Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(20)

Yes, I’d do it even if he can’t help me. Damien, why did you never tell me that story? Skye and I have been here loads of time to visit you.

Because you never asked, Obsidian. You and Skye were more interested in talking about yourselves. And while I enjoyed the company and your stories, you never asked about mine.

Old friend, I’m sorry. I’ll not make that mistake again. But now we need your help.

Damien moved his head from Aspen’s lap and looked at Obsidian. They spoke to each other, but included Aspen in the conversation. She wondered how they did that.

Aspen and I are sealed to each other. Sid stood very still as he spoke.

Damien coughed, and a small red flame escaped. He swung his head around and stared at the marking on Obsidian’s ankle.

Nin Bereth, but that means...

I know what it means, Damien. I need your help to keep both of us alive.

Damien walked away and sat in the middle of the cave and stretched his neck out. She made her way to him and leaned against his neck. She wrapped one arm around him. Aspen couldn’t help herself. She liked this poor dragon. He sighed.

Sid moved in front of him. Do you see this mark?

Damien lifted his head and stared at the mark Skye had given him. His body tensed underneath Aspen. You fool, do you understand what you’ve done?

I know exactly what I’ve done. Will you represent the fire dragons?

I’ll be giving up my life.

No, you won’t. I’m going to win this thing.

Damien stood up, and Aspen scrambled away. He snorted red puffs of smoke and narrowed his eyes at Sid.

After everything I’ve been through, I can’t believe you’d do this to me.

Sid towered over him. Do you want to see your son again? I’m your only possibility of that happening. I need your loyalty. Will you give that to me?

Damien paced back and forth in the cave. He huffed and puffed, and every once in a while, he brought his head down and stared at Aspen. Finally he spoke again.

I don’t agree with this. You undermine our whole system. All to save your own neck.

Sid held his head high.

I’m doing it to prevent the wars. If I succeed, then no wars will break out. But if I die and the wrong dragon is named king, we’ll have a mess on our hands.

Damien narrowed his eyes at him. You speak as if there is treachery within the potential kings.

Possibly. Damien, I don’t know who else to ask. You are my best chance at getting a fire dragon. Please.

Damien shivered, and then his whole body seemed to relax. For the record, I don’t agree with this. But I’ll do it.

Sid let out a breath. Thank you, old friend, you won’t regret this.

Sid lowered his head, and Damien stared down at him. For a second Aspen realized what kind of danger Sid put himself in when he asked for their loyalty. He was in a very vulnerable position. With one quick movement, Damien could bite his head off.

Obsidian, on behalf of the fire dragons, I pledge our loyalty to you and only you.

Damien put his snout on Sid’s head. Aspen watched as a red mark appeared on Sid’s chest.

Aspen’s head spun. She had no idea what they were talking about. And she knew better than to question Sid. He never answered a single important question. But Skye might.





That night Aspen arrived at Sid’s house ready to confront Skye. She’d wait until the boys went downstairs, and then she’d figure out once and for all what everything meant and what Skye’s role was. Aspen knew they were keeping something from her, and she was determined to find out what it was.

Sid met her at the door with a big kiss, and for a minute she forgot what it was she was angry about.

“I can’t do that when I’m a dragon,” Sid whispered in her ear. Rowan brushed past them.

“I’m so tired of the PDA. Seriously.”

Aspen giggled.

They entered the kitchen and found Skye elbow deep in some chocolate concoction. Sid put his arm around Aspen’s shoulder and nuzzled her neck.

“Someday, I’m going to have something like that. You guys make me so jealous,” Skye said.

Rowan coughed, and Aspen almost said something about someone being ready for the job, but restrained herself. Rowan would kill her if he knew she’d told Skye he liked her.

“Your birthday’s coming up this weekend, right?” Skye asked.

Aspen nodded. She’d never been big on birthdays, but she’d never been opposed to celebrations either.

“We should have a party,” Sid said. “It’s a long weekend because of Thanksgiving. We can do something Friday afternoon.”

“The last party was kind of a fiasco. Why don’t we just have a small friends and family thing?” Aspen asked.

“Okay. Let’s do Saturday night instead. Invite your parents.”

“What time?”

Before Sid could answer, he was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

Sid jumped up to answer the door. Aspen settled on a stool, and Rowan climbed onto the one next to her.

“Obsidian, son, what the devil are you doing?”

Rowan looked at Aspen with wide eyes.

“Dad, my name is Sid.”

After that both voices dropped, and Aspen figured Sid was telling his dad that there was a human in the house that didn’t know about dragons.