Dust and Cinder (Rise of the Dragons Trilogy Book 3)

by N. R. Hairston

  Dust and Cinder

  Rise of the Dragons Trilogy Book Three

  N. R. Hairston

  Copyright © 2017 by N.R. Hairston All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Published by

  OTHER TITLES BY N. R. Hairston

  Magic and Mischief Series

  A Magical Reckoning, Book One

  A Symptom of Magic, Book Two

  Chronicles of Magic and Mischief (Novellas set in the Magic and Mischief world):

  Cursed Magic, Book One

  World Breaker

  Rogue Magic, Book One

  World Breaker Beginnings (Novellas set before events in World Breaker, though you don’t have to read one to read the other.) Read this series for free when you join my mailing list, here.

  Rebel Magic

  Stolen Magic

  Crooked Magic

  Rise of the Dragons Trilogy

  Fire and Ash, Book One

  Smoke and Flame, Book Two

  Dust and Cinder, Book Three

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue-Six Months Later

  Other Titles by N. R. Hairston

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  For a better reading experience, it’s probably best to read book one, Fire and Ash here, and book two Smoke and Flame here, first.

  Dust and Cinder

  As Alisa embraces her newfound clan on the Dragon world, will uncovering the truth about what really happened to the Yango derail her commitment to seeing the enemies of her people finally defeated?

  Chapter 1

  The three dragons in my brother’s living room came to a stand as the rest of my crew stepped through the portal. It was two men and one woman.

  My eyes went wide as I stared at them and I must have blinked three times to make sure I saw correctly.

  Right now, we were caught up in a relentless fight with the Yango, and they’d been the only thing on my mind. So, seeing these dragons here really threw me off, not that I didn’t have a lot of questions that I was sure only they could answer.

  My mouth hung open, as I continued to stare at them. They were magnificent looking, majestic and regal. The woman’s skin was a sea-green, and she had long mint-colored hair that flowed to the floor.

  She wore a white dress and had four sets of earrings in her ears, small golden jewels in her hair, and bracelets up her arms and around her ankles. Her eyes were a bright silver, but they held an intelligence and knowledge that I figured was far beyond my years.

  The man sat in the middle had powder-blue skin, and long, light blue dreadlocks that hung down his back. His eyes glowed silver and blue, and when he looked at me, I felt as if he was seeing straight into my soul.

  He looked to be about thirty, as did his companions. He had a diamond stubbed nose-ring, and his fingers were full of jewels as well.

  He wore a white silk shirt that was partly open and a pair of black silk pants. When I looked at him, I felt as if he held all my secrets in the palm of his hand. The way he sat, back straight and the authoritative air around him told me this man, this dragon, was used to being in charge.

  The third man stood, his hair and skin the same orange as a tiger. He had his hair done up in a ponytail, held together by a gold ringlet. He had on sandals, and each one of his toes had a small gold or silver ring on them. He also wore bracelets around his ankles and two platinum chains around his neck.

  He looked like the type who’d never seen a party he didn’t like.

  His eyes were a deep marigold with silver flecks, and I noticed that they watched Reid with special care.

  Todd and Vonda sat on the opposite couch, wide-eyed and silent.

  “Hello,” the woman said, looking at me. “We’ve been waiting for you.” Her voice was high, yet forceful, like she’d pulled on her vocal cords and forced her will into the words as she spoke them.

  “Why?” I asked, my tone low and guarded. Had they come to execute me for having their porter, or stealing their powers? Had they come to help us fight the Yango? To remove this power from Reid and myself?

  I didn’t know why they were here, and that made me cautious. I turned to Iago and the others to see them all watching the dragons with something like awe on their faces. “Why don’t you guys go to Iago and Trout’s place. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

  “Yes, do go,” the pale blue dragon said, his voice hard, rich, and full. It was the type of voice that you wanted to obey, and his tone made it seemed like you really had no other option. “This does not concern you.”

  Iago’s brows furrowed, and he looked at me for confirmation. I nodded and he, Lantana, Coen, Fletcher, and Trout, walked around me, stunned looks on all of their faces.

  “You too,” I said to Todd and Vonda who still hadn’t uttered a word. They rose, never taking their eyes off the dragons and followed the others out the door, probably just too shocked to object. I waited until I heard car engines start and drive away before I allowed myself to breathe again.

  My family was safe, my friends were safe. All that stood here now were Reid and me, so whatever they planned on doing, at least the others would be protected.

  “You have been summoned by the three Dragon Lords,” the one with the orange hair said. His voice was low and gravelly, but had a quality to it that said he took things as they came and didn’t quibble over the small stuff.

  Reid stepped forward, his eyes taking in all three of them, shoulders stiff, and body on alert. “Who are the Dragon Lords, and who are you?”

  The one with the orange skin smiled. “As forceful as any dragon from the land of Dreed. You are to be with me on this trip.”

  The man with the powder blue skin looked my way. “And you are to be with me. You stand as tall and proud as any dragon from the land Cyphen, but we’ll see what the others have to say.”

  The woman leaned her head to the side. “I am Tripen.” She pointed to the blue man. “This is Linton.” She then pointed to the other. “Fryd.” She squared her shoulders as she looked at Reid and myself, a slight look of sorrow on her face. “Neither of you belong to the land of Kreen, but we will be watching closely as new dragons concern us all.”

  My stomach rolled, and I felt fear closing in on me. I’d wanted answers, Reid and I both had, but going off with them to some land I knew nothing about, absolutely terrified me.

  Still, you can’t ask for something, then hide in the bushes when it’s handed to you just because you’re scared you might get hurt. This is what we wanted. What did it mean to be a dragon? What did it mean for the rest of our lives, our mortality. We’d never find the answer to that if we didn’t go.

  Reid nudged me, and we walked over to my brother’s large b
ay window. “We wanted to find out more,” he said. “I can think of no other way to do it.”

  My heart felt as if it was in my throat, I was so scared, and I leaned my forehead against his, hoping to find comfort there. “They’re going to separate us. I know that they are. You’ll go with Fryd, and I’ll have to go with Linton.”

  He wrapped me in his arms, and I lay my head on his chest, never wanting to let go. We had wanted answers, but I’d always figured it was something we’d be doing together, not broken apart like this.

  “You will not be separated for long,” Linton said. “But we need to find out who you are, and what house you represent.”

  “I was born here,” I said, detangling from Reid and turning to face them. “I don’t belong to some dragon race. It was the porter.” I pulled out the small missile shaped thing and held it up. “This is what gave me dragon powers. Nothing more.”

  Fryd shot me an amused look. Then turned to Linton. “I do love shaping young minds that know nothing, yet think they know all.”

  Linton’s lip quirked a little as he tried not to smile, then he turned to me. “It’s time to go.”

  I looked at Reid, letting him know that I was doing this. It was the only way to find out what this thing was inside me, and I knew the opportunity may not rise again. Also, if things went right, maybe we could secure their help in fighting the Yango, and really turn things in our favor. “Let me text my family,” I said, letting out a breath. “I need to let them know where we’re going and what we’re doing so they won’t worry.”

  I went to the kitchen, trying to wrap my head around the fact that we were ready to go off with mystical beasts from another land. I picked up my phone from where I’d left it earlier and typed in a quick text to Vonda, Todd, Chibo, and Ridge. I debated half a second and then sent one to my mom. She’d tell my dad, because I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  I exhaled deeply, not sure if we were making the right decision, but knowing there was no better way to find answers.

  “How long will we be gone?” I asked as I walked back into the living room.

  “As long as it takes,” Tripen said. “The Dragon Lords will not be rushed.”

  I swallowed down bile. That was as cryptic as could be, and I got the feeling it wouldn’t get much better. Reid came closer and put a hand on my back. “We can do this. We just have to remember who we are. If we can make it through this, I’m sure we’ll come out the better for it.”

  He put a hand under my chin and guided my lips to his own. His kiss was sweeter than anything I’d ever tasted, and I wanted to crawl inside it and never leave. He pulled away and placed a small kiss on my forehead. “Let’s go find some answers.”

  I nodded and turned to the dragons. “I’m ready.”

  They held out their hands, and three large portals opened. I blinked because they’d done it without porters and I hadn’t known that to be one of their powers. Why even make the porters, I wondered, and figured I’d find out that and a lot more soon enough.

  Linton bid I follow him, while Fryd did the same to Reid. Tripen nodded us farewell and then stepped into her portal and disappeared. Reid and I shared one last look, then he stepped into the portal behind Fryd, and me behind Linton.

  Chapter 2

  My feet crunched through white snow as I entered a world that looked like a winter wonderland. Ice fell from the sky, and everything here seemed to be covered in it. The buildings were white, black, and blue, and all looked to be made of ice.

  The trees had no leaves, only icicles that hung from their frozen branches. I looked around, mouth open in amazement. I’d expected fire, so I wasn’t sure how to take this.

  Linton took in my reaction, his eyes merry as he watched me. I wondered about Reid. He’d gone to Dreed. Was it like this or something else entirely?

  People walked around, some with wings out and flapping, others with smoke coming out of their ears and mouth. One guy stood talking to another and then shot a stream of ice into his hand, making a ball that he tossed around.

  I blinked, shocked, wondering how he’d learned to do that. Dragons, at least all the mystical dragons I’d ever heard of, were always associated with fire, but maybe I wasn’t up on my dragon lore.

  Linton led me to a large white building fifteen stories high. It looked to be made completely of ice, and I could easily see it fitting a couple of thousand people. Icicles hung from the rafters and outlined the windows, giving it a cold wintery feel.

  We stepped inside the building, and I went a little slack-jawed, as I looked around. The floors were made of blue and orange fire, while the walls were white ice. The ceiling was a swirling mass of both fire and ice, and I wondered how they coexisted in such a way and then figured that was probably the point.

  Linton let me into a large room, full of settees and couches. Some were made of fire, others ice.

  On one of the settees lay a guy, head propped up, watching me intently. He looked to be about my age, around twenty-seven, though I didn’t think I’d ever worn an expression as stern as the one he had right now.

  Indigo colored hair flowed down his back, his skin a deep rich navy-blue. He looked so rigid, that I figured just the mere suggestion of fun would send him into a self-righteous tirade.

  On another settee was a different guy who looked to be in his early thirties. His skin and hair were both a light azure color. Like Linton, he too had dreadlocks and his reached down to the floor. His eyes were a deep purple with silver around the edges, and I could see intelligence lurking beneath them.

  He lazily threw grapes in his mouth, and I got the feeling if I wanted a fun night on the town, he’d be the one to go to.

  The last person in the room, a woman, stood about six feet tall. Her hair was the color of lilac, her skin a more sangria. She looked like the type who knew the secrets of all those around her and didn’t mind using them to her advantage when the opportunity arose.

  Her lips turned up when she saw us enter, and I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or bad. Either way, it made my stomach clench, wondering what would happen next.

  Linton’s eyes watched me, a curious look on his face, as if he was waiting to see what I would do. I looked around, apprehension making my palms sweat. Was I supposed to stay standing, sit down, what? I had no idea.

  Linton pointed to the woman. “Erain.” He then pointed to the serious guy, “Arden.” Then to the fun guy. “Stax.”

  He motioned to me. “Alisa.”

  Erain nodded at me and turned inquisitive eyes Linton’s way. “And the other?”

  “Is poison. Reid.”

  Alarm shot through me as I looked from one of them to the other. What did he mean by saying Reid was poison? Had he been poisoned? Was he all right?

  Erain’s lips quirked up into a sly grin. “So Tripen went back to Kreen empty-handed. No new water dragons to be had.”

  I thought about what they’d just said and let it process through my brain and calm me just a bit. “So, does that mean that Reid is a dragon with poison?” I asked Linton, and he nodded and turned to Erain.

  He gestured at me as he looked at her. “Tell me everything.”

  She walked over to me, her face saying she’d been waiting for this since I’d first stepped into the room. She put her hands on either side of my head, and I stepped back, not sure what was happening.

  “Still,” Linton said, making me freeze on the spot. “She’s not going to hurt you, only get a better understanding of how you came to be.”

  I shot him a look because if he was trying to calm me, he wasn’t doing a very good job. I didn’t know her, I didn’t know any of them, and I got the impression they were ready to go digging around in my head, tinkering with things that I wished they wouldn’t.

  Still, I didn’t move from my spot. I’d wanted answers, and at the moment, I saw no better way to get them. She mumbled something under her breath, and after a couple of seconds purple light shined from her hands and engulfed m
y whole body.

  It was warm and tingly, and I held my breath and closed my eyes, praying I hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of my life. The light began to swirl in a small circle, and I saw myself sitting at the desk in my office, then in the factory with Brad and Kyla, from there to when Reid and I had first met Trout and the others. Everything I’d done in the last few months was laid bare, up to seeing the dragons sitting in Todd’s living room.

  She let me go, and I fell. Linton snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me up before I hit the floor. My head was dizzy, and my legs felt like spaghetti. Linton eased me into a chair made completely of fire and the flames wrapped around me calming me and easing my tension.

  Erain stepped back a few feet and licked her fingers as if she’d just had a tasty meal. “It’s her DNA.”

  “What’s my DNA?” I asked, still trying to gain my equilibrium.

  The serious one, Arden, sat up and planted his feet firmly on the fiery floor. “Even those who have dragon DNA, die when using the porter. Yet here you are, dragon born, and dragon made. Standing where those who’ve come before you have fallen. You intrigue us, and we want to know more.”

  I swallowed, as I thought over what he’d just said. So, it hadn’t been me maybe having dragon DNA that had saved me from the porter. I turned to Erain who was watching me as if I was a puzzle she couldn’t figure out. “Explain,” I said, hoping she could offer more insight.

  She leaned her head to the side, eyes still boring into me as if she just couldn’t connect all the dots like she wanted to. “She is of our clan, so we don’t have to hand her over.”

  Now what did that mean? All this back talk was starting to frustrate me. I looked at Linton who took pity on me with an easy smile.

  Smoke blew out of his ears and nose as his eyes became small circles of fire. “We are the clan Pressive, and as Erain tells it, you are of our house.”

  That still told me nothing, and I resisted the urge to groan. I lay back farther in my seat, the fire massaging my back and legs, making me feel safe and secure. “Am I related to you all?” That’s what being a part of a clan meant, didn’t it?