Surge of Storms (Dragon Bonds #4)

Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Evander

Eight days have passed since we made the decision to welcome the dragons to Specter Inc. The other buildings have been set up to house both the males and females, separately, and security has been put into place to keep everyone safe, especially Sam. As much as we trust Zane to know whether these dragons are safe or not, Sam is too important to risk in any way.

My recording featuring Zane is playing all over the world, telling all the new dragons where to go, and that they’ll be welcome. So far, we’re mainly concentrating on Awakened Dragons, since there haven’t been any reports of humans turning into dragons since Malikay. Jets have been making contact with dragons, leading the ones who are willing home, and we are out rounding up as many dragons as we can safely round up, under Zane’s guidance.

As we fly, I’m constantly aware of where Sam is in relation to the three male beta dragons we tracked down, and will be leading back to base once we collect the last dragon on our route. So far, they appear to be more afraid of us than they are a threat. They also seem really grateful to be getting some help in this new world.

Is it much further? Pegid, a violet dragon, asks.

We have one more dragon to collect, I tell him, hoping as I say it that this goes as smoothly as with the other dragons.

Zane said this group would be easy. I hope he’s right.

We’re nearly to where the satellites suggested there was an espresso-colored dragon when we see movement. Careful, he’s here, Granger says.

He’s bigger than the others. Sam sounds a little nervous, and Zane and Aydan instantly move closer to her, which has a ripple effect of sending the three dragons that are following us circling around to keep more distance from themselves and our mate. They know better than to anger us.

Up ahead, the espresso dragon appears out of the clouds.

Hello, Kodan , Zane greets. Did you awaken well?

The dragon, who I’m assuming is named Kodan, flies closer, so that I can see that he is large for a beta, but still far smaller than us. Which strokes my ego just a little.

I awakened well, brother, but this new world is far stranger and more different than years past. Food is scarcer. The cities are larger and more crowded. Is there even a place for the dragons here?

Zane chuckles. There is. Our harem has found Pegid, Radem, and Irvyss just today. We are attempting to bring all the dragons together to help them learn about this new world, which can be very dangerous for us. Would you like to join us, brother?

After a pause, Kodan asks, Will we need to fear your alphas?

Only if you go near our female.

After a moment, Kodan bows his head and says, I would appreciate the help.

I study the sky. By the time we return, it’ll be evening. It’s time to head back home.

Besides, we wouldn’t bring back more than four betas at a time. We wouldn’t want them to outnumber us when we still don’t know them, as confident as Zane seems to be.

We start the long flight back, sticking close to Sam, but the betas do not approach. If anything, they give her lots of space. They have the energy of skittish dogs, and it occurs to me that we could tear them to shreds if they cross us, something they no doubt know.

Still, curious, I ask Zane, Why are you so confident about these betas not being dangerous?

Zane chuckles. It is the same betas and alphas every lifetime that cause issues. All the betas we’ve collected so far have their own mates. They’ll be more concerned with finding them, when they awaken, than with our mate. Even if these four could have her, they wouldn’t. That’s why I thought we should seek them out first.

It’s funny. Sometimes Zane seems like a child, but he’s not. The water runs deep with that one.

As if reading my mind, Zane flies down and slides into the ocean below. Irvyss, an ice dragon himself, follows suit. We circle around them as they play in the water for a moment before they launch back into the air.

Ice dragons , Radem grumbles, but there’s amusement in his voice. And then he adds, This place we go. Does it have food?

Under Zane’s guidance over the past eight days, we’d stocked up on food before searching for the dragons. He’d made it clear that as long as the dragons had food, safety, and skies to fly in, they would be happy. At least until the females emerge.

Yes. There is plenty of food, I say.

And has anyone caught sight of a female? Of Ersy?

Not yet, but it’s still early, Zane reassures him.

Have Malikay and the others…? Radem begins.

Yes . Zane’s voice is harsher. They have awakened, and they’ve already been causing trouble. It is why our female is so skittish. Why we’re all so skittish.

Fuck , Radem murmurs.

Tension sings through the air. Pegid flies a little higher. I can only stay where you are taking us for a short time. Then I need to be out searching for my female, Marie, so I can find her before Malikay and his pack can harm her.

I try to find the best way to explain things. We will be able to search the skies with ease from our base… from the place we are going. We should know fairly quickly when a female dragon awakens. When your female awakens.

Zane had made it clear that the second a female dragon awakened, all the males should start heading in her direction. Now, we know that that isn’t just because the males are drawn to her scent, but also because the males will be searching for their female.

Do all of you know whether it’s your female’s scent from afar, or do you have to get closer? I ask.

Irvyss answers. Those of us whose females find a new body each lifetime will not recognize her scent right away, but when we get close enough, even with her scent being different, we’ll know it is her. At least the males who have awakened will. The males with new bodies will only know they are drawn to her scent.

I have to say, I still don’t completely understand all this dragon business, but I’m trying to understand it. If I’m going to be a dragon, I need to do it right, and everyone knows that knowledge is power.

Hours pass as we fly back towards home. It’s strange how playful the dragons are, but maybe it’s because they were asleep so long. Zane and Irvyss take every opportunity to play in the water. They wrestle and fight, jumping on each other like children in a pool. Pegid, Radem, and Kodan soar straight up as high as they can go, then plunge back down. They do spins and tricks, while we look on in amusement.

Who knew dragons could be so much fun? Aydan asks.

Zane answers. Well, they are with large alpha dragons. They have nothing to fear right now, especially with Granger here. It is an honor amongst all dragons to be under the protection of a storm dragon.

No pressure at all, right? Granger jokes.

Sam circles around him. You’ll live up to the expectations. I know you will.

Up ahead, we spot our first view of the coast. We’re almost home. And then? Then, the real fun begins as we begin to balance things with a base full of strange dragons.