Black Velvet: Tales of the Rikashi

By Calliope Parrish

Tasked with getting Jett Houston, a surly Texan with a sharp mind and a chip on his shoulder, to join the Aikanaro, and avoiding her father's demands for her to return home, Amara catches the next flight to Texas. But Amara has a problem: her father has arranged a marriage for her, and time is running out to complete her mission. When she falls in love with Jett, she knows she has to choose between duty and family expectations.

To stop the war and save the Great Dragons, Jett and Amara must work together while they confront their combustible attraction for each other.

Jett's discovery of the truth about Amara's engagement makes him feel betrayed and puts their fragile alliance in jeopardy. Now he must decide whether he can forgive her and join her in the fight for the future of humans, Dragons and Rikashi alike.

With heart-pounding action, sizzling romance, and a richly imagined world of magic and intrigue, Black Velvet is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Calliope Parrish
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223161066

Calliope Parrish

Calliope Parrish is the joint name that Antonia Tiranth & Delilah K. Stephans. After both spent a lifetime writing separately, they joined forces to create new worlds and interesting situations to intrance readers. Antonia works in the medical field in the Baltimore, MD area and is married to a Parrish. Delilah has a degree in Graphic Design and Glass art and works from home in Mobile, AL and was born a Parrish.

Book preview

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Copyright © 2022 by Calliope Parrish

Cover and Interior Art Copyright © 2023 Stringfellow Studios

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1. Amara

2. Jett

3. Amara

4. Jett

5. Amara

6. Jett

7. Amara

8. Jett

9. Amara

10. Jett

11. Amara

12. Jett

13. Amara

14. Jett

15. Amara

16. Jett

17. Amara

18. Jett

19. Amara

20. Jett

21. Amara

22. Jett

23. Amara

24. Jett

25. Amara

26. Epilogue - Amara

Also By

About Author

Dark Side of Me

Chapter 1

Dragon War

Chapter 1

The Holidays Bite

Chapter 1

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The seven of us had gathered in Lessian’s End-of-Terrace home’s extremely masculine living room. At least the sofas and chairs were comfortable. The large screen, which took up a good bit of one wall, displayed Jo and Aer seated on the couch of the secluded farmhouse Aer’s dad had rented for them, filling half the screen. The other half were Gem and Theodren from their hotel room in Egypt. I wasn’t paying attention to the conversation, as my phone was vibrating almost constantly. I didn’t need to look at it to know it was Daddy calling. His little princess had been out of his control for too long, or he finally noticed and decided it was time to reel his headstrong princess back into the mold of a submissive Rikashi lady again.

Amara! Jo’s voice cut through my distractions.

Yes? What could she possibly want?

Have you even heard the last five minutes of what we were talking about?

I bit my lip as I tried to remember anything other than my inner monologue about Daddy and his expectations. Nothing. Sorry, my mind wandered.

She waved a hand at the screen. It’s okay. I thought so. Any chance you’re thinking about a black-haired bad boy with a sexy Texas drawl?

My mouth opened and closed as I tried to think of a way to counter the argument. Okay, besides Daddy, I was thinking about that kiss, or was it the wink he’d given me when he’d stopped? He didn’t say a word afterward; just walked out.

I’ll take your reaction as a definite maybe. She chuckled. Okay, seriously though, you need to go to Texas and try to convince him to come back. My face must have shown my horror at the suggestion. Don’t give me that deer-in-the-headlights look. He was barely civil to the guys and ignored every woman but you…and me, but once my wings erupted, he ignored me. So it has to be you.

I looked at the other eleven faces. All of them were smiling, nodding, or shrugging. You have all lost your minds. I. Am. Not. Going. To. Texas! I stood and glared at all of them. If they thought I was going to go after Jett, they were sadly mistaken.

Amara, it has to be you. I can’t travel! Not with these, she said as she pointed at the wings, then at her belly, or this little one.

I turned my back on them; so what if I was acting like a child? Daddy had barely allowed the trip to London, even with the excuse it was fashion week. It wasn’t, but Daddy never cared about fashion, and he believed me. No, wouldn’t he be okay with me going to the United States after a male.

Amara, you are the only one of us with any hope of bringing him back. Theodren’s calm voice washed over me through the speakers as he added a guilt trip to Jo’s argument.

I glared at his face on the screen and put my hands on my hips, fighting against the Gwindor’s calming power that was coming at me from all directions. Why? Why me?

Theodren cocked an eyebrow at me, while the others hid their smiles behind their hands. I knew perfectly well why they wanted me to go. I knew, and I wished I could forget, but I couldn’t. When I let my mind wander, it drew me back to that kiss. My first ever kiss from a male who was not a family member. The kind of kiss every female dreams about.

He’d helped bring the body of the Great Dragon, Lancelot, into the carriage house. His dark, wavy hair brushed his shoulders, black wings folded against his back, his muscular chest bare, and black jeans hugged his strong thighs. After seeing the body stored, he’d winced and wrapped one arm around his middle, putting pressure on his ribs. Nariel had healed him. The entire time, his gaze never left mine. Those dark eyes—there was such hunger in them. It had sent a shiver up my spine. Everyone else had faded until it was just the two of us. Arafin gave him a shirt. I had tried to pay attention as Aerandir related all the details about the fight and the sudden appearance of the wings now sprouting from Josephine’s back, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t take my eyes off Jett as he stalked toward me. His hand had shot out, cupping the back of my neck, pulling me to him with a gentle but undeniable force and… And then left! Without a single word except thanking Nariel and Arafin.

Amara?

I turned to Arafin. What?

You got goo-goo eyes again, lass.

Heat crept into my cheeks. I do not. I never get goo-goo eyes, and even if I did, they would not be for him.

Their amusement rippling through our Aikanaro bond only made me angrier. How could I have goo-goo eyes for a callous, conceited, cocky male like him? For Bahamut’s sake, he wasn’t even a full Rikashi, and he had no family to speak of. Daddy would kill me for so much as looking at him. But the warmth, strength, and tightly coiled restraint of him still invaded and tormented my dreams.

So it is decided? Amara will go to Texas, and the rest of you will—

No, it is not, I snapped, cutting off Theodren’s assignments. I’m not going after him. You do it. You’re our leader, right? Isn’t it your job to bring us together? Lead us? I was grasping at any straw I could find.

He looked at me with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he pulled his fiancée to his side, into view of the webcam. She waved. Gem and I are trying to get back into the Library of Alexandria after the Council had us thrown out. Leviathan may help us enter undetected. He paused, then said, Josephine, he asked if it would be all right if he visited you, since you cannot travel.

Aer chuckled. My high-and-mighty big brother reduced to breaking and entering? Also Levi? Coming here? We are nowhere near a body of water large enough to meet him. And even if we were, someone would see him! Aerandir explained.

I turned my gaze to the blue-haired male on the screen. You do it then. You’re Theo’s brother. That makes you second in command. And you are from America.

Like his elder brother, Aer shook his head. Sorry, Amara, I’m not leaving Phi, and she’s not flying right now. Not with— He cut off, glancing at the pale-yellow wings rising behind his wife, then down at her beginning-to-round stomach.

She just rolled her eyes and waved him off.

I turned to each of the others, but Theodren interrupted. Amara, we would not ask this of you if anyone else could do it.

We don’t need him, I protested feebly. If he wanted to help, he would have stayed. He would answer us.

Tensions are rising every day that passes, and… The Carnesir are seizing more and more control. The Head Council and most of the minor ones no longer have representatives of every clan. Only Carnesir.

But— My phone started vibrating in my pocket. Glad for the interruption—even if it was Daddy—I got out my cellphone and flipped it open. Hello?

It’s time to end your little holiday, precious.

I suppressed a sigh, held up a finger to the others, and walked into the kitchen, closing the door behind me. They didn’t need to hear me arguing with my father. Or at least, they didn’t need to hear me attempt to argue with my father.

I’m not on holiday, Daddy. I told you everything the last time I talked to you.

I will hear no more of this Aikanaro nonsense, Amara. It’s time for you to return.

Naturally, Daddy didn’t listen to me. My role was to be the perfect submissive, pampered princess daughter and eventually the perfect trophy wife to a male he approved of. That was all he cared about. Why couldn’t I be simply a daughter he was proud of for being an independent female?

Also, I need you home, as there is much to plan.

I shook my head in confusion. What was he talking about? My birthday? It was two months ago? Planning a birthday party was three months of working with the planner. Not ten. Why do you need me to help plan my birthday party? It’s ten months away. I put a bit of a pout into my voice. That usually worked to get my way, or at least a little more of my way and a little less of his.

He laughed. My father actually laughed. Which wasn’t nearly as surprising as what he said next. Not your birthday, precious, your engagement party followed by your wedding.

My what? My jaw dropped, and the phone slipped out of my hand. It hit the side of the counter and fell to the travertine tile floor with a loud clatter. I hoped it would break the phone, but I could still hear my father’s voice, asking what was wrong. Dang it! Shaking off my shock, I picked up the phone and fumbled to get it back to my ear.

Sorry, Daddy, my phone slipped out of my hand. I thought I heard you say something about a wedding? Has Tam finally returned and is getting married? Oh right, mention my brother who’d been killed by Maedhros. Well, hearing I was getting married certainly rattled my composure. I wasn’t even dating!

He sighed, that patient, disappointed sigh he always used with me. I really hated that sigh. It made me feel the size of a flea. You know he’s not. A dead person cannot get married, he yelled into the phone, and I pulled it away from my ear. He remained silent for a few minutes, and I checked to make sure the call was still connected. It was. Then he continued in his soothing voice, Precious, you are the one getting married.

Me? I winced at the high-pitched tone of my voice.

Yes. Do not squeal, it is unbecoming. Do you not remember meeting your betrothed, Luthien?

I didn’t remember being introduced to anyone named that, and I was pretty certain I wouldn’t forget about something as important as an engagement. When exactly did I meet him?

When you were four and had fully mastered shifting to human form. I could hear Daddy’s ever-present pride that I’d been so gifted, learning to shift six years before I should have been able to. Of course, you were more interested in picking flowers.

That sounded familiar. A memory surfaced of my elder brother, Tamesis, not allowing me to go play outside. Damn it, I missed my big brother. He was taken too soon. It was all I could really recall of the day, and even that was hazy. I didn’t resist the sigh this time. And you expect me to remember that?

Well, no matter. I’ve booked you a flight back to Ireland. You may pick up the tickets at the Aer Lingus counter at Heathrow in the morning. Naturally, Daddy would use the Irish airline. I’ll have a car at Dublin Airport to pick you up when you land.

My mouth flapped up and down as I struggled to find the words to reply to that. I should be happy. I was going to be married. Weddings were joyous occasions, right? Not when you didn’t know your groom. Marriage was about love, and I certainly didn’t love a male I’ve never met. Not that I’d ever expected to meet my husband to be before Daddy decided who he would be. After watching Theodren and Gem fall in love and hearing about Jo and Aer getting together, I wanted to experience falling in love myself.

But Daddy—

But what? There was a hard edge to his voice. The ‘I’ve made my decision and you can’t change it’ edge.

I don’t even know Luthien, much less feel anything for him. Daddy wouldn’t accept the excuse I wanted to choose my husband, and it was the best I could come up with.

You have plenty of time to get acquainted while we’re planning. As for your emotions, Amara, they are unimportant. This is a good and advantageous match. You will be well taken care of.

I couldn’t marry some stranger. What about Jett? The thought slipped in my head unbidden. Why was I thinking about him? No, it wasn’t because of the kiss, or being attracted to him, it was because…because I had to go bring him back for the Aikanaro.

I’m sorry, Daddy, but the planning will have to wait. I have a mission. For the first time in my life, I hung up on my father. Before he could call back, I turned off the phone and slipped it into my pocket with slightly trembling fingers. Ayahz, help me, I muttered, praying to the dragon goddess of order.

Straightening my shoulders, I went back out into the living room. Conversation halted as they turned to look at me, and I wondered if my decision was obvious.

When is the next flight to Texas? I asked.

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I took a long drag on my cigarette and looked into the mirror behind the bar. The Drifter was pretty quiet at the moment. It was too early for the evening partiers to start showing up, but most of the regulars had claimed their favorite stool or booth as they got off work and stopped by to get a beer before heading home to the wife and kids. Mac, the owner, had opened the window to let the spring breeze de-stink the place, but I could still faintly smell the stale cigarette smoke and spilled beer.

A tap of a finger on the bar was all it took to have Mac slide a fresh draft down the bar to me. My head was aching from the continued presence of the eleven Rikashi I’d met in London. I had tried every blocking exercise Mom had drilled into me, but I could still hear them, if I listened. Which I wasn’t.

They had tried several times, when I’d first left, to convince me to come back. Then the barrage had stopped a few days ago, now it was back with a vengeance. The bastards had some plan to bring me into the fold. Wonder who they’d send to convince me.

The joke was on them. I needed to get back to my own life. I’d taken a semester off from Southern Methodist University Law School after Maedhros killed my folks. Now, I needed to finish my classes, graduate, pass the bar, and become a lawyer. I’d wanted to be a police officer or a soldier, but with my wings there was no way I could pass a physical. Being a lawyer and then hopefully a judge was the closest I would ever come to being in law enforcement.

I didn’t feel the Rikashi approaching until an hour later when the door opened, and she walked in. I looked at her from beneath the brim of my hat, raising an eyebrow as I realized who it was. The princess.

She paused in the doorway, looking uncertain and more than a little nervous. I almost laughed—she didn’t belong in this dive. Nah, she belonged at one of those high-class cocktail bars near the country club. The cream-colored, short-sleeved dress she wore was formfitting at the top, accentuating her gentle curves, and the skirt flared out, flowing around her trim legs as she moved across the room. Her deep auburn hair swayed softly with each step. Everything about her screamed money. No way she belonged in this dive. Or in Texas.

The only reason she’d be here was the rest of the merry band had sent her to convince me to join their glorious cause to save the Rikashi from themselves. Did they think I would follow her back like some dog after a bitch in heat? Well, they were in for a surprise. I wasn’t led around by my dick—well, not since my wings erupted at any rate. Kind of hard to explain two huge ass black wings. Wings I had to keep pinned down with harnesses. One advantage though was it made me stand straighter than most of my peers, who slouched, which made me stand out in a good way to the professors.

After a few minutes, she walked over to one of the empty booths, wiped off the seat, and sat down, pointedly not looking in my direction. I knew her game. She thought I’d walk over and talk to her. Ha. I could already see the flush creeping into her cheeks at the coarse language of the regulars. A few more minutes and she’d take off, not able to handle the clientele.