Page 58 of The Mountain King
Chapter Nineteen
As the fighting continued, Kai didn’t have time to think about Maddugh, or about the second dragon that swooped out of the sky. She prayed they didn’t set the entire town on fire as they joined the fight, keeping to their Dwyrkin forms. Several of the vendors who’d stayed took advantage of the extra cover to either slink away—no hard feelings—or double down, faces grim. If they’d tapped the dragon community years ago, they probably could have rid themselves of Ruthus already.
The tide of the skirmish changed after that. Even the enemies steam powered rifles were no match for two fire breathing dragons and the combined firepower of the people remaining in the square. A whistle sounded again and the constable arrived, Ruthus’ men surrounded, recognizing that they’d likely fare better in a human jail than in the tender mercies of creatures who’d admitted to eating humans as delicacies in the past.
Maddugh shifted, gloriously naked—and gloriously indifferent. He strode towards Kai, who’d taken a seat on a bench, exhausted, arm in agony. Burns were the worst, though she was lucky it had only grazed her. When she glanced up, her betrothed was crouching in front of her, pupils cold, reptilian slits.
“This is the last time you will pull a stunt like this, mistress.” There was no exasperated amusement in his voice, no lurking warmth under irritation in his eyes. Only a terrible, chilly anger, and Kai realized she’d crossed a line with him. Sneaking out again to fight a battle that had put her life in danger—without telling him. But she wasn’t going to apologize. Because in the end? She’d never promisednotto, in the first place.
“You know what you can do, Maddugh,” she replied, short from the pain. Her mouth thinned, jaw clenched because damn, she didn’t want to cry, and burns really,really,were the worst kinds of injuries.
And then a man approached at a dead run, brave of him, since he was coming up fast on the back of a dragon already heightened from battle and in a foul mood. Maddugh’s son noticed and leaped, powered by his wings, landing with a thud, teeth snapping.
“I bring news for the Lord!” the human shouted, hands up, skidding to a stop. “There’s an attack at the castle.”
Amnan shimmered, shifting. “Father, this is one of my informants in the mine.”
The man bent over, catching his breath. “Came as soon as I saw them headed out—had to be careful I think Gaston knows I’m not on his side. Going to storm the castle, take women hostages.”
“The women who aren’t currently in residence?” Maddugh asked, rising, voice dry. “Interesting timing, my son.”
Amnan glanced at Kailigh and shrugged. “If I had know of other items on today’s itinerary…”
“Kai, climb on my back. Amnan, take the girls.”
“Now wait just one minute-“
Maddugh snarled. Kai returned his snarl with interest, surging to her feet. Their chests bumped, Maddugh’s teeth snapping a mere inch from her nose. She didn’t flinch, the heat of her own temper rising, a strange itching along her spine as if her anger wanted to take a shape of its own.
“You want us to ride bareback? You can asknicely.”
His eyes narrowed. “We will havewords, Lady.”
They would. Yes, they would.
* * *
The flight was short, and exhilarating. A yearning burst to life inside her breastbone, the fierce freedom of flight. She crouched low over his back, thighs clamped tight. The scales weren’t slippery despite their glossy sheen, but rather were textured, and the slight curvature conformed to her body to present a natural seat. Though she would have preferred a harness of some kind.
They saw the mob from the sky, a cluster of filthy men with lamps and rifles, some with pick axes. Maddugh’s wings folded tight to his body and he dove. Kai felt the swell of his chest beneath her, and he let loose his flame over the heads of the men before climbing back into the air again. Shouts and screams of pain assailed her ears and the pop of weapons firing. She gnashed her teeth. She didn’t have a Dwyrkin’s hide—if one of the bullets met its mark, she or her daughters could be shot out of the sky.
Evidently, this occurred to the dragons. As one, they wheeled away and headed for the forest, landing far enough away from the castle that it would take time for the humans to follow.
Kailigh tumbled off Maddugh’s back, moving away as he shifted. The girls joined her, Persia’s face a peculiar shade. Serephone’s eyes gleamed, almost with the fire of a Dwyrkin.
“Again,” her eldest said. And strode towards Amnan once he was in human form. “Again!”
“You’re insane, Serephone,” Persia said, sidling away. “I hope it isn't genetic.”
“Probably is,” Kai muttered.
Amnan grabbed Serephone by the arms, expression wary. “Calm down, sister.”
Serephone recoiled. “I amnotyour sister.”
Maddugh glanced at the two before focusing on Kailigh. “I don’t suppose I can persuade you women to stay put?”
She sniffed. “I don’t suppose you can.”
