven are close. Listen, son—”

  “Steven. Is. Fine.”

  SD nodded. “I can see you’re upset. Quinnestri told me some of what happened on Aqualyra and the fate of my son. He’d been troubled a long time. He’d been a good kid when he was young. Anyway, I thought about traveling there myself, but then, things here got out of control.”

  “Tell us what happened,” Steven said.

  “Failure.” SD sighed. “Failure on every level. And I’m to blame.”

  Chapter Three

  SD RUBBED AT HIS BEARDED chin while he talked. He wore the dusty motorcycle leathers they’d seen him in the night before. He’d left the helmet in his room. Those gray eyes often went to Steven. The sun warmed the tent tops as morning wore on.

  Steven was hungry for breakfast but eating could wait. The information they were getting was vital. Aria continued to stand in her Homo Draconis form, listening intently. Nefri kept giving smiles to Quinn, who was doing her best to ignore both the dark elf and Tessa, who was waiting for the Lyra queen to sip her mocha.

  The Battle World’s history was like Gaia Alpha’s. The three Alpheros brothers came, they mixed with the humans, and Dragonsouls were born. Attur Dro and Mynn Lyrr fought off the Zothoric with the help of another version of Quinnestri. While SD got a working knowledge of the Americos Chambers, he never went on a quest to find Icharaam’s Hoard, otherwise known as the holy grail. He didn’t have the Wayne twins on his side nor the help of Spider Finger. If they won, Steven would have the Gaia Theta Steven to thank. Spider Finger had manipulated events to get Steven the vital objects he needed.

  “I killed Rahaab’s secret cabal before they could assassinate me,” SD said. “That included Rhaegen Mulk. It wasn’t long until the last of the Dragonknights also came after me. They were relatively easy to deal with. Once I had my enemies taken care of, I managed to get a coalition of Dragonsouls to agree to take on the Zothoric. I had no idea how tough they’d be. Nor how many there would be.”

  “What about nuclear weapons?” Steven asked. That had been a burning question in his mind for a long time.

  “We tried them.” SD pulled at his white-speckled beard. “The destruction they left behind actually helped the Myriad. Yes, the in
itial blast wiped out a good number of those bastards. The rest, though, fed on the radiation like it was a duck confit canape.”

  “Sounds fancy,” Tessa quipped.

  SD grunted out a laugh. “Yes, well, the reality was a lot grimmer. And we didn’t want to destroy the very planet we were trying to save. We didn’t know it was a lost cause until it was too late.” The bearded man turned his head to the side. “My son knew. He told me he started having dreams about the Horror Mother. She started talking to him, and I think that helped drive him mad.” His voice fell away.

  It helped drive him mad, Steven thought. But there was more to it than that.

  Quinn picked up her mocha then set it back down. “Mr. Drokharis told me they tried to activate the Americos Chambers to drive the Myriad off the North American continent.”

  Tessa sighed. From the expression on her face, she was more upset about her untouched mocha than the chambers.

  “You see,” SD said, “the chambers can focus on Morta energy and repulse it. We thought if we could clear a continent, we could regroup and then destroy the Cruxi on the rest of the world.”

  Steven nodded. “I’ve felt the repulsing magic before. On my world, the Dragonknights used it to push me away. What happened here?”

  “There were too many Zothoric.” SD shrugged. “The vast numbers of the Myriad pushed through energy fields. They clogged the system. Many were destroyed in the attempt to breach the repulsing field, but they simply piled on more bodies. They reached a master chamber near L.A. There, they broke the enchantment and all the chambers failed. After that, it was only a matter of time until we were overwhelmed. And then... my son ...at the Battle of Denver, he betrayed us all. That was the last stand. I did try something...” His voice fell away.

  “With your son or with the Zothoric?” Aria asked in a growl.

  Quinn lifted the mocha to her lips then set it down as SD answered the question.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Tessa whispered.