Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(44)

Aspen raced to the kitchen and found the girls talking.

“What was all that racket?” Pearl asked.

“It’s your mom. You need to go now, you too, Skye. Sid said to meet him out front.”

Aspen raced upstairs and flung Theo’s door open. His room was empty. She took out her phone and called him, but he didn’t answer. She called Ella, and she answered on the third ring.

“What’s up?”

“Is Theo with you?”

“Nope. I haven’t seen him in a few days. He was supposed to come over last night, but he never showed. Everything okay?”

“Not really. Sid needs him. His dad died.”

“Oh honey, give him my condolences. If I see Theo, I’ll send him your way. If you see him first, tell him I’m pissed that he left me hanging.”

“Okay. Thanks, Ella.”

Aspen hung up the phone, made her way back downstairs, and found Athena slumped on the floor by the front door, crying. Aspen left her there, went outside, and her mouth dropped open in awe. Eagles filled the entire yard. Sid had transformed into a dragon as well as Skye and Pearl. The sight of the three of them was stunning.

…find him. Search everywhere. It’s possible he was out of the park as well. Alert the other animals and send me a message as soon as you find something.

When he stopped speaking, they all took flight. If Aspen wasn’t so shocked by the situation, she would’ve taken a picture. The sight of the hundreds of eagles and the three dragons lifting off of the ground at once was breathtaking. They were gone before she could tell Sid she couldn’t find Theo. She went back inside and crouched down next to Athena.

She put her hand on her shoulder. “Come on, let’s find somewhere more comfortable to sit.”

Athena didn’t respond, so Aspen stood up and pulled on her arms. Her legs were shaky, and she trembled with sobs. Aspen led her into the theater room and set her down gently on the couch. She gathered her in her arms. This wasn’t Aspen’s normal behavior, but she didn’t know what else to do. The woman continued to cry.

After about fifteen minutes, her tears started to subside.

“Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Chocolate?”

Athena pulled away and shook her head. Aspen handed her a tissue.

Athena blew her nose and looked at Aspen with red eyes. “Thank you. I didn’t know it was possible to feel this awful.”

“How do you know he’s dead?”

“There’s a connection that forms when you are bonded. It’s different from when you’re sealed. You quite literally become one soul. I felt it cut off. It was like tearing my soul in half. It physically hurt. But it was nothing compared to the pain I felt when I realized what it meant. He’s still young. I don’t know how I’ll live another two hundred years without him. It’s awful. I don’t want to go on living.”

“I know it’s hard, but you have to. For your sake, for your kids’ sake. Sid needs your support.”

She snorted. “Yeah, he’ll probably die as well. Then I’ll have lost both of my boys. I guess I’ll find out what that pain is like too. What am I going to do?”

Aspen’s heart stilled. She didn’t know how help this woman. “First off, Sid is going to live. I’ll see to that. Second, you’re going to grieve and probably cry a lot. But you’ll live.”

They sat in silence for a few moments and Aspen finally stood up. “Would it help if I put a movie on? It will take your mind off things.”

Athena nodded.

“Do you have any preferences?”

“They didn’t have movies when I did my human experience, but I saw one a few years ago with Pearl. I don’t care. Something light.”

Aspen headed to the Disney/Pixar section and put on Toy Story. Then she went into the kitchen. Rowan had a bag of marshmallows, and Runa was cooking them with her flames. Apparently her fire changed color as well.

Rowan turned around. “You want one?”

“No. Sid’s dad died.”

Rowan caught the marshmallow that had just been toasted with a brilliant green flame. “Ouch,” he said and dropped the marshmallow. He looked at the gooey mess on the floor. “Did you say Sid’s dad died?”

“Yeah, and his mom is in the theater room.”

“Really? Where’s Sid?” Rowan took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes.

“Out trying to find him.”

Runa hopped off the table and flew toward the theater room.

Aspen and Rowan followed her. She settled on the couch next to Athena and laid her head on her lap. Athena put her hand on the small dragon’s head. Aspen and Rowan sat on the other side of the couch.

The movie started, but Aspen watched Athena instead of the screen. Her red hair hung in strings around her tear-streaked face.

Aspen had never seen someone who was in so much pain. She hoped she’d never have to feel that kind of sorrow in her life. She knew she wouldn’t be able to handle it.





The three dragons spread out. Sid was alone as he flew around south Yellowstone in search of his father’s body. His heart hurt, but he also felt a burning anger. He wanted nothing more than to rip whatever dragon did this limb from limb. Sid’s father wasn’t a warrior. He was a tracker. He wished now he had sent him out with a partner. His dad might be alive now. Shame replaced his anger. He would make a horrible king if these were the kinds of decisions he made.