She wiggled out of his embrace. “This is different. That’s not why I wanted to talk to you.” She hoped he’d cooperate, even without the promise of a kiss.
He rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”
“I want to go with you and Aspen tonight.”
Paul crossed his arms and shook his head. “That is no place for civilians.”
“Aspen’s going.” Why did everyone act like she was helpless?
“Aspen’s not a civilian.”
“Like hell she’s not. She’s my sister. I’m going with.”
“Why? You’ve never cared much what happens to dragons.”
“Because Aspen and the others are keeping something from me. Something that has to do with dragons. The more I get involved with things, the better chance I have at discovering it.” Besides, she wanted to keep an eye on Aspen.
“Well, I’m not going to invite you along, but if you show up with Aspen, I won’t turn you away.”
Hazel nodded, determined to find a way to tag along with Aspen.
Out in the lobby, people were milling about, and all conversations buzzed of dragons. Val wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Hazel leaned into him and closed her eyes, wishing that all their problems would just go away.
“Hey, we’ve got a few hours before the action starts. You want to come back to the house with me?”
She planted a light kiss on his lips and frowned.
“I’d love to, but I’ve got business to take care of with Aspen. Tomorrow, this is all going to be over. Let’s meet up tonight, and we’ll stay in all day watching movies and gorging on pizza. How’s that sound?”
He leaned down. “I’d like to do that now.”
She pulled out of his arms. If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget all about Aspen. “Me too, but surely you have a role to play in tonight’s activities.”
“I do.”
“Where will you be when all this goes down?”
“Secret. But I’ll explain everything tomorrow. If you’re going to be a part of my life, you deserve to know everything.”
Hazel’s heart raced. Maybe she wouldn’t have to go with Aspen at all if Val would just tell her. She grabbed his hand. “I’ll go with you now, if you tell me this afternoon.”
Sid approached from the side and clapped Val on the shoulder. “We need to get Damien and Athena, you coming?”
Val nodded and kissed Hazel on the tip of her nose. “Tonight. Promise. When everything is over.”
She couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but she left Val and Sid and went in search of Aspen, who was outside arguing with Paul.
“There will be no need for weapons. We’re just watching.”
Paul laughed in her face. “What is the point of us coming if we don’t have weapons?”
“How many troops are you bringing with?”
“A hundred.”
“You need to promise me you won’t use them unless the dragons fail to take care of the human killer.”
“I can’t promise anything, sweetheart.”
Aspen clenched her fists and took a deep breath. “Fine,” she said and spun on her heel and stomped away.
“What time do you want to meet?” Paul called after her.
“Five. Here.” She paused just long enough to answer and then continued her race for the door. Hazel ran after her.
She caught up with her seconds later. “Hey, you okay?” Hazel asked.
Aspen shook her head. “Something feels wrong about this. I need to find Sid.”
“He and Val just went to get Athena and Damien. Are they dragons?”
Aspen nodded. “That means I won’t be able talk to him. Let’s go back to Sid’s. I can see if Runa will help me. She may be able to get word to them.”
Hazel hopped in the passenger seat. Once Aspen was on the road, Hazel brought up her own plans.
“Can I come with this evening?”
“To the dragon beheading?”
“Beheading?”
“Yeah, that’s how they kill each other.”
Hazel’s insides squirmed. She didn’t like blood and gore. “How do you know?”
“I saw it last year. Twice.”
“That must be pretty gruesome.” Hazel grimaced at the thought of dragons killing one another. The thought of the blood that must come out when they get beheaded was more than she could stomach.
“It is. Why do you want to come?”
“I just want to stay in the loop. Can I come?” She was so close to answers.
“I don’t see why not. I didn’t think you had a thing for dragons.”
“I don’t. But Val is wrapped up in all of this. I don’t know how, but if it’s part of his world, then it’s part of mine.”
“How on earth did you go from being a no commitment chick to this?” Aspen asked with a chuckle.
Hazel shrugged. Something about being with Val was different. He had a hold of her heart in a way that she didn’t understand.
Back at the house, they found Runa and another bright yellow dragon in the kitchen.
“Runa, I need you to go out on a job for me,” said Aspen.
Runa bounced up and down. “Yay, a job. What do I get to do?”
“I need you to find Sid and tell him the troops will all be bringing massive guns to the rendezvous. Something feels very wrong about this.”
The other dragon snapped her head up. “She can’t go. Someone out there wants her dead. She’s just a baby.” Hazel still wasn’t used to dragons speaking, and it was weird seeing an animal talk like that.
Runa nudged the other dragon’s neck. “Mama, you can’t talk to Aspen like that. You know who she is.” So that was her mom. Hazel wondered if even she could keep Runa in line.
“Forgive me. But you understand, I’m sure. Would it be okay if I went instead?”
Hazel raised her eyebrows. Why were these dragons talking about Aspen as if she was to be revered?
Aspen exhaled. “Do you know where Damien’s cave is?”
The yellow dragon nodded. “Runa and I had to visit him this morning.”
“Go. Quickly. They have to be warned.”
Aspen sunk down in the chair. Runa rubbed against her forehead like a cat. “It’s not fair that I didn’t get to go.”
“I’m not about to argue with your mom.”
Runa snorted.
Hazel sat down slowly in the chair next to her. “What did Runa mean by her mom not being able to talk to you like that?”
Runa’s eyes widened. “You mean you don’t know?”
Aspen reached over and clamped Runa’s mouth shut. “I’m pretty tight with the dragon king. That’s not something most people can say. Runa’s mom is afraid I’m going to blab to him.”
Runa glared at Aspen, and Aspen let go of her mouth. “You people and your secrets. She’s going to find out eventually. You might as well tell her.”
Aspen shook her head. “Nope. I’m not going to be the one who spills the beans.”
“You two are infuriating. What the hell are you talking about?” Hazel crossed her arms and gave both of them a death stare. She was sick of being treated like an outsider.
Aspen’s eyes flashed to Hazel. “Sorry. I can’t. You should ask Val. He needs to be the one to tell you everything.”
“But Runa made it seem like it involves you.”
Aspen snorted. “It absolutely involves me, but Val can tell you. I can’t tell you my part without revealing his.”
Hazel and Aspen crawled up into Paul’s Humvee. Twenty or more were surrounding the visitor center. Hazel was a little nervous about the whole thing. She knew she was about to witness something awful. Not to mention that there were a million things that could go wrong.
“Can I see this gun you’re bringing?”
Paul smirked at her. “No. Let’s go.”
“What if I refuse? The dragons can take care of themselves.”
Paul laughed. “You won’t. In order to ap
pease the public, you have to prove this happened. You need us as witnesses.”
Aspen crossed her arms and looked out the window. “I hate that you’re right.”
“Where to?”
“Follow the Grand Loop Road for about two miles. There’ll be a turn off.”
It was cold as Hazel settled in on the ground next to the tree. She was surprised at what a good view they had of the clearing. They were about twenty feet into the tree line. The troops all spread out so they were surrounding the entire clearing. Aspen had a pair of binoculars trained on the trees across the way.
“Hey, Paul,” she said. “Let’s say, hypothetically you decide to shoot one. Which you shouldn’t do. Sid said he’d take care of the problem. We should trust him. But, pretend with me for a moment. What happens if you try to shoot one of those dragons and miss? It will probably hit someone on the other side of the circle.”
Paul smirked at Aspen. “We won’t miss.”
“You can’t shoot one of them.”
“They’re just dragons.”
Aspen spun on him, her eyes blazing. Hazel agreed with Paul, but she would never say something like that.
“Do you have any idea what you are talking about? I value their lives more than my own. If you shoot one, I’ll kill you, and I am not joking.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Yeah, I am.” Aspen got right into his face. Hazel pulled her away. She didn’t need Aspen punching him and starting the night off with a bang.
“Paul, she’s passionate about the dragons. Give her a break. And, Aspen, don’t threaten Paul.” They didn’t have time from drama. The dragons would be arriving any minute now.
“I don’t plan on killing any of them except the human killer. And neither will anyone else. We have our orders.”
“But if you miss,” Aspen began, but Paul cut her off.
“We’re highly trained. We won’t miss.”
Hazel picked up Aspen’s discarded binoculars and looked to the sky. A mass was descending on the clearing.
“Aspen, check it out.” She handed her the binoculars.
Aspen looked out into the clearing and a massive grin formed on her face. Paul brought out his own binoculars.
“Dammit. I thought he said there would only be a few of them.”
Aspen held out a finger. “Obsidian said this was the only way to get Prometheus here without rousing suspicion. He called a meeting with all the royal dragons.”
The ground shook as over a thousand dragons landed at once.
“Which one is Prometheus?” Paul asked.
Aspen shrugged. “Why would I tell you that?”
“Because I deserve to know.”
“No, not really, you don’t. You’ll know who he is when he dies.”
VAL WAS NERVOUS because he’d didn’t relish the thought of killing another. Sid said he’d do it, but Val had to be prepared for a fight if Sid failed in some way. This was the dragon that not only slaughtered dozens of humans, but also killed at least three dragons. Who knew what he was capable of?
Good thinking on calling all the royal dragons, Val said.
Stupid humans bringing massive guns. What were they thinking? I’m not looking forward to this.
I know.
Surrounding them was every royal dragon in Yellowstone, save a few they couldn’t contact. None of them knew the nature of the meeting, but they came anyway. Sid said after this, the whole world would know that there were two dragon kings, since prior to this, Val’s presence was kept mostly secret.
You ready? Sid asked.
Val nodded.
Prometheus. Come forward please.
The mass of dragons shifted, and Theo made his way to the front. He stopped a few feet from Sid. Val wondered if he knew what was about to happen. Sid spoke so everyone could hear. There would be no escaping for Theo. Even if Sid couldn’t kill him, someone would.
We have irrefutable evidence that you are the human killer.
Theo backed up a few feet, and the rest of the dragons tightened the circle so he couldn’t escape.
What evidence is that?
You are the only royal dragon that was in Hawaii when a human was eaten. Same thing with Alaska. There was a witness to the death in California. Plus, you were missing the weekend my father died. It was you. How could you kill my father?
Obsidian, I didn’t do it.
Prove it.
I can’t. Theo bared his teeth. You made a mistake with Marc. How do you know you aren’t making another mistake?
I see no other possibility.
Without warning, Theo lunged at Sid. He snapped at Sid’s neck, but Sid took flight before he could get at him. Theo leapt in the air and within seconds was all over Sid. Val and a few others took to the air as well. Theo slashed at Sid, and Sid snapped at Theo’s flank, taking out a chunk of flesh. Theo roared, letting out a jet of hot gold flames. Then he turned around going after Sid’s tail.
The flying dragons hovered around the fighting dragons. Val would intervene when he needed to, but for now, he watched, fascinated by how well Sid fought.
A gunshot ran out, and for a second everyone froze. A bright red stain blossomed on Sid’s flank. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Sid jerked around. Then he fell from the sky.
Val didn’t even wait for Sid’s body to hit the ground. He turned on Theo and went for the kill shot. Theo didn’t see him coming. Val clamped his jaws around the top of Theo’s head, and without hesitation, tore it from Theo’s body. Blood exploded over him, but he didn’t care. Didn’t even want to relish in the victory. He dropped the head and raced for the ground, hoping against hope Sid would be okay.
HAZEL AND ASPEN both had out binoculars and tried to watch the scene, but all they could see was the back side of several hundred dragons. The action was in the middle of the circle.
“Any idea what’s going on?”
Aspen shrugged. “I just hope they kill Prometheus. I can’t believe he did this.”
“Did you know him?”
Aspen nodded. “He was Obsidian’s best friend.” Hazel thought for a second. Didn’t Val say that he was Sid’s best friend? Somehow those were connected.
Out of nowhere several dragons in the middle of the circle took flight. Hazel jerked her binoculars back up to her eyes and watched a black and gold dragon fight. Even from a distance they looked huge. Fangs and claws were slashing at one another. Hazel remembered her flight. Those claws had held her tight. She shuddered as she saw those same claws tear through dragon flesh.
“The black one is Obsidian right?”
“Yeah. The gold is Prometheus.”
“Do you know the others?” Hazel asked, wondering how connected Aspen was to the dragons.
“A few. I don’t recognize most of the gold ones.”
A deafening shot rang out above them. Both Aspen and Hazel covered their ears, and then Hazel watched in horror as the black dragon fell to the earth. Paul promised he wouldn’t miss, but he shot the wrong dragon.
Aspen ran.
Hazel was right on her heels. She couldn’t let Aspen go out there on her own. The dragons parted for her as they ran through the crowd.
They reached Obsidian at the same time as the other black dragon touched down next to him. Aspen pressed her hands up against the gaping wound on his side, but blood gushed out around her fingers. Tears poured down her face.
“Sid, Sid, you can’t die.”
Hazel moved forward to help, placing her own hands around Aspen’s, the warm blood coating her hands in seconds. Aspen continued to sob.
“Can you change?” Aspen asked the dragon. “It will be easier to stop the flow of blood.”
The black dragon shuddered under their hands, and his body shrank. It wasn’t Obsidian who lay there bleeding, but Sid.
Hazel backed away and brought her hand up to her mouth to suppress her scream. In her wildest imaginations she never thought this was possible. She spun around and saw dra
gons changing all over the field. Some wore modern day clothes, but others looked like they belonged in the Victorian era or early 1800s. Soon the only dragons left were a red one, Runa, and her mother. As one, they all dropped to the knees and bowed.
A woman in a pioneer dress approached. She tore strips of fabric from her massive skirt.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I think I can help.”
Aspen was still pressing her hands on the wound on Sid’s chest. She looked up.
“Please. Anything you can do.”
The woman ripped off a few more strips from her skirt and set to work. A handful of other women came forward and offered their services as well. Each addressed Aspen as “Your Majesty.”
Aspen watched them work, holding Sid’s hand. Hazel crouched down next to her.
“Why are they acting like you are some sort of royalty or something?”
Aspen gave her a weak smile. “Because I’m the queen of the dragons.”
Hazel shook her head and clenched her fists. “No, that’s not possible.” What was Aspen telling her? That she was a dragon? She couldn’t be. She was her sister.
Hazel stood, and Aspen looked up at her.
“Yes, it is. The dragon queen is always human. Sid’s the king. He chose me.”
Hazel backed away. She was in a nightmare or something. This couldn’t be real.
A hand touched her shoulder. She spun and found Val. Bile threatened to rise.
“Are you like them?” she asked, pointing to the sea of humans.
He nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Hazel shook her head. She didn’t know what to think, but she felt broken inside. Like someone had removed her heart.
Val knelt down next to Aspen. “You could heal him, you know.”
Aspen stared at him with wide eyes for a second. “This is too big of a wound. I’ve never done more than a scratch before.”
Val laid his hands over Aspen’s, whose were clutching at Sid’s.
“You have to try.”
Aspen nodded. She let go of Sid’s hands and pressed her hands on his wound. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second. Then she gasped, opened her eyes, and removed her hands. Gingerly, she lifted up the fabric covering the wound. The hole that had been there seconds ago was gone. Aspen let out a yelp of joy, then she collapsed on Sid’s chest and sobbed.
Valentine (The Dragon Kings Book 3) Page 15
