Valentine (The Dragon Kings Book 3) (20 page)

Pearl gasped. “No. How?”

Val decided to answer for Sid. “He was in Hawaii when they had their deaths. Alaska too. Plus I saw him get a surfer in California a few hours ago.”

Pearl put her arms around Sid. “Oh, Sid, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s time we finish this. I’d like to involve the National Guard around Yellowstone. If it looks like we are asking for their help, they might hold off doing something dumb, like nuking our nests. Pearl, get the damned president on the phone.”

Sid and Pearl escaped into the office, and not long after, Val went into the kitchen with Runa. Hazel and Aspen were just coming through the back door.

Runa bobbed up and down on the table. “We found the human killer,” she chirped.

Aspen sat down in front of her. “What? How’d you do that?”

“Saw him.”

“Who is it?”

“Prometheus.”

All the color drained out of Aspen’s face. Her eyes flicked to Hazel. She kept her voice even, but her hands were shaking. “Really? Where’s Sid?”

“On the phone with the president.”

Sid came back into the room and froze when he saw the girls. “Hey. We’re all meeting at the Theodore-Roosevelt Visitor Center at seven. Aspen, can I talk to you?”

“Sure.”

She followed him out of the room, and Val reached for Hazel. She gave him a small smile.

“How are your parents?”

“As well as they could be. Aspen won’t let me tell them anything about Rowan. I would love to head back to California and continue the search.”

“We can’t. We need to take care of the human killer. I have to stay here and help Sid. But as soon as he’s dead, I’ll go back to California with you.”

Hazel creased her eyebrows. “What do you have to do?”

Val sighed. He needed to come clean sooner or later. Just as he got ready to speak, Runa stuck her snout in Hazel’s face. “How come you don’t like dragons?”

“Have you not seen the deaths that have occurred in the last few months?”

“But that’s just one dragon.”

“It doesn’t matter. We can’t control them. They pose a threat to us all. This was bound to happen sooner or later. You’ll probably be able to take care of this one, but what happens when another dragon starts eating people?”

“Then we fix it, just like now.”

“But how many people die in the meantime? They’re just a nuisance.”

“Are you calling me a nuisance?”

Hazel shrugged. “You’re tiny. You pose no threat.”

“I could bite your nose off.” Runa bared her teeth and snapped her jaw once.

“But you won’t. Runa, go make sure Aspen and Sid are okay,” Val interjected. He wasn’t about to try to break up a fight between Hazel and Runa. He’d never tell Hazel, but if it came down to it, Runa would win.

Runa rounded on him. “I don’t like her. Can you find another girlfriend?” She spread her bright yellow wings and flew out of the kitchen, whacking Hazel on the head on her way.

“Here I thought I was growing on her. She’s got nerve,” Hazel said with a nervous laugh. Maybe Hazel did recognize that Runa would best her if given the chance.

Val took her hand. “You know, dragons are a part of my life. If we are going to be together, you’ll need to get over your prejudices.”

“Prejudices? They’re animals. And I wasn’t lying about them being a nuisance. Just like snakes, rats, or moles. Life would be easier without them around.” She rubbed her forehead. “Can we talk about something else? I don’t want to fight.”

Val nodded, knowing they would have to deal with this sooner or later.

V
AL STOOD NEXT to Sid in the crowded visitor center. They were up on a small stage that was normally used for ranger talks. Val doubted when they built it, they ever imagined it being used to coordinate a dragon killing. National Guard members filled the room with a handful of civilians. Aspen was in the back with her parents and Hazel. Val smiled at Hazel, and she winked at him.

Sid commanded the crowd. Val could see why he was king. What he couldn’t understand was his own transformation. He was never good at leading anything.

The crowd hushed as Sid began.

“We have identified the human killer. He will be arriving this evening. A handful of our dragons will meet him. We will make sure that no other golden dragons are around so that you will know exactly who he is. We will allow you to come with us under only one circumstance.”

A man standing in the front glared at Sid. “What’s that?”

“We want to ensure you will not intervene. Your purpose is to witness. That’s all.”

The man crossed his arms. “How many dragons are we talking?”

“Two black, two silver, and a red.”

“That’s not very many. Are you sure they can handle the gold dragon? We can help.”

“If we bring in too many, he’ll get suspicious and leave. We don’t need help, but we do need you to see the destruction of the human killer so the public is appeased.”

The man looked at the men on either side of him. “Sure. We can witness.”

Sid dropped down next to him. He towered over the tiny man. “I want you to understand something. If you try anything, you will have a war on your hands. And the dragons will win.”

“Do you doubt my word?”

“You give it rather carelessly.”

“We won’t hurt the dragons.”

Sid backed up. “Okay, now that we have that out of the way. We’ve chosen a location surrounded by trees so you can effectively hide. Whoever is in charge of commanding the troops will have Aspen with him. She can communicate with the dragons.”

Titters broke out across the room, and the defiant man spoke again. “How?”

Aspen stepped forward. “Dragons communicate telepathically. Last year I befriended one of the black dragons.”

The man nodded to the young man standing next to him. “Paul will be leading the troops. You can coordinate with him. Hopefully tomorrow this will all be behind us, and I can go home to my wife.”

Val caught Hazel’s eye, and she had a frown on her face. He knew she wasn’t crazy about dragons. He just hoped that as she learned more, she wouldn’t run. Because he liked having her by his side, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to take it if she changed her mind.

H
AZEL DIDN’T KNOW what she was doing, sitting at the table in a conference room with Sid, Val, Aspen, Paul, and a few others she didn’t know. She had absolutely nothing to contribute, but Val pulled her in anyway and held her hand in his lap. Paul glared at them, but she didn’t care. Instead of worrying about the boys, she leaned over to Aspen.

“So how do you talk to dragons?”

Aspen shrugged. “With my mind. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal. Do they talk like us, or is it more rudimentary?” Hazel felt like she was on the cusp of understanding something big, but she couldn’t put her finger on what. The dragons were key to whatever secrets Aspen and Val were keeping.

Aspen let out a laugh. “They are just as, if not more, intelligent than us. Obsidian, the black dragon, is my best friend.”

Hazel scratched her head. “How are Val and Sid connected? Because I think the story about them being cousins is a lie.”

“Not my secret to share, Sis.”

Hazel looked sidelong at Val. They were together, and she cared for him a great deal, but she still didn’t know him all that well. She wished she knew if it would be possible to push him into telling her or if he would just flee.

Sid stood and talked about logistics. Hazel didn’t understand most of it, but her ears caught that Aspen and Paul would be hiding in the trees with a good view of where the fight was go to down. After Sid dismissed everyone, Hazel hung back. She was worried Val would notice, but he left the room deep in conversation with Sid. She caught Paul’s arm.

He raised his eyebrows at her. “You and that dragon prick, huh?”

“Dragon prick?”

“That guy is on their side.”

Hazel shrugged. “He’s a nice guy. But yeah, we’re together.” Paul wouldn’t like it, but she didn’t really care what Paul thought.

Paul pulled her close. “That’s never stopped you before.”

She wiggled out of his embrace. “This is different. That’s not why I wanted to talk to you.” She hoped he’d cooperate, even without the promise of a kiss.

He rolled his eyes. “What do you want?”

“I want to go with you and Aspen tonight.”

Paul crossed his arms and shook his head. “That is no place for civilians.”

“Aspen’s going.” Why did everyone act like she was helpless?

“Aspen’s not a civilian.”

“Like hell she’s not. She’s my sister. I’m going with.”

“Why? You’ve never cared much what happens to dragons.”

“Because Aspen and the others are keeping something from me. Something that has to do with dragons. The more I get involved with things, the better chance I have at discovering it.” Besides, she wanted to keep an eye on Aspen.

“Well, I’m not going to invite you along, but if you show up with Aspen, I won’t turn you away.”

Hazel nodded, determined to find a way to tag along with Aspen.

Out in the lobby, people were milling about, and all conversations buzzed of dragons. Val wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Hazel leaned into him and closed her eyes, wishing that all their problems would just go away.

“Hey, we’ve got a few hours before the action starts. You want to come back to the house with me?”

She planted a light kiss on his lips and frowned.

“I’d love to, but I’ve got business to take care of with Aspen. Tomorrow, this is all going to be over. Let’s meet up tonight, and we’ll stay in all day watching movies and gorging on pizza. How’s that sound?”

He leaned down. “I’d like to do that now.”

She pulled out of his arms. If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget all about Aspen. “Me too, but surely you have a role to play in tonight’s activities.”

“I do.”

“Where will you be when all this goes down?”

“Secret. But I’ll explain everything tomorrow. If you’re going to be a part of my life, you deserve to know everything.”

Hazel’s heart raced. Maybe she wouldn’t have to go with Aspen at all if Val would just tell her. She grabbed his hand. “I’ll go with you now, if you tell me this afternoon.”

Sid approached from the side and clapped Val on the shoulder. “We need to get Damien and Athena, you coming?”

Val nodded and kissed Hazel on the tip of her nose. “Tonight. Promise. When everything is over.”

She couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but she left Val and Sid and went in search of Aspen, who was outside arguing with Paul.

“There will be no need for weapons. We’re just watching.”

Paul laughed in her face. “What is the point of us coming if we don’t have weapons?”

“How many troops are you bringing with?”

“A hundred.”

“You need to promise me you won’t use them unless the dragons fail to take care of the human killer.”

“I can’t promise anything, sweetheart.”

Aspen clenched her fists and took a deep breath. “Fine,” she said and spun on her heel and stomped away.

“What time do you want to meet?” Paul called after her.

“Five. Here.” She paused just long enough to answer and then continued her race for the door. Hazel ran after her.

She caught up with her seconds later. “Hey, you okay?” Hazel asked.

Aspen shook her head. “Something feels wrong about this. I need to find Sid.”

“He and Val just went to get Athena and Damien. Are they dragons?”

Aspen nodded. “That means I won’t be able talk to him. Let’s go back to Sid’s. I can see if Runa will help me. She may be able to get word to them.”

Hazel hopped in the passenger seat. Once Aspen was on the road, Hazel brought up her own plans.

“Can I come with this evening?”

“To the dragon beheading?”

“Beheading?”

“Yeah, that’s how they kill each other.”

Hazel’s insides squirmed. She didn’t like blood and gore. “How do you know?”

“I saw it last year. Twice.”

“That must be pretty gruesome.” Hazel grimaced at the thought of dragons killing one another. The thought of the blood that must come out when they get beheaded was more than she could stomach.

“It is. Why do you want to come?”