Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(57)

Not long, I believe the holdup is whether or not she passed Winerva’s test. They are calling for us. We should go.

Everett stumbled and got to his feet. His creaking wings opened. He took to the sky and fell several feet before his wings caught, and he glided to the floor. Sid wondered if Everett had the ability to make it home.

Sid soared down after him and landed. Aspen leaned up against him, the bright sword still in her hands. You did great.

If that’s true, then what’s taking them so long?

Winerva’s upset because you didn’t do what she wanted.

She’s nasty, isn’t she? How on earth was I supposed to kill a dragon?

She’s intimidated by you. A dragon king’s strength depends on the strength of his queen. You are unusually adept at being a dragon queen. That would make me a very forceful king. She would like nothing else than a weak king so the arctic dragons can take over again.

Aspen squeezed his neck, and they waited. The dragons were restless, and Sid could tell they were arguing. Suddenly, Winerva broke away from the group and stormed right for them.

She brought her large head in front of Aspen, who moved away from Sid.

You failed. She said so everyone could hear her.

She lifted her head up, opened her jaws wide. Aspen moved faster than Sid thought was possible. She ran right for Winerva and brought the sword up. Winerva’s neck went right into it as her jaw slammed into the cave floor. Aspen moved around the dragon, dragging the sword along with her, beheading Winerva.

Sid flew to Aspen, and she dropped the sword. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill her; I was just trying to stay alive.”

I know.

Not a single dragon moved. Aspen hugged Sid’s neck tightly. The sound of Aspen’s rapid breathing filled Sid’s ears. He watched the remaining council. Would they kill Aspen now after everything she’d been through? The stench of blood hung heavy in the air. Sid wanted to move away from the corpse, but he was afraid his movement might cause a shift in the silence, and they might attack.

They were talking. He could see it as each dragon shifted his eyes or snorted colored smoke. What would they do?

“Aspen, Obsidian, come here please,” said Xanthous.

Sid moved forward slowly, Aspen leaning on his side. Her body trembled against his.

“We made our decision, though it was not unanimous. Throughout the testing, Aspen showed great strength and many other qualities that we admire in dragon queens. Winerva disagreed and tried to take matters into her own hands. You acted as any leader or queen would do and defended yourself.”

Sid held his breath, unsure if he heard Xanthous correctly.

“Aspen,” he said, “step forward please.”

She walked toward him.

“You have passed. You will be the next dragon queen.”

She sank to her knees and cried. Sid changed to his human form so he could comfort her properly. She sobbed in his arms.

“There are some conditions, however,” Xanthous continued. “This is a highly unusual situation. Most dragon queens are in their thirties. We as a council decided it would be best if Obsidian finished his human experience. Because of this, we will not perform the bonding. You will wait until Sid has completed his training.”

A bald eagle swept into the room.

“Valentine the fire dragon has turned black,” the eagle screeched.

Sid’s heart stopped. Everything in the room seemed to move in slow motion. Xanthous’s mouth dropped open. Kairi’s eyes widened. Sequoia let a small flame. After thousands of years, the Prophecy of the Three Dragon Kings was finally being fulfilled.

“Aspen we have to do this now!” Sid shouted.

“Do what?” she asked.

“The ceremony and the bonding,” Sid said. She didn’t get it. He knew she didn’t, but he didn’t have the time to be patient. If the prophecy was being fulfilled, that meant the war was coming, and he needed her strength. He couldn’t do this without her.

“You mean get married?” she squeaked. Her eyes bugged. She crossed her arms and backed away from him. Sid rolled his eyes. She could stand up to Winerva, but the idea of marriage scared her.

“No,” Sid explained. “But you must step forward and become the dragon queen. Dragons don’t get married, but we do mate for life. We do not have to do that part right now. Dragon kings receive a great deal of power from their queens. That is why the queens go through the tests. A weak queen means a weak king. That ceremony plus the bonding will ensure that power.”

She put her fingers on her temples and squeezed her eyebrows together. “But I don’t understand. Ten minutes ago they said the ceremony could wait. Why does it have to be now?”

Sid grew frustrated. “I didn’t tell you to do this. I never asked you to become queen. That is a choice you made. You came here today prepared to give your life, and you almost did. I’m sorry if the timing isn’t right for you. Ten minutes ago the dragon community was at peace. In a very short time we will be at war, and I need all the strength I can get. I will explain this all later. Right now we must perform the ceremony.” He walked over to Everett.

“We will do the ceremony now. Are you ready?”

Sid looked back and saw Aspen had not moved. She raised her eyebrows at him.

“No,” she said.

“No what?” Sid asked.