Page 95 of Dragon Blood

The tiny people froze, looking up as she whipped past. Before she drew breath for a second signal, she streamed toward the boats, leaving all else behind.

The nearest patrols corrected course, surveying the sky where a lead patrol should have alerted them to the danger.

Should have.

From her vantage point, a single figure streaked across the courtyard toward the prison tower.

Marli.

Good.

Launia ignored her, heart lifting a fraction. She would let Kolina out. Goddess knew they’d need her merciless claws.

Turning her attention back to the roiling cloud of the enemy approaching, Launia determined to ensure the evacuees had enough time to get as far away as possible before all they knew was destroyed.

The vaults would hold.

Aeleftheria could be rebuilt.

Again.

So long as they defeated the invaders.

Chapter 30

ZayliSteelscalerantoher grandmother’s suite in the council tower.

“The enemy comes. I have to join the other guardians. Grandmother, you must evacuate, you—what are you doing?” Her gaze swept the room, realizing nothing had been moved. Nothing was out of place. Nothing gathered or packed.

Zadora stood in the center of her room dressed only in traditional cotton garb. Not the council robes that Zayli had only ever seen her wear.

“I am going to join the battle. Those bastards will not defeat me.”

Zayli froze, processing the words. “You cannot fight.”

“Why in all the hells should I not?” Zadora’s voice cracked across the room.

“You… I…” Zayli compressed her lips, seeking the right words. “When is the last time you took dragon form, let alone flew?”

“About the time you were toddling around the nursery, oblivious to life’s harsh realities.” Zadora approached the stone casement. The north-facing window framed a view of a growing mass. “Were I what I once was, I would have destroyed them all before any Aeleftherian sighted a single one, or ever knew of their existence,” she growled.

“What are you talking about? There is no time to board a fishing boat; you’ll have to go down into the vaults with the other matrons.”

Zadora snorted. “I will not cower. I’m done standing by while this nation goes down the privy. I should never have left Regina on that throne.”

Zayli straightened, studying her grandmother, who’d suddenly lost her mind. “The Council should never have ordered me to give her that tonic you asked me to slip into her drink and food. It was a mistake. We need her more than ever.”

“She’s ill equipped to deal with real battles,” the matron snapped, glancing out the window again. The mass had grown considerably.

“What do you mean? She subdued the last invaders that dared set foot on Aeleftherian soil.”

“Those few feeble-minded idiots were nothing compared to what is coming now. That male dragon your cousin married is sizable enough, and he’d have seen Regina’s tricks and likely figured out a way to avoid succumbing to her. Your cousin surely would have seen to it. She was stupid to trust him. He’ll be bringing every male from that mountain with him to crush our independence.”

Every muscled tightened down Zayli’s neck and back. She looked out the window too.

Then he fooled me, too. They all did.

She’d met him, seen the work that he and his males were doing with Kymri and Elora’s guidance. Goddess, Astred had seen it too and thought it all genuine.

---