Is It Magic? Chapter Four

 

CHAPTER 4

 

They stuck to the woods. Without any form of transportation, staying off the main roads was essential. Relath finally let them rest in a deep ravine where another river ran, only this one was much smaller and only inches deep.

“You can’t go back now. I hope you know that,” Relath said into the quiet that surrounded them. He didn’t want to think about the ramifications of the sheriff’s rash action to leave everything behind. He feared the big man was going to regret it and blame Relath.

“I know. I just wish we could have packed a few things. Like weapons. Could use some food, too, blankets. Didn’t plan this very well.”

Relath laughed. “Generally, I leave the planning up to the town sheriff. He’s usually the one calling the shots.”

Khat growled. “Well, you sure as hell didn’t let me call any.”

Relath smirked. “I don’t remember you actually trying. The shots I’m talking about were a little more lethal. Like winging past my ear and taking a chunk with it.”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess…” He smirked. “My aim was a little lower.”

Relath sucked in his breath. Crap. Are you kidding me? Just a tiny flirtation and I’m ready to jump the man? He closed his eyes and willed his cock to calm down. They did not have time right now but when they did… He whimpered. He suddenly felt a large hand on the back of his neck.

“I want to handcuff your wrists to a tree.” Khat pulled back and Relath didn’t resist.

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. Then I want to take your clothes off and suck you again until you come. You taste good.”

“Wow. I think I would like that.”

“I want to push my fingers into your opening, too. Slick them all up and push hard inside, and pump them in and out, in and out, get you all hard again.”

Relath could only choke as Khat’s hand wandered down to Relath’s now-raging hard cock and started to stroke him through his pants. “Khat. We don’t… Oh! We… Damn. That feels too good…but we don’t…” He pushed harder into Khat’s hand, willing him to work him faster.

“Then I want to push my big fat cock in there, push it all the way in. I want to fill you so full you scream.”

“Ah damn,” Relath whispered as he closed his eyes to imagine the scene. But he really needed to stop Khat because soon he would be so far gone it wouldn’t matter if the army came charging down into the ravine, he was going to need to come.

Khat chuckled as he pulled his hand away. Relath put all effort into opening his eyes in shock. “Damn. I was so close.” Relath tipped his head back as he bucked his hips into empty air.

“Yeah. Would like to see that, too, believe me. But payback is hell, and you deserved a little. Serves you right for putting your damn magic spells on me.”

Relath looked up at Khat with wide eyes. “You mean you did this”—Relath indicated the large bulge in his pants—“on purpose so I would be in pain?”

Khat leaned in and kissed Relath on his nose. “Yes. And you are not to touch yourself. I want you to suffer a bit.” He chuckled again.

Relath smirked. “Fine. So begins a battle you can’t possibly win.”

“Want to bet?” Khat fingered one of Relath’s nipples, rubbing it through his shirt, sending more shocks through Relath’s body. Relath leaned into the touch, totally surrendering to it, wanting whatever the big man would do to him. Once again Khat pulled away and Relath groaned.

Relath opened eyes he hadn’t even known he closed. “Okay, I admit. You have a strange power over me. Your touch… Oh.” Relath let a shiver race through him. “Your touch drives me crazy. Even when you just look at me. I have never wanted anyone more than I want you all the time. It isn’t fair to tease me.”

This time Khat leaned in and kissed Relath deeply. He pushed his tongue in, and Relath suck him in even farther. He pushed Relath to the ground and Relath felt Khat reach around and under him to cup his ass, his hip grinding into Relath’s still very hard member. It wouldn’t take much at this point, and Relath rubbed himself against the big man.

Suddenly there was noise. Khat was instantly on his feet, pulling Relath with him.

“Run!”

The soldiers were bearing down on them. Relath was a little confused on how they found them so quickly, or at all, but he had no time to think about it. They had to move. Amazingly, the shock of the soldier’s sudden appearance and the fear of being captured, deflated him. Relath had no problem scrambling up the ravine behind Khat. Khat might be fast on level ground, but his body size was working against him on the ascent, enough that Relath was right beside him. However, once they reached the top, arrows sinking into the ground all around them, Khat grabbed Relath’s hand and ran. They crashed through the forest with no hope of shaking the soldiers.

He had to come up with a plan. But the only thing he had left was the one bottle of his elixir and a brain that was fried from Khat doing all those wonderful things to him. And wobbly legs. Poor Khat. Relath was certain the man could probably outrun a friggin’ train if given the chance, but he was being slowed down by Relath. Alone, Relath would probably stop right now and start sending the soldiers flying. They would still capture him, but again, that just wasn’t a problem. Having Khat with him was. That choice wasn’t going to remain a choice either since the soldiers were catching up fast and Relath knew, surrounding them. What was he going to do?

“Halt, or I’ll shoot!”

Both Relath and Khat stopped, breathing heavily. Sounds of rushing men were all around them, and by the light of a bright moon, Relath could see a very large, very stern and decorated man standing in front of them, bow raised, arrow pointed. How the hell had that man gotten in front of them? It just wasn’t possible!

Damn it! The arrow was pointed right at Khat. Seems they were intent on taking Relath alive. That made no sense either. Khat slowly raised his arms in surrender, and with a sinking heart, Relath followed suit.

“Khat? Is that you?” The big man lowered his bow. “Oh, Khat. You will pay dearly for making me sweat this late at night by chasing your ass. Such a waste of my energy. But you of all people should know, in all of my illustrious career, I have never lost that which my king sent me out to capture. You led a merry chase, I will give you that. However, you being a lawman, I would have figured you would be more of a challenge. You disappoint me.”

By this time the rest of the soldiers had emerged from the forest on all sides of them, leaving absolutely no gap for escape. Obviously escape wasn’t possible anyway since every one of them were heavily armed with bow and arrow, all loaded and ready. Even Relath’s magic would not save him.

“So, Colonel,” Khat began. “I guess I’m impressed and a bit honored the king would send his best and”—Khat looked around at the crowd of men standing at the ready all around them—“so many. It’s almost as if you expected to come up against an army.” He turned his attention back to the colonel. “What could a small town sheriff offer that could possibly be a challenge?”

The colonel handed his bow to a man standing next to him and walked toward Khat. When he reached him Relath was not surprised to see the man was the same height and pretty much the same build as Khat. Older and with an arrogant air about him, he pushed Relath aside as he took a walk around Khat.

“You are one amazing man to look at, Sheriff. And I have always admired these.” The colonel reached out and cupped one of Khat’s ass cheeks, kneading a little. “I would especially like to see them naked and glistening, fresh out of a tub of water.” The colonel chuckled when Khat flinched.

Relath suddenly wanted desperately to know any chant that would turn this arrogant son of a bitch into an Elder Doom Creeper. An ugly one.

“Although,” the bastard continued, “I was told to bring you in as well, as accomplice to the wizard.” He turned to look at Relath, disgust written on his face, and smirked. “I could be, shall we say, persuaded to send him along all by himself while you and I…” He leaned in to whisper in Khat’s ear, although loud enough for Relath to hear clearly. “Have some very private moments together. In fact, I would let you dominate. I shiver with the thought of big old you holding me down and… Well, you could do whatever you wanted to do…Khat.” Relath wasn’t sure what the colonel did at that point but whatever it was made Khat jump forward, cover his ear with his hand and turn to face the colonel. The colonel chuckled, stepped toward Khat, right up in his face. “What do you say, big boy?”

Khat pushed him back. “Not interested.”

Relath was well aware of the dangerous situation they were in. He understood that Khat did as well. He knew Khat had to have at least thought about the possibility if he went with the colonel he could have come out of this thing alive. But Relath thrilled he chose not to. His heart actually hurt with the happiness that shot through him at those two words. Too bad it may not last long.

“Still not interested? Once again you disappoint me.” The colonel ran a finger down Khat’s cheek and Khat pulled away. “You truly intrigue me, Sheriff. I vow I will have you. I can give you so much in my position. Power, title, money.” The colonel stepped back. “Your life. Are you sure you’re not interested now, Sheriff?”

Relath would never have been interested in this fool, but even he had to admit the colonel had an amazing body. There may have even been a time when that would have been enough for Relath as well. Although life had been far lonelier since he had said goodbye to his last meaningless affair, he had a far better opinion of himself. It also mattered to him he could offer this purer version of himself to Khat. Yes, Relath had a past. As much as he knew thoughts like this could not help them, he now wondered about Khat’s.

“Colonel, you have nothing”—Khat looked the man up and down—“and I mean nothing, I am interested in.” His warm gaze came to Relath, whose heart once again tripped. “I have one interest, only one man on my mind.” He looked back at the colonel, who now had an even deeper frown.

The colonel shot an evil glare at Relath, and despite himself Relath cringed under that scowl, then it went back to Khat. “You do understand your fate, don’t you?” It was said low and threatening. “You will be taken to the castle and executed unless you have something you can offer me to change my mind.”

“And I will say it again, you have nothing to offer me to change mine.”

“Your arrogance will be your death!” The statement was so full of fury Relath pulled a breath in. This was it. If he didn’t do something this instant Khat would die at the hands of this lunatic. He prayed the sweat that he felt on his hands was enough. Under his breath he began a fast chant. If he lived and if he ever saw Khat again, the man would lay him flat with the wicked left Relath had seen the man use in the past. But the important thing here was that Khat would live. He would be pissed as hell and probably vow to murder Relath twenty times over, but Khat would be alive to make the plans to do so.

“Mitso hor gor’th otso motchisto. Gost hoto, gost hoto, gost hoto. Plut fom!” By time Relath had finished, Khat was aware what he was doing, but it was too late. Before he was able to take a step toward Relath he was already floating six feet above the ground. Relath had him pass close to him, just to get a final chance to breathe him in. But then Relath flung his hand and Khat flew high into the air and shot to the east above the trees, enveloped by the darkness. Relath could hear the screams, not in fear, but in anger. It was a bad thing to do. He knew that. Khat did not need protecting, but Relath’s heart did. It was out there on the edge and if he knew Khat was safe he could face what he had to do to these soldiers.

But then the oddest thing happened. A thin sack came quickly over his head and down his arms. Before he could react, it tightened around him from his elbows to his wrists, as if they were using a thick scratchy rope to bind him inside the sack. Maybe they thought bound hands would stop him from using his magic, but since they weren’t supposed to believe he was magical at all, that made no sense. Someone small like Relath would not pose any kind of physical threat. However, as surprised as he was, it was still just a tad of fabric and it was not going to hold him any better than a jail cell would.

But being smothered inside a sack, and the eerie tingly feeling that started at the tips of his fingers and moved to the rest of his body, he didn’t like one bit. Moving his fingers with an often-used chant, he would have the ropes loosened and off in no time. But when nothing happened, his panic returned. He did it again, chanting a little louder this time, wiggling his fingers faster and with more effort. Still nothing. What the hell was going on?

Then a low and menacing voice was right next to his face. Relath could feel the man’s hot breath. “You little fucker! Thought you could escape me? You are now caught like the rat you are and you will be exterminated like one, too. But only after the king sucks you dry of your weak pathetic power. Why he wants you is beyond me, but I will not question it.” The colonel laughed, the stench of his breath through the barrier reminding Relath of an Angel Walker. “I understand the process of transferring magical power is quite painful. As much as I would love to see you squirm, I have another goal in mind. I will find Khat. He will belong to me now. And if you live long enough, I will make sure you are witness to that.”

Relath was sure if the sack had not been covering his face the colonel’s spit would. But that was not the thing that stunned him. “You…you mean…” Relath was having trouble putting his shock into words. “You mean the king…believes?”

“In magic? Of course. The only reason he made it illegal to practice it was to weed out the real wizards from the charlatans. He can’t suck power from a fake.”

“That’s…wait… It makes sense now. That’s how you were able to track us, get in front of us, how you found us so fast after we escaped. You’re using magic!”

“Oh, you’re quick. Yes, to all of that. Plus, this sack over your head has a binding spell weaved through it powerful enough to bind the magic of a wizard ten times your strength. You will not be able to escape. But I suspect you already know that. You will now be taken to the king, who will drain you and kill you. And don’t worry about Khat. I will hunt him down and capture him for my own enjoyment. I will make him forget something like you ever existed.” Again his face was close to Relath’s. “Even if I have to use magic. Which is obviously what you were doing, am I right?” He let out another hearty laugh. Relath felt him retreat from him and then he shouted to his army. “Take this thing to the castle. You only have to make sure it’s still alive when it gets there.”

Then Relath heard him calling out names of soldiers who would stay, presumably to help him hunt for Khat. Relath had originally sent Khat away to keep him safe. He had sent him with insurance, his final bottle of elixir. He was certain the man would scoff at it and probably discard it. But until he did, it would protect him. Relath could risk not having it since he had his magic to keep him safe. But now, Relath didn’t have that either. And Relath had no idea how far he had flung Khat. Probably nowhere near far enough if these guys were going after him.

And damn! The king did believe. That was the shock of the fucking day. Was it true he could suck wizard power? Of course it was obvious why. Relath had always known the man was greedy and arrogant. A pompous fool with an insatiable thirst for power. Relath hadn’t really worried at all about the real wizards if they were captured. He knew they could easily escape. And the fake ones deserved what they got for cheating the people. Well, maybe not death, if that was what was happening. But he never really cared much until now. How many wizards had fallen victim? How powerful was the king now?

Things were not looking good.

A large presence filled the space in front of Relath and he was suddenly being manhandled onto a horse and draped across the saddle like a soggy blanket. The soldier slapped his ass and left his big paw there a little longer than Relath was comfortable with, and he groaned inside. The lower half of his body was not covered with the damn sack and probably for a reason. But there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay draped across the horse as it fidgeted and stomped its hooves, but suddenly a shout went up and he heard movement and then the horse he was on began to move as well.

Crap! This was looking bad for him.

Unexpectedly there was a shout and then more shouts, then total chaos. He heard the thundering of hooves, more shouts and even a few screams. He heard arrows flying and prayed he would not be a recipient of any of them just as his horse took off. Relath wasn’t sure if he wanted to allow the horse to take him with him or try to fall from the saddle. Not knowing what it was that happened to cause the bedlam and not knowing if the horse was being led or off on its own, there were too many variables to come up with a “best of” solution.

The sounds of the commotion faded as the horse continued its frenzied crash through the forest. Several times Relath felt whipped by branches far too close for comfort. Still debating whether or not to force himself off of the horse or not, the horse began to slow. Soon they were still and Relath slipping off the horse was no longer a decision as large hands lifted him to the ground.

He struggled, knew it was no good, he could not escape, but he would go down fighting.

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s me! Relath, it’s me, Khat. Calm down, you’re safe.”

“Khat?” The ropes were loosening and finally the sack was coming off. It was flung to the side and the tingling he had been feeling went with it. But tingling elsewhere began as he stared up into Khat’s flushed face. “What the hell? I flung you… I mean… I…”

“Yes, you thought you got rid of me using magic again without my consent. We are going to have to discuss that little habit of yours. But when I found that bottle of dirty water in my coat pocket I figured out it was your elixir and I knew you were messaging me for help. It took me a bit to figure out how to use the damn stuff but I finally did, got back to that clearing and let the Talasar Elixir do its stuff.”

Relath was still reeling from being so valiantly and expectantly rescued. “Which was what exactly?”

Khat looked at him as if he had grown another head. “Exactly what you said the bottle of water would do. Create images. Frightening images, remember? You said that back at the fire. I figured out sprinkling it on the ground created these… Well, monsters, from the sizzling drops. It’s the only way I can explain it. So I ran right through the line of soldiers, sprinkling it all around them.” Khat shivered. “Those were some pretty crazy looking creatures that rose up from the steam those drops turned in to.”

“Khat, I didn’t put that kind of spell… Monsters? You created monsters?”

“Yeah, or rather, the water did. Worse looking, if that’s possible, than the Angel Walker I unfortunately met.”

“Worse? Damn.” Relath darted his head around and marveled at the quiet. “Um…maybe we should keep moving. Those…monsters are only temporary. When the colonel—who is hot after your ass, by the way, which is something else we will be discussing—when he figures out it was all a ruse he’ll be a tad bit upset.”

“Temporary, huh? Well, that’s probably a good thing. Yeah, we should move. ‘Tad bit’ anything does not describe that man’s demeanor. He is all or nothing. Don’t think I want to find out what the punishment is for freeing his prisoner.”

“Know him that well, do you?” Relath had to allow himself to breathe through the bite of jealousy he was feeling. He was front and center when Khat out right rejected the colonel, but he had no idea what their history was. He wasn’t sure he wanted to. He was even regretting asking that rhetorical question Khat might feel compelled to answer. Thankfully the only response was a grunt.

Khat motioned for Relath to remount as he leaped up onto his own horse. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

Khat looked at him wearily. “What would be your next move? I mean, if you had left LockShire on your own, where would you have gone?”

Relath laughed. “Just the next village. That’s what I did. Always just the next village. I was following that damned Angel Walker for the most part and it only seemed to jump to the next feeding ground. But things are different now. That thing is gone and you’re with me and the king…” He steered his horse to the south. Khat followed behind.

“The king?” Khat asked. “What’s he got to do with this? We’ve escaped those soldiers. They won’t have any idea where to look for us. They might continue to search, and certainly that asshole colonel will pout and stomp his big feet, but how can they find us? I would, however, suggest we don’t stop at the next village.”

“That’s just it, Khat. They will find us. They’re using magic. Turns out the king not only believes, and knows wizards exist, but he is bringing captured wizards to the castle to suck their power and then he kills them. That’s what the colonel said after I flung you… After you left. That sack you pulled off of me rendered me helpless. It had a spell on it to bind powers.”

“What? Seriously? How can that be? You mean… The colonel is… He can… How can that happen? How can he use magic if he’s not a wizard? How can someone who is not a wizard suck anything? I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I right now. But…you did. You used magic that didn’t exist.”

“I used magic? Me? I used a bottle of your elixir. Magic elixir. Not my magic. Yours!”

“The spell I weaved into that bottle was one of protection. I figured you would discover it, figure out what it was and throw it away. I had no idea you would come back and use it like a weapon. You’re the one who created the monsters.”

Khat simply stared at Relath as if he were doing something incredibly difficult. His mouth was hanging open and occasionally moving, but no words came out. Finally he looked away. “Damn it, Relath. Why is it every fucking time you have something to tell me, it about stops my heart? How do I, a mere mortal, a human, create anything?”

Relath did have to think about that. There really was no answer. Something was obviously wrong. Or right, depending. “Any wizards in your family history?”

Okay, not the brightest question to ask at a time like this, but Relath’s grasp on social decorum was not the tightest. It was actually meant for a joke if anything. However, the look Khat gave him should have burned him to a crisp right on the spot.

“Sorry,” Relath began, “I just thought it would answer a few of these questions. If there were wizards in your past there might also be in the king’s and in the colonel’s. Yeah, pretty far reaching. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Instantly Khat’s expression changed. “I know. But in answer to that, I just don’t know. I only figured out a few hours ago wizards exist at all. How would I know if any of my crazy uncles were practicing magic?” They rode in silence for a few minutes. Then Khat asked, “So what do we do? If they can find us no matter where we go, what do we do?”

Relath gazed at him. He was so beautiful. His flowing black hair, those amazing blue eyes. The strength he portrayed just sitting on a horse sent shivers up Relath’s back. But he knew it was so much more than what the man looked like. It was exactly that which became an issue in that little village they were now leaving behind forever. The sheriff was kind and possessive and smart. Calm and observant and caring. Relath felt all of that and so much more every time he touched the tall law man. He was sickened with the thought he had finally found his mate and they may never have a chance to explore that kind of a relationship because they were both hunted men.

“I don’t know. Going against them would be suicide. However, we might end up doing that in the end anyway if we don’t come up with another plan. But I have to believe there’s something other than simply giving up. I…I’ve been so confident about escape… Reliant on my magic… With that damn sack they have now… I never had someone else who really matters to me messed up with me. I just don’t know how to handle that.”

Khat answered by edging his horse closer to Relath and taking his hand. He squeezed Relath’s hand and brought it to his lips to kiss it. “I chose this path, Relath. You did not choose it for me. I, too, have had to think about what it would feel like to lose you. I never had the luxury of thinking you could protect yourself. I only ever had to imagine losing you to your leaving me or to the king taking you away. Plus I saw how you enjoyed helping people. I know sometimes it’s only the mind that gets a person sick and in the same sense, the mind will make a body well. I thought that was all that was involved. I didn’t question what you were doing, just how you were doing it. You were too flamboyant about it all. You were being careless, self-destructive. I wanted to protect you.”

Relath laughed. “We are a pair.”

“Yeah.” Khat squeezed his hand again then let go. “We are.”

They rode in silence for a time then Relath said, “K’Jon.”

“What?”

“The name of my friend. The dragon shifter I mentioned. His name is K’Jon.”

“Weird name.”

“It’s a dragon name, I guess. I thought it was a strange name, too, especially the way it’s spelled. But he’s a good man.”

“Oh. You… He and you…”

“No. Never. He’s not my type. He’s amazing and all, but I never ever had any thoughts about him in that direction.” Relath smirked and looked over at Khat. “Why? You jealous?”

Khat harrumphed.

Relath laughed. “No, he and I are just good friends. But he has the ability to take power from a wizard.”

“A dragon can… So you think…”

“I don’t know. Just a suggestion. Strange to think the king might be a dragon shifter. My father drummed it into my head that dragon shifters were evil and out to take all the power and kill every wizard there was. That certainly explains our king. But it doesn’t describe K’Jon. He is like me, a traveler breaking spells. Only he is much more talented obviously, incredibly powerful.” Relath tipped his head as he thought. “Never asked him where he received his powers. Maybe there is some truth to that rumor. All I know is he is centuries old and a very good man.”

“So what are you saying exactly?”

Relath looked at Khat, making up his mind. “We need to contact him. He needs to know this information about the king. We need help in figuring this out. Besides, he’s probably the only one who can do anything about it.”

“Where is he?”

“I have no idea. But he gave me a spell. He said if I ever needed him, cast the spell. I don’t know what’s supposed to happen. He never said. I never asked.”

“So, you know him that well, huh? He comes any time you call?”

Relath shot a look at Khat and when he saw the smirk he laughed. “Yeah. He thinks I’m pretty useless. Hope he’s impressed with our information.”

“Me, too. Let’s find a hidden place to do it from. Not so the colonel won’t find us, because I guess he still will, but so no one else will.”

“Okay. I need water first.”

“Water?”

“It’s what my magic works through. I chant through water.”

“Is that what you did with that Angel Walker?”

“Not at first. I was chanting a call-forth spell. Without the water it had no real effect. It was a stupid spell to use anyway since the Angel Walker was already there. However, chanting something like that still made it mad, which was what I actually wanted anyway. I needed to get it to attack me to get it out of the chamber room. But when I tossed one of my elixir bottles at him the thing consumed it, sucked it right into itself. And you saw the result of that.”

After stopping by a small stream and filling a container they found on one of the horses, they moved on. Finding a thick grove of small birch, they rode directly into it. In the center was a fallen great oak. The long dead and rotted branches that had once been the magnificent top of the tree had eventually, through time, formed a natural small open meadow.

Relath slid off his horse. “This should be good. K’Jon is a huge dragon. But this should still work.” Khat said nothing as he dismounted and followed Relath to the clearing. Relath handed his reins to Khat and stepped farther into the open area. He surveyed his surroundings and looked back at Khat and the horses. “You might want to step back. When K’Jon shows up he… Well, shows up.”

Khat pulled the horses with him as he took up a stance just outside the open circle and Relath pulled out the container of water. Opening it and pouring a small amount on his hands, he splayed fingers above it, and began his chant.

“Hor’nof comf tridnorde hor’nof comf sadreg hor’nof comf radgmand.”

A tingling, shimmering wave moved through the small meadow.

“Relath? Was that supposed to happen?”

“Don’t know. Never did this before.”

“Shit, Relath. Why do I ever expect good news from you?”

They waited and when nothing more happened Relath poured out the water again, only this time, a little sprinkling all the way around the clearing.

“Hor’nof comf tridnorde hor’nof comf sadreg hor’nof comf radgmand!”

The shimmering was brighter that time, then there were several pops and bangs, a large flash and in the clearing stood a beautiful dragon. Relath never tired of seeing his friend’s dragon form. His broad long body was covered in purple iridescent scales that were more like armor than anything else. His front claws were lethal and sounded like steel blades coming together in battle. His elongated dragon’s head had a huge mouth, which opened now with a deafening roar. Although no fire emerged Relath saw Khat cringe, nearly falling to his knees. But the most amazing feature of this remarkable dragon were his enormous wings. With a gossamer look to them, they gently flowed, glistening in the wind like water and looking far too delicate to be able to lift the large dragon. Taking up even more space than the dragon himself, the wings slowly folded into his body and a fragrant breeze wafted through the clearing. The dragon’s blunt, thick legs held large feet with claws, again, as sharp as knives. A moment or two passed and another flash and pop and suddenly the only thing standing in the clearing was a large man. Slightly larger than Khat, K’Jon was tall and muscular as well with dark hair and eyes. His body was well toned, with rippling abs, thick arms and thighs, and a stance that showed it all off splendidly. With fists on his hips he looked like a god.

A stark naked god.