Surge of Storms (Dragon Bonds #4)

Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

Samantha

Malikay and his gang have got to be some of the most irritating motherfuckers that have ever walked this planet. Although I use the term “walked” lightly. They’ve spent the last week continuing their reign of terror over the region around us, clearly trying to get a rise out of us, or trying to make us make a mistake.

We’ve arranged teams to scout the areas around us, each team equipped with an ice dragon to help put out any fires they come across. But they’re also doing lovely things like tearing down electric poles, ripping up roofs, and killing big farm animals. All of which is not helping the public opinion of dragons.

The frustrating part is that we always seem to be one step behind them. By the time we know about an attack, they’re long gone. It’s irritating that we finally have a pack powerful enough to take them down, but we can’t get anywhere near them.

I have a feeling this scouting mission won’t be any different. The skies are clear in all directions. There’s no word of a dragon attack, and yet, they’re out there. Somewhere. Hurting someone. And we’ll be too late to stop them.

Anyone smell smoke? Granger asks in a wary voice.

I do , Evander says.

I’m about to say I don’t, when the scent hits me. Something is definitely on fire, and maybe the dragons have nothing to do with it, but I seriously doubt it.

It’s the town up ahead , Aydan says, and we fly a little faster.

Sure enough, just up ahead several buildings in a little town off the highway are on fire. Except, this time we spot the assholes responsible for all the trouble.

We got you now.

Hurrying toward them, I make sure to fall back behind the large alpha males. As much as I want to be right in the middle of the battle, I have to be smart. Besides, it’s not like I can’t jump into the fight as soon as they square off with the others. I’m like a secret weapon ready to tear their buttholes into pieces.

Malikay and Balor are bad every lifetime, Zane warns. Than and Kek have a chance of going down a good path each time. We need to talk to them, to see if we can get them to separate from the assholes.

Okay, so the green and orange dragons have no hope of being good, but the other ones have a chance. Good to know. But unless we see a major change in Than and Kek, they’ll receive the same treatment as Malikay and Balor. Shredded wings. A prison of their own making.

We fly closer, and we see the moment they become aware of us, because they make a beeline away from the town. Luckily, they’d been so preoccupied with destruction that we’d gotten fairly close to them, but the smaller betas were faster than my guys. They’re not faster than me, but I’m not about to go after them alone.

A storm brews overhead. The wind picks up. The storm begins to pluck at the asshole dragons, beating them back and slowing them down. The wind hits us too, but the big alphas don’t seem nearly as affected by it.

Damn, Granger, you’re getting good at controlling your powers.

Just takes practice , he says, sounding embarrassed.

Still, the dragons are getting further away. I swear under my breath, start to move faster, then slow down again, feeling frustrated. We finally have them. We can’t let them get away again.

You have to stop what you’re doing, I call to them. You’re just hurting people and causing chaos. There’s a way to be happy in this world without all of this.

Malikay’s voice is deep and rich, like something out of my nightmares. If you want us to stop, it’s simple. You must agree to be ours. Then, all of this goes away. Do you really want more people to be hurt? Do you want that on your conscience?

My thoughts scramble. Malikay is a Sleeping Dragon. He spent this lifetime as a human. Surely, he has to know better than this. I don’t understand. You were human. You have no attachment to me. Why are you fighting so hard for a female you have no connection to?

There’s a cruel amusement in his voice. When I was human, I was overlooked by women. All they wanted were big, tall, strong males. Someone to put them in their place and break them. They didn’t want a nice guy like me. Well, now I’m not a nice guy. I’m everything any woman should want, and I deserve the best woman. I’m told you’re her, so that’s what I’m going to have. You.

I’m not a fucking thing. I’m not a prize to win. I’m a person, and I don’t want you. I’ll never want you. And there’s nothing you can do to get me.

There’s a low angry laugh filled with poison. Oh, Sam, Balor has been very clear about your weakness for humans. Eventually, you’ll break. You’ll become ours, mark my word.

Evander tries to say something, but I cut him off, focusing on Than and Kek, who keep glancing back at me. No dragon could possibly want a female who hates them, who is disgusted by the sight of them and their touch. I’m disgusted by cowardly dragons who kill people and animals just because they can. If you have any hope of getting a female in the future, not me, but another one, you should stop this. Break off from this group and be the kind of dragons a female would want.

When none of them answer and I realize they’ll be out of the range of communication soon, I press on. Your current actions will not win my heart, or any female’s heart. Think about it. You’ve been alive for many lifetimes. Has this ever worked before?

Nice try, Malikay says, oozing arrogance, but all of us are of one mind. We will have you. We will take you, and no one can stop us.

I try to call after them, but they’re too far away. Cursing in my thoughts, I stop and watch them, feeling angry beyond belief. I’m not a thing to take. I’m a person. And the thought of them… getting me, fills me with dread.

You did a good job , Zane reassures me.

The dragons were listening. They heard you. That’s something, at least , Granger says.

Well, we tried things your way, Evander tells us carefully. Now, it’s my turn.

His way might be better, but still, I wonder if Than and Kek can at least be reasoned with. Malikay and Balor would certainly be less threatening if it were just the two of them. No matter what we do next…