The Kings: The Dragon Kings Book 5 Read online

“We can’t talk about it, but, you’re in danger,” Rowan said.

  She puffed up her chest. “So is everyone else. I’m in this with you.”

  Sid didn’t think Rowan would be able to convince her otherwise, and they were wasting time.

  “You’re right. We can’t make you, but promise me you won’t put yourself in harm’s way.”

  She nodded somberly. “I promise.”

  “That’s all we can ask for.” Sid needed to put this out of his mind and focus on the task at hand.

  “Any suggestions where we should go next?” Sid asked.

  Aspen smiled at him. He knew she thought he was doing the right thing asking for help instead of demanding it, but truthfully, he was tired.

  “I think we need to deal with those weapons,” Hazel said.

  “How?” Sid asked. “They could be anywhere.”

  “Well, you mentioned the weapons were probably at military bases. Val and I could scope them out.”

  Val shook his head and slapped the table. “I need to stay here with my tribe. I’ll not abandon them again.”

  Skye leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Rowan and I could go.”

  “How? The humans are going to see you,” Sid said.

  “We can all camouflage. Remember? We can hide in plain sight,” Skye said.

  Sid faltered for a second. He’d forgotten. He could’ve used that multiple times. At the Pentagon for one. He felt like an idiot. He took a deep breath and let the thought go. That wouldn’t be productive right now.

  “You’re right. We can. Okay. That sounds like a plan. You and Rowan go, and when you find a location of weapons, whether they are being manufactured or stored, send an eagle back, and Val and his dragons will take it out.”

  At least they were doing something.

  “I’d like to lead those,” Val said, and Sid nodded. That was a perfect job for him.

  “Can I go with Rowan and Skye?” Hazel asked.

  “Sure,” Sid said. “Aspen and I will see if we can find Candide. Freddie’s software should help. If I find her, I’m going to need all four of you though.”

  “Wait, why do you want to go?” Val asked.

  “What else am I going to do? I can’t exactly help you fry all the weapons.”

  He pulled her aside, and Sid let them have their privacy. Sid was relieved now that they had a plan. Skye bounced on her feet in front of him.

  “We’ve got forty-eight hours to find and destroy those weapons,” Sid said.

  “Let’s go. Time’s a wasting,” Skye said.

  Val gave Hazel a tight hug. “Be careful.”

  She let out a breath. “I always am.”

  After Skye, Rowan, and Hazel left, Aspen and Sid pulled chairs over to Freddie’s desk. “Can you explain this to us?” Sid asked.

  Freddie pointed to his screen, which had a large blue blob on a map.

  “See this, it’s your house. Dragons show up in blue.”

  “All dragons?”

  “Yeah. Now look.” He zoomed out, and Sid recognized the West Coast states.

  A small blue dot was flying east.

  “That’s probably Skye, Rowan, and Hazel.” He pointed at the bottom of the map, over Texas. “The river dragons are still here. See.”

  Sid nodded. Xanthous said they’d fight. Sid expected they’d be back soon. They were too small for the arctic dragons to consider a threat, but they were fierce little fighters. “So where are the rest of them?”

  Freddie zoomed out more. “Alaska.”

  Another blue blob appeared in northern Alaska. If they stayed there, Sid and the others could attack.

  Aspen scooted closer to Freddie. “Maybe we should recall Skye. We can attack them now, and they’d never see us coming.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. That’s home turf for them. It might be better to wait until they are on the move. At least we know we can track them. Okay, Freddie. Don’t take your eyes off that screen. If there is even a small movement from up north, I want to know about it,” Sid said.

  Freddie saluted him. “You got it, boss.”

  Skye wasn’t used to flying with two people on her back. In fact, she was weirded out that Hazel asked to go with them. She had no idea why, and she was more than a little bit curious. Since they were all able to camouflage themselves, Skye flew low and out in the open, and it didn’t take long to get to Kentucky. She landed in a field near the edge of the state.

  “Do either of you know where the military bases are?”

  Both Hazel and Rowan shrugged.

  “But I can find out,” Hazel said.

  She pulled out her phone. After a few moments, she grinned. “There’s only three. Here, look.”

  Skye studied the map. Those would be easy enough to find. “Should we split up?”

  Rowan frowned. “I don’t think so. We won’t be able to see anything from the ground, and they’re not that far apart. We’ll do a loop and keep a close eye for anything.”

  Skye changed back into a dragon, and they scrambled onto her back. They were halfway to the first base when Skye saw something odd.

  What’s that? she asked.

  Looks like a refugee camp. Look at them all, Rowan replied

  Thousands of white tents dotted the landscape.

  Hazel patted Skye on the flank. Why don’t you let me down there? I could find information out for you. Those in charge might know something about the weapons. Val taught me how call an eagle. I’ll send one to you when I’m done or if I find out anything useful.

  Skye banked sharply and landed hard a hundred yards from the refugee camp. She didn’t like splitting up, but she didn’t want to argue with Hazel.

  Hazel gave Rowan a big hug. “Stay safe.”

  “You too, Sis. We’ll see you soon.”

  Skye took the air again with Rowan on her back. Why did Hazel want to come with us?

  Because she felt a little useless with Val and his tribe. There’s not much she can do, not being a dragon. She’s good at getting information out of people, but she knew Val wouldn’t leave the fire dragons.

  They flew over the first base.

  That looks like they are doing a lot of work, Rowan said.

  Vehicles were in and out of the base, and people were rushing everywhere. It definitely appeared that this might be the center of activity. Lucky they found it on the first shot.

  We should probably check out the other two, just to make sure, Rowan said.

  Yeah. We don’t want to assume anything.

  Skye did another loop around that base and then took off toward the next one. Her stomach fell when they found it, just as busy as the first, Skye snorted and black smoke poofed out.

  This is impossible. How are we going to figure out which one it is? Skye said. There is nothing to indicate that the weapons are being manufactured or stored there.

  Let’s check out the third. Maybe we can at least eliminate one of them.

  Good idea.

  Skye headed east to the last base. It was as busy as the other two.

  I’m going to fly around in wide circle. See if you see anything that looks like those weapons. They had to be moving them or something. This shouldn’t be that hard.

  She flew slow and low. There were a lot of buildings and more troops than she’d ever seen in any one place before.

  Skye, I don’t think this is it.

  Me neither but it’s so hard to tell.

  Let’s circle back to the other one.

  They checked all three and saw nothing that looked like the weapons they were seeking.

  Do you even know what the guns look like? Rowan asked.

  Skye snorted. No. We should’ve kept Hazel, huh? She was there when those troops shot Sid out of the sky. She knew exactly what they look
ed like.

  Let’s go back and get her. This isn’t working.

  Skye was frustrated. She thought she’d be able to help this way, but she was failing. If she couldn’t even identify the weapon they needed, what good was she right now?

  They left the base and headed back toward the refugee camp. Skye landed where she had before.

  “Should we send an eagle in there?” Skye asked.

  “That will look kind of suspicious, don’t you think? People don’t talk to eagles.”

  “True.”

  “Let’s go in. There can’t be that many people. We’ll find her.”

  Skye had grossly underestimated the number of people who rushed around everywhere. Garbage littered the ground, and it didn’t appear that anyone was in charge. No one stopped them when they walked in. Everywhere around them, people were dazed and confused.

  Rowan approached a man who appeared as if he might be in charge. He held out his phone. “Excuse me, sir, have you see this woman?”

  The man glared at him. “What makes you think I’ve seen her?”

  “Sorry, we know she’s here somewhere.”

  “Well, I haven’t seen her. I can’t even find my own wife.”

  “Is she here?”

  The man snorted. “How should I know? The government rounded us up and put us on busses. If anyone fought back, they got left behind.”

  A man with a heavily bandaged hand stopped next to Rowan. “If you got out without seeing the damage a dragon can do, you’re lucky. My house is gone, my daughter is dead, and my entire town is in flames. They come in at night when no one is awake and no one can see them. The government had to move fast to evacuate the coastal towns. Now I’ve heard the dragons are moving inland. The refugee camps may not even be safe.”

  Skye’s stomach fell. The canyon and arctic dragons were causing so much damage. No wonder the humans wanted to kill them. Skye almost felt bad about destroying the weapons, but she also knew the humans wouldn’t stop at the canyon and arctic. They’d kill all the dragons.

  Rowan and Skye walked away from the two men.

  Skye watched the chaos around her. People shouting for each other and others sitting on the ground huddled together. She wouldn’t wish this on her worst enemy.

  A hand gripped her shoulder. “What are you guys doing here?”

  Skye spun around and found herself face-to-face with Hazel.

  Skye sighed in relief. “We weren’t getting anywhere with the bases, so we came back here. Did you find anything?”

  “I did. Let’s get out of here so no one overhears.”

  Skye and Rowan rushed after Hazel. Once the camp was far behind them, Hazel stopped.

  “The weapons were being manufactured in a plant off base, but they are already on their way to the base. We won’t be able to take them out in route, but we should be able to identify the building they are being temporarily stored in, and Val can take out the one building. Our goal is destroy the weapons, not kill anyone.”

  Skye let out a breath. “You realize people are probably going to die, though, right? We can minimize it, but it will still happen.”

  “I know, but people have suffered enough. We need to do everything we can to make sure more don’t.”

  “Let’s go,” Skye said.

  Trucks were en route to the first base they checked. They got lucky and saw the guns. They watched long enough to see what building the weapons were being stored in and flew off. Skye stopped in a field, and Hazel pulled out her phone.

  “What are you doing?” Skye asked.

  “I’m sending Val a message with a map,” Hazel said.

  “I was going to send an eagle.”

  Hazel smirked. “This is faster and more accurate.” She waited for a moment. “He says he’s on his way. Do you want to meet him in the air?”

  Skye nodded, feeling silly.

  Hazel was far smarter than Skye had ever given her credit for. Skye was also nervous of how this would go down. Val and his tribe were going to attack, but she didn’t know how they were going to get out. Val would surprise the humans, but it wouldn’t last long. They had planes and other weapons they could fight with. More people were going to die. Dragons too if they didn’t get out of there fast enough.

  War was an ugly, ugly thing, and Skye was sad that she had to witness it. Her days of peace were so long ago, when she and Sid would sit by the side of a lake and fantasize of their quiet, peaceful life. She was in love with Rowan now, and she wouldn’t give that up for anything, but she longed for peace.

  Skye, Hazel, and Rowan met Val in the sky over Kansas. They flew high so they couldn’t be seen, unless one was looking. The skies were cloudy, and it was the perfect way to surprise the humans. Val only brought five dragons with him.

  What’s your plan? Skye asked. She wasn’t educated in the ways of war, and if something happened to either Val or Sid, she needed to know how to fight. How to plan. How to save lives.

  How had this become her life?

  We’re going to come in low and fast, incinerate the building and then fly in five different directions. It shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds. By the time they even realize the building is on fire, we’ll be gone, and hopefully no one will be able to follow us. We’ll regroup again at home and wait for you to give us the location of the second base.

  It seemed like the perfect plan, but perfect plans usually had flaws. If it worked the way he said it would, then no one would die, except the few who were in the building with the weapons.

  We’d like to fly in with you, Skye said.

  Why?

  Not to fight. I will land near the building and see if we can hear anything from the troops on the ground. They might give us a hint as to where they are holding the other weapons. They’ll have no reason to think that someone is listening.

  That is a good point. Be careful though. I don’t want anything to happen to Hazel.

  Hazel can hold her own. She single-handedly discovered this location. She’s smart.

  Skye felt pride radiating off Val. She was glad she’d said something that made him happy. They could all use a little happiness now.

  She is smart but not invincible. Promise me you’ll take care of her.

  Of course I will.

  Skye descended out of the clouds and could see the green rolling hills of Missouri. They’d be in Kentucky in minutes, and the moment of truth would be there.

  Rowan, Hazel. I need you to listen, Skye said.

  Sure thing, boss, Hazel said.

  I’m going to land before Val incinerates the building. We need to keep our camouflage. Your job is to listen to any of the conversations around us. If anyone says anything about those other weapons, we need to know.

  Skye, you need to be careful that you don’t run into anyone. We’ll be invisible, but if someone runs into us, the gig is up, Hazel said.

  I’ll be careful.

  They crossed the river, and Val dropped several feet.

  Skye, are you ready? he asked.

  I am. Let’s go. She wasn’t ready, but she could pretend.

  Skye went in ahead of him. The people hadn’t realized that any dragons were in the vicinity yet. She found a spot near the fence where she was fairly certain no one would run into her.

  She didn’t have to wait long before she saw the magnificent red forms fly in low and fast. The humans saw them a half second before they arrived. As one, the dragons let out their flames. The sulfur smell came first, foreshadowing what was about to come. Then the bright red flames pierced the building’s roof, incinerating it instantly. With the roof gone, all five let out another jet of flames, scorching everything inside. For a half a breath the entire base stilled. Then cries wrenched the air. Ear piercing, gut wrenching screams followed by the roar of fire as the entire building exploded.

>   Skye cowered into the fence as humans raced by. No one dared to go near the building. The cries didn’t last long, maybe ten seconds, but she’d never forget the sound.

  Val and his five companions plowed into the clouds, all in different directions. Skye wanted to escape the stench of gunpowder and burnt flesh. She didn’t know how many people were in the building, but she’d guess at least a couple dozen. Twenty-four young men who were now dead because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  Skye hadn’t prepared for the loss of life. She’d known it was reality. This was war, but the reality of it was brutal. Those men didn’t need to lose their lives. Maybe they should’ve waited until dark when no one was in the building.

  But even as she thought about it, she knew that was dumb. They only had a short amount of time before the humans were going to attack them. They couldn’t wait.

  But the screams.

  Skye, are you okay? Rowan hit her on the side.

  No. I’m not.

  Well, you’re squishing us.

  She shuffled forward a couple of feet. Sorry. The screams, they scared me.

  I know. But what are we here for?

  We’re here to listen to see if any of them indicate where they keep the other weapons.

  Right now that would be pointless. The humans weren’t close at all, and those who were nearby weren’t talking. No one would be able to hear anything.

  Skye glanced away from the fire. Small groups of troops were congregated, talking. She needed to hear. She moved slowly, not wanting to jostle anyone and bring attention to herself.

  Rowan and Hazel held tight to her back.

  She managed to get close to one of the groups of men.

  “Did you see it?” one man asked.

  “The dragons? No. Just the fire. I think Davis saw it though.”

  The other young man in the group had an ashen face. One of the others nudged him. “Did you see the dragons?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, what’d they look like?”

  “Like the devil incarnate. They were bright red. It happened so fast. They were there, and they were gone, and now Ford and Brooksby are dead.”

  The man held his face in his hands. Another man put his hand on the weeping man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll get revenge. Just you wait. This was only one set of weapons. There’s a whole stock of them at Fort Carson and Malmstrom. Those bastards will get what’s coming to them. I’m tempted to sign up for the front line so we can avenge our brothers.”