Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(18)

Every race wanted to be in charge, so gaining support from all the races was next to impossible. But there was a royal dragon who was loved by all. He eventually was able to secure loyalty from all the races.

That doesn’t sound so difficult.

By swearing allegiance, they are giving their life. If I die, so do they.

How do they die?

It’s a consequence of the sealing. If I were to die, they’d all die at the same moment.

Aspen’s grip on his neck tightened. So Skye basically gave her life to you.

Yes. It was her idea. She learned how to invoke the magic when she learned how to remove her sealing. We’re lucky she came to stay.

Is Skye the leader of her race?

No.

Then how come she could do it?

Because any dragon can speak for his race.

Aspen rested her head on the back of his neck. She was glad he found a way to save his life, but she felt like there was still something missing from his story.

Can you tell me more about the whole queen thing? I know you are trying to prevent it with this marking thing, but I’d like to know more about how things are supposed to work.

Sid dropped several hundred feet into a canyon, and Aspen gasped. Sorry, it’s not as windy down here. The process of choosing a queen is a secret. I will not understand it until I witness it. I do know that I don’t have a choice and that the council chooses a queen because she exhibits qualities of an effective queen. A king is only as strong as his queen. It is very important that a proper queen is chosen, or it gives space for possible war. A weak queen means a weak king, and those with a thirst for power would go after the throne. We haven’t warred in thousands of years. Dragons are typically peaceful creatures.

Right now, a council of dragons makes all the decisions. It consists of one dragon from each race. There are eight dragon races. Since the wars, the king is always a royal dragon. Male royal dragons are gold, and female royal dragons are silver. We live here in Yellowstone. The other races live all over the world. Though each race has a presence somewhere in America. But only since the wars. It wasn’t always that way.

Obsidian was following a river. From that height, Aspen couldn’t tell where they were. A drop-off appeared ahead. He flew downward, following a waterfall. Aspen felt the spray of water on her face. Just before they plunged into the pool, he pulled up, and she realized they were in the middle of the grand canyon of Yellowstone. The walls rose sharply on either side of them.

Aspen’s mind was reeling from the information about the queen. She had no idea it was so complex. She’d ruined whatever chance Sid had at having a normal reign, but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to feel guilty.

You said there are eight dragon races. I thought there were only seven. Red dragons from Hawaii, blue ones in Florida, orange in Arizona, yellow in Texas, and white in Alaska. Oh, and those purple and green ones in California. Why do they have purple bodies and green wings when the other dragons are all a solid color?

Legend has it that there were once two additional dragon races. One fully purple who lived in the mountains and another fully green who lived in the forests. When a dragon mates with one of a different race, that dragon will have the body color of their mother and wing color of their father. It is said that the dragons of the mountains and the dragons of the forests were very fond of each other. After the wars, only the children survived. They are called the woodland dragons, and they are very useful; they have healing powers.

Healing powers?

Obsidian didn’t answer, but he soared around a mountain and flew into a wide cave. You ready to meet another dragon?

Hell yeah.

He landed inside the cave and let out an enormous flame. His name is Damien.

Aspen grinned. What kind of a dragon is he?

Fire, from Hawaii.

What’s he doing here?

He was banished from his home. Skye and I used to visit him. He’s a good friend of mine.

Obsidian crept down a tunnel, and blackness enveloped them. Eventually, Aspen saw a light ahead. The tunnel gave way to large cavern bathed in red light. In the middle of the cave sat the sorriest looking dragon she’d ever seen. His jaw no longer aligned. One eye was missing. Scars across his belly oozed with pus and blood. Almost all of his tail was gone, and his wings were in tatters.

Aspen slid off Obsidian’s back and walked up to the disfigured dragon. “Are you Damien?”

Yes, and who are you, human?

I am Aspen.

Damien looked at Obsidian. He was quite a bit smaller than the king. About the size of her jeep, but with a long neck. Aspen bounced in place, itching to get her hands on the new dragon. He and Obsidian looked at each other for a while, and Aspen’s patience wore thin. She knew they were talking, and it irked her to not be a part of the conversation.

“What happened to you?” she asked. He jerked his head down to look at her.

I lost my temper one too many times. A deep growl came from his throat, and he looked back at Obsidian. She knew he was irritated at being interrupted, but she did not like being left out.

She tapped him on the knee. He brought his head down again and bared his teeth at her.

“Would it be alright if I examined your body?” she asked, unfazed by his threats.

Why? he asked, irate. She didn’t care.

“Because, you’re a dragon, and I’ve only ever really seen Obsidian. I want to see if you are any different.”