Page 78 of Ale Storm

Would she still feel his sacrifice was noble if he was mating with an entire horde of female dragons?

Killaynia issued the laughing noise again. There are males and females. Quite a few. I do not know what they are up to. Probably not mating. My senses tell me that Jildarin and the males are flying around a great deal. The females are mostly stationary. They may be watching. Ah, perhaps the males are battling to prove themselves and win the interest of those females.

Since Rylana didn’t think Jildarin wanted their interest, she shook her head, not believing the explanation. He also wouldn’t have missed the opening meal at the diner for a reason that wasn’t great. What could have prompted him to come out here?

It is one of two times of year when dragons experience increased mating urgency, Killaynia said. Even Jildarin may be moved by his natural instincts to copulate—and, if necessary, fight for the opportunity to do so.

“Oh.” Rylana remembered Zilek mentioning that. She’d half-thought it an excuse for his libidinous behavior, but he had seemed even more oversexed than usual.

Once more, Killaynia looked back. I will check on Jildarin. He is my brother, and none of the other dragons I sense are kin. He could be in trouble.

“Yes. Let’s check.”

It is not wise for a puny human to place herself among dragons, especially dragons in a frenzied battle state. Do you wish me to put you down on a trail so that you can find your way back to the city?

“No,” Rylana said without hesitation and patted her quiver. “I won’t be so silly as to say I’m not afraid of dragons, but if there’s a chance Jildarin is in trouble and I can help…”

Those are not even mithril arrows. They will do little to harm a dragon.

“If nothing else, I might be able to distract one.”

You are every bit as foolish as I believed.

“I don’t think I denied that.” Rylana leaned forward to peer between Killaynia’s horns as a blue dragon came into view above the forested valley ahead.

It glanced their way but then dove, fire streaming from its maw. A familiar silver dragon rolled in the sky to avoid the flames. Jildarin.

Two more dragons flew after him. Wrath of the old gods, were all three of those dragons attacking him? No, not three. Four. Another blue dragon lay bloody and tangled in a tree, a wing half torn off. Maybe Jildarin had gotten the best of that one.

After dodging the fire of the diving blue, he twisted in the air and flew at that dragon, his fangs gleaming in the sun. Bloody gouges were visible in his silver scales, but he still looked hale as his powerful wings carried him into battle.

’Ware the females, Killaynia said. They’ve noticed us and are demanding to know why I’ve brought you. She growled. And they are calling me names for allowing you upon my back. The heinous bitches.

“That’s how I feel about them too.” Worried for Jildarin, it took Rylana a moment to tear her gaze from his battle to search for the female dragons.

There. The two black-scaled sisters were perched on a cliff, one looking toward the battle, appearing enraptured. The other was glancing toward it but also toward the approaching Killaynia and Rylana. Her maw parted, her fangs also glinting as her eyes locked on Rylana. Farther up the cliff, a green-scaled dragon, who looked like one of the others she’d seen around—trying to woo Jildarin—was watching the battle intently as well.

When Loxvonla sprang from the cliff and flew toward Killaynia, Rylana realized how vulnerable she was. Killaynia wouldn’t protect her, and Jildarin was busy battling three foes. He probably didn’t even know Rylana had arrived. Even if he did notice her, the last thing she wanted was to distract him.

Why have you brought that weak two-legs to witness our time of mating? Loxvonla demanded, sharing the telepathic words with Rylana. Killaynia, you know better. We’ve carefully arranged this and dusted our chosen mate with the Powder of Passion to ensure he wants nothing more than to battle for us. And yet you wish to interrupt this, and you brought that despicable human. That human who has doubtless used powders of her own on Jildarin to turn him from his own kind.

Perhaps I brought her so that you might slay her, Killaynia said.

Loxvonla, who’d been flying toward them with deadly determination, slowed down and swished her tail. Growing contemplative?

By our fanged ancestors, that would be most satisfying, Loxvonla said. A wonderful prelude to mating.

She is smitten with him and couldn’t bear to be parted from him.

Humans are so weak-willed.

Indeed.

Loxvonla continued closer, a predatory gleam in her eyes. I will slay her, and I will enjoy it immensely.

Grimacing, Rylana looked down to see how far below the ground was. She didn’t like the direction this conversation was going. It was forty or fifty feet to the pine-needle-strewn earth, but the tops of the trees were closer. If she could jump and catch a branch, she might not fall to her death. But if she missed…

A roar came from the battle over the valley. Jildarin. His emerald eyes had turned in their direction.