TWENTY-NINE
Tor led his three brothers in dragon form north over the Canadian border into rugged, mountainous area.
“I sure hope Nana is right about this,” he communicated to the others. For years, his family had searched for Sayeh’s hideout as he was sure they searched for the castle. The brothers had taught each of their mates how to navigate the hidden roads leading to the long-standing home. Fortunately, the females didn’t care to travel much with all the babies running around.
“When have you known her to be wrong,” Clacher asked with a scoff.
That answer was easy. Never.
Still, Tor’s stomach tightened. Tension made his muscles ache. This wouldn’t be good. This rescue mission wouldn’t be like any other. Sayeh had to know they’d come for Ker. The man wasn’t an idiot. A nut case, maybe, but not stupid. Then he wondered, could Sayeh’s witch have cast a cloaking spell over the hideaway? Was that the reason no one could find the place?
“I’m not seeing much on this side of the mountain,” Jae relayed. “Let’s try the other side.” The group lifted and topped the scraggly-rocked peak. At this height, they descended below the clouds to see most of the area.
“Well,” Tor began, “would you look at that.” In a valley between towering points rested a compound large enough to house hundreds if not thousands. Dozens of the smaller dragons sat on roofs like immobile stone statues. Early weapons detection system, more than likely. Tor pushed above the clouds before they set off any warnings.
Tor linked to Jae located several miles away on the other side of the range. Now the two needed to find a place to sit and wait.
After Clacher had joined the two, strategies were laid out and plans created. Tor hoped this worked. If not, the women would be on their own. He thought of his son as adorable as a green baby puppy. A surge of anger, determination, and justice zipped through him, filling him with power only the alphas carried.
“Let’s do this.” He pushed off his perch, quickly diving for the ground. Pulling up just above the tree line, they skimmed the treetops along the mountain side as long as they could before the woods gave way to flat land. “You ready back there?” he asked Jae.
“Almost. Give me thirty seconds.”
Noise came from the compound. “Damn,” Tor said, “they know we’re here already.” He settled onto the ground and shifted into his human form. Clacher and Jae followed suit. With the forest to their backs, the three men watched as the black dragons assembled a line and marched out the front gate. The man of the hour, front and center.
“Welcome, Drachen, to my humble town,” Sayeh said.
Tor rolled his eyes. “Cut the bullshit and dramatics, Sayeh. Hand over Ker and his mate and we’ll let you live a little longer.” He waited for the asshole’s reply. But nothing came for several moments. Did Tor say something to catch him off guard?
“No, Ker and his mate will remain with me. If you want to see him, I’ll take you to him.”
“If we come in, we’re bringing friends,” Tor hollered.
“That would be great. Let me introduce you to mine.” He raised his arms and a black cloud lifted into the sky. Tor felt minor trepidation. He nodded to Jae. Behind him hidden in the trees, hundreds from the clans at the castle rose into view. Tor would’ve loved to have seen Sayeh’s face up close at that moment.
Scuffling at the compound gate drew everyone’s attention. The line divided to show a woman and Ker.
Tor couldn’t wait to connect his mind to his youngest brother. “Are you all right?”
“Not bad considering,” he replied. “Let me get back to you. I’ve got a crazy mate on my hands.” Tor snorted. Didn’t they all?
* * *
Tiana watched the interaction outside the compound’s front gate. In the distance behind the men, another cloud ascended. From the trees, hundreds of red dragons rose, forming a huge blood stain in the sky.
Tiana gasped at the amazing sight. “Why are they red?” she asked.
“For the clans, red signifies anger and fighting. They are ready to battle for what is right,” Ker said.
“Battle?” Tiana repeated. “No, they can’t do that. So many will die on each side.” In her mind, she saw the field out front littered with black and red bodies. Blood from both sides flooding the ground. She couldn’t let that happen. “We have to stop this.”
With a burst of speed, she sprinted through the open gate and stopped behind the line of dragons protecting Sayeh. “Hey,” she yelled as Ker grabbed her from behind.
“What are you doing?” he whispered, trying to drag her backward. The line of black sentries turned and split in the middle to reveal the psychopath in front.
Tiana pushed Ker’s hands from around her as she addressed the leader. “We need to have a little chat, Dad.” The word didn’t feel good coming off her tongue. It left behind a greasy taste.
Sayeh snarled and fisted his hands. In the blink of an eye, he had his hands around her neck. “You mated with the enemy? Now I can smell him all over you. In you,” he grinded out between clenched teeth. “You whore.”
Tiana wanted his attention and got it. Ker stepped forward, within reach of her father. She put her hand up, stopping him. “No,” she whispered. Crossing her wrists in front of her chest, she grabbed his arms and pushed his hands to the side off her throat.
Sayeh looked surprised. “How did you do that so easily?”
“Self-defense 101,” she said. “Don’t get excited over it. Now, let’s discuss this battle. What’s your end game? What do you want bad enough to kill hundreds of people?”
His eyes turned hard. “I will have what should be mine. Should be yours.”
“You mentioned birthright before,” she said. “What makes you think you have the right to rule? You’re not Drachen.”
“Oh, but I am. So are you.” A smile split his face.
A moment of horror hit her. If her father was telling the truth, did that mean she was related to Ker? Did she just have sex with her cousin…or worse? Her stomach pitched at the thought, but she squashed the feeling. She’d deal with that later. Right now, she had a killer focused on her.
“How’d that come about?” she sneered, pretending not to believe him. “What proof do you have?”
“I am the proof. Drachen blood flows through my veins. A millennium ago, a Drachen king seduced my young mother, and then shipped her to the other side of the planet when she got pregnant.
“He was too much of a coward to claim his bastard son. So instead, he hid us from the world in a place no being should be forced to live. My mother worked herself to death in the scorching heat to bring home what little food she could. I swore I’d have my revenge on my father.
“But as fate would have it, I didn’t have to touch the man. He was killed on his own selfish accord along with his heir. I stepped forward to claim the throne and was imprisoned by the Drachen brother who took it instead.
“I escaped and gathered my own people who hated the Drachen rule. They knew who the true ruler was. We have waged war against the family to get what’s rightfully mine.”
“That’s pretty funny considering you walked away from me when my mother got pregnant. Like father, like son.”
He growled loudly and his eyes blazed red at her comment, but she wouldn’t take it back. “If you were anything but a weak human, I’d have you beside me. Fighting.”
Tiana raised a brow. “I don’t think so.” She glanced at Ker and his face showed as much shock as hers did when she learned who her father was. Thankfully, they were distant cousins and barely that.
Before she could reply, Ker stepped closer and pushed her father away. “I challenge you to a blood fight.”
“You what?” she said. “What are you doing, Ker? That sounds dangerous.”
Sayeh laughed. “You’re pretty smart for being part of a pathetic group of dragons.”
“Yeah, I’m not feeling it. A blood fight sounds like a stupid idea,” she countered. Ker stepped in front of her, blocking her from Sayeh. When she tried to shove around him, he refused to let her. “Ker, get out of my way.”
“No,” he said, “this is the only way. For you. For us.”
She sighed and gave up the fight. “How is killing each other the only way for anyone?”
“There is so much you don’t understand, girl.” Sayeh’s eyes never left Ker’s. “I’m surprised your Nana hasn’t told you the truth, boy. She knows the story. She was there when I challenged and was taken prisoner.”
Ker didn’t rise to the bait. “I offered a challenge, Sayeh. Do you accept or not? The crown belongs to my family, and I will defend it with my life as I do my mate. If I win, you leave, never putting forth a claim again.”
Sayeh’s brows pushed up. “And if I win, all of your family will submit to me. You are a fool, Ker Drachen. I accept your challenge.”
In a whirl of electricity and confusion, her father shifted in a heartbeat. Ker grabbed Tiana and shoved her away as the black dragon’s claws sliced the air where she stood.
“Tiana!” Ker yelled, eyes locked on the enemy, “run to my brothers. They are waiting for you beyond the trees.”
“No. I won’t leave you,” she shouted back. The dragon roared and the sky moved. The minions were sent to battle. The red on the other side flew to meet them. Ker took that second to morph into his dragon and swiped at the black. Sayeh was ready for him and sidestepped.
Tiana’s eyes widened and she sucked in a breath at the sheer size of Sayeh’s dragon. He was almost as large as Ker’s. Maybe his story about being half Drachen was true. He was the proof.
The two sprang into the air, trading punches and swinging tails. Fire streaked from their mouths, lighting up the sky.
In the field, black and red fought, teeth and claws rending, tails lashing as it rained blood. Dozens fell to the earth. Most took a moment to recover and then were back in the fight. But many others didn’t move after they hit ground.