Page 19 of The Last Dragon King
“What’s going on?” Kendal’s sleepy voice pierced the room.
“The Nightfall queen’s army is… attacking?” I wasn’t actually sure, but why else would they breach our lands? “We need to leave with the king, now.”
“The king?” she shrieked.
Oh, right, she didn’t know.Oops.
“Get dressed. Now,” Regina ordered.
I slipped into my leather hunting suit and Kendal put on one of her casual day dresses. Within two minutes, we were downstairs and crossing the street, headed for the stables.
The king was there, hood pulled back, pacing the large open barn. When we reached him, Kendal fell into a deep curtsy. “Your Highness.”
He nodded at her and gave me a pinched expression before turning to Regina. “Advise me,” he commanded her.
Whoa, so Regina really was in charge of his army? That was so incredibly badass, and yet I had no time to dwell on it because my heart was ratcheting up higher each moment.
Regina nodded. “I suspect the Nightfall queen has heard of your search for a new wife. She knows you don’t have an heir. She will try to take you out.”
Assassination attempt?
Kendal swayed on her feet as if she were about to faint. I positioned myself closer to her just in case.
“I should breathe fire on all of them and burn them to a crisp,” he growled.
I smelled smoke. It was probably leaking from his mouth and nose but it was too dark to see.
“My king, you cannot. What the Nightfall army lacks in magic, they make up for in innovation. They will shoot you out of the sky with their metal projectiles. You know this.”
Chills rose up on my arms. I’d heard of the Nightfall queen’s inventions but had never seen one. Metal projectiles like arrows? Or something more sinister? A simple arrow couldn’t shoot the dragon king out of the sky, so I knew it had to be more.
King Valdren growled, low and haunting, and Regina stepped closer to him. “You know what you have to do.”
The flickering torch barely lit up his face and I saw determination in his gaze. “I willnotleave you and the Drayken to fight my battles.”
Regina burst into laughter and the king stiffened. “That is precisely our job,” she told him, and then she pointed a finger at his chest. “Mylord,” Regina growled, losing her temper with him, “you tasked me with protecting you and the women on this trip, and in turn I made you swear tomyplan. Are you a man of your word or not?”
I loved seeing this side of her. She was so strong and fearless. I could only watch in envy.
A grunt of frustration left the king’s lips, then his eyes glowed yellow and sought me, piercing into my very soul.
Then he started to disrobe.
What the…?
First his metal shoulder spaulders came off and he handed them to Regina, then his breastplate. I stood in shock and fascination as he took off his black dragon leather top, exposing his abdomen.
I finally found my voice. “What… what are you doing?”
Regina took his offered clothes and looked back at me. “He’s flying you and Kendal back to Jade City, where they will raise the alarm of the invasion.”
Fly? She saidfly.He was going to…
When I realized what was happening, my stomach tightened. The dragon king was going to shift into his animal form and fly!
Excitement and terror rushed through me in equal measure.
I followed her gaze just as the king dropped his trousers and Kendal went completely limp beside me, fainting. Rushing forward, I caught her in my arms before she hit the ground.
