The Kings: The Dragon Kings Book 5 Read online

  We need to get to Sid. He was right. We should’ve never split up. We can’t win a war if we are divided.

  Val beat his wings faster, and two hours later he was the first to land on Mt. Washburn. He hoped the others were okay.

  He didn’t say anything as they waited. Just before dawn, he saw a speck of red.

  Look, there they are. He pointed with his wing.

  Hazel rubbed her arms. She had to be freezing, but she didn’t complain.

  “There’s a few sea dragons coming from the south.”

  He turned and saw where she was pointing. He let out a breath of relief. They were going to be okay.

  His tribe was all accounted for within the hour. He flew to Marlow.

  Did all the sea dragons arrive? he asked.

  Yes. Fuchsia tells me you had to take down the fighter jets.

  We had no choice. Val’s stomach clenched. He hadn’t wanted to do it. The pilots were innocent men who were only doing their jobs.

  I know, but I don’t want to fight the humans.

  Me neither. Come, let’s go figure out how to win.

  Val took to flight and waited for everyone to do the same. Then he flew straight for Sid’s house. War had come upon them suddenly. Now they were going to take it by storm. The white witch had no idea what was about to hit her.

  After Val and Skye left, Sid went to shower. He needed time to think about the prophecy and the war that snuck up on them. He’d been so confident when he heard the prophecy, but now with Val and Skye gone, he wasn’t so sure. Not to mention that after seeing the canyon dragons actively attacking the humans, he didn’t know how to handle all of this alone. He needed their support.

  He dried off his hair and pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He went in search of Aspen, hoping she would talk him through his concerns.

  He found her in the theater room watching the news. He’d been avoiding it, but he couldn’t now. He was scared of what was on there. Words of the dragons attacking humans. What the president was going to do about it.

  “What’s new?”

  “Alaska.”

  “What happened to Alaska?” Sid asked. Alaska was old news. When Rowan was missing, strange rumors had started coming from Alaska. Sid hadn’t been paying attention. He was too worried about Rowan, but cruise ships were being overturned, and wildfires spun out of control. Now Sid knew they were the arctic dragons, but at the time they didn’t.

  “The arctic dragons are openly attacking and have begun burning down homes and randomly killing people. They attacked another cruise ship but this time in public. Dived deep into the water and flipped it over, killing everyone on board. Over ten thousand people have died in the last three days. It’s awful,” Aspen said.

  Sid put his head in his hands, and Aspen rubbed his back. He had no clue how he could go about fixing this. “You okay?” she asked.

  He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. “No. I’m not. We’re not going to make it out of this unscathed. Maybe not even alive.” This was his reign. His problem. He was the only one who could fix this. As much as he wanted to rely on the other kings, they didn’t have the training he had. He would have to step up and lead the way.

  The prophecy had made it clear that they would war against the arctic dragons, but it had said nothing about people. He’d assumed when it talked about species, it meant just animals.

  The news changed from the images of Vegas to the President of the United States. Sid sat up taller. When Theo was randomly killing people, the U.S. Government had wanted to take the dragons out. What would they do now? He needed to do something before it got out of hand. Like he didn’t have enough to worry about.

  “Aspen, I need you to go to D.C. with me and meet up with Jonathan and talk with the president. We need her on our side. The humans will never survive this war if they go against all of us. Plus, in a three-way war, we’ll have a harder time winning.” This mess got worse and worse, but this was his fate. To be the leader. Or the tyrant, according to Val.

  “Before we go, let’s think through all of this.” She was unusually calm, her face revealing no emotion. Sid wondered what was going on in her head.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re just reacting. You have no plan.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I don’t know what else to do. The two people I need to help me have gone AWOL.”

  “True, but that doesn’t mean we can’t form a plan. Let’s start with the dragons. What’s our goal?”

  Sid paused. This was so unlike Aspen. She usually was an act first, think later type.

  “To kill Candide,” he said.

  “Okay then. Everything we do should lead only to that goal. We don’t need to worry about anything else.”

  “I don’t see how we can’t think of anything else. What about the humans?”

  “Is helping them going to help us defeat the witch?”

  “Well, if we don’t, we’ll be facing a three-way war.”

  Aspen cocked her head, her eyebrows creased in thought. “Is there any way we can enlist them in our fight?”

  “I’m not sure I follow.”

  “Our goal is to defeat the white witch. I know the humans have weapons that can kill dragons. If we go talk to the president, like you suggested, we can offer to help. Tell them we’ll fight the arctic and canyon dragons with them.”

  Sid furrowed his brow. “I don’t see how this is any different than what I was planning.”

  “What were you planning?”

  “To go ask the humans not to kill us all.”

  “This is very different. We’re not going in there begging for mercy. We’re going to ask them to join us in the war. Imagine how much stronger we’ll be with the entire U.S. military on our side.”

  “You’re a genius, you know that. Let’s go.”

  Aspen laid a hand on his arm. “Wait. We’re not done yet.”

  “We have a plan.”

  “For the humans. What about the dragons?”

  “It’s us against the arctic and the canyon. What more do we need to talk about? We need to act.”

  “You need to think. You have no plan. The arctic and canyon dragons are going to slaughter us. Did you see how systematically the canyon dragons took out Vegas? We need our dragons prepared. Who knows how to lead a war?”

  Sid shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “Do any of the older dragons remember what it was like to be in the dragon wars?”

  “No, most of us only live about a thousand years. Only the arctic dragons were alive then.”

  “Well, someone has to have a plan for war. An old king maybe?”

  “The council might. I haven’t been king long enough for it to have been brought up.”

  “Then you need to have a council meeting.”

  “Okay, but first…”

  “This needs to happen before we go to D.C. Sid, the dragons are your priority. You need to get them straightened out first.”

  “Fine, but we’re doing it here.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Sid stepped outside and whistled for his eagle. “Call for the council. Tell them to come here. We’ll meet in three hours. Do not alert Eros or Anasazi.”

  The eagle bowed and took off. Sid didn’t want Anasazi to come because as a canyon dragon, he couldn’t be trusted. Eros probably had his hands full down in Hawaii. He hoped Val had gotten there in time, and he was anxious for Val to return.

  He whistled for another eagle. “Fetch Damien, Athena, and Murdoc. Bring them here.”

  Sid went inside and waited with Aspen. She still had the news on. It played horrible image after horrible image of dead bodies and scorched cities.

  Sid wasn’t convinced the humans would side with them. They’d be lucky if the humans didn’t try to nuke them.

/>   Two and a half hours later Sid went to his backyard and waited. First came Pearl and Sequoia. Kiari, Xanthous, and Matthias were right behind them. Damien, Athena, and Murdoc were last.

  Sid turned into a dragon, and Aspen sat at his feet.

  As I’m sure most of you are aware, the arctic dragons have declared war upon us. We have no choice but to fight back, Sid said.

  Kiari held her head up high. They have declared war upon the kings. No one else. I don’t see why we are involved.

  Sequoia snarled. They wiped out our race. I’d say they are fighting more than the kings.

  Sequoia is right. This war involves everyone. You are either on our side or theirs. If you are not on our side, please leave, Sid said.

  Kiari shuffled her feet, but didn’t move.

  Very good. Now, I wasn’t trained for war. Do any of you have experience or know anything about leading an army?

  The entire circle sat in silence for a moment. Finally Damien stepped forward. My great-great-grandfather was a general in the dragon wars. His knowledge was passed down from father to son, but I’ve never led an army.

  That is as good as we are going to get. You will be my general. I trust you, Damien. I always have. You will have whatever you need. Does anyone have any objections?

  No one seemed to have an opinion, which Sid found ironic. It was the first time he wanted them to give him advice, and they were out.

  Okay. Xanthous, will your dragons fight?

  Of course.

  Good, go get them and bring them here. Kiari, you as well. Pearl, Mother, can you gather the royal dragons? Aspen and I need to go see if we can get the humans on our side.

  If you all get back before I do, it’s up to Damien how he wants to begin. War is upon us. We do not have time to bicker or dawdle. We will win, but only if we work together.

  Damien cleared his throat. What about the fire dragons?

  Val went down to bring them back. Any other questions?

  Sid looked around his circle of dragons. How many of them would die in this war?

  As the plane landed, Sid began to worry about Jonathan. He was Theo’s father, and Sid hadn’t seen him since Theo died. In all the mess of the war and everything else that had happened, Sid had all but forgotten about him.

  Jonathan met them on the ground at the airport and greeted them with a grimace.

  Sid shook his hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Jonathan swallowed. He would not meet Sid’s eyes. “I’m sorry for what he did.”

  Sid was glad Jonathan held no ill will toward him. He wasn’t the one who killed Theo, but he was the reason Theo was dead.

  “That wasn’t your fault. Let’s go someplace we can talk. I need to know what I’m walking into.”

  Jonathan nodded somberly. Sid wasn’t sure if that was because he was in mourning or if it was because of what was going on with the dragons.

  Everyone was quiet in the car, and Aspen held Sid’s hand as they drove. They pulled up to a brownstone near the Capitol. Jonathan opened the front door and stood back so Sid could enter. Sid pulled Aspen in with him.

  He stopped short when he saw the living room and kitchen overflowing with people. He spun on Jonathan. “What’s this?”

  “Obsidian, no one knows what’s going on. These are all the D.C. ambassadors. We heard every other city is returning to Yellowstone, but when an eagle informed me that you were coming, I told them all to come here. We wanted to hear it straight from you.”

  Sid grabbed Aspen’s hand, and she squeezed it. “Of course. I have questions for you too,” Sid said.

  “We’ll answer them, but first, please tell us what is going on.”

  Sid looked around the room and saw something he’d never seen on his peoples’ faces. Fear. There was no chatter, no ease, no smiles. Once again, he held tight to Aspen’s hand for support. She was oddly quiet.

  He stepped in the middle of the room and took a deep breath.

  “The prophecy of the three kings has been fulfilled. Valentine of the fire dragons and Skye of the sea dragons have emerged as kings. Candide has come forth as the white witch, and she has declared war on us all. She wants the annihilation of any dragon who does not pledge allegiance to her, and the entire human race. She has already killed all but two of the woodlands dragons.”

  A small buzz filled the room. “Without the woodlands we cannot win a war,” Jonathan said.

  “Yes. We can, and we will.”

  “What are you doing about it?” someone shouted from the back.

  Sid let out a low chuckle. “If the war is to be won, it must be a joint effort. All will fight. That is why after this meeting, all but a few of you will return to Yellowstone. Damien is there organizing the army. He will make sure you are all placed where you can best serve.”

  Sid expected shouts of dissent, but none came. Not even a mutter.

  “Are there any questions?”

  A small woman, whose name Sid could not remember, spoke up. “No, we will fight. That witch will not win.”

  Sid felt himself fill with pride. “Can someone tell me what is going on here in Washington? I will meet with the president, but I need to know what I am facing.”

  Jonathan let out a breath. “I’m not sure seeing her is good idea. She’s not happy with the dragons, and I doubt she’ll be fair with you. She might even kill you as an example.”

  Sid had known his meeting with her would not be a pleasant one, but he wasn’t expecting open hostility. “You need to back up. What’s going on?”

  “You haven’t seen the reports of Vegas and Alaska?”

  Sid let go of Aspen’s hand, and she went and sat next to Raja. Sid crossed his arms. “Yes, I have. What is the president planning on doing about it?”

  “She hasn’t said yet. She’s having a press conference in about thirty minutes. The entire West Coast is under a state of emergency. People are being evacuated. The problem is that the dragons are attacking the airplanes. Trains are being used in the evacuation as well, but they are a big target. Cars are safest, but even some packed freeways are being incinerated.”

  Sid’s stomach fell. This was a disaster. “Are the humans fighting back?”

  “Yes, but a fighter jet is no match for a dragon. You and I both know that.” All the dragons in the room muttered their assent.

  Aspen looked confused. “But they have missiles.”

  “We can outfly those. The only things they seem to have success with are close-range weapons, but those are usually not big enough to kill, and they are having trouble getting close enough,” Jonathan said.

  Sid was grateful Jonathan was explaining it to Aspen. He didn’t want to be the one to give her the bad news that the humans couldn’t really kill the dragons so they’d be killed.

  What Jonathan didn’t know was that they had a new weapon. A gun that held bullets big enough to blow holes in dragon hides. Sid had been hit by one when they killed Theo, but he wasn’t sure if the humans had enough of those to make any difference.

  Aspen didn’t seem to have any other questions, so Sid took over again. “Is there anything else I should know?”

  “No, but we should watch the press conference.”

  Jonathan flipped on a monster TV on the wall.

  An image of a town on fire filled the screen. On the bottom, the words declared that it was Seattle.

  “I thought Vegas was the only town hit,” Aspen said, biting her lip.

  Jonathan shrugged. “I thought so as well.”

  A reporter appeared. “Overnight, towns up and down the entire coast have gone up in flames. There are no witnesses to the fires, but after Las Vegas and Alaska, we are confident that it is the dragons.”

  They flashed to videos from various locations. Sid and the others watched in horror. Humans being burned alive, whole
cities gone, and hundreds of thousands dead. He wasn’t sure how to convince the president that they were on the human’s side. Aspen was right. He needed to approach the president with ideas of how they could help. If the president thought he was trying to help, she might not kill all of them.

  Forty-five minutes later the president finally showed up on the screen.

  “Good morning. Over the past few days we suffered massive losses. The death toll is still rising, but it numbers in the hundreds of thousands. This is the biggest threat we’ve ever had to our land.

  “We are the only country on Earth that has welcomed the dragons onto our lands, and look where that has gotten us. As I speak to you, my joint chiefs are creating a plan that will aggressively take out the dragons. By the time we are finished, there will be no more dragons left. Know that our military is fighting, and we won’t rest until this war is over. Large refugee camps have been set up in Utah and Colorado as well as smaller camps in other states. We encourage citizens to open up their homes to those who have lost everything. We will take care of our own.”

  Sid muted the screen.

  “Let’s go. She’s declaring war. We need to convince her that only the arctic and canyon deserve to be killed.”

  Jonathan nodded. “I’ll call my contact right away. I’m certain she will meet with you, but you are taking your life into your own hands.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance. Let’s go.” Sid didn’t care what the president did to him. Sitting back and just letting the canyon and arctic dragons slaughter the humans was unacceptable. He had to help.

  The driver met them at the curb. Once in the car, Jonathan urged him not to go. “My contact says she’s livid, and she was a little too happy to be meeting with you. Sid, what if she captures or kills you?”

  “Then there are two more kings that can lead. I must at least try to fix this. If I don’t, I doom the human race because you and I both know they won’t win a war against the dragons, even with their new weapons that they think can kill dragons.”

  Aspen squeezed his hand and gave him an encouraging grin.

  Jonathan sank into the seat. “There are humans I care for more than some dragons.”