Dragon Emperor 17: From Human to Dragon to God, page 1
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Chapter 1
The clink of blade against blade snapped me out of my deep sleep, and I sat straight up. Then I looked around with blurry eyes and tried to figure out where I was.
The sofa under me was familiar, and images of bare sapphire skin beneath my fingertips warmed my body as my heart pounded in my chest.
This was Skye’s living room, and I’d marked her as one of my lovers on this couch. I must have fallen asleep here after I’d talked with her mother after dinner, and I blinked a few times as I realized the sun now peeked in through the crimson curtains over the window.
So, the sword fighting I heard was likely Skye and her brother, Rocco, having another of their duels. On one hand, I was glad they weren’t having any real duels considering Rocco’s surprise appearance at his sister’s front door. On the other hand, I really wanted to get some sleep.
“Oh, good, you’re awake!” Trina’s chipper voice pierced through the remaining haze of my sleep.
“Mostly,” I muttered as I turned to see the dryad in the doorway of the living room. “What’s going on?”
“We started making breakfast, but everyone else is outside,” her sister Polina said.
“Skye and Rocco have been playing some sword game for hours,” the other dryad sister Marina added with a smirk.
The emerald-skinned sisters wore slim golden robes that drifted to their slender calves and highlighted their dark-green tresses. My dry mouth quickly began to water at the sight of them, but then the smell of their morning endeavors wafted from the kitchen to the living room where I’d taken my impromptu sleep, and my stomach rumbled.
“I’ve never known you three to cook much,” I said with a grin.
“You’ve only tested some of our skills, Lord Evan,” Polina snickered and stuck out her tongue.
A few of their skills began to reappear in my memory when Miraya waltzed down the stairs with each of her spirit sisters on her elbows. Her nearly transparent robe was wrapped around her curvaceous figure, and her white hair fell over her shoulders and spilled down to her lower back. The spirit of the Sword of Hatra had a dazzling smile on her ethereal face as she chatted with Juniper and Aine, and I stood up to walk with them into the dining room.
Juniper was the gorgeous redheaded spirit of the Sword of Youth, and her green eyes seemed brighter every day she spent with her sisters. Aine was the spirit of Nike’s sword, the Sword of Light, and her flaxen hair was twisted back into several braids that twirled around her head as she laughed.
“My lord, I hope you slept well on the sofa,” Miraya giggled. “Though I think many of us were disappointed you didn’t make it upstairs.”
“I barely remember falling asleep,” I admitted as my cheeks warmed. “I would have preferred to be with you.”
“Skye would have woken you very early,” Juniper pointed out. “She and Rocco could hardly wait to go practice this morning. Perhaps it’s better you were able to get more rest. I believe we have a difficult journey ahead.”
“We might,” I said with a grimace. “I have a feeling it won’t be quite as easy to find the right woman for the bond once we leave Rahma.”
I’d spent the past couple weeks looking for fellow Nobles of the Sword, so I could bond with a female who carried the bloodline ability. We used the Redimi Vincio ceremony, a blood-binding ritual that allowed me to access the noble’s power and use it to close the Breach, which had to be done before the demons escaped the underworld. I’d tried once before to close it, but even with my powerful wife’s bond, I soon realized I’d need more power behind the spell. After a few conversations with a god, I discovered I needed the power boost from performing the Redimi Vincio ceremony with multiple powerful Nobles of the Sword. This was the only way to save Rahma and everything else that would be affected by the Breach.
“Are you worried your diplomatic skills won’t be able to win everyone over?” Alyona teased as she walked in the back door with Laika close behind her.
My wife was the princess of Rahma, as well as a ridiculously skilled priestess. Her stark-white hair flowed nearly to her trim waist with black forelocks that framed her porcelain face. Her hand drifted down to her nearly flat belly, and a surge of pride rushed through my bones as I imagined our son growing in her womb.
“At least they’re improving,” I scoffed playfully before I hurried across the room, effortlessly lifted her up above my head, and kissed her belly. “And by the time this little guy is born, I’ll be able to teach him everything I know.”
“Put me down,” Alyona giggled as she kicked her feet.
“That idea is only slightly terrifying, my lord,” Laika laughed and laced her fingers through Alyona’s. “Your battle skills are great. Just focus on those.”
The wolf Demi-Human’s furry gray ears twitched with amusement as she watched me with her steely eyes. Her gray hair was twisted back into a long braid that grazed the top of her tight leather pants, and her ever-present broadsword was strapped to her back. She was built like a warrior, which made sense for the leader of the Blue Tree Guild. She’d led a group of soldiers into countless missions and battles until she’d decided to go with Alyona and me on our adventures.
My quick-witted response was cut off as Skye, Isabella, Rocco, and Nike strode in through the back door.
“See, I totally could have won the duel,” Skye said as she shouldered her brother with a grin.
Skye was half-naiad, half-Nepin, and the newest Noble of the Sword. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her chocolate-turquoise eyes glittered with excitement. She wore a white robe that stopped mid-thigh to reveal her sculpted legs and tapered perfectly to her narrow figure, and her sapphire skin glistened with sweat as she tucked the Sword of Youth into the root scabbard the dryads had made for her.
“Yeah, right!” Rocco laughed and nudged her back. “I would’ve had you!”
Rocco was a Nakken, and he’d shown up only two days ago to announce he and Skye shared the same father, which meant they also shared the bloodline ability to become the Noble of the Sword of Youth. At first, he was an ass, but since he’d gotten to know Skye, he’d proven himself to be a decent person who had just been lost and maybe a little brainwashed by their uncle.
It turned out their father’s brother believed Skye couldn’t be a worthy Noble of the Sword because she was a woman, and he’d sent Rocco to challenge her for the sword. I’d taken her place in the duel as a fellow Noble of the Sword, and I’d spared Rocco’s life, so Skye could spend time with him.
“Gods, that food smells good!” Skye declared as she looked around the dining room. “Is it ready? I’m starving!”
“I think your early-morning duel could be the reason for your hunger,” Isabella said with a smile, and her bright-blue eyes glittered with amusement as she watched Skye’s reaction to her statement. “You’ve been practicing for nearly two hours already.”
Isabella was a Nepin as well, though she shared all the features of the fairy-like race. Her sapphire skin was dappled with gold, silver, and black tattoos in the customary Nepin patterns, and her silver wings were tucked against her back, though I could picture the opalescent glimmer they had when she stood in the sunlight.
“Really?” Skye’s eyes widened in surprise. “It didn’t feel like it.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the time with your brother.”
“Me, too,” Rocco said as he looked down at his feet. “I’m very lucky to get to share this time with you before you leave.”
“Don’t worry,” Skye assured him. “I’ll still keep in touch with you. And with my mother. Where is she, anyway?”
“Ah, she said she wanted to prepare for your departure,” Alyona said with a grimace. “I’m not sure what she meant.”
“Oh, gods, she’s packing,” Skye groaned. “I’ll be right back.”
She rushed upstairs, and the rest of us looked at each other in amusement before we sat down at the table. A few minutes later, the dryads began to serve what looked like a salad with more green leaves than I’d ever put on my plate in my life, though a few pieces of some warm meat and fried egg were sprinkled among the greenery.
“Enjoy!” Polina squeaked as she passed out forks.
I took an apprehensive bite of the breakfast salad and was pleasantly surprised at the variety of flavors that exploded on my tongue. The leaves were not the typical plain lettuce I was expecting. Instead, they were almost nutty in their flavor, and they were filled with some kind of sweet liquid that trickled across my taste buds as I chewed.
“Wow,” I murmured before I took another bite.
“The dragon approves,” Trina said with a grin.
“You should cook more often,” I replied and winked.
The dryads giggled, and everyone ate the delicious breakfast in near-silence until Skye and her mother made their way downstairs. I noticed Skye didn’
The older Nepin woman somehow managed to have a pink tint to her indigo skin as she followed her daughter into the dining room and sat down with silent grace. She picked up her fork and dove into the salad without a word, and we all looked around as though waiting for someone else to speak.
“Lovely breakfast,” Alyona finally said as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome!” Marina replied with a wide smile. “We’re glad you liked it, milady.”
“I was pleasantly surprised,” Rocco said in a soft voice. “I appreciate the meal. I was rather hungry after my sister tried to win our battle this morning.”
“Tried!” Skye scoffed and pointed her fork at him. “I definitely had you.”
“You wish!” he laughed. “I hope you’ll be coming back to visit, so I can keep testing your skills. I have a feeling they’ll continue to grow on your journey.”
“Oh, we’ll be training her a lot, too,” Laika chimed in with a wink. “She’ll be ready to take you on before you know it.”
“So, you’d better get ready,” Skye said as she stuck out her tongue at her brother.
Rocco laughed, and Skye’s mother watched their exchange with a mixture of emotions on her face. I knew Carmen was apprehensive about Skye going with us, but after she’d revealed her warrior past, I knew the older Nepin would support her daughter.
Carmen tucked her silvery hair behind her ear as she looked over and saw me watching her, and she offered a grim smile before she nodded and turned to Skye.
“I’m sure you’re well on your way to becoming a formidable opponent,” she said carefully. “You’re already a warrior, as far as I can see.”
“That means a lot, Mother.” Skye’s brown and turquoise eyes filled with tears. “I’ll come see you as often as I can.”
“And I can help her send messages any time we’re gone for a while,” I offered. “We have some magical ways to do it.”
“I would appreciate that, Lord Evan,” Carmen replied and looked down at her half-empty bowl. “It will be odd not having Skye here all the time.”
“I could come visit sometimes,” Rocco said suddenly.
We all turned to stare at the Nakken in surprise.
“You would… do that?” Carmen asked with wide eyes. “For me?”
“Yes,” Rocco confirmed, and he lifted his chin as he stared the Nepin woman in the eyes. “You’re much more than Rafael told me, and I’ll be setting the record straight when I return to the lake, but you’re also my sister’s mother, and you matter to her, so you matter to me. If you’d like, I’ll be happy to come by every week or so and check in on you.”
“Thank you, Rocco!” Skye gushed as she jumped up and hugged him. “That would mean so much to me!”
“Anything for my… family,” he said in a soft, halting voice.
Carmen smiled and nodded her agreement to the Nakken’s offer, and I felt better about having Rocco come to see her regularly, especially since I had no way of knowing when Skye would be able to come back to visit.
“Then it’s settled,” I declared with a grin. “We need to leave soon, Skye. Are you taking anything?”
“Just a couple things,” she said. “I’ll be right back!”
The naiad-Nepin took off upstairs, and I heard a few bangs and crashes before she returned with a small satchel wrapped around her body.
“Okay,” I chuckled. “Let’s get going.”
Skye ran to her mother, and the two embraced as they talked to each other in soft voices. I could have listened in with my enhanced dragon hearing, but I had no desire to intrude on their mother-daughter moment. The rest of us said goodbye to Rocco, and then we each had our turn with Carmen as Skye moved onto her brother.
Even though they’d only met a couple days ago, Skye and Rocco had already formed a tight bond. I grew up as an only child, but I compared it to the brotherhood I shared with Nike, and I could almost relate.
Lord Nikolaus was a fellow Noble of the Sword, and when we’d first met, he challenged me to a fight. I was surprised at the time, but now I understood him better, and I knew he just wanted to see if I was a warrior like him. We’d become fast friends, and now he was my brother-in-arms as we battled to close the Breach.
I glanced over at him, and the raven-haired noble seemed to be thinking the same thing I was because he flashed me a smile. It would be difficult to separate us for a long period of time, and we weren’t even related by blood.
After a few minutes, Skye wiped a stray tear from her cheek and waved to her family before she headed for the front door. We stepped out behind her, and Alyona quietly began to open the portal that would take us back to Hatra.
“Wait!” Skye grabbed my arm. “What about Isabella’s parents? She can’t leave without saying goodbye!”
“I went to their house last night,” Isabella assured her with a smile. “I told them we were leaving early this morning.”
“Okay,” the naiad-Nepin sighed with relief. “Now we can go.”
“Good,” I chuckled. “Let’s go.”
Alyona finished the portal, and after one last wave goodbye, our group stepped through the magical doorway that led us back to my home city of Hatra. The city was buzzing with movement, though the citizens who walked by us offered bows and curtsies before they continued with their business. I was thrilled to see Hatra had continued to thrive, even as we went on our missions outside the city walls.
I strode toward the Lunar Palace, and I couldn’t help but smile as I saw Skye from the corner of my eye. Her mouth was wide-open while she tried to soak in everything going on around us. Not only were our buildings more ornate than the cabin-style buildings of Yrosa, but we had more than just one race of people within the city. Yrosa was made up of only Nepins, and Skye had been the only exception as a half-naiad.
Here, we had Demi-Humans of many kinds, Mesics, Asurans, and who knew what else in every corner of the city. We’d become a melting pot of sorts, and I loved seeing the variety of people who’d made Hatra their home.
As we walked inside the palace, a grin stretched across my face. Julia, Emma, Valerra, Aaliyah, Rebecca, Ravi, and Naomi were seated around the great hall, and their conversation immediately ceased when they saw us walk in.
“Lord Evan!” Ravi squealed as she jumped up and ran over to give me a hug.
The phoenix’s fiery orange hair filled my nose with the aroma of a campfire as she wrapped her slender arms around me, and her blue eyes glimmered with unshed tears when she looked up at me and smiled.
“Why are you crying?” I whispered before I leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head.
“I’m just so happy to see you and finally meet Skye,” Ravi murmured. “I sensed her join us, so it’s kind of like I know her already, but it’s not the same.”
“I totally understand,” Skye said with a smile. “I’ve been dying to meet the rest of you!”
“And we have been waiting for you.” My dragon mate, Valerra, sauntered forward to introduce herself. Her wild red hair had been tamed into a bun, and a ruby-studded golden hair clip adorned the top of her head. She was stunning in a bright-red dress that draped the tops of her feet, and she greeted Skye with a warmth that was reserved for my lovers. The lady dragon was typically more likely to welcome someone with a column of fire than a hug, but she loved her sisters of the heart.
“I’ve been so excited to meet you!” Aaliyah purred as she gripped Skye’s hand.
Aaliyah was a lion Demi-Human and a fierce warrior who wasn’t afraid to hunt someone down and tear them to shreds when necessary. Her long golden hair was pleated down her back to her waist, and her golden eyes were alight with excitement.
“Me, too,” Rebecca agreed with a grin.
My muscular bear Demi-Human lover wrapped Skye up in a warm hug, and her chestnut eyes focused on the naiad-Nepin with apparent love. Her chestnut hair had been twisted into a braid like Aaliyah’s, and I smiled at their growing connection to each other.
“How did the mission go?” Laika asked Naomi.
I’d nearly forgotten about the Blue Tree Guild’s rescue mission into the jungle, which had continued longer than anyone thought it would. A handful of people had gone missing, but even after being rescued, they hadn’t been able to tell anyone what had happened to them. In fact, they’d fallen into some kind of coma and hadn’t been able to tell anyone anything.
