Valentine (The Dragon Kings Book 3) (9 page)

Val nodded to him. Sid’s eyes followed Theo as he left the room.

Aspen laid her hand over his. “You okay?”

Sid sighed. “He’s acting weird.”

Aspen frowned. “I think it’s still because he’s not used to you being king. We don’t have time to worry about that though. We need to search for Rowan.”

“We should drop Val off first. You ready to go see your dad?” Sid asked.

He’d been looking forward to meeting his dad for a long time, but he was nervous. No one told him why his dad was banished, and he was scared to find out. What if he didn’t like his father? The dragons that raised him were good, warm, and friendly. But he knew he didn’t really belong. They made sure he always had enough to eat and trained him in the ways of the fire dragons, but he always felt like he was missing out on something. He supposed that was why he spent so much time watching the humans. Now he was about to meet his real father.

Sid nudged him. “Let’s go. We’ll need to change.”

They exited out of the back door and into the middle of the yard. Aspen stood a little ways from them, shivering in spite of a thick coat and hat. They changed into their dragon forms, and Aspen gasped.

“Two black dragons. Amazing,” she said and laid her hand on both of their flanks.

We just need to find the third,
Sid said.

Any ideas where he might be?
Val was curious about who this third dragon could be. He wouldn’t feel so confused and alone in this with a brother to share it with.

No. I’ve got eagles and a handful of royal dragons all over the nation searching for him. It makes it harder that we can’t reveal what we’re looking for, but I think the secrecy is important. Though I’m sure rumors have already started. He could be anywhere. Obviously, we think he’s a sea dragon, but they are hard to find since they spend so much time under the water.

Val hoped they found him soon. The war seemed pressing, and the sooner all three of them were together, the sooner they could create a plan of attack for the unknown snow witch, rather than just reacting to the things happening around them, like the human killings and attempt on his life.

Bright circles on Sid’s chest drew Val’s eyes.

Are those loyalty seals? I’ve never seen them before.

Yes. Aspen and I were not supposed to be together. I was trying to prevent being killed. I’ve got all but a canyon dragon. I would complete it, but with the war pending, I need all the support I can get, and I don’t want to give the current council a reason to turn against me.

But wouldn’t that stop a war? Don’t the loyalty symbols make you invincible?

Not exactly. It prevents another council from forming, but I think the arctic dragons have something else in mind.

Aspen scrambled up on Sid’s back as Val studied the marks.

My father’s name is on your chest.

Yes. He was one of the first. Very loyal. He’ll be an asset in the war.

Val didn’t like thinking about the war. He wasn’t a trained fighter. Not to mention there was a good chance he would die before it was all over.

Sid took off, and Val followed. The air here was much colder than he was used to, but he didn’t mind. White covered the ground below, except where steam rose from deep blue pools.

After we drop you off, we’re going to search for Aspen’s brother. Do you think you can find your way back to the house?

Val turned to Obsidian.
Of course. Good luck in the search. I’ll help when I’m finished.

We’ll come home for lunch. You can come out with us after that.

They flew in between two mountains and into a cave. They landed in a cavern, in front of a deep red dragon. Val took a step back when Damien stepped into the light. His father’s jaw was wrong, and he had no tail. Val wondered if there were unseen injuries as well.

Val, meet Damien. Your father.
Then Obsidian flew out of the cave.

This was his father. Damien didn’t say anything as Val circled him. He had a sealing on his ankle with the name Hestia. It was a dark maroon but slightly faded. It looked similar to the one on Val’s ankle, but the words around Hestia’s name were different.

Was Hestia my mother?
Val finally asked. His feelings were all mixed up. He wanted to hear more about this dragon who gave him life, but part of him was still a little bitter that he was left to be raised by others.

Yes. I loved her very much.

What happened to her?

She got sick and died.

Did she suffer? How long was she sick?

For a few years. You were a very young dragon. I don’t expect you to remember it. The elders took you from me shortly after that.

Val wanted to ask why his father let him go, but he felt a slow anger building in his chest. He’d been abandoned. His father had just given him up to the elders and disappeared. What kind of a father did that?

I’m very glad you are here. I haven’t seen you since you were a baby. I’ve missed you. Thank you for coming.
Damien shifted nervously and studied Val. Val tried to be sympathetic, but he couldn’t.

Why?
He snarled. This was his father, and he hadn’t bothered to even try to contact him in over five hundred years.

Why what?

Why haven’t you seen me since I was a baby?
Val raised his head high so that he looked down on his father.

Damien shuffled back a few steps.
The elders banned me from the islands. They said if I returned, they would kill me. What use would I be to you dead?

You weren’t much use to me anyway.
Val knew he was being mean, but he couldn’t help it. He’d envisioned this moment so many times since he found out Damien was alive, and he couldn’t fathom a father that wouldn’t even try to let him know he was alive. He could’ve sent a royal dragon or an eagle. But he just let Val believe he was dead.

Damien raised his head, meeting Val’s eyes.
I had no choice. You can hold that against me, or you can accept that I’m willing to help you now. Who do you think is going to teach you to fight, son? You’ve got a war coming, and I’ll see to it that you know how to not only defend yourself, but win.

Val wondered briefly what on earth got him banned from the islands in the first place. How he could do something that would make them relinquish his son? Val snorted and was startled by the black smoke instead of red. For a moment he’d forgotten his scales had changed color.

Forgive me for being rude, but based on your injuries, I’d say you don’t know much about fighting.

Damien moved forward.
You see these gashes across my chest?

Val wasn’t sure where his father was going with this.

The woodland dragons have offered to heal them numerous times, but I always decline. Do you want to know why?

Maybe he was about to get some of the answers he wanted. Val relaxed his shoulders.
Why?

Because they are from you. You clung to me when they ripped you away. I won’t let them be healed because I wanted the reminder of you.

Val’s heart stilled. He didn’t know how to respond. He had assumed that his father had gotten in a fight that went wrong. This was news to him. The fact that his father fought to keep him.
Now that I’m here, will you let them heal you?

Damien sighed.
Maybe.

Val hesitated again, still a little nervous about asking the question.
Why did they take me from you?

I’m not proud of this story. Know that. I made a lot of mistakes, but this was the biggest one. I wasn’t in control of my emotions. It’s not an excuse, but I was grieving deeply. Your mother died, and I was so angry. I lashed out at the woodland dragons who had tried to heal her and killed one of them. It wasn’t an accident, but it wasn’t on purpose either. My own emotions blinded me. I could see nothing, only my rage. When I returned to the islands with you, the elders took you from me and banished me.

The royal dragons gave me a home. Obsidian’s mother had a lot to do with that. I’ve been here ever since. I can’t fly long distances, though I thought about coming to find you several times. I’m glad you are here now.

This was definitely not the story Val had expected. He moved a few steps toward his father and nudged his head against his father’s jaw.
Thank you for sharing that with me. I don’t know quite what to say.

You don’t have to say anything. Are you willing to give me a chance?

Of course.
He wanted to say something else. Something that he’d dreamed of saying for years but never had the privilege. He forged on.
Dad.
Val jerked his head up.
But you have to do one thing for me.

What’s that?

Get those gashes healed. You might want to let them take care of your wings and jaw as well.

Damien thought for a second.
Okay, I’ll have Athena fetch Jolantha.

Who’s Athena?

Obsidian’s mother. She and I were good friends when we were young. Her mate has passed away recently, and I’ve been helping her cope. She’s still pretty angry, but she’s starting to soften.

Val spent the next few hours talking with his father. He’d never felt so comfortable in his life. This was very different than it had been with his aunt and uncle.

I know you have to go soon, but would you like a short lesson first?
Damien asked.

Sure.

Okay, what do you think is the most vulnerable part of a dragon’s body?

Val thought for a second.
The neck?

Damien snorted poofs of red smoke.
That’s what most people think, so your first tip is to protect your neck. Most dragons will attack there first. If you have a clear opening, definitely try, but if you want to surprise a dragon, go for his eyes. If you can blind him, you’ll have the advantage.

What if someone else does it to me first? How do I fight if I’m blind?

That takes instinct and time. We’ll practice that. If you practice blind, you’ll learn how to fight blind.

Val knew it was time for him to go, but he wasn’t ready to leave his father. He’d just found him again.
I have to go help Obsidian and Aspen search for her brother. Would you like to come?

I’m going to take care of these injuries, but maybe tomorrow.

Thanks, Dad, for all your help. I know I have a lot of responsibilities now, but I’ll come see you whenever I can.

I’d like that. Now get out of here. I wouldn’t want to you to get in trouble with Aspen.

You mean Obsidian?

No, I mean Aspen. She’s the fierce one.

Val took one more look at his father and then spread his wings and flew out of the cave. Val flew south, toward Sid’s house. On the way he thought about his father. It’d been five hundred years. How would Damien make up all that time? He was quiet and soft spoken, and he seemed to genuinely want to know him. Val liked him. But his stomach felt hollow. He would never be able to have a normal relationship with his father. Val was a king now, and a war was on the horizon. He’d have other responsibilities.

As he came over the mountain, he spotted the mansion. He caught a flutter of wings out of the corner of his eyes and a sharp pain pierced his side. Then another one stung his neck. He dropped a few feet and swung his head around to see what had hurt him. A swarm of hawks descended. They tore at his wings and bit and clawed at him. He tucked his wings and dove for Sid’s house. The hawks continued to follow him, but as he crossed the tree line another swarm of birds flew toward him as well. Dread filled his chest. He didn’t know if he was going to make it. But this new group of birds didn’t come after him. They went straight for the hawks. A weight lifted off him as he landed on the ground in front of Sid’s back door. The eagles that had protected him gathered around him seconds later, and Sid flew out of the house with Aspen at his heels.

“Are you okay?” Sid’s face was ashen.

Val looked down at his body covered with tiny holes and scratches.

He took a couple of deep breaths.
I’m fine, I think. It’s mostly superficial. Why would the hawks try to kill me?

Sid turned to the eagles. “Did you have any of your brothers follow the hawks? We need to know why they attacked him.”

Aspen circled him. “I don’t see any that look deep. The gashes in your wings look awful though.”

“Dammit, follow them. I’ve got this here,” Sid yelled.

The eagles took off in a flurry of wings.

“The eagles all came with you. They didn’t bother to see where the hawks came from. What happened?”

They came out of nowhere. Someone wants me dead.
For the first time, Val felt real fear over what he’d gotten into. His life on the island was so quiet. The most drama he’d ever found was when a couple of humans had spotted him spying and freaked out. He’d hidden in a cave for weeks after that. Now here he was on the mainland with two attempts on his life in a matter of two days.

Sid ran a hand over his face. “This is the second time someone has tried to kill you. My guess would be it’s the arctic dragons, and this means they know. We’ve got to find this third dragon, get you a queen, and prepare for this war.”

I agree, but first, can you summon a healer? My wounds are all superficial, but it hurts.

“No need, I can do it.” Sid clapped his hands together and walked around Val.

What? How?

Sid grinned. “Do you know why it’s so important that we have strong queens?”

No.

“Because the council members give her their gifts, which we get when we are bonded. She has to be strong enough to accept the gifts. If she’s not, then she could be so overwhelmed by the gifts that they would kill her. It’s why the testing was created. Actually, Aspen, would you like to try first? Just on one of the scratches. I can take care of the rest.”