“It means,” Fury spoke as he held Layla’s gaze with deep interest, “that you are not the creature Hunter thinks you are. He thinks he can manipulate you into finding power by putting you through endless, tortuous trials. When all he really needed to do to open you to the fullness of your abilities, was treat you with kindness and let you drift into pure trust, then breathe a little love into your heart. As Adrian and all of us did for you just now.”
“Very few Dragons ever learn how to access the etheric state, Layla.” Reginald commented now as he glanced to Layla with a deep intrigue in his grey-gold eyes. “By throttling your raging Dragon-power, you’ve discovered a strange benefit – that you are able to get quiet enough now to feel the ether. The etheric state was where Sylvania used to bring people with her magic so they could die gently, and simply float away into the vast universe. It makes sense to me that spending time working with another angelic – Rake – has sensitized you to the etheric state this past week. Though Rake’s people have lived in the Twilight Realm for generations, they retain some of their angelic nature. And what is the angelic nature but to be able to access the ether freely, to be open and infinitely trusting of the universe… because one understands the universe is love?”
Only Reginald could have spoken with such calm poetry on the subject, and as Layla felt that deeply flowing space move all through her still, she realized what he meant. She felt infinitely trusting right now, loving and open in a way she just hadn’t before. It was different than passion and eros – and before she knew it, Layla had stood.
Walking to the pools and climbing in amongst all her men with a very surprised Adrian trailing in her wake.
Dusk welcomed her with a pleased smile and Rhennic slid over so she could sit between them. As Adrian slid in naked behind her, pulling her into his lap so she could rest on him, Layla felt that etheric sensation expand all through her, a gentle ease in which there was no fear. It was beautiful, more peaceful than she’d ever felt, and she reveled in it as Adrian held her in his arms.
Suddenly not afraid to sit close with all her men, together.
“So is this what it feels like to be an angelic?” Layla mused as she enjoyed Adrian’s embrace.
“Probably what you’re feeling times a million,” Fury chuckled with a raised eyebrow similar to Reginald, “but I imagine so, yes. The Ascended Realms are characterized by infinite peace, Layla. Only when angelics wish to have a contrasting experience do they come through to our physical Realms, which are far more chaotic.”
“How do they do that?” Layla wondered, having never really thought before how an angelic crossed out of their own realm and into someone else’s.
“They re-tune their vibrations,” Reginald answered now, “into a different frequency, one where the etheric state becomes dense and precipitates into physical phenomena. It is where we get the elements from, and elemental magic – the ability to manipulate the elements to one’s will. Very dense realms like the Human Realm cannot feel the elements well, and thus have almost no magic. But Sylvania used to say the etheric state was open to all – if a person could get quiet enough. She often mentioned that the extreme calm a person feels after orgasm was the first step. And that if one did the correct kind of tantric work, they could find ongoing access to the bliss of the ether.”
“Which is what Rake does with his patrons when he scatters them out into the universe with his breath.” Layla understood.
“Indeed.” Reginald nodded before he gestured to the group. “Everyone who surrounds you now has felt the bliss of Rake’s ministrations, and most of us were at one time healed by Sylvania as well. I cannot help but wonder if we are all sharing an understanding of that universal love now… helping you access it through the part of the Bind that still remains between us and you.”
“Perhaps you should take this time, Layla,” Rhennic spoke up now with something intrigued in his dark lavender eyes. “Use this opportunity while your Dragon-powers are unavailable to explore what you’re feeling with the ether. Hunter understands how to use etheric magic; it’s how he makes portals through worlds. What if you were able to use it also – for your own purposes? It could give you a surprise advantage against Hunter… one he might not see coming the next time we face him.”
“Who could teach me how to use etheric magic, other than Hunter?” Layla wondered, as she reached up to caress Adrian’s neck, enjoying their closeness.
“I’d think you need a Royal Dragon Bind who’s learned how to use it.” Rhennic mused thoughtfully now. “Or get even closer to the source – work with an angelic who’s still in the Ascended Realms.”
“How would I contact an angelic?” Layla frowned.
“Not easily.” It was Dusk who answered now, and Layla saw him glance to Adrian. “Yet again, I think we need to call the Intercessoria, Adrian. Heathren Merkami and Insinio Brandfort know how to contact angelics who are still in the Ascended Realms. Perhaps even Heathren or Insinio themselves could teach Layla etheric magic. They use it all the time.”
“As much as I hate to admit it,” Adrian growled behind Layla, “I agree. All roads point to the Intercessoria’s Fallen Archangels at the moment. I suppose the only question as to contacting them is… how soon?”
“That’s up to Layla.” Reginald spoke as he glanced to Layla. “Would you like to simply have a vacation and forget all this for a while? Or would you like to take Rhennic’s advice and capitalize on the sensations you’re feeling in the absence of your Dragon-powers… and contact Heathren Merkami to find out how to manipulate ether so you can become Hunter’s equal in this game of power?”
Though Layla still felt a floating calm move all through her, she paused now. Something inside her twisted to think of asking the immensely intimidating Fallen Ephilohim Intercessoria agent Heathren Merkami for anything – and she had not missed that Reginald had not included the more genial Insinio Brandfort in his statement about whom Layla might get help from. Part of her wanted to simply enjoy this vacation, now that she was finally feeling relaxed about being with all her men at once. But part of her was curious as to what she might be able to do if she learned etheric magic while her Dragon-powers were still offline.
And only contacting an Archangel was going to help her do that.
“Let me sleep on it.” Layla spoke at last. “Tonight I just want to relax. I’ll make a decision by morning.”
“Wise words.” Rhennic spoke solidly, smiling at her.
But as Rhennic slid a big hand out to Layla’s thigh underwater, gripping her genially, she felt things low in her body tighten deliciously. As Rhennic touched her, she thought again of his monstrously strong hands massaging Dusk’s ridiculously cut shoulders – and of all those touches upon her skin as she’d been in Adrian’s arms. A deep thrill passed through Layla as a flush of heat rose up though her again, her body scorching with need. As if all her men felt her renewed arousal, even without her Binds, dark chuckles and arched eyebrows surrounded her in the pool.
“Rhennic. Please switch places with Adrian.” Reginald spoke abruptly, glancing to the big Storm Dragon Regent. With a lifted eyebrow and a shrug, Rhennic glanced at Adrian, and then Layla was slid off of Adrian’s lap and onto Rhennic’s – feeling him very thick and aroused behind her as his big hands drew her back into his enormous, rock-solid body. Someone was very happy to have changed places with Adrian, and Layla couldn’t help but writhe back against him subtly as her breath caught. She didn’t miss Rhennic’s hot, sexy chuckle by her ear as he nuzzled her neck, though Layla could tell he was trying to behave himself.
Nodding with satisfaction at the new arrangement, Reginald looked to Dusk next. “Dusk. Spread your legs, please.”
“Excuse me?” It was clear Dusk wasn’t used to Reginald ordering him around as he frowned at the Royal Siren.
“Don’t play coy.” Reginald’s words were suddenly dark and sexually dangerous as he stared Dusk down from across the pool, and Dusk lifted an eyebrow – before picking up on the game.
“Well, well.” Dusk spoke with a slowly blossoming grin as he realized what was happening. “You’ve never asked for my company before, Aldo. Do I finally merit some Head Courtier attentions now that I’m a Dragon King?”
“That’s Paris Hotel Head to you, and you won’t get anything if you don’t do as I say. Immediately.” Reginald spoke with a cold yet scorchingly sexy finality as he stared Dusk down.
