It’s nearly twice as thick asTheron’sown shaft—which is plenty thick enough—and covered in tiny, shiny, silver scales.Thebroad head is massive—bigger than my fist—and there are rounded ridges up and down the length of it.
“Oh…it’s beautiful,”Imurmur.“But…how can you use it on anyone?Imean, how does yourDrakeuse it?Whenhe finds a femaleDrake,Imean.Isn’tit too big?”
Theron shakes his head.
“There are no femaleDrakes.Notfor my kind ofShifter, anyway.I’veheard of a few kinds where the women also have their ownDrakesinside, butI’venever actually seen one.”
“Oh—how sad for yourDrake,”Isay.
He shakes his head.
“He wouldn’t be attracted to a femaleDrakeanyway—even if there was one.That’snot how it works.”
“Oh?”Iraise my eyebrows.“Howdoes it work, then?Whois he attracted to?”
Theron gives me a level look that makes my heart flutter for some reason.
“He’s attracted to human women—the same wayIam,” he rumbles.
“He…he is?”Myvoice goes high and uncertain asItry to imagine that.IsTherontelling me that hisDrakeis attracted tome?Idon’t know how to feel about that.
“Yes, he is,”Theronconfirms.
“But how can he,Imean, you know, how can hefit?”Iask, staring at the huge silver shaft between his thighs.
“His precum is magic,” is his answer.“Helpsany female he wants to be with open for him—for both of us.”
“It does?”Ican’t seem to make my voice sound normal.Ican’t help picturing that huge thing between my legs, trying to slide inside me.Itwould split me in two!
“Yes, little one, it does.Butyou don’t have to worry about that.Afteryou work your spell, he won’t even remember you.NeitherwillI.”
He sits up abruptly and begins stuffing the huge shaft back in his trousers with quick, jerky motions.
I stare at him surprised—he seems upset, butIdon’t know why.Wasit somethingIsaid?SomethingIdid…or didn’t do?”
“Excuse me,” a tiny voice cuts into my troubled thoughts.
I gasp and jerk my robe closed whenIlook up and see the tinyLeafSpritehovering just above me.Ihad almost forgotten all about him.Tobe honest,Ieven forgot why we were doing…what we’ve been doing.Iwas just enjoying lettingTherontaste me and talking with him afterwards.Well, until he got all stiff and short with me for some reason.
“Oh, um, hello again,”Isay to the sprite.Irun my fingers through my hair, trying to look presentable and feeling self-conscious.Ididn’t mean for him to see menaked.
The sprite seems unconcerned, however.
“Are you ready to receive the jewel?”he asks in his tiny, piping voice.“TheGrandfatherTreeand the root have received your sacrifice favorably—they are willing to grant it to you.”
“Oh, are they?”Iget to my feet hastily, brushing dry grass and leaves from my robes.
“Yes.Pleasestand facing the root whileIwork the spell,” the sprite instructs.
Theron andIstand facing the enormous root—which is taller than both of us, evenTheron—and the sprite begins to chant.
“Pleasure freely given
Pleasure freely taken
Listen to our plea
Let now the root awaken.
