Page 7 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

Once upon a time, I’d been too.

“Malachy isn’t coming.” I knew it, but I’d hoped—I don’t know what I hoped for. My defeated gaze met Lucan’s and I saw the pain in his eyes. “You’re not staying either.”

“What’s the point?” Lucan shrugged. “As you said, it’s neutral ground. My services aren’t needed.”

All the traces of his earlier anger were gone and the ancient warrior’s face was lined with guilt.

I swallowed down my own shame as I grabbed the axe handle again. “Has he said anything?”

“Not to me.” His tone was flat, but I knew of the frustration brewing within. The three of us used to be thick as thieves. But it’d been a long time since our family gathered.

Tonight’s meeting wouldn’t be a joyous reunion either, with enemies and long-lost relatives all coming to learn the truth.

“It’s over,” I spoke what we both knew.

“Do the humans have a plan?” Lucan’s upper lip curled as he asked.

I wondered why he bothered.

Like tonight, I’d taken the lead on every final matter, including those involving the humans. My kind’s memory was long and humans had a lot to atone for.

We’d dealt with them as a courtesy in recent years as they’d advanced, but even with modern technology, they still needed us more than we needed them.

“They say they’ve done all they can. That we should be grateful they found this location.” I glanced over my shoulder to where the mountains protected the valley below.

Some hiker found the runes in the caves of the foothills and the human government had tripped over itself to get me here. The whole situation was rushed and top secret and fruitless.

I sighed. “No. They don’t have a plan. They’re more unprepared than we are, as usual.”

“Goddess help them,” Lucan said. Smoke was already curling around my cousin’s human form and jealousy tinged my beast as green as Malachy’s scales.

They’d leave me alone with this in our final hours. After everything we’d been through.

“It’s not your fault,” Lucan said as if he’d read my mind, “and no one is forcing you to do this. They weren’t there to help when it mattered. We owe them no explanation.”

“It’s the right thing and you know it,” I snapped, feeling an old and familiar anger roll through me. “I don’t run away from my responsibilities.”

My words were meant to wound him, so I shouldn’t have cared that they did.

“Then I wish you luck.” Lucan stepped back into the shadows, stretching out his arms as the atoms around merged and gathered into that of his massive dragon.

The darkness camouflaged his black and blue scales as he took to the sky, roaring a melancholy cry. One I hadn’t heard in centuries.

It spoke of hurt.

Battles lost.

Stories that never got written.

Your pain is my pain. I hear you.My dragon rolled over inside me and opened his maw, echoing my cousin’s roar.

I grabbed the wood handle in two fists, screaming our fury to the night as I raised the axe above my head and slammed it down into the dry dirt below my boots.

It barely made an indent. Compared to what She’d done, this was nothing.

Powerless despite our great size. Weak in the face of Her strength. The truth of it mocked me.

Earth didn’t want us anymore.

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