Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(48)

Pearl swept from the room, and Skye put her arm around Aspen. “Are you okay?”

“No. I can’t think straight. My head is killing me.”

“I’ll get you some Tylenol. Wait here.”

Aspen closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, a huge orange dragon sat on the other side of the window. Skye came back with the Tylenol and squeaked.

Aspen took the medicine from Skye and swallowed it dry. She headed out the side door with Skye on her heels.

Where is Obsidian? the orange dragon asked, his scales glittering in the sunset. His color blended together like a sunset.

“You’re too late. He’s been taken by the council,” Skye said.

Aspen spun around. “Wait, you mean he was the one who was going to pledge his loyalty to Sid?”

Skye nodded.

“Sid told me that if he had a mark from all the races, he would be untouchable. Is that true?”

“Yeah, but it’s too late now.”

Aspen stared at Skye, baffled at the fact that she hadn’t thought of the possibilities yet. The idea that if Sid could be marked by a canyon dragon, then he wouldn’t die.

“We need to get to Sid.”

Skye snorted. “I’d like to die with some dignity, thank you very much. Not at the hand of some murderous council member.”

Aspen rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to die. All we need to do is get close enough for Helios to mark Sid, then they can’t do anything to him. Right?”

Skye nodded and let out a breath.

“Would you be willing to take that chance?” Skye asked.

Yes. I’ve thought a lot about what Obsidian said to me when he visited. I was cowardly for not pledging my loyalty then. If I had, he wouldn’t be sitting in front of the council right now. It’s the least I can do.

“Okay, let’s go,” Skye said. “I’ll take you, because I doubt Helios could find it, but I’m not going to stay. There is still a strong possibility that Sid will die, and I would like to see my parents one more time.”

“Wait,” shouted a voice from the bushes. “I’m going with.” Runa hopped out and looked up at all of them.

“No, you’re not. You stay here with Rowan.”

“You can’t make me stay. I’ll just follow.”

“She’s got a point,” said Skye.

Aspen didn’t want to waste any more time. If Sid died, Runa would anyway.

“If you can keep up, you can come. Let’s go.”





Sid woke up in the middle of the council chambers. He’d been here many times before, but never like this. He transformed into a dragon and looked around. Eight dragons surrounded him. It was completely silent. He knew them all and even considered some of them his friends. Hell, Pearl was his sister.

But today, they were his enemies. They were going to kill him.

Xanthous, the river dragon and speaker for the council, spoke out loud.

“We are saddened by this meeting. We expected a lot of things from you, Obsidian. Treason was not one of them.”

There was no other way.

“Of course there was. You didn’t give us a chance. You just went behind our back and tried to create your own council.”

You would’ve killed me anyway when you found out I sealed myself to Aspen.

The dragon sat back on his haunches. “Maybe. You’re sister has told us all, but I’d love to hear the story from your own mouth.”

It doesn’t matter now. I’d rather get this over with.

Xanthous laughed. “I wish it were that simple, Obsidian, but believe it or not, we haven’t decided your fate just yet.”

Obsidian froze. What are you talking about? I sealed myself to a girl who could never be a queen, and I went against the council and formed my own. You said yourself that it was treason.

“I wish you were our only problem. As bad as it was that you tried to usurp our power, we are more concerned with the other dragon king possibilities. No one knows how they are chosen, and there is one among you who has betrayed us worse than you have.”

I don’t understand.

“Kingston has sealed himself to an arctic dragon. If you die and he becomes king, we lose the ability to continue to take human form, and we need that to maintain peace with them.”

So just kill him too. You don’t seem to have a problem with taking out those that oppose you.

“We don’t want to be murderers. If you cooperate, we may not need to kill anyone.”

Obsidian flicked his eyes to Pearl. What’s he talking about?

I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to divulge information we discuss. Only Xanthous can do that.

“We need the girl,” Xanthous said.

Excuse me? What girl?

“The one you sealed yourself to. Aspen.”

No way, you leave her out of this.

Xanthous paused for a minute and then smiled at Obsidian. “How fortunate for us. Here she comes.”

Obsidian felt a cloud come over his mind. He tried to project a thought out to Xanthous, but he couldn’t.

“I’m sorry. We’ll remove the block after we’ve had time to speak with her.”





Skye flew south into the park, Runa next to her, her little wings beating four times as often as Skye’s. She gained altitude, and Aspen noticed they were flying near Eagle’s Peak. Skye crossed over the mountain and circled back to a cave on the other side. She flew straight through the opening. They were in a large tunnel studded with ruby gemstones.