Kane and Rhan dismount, and the pair stride forward until they’re met by Stesha and me. I feel very exposed on this expanse of ground between the enormous, angry dragons. The back of my neck prickles and sweat breaks out on my lower back. Am I scared of what might happen, or am I going into a false heat? I push the consideration aside and focus on the matter at hand.
“Auryn smelled something on the wind,” Kane says, glaring at Stesha. “But I don’t believe it can be true. Where are they?”
“Where are what?” Stesha asks with an edge to his voice.
“Your dragon and her hatchlings. I demand to see them.”
“Demand all you like. I don’t give a damn what you want. Take your dragons out of Lenhale. You have no right to my flare’s dragongrounds.”
Kane points at the ground beneath his feet, and barks, “If Auryn believes it to be true, then he has every right.”
Nilak doesn’t wish to be shielded from view. She hisses and snarls until the other dragons move aside. She emerges from among the flare with her head held high and paces regally forward to join her rider. All her little hatchlings follow, bounding forward, their shiny scales rippling in the sunshine.
Kane’s mouth drops open. “By the fucking stars, it’s true. Those are Auryn’s hatchlings. That one looks just like him.” He points at the yellow-scaled Alpha hatchling.
Auryn is watching the hatchlings from his lofty height. He greets them and Nilak with a single, pleased snort. Nilak ignores him and preens her wing.
“You and your dragon plotted this,” Kane accuses Stesha. “You will not succeed in taking Auryn from me.”
“There is no plot. Nilak and Auryn decided to mate without a bond, presumably because they couldn’t find any dragon suitable in their own flare. It happens.”
I suppress a smile at how casual Stesha sounds. He was anything but casual when he realized what had happened.
The next thing out of Kane’s mouth wipes the smile off my face.
“All Auryn’s hatchlings. I’m taking them with me.”
Stesha takes a threatening step forward. “You will touch those hatchlings on pain of death.”
“I am owed payment after Auryn’s sisters were stolen from my flare. We are yet to have any hatchlings of our own. These will do to start with.” His gaze runs greedily over the little creatures.
“Give your dragons proper sanctuary and care, and they will have hatchlings in their own time,” Stesha tells him. “Though it wouldn’t surprise me if all your dragons are so unhappy that they join my flare.”
Kane flushes red with fury and puts his hand on his sword. “You will give me what I’m owed.”
Behind me, Esmeral is snorting and chirping indignantly. Though she’s an Omega, the queen’s dragon has no qualms about getting in the thick of fighting, and neither does Queen Isavelle. Before Stesha can draw his own sword, I march forward and push my forefinger against Kane’s chest. “Now listen here, you bully. Dragonmasters do not trade dragons like they’re cattle. Have you ever heard of something called free will?”
“It has been mentioned to me in passing,” Kane growls through his teeth.
Behind me, I feel Stesha take a few steps closer, but I’m not finished. “Dragons have free will, just like people do. You are not going to treat any of these dragons like the Brethren treated you, or how you treat your own mate.”
Kane’s eyes burn with anger, and something else. Could there possibly be shame as well? While we’re still glaring at each other, Auryn opens his jaws and utters a series of low, beckoning grunts. Two of Nilak’s fledglings perk up, the yellow Alpha and a white Beta. They stare up at the massive Alpha dragon, then patter closer and rub against his lowered snout. A moment later, Auryn nudges them possessively beneath his body, and the fledglings go willingly.
My stomach drops in dismay. Nilak’s beautiful babies. I had been looking forward to watching them grow.
“How’s that for free will?” Kane asks with a smirk.
I glance at Nilak and her rider. Nilak looks tense but doesn’t utter a sound. Stesha looks pained, and his scent is pungent with distress. It takes him a moment, but he manages to say, “Theyare too small to fly. They must be carried by a rider if they wish to join their father. Keep them away from the flare at night or they will be crushed.” He takes a few breaths, and then his composure snaps and he strides forward. “No, they cannot go. Give them back to me.”
The red-haired Rhan moves forward and stops Stesha with a hand planted on his chest. The two hatchlings are happily gamboling around Auryn’s talons. I want to slap the triumphant expression from Kane’s face.
He rubs his jaw, and says, “Two hatchlings for Auryn’s sisters is not a fair exchange. We will take more dragons.”
“They are Nilak’s fledglings,” Stesha seethes. “Her bloodline is impeccable. It is more than fair.”
Kane peruses our flare. “So says you. I will take—”
“You will not take any of my dragons,” Stesha snarls.
