Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(30)

Sid opened his mouth, but Apollo cut him off. “That is in the past. Aspen couldn’t know how hard that was for you. Now, Sid, I’ve told your mother that we’re going to go out see and Jolantha today. Are you ready to go?”

“Not exactly. There’s been a complication.”

Athena sniffed. “That’s probably her fault too.”

“Mother, please. Could you at least try to be nice?”

She pursed her lips. “No.”

Aspen saw Sid roll his eyes. “Whatever, we still need your help. Dad, we thought we got the human killer, but he’s still out there, and he’s killing again. We’ve got ambassadors trying to smooth things over in DC, but this has gotten out of hand. Can you track him?”

“Your father is done tracking dangerous dragons. Why don’t you just have the eagles do it?” Athena asked.

“I did. They came back dead.”

Athena covered her mouth, and Apollo stroked his beard. His face betrayed no emotion.

“Your dad can’t go after a monster like that. He’ll get hurt. Do you remember what happened on his last mission?”

“Of course I do, but I don’t know who else to ask. We had trackers out before, and no one has even gotten close to him. Dad, you’re the best.”

“Now, not only did you make sure that he dies if you die, but you want to send him out on some suicide mission to track a dragon that is probably the most dangerous one we’ve had in several hundred years.”

“Now, Athena, I’ve searched for more dangerous dragons, and nothing ever happened to me. Yes, I know we had that scare on my last mission, but that was a long time ago. Besides, this dragon hasn’t hurt any dragons.”

“That we know of. I don’t like this.”

“I’ll be more careful this time. I’d be honored to serve you, son. I’ll head out this afternoon. Maybe you could show me places we know he’s been.”

“I don’t like this,” Athena repeated.

“Dad will be fine. We can build a team to go with him if that will make you feel better.”

“Nonsense, I work better on my own. Besides, I can’t very well build a team when I have a mark on my chest that says I no longer recognize the council.”

Sid took a deep breath. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go see Jolantha. Then you can come home with us, and I can take you out and show you what we know about the human killer.”

Athena’s face hardened. “I hope you know that we’re doing this for you, not for that thing.” She nodded toward Aspen.

Sid pulled Aspen close, but kept his eyes trained on his mother. “What you do for me, you do for her. Let’s go.”





Getting Jolantha’s support was easier than Sid thought it would be. They’d arrived home fifteen minutes ago, and Aspen collapsed on Sid’s bed.

“I’m exhausted. Your mom really was as bad as they said. I thought everyone was exaggerating.”

“She’ll come around. She has to. But it’s a good thing we won’t see much of her.”

Aspen giggled and patted the bed. “Come here. I want to see your new mark.”

Sid sat next to her. “You’re just trying to get me to take my shirt off.”

She shrugged. “Maybe. Though, I have to admit, every time you whip your shirt off, I get a little dizzy.”

Sid gave her a crooked grin. “Yeah, good to know.”

“Just don’t do it while I’m driving.”

She grabbed the sides of his shirt and tugged. Her boldness shocked him, and if he was being honest with himself, made him lose all thoughts of dragon wars and gathering supporters.

Her fingers brushed his skin, and he shivered. She scooted closer to him and pulled his shirt up farther.

“Arms up,” she said as if she were talking to a small child. Sid complied, still a little taken aback by her nerve.

He didn’t say anything as she studied each of the marks.

“I like Jolantha’s the best. The blend of purple and green is gorgeous. What do the words around the name mean?”

“There isn’t an exact translation, but it’s something like loyalty to the king forever.”

“Do you still speak this language?”

“No. Our language evolved much like the human language did, but I have a dictionary on the shelf.”

She nodded, and he hoped she wouldn’t ask about their own tattoos. He didn’t want her to know what the one on his ankle said.

Aspen shifted a little and traced her fingers along the other marks, muttering the names.

“Jolantha, Damien, Apollo, and Skye. Why is Skye’s pure blue if she’s part royal dragon?” She looked up at him with those wide green eyes, and instead of answering her, he leaned down and kissed her.

“You’re trying to distract me.” She giggled and pushed him away.

“Who? Me?” He pulled her into his lap. “Actually, I was the one who got distracted. I can’t even remember what you asked.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “I was wondering why Skye’s mark is only blue.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s because her father was a sea dragon. She cannot speak for the royal dragons.”

A knock sounded on the door.