by Rinelle Grey
He hadn’t let anything get him down, even when he’d thought she was walking out on him. Even when he had to have known it might be the last time he’d ever see her. Even when he was facing down the possible annihilation of his entire clan.
Her eyes filled with unexpected tears, and she turned away, trying to hide them.
Gretchen’s mum though, was observant. She put her arms around Karla and gave her a big hug. “Poor, love. You must have had quite a week. Have a good cry, I guarantee you’ll feel better.”
Karla didn’t have much choice in the matter. The sobs broke through all the walls she had built up, and cascaded all over everything.
It had been a long, long time since she’d had a motherly hug, and even though no one could ever replace her own mother, right now, even the illusion was enough to let her emotions out.
And Gretchen’s mum was right, she did feel a lot better when she pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Gretchen’s mum said stoutly. “We all need a shoulder to cry on sometimes. Now though, we’d better get that food together.”
Karla, Gretchen and Aunt Mary helped her pack and they were done by the time Gretchen’s father returned with his gun. He was looking thoughtful. “How many of those dragons did you say there were?”
“Twelve,” Karla said. “Thirteen if you count Ultrima.”
“One gun isn’t going to do much against them,” Jake said.
“We do have some other options,” Karla said quickly, half afraid he was going to back out.
His frown didn’t look afraid, though. “I have a couple of mates, maybe they’ll give us a hand.”
“That would be wonderful,” Karla said.
“I’ll just go make a couple of calls,” Jake said, and disappeared out of the room.
“This is going to be some adventure,” Aunt Mary said wistfully.
There was silence in the room. Gretchen looked at her for a moment.
Karla didn’t say anything. Whatever the issues over Christmas had been, it was up to Gretchen to decide if she wanted to forgive her aunt or not.
“Do you want to come?” Gretchen asked.
“I’d love to,” Mary said immediately. “Though I’m not sure I can do much to help. So these dragons breathe fire, you said?”
“Taurian and Jayrian throw fire,” Gretchen corrected. “The Trima dragons throw lightning.” She gave a shudder.
Karla had been trying to ignore that. The one flaw in her plan was the fact that they had no way to protect themselves against the Trima dragon’s lightning power. If they could get a bolt off before they started shooting, then this could all fall apart.
“How about gum boots?” Aunt Mary asked.
Karla and Gretchen stared at her. “Gum boots?” Karla repeated. She’d heard that rubber soled shoes could help protect against electricity, but surely not lightning.
“Yes, gumboots,” Aunt Mary said impatiently. “Rubber boots help insulate you against the electricity, because there’s no path to the ground. I read about them saving a lady who was hit by lightning in the UK. She was completely unharmed.”
“Really?” Karla said doubtfully. It seemed like a long shot. “Maybe that would work against a small shock, but the lightning these dragons are throwing is pretty powerful.”
“As powerful as actual lightning?” Aunt Mary asked. “There are lots of stories of people surviving against incredible odds. I think it’s worth a try. It can’t hurt, can it?”
Karla shrugged. “I suppose it can’t.”
Really, she had no idea how dragon lightning worked. Did it work like the lightning in a storm? Was it the same sort of power? She knew nothing about it.
“I wonder if it would be attracted to a lightning rod?” Aunt Mary said thoughtfully.
“We’re going to be in the middle of the outback. There are no lightning rods,” Karla pointed out.
Aunt Mary looked thoughtful. “How about the cars? If we attached something to them, maybe we could deflect at least some of the lighting.”
Karla was pretty sure that a single rod wouldn’t make any difference to the dragon’s lightning, but it did give her an idea.
She pulled out her phone, and dialled Chase’s number.
Chapter 54
As Taurian had predicted, Ultrima was more than happy to join them in the mating games. Taurian lined up next to him, and three other dragons, keeping his eye on the line scratched in the sand on the other side of the clearing.
He had to win this.
And not just for his own satisfaction. If he could win at least some of the games, it would give his clan heart. And it just might embarrass the Trima clan enough to make them leave.
Yeah, right. Like that was going to happen.
Taurian bit back a sigh. He refused to let himself think about the fact that he could see no way out of this situation alive. That wouldn’t help him win.
“Prepare yourselves,” Mesrian called out.
Taurian crouched low. The first leg of the race would be slow, on his human legs, but time here was just as important as in the next stage. Every little bit counted.
“Go!” Mesrian shouted.
Taurian took off, straining to run as fast as he could. He focused on the finish line, not allowing himself to look to either side to see how his competitors were doing.
It was hard to miss though, as Ultrima pulled in front of him. First just a little bit, but by the time they hit the line scratched in the sand, he was a full dragon length in front of Taurian.
But Ultrima hadn’t even finished removing his clothes, deliberately carefully, before Taurian crossed the line.
Taurian tore his clothes off, not caring if they were damaged, and leapt into the sky just a wing beat behind Ultrima.
He could hear his clan cheering him on as he flew back towards the lair. His breath burned in his lungs, but he didn’t allow himself to slow. He needed to beat Ultrima.
He had to.
Unfortunately, need was not enough. He could match the other dragon’s speed, but not exceed it. He crossed the finish line only a wing span behind the lightning dragon, but the distance was irrelevant. He’d lost.
Taurian’s clan was silent, their faces drawn and worried.
The Trima dragons cheered their leader, and booed at Taurian.
He ignored them. They weren’t worth his time.
“What is the next game?” he growled to Mesrian. Hopefully the elder had the sense to pick something he could win.
Whatever that was.
“The first to bring back a meal for tonight’s feast will be celebrated by all,” Mesrian announced.
Good. The Trima dragons were out of their territory, they didn’t know this area, or where to find game at all.
Then again, neither did Taurian.
Not that he was going to let that stop him.
He waited, impatiently, shifting from one foot to another, while Mesrian called for entrants.
“After I exterminate your clan, I think I might keep your mate for myself.” Ultrima’s voice in Taurian’s head was a slow, lazy drawl. The lightning dragon grinned at Taurian, showing all his teeth.
Taurian felt an overwhelming urge to throw himself on the other dragon, his teeth aiming for his throat. It was a struggle to hold himself back, but he managed. He was trying to avoid a fight. Much as it stung.
The sensible thing to do would be to ignore the other dragon. Ultrima’s mind message had been heard by Taurian only, responding would make no difference to the rest of the clan. But his pride refused to let it go.
“If that is the only way you can convince a mate to actually accept you…”
He let the thought sentence hang, pleased when he saw a flash of anger on the other dragon’s face. So Ultrima wasn’t quite as cool, calm, and collected as he always seemed. He could use that.
Somehow.
“We have four entrants,” Mesrian announced loudly.
; Taurian took a good look at the clan mates who had chosen to step forwards. He would be sure they were rewarded later. Going up against Ultrima was intimidating, even in the non-contact games. But if no one stepped forwards, then the fact that these games were a sham, nothing more than a way to pass the time while Taurian tried to think up a way to defeat Ultrima, would be obvious.
“The rules are simple,” Mesrian continued. “The first one back with game wins. All food from all entrants will be prepared for the mating feast tonight, so in a way, we all win.”
Sitting back on his haunches, Taurian waited for her to say the word. His eyes were on a strip of land to the south. The hunters had found game there last night for the feast. There could be more.
“Go.”
Taurian launched himself into the air and flew swiftly towards the trees. He skimmed over the area, his sharp eyes searching. His heart beat loudly in his ears and he was tempted to turn around, to see which direction Ultrima had gone and what he was doing.
But that would just distract him. He needed to focus on finding game. As soon as possible.
There. Movement below him. Taurian circled around, careful not to let his shadow pass over the area below.
A couple of crows fought over a dead lizard’s carcass.
Taurian hesitated. Crows were, technically, game. But they would not make much of a mating feast. He needed something more.
He flew on, covering quite a distance with his deep strokes. But the further out he found game, the further he would have to carry it. He circled to the west, intending to circle around slowly.
In the distance, he saw another dragon, his gaze intent on the ground below him.
Taurian turned back to his own area, trying to quell the panic welling. What if he lost again? He was pretty sure his clan mates would make sure not to beat him back, but he couldn’t say the same of Ultrima. The Trima dragon would beat him if it was at all possible.
He should have just taken the crow. He would be half way back to his lair if he had.
If he had been planning this mating, he would have scouted some possible spots earlier in the week. As it was, he was flying blind. And he had to be careful not to be spotted by the humans.
Below him, he startled a group of kangaroos, who had been resting in the shade of a tree. His heart sang and the thrill of the hunt flooded his veins as they sped away, their long hops moving them quickly.
But not as quickly as his wings did. Taurian swooped, aiming for a middle sized female. The other’s scattered in all directions as he came in. Keeping his eye on the female, Taurian swooped low, his claws reaching out.
She darted sideways at the last minute. Taurian was so low he had to flap frantically to bring himself back up before he crashed into a tree.
The roos were scattered, the female he had aimed for was gone. Taurian growled in frustration, then saw a young male, smaller than all the others, frantically hopping towards some dense scrub.
Darting low, Taurian stretched out his claws. The young buck was so intent on his escape, he didn’t even see it coming. Taurian’s claws closed around his back, snapping it for an instant death.
Victory welled up in him, and he tamped it down. He hadn’t won yet. He still needed to beat all the others back to the lair.
His wings carried him swiftly up and he swung around, orientating himself, finding his lair.
There. And he couldn’t see any sign of Ultrima. Good. He was due a victory. This one would be sweet. Bringing the food for the feast was always looked on favourably.
He still couldn’t see any sign of his rival dragon as he swooped down, depositing the kangaroo at Mesrian’s feet.
Her face was wreathed in smiles. “Well done, Prince Taurian. You have won this round.”
Wayrian stepped forwards to give him a kiss, as was to be expected. The thrill of victory was so sweet, it almost overpowered the pang in his heart that it wasn’t Karla.
Though he suspected she wouldn’t have been impressed at the gift of a dead kangaroo.
Wings beat the air behind him and he turned. Ultrima lowered himself into second place.
He laid a fully grown cow at Mesrian’s feet.
Taurian ground his teeth. The larger offering didn’t mean he’d won, but it would score him extra points in the complicated ritual.
Damn.
Where on earth had Ultrima found a cow?
Taurian took a deep breath. It didn’t matter. He’d won this round.
He looked to Mesrian, waiting for the next game to be announced.
“This will be a team game,” Mesrian declared. “Since we have two dragons with wins, you can both select your team of three and report back here.”
The elders all stared at Taurian, obviously waiting to be chosen. Taurian grimaced. He couldn’t really ignore all of them, could he? Even though they were all old and feeble. Then again, the challenge may be a challenge of wills, not strength.
“Kyrian,” he said, beckoning the old man. At least this one didn’t challenge him.
He looked around. Who else? He barely knew these dragons. He certainly didn’t know which would do best in any kind of challenge.
His eyes fell on Jayrian, whose face had been downcast since his mate, Gretchen, had left with Karla. The young dragon would soon learn that her departure had been for the best, for her at least.
“Jayrian,” he said next.
The young dragon’s eyes widened, but he stepped forwards readily.
One more.
Taurian’s eyes scanned the dragons. Who? Who could he pick?
He was just about to point to a random dragon when he felt it. The ground rumbling through his feet.
Cars.
Was it Karla? Had she returned?
His heart sank even as it soared. Didn’t she know this was a lost cause? Didn’t she have the sense to stay away?
All the faces, dragon and human form, turned towards the path through the trees.
Karla’s ute led the way, some sort of contraption made of great metal tubes on its back, followed by two other vehicles with metal cages.
She hadn’t returned alone. She’d brought others. Other humans.
Taurian didn’t even care that the elders were going to have a fit. Her help might just save them.
Taurian hardly dared to hope. Even after he’d rejected her, she was still willing to put her life on the line for him.
He didn’t deserve her.
Chapter 55
Chase gave a soft gasp of surprise next to Karla. “You weren’t kidding. They really are dragons,” he breathed.
“Of course they’re dragons,” Gretchen snapped next to him. “Why else would we go to all this hassle?”
Karla pulled to the left, parking the ute at an angle to the dragons staring at them in bemusement. “Now that you’ve seen them, do you think this is going to work?” she asked, trying to stop her voice shaking.
“It better,” Chase said. “Or else we’re all in trouble.”
He didn’t sound worried though. Karla could almost see the adrenalin flowing through him. He was ready to fight.
Karla though, stared at the scene in front of them, trying to take it all in. Taurian stood next to two other dragons, and Ultrima was in a similar group of three. Had they been about to fight? Had she arrived just in time?
The other two cars pulled in at an angle, keeping their cabs behind hers for cover. Hopefully they all remembered the plans they’d made before they left.
Chase gave her a grin and a thumbs up, grabbing his controller, which looked like a box covered in little red switches, and jumping out of the ute on the opposite side to the dragons. Gretchen followed him.
Karla took a deep breath. Her turn.
She pushed open the door on the dragon’s side, hoping that their shock of her fearlessness would be enough to buy her time. Or rather, buy the other’s time to get ready.
Her heart pounded. This was a crazy idea. She didn’t even have a weapon. And she was pr
etty sure that the gumboots Aunt Mary had insisted on buying wouldn’t do a thing. But she only needed a few moments. Once everyone was safe in the cages, she could retreat, hopefully under cover fire.
Karla hoped the cages Chase had welded to the back of the other two utes would do their job. Everything she’d read said that they should dissipate any electrical charge safely away from the occupants inside. In theory anyway. She suspected they were going to find out for real how they worked soon.
Would it be enough? Did they have any hope of winning?
Ultrima roared, the sound shaking the cars. Karla heard a few sharp breaths and curses, but no one backed down.
“You don’t scare us,” Lisa called out bravely, from the safety of the cage, surrounded by the farmers’ guns.
Karla winced. Somehow, she was sure that Ultrima’s next move would be to unleash his lightning straight at her.
To her surprise, he didn’t. In fact, he did something surprising.
He transformed back into his human form.
Not that it was really that great a risk, since the other dragons next to him didn’t.
He strode towards Karla and the others, unafraid.
Karla could feel all eyes on her. The other humans waited for her orders. The other dragons wondering what she was going to do.
Her heart thumped and her blood roared in her ears. She’d been prepared for a fight. Not for a discussion. What was Ultrima planning? Was it a threat?
Should she take this chance to take him out? A couple of shots from the back of the ute and their fight could be over.
But she couldn’t ask that of anyone. Shooting an attacking dragon was one thing, a human who was just walking up to them was a completely different thing.
She held up her hand to indicate to the others to hold their fire. Perhaps he wanted to surrender.
Somehow, she didn’t think so.
“I should have been prepared for the fact that you wouldn’t run.” Ultrima’s raised voice was amused. He didn’t even seem to care that he was completely naked. “Oh, wait a second, I was.”