Page 43 of Sapphire Seas

We are not the Gorynych, Ionus declared, his dragon’s voice far gentler this time. You’ve found the Protectors and our allies. Where are your parents?

They made us memorize the map of the snake mountains and told us to stick to the shadows until we found it, the youngest one said. We don’t know where they are now. They found a way to trap some of the Gorynych but wanted us safely away from our caverns first. They will come for us in Dragon City once they’ve destroyed as many of them as they can find.

Then they are our allies too and we will help them in any way we can, Ionus announced, but first, we need to get you all to Dragon City. These lands border ours but do not belong to us. It isn’t safe for you to remain out here.

The clump of shadows huddled tighter, wings wrapping tighter, drawing their shadow away from the edge of the clearing as they seemed to confer with one another.

I am a father, Ionus said, gentling his voice even more, there are four dragonets at home with my mate. Two of my brothers are fathers too and one is expecting. We would never harm a child.

More discussion seemed to take place among the shadow dragons, before the one acting as their leader spoke again.

Papa says the Protectors each carry the scale of an ancient warrior. Do you?

Aye, Ionus said, displaying our father’s scale, prompting my brothers and I to do the same.

Even in dragon form, we carried it with us, tucked among our own scales as a tribute to him.

Shadow wings dropped, allowing us to see why they’d used such a strategy when cornered. The smallest among them could not have been more than ten years old, while the largest looked to be the size of a teenager. The tension around them eased as they relaxed and moved closer. Their wings and ears bore similar traits to the bats the dwelled in the caves around our home, as did some of their facial features.

You are the Protectors, the oldest one declared.

It was enough to prompt the smallest to rush forward and cling to Ionus’ leg with claws and wings.

We’re safe! the little one cried.

Aye, so let’s keep you that way, Ionus said as he bent and lifted the small dragon.

Yes please, it’s scary out here in the big world without our caves.

Then let us be off.

Chapter Fourteen

Kes

It all happened so fast. One second we were sharing a moment, the next we were locked inside the horde. Caspian wrapped his arms around me, and I held him while we breathed and wrestled our emotions under control.

“We can’t panic,” I murmured.

“He’ll feel it and be distracted,” Caspian replied.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Our heartbeats synced up as we stood stuck between old instincts and new ones.

Eggs.

The ones we carried inside of us as well as the Protectors lifeforce eggs Mattias had shown us in the cave.

We would always be warriors but out there with our mate, in our current condition, we would be liabilities, not help. My first instinct could no longer be to rush into battle the moment an alarm sounded. I had a mew mission.

We.

Yes, dragon, my apologies, I am still getting used to hearing you clearly. We have a new mission.

You will get there.