Life was too painful otherwise.
When I reached the elevator, Enzi stepped up smoothly next to me. I had wondered where he'd gone. There had been a guard on me the whole time I had been here. I would do the same in their shoes. Not that I had my own palace where I could invite strange guests…err, well prisoners to stay. Though that would be pretty awesome.
"Hey," I greeted him as I stepped into the elevator.
He followed me in. "Hello. Where are you off to?" he asked nonchalantly, but his eyes were sharp.
I pressed the button for the first floor.
"I want to go take a look at my car," I said. "Is that okay?"
He hesitated but then nodded. "That's fine. I just have to come with you."
Fair enough. We were silent as we descended.
"Omari seems to be adjusting well," Enzi commented.
I nodded. "Yes." I looked over at him. "It isn't a problem that he's playing with other kids, is it?"
"No," he said. "He's just a child. And if it were a problem, we wouldn't have let them up on the roof in the first place."
True. And they also had an eye on the children the whole time to make sure nothing bad happened. I'd noticed the discreet tail before.
The doors opened into the front lobby, and again the detailed carvings and the chandelier drew my admiring eyes. As we walked through it, I wondered what it was like to grow up like this. Wealthy. Powerful. Secure.
"Was Ashur's father the Dragon Lord before him?" I asked as our footsteps echoed through the large room.
There were people hanging around now because it was daytime, and I could see the sideways glances they sent my way. I stared back and they looked away. I had the sudden urge to say boo.
"No," Enzi said. "Do you think we're a monarchy?" he asked, sounding offended.
I shrugged. "I don't know what you are," I said honestly. "It isn't like we're taught much about Phoenix and Dragon political structures in the city domes."
"You aren't? But that's ridiculous! We're taught about human culture and city dome politics in elementary school."
"Well, I don't know what to tell you. We mostly just get a dose of how dangerous you are and why we need to be separated from you."
He shook his head, looking irritated. "Figures," he muttered. "Humans."
We stepped onto the bustling street. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I was used to streets being in the dome. The fact that there was basically no automobile traffic helped. Other than the wideness of the streets and the slightly different styles people wore—more loose and light colors, which made sense in the desert—I could've been in the city dome. Well, except for the fact that the sun was beating down on us.
"I don't have any idea where I'm going, by the way," I admitted. "Feel free to lead the way."
Enzi chuckled and took a step in front of me. "Your car was moved to one of the garages," he explained. He walked me down a block and then turned into what looked like a standard parking garage. I guess there wasn't really any better way to store cars.
I was surprised to find ones I recognized, familiar makes and models, along with more exotic ones. Enzi saw me looking.
"Ashur likes cars," he explained as he led me to the back corner. "There's a level of just motorcycles too."
"Must be nice to be the Dragon Lord," I muttered.
"It is," Enzi agreed. "But he works his ass off for it. He's the reason why our skein is doing so well in the first place. He has a head for business and the strength to keep everyone in line, keep everything stable."
"Keep everybody in line?" I asked.
"Yes." He frowned. "Dragons and phoenixes both have very territorial urges. If we didn't have someone strong at the helm, our instinct would be to overthrow him. So, even though our Dragon Lord is chosen through a consensus, there's a chance he won't stay in the position if he isn't strong enough."
I blinked. "Must make elections pretty exciting," I said finally.
He grinned. "You have no idea."
We reached the small tank that was my car and Enzi opened the driver's side door for me. "Sweet ride, by the way," he commented as I crawled inside.
"Thanks. It's just a loaner," I clarified.
"Ah."
I grabbed my bag and my eyes fell on my bows. They might take it as a sign of aggression if I just carried them around, but... I took them as well. I figured Enzi would tell me if I couldn't bring them up. I left the extra knives, but I took the sword. I wouldn't reasonably be able to fight my way out if I had to, but having a few more weapons would make me feel better.
When I stepped back out, Enzi's eyebrows went up.
"Planning on murdering us in our sleep on your way out?" he asked dryly.
I shook my head. "I know I wouldn't make it," I said honestly.
I now knew exactly how secure they kept the perimeter. Even if Omari hadn't screamed, I was sure they'd have known we were there anyway by the time we hit the city. Maybe the people Jacob had heard about succeeding had gone through territories where the dragons weren't as vigilant.
Enzi nodded. "You wouldn't," he agreed. "But I don't know if Ashur is going to be okay with you having that much weaponry inside."
I sighed. I tried.
"It was worth a shot," he said, echoing my thoughts with a grin. "Where should I–"
A blaring alarm sounded, interrupting what he was going to say. I winced, covering one ear with my shoulder because my hands were full.
"What's that?" I yelled over the racket.
Enzi's face was grim. "We're being attacked!"
That's when the screams started. And the roars.
Cursing, Enzi turned and ran back the way we'd come from, straight to the street. I ducked into the car and strapped the extra knives and my sword to myself. Then I grabbed only the compound bow I used for long distances, along with my quiver.
But then I hesitated. It wasn't really my place to help them defend against anyone. And this was a perfect distraction. I could grab Omari and run, take him to the phoenix territory. But first I needed to find him. I ran out the way we'd come in, Enzi already long gone. When I reached the street exit, I slowed down and looked out.
People were running in all directions, seeking shelter in the buildings, clutching children, older people. Trying to get the noncombatants out of the way.
Hathai ran down the street, her face grim, her attention on the sky above. She crouched down and burst into her dragon form, a beautiful matte gold with a darker ring around her neck. She launched herself off the street in a powerful surge, her wings flapping hard enough that the gust of wind pushed me back.
I chanced a look up.
The air was filled with dragons, the golden-hued ones that I was used to seeing, but also ones with lavender-tinted scales, their mouths open as they shot fire.
I watched as one of the attacking dragons made a beeline for Hathai, breathing fire as it flew. It clawed at her wings with its talons before she'd had a chance to fully get her bearings.
My heart was in my throat as I watched. Come on, Hathai.
She tore herself free, leaving small rents in her wings, firing back just as harshly as she rose in the sky. But she was hurt, her wings a little off from the tears. It was clear the moment she decided she wasn't going down alone.
I held my breath as Hathai angled her body and shot right at the dragon who'd attacked her. They slammed onto the street in front of me, the ground cracking underneath from the impact. Hathai was on top of the purple one, both of them clawing and biting at each other.
They were occupied. I could run right past, back to Ashur's building where Omari was.
The lavender one lurched and rolled, shoving the golden one underneath it.
Shit.
I hesitated for another moment. I remembered Hathai watching over Omari, her face soft.
"Fuck," I muttered.
I pulled out my release and looped it over my hand. I took one of the arrows out of my quiver. They were formed to puncture the
thick hides of dragons and cut through phoenix plumage. I'd never used them to do that, but I practiced constantly.
Something about focusing on a target and trying to hit it was always calming to me. Even now, as I nocked the arrow, clicked it into place, and pulled back on the string, my eye focused on the sights and my heart beat slowed, my breathing evening out.
Stilling my body, I aimed. I didn't know how well these arrows worked on an actual dragon so I needed to aim at a vulnerable spot. The eye was a good bet.
I waited until the lavender dragon reared back, opening its mouth to bite. Got it. I tapped the release.
The purple dragon's eye sprouted an arrow.
Bull's-eye.
It went limp almost immediately. The arrow was embedded in the brain. It may not have been dead, but it was definitely incapacitated.
My stomach rolled but I pushed past it. This wasn't a game. They were the ones that had attacked.
Hathai looked over at me and nodded her large head in acknowledgment. Then she launched herself into the air to rejoin the fight in the sky, wings apparently judged good enough.
I needed a better vantage point. I ran down the street, hugging the side of the building as closely as I could. I hoped I wouldn't be fried before I got back to Ashur's. I ducked as another dragon fell into the building across from me, crumbling the front of it with the impact. Its golden scales glimmered as it struggled to rise from the rubble.
The smart thing to do would have been to take cover and wait this out. It was too dangerous to drive the car out. The dragons would have gotten Omari to a safe place. I wasn't going to be able to change the tide of this fight.
I kept moving. This may have been one of the stupidest things that I'd ever done. Though the last week or so had certainly been a doozy. There were so many stupid things to choose from.
I winced as a tunnel of flame engulfed the dragon that had hit the building.
It was so hot that it almost singed me from this far away. The yellow and orange of the fluid-like stream of fire was fascinating. Dragons were resistant to heat, but not to such a direct flame for such a prolonged period of time. Just like the armor on the car.
But the only way to get a good shot at the dragon who was burning the golden one was to walk out into the street.
Out into the open.
Nope. I wasn't that stupid.
I watched my own feet as they turned and walked out into the street.
Okay. Maybe I was.
Chapter Thirteen
I turned in the direction the tunnel of flame was originating from as I neared the center of the street. The heat from the fire was hot enough to parch my face and dry my eyes even from yards away.
I looked up to see a lavender-hued dragon in the air, its wings flapping as it hovered in place, its jaws agape as the fire rushed out.
I just stared in awe for a few seconds.
I'd seen the dragons fly and there was something in their size and the clear power in their bodies that inspired respect. But to witness it as heat from the flames licked my skin, the sizzle of burning flesh hot in my nose…
Yup. Fear. But I didn't have time for it. I needed to work fast if I was going to be of any real help.
Bracing my feet, I brought my bow up and took a deep breath, calming my heart. The angle was too weird, I didn't have a clear shot at its eyes. Shooting for it anyway might do nothing, or distract it and make it attack me.
Not great outcomes. But I couldn't just do nothing.
I scanned its body quickly and finally decided on a shot I might be able to make. Adjusting the bow, I aimed at the place where its wing joined with its shoulder. I might be able to incapacitate it, forcing it to drop to the ground.
No time for second guesses. I tapped the release.
Just as the arrow flew, a gust of wind from another pair of approaching wings changed the trajectory. It just missed what I was aiming for, and instead lodged right in the dragon’s shoulder.
Well, shit.
The column of flame abruptly disappeared.
Yellow eyes turned to look at me. And they weren't happy.
I turned as the sound of another pair of wings drew closer. It was another purple dragon. It stopped, hovering to my left, not nearly far enough away for my comfort. Though far enough would probably be on the other side of the city, maybe the planet.
Double shit. This was it. At least death by dragon sounded badass. Not that anyone but dragons would know.
Then a bright gold flash hit my peripheral vision. My gaze jerked back over to the dragon that I'd managed to annoy just in time to see the golden dragon hit it from the side, pushing it away.
Away from me.
I recognized that bright gold flash, though I didn't know how when he was going so fast. But I knew it was him. Ashur.
I turned back to the other dragon still hovering near me. Why wasn't I dead? One quick burst of flame and I'd be gone. Mia kabob.
My eyes caught its deep yellow ones as it twisted its neck, its head tilting to the side and the slits of its nostrils flaring. It drew even closer, and then landed just yards from me. My hands itched to draw my bow, but that might set it off.
Did dragons eat people? Now probably wasn't the best time to speculate on that particular topic.
I took some slow steps back.
It raised its head, straightening it again, as it regarded me.
I frowned, completely confused. What was going on?
The strange stare-down lasted for a few more seconds, though it seemed much longer. Time had a certain elasticity to it when adrenaline was pumping that hard.
A loud roar from above us was what finally broke it. The dragon's attention immediately veered upwards. With one last look at me, it beat its wings and propelled itself off the street. Its neck stretched upwards as it rose, revealing a distinctive star-shaped darker patch on its chest.
I stood, taking deep breaths as I tried to get my body back under control. I opened my hands, stretching them out. I was still alive. Somehow.
I didn't know what had just happened, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.
The golden dragon that was still huddled in the building right next to me moved, pieces of the building rolling down onto the street. I took a step back, looking up. It pushed away from the building, half of its body almost black from the fire, the other half still intact. Visibly anyway. Miraculously, its wings were still perfectly fine, probably protected by the way the building had wrapped around them.
It shook its head, getting its bearings, and also launched itself back into the air to rejoin the fight. Couldn't fault his or her commitment.
But I really needed to move. Now.
Getting myself back into gear, I hurried down the street to Ashur's building. The harsh sounds of the battle continued up above me, but I kept my head down and stayed as close to the buildings as I could.
It was difficult not to look up at the mash-up of loud sounds: the flapping of wings, the crackle of fire, the pain and rage filled roars. Thankfully, the battle stayed in the air for the rest of the way.
When I reached Ashur's building, I ran up the steps. The doors were closed. I tried them.
Locked.
I pounded on them, but the thick, sturdy barrier didn't move at all. And nobody answered.
"Fuck."
I took a few steps back and looked up the building in frustration.
I wasn't helping anybody down here. I racked my brain for another solution, and remembered something from when I first arrived here. It wasn't ideal, but this wasn't exactly an ideal situation.
I circled the building, my eyes scanning the walls. And I found it—the sun shone down, glinting off the ladder. It looked ridiculously flimsy as it traveled up the side of the place. I traced it with my eyes, all the way up the dizzying length of the building.
Maybe now was the time to mention that I'd never been the biggest fan of heights.
I might even be an active hater of them.
Though I'd been forced to get over the worst of it over the years. I could do fire escapes, stairs, or even a nice, stable rooftop. A ladder didn't have quite the same sturdiness.
It was a long way up. But also the only way up.
Silently cursing in an effort to release some of my nervous energy, I secured the bow and quiver on my back to free my hands. I gripped the hot metal but immediately let go, the heat from it almost burning my hands even from that brief touch. I had some resistance to heat, but maybe pure dragons had more.
I patted my pockets, hoping I had them on me-- aha. I pulled out my insulated, fingerless gloves. I shoved my hands into them and tried to touch the ladder again. It still wasn't comfortable, but my palms weren't burning. I'd make do.
I kept my eyes on the building in front of me as I started climbing. I just needed to keep moving.
Hand.
Foot.
Push up.
I focused on each individual movement, trying not to think about the fact that I was moving vertically. With nothing to catch me if I fell.
As I rose higher, the wind picked up. The heat from multiple streams of fire mixed with the already-hot sun, as if the anxiety and adrenaline weren't enough to make me sweat already. I wiped my face with my arm before the sweat started stinging my eyes.
I was maybe three-quarters of the way up when something swooped past me so fast, I almost lost my grip. I let out a huff of breath and hugged the ladder.
My heart had skipped a beat and then gone crazy.
All right. Still alive. Taking a deep breath, I turned to look. But as I moved my head, my eyes fell on the world beneath me.
Oh man. The street look like a narrow strip below. I was a long way up.
A dizzy spell hit me and jerked my eyes back up. Fainting now was not the way to go. Picturing falling and becoming a pancake was not helpful either.
Not at all.
Forcing myself to look where the dragon who'd swooped by had gone, I found the bright gold of Ashur's hide. And the three cool-colored dragons surrounding him. As I focused on them, they attacked with fire and claws and teeth.
Ashur dodged and maneuvered his large body expertly, but there was no way he was going to be able to keep them off him. Not with all three attacking at once. I couldn't just sit back and let them take him down.
Dragon Lord (Dragons & Phoenixes Book 1) Page 9
