Why? He snarled. This was his father, and he hadn’t bothered to even try to contact him in over five hundred years.
Why what?
Why haven’t you seen me since I was a baby? Val raised his head high so that he looked down on his father.
Damien shuffled back a few steps. The elders banned me from the islands. They said if I returned, they would kill me. What use would I be to you dead?
You weren’t much use to me anyway. Val knew he was being mean, but he couldn’t help it. He’d envisioned this moment so many times since he found out Damien was alive, and he couldn’t fathom a father that wouldn’t even try to let him know he was alive. He could’ve sent a royal dragon or an eagle. But he just let Val believe he was dead.
Damien raised his head, meeting Val’s eyes. I had no choice. You can hold that against me, or you can accept that I’m willing to help you now. Who do you think is going to teach you to fight, son? You’ve got a war coming, and I’ll see to it that you know how to not only defend yourself, but win.
Val wondered briefly what on earth got him banned from the islands in the first place. How he could do something that would make them relinquish his son? Val snorted and was startled by the black smoke instead of red. For a moment he’d forgotten his scales had changed color.
Forgive me for being rude, but based on your injuries, I’d say you don’t know much about fighting.
Damien moved forward. You see these gashes across my chest?
Val wasn’t sure where his father was going with this.
The woodland dragons have offered to heal them numerous times, but I always decline. Do you want to know why?
Maybe he was about to get some of the answers he wanted. Val relaxed his shoulders. Why?
Because they are from you. You clung to me when they ripped you away. I won’t let them be healed because I wanted the reminder of you.
Val’s heart stilled. He didn’t know how to respond. He had assumed that his father had gotten in a fight that went wrong. This was news to him. The fact that his father fought to keep him. Now that I’m here, will you let them heal you?
Damien sighed. Maybe.
Val hesitated again, still a little nervous about asking the question. Why did they take me from you?
I’m not proud of this story. Know that. I made a lot of mistakes, but this was the biggest one. I wasn’t in control of my emotions. It’s not an excuse, but I was grieving deeply. Your mother died, and I was so angry. I lashed out at the woodland dragons who had tried to heal her and killed one of them. It wasn’t an accident, but it wasn’t on purpose either. My own emotions blinded me. I could see nothing, only my rage. When I returned to the islands with you, the elders took you from me and banished me.
The royal dragons gave me a home. Obsidian’s mother had a lot to do with that. I’ve been here ever since. I can’t fly long distances, though I thought about coming to find you several times. I’m glad you are here now.
This was definitely not the story Val had expected. He moved a few steps toward his father and nudged his head against his father’s jaw. Thank you for sharing that with me. I don’t know quite what to say.
You don’t have to say anything. Are you willing to give me a chance?
Of course. He wanted to say something else. Something that he’d dreamed of saying for years but never had the privilege. He forged on. Dad. Val jerked his head up. But you have to do one thing for me.
What’s that?
Get those gashes healed. You might want to let them take care of your wings and jaw as well.
Damien thought for a second. Okay, I’ll have Athena fetch Jolantha.
Who’s Athena?
Obsidian’s mother. She and I were good friends when we were young. Her mate has passed away recently, and I’ve been helping her cope. She’s still pretty angry, but she’s starting to soften.
Val spent the next few hours talking with his father. He’d never felt so comfortable in his life. This was very different than it had been with his aunt and uncle.
I know you have to go soon, but would you like a short lesson first? Damien asked.
Sure.
Okay, what do you think is the most vulnerable part of a dragon’s body?
Val thought for a second. The neck?
Damien snorted poofs of red smoke. That’s what most people think, so your first tip is to protect your neck. Most dragons will attack there first. If you have a clear opening, definitely try, but if you want to surprise a dragon, go for his eyes. If you can blind him, you’ll have the advantage.
What if someone else does it to me first? How do I fight if I’m blind?
That takes instinct and time. We’ll practice that. If you practice blind, you’ll learn how to fight blind.
Val knew it was time for him to go, but he wasn’t ready to leave his father. He’d just found him again. I have to go help Obsidian and Aspen search for her brother. Would you like to come?
I’m going to take care of these injuries, but maybe tomorrow.
Thanks, Dad, for all your help. I know I have a lot of responsibilities now, but I’ll come see you whenever I can.
I’d like that. Now get out of here. I wouldn’t want to you to get in trouble with Aspen.
You mean Obsidian?
No, I mean Aspen. She’s the fierce one.
Val took one more look at his father and then spread his wings and flew out of the cave. Val flew south, toward Sid’s house. On the way he thought about his father. It’d been five hundred years. How would Damien make up all that time? He was quiet and soft spoken, and he seemed to genuinely want to know him. Val liked him. But his stomach felt hollow. He would never be able to have a normal relationship with his father. Val was a king now, and a war was on the horizon. He’d have other responsibilities.
As he came over the mountain, he spotted the mansion. He caught a flutter of wings out of the corner of his eyes and a sharp pain pierced his side. Then another one stung his neck. He dropped a few feet and swung his head around to see what had hurt him. A swarm of hawks descended. They tore at his wings and bit and clawed at him. He tucked his wings and dove for Sid’s house. The hawks continued to follow him, but as he crossed the tree line another swarm of birds flew toward him as well. Dread filled his chest. He didn’t know if he was going to make it. But this new group of birds didn’t come after him. They went straight for the hawks. A weight lifted off him as he landed on the ground in front of Sid’s back door. The eagles that had protected him gathered around him seconds later, and Sid flew out of the house with Aspen at his heels.
“Are you okay?” Sid’s face was ashen.
Val looked down at his body covered with tiny holes and scratches.
He took a couple of deep breaths. I’m fine, I think. It’s mostly superficial. Why would the hawks try to kill me?
Sid turned to the eagles. “Did you have any of your brothers follow the hawks? We need to know why they attacked him.”
Aspen circled him. “I don’t see any that look deep. The gashes in your wings look awful though.”
“Dammit, follow them. I’ve got this here,” Sid yelled.
The eagles took off in a flurry of wings.
“The eagles all came with you. They didn’t bother to see where the hawks came from. What happened?”
They came out of nowhere. Someone wants me dead. For the first time, Val felt real fear over what he’d gotten into. His life on the island was so quiet. The most drama he’d ever found was when a couple of humans had spotted him spying and freaked out. He’d hidden in a cave for weeks after that. Now here he was on the mainland with two attempts on his life in a matter of two days.
Sid ran a hand over his face. “This is the second time someone has tried to kill you. My guess would be it’s the arctic dragons, and this means they know. We’ve got to find this third dragon, get you a queen, and prepare for this war.”
I agree, but first, can you summon a healer? My wounds are all superficial, but it h
urts.
“No need, I can do it.” Sid clapped his hands together and walked around Val.
What? How?
Sid grinned. “Do you know why it’s so important that we have strong queens?”
No.
“Because the council members give her their gifts, which we get when we are bonded. She has to be strong enough to accept the gifts. If she’s not, then she could be so overwhelmed by the gifts that they would kill her. It’s why the testing was created. Actually, Aspen, would you like to try first? Just on one of the scratches. I can take care of the rest.”
“I don’t even know what to do.”
“You just need practice accessing the gift of healing. It will tell you what to do. Go ahead, pick a spot, and give it a whirl.”
Aspen placed her hand over one of Val’s injuries. After a minute, she squealed. “I did it. Look.” Val looked down, and sure enough the scratch was gone. Would Hazel be strong enough to withstand the gifting? She was certainly strong-willed, but would that make her a good queen?
Sid gave her a quick kiss. “Good job. Now watch.”
Sid transformed into a dragon and placed his snout on Val’s head. Val felt warmth spread from his forehead to his tail. When Sid removed his snout, the pain was gone.
It’s imperative that you win over Hazel right away. You are being targeted, and you need the extra gifts. I have a feeling this war’s going to start faster than any of us are prepared for.
“A HUMVEE, HUH?” Hazel stared at the monster vehicle in front of her.
Paul gave her a grin. “I wish I could say it was mine. It’s the Guards’. I couldn’t afford it.”
Hazel climbed in. It smelled of sweat and cigars.
“Why’s the National Guard all involved?” Hazel asked.
“Because this dragon is wicked dangerous.”
Hazel fiddled with the glove box. “That’s crazy. Does the government have a plan if he’s not caught?”
“We’ll get rid of them. People won’t complain. Maybe then, we can actually use the national parks.”
Hazel had been saying that for years. But Aspen and Val would be upset. She supposed they’d get over losing the dragons. “No complaints here. How would they do it?”
Paul shrugged as he pulled onto the road to the park.
“I’m not privy to that information, but I expect they will poison their food source or something. Nuke their nests maybe. It will take several years to get rid of them all.”
Paul flashed an ID at the guard at the gate. Military vehicles were everywhere, and troops holding massive guns paced in front of the gates.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “It looks like we are at war. I’ve never been a part of anything like this. The thing is, no one sees anything. The most they’ve had to do is chase out teenagers who try to sneak in to go snowmobiling.”
“So you’re not seeing any dragons?” Hazel tried to look out the windshield, but it was hard to see the sky.
“We see them all the time. But supposedly only one is dangerous, so we are not to engage unless we feel like the dragon is going to eat us. But I still get nervous when I see one. We’ve been told the dragons are searching for the killer as well. Though how they know that is beyond me. They’re animals.”
Hazel looked out her own window and saw several gold and silver specks circling high in the sky. One of those gold specks could be the killer. She shivered.
“Someone knows how to communicate with them then. Any ideas who?”
Paul laughed. “I’d start with your sister.”
“Aspen?”
“Look, I’ve been on the search from nearly day one, and she’s never with us. She goes out with the dragons. I’ve even seen her riding on a massive black one.”
Hazel had a hard time believing that one. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think I was supposed to know that. I’m not sure your parents even know. They think she’s out with her rich boyfriend searching in a helicopter.”
“Did you tell anyone you’d seen her?”
“My commanding officer. He told me to keep my trap shut.”
“Why are you telling me?”
Paul grabbed Hazel’s hand. “Come on, you know I tell you everything. I always have. I know we haven’t talked much since you moved to Hawaii, but I still trust you.”
Paul pulled up in front of the visitor center and turned to her. He grabbed both of her hands and looked deep into her eyes.
“Look, I don’t know what you were told. But Hazel, it’s been a week. You know that right now they’re just looking for a body. There is no way he’s alive. Not in this weather. It’s too cold. I don’t think they are going to even find a body. If that dragon ate him, he didn’t leave any evidence.”
Hazel jerked her hands out of his, her stomach twisting. “You’re wrong.”
“You need to accept he’s probably dead. It will make the rest of this so much easier.”
She glared at him and then got out of the car. Rowan wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. Her pulse sped up as she thought of the possibility. Was she the only one who still held out hope?
She stomped into the visitor center. Her parents were standing around a table with the same map from the kitchen.
Her mom turned to her, an ever present frown on her face. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“Is it true?” Hazel crossed her arms and tapped her foot, blinking back the tears. How could they think he was dead?
“Is what true?”
She leaned forward and hissed. “Are we just looking for a body?”
“No, of course not. Who told you that?” Mom laid her hand on Hazel’s shoulder and looked her right in the eyes.
Hazel took a deep breath, relief flooding her. “Okay, so you think he’s still alive?”
“I have to. Even if it is unlikely.” Mom’s eyes filled with tears, and Hazel instantly felt guilty for making her worry.
Hazel grabbed her mom’s hands. “He’s alive, and we’re going to find him.”
“Of course we will.”
“Is it possible that he’s not in the park? What do you know about his disappearance?”
“Not much. The last person to see him alive was Aspen. He was with her and her friends. She went out with Sid, and when she came back, he was gone. It was like he just vanished.”
“Why search the park?”
“Because Aspen left her jeep at Sid’s house, and they found it on the side of the road, down the street from our house. It wouldn’t start. We had to take it to the shop. We think he left it there and tried to walk home.”
“Who was on duty at the guard station? The park was already shut down. Someone had to let him in.”
Hazel’s parents looked at each other. “We never thought of that.”
“Really? Who’s the official detective on the case?”
“There isn’t one. The park rangers and National Guard are leading the search.”
“Doesn’t the FBI get involved in missing person cases?”
“The FBI wouldn’t get involved in a simple missing person’s case. Not like this.”
Hazel sighed. “Okay, can you find out who was on duty?”
Dad nodded and went back into an office. Paul put his hand on her back. Hazel pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can’t believe they waited a week to tell me. If he was abducted, he could be anywhere.”
Dad came back with a note. “Jeff Daniels was on duty. He’s off today. I tried his cell, but he’s not answering. This is his address if you want to go visit him.”
“What makes you think he’ll be home if he didn’t answer his phone?”
Dad shuffled. “I don’t know. But we should have confirmation on this, so I think you should follow up with him. Plus, it’s safer for you to chase this lead than be here in the park. We don’t need you freezing to death too.”
“Too? So you think he’s dead?” She was tired of people givi
ng up on Rowan so quickly. He couldn’t be dead.
Dad rubbed his hand across his face. “The thought’s occurred to me. But I’m not giving up yet.” At least he hadn’t lost all hope. Hazel didn’t know what she would do when that happened. No, she told herself, that wouldn’t happen because they were going to find him.
“Well then, I guess I’ll go check out this lead.” She spun on Paul. “Can you take me?”
“Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you on duty?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
He gave her a sheepish grin. “Yeah.”
“Then why can you come with me?”
“Because I’ve been assigned to keep an eye on you.”
Hazel’s insides burned. “Why?”
“Your parents don’t want to lose another child, so they asked us to assign someone to stay with you. I volunteered. I figured you’d be happy to spend time with me.”
Hazel exhaled. She couldn’t believe they were coddling her like that. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
Paul held out his keys. “I’m your ride. Do you want to talk to Mr. Daniels or not?”
Hazel hated he knew her well enough that she wouldn’t waste time arguing with him when there was a lead to follow.
It took about thirty minutes to get to Mr. Daniels’s house. Paul caught her up on all the gossip she missed since she’d left. She barely heard it. She couldn’t believe no one bothered to question him. Or maybe they had and were just letting her go to get her out of the main investigation.
Mr. Daniels answered the door right away. He was a tired looking man with a high forehead and weak chin. Hazel didn’t bother making small talk.
“My name is Hazel. My brother, Rowan, went missing last week. I was wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions.”
He waved her in. “Your dad just called. Sorry I didn’t answer the phone earlier. I was in the shower. Come on in.”
“Thanks.” She entered the tiny house and took off her hat and gloves. She left her coat on.
They sat on a tattered couch. “You were on gate duty that night. My parents found my sister’s jeep on the street near our home, which means Rowan would’ve gone through your gate. Do you remember seeing him?”
Valentine (The Dragon Kings Book 3) Page 7