Page 73 of Hidden Fate

Spike and nine of his thunder members were grilling hamburgers, steaks, pork chops, and hot dogs. Vlad, Thorn, Theron, Wyvern, Saphira, Errol, Cassidy, and I had pulled the table next to the grill Spike was manning and sat down to talk strategy.

Scooting his seat closer to mine, Thorn placed an arm around my shoulders despite the sweltering heat. Unease swirled through our connection, and I wanted to climb out of my skin.

Tomorrow morning, we’d make the ten-hour drive to the dragon lands. We planned to leave by eight in the morning so we’d have time to get acclimated before we moved on the château after nightfall. Dragons could see well at night, and it would be easier to cloak ourselves in darkness.

Vlad sighed beside Thorn. “Let’s go over numbers.”

I flinched. Everyone had been avoiding this part of the conversation. We all knew we would be greatly outnumbered.

Leaning into Thorn, I tried to focus on the sizzle of our bond and the comfort he provided.

“They’ll have about three hundred warriors on guard at the coronation.” Errol sat across from me, the faint crow’s feet around his eyes deepening. “There’ll be a minimum of one hundred on guard already. I assume that half will be on guard tomorrow night with the coronation so close. We’ll have a little time before the remaining warriors descend.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t speak.

Thorn jumped in. “The queen told me there are five hundred warriors in total. Drake has been recruiting extensively, offering hefty signing bonuses for people who come work for him as long as they pass the screening.”

Which wouldn’t be hard. Dragons were fit, and there were over one hundred thousand of us in the U.S. That they’d found an additional two hundred who could reasonably step into warrior shoes wasn’t that surprising.

Saphira wrinkled her nose. She took Wyvern’s hand and looked at her father, then spat, “Oh, I’m sure there was more than cash involved. Drake likes to have control, so something more caused two hundred dragons to magically come on board less than three weeks after his father’s death, especially with how his warriors have been getting around, checking on the thunders.”

“They tried talking me into becoming one of them, but I told them no way.” Wyvern’s face twisted in disgust. “I told them we were already down a leader, and they let it go. I’m sure others weren’t so lucky.”

Theron tapped a finger on his lips. “Maybe because Uther was involved with your thunder.”

“You’re probably right. Another warrior approached me first, but Uther intervened after I made that comment.”

I was thankful I’d been at the château to meet Uther. Not because of Drake or betraying Thorn but because we wouldn’t have any inside allies if it hadn’t been for Eva’s and my time there.

Biting her bottom lip, Hydra leaned back in her chair and glanced at her mate beside her. “That’s almost double the numbers we were expecting.”

“What about our side?” Cassidy countered from across Hydra and next to Vlad. “We have fifty-six here, not counting Reece.”

Reece had pouted about not being part of the fight, but she was six. We wouldn’t risk bringing her with us, and Spike had offered for his thunder to take care of her.

“And twenty from my thunder, including me.” Spike lifted his tongs at the grill a few feet away from Errol and me. “From what I’m hearing on the injured network, that’s not all.”

My heart stopped. “What do you mean?” To hear others that might be willing to fight alongside us was amazing, but we didn’t want too many people to know our plan. Though I didn’t doubt these people were loyal and wouldn’t betray us, secrets had a way of snowballing when too many people were aware.

“Don’t worry.” Spike flipped a steak over. “They don’t know the details. Those weren’t mine to share. But in the network, people are asking how they can help Thorn secure the crown. They want Thorn and Everly as their king and queen. Not only do you two want to help everyone, but you also understand the lives we lead. That’s something we’ve never had in any other king and queen.”

To hear my name connected with Thorn’s as if I could do the same amazing things as he could blew my mind. Thorn had changed lives, whereas I was just doing what I could to help. “He’ll make an amazing king.” I turned toward my mate, smiling so widely, my cheeks hurt.

“I never would’ve gotten here if it weren’t for you,” he replied, raising my hand to his lips and kissing the top. “You’re the real prize they’re getting.”

Saphira gagged and shook her head. “I thought that once I found my fated mate, they wouldn’t gross me out any more. But looky there, I was wrong.”

“Oh, stop it.” Wyvern chuckled and kissed her cheek. “We’re just as bad as they are.”

Errol cleared his throat uncomfortably but grinned. “Is there anyone on the network who would be willing to join us and can hold their own?”

Spike shrugged. “A few, but I didn’t say anything since we hadn’t talked about it.”

The more Spike hung around, the more I liked him. He didn’t push his own agenda and said over and over that all dragons, regardless of age or ability, were strong in their own right. He wanted a king who understood that.

The rest of our group strolled out of the trees, where they’d been training with the warriors with bows, daggers, and guns. Arrow headed straight to our table and joined the conversation. Vlad quickly filled him in on what we’d discussed.

Arrow nodded. “We need numbers, but not too many unknown variables. It could cause chaos since they haven’t trained with us. We also want to surprise Drake. Yes, he may have five hundred warriors, but a third of them won’t want to harm anyone. A lot of the warriors don’t like Drake and were there for the king. If Drake has forced people to join him, and if they see we’re winning or making headway, they won’t be out to kill, only to draw blood to cover their asses.”

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