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  “Enki gave it to me.” I scowled deeper. “Didn't you see? He did so just moments ago.”

  “I was focused on gathering your council. I can't be everywhere at once.”

  “I thought you were always in my head.”

  “My magic is always inside you; it's my tether,” she explained. “But this conscious part of me takes effort and concentration. It's easier to focus on one thing at a time when I separate myself from you.”

  “I see,” I murmured.

  I tried not to let relief wash through me; I didn't want Star to feel unwanted. But having another consciousness inside me could get stifling. Before, Star had only been magic. I never felt as if I had another person in my head. But now, it was like having Faerie with me constantly. Worse; Star pushed me in ways that Faerie never would.

  “Your council is waiting in the war room,” Star announced. “Have you decided where we'll go next?”

  “We will head across Africa as planned.” I shrugged. “I suppose Libya will be next and then Sudan. We should be methodical and thorough.”

  “Very wise.” Star nodded in satisfaction.

  I played with the pendant on my neck and tried not to think about what it contained. For some reason, I didn't want Star to know about the water.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Al Jaghbub, Libya is a tiny, desert village near an oasis in the Sahara desert. The Sahara covers most of Libya and the journey to the border town must have been rough on the thousands of men and women who came in tanks, ATVs, and even on foot to defend their country. No gods came to help them; they were on their own. But these were people who were familiar with war; their lives had been full of conflict. This was more of the same, just on a greater scale.

  I should have felt admiration for them. At the very least, I should have sympathized. These were the very type of people who needed me the most. The ones I had set out to save. Perhaps that's what made me so angry.

  I glared at the front line of the human army. Weapons slung across forearms, tanks rumbling in readiness, and expressions hard. The desert spread out behind them in what seemed to be an endless sea of sand. To the rest of the world, it was a wasteland. But to a dragon, it was paradise. Heat and wide-open spaces. This was a fire kingdom on Earth, and I intended to rule it. These humans would soon learn that no one could deny the Dark Star.

  I swung my massive dragon head from left to right, taking stock of my commanders, mounted atop dragons of sapphire, ruby, emerald, and jet. Jewel dragons for my star gods. General Sin would be staying on the ground to lead our god soldiers while I took to the sky with my dragons. Anticipation shivered beneath my scales until I could wait no longer. I roared and took flight.

  The Star Gods followed me into the air, and we swept over the sand toward the human army on a hot wind. As I flew, my rage grew. How dare they defy me? I had come to free them. To guide them to peace. And this was how they repaid me? Fools. Bloodthirsty simpletons. Humans stand no chance against Gods. They would pay for their mistake with their lives.

  With my fury, the nine-pointed star inside my chest started to shine. Its light grew and flared out, connecting me to the Star Gods. They shouted triumphantly as our magic merged, beams of brilliant amethyst joining us. I felt their power magnifying mine as I focused theirs, and I opened my mouth to release the fire that rose with my power. Except, instead of flames, dark starlight burst up my throat and hit the human army.

  The starlight brightened as the beams connecting me to my star gods started flowing faster. My vision expanded to see real stars, burning in deep space. Fueling my star gods and me. Galaxies reeled away in my dual sight as I drew on that light. I felt connected to everything; at one with all magic. I flew the length of the human army and breathed that deep-space starlight over every soldier there. The rest of my army pulled back to watch in wonder as my commanders and I made them irrelevant. All the humans could do was scream as they watched the light come for them and even that didn't last long. As soon as my sparkling breath hit them, they were gone. A nuclear blast without the fallout. Bodies simply evaporated. No pain. No chance to run. Just gone.

  I finally reached the end of the army and let go of the starlight. With it, my fury faded as well. I took a deep breath as I circled up and back. The blindingly bright bonds that connected me to my star gods vanished into afterimages, ghosts in my eyes. There was a moment of complete silence when I reached my army. A space of time in which the world held its breath. And then my soldiers roared and shouted, cheering for their goddess and her star commanders. We settled back on the ground before my troops, and I sighed with deep disappointment.

  The desert behind me was bare. Not a single human had survived. Even their weapons and vehicles were gone. This wasn't how I'd intended to win. What had come over me?

  “That was exhilarating,” Viper said from his emerald mount on my right. “But over rather quickly. Next time, we should draw it out so we can relish the terror of our enemies.”

  He smiled ferociously at me and something inside me shrank away.

  “Now you know what the Dark Star and the Star Gods can do!” I shouted at my army, ignoring Viper. “Face the next battle with absolute confidence, knowing that we are with you. If you falter, we will fortify you. But from here forward, we do this together. I won't deny you blood again.”

  The Dragons roared, the Gods applauded, and General Sin bowed his head to me in acknowledgment of my greatness, but when I looked back at Viper, he was staring at me with a hint of confused irritation.

  “What is it, my viper?” I curved my long neck over to him so that my snout grazed his leg.

  Viper laid his gloved hand on my face and stroked me lovingly. “That was a victory, not a mistake. Word will spread across the Sahara to all of Africa, and we will find less and less opposition the further we go.”

  “I know that,” I rumbled.

  Viper smiled at me as if he knew that I lied. “When you falter, I shall fortify you. I will hold you high so your light may reach the entire world.”

  I nuzzled his chest but said nothing. Instead, I turned back to my celebrating army. Once, I would have said that the best battles are the ones you win without fighting but now, I knew better. Soldiers aren't satisfied without blood, especially not dragon soldiers.

  “For taking the battle from you, I offer you the Sahara,” I announced. “Run wild, my friends. Enjoy the bounty of the desert for it now belongs to us!”

  The Dragons roared as they took to the air, and the Gods shouted as they rode forward on the vehicles I'd fashioned for them from magic. They would have their blood after all. Blood and flesh and treasure; those were a conqueror's rewards.

  Beneath my feet, the Sahara trembled.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  We took Libya, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Algeria, and Tunisia. All was going as planned. I didn't attend the battles anymore unless I were needed, and I hadn't been needed. Most of the humans surrendered before the battle began. No gods showed up to oppose us either; it looked as if they had retreated to lick their wounds. Which was wonderful, I suppose. Except I was getting bored. Restless. I needed something more to focus on than the reports my commanders brought me and the social media presence Star insisted upon. Does a goddess really need Instagram?

  Viper helped. I drowned in pleasure with him every night, and our love continued to grow stronger every day, nearly as strong as our hatred for our enemies. There were moments when I became starkly aware of the changes in him—in all of my star gods and myself since we'd fused our magic—and I'd feel a smug satisfaction followed by a frisson of fear. Viper would look at me in a certain way or touch me too aggressively, and I'd just know that he was a completely different man than the one I'd first brought to life. I had changed him. I had made him more like me. I should be rejoicing in that, and I did, but I also felt an inexplicable sadness.

  Slowly, ever so slowly, my motivation had changed. Somewhere along the way, I had shifted. Taken a step to the side. I began to see
how pathetic humans were. Spending their short lives battling each other, bleeding over stupid causes in their stupid wars. I would save them from themselves, that mission hadn't changed, but I wasn't doing it for them anymore. I had lost respect for humanity. Now, I fought for myself. To give myself a world without the constant bickering of humans. Free of their poisonous actions that hurt not only themselves but the other life on this planet. It was time for someone to stand up for those who couldn't speak for themselves; the animals, the sea life, the plants. Hell, even the insects were suffering. Humans obviously needed to be led. Managed. They couldn't be left in charge of themselves. They had wrecked the world with their pettiness and greed and plain stupidity. I would heal it, fix their mistakes, and make sure it never happened again.

  I would clean the poison from the world; the toxins and trash humans had been poisoning the planet with. Animals would never go extinct again. Food would never be contaminated with toxins. I would make the Earth a better place for everyone, and I'd graciously allow the humans to continue to live on it. But I was done sympathizing with them. I couldn't even pity them anymore. How can you pity someone who gleefully takes part in their own destruction? I was taking this planet for myself, and they had better bow down and thank me for allowing them to stay. For allowing them to breathe my clean air and eat my clean food. They had fucking better worship me!

  I took a deep, shaky breath and straightened my shoulders. There was nothing to get upset over. I was correcting humanity's mistake. It would be all right. Still, something trembled inside me. It needed an out. I needed a release that wasn't sexual. Viper couldn't help me with this ache.

  I strode out of the castle and up to the waiting horde of dragon soldiers. It was time for another reward. Another hunt. And this time, I'd be joining them. This was what I needed. I should have seen it sooner. Hadn't I made a habit out of giving this to my warriors? I knew they needed the release that only a wild hunt could provide. I knew it because my dragon needed it too. But I had denied her while I provided for them.

  No more.

  “My children!” I shouted as I held my arms open wide. “Tonight you get your reward!”

  They roared and stamped their clawed feet in approval.

  “You have shown me great loyalty and bravery,” I went on. “You have faced enemy after enemy for me without faltering. So, tonight, you shall not only have your hunt, but you shall also have your goddess to lead it!”

  Dragon wings spread wide in joy and jaws opened on roars to showcase deadly teeth. Behind me, I heard a stirring. I glanced back and saw Viper with the other star gods. I cocked my head at them as they approached. I hadn't summoned them.

  “You're leading the hunt?” Viper asked.

  “That's right.”

  “I wish to attend you,” he said and then glanced back at the other commanders. “We all do.”

  “You want to hunt the human traitors with us? All of you?” My lips spread into a sensual smile.

  I knew what would happen directly after I satiated my dragon's need for blood; her need for sex would be aroused. I may not need Viper now, but I would soon. This way, I wouldn't have to fly back to the stronghold to ease the ache.

  “Yes.” Viper grinned back. “May I ride you through the hunt, Dark Star?”

  I shivered in anticipation, a thrill of sex and blood surging through my body.

  “Oh, yes, my viper. You may ride me, and then I shall ride you,” I purred.

  “As my star commands,” Viper declared as he looked down my body with as much anticipation as I was feeling.

  “I need mounts for our commanders,” I said to the Dragons. “They are joining us as well.”

  Eight dragon warriors stepped forward eagerly, all females.

  “Only seven,” I said with a smirk. “I will carry the Viper.”

  One of the females bowed and stepped back but the others shifted into their dragon forms and lowered themselves to the ground for their riders. I summoned a saddle onto each of them before transforming into my dragon form and fashioning a saddle for Viper.

  “Release the prisoners!” I called to the human soldiers on the castle walls.

  They, in turn, radioed to the soldiers waiting out in the desert with the human prisoners we'd taken in recent battles. They were a good mile away, but I wanted them to have a head start. It wasn't a hunt if you didn't have to give chase.

  Then, with a great roar, I sprung off my hind legs and shot into the sky. The Dragons followed me, snarling and roaring through the night. The Wild Hunt reborn.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Some deserts get cold at night. I remember shivering through an evening in Arizona once. But not Bahrain. It was a balmy 97 degrees and the windchill only brought that down by perhaps fifteen. Perfect weather for Dragons.

  The men we hunted had been presidents and high-placed officials. They weren't soldiers. Most weren't even in shape. But all of them ran like athletes when the Dragon Horde came screeching through the sky above them.

  Oh, the sweet thrill of it. The sound of screams as my warriors caught their prey. The rejoicing roars as my dread of dragons descended. The scent of blood on the wind. The sight of gore beneath the moonlight. My whole being sang with the wonder of the hunt. I had needed this, and I determined that from here forward, I would lead my armies into battle. I would lead them as the Dark Dragon.

  I roared, and Viper's hand stroked my neck adoringly. The other star gods rode to either side of us, grins on their faces and wind in their hair. I knew that Viper was just as excited as they were, and I intended to share this joy fully with him.

  I angled down toward a gaggle of men, and the mounted dragons followed me. Eight female dragons with their vicious riders circled the humans and landed. Once on the ground, we females shifted into our smaller forms; they into their pure weredragon bodies, and I into my faerie version. We didn't want to rush our kills and attacking as full dragons would end it in seconds.

  The Star Gods closed in with us dragon ladies, and the humans started to scream. I closed my eyes in bliss with the first cut but quickly opened them to appreciate the beauty of my lover in action. His ferocious smile. The way he sliced the men apart with diabolical precision, drawing out their suffering. Blood sprayed, soaking us all, and I rubbed it sensuously over my scales. Bloodthirst quenched, I trembled with release. Finally, when we had enough of tearing and slicing and rending, the Star Gods pulled back, and the dragons went forward to feed.

  I left the ladies to their meal; I had other hungers to satisfy. I turned toward Viper eagerly and helped him undress with bloody hands. Erection shining proudly in the moonlight, lips spread wide in a smile, and blood dripping over his glorious body, Viper was magnificent. The other gods shed their clothing as well, eyes on their dragon mounts who had finished their feast and were turning their eyes toward the beautiful men. The sound of ferocious fucking soon filled the night; a joyous celebration of life and death. I watched them for a few moments, letting the sight of gorgeous men and dragon women excite me further. Then I licked my lips and fell on my lover as if I were starved for him.

  Snake eyes gleaming in the dark, staring up at me in adoration. Thick body beneath me, muscles clenching as he writhed with arousal. Viper's hands swept over my golden scales, tickling the soft flesh beneath. I withdrew enough scales to reveal my breasts and sex to him while I let my hair flow down my back, but I kept my wings, claws, and tail. I spread those wings wide above us, braced myself on Viper's chest with those clawed hands, and stroked his thighs with that barbed tail as I settled onto him.

  Viper moaned in ecstasy as I rode him savagely, eager hands pulling me down so he could suck at my breasts. I pounded against him, forcing wild sounds from both of us as lust blanketed my thoughts and drove me to that primal place where nothing mattered but bliss.

  “Spread yourself over my face and ride my mouth. I want to taste you,” Viper growled.

  With a low snarl of delight, I slid off his shaft and moved u
p his body to straddle his mouth. Viper's strong hands went to my ass while his tongue split me and flicked over that most wondrous place. I undulated over him, using more than his tongue for my pleasure. The angle of his chin and the point of his nose were both delightful, taking me closer and closer to that beautiful apex. Viper sucked and moaned and licked at me as if I were the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted while his hands roamed up from my ass to my breasts. Squeezing, pinching, massaging, claiming. So much damn pleasure; it was vibrating beneath my skin. I wrapped my tail around his cock and started to stroke him. Viper cried out against me, hips bucking up into my grip until he lifted me with his powerful arms and rolled us.

  Wings crushed beneath me, limbs splayed wide, and tail beating the earth helplessly, I felt momentarily vulnerable. A pinned insect. But then Viper was with me. Inside me. His face bathed in moonlight, his eyes feverish with lust, and his hips slamming forward as if his life depended on it. I felt the same; as if I would die if he didn't fill me. Then my lover leaned down and licked the blood from my cheek. I came with blinding intensity; that soft, wet, hot caress sending me over the edge. As soon as I began to scream, Viper lifted himself up to roar his release.