Endangered Ch. 06

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"I can see that, Chris. Don't you think, though, that leaving her on the street would be dangerous with that thing lurking around? Besides, she'll be grateful for our help and maybe you'll have a friend to talk to when you come to the Ether at night."

"I hadn't thought about that last bit," Chris considered. It was true though, the sprite could probably teach him a lot, if she was so inclined.

"It's settled then," Annabel said with an air of finality.

They carried the tiny creature back to the apartment uneventfully, tucking the comatose sprite into some of Annabel's clothes in the wardrobe of their bedroom. Chris kept his reservations to himself for the moment, he would ask Lillian what to do about it in the fast approaching morning.

The couple ended up cuddling on the bed as Chris merged them back into the Norm. Annabel felt textures return to normal as regular colours bloomed back into existence across her vision.

Despite her initial reluctance, she was invigorated by their jaunt into the night. She was learning so much about this new world and even better, she was by his side as he learned. It only reaffirmed her desire to embrace everything she was confronted with and support him, rather than hold him back.

"Petra Godran called last night. She and Claire, her daughter, are driving up from California tomorrow to meet me," Chris admitted as he thought back to his conversation with the dragoness the evening before.

"So soon?" Annabel hugged him tightly, a frown concealed against his shoulder as she took a deep breath of the scent she'd become so used to calling her own.

"I know, I was surprised too... Annabel, if Claire and I do mate, we'll form a very strong bond. That can't be avoided, especially if we're as compatible as Elizabeth seems to think. I just... I love you and I always will, you are my First and I promise to never forget that or neglect you. If you have a problem, please talk to me."

"I know that, silly. It's just all happening so fast. I see the way women look at you and I know firsthand how easy you are to fall in love with. You told me from the start there would be other women in your life and that you'd be mating with other dragons. That's fine, nothing's changed for me so long as I'm still your girlfriend, someday your wife, and hopefully your favourite. I love you so much, Chris."

"Yes. Yes to everything. I'll never understand how lucky I was to find you, Dee," he whispered into her hair as they began to gradually relax, eventually getting a few more hours of delicious sleep in each other's arms before Chris's early morning start.

***

"I'm driving back to Laramie tomorrow afternoon. Petra called last night and arranged for us to meet tomorrow, I thought it might be better to do that at home," Chris announced at breakfast, they were sitting around the kitchen's central island again.

Annabel already knew but Susan's head shot up in surprise and Michelle gave him a questioning look as she finished her mouthful of cereal.

If Lillian had a reaction at all, it was invisible, as she was in the living room.

"Who's that?" Michelle asked.

"They're two female dragons, mother and daughter, who have been assigned to watch over him, seeing how young he is, and mate with him if they're compatible," Susan explained once she recovered.

"So what? It's like an arranged marriage?" Michelle clarified.

"Sort of, except that the only pressure to go through with it is saving our species," replied Chris. "Nothing will happen unless sparks fly though."

"So who's coming with us back to Laramie, we'll need to leave around two in the afternoon tomorrow?" Annabel asked, beginning to clear some dishes into the sink.

"You're going along?" Michelle was incredulous yet again at the young woman's elasticity when it came to the sexual exploits of her boyfriend. Annabel nodded. "Well I can't, I've got to stay and help out here with the Synod. Am I allowed to be alone?"

"Yes Michelle, but I'll get Tim to have someone assigned to look after you while we're gone," said Lillian from her favourite armchair.

"Rowan will be fine without me for a day or two, besides I do need to check on my plants back at home. Jethry has his heart in the right place but he's no green-thumb," Susan reasoned. Really, she wouldn't let another set of women move in on her son without making sure they were suitable.

"Okay, now that that's out of the way... Last night, Annabel and I rescued a sprite in the Ether. She's in our room, still asleep at last check."

"What?! Chris, I warned you about this kind of thing. Sprites are notoriously fickle and can be very dangerous when they set their mind to it." Susan scolded her son, although she knew it was his nature to protect things where he could. Given recent events, she hoped he wouldn't take any unnecessary risks.

"Where did you find her?" Lillian asked nonchalantly, stalking from the next room, towards the dragon.

"Out on the other side of the block," he admitted, flinching as he felt the invisible vampire approaching him from behind. He jumped when her hands ghosted up his arms and settled on his shoulders with undead strength.

"Disobey me again, little dragon, I dare you," whispered Lillian directly in his ear.

Chris shivered, she'd meant to scare him but anything Lillian whispered in his ear could only be exciting.

"What's a sprite?" asked Michelle, unintentionally easing the tension.

"You would probably know of them as pixies or fairies. They're definitely not all rainbows and granted wishes though. They have retreated from our dimension over the last three millennia after losing their war and as humans grew more prevalent. They're very rare these days and quite powerful if they can focus their minds to magic for more than five seconds. I'm ashamed to say that there have been sales of captured sprites in the past to be used as ingredients in powerful spells."

Susan gave the textbook explanation to the ex NSA agent, who was actually learning to take knowledge bombs like this in stride.

"She's okay though, the sprite?" Susan looked towards her son. "I can't recall hearing about any sprite females recently."

"We think so," Annabel answered for him. "She passed out after Chris healed her and we didn't want to leave her in the open with that thing that was chasing her around. It almost killed her."

"What thing?" Lillian's fingers twitched in annoyance against his t-shirt before she stood back and released him.

Annabel proceeded to describe the entire event in detail, painting Chris the initially reluctant but ultimately valiant hero who rescued the small damsel from the jaws of an inter-dimensional, flesh hungry predator.... "then he fed her a magic sugar cube and she pigged out and went to sleep."

"Sounds like a young wraith," Lillian mused, thinking about the predator. They were mostly harmless when they were that small, the older ones were problematic for Ether mages though.

"Did you have to go and feed her, Chris? She's going to stick around now that she knows you can give her magic-rich sustenance," Susan wasn't sold on the idea of a sprite in the house.

"She could help Chris learn about the Ether though," Annabel pointed out yet again as she picked out a banana for herself now that the dishes were mostly cleared away. "She'd at least be someone for him to talk to when he's in there alone at night."

"It's a risk, Annabel, and you might not be so friendly if she decides she likes him and sets her sights on Chris," Susan countered.

Annabel's eyebrows rose in shock quickly and a blush just barely started showing itself before she recovered.

"That's impossible. She's so tiny."

"None of that matters right now," Chris didn't want the conversation travelling any further down that avenue. "We should at least wait until she wakes up before passing judgement. She'll probably just go on her way. Besides, I've got to keep an eye on all of you without a sprite to worry about. Speaking of which, or should I say witch, what are you ladies doing today?"

"Ug, you're the worst," Michelle groaned. "I'm in a conference with a few of the Synod and some legislation experts in DC."

"I'll be at the apothecary, Rowan is showing me his potion recipe for light numbing and anaesthesia. Apparently it's been passed down since the seventeen hundreds," Susan was obviously enthusiastic about her new job under the aging magician.

"I'm going to scope out the school and ask some of the staff if there are any good restaurants to apply to for part time work at while I'm here," Annabel answered.

"And what are we doing, Lillian?" Chris asked.

"Training, then we'll go see Reyla when she's ready," replied Lillian coolly, still a bit miffed that he'd flouted her order to stay in the apartment during his jaunts into the Ether.

"What does she want?" asked Chris.

"Your tutor arrived last night."

***

Chris had been expecting an elf, Reyla said that he was her cousin, although she seemed to attach quite a lot of distain to admitting that. What he hadn't expected was a brown elf.

So when he hobbled his way into Reyla's darkened study, still sore from his recent punishment at the hands of the beautiful vampire; he was surprised to see a slender, long eared fellow with a quick smile and smooth, chocolaty skin. He didn't have much to compare to but it seemed strange to see an elf in jeans, a t-shirt, and even a pair of worn sneakers.

"Christopher, this is my cousin, Arvil, who I have attained at no small expense to teach you the ways of the Ether and instruct you in magic more generally."

Reyla introduced the two from her position in the largest, most comfortable chair in her dim study. She watched the dragon as he started forward, offering his hand. He seemed to be becoming more confident and purposeful each time she saw him. Oh how he'd put the Synod in their place, bunch of self-righteous fools that they were most of the time. She would remember the dragon's little outburst fondly for years to come, so would the Synod, though not with the same humorous outlook.

"Hello, Arvil, it's nice to meet you, and just Chris is fine."

"Well met, Chris. And may I say that it is an honour to be entrusted with your education," Arvil replied in his smooth, deep voice, accepting the firm handshake and examining the man before him with both physical and magical senses. "I didn't believe Reyla when she contacted me but it's really true; you are a dragon and the Ether is woven intricately into your being. A singularity. Astounding."

"I can't say I've ever heard of a brown elf myself so perhaps we have something in common?" replied Chris.

Arvil burst into laughter.

Chris looked around, noticing that Reyla looked even haughtier and more cross than usual.

"I don't get it."

"My boy, I have a feeling we will get along swimmingly."

Anyone who brazenly raised the subject of his heritage in front of another elf was a good sort in Arvil's books. He even took pleasure from watching other elves discomfort with his skin colour.

"He is the bastard progeny of forbidden love between Drow and High Elf," Reyla said with disgust dripping from her lips as she lent forwards. "A reminder to both that we are not the distinct species we would like believe we are. Because of that, he's hated and shunned by all. Although, I admit, he has his uses."

"That's terrible," Chris murmured, looking back to Lillian to confirm that it was actually true. The vampire gave him a nod.

"I accepted my lot a long ago, Chris," said Arvil. "Now tell me about yourself. My cousin says you have quite the tale and have been even busier since she met you."

Chris quickly recapped his story since his awakening, mostly leaving out his life in hiding with Susan.

"And there weren't any hints as to your powers before you awoke?"

"Well, I could always hear and smell better than normal. There was the thing with the gold, too, but I didn't know about that. That's all to do with my dragon though. As far as the Ether, I used to dream about it or in it, I'm not entirely sure. I guess that was a pretty big hint but neither Susan nor I realised what it meant."

"Excellent!" Arvil exclaimed suddenly, as if startling himself from deep thought. Chris got the impression from his mannerisms that Arvil was either a little peculiar or he hadn't had much contact with humans in the past hundred or so years. "You can already phase and manipulate Ether energy, that shows you have raw talent, your dragon's instincts are guiding you well. I would like to see you in action as soon as possible. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon, once I get my affairs in order?"

"I ah... Tomorrow afternoon wouldn't be the best, I'm meeting some other dragons," Chris glanced sidelong at Reyla, wondering if she would be upset in any way.

"You needn't try to hide it from me, Christopher," Reyla smiled with false sweetness. "Petra Godran called me this morning to arrange travel permits and accommodation for her stay. I know all about your plan for a country tryst."

Chris couldn't help but blush.

"So, you've been paired with the Godran's? Haha! Lucky boy. I've heard their beauty rivals even that of my beloved cousin here," Arvil spoke with an elaborate twirl of his hand towards Reyla. Lillian couldn't help but snigger, earning her a warning glare from the Drow.

"How about this evening then, Chris? I'd like to assess your ability and knowledge as soon as possible in order to come up with a teaching strategy. We could even just take a stroll through the Ether so that I can see you in your element, so to speak."

"He's already been quite exploratory," Lillian added, taking the chance to remind Chris of his recent transgression. "Last night he and his familiar waltzed around our district's streets, out and about on their own and even rescued a sprite girl form a young wraith. They ended up bringing the poor thing home with them like it's a pet."

Chris shot daggers at Lillian, one for ratting him out to Reyla; and two for painting the incident in completely the wrong light. He didn't get a chance to defend himself, though, because both elves were staring at him and Reyla had shot out of her seat.

"A sprite? Small, with bat-like wings and elven features? A woman?!" Reyla asked disbelievingly, cursing herself for not monitoring her surveillance equipment more closely.

It shocked her because although it wasn't common knowledge, what few sprite females there were left alive and "free" were kept and guarded in their last remaining stronghold; a mystical city in the branches and heart a giant oak somewhere deep in Europe. Only none knew exactly where it was, because the tree uprooted itself every night and walked to a new location.

"She let you touch her?" Arvil asked.

"Well, she was injured with a broken wing, I only used my saliva to heal her," Chris countered, not knowing why everyone was apparently upset with him.

"It must have been drawn to his presence," mused Arvil with a thoughtful scratch of his head.

"I must talk to her, where is she now?" Reyla continued, her hackles raised at the thought of another potentially very manipulative force setting its sights on her pet project.

Chris gave Lillian a questioning look but it was only bounced back at him, with added confusion.

"She passed out after I healed her and gave her some food, we took her back..." Chris tried to reply levelly.

"You fed her?!"

"What?" Chris asked, "Yeah, I guess. Who cares?! Why is this a big deal all of a sudden?"

"Incorrigible, even for a male dragon," Reyla murmured, ignoring him completely. "There's something about him cousin, just you wait and see."

"Only one way to find out if she did or not," replied Arvil as if they were completing each other's thoughts.

"Yes," Reyla said, finally looking Chris in the eye. "Picture the sprite woman with your mind's eye. Gather a little energy, not too much mind, and say, 'come to me.' Can you do that, dragon?"

"What the fuck is going on?" Chris was about to lose his cool if someone didn't answer soon.

"Just do it. It will answer your question," Reyla snapped.

Chris exhaled loudly, taking another calming breath before relenting. He hated when people wouldn't just take a few moments to explain things. His eyes closed, he thought of the tiny woman. Her blue skin, her cute little ears, her small wings, her perfectly proportioned miniature body, her surprised, thankful eyes.

"Come to me."

A tiny pop echoed in the silence of collective anticipation. He felt the release of energy, followed by a quiet whirr, perhaps of tiny wings. Chris didn't dare open his eyes for a few seconds, but eventually he cracked one eyelid cautiously to find his fears realized.

"Hello, Master," squeaked the beautiful sprite, hovering a few feet in front of him at eye level. She looked at him curiously before stretching and yawning. "I'm still tired, may I land on you?"

Chris automatically extended his hand toward the sprite, palm up. She alighted gracefully, sitting naked with her legs dangling over the edge of his hand as her wings daintily folded shut.

"Master?" he asked.

"Yes. You fed me from your hand and I accept, you will be my Master for one hundred years."

"As I suspected," Reyla hissed. "You sought him out you little trollop, tricked him into offering you food. I would have warded him a thousand times had I known you were skulking in my territory."

"I did no such thing," the sprite replied with a lot of backbone for someone so small. "I just about died, if he wasn't there I would have been eaten by a wraith. He offered it to me freely, even if he didn't know what he was doing. It's your own fault besides, had your race helped us ages ago, we would still be considered true Beings and I would have had to announce my presence to you."

The others looked on, following the conversation but having nothing to add or in the case of Chris, being too caught up in his internal argument.

You knew, you knew this would happen? he accused.

It was a possibility, replied the dragon calmly.

Why?

She could be a useful ally, she is fun, and she is very lonely.

I give up.

Reyla's eyes flashed as she cocked her elegant neck and examined the latest pain in her ass. Something seemed familiar about this little elfkin but it was so long since she'd visited their court, ancient history before their species was all but destroyed by that fateful war. It mattered not as her legendary temper began to bubble.

"I should put you in a glass jar and feed you to a spider. How dare you enter my territory and bind yourself to him!" She spat, her dark rage definitely getting the better of her. She was sick of others putting their marks on him when she could do nothing of her own.

"You hold no claim on him Dark One! And if you did that, he would see you for the sour, mean, old bat that you truly are!" snarled the sprite in return, hitting the mark. She knew enough about Reyla Narlakis to strike true.

That did it.

Reyla had had a stressful week, getting sassed by a sprite was the final straw in her murky mind. Before thinking about it, a bolt of shade-frost shot from her finger, streaking towards the pest in a gaudy display of blues and unnaturally cast darkness, like the contact of an arc-welder.

The dragon's reaction, for Chris wasn't really involved, was instantaneous, spinning so his back intercepted the spell, sending him flying across the room to topple into a low bookshelf with the sprite held against his chest.

He slumped for a moment before his body began the rapid transformation to his half form, his wings exploding out of his t-shirt as a bestial snarl left his throat.

Reyla looked at her hand in shock, a grey, ghostly afterimage of her spell still dissipating from her outstretched finger. She never considering that the dragon would risk his life to protect the little sprite.

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