Dragon Knight Of Khoth Read online

  Without warning, all hell broke loose the second Ayil made it to the edge of the home. Loud chanting kicked him in gear, and Ayil sprinted to disrupt the spell. He spotted Abraxos and Araton on the move, as well.

  Black smoke filled the pentagram and demons poured through an open portal. Ayil took to the skies and swung his sword through several demons trying to jump from the circle. The second his blade sliced through demon flesh, Ayil’s presence was revealed, and the smell of rotten meat inundated his senses.

  Bile rose in his throat and made his eyes water. The distraction cost him, and a demon lodged its claws and teeth into his side. While he struck the creature, another demon ripped at his wing. Ayil couldn’t tell if he was bleeding because he donned the red feathers of a warrior. They were red for a reason. So their enemies wouldn’t know how severely they were injured.

  Ayil heard shouting, and a quick glance told him the onlookers were gazing at him and his brothers with a sense of hope. This community was noticeably led by idiots with a death wish. Ayil quickly landed amidst the demons and stepped close to Araton, killing two within reach. He swung his blade again and missed the demon’s heart, but managed to catch one of its legs.

  Crying out, the creature clutched its blackened stump and hobbled away. “I’d say that’s an improvement,” Araton said with a chuckle. “But, don’t run away. We’re just getting started. You know that shit won’t grow back, right?”

  The remaining demons snarled at Araton’s taunt as their rage escalated. Demons weren’t the best fighters, and an angry one made stupid mistakes. Ayil sliced through a nasty Pus demon, thankful that his Light protected his blade. He recalled seeing Rhys’s blade after a fight, and how the metal was pitted from the noxious shit that leaked from the evil bodies when they were cut.

  The ground looked like Swiss cheese with all the dead spots. Ayil swiveled to avoid the reach of a Behemoth demon and nearly got away. Knife-like fingernails caught his injured wing and made him roar in agony. He flapped his wings and tried to get away, but only succeeded in sending his blood flying.

  Mini-explosions fired throughout the area as Ayil’s blood hit the perimeter of the containment field. It was then he realized the portal was still open. While the barrier protected the Phoenixes, it also allowed demons to keep pouring through.

  “Attack the perimeter. That’s the only way to close the portal,” he called out to anyone that could hear him. It wouldn’t seal the thing permanently. That would take more power than the three of them had, but this would stitch the wound closed.

  His brothers were surrounded, so he fought his way to the nearest candle. Before he could reach it, his eyes met Kennex’s. Their light brown hue was unlike any he’d ever seen. They were golden, but that was too simple of a color to describe them. He was captivated by her intense gaze.

  The female glared daggers at him then kicked the candle before she turned and ran in the opposite direction.

  Ayil wasn’t sure why she was so pissed, but he felt her hatred all the way to his bones. A hellhound charged after Kennex, and Ayil bolted after the creature. His blade sliced through its hind leg before the beast could sink its jaws into her ankle. When the demon dog stumbled, Ayil didn’t hesitate to slice its torso in half.

  Ayil glanced in Kennex’s direction, but she was nowhere to be seen. Every instinct in his body was screaming for him to chase after the female, but he had a job to do, and he refused to let down his brothers or the Phoenixes. Once the portal closed, it didn’t take them long to finish off the remaining demons.

  Araton clapped Ayil on the shoulder and took in the scene “I didn’t think this hot, dry desert could get any worse, but I was wrong. Damn, even the cacti are dying,” his brother divulged.

  Abraxos shook his head and leveled his gaze at the remaining Phoenixes that performed the ritual. “Alright, shitheads. Which one of you is in charge?” No one said a word, which only pissed off his brother even more. “That’s fine. A quick trip to Michael’s chamber will loosen those lips.”

  “The angel accord prohibits you from harming us. There’s nothing you can do to make us talk,” a particularly ugly male sneered.

  “Yeah, see that’s where you’re wrong. Our bodies are all the proof we need to justify taking you assholes back to Michael for questioning,” Abraxos replied and nodded to Ayil and Araton.

  Before the group knew what was happening, the three brothers surrounded them, and Ayil lifted his hand and drew an angelic rune of confinement to keep them from escaping at the same time as his brothers.

  “You think you have the power here, but you don’t,” the male sneered back. Before anyone could respond, the entire group of Phoenixes burst into flames.

  “Fuck,” Abraxos snarled and thrust his sword of Light into the massive fire. Ayil and Araton instantly added theirs to the efforts. Their weapons would ensure none of them were reborn.

  What a damn mess. They needed answers and ended up with nothing but a pile of ash. Fucking assholes.

  * * *

  Chapter 4

  “Och, Angus. ‘Tis good to see you,” boomed a familiar voice. Lorne swiveled and couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face.

  The Vampire King of the Tehrex Realm, Zander Tarakesh, and his queen, Elsie, entered the audience hall with their young daughter, Princess Isobel. Lorne had met the couple and spent enough time with them to recognize the tension riding Zander’s shoulders.

  “‘Tis been too long,” Angus boomed with a smile and embraced his friend. “I hope Nate isn’t giving you any trouble.”

  The Vampire King was slightly taller than King Angus, and his broad shoulders filled the doorway, but it wasn’t his stature that grabbed Lorne’s attention. It was his piercing sapphire-blue eyes. They weren’t faceted like dragons’ eyes, but they exuded enough power to make his inner beast sit up and take notice.

  Dragons were at the top of the power chain, so it took a being with immense strength and presence to impact one enough to halt its actions. From the moment he met Zander, Lorne’s beast acknowledged the male’s position and instinctively bowed to the dominant male. Zander wasn’t Lorne’s king, but in the absence of Angus, Lorne and his animal would heed to the powerful vampire.

  “Oh, you know Nate,” Elsie interjected. “He doesn’t compare to you, but we love him just the same.”

  Lorne glanced to the petite female. Elsie was the only human-turned-vampire in existence and a stunning female. Both Nate and Angus expressed to Lorne how loving, and caring Elsie was, but he saw another aspect to the Vampire Queen. She was a female with more backbone than most Máahes, and Lorne had no doubt the female would slice and dice anyone who dared to harm those she loved.

  “Izzy,” Blaze cried out as he ran from his father’s side to the royal family. Isobel was far more powerful than either king. The energy radiating from the little girl made Lorne think of the purple moon that shone over Khoth. She was that intense.

  He was told she was the embodiment of the Goddess Morrigan. Anyone that spent any time in Izzy’s presence understood and believed that but what shocked Lorne the most was the rumor that the princess could obliterate a demon with one touch. Actually, end its very existence with her tiny palm. That was some impressive shit.

  Very few Máahes could boast of killing a demon, mainly because creatures from the Underworld rarely visited Khoth. There was no direct portal between the two realms, which suited Lorne just fine. As it was, their hands were full with the Unseelie bastards that inhabited their planet.

  “Hi, Blaze. Where do you keep the ice cream?” Izzy boldly asked.

  “Isobel Tarakesh,” Elsie chided. “What have I told you about good manners?”

  “Oh, right,” Izzy muttered before she turned back to Blaze and politely clasped her hands. “Could you please lead me to the ice cream?”

  Lorne laughed at the young girl’s innocence. Based on the smirk her father masked and the way her mother rolled her eyes, he’d guess the princess was a considerable
challenge for the king and queen.

  “That’s not what I meant. You should wait until you are offered food,” Elsie explained.

  Izzy cocked her head and looked up at her mother. “But why? I’m hungry now.” Lorne chuckled then tried to cover it with a cough. He appreciated the child’s honesty and found it a perfect question.

  Why couldn’t one just ask for what they wanted? There was too much negativity attached to stating one’s needs. Food, housing, or sex. It was taboo to ask for it which seemed preposterous. Lorne hated that more than most social mores, and it reminded him of his last girlfriend. She was unsatisfied with how things were progressing between them, and rather than speak up about it, she ended their relationship.

  Suddenly, Lorne’s thoughts went to Cambree. This was an area she needed to work on, as well. She was far too bashful, and he wished she’d just tell him her desires.

  What the fuck are you thinking, douche dick? Why are you interested in her desires at all? He scoffed internally. This was a totally inappropriate line of thinking. She wasn’t his concern, aside from his obligation to protect her. Shaking off the absurd notion, Lorne focused on the conversation in the room.

  “We have a treat we think you will love,” Angus stated, and both children smiled enthusiastically.

  Blaze glanced up at his father with worship in his eyes. The young dragonette adored his father, and the sight warmed Lorne’s heart. Blaze was one of the best additions to the castle in the past thousand years, and it was more than the joy and happiness that filled the halls after his birth. Blaze gave a new, and exuberant outlook on life that made even the most hardened knight see matters from a more straightforward point of view.

  “‘Tis no’ strawberry, but I think you will like this one more,” the king added in a Scottish accent so similar to Zander’s one would think they came from the same realm. After spending centuries on Earth, the king adopted the brogue, and Lorne felt it suited the aristocrat.

  “Yay!” Izzy clapped and danced in a circle, causing her pink, fluffy dress to flair around her knees. Her long black ringlets bounced on her shoulders, and Lorne smiled at her playfulness.

  “I doona know if this is a good idea,” Zander muttered with a shake of his head. “I have a feeling you’re going to eat far too much sugar.”

  “And be bouncing off Tatenen’s walls,” Elsie teased her daughter as she swooped her up and tickled her belly. For several seconds the sound of Izzy’s sweet laughter filled the spacious room, and everything seemed right with the world. Something as simple as a child’s happiness was all it took.

  Lorne recalled not so long ago when no such sound was heard through the castle, or throughout the realm. Because of Angus’s return, and the Civapu ceremony, dragonettes were being born again, bringing much-needed life and vitality to Khoth.

  “Okay, you two. Let’s go get some sorbet and leave the adults to talk about boring stuff,” Elysia, Keira’s servant, and Blaze’s nanny, encouraged.

  “But…” Blaze started and met his father’s gaze.

  The boy had his mother’s green hair and beautiful blue eyes; otherwise, Blaze was the spitting image of King Angus. The young dragonette was heir to the throne, and it was evident to Lorne that the boy sensed the mantle within and instinctively felt connected to his legacy. Angus’s family ruled Khoth, but it wasn’t always the firstborn that inherited the throne. The power of the land chose the next heir and birth order wasn’t a factor.

  “Go on, but save some for me,” Angus ordered as he gave Blaze one quick hug and set him back down.

  “You got it, Papa. C’mon, Izzy,” Blaze invited then took off running.

  Izzy patted her mother’s cheek before she climbed down and tore off after him. Elysia quickly followed the pair from the throne room. The group remained silent, but the tension exploded the second the double doors were shut.

  Angus gripped Zander’s shoulder and held tightly. The two leaders stared at each other, driving up the pressure in the room. Lorne thought he would combust if one of the leaders didn’t speak soon.

  Finally, Angus broke the silence. “Tell me what brings you here, Liege?”

  The honorific Angus used reminded Lorne that his king spent two hundred years as a servant for Zander and his family. Angus asserted it was his penance for the suffering he felt on Khoth. The King of the Cuelebre was not only tied to the land but also its inhabitants. Namely, the Cuelebre, or land dragons much like the Stoorworm King, Queen Keira’s brother, was tied to the oceans and sea dragons of their realm.

  Through Angus’s connection to the land and dragons, he knew of their suffering but was helpless to do anything about it. Lorne later found out that his king was trapped on earth, forced to find his place amongst the supernatural creatures of the Tehrex Realm. Apparently, Angus became a legend by wreaking havoc with the humans, something that was forbidden by Tehrex Realm law. He was lucky to be given a position as a servant, and not killed outright. Zander saw through Angus’s pain and anger and gave him a place to regain his mind.

  “I am no’ your Liege. We are equals,” Zander replied. “We have been equals for a verra long time. I come to you because I trust no one else with my dilemma.”

  Elsie sniffed, drawing everyone’s attention. Queen Keira was quick to rush to her side and wrap an arm around Elsie’s shoulders. “Let’s sit down, and you can tell us what’s happened.”

  “Please tell me no one was killed,” Angus implored as everyone took a seat around the large table.

  Angus conducted everything from this hall. He took audiences, strategized with his Lieutenants, held parties, as well as, official celebrations. The stone chamber was the heart of the castle and hadn’t changed since the day it was built. They’d updated the entire building with indoor plumbing and electricity, save for this space. The candle chandelier that illuminated the throne room for millennia still hung from the ceiling today. Flames danced in the various braziers, and the tapestries hanging on the walls were so old and threadbare it was a wonder they remained intact.

  “Nay. We havena lost anyone, but my mate and I fear for our nighean, and we have come to ask for asylum,” Zander finished.

  “Shite,” Angus cursed. “Sounds like you need some scotch. I’m afraid the closest I have is Dragon Piss.”

  Zander grimaced and raised an eyebrow. “That’s an awful name for alcohol. Are dragons prone to drunkenness like humans?”

  Angus chuckled as he nodded toward his assistant, Declan, who promptly went to the bar along the back wall. “Nay. It takes far more to intoxicate a dragon than a human, but this drink got its name for making dragons pass out and piss themselves.”

  “That might be true,” Keira added, “but it tastes like I imagine dragon piss would. Definitely smells like it.”

  Angus kissed his mate tenderly then accepted a glass from Declan. “Now. Why would you need asylum? I assume this has to do with a bluidy archdemon.”

  “Aye. The evil bitch hunts realm stripling, particularly, Isobel,” Zander informed them.

  “Are you asking for us to house the realm’s children?” Keira asked with wide eyes.

  “I thought you built a school on your property at Zeum to keep the young safe,” Angus clarified. Lorne’s mind reeled over the possibility. He thought they had their hands full with Cambree and another batch of Tuya. If they had to shelter and care for dozens of children, it would be chaos and anarchy on Khoth.

  He’d seen the way the supernatural of the realm procreated. They may have had a mating curse for over seven hundred years that lowered their fertility to critical levels, but they’d made up for it in spades over the past few years.

  “Aye. Anthru is complete and already three-quarters full. Realm stripling are no’ who I am asking you to shelter. ‘Tis for my family. My nighean, my mate, and myself.”

  Lorne’s jaw dropped with the news. Zander was the king of an entire species. Lorne knew firsthand how the vampires would suffer without their leader. It made him wonder if
Zander had the same kind of connection to his subjects as Angus did. It was hell while his king was away.

  They were completely cut off from the mantle of the Cuelebre King for centuries, and it impacted their planet and all that lived on it. The worst part was none of them understood how deeply his absence affected them until he returned, and they began healing.

  It was like being given your uncle’s horde unexpectedly when Angus returned. Lorne was instantly infused with new strength and vitality. He recalled the first big battle they had against the Bugganne when a rather large and smelly Unseelie had Lorne pinned by his wing. In the past, that would’ve meant the loss of the appendage and the end of his career, but because of Lorne’s additional strength, he tossed the creature aside and only suffered deep lacerations.

  A sudden thought struck Lorne as his mind worked through the situation at hand. What if the males that were aggressively pursuing Cambree were doing so because they felt invincible now? Admittedly, Lorne felt like he could take on the entire Unseelie army when Angus returned to Khoth. There was this irrational sensation that nothing could touch him.

  “You wish to move here with Elsie and Isobel?” Angus asked with unmistakable shock.

  “I doona see another option, my friend,” Zander replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “Despite the protection spells, Isobel attracts demons like a magnet. My baby doesn’t have a normal childhood. She can’t go outside and play or go out for ice cream, and she’s never been to a zoo or Disneyland,” Elsie cried out then grabbed the glass from Zander and took a big gulp. Within seconds her face twisted, and she coughed uncontrollably.

  “Holy crap, that’s awful,” she sputtered and wiped her watery eyes.

  “I told you. Dragon piss, right?” Keira asked.

  “Och, I’d say that’s enough for you,” Zander murmured and grabbed his glass from Elsie. “A ghra, we doona have a normal child, and you know this. She canna go ootside during the day because she is a vampire, but you are correct aboot the rest. She isna safe in our realm, Angus. She needs to be someplace where she doesna live in constant fear. I need that, as well.”