Chapter 17
The dragon shifters sat in Drake’s library. The atmosphere was tense as they all shared any bits of info that they had gleaned from their territories and duties. Oldrik fumed as he sat in his wingback chair.
Whoever was organizing the attacks on them had another purpose. It made little sense that the violence resulted from the dragons’ protection of the city of Wyvern and the citizens. What was the purpose of these strikes?
“Do you think we’re dealing with zealots who are anti-dragon?” Oldrik asked. It wouldn’t be the first time in history that humans had sought to eliminate them. So many knights in shining armor had been toasted in their protective gear.
“You may be on the right track, Oldrik,” Ardon backed him up. “They’re organized around a goal or purpose.”
“The early results from the analysis of the samples we’ve taken have pinpointed several chemicals,” Argenis said. “Those supplies should dwindle without technology to refine and produce it. I have a list of the closest three supply depots.”
“We need to split up and go check them out,” Drake decreed.
“I agree. We don’t know what we’re getting into at each location. A show of power would make a statement and eliminate future trouble,” Khadar pointed out.
“Is there any other use for that chemical? Will eliminating it cause the humans hardship?” Ardon asked.
“Only in the production of heavy industrial batteries,” Rogan shared.
“No one needs those now.” Argenis voiced what the rest of them were thinking. Batteries for cranes and bulldozers wouldn’t solve the technology failure.
“I’ll take a location by myself,” Keres said from the doorway. The black dragon hadn’t relaxed into a chair with the others.
“Groups of us, Keres. Rogan and I will go with you,” Drake told him, before adding bluntly. “No kamikaze moves.”
“If you insist,” Keres answered sarcastically.
“I do.”
“Oldrik and I can handle one,” Ardon said.
“That leaves Argenis and Khadar to eliminate the last spot,” Drake said. “Argenis? Will you share the location with each group?”
“Of course.”
As they waited for Argenis to provide that information, Ardon chatted with Rogan. “Any progress in finding a mate?”
“It’s like my mate is close and I keep missing them. I can smell someone who calls me,” the red dragon told him.
“You think your mate is in town?” Ardon asked.
“I do. I’m about to go door-to-door like I’m selling cookies or vacuum cleaners,” Rogan said. His eyebrows pulled together, revealing his frustration. “They’re evading me. There’s something tantalizingly unique about the scent.”
“This is going to be fun to see. Perhaps we need to have another party to draw everyone together,” Ardon suggested.
“We need to address this violence first. I don’t want my mate threatened with that poison,” Rogan said decisively.
“We’re ready, Rogan. Let’s go before Keres pulls a ninja move and disappears without us,” Drake told him.
Armed with their locations to scrutinize, Ardon and Oldrik headed out for the first one. It was a fair distance away. Oldrik didn’t like leaving their mate for an extended time, so he set a grueling pace. Ardon didn’t protest. He also was motivated to finish their scouting endeavor.
After waving goodbye to her dragons earlier that afternoon, Skye had stayed close to Oldrik’s mansion. She’d drawn a few features around the property: a dragon head hitching post, a ginormous tree she suspected was over a hundred years old, and the tumbling creek that ran behind the property. With all those finished, she was at a loss about what to do next. The nap Ardon had suggested was off her to-do list.
Lying back on a soft patch of grass near the mansion, Skye watched the darkening clouds inch their way overhead. She’d worried in the past about her Daddies flying in bad weather. Since finding out that they were naturally resistant to lightning, she’d dismissed that concern. Sticking close to the entrance would allow her to escape if the show above her turned into a torrential downpour.
A rattling of wheels on the long-curved drive drew her attention. The guards at the gate had allowed the wagon through, so she didn’t worry. They were cautious about who they permitted on the grounds. She wondered what delivery was arriving today.
Tierney walked out of the building to greet them. The visitors waved him over to the far side of the delivery vehicle to see what they had brought. A strange sound reached Skye. Unable to tell what it was, she was on alert. An uneasy feeling built inside her. Something was wrong.
A fat raindrop splashed on her face, followed by many others. Distracted by the need to get inside, Skye pushed herself up to stand. She raced toward the door as water pelted down.
Out of the corner of her eye, Skye spotted a large shape approaching from behind. She turned her head to see what it was. Oof! The air rushed from her lungs as something heavy tackled her to the wet lawn.
I….
A thick bag engulfed her head. Calloused hands secured it around her neck with a thick band. They wrapped her arms and feet with rope. After a rough tug on her shirt, rain hit her bare skin on her back. What had they done to her top?
A frantic need to free herself flooded through her. She could feel her heart pounding. With her limbs bound, Skye’s movements were limited. That didn’t stop her from trying. Thrashing her head, she struggled to free herself as she sent a message to her Daddies.
Daddies! Something’s happening. There are two guys….
“If you’re trying to contact those dragon shifter friends of yours, give up. That hood is reinforced with metal threads to block your weird mental thoughts. They won’t hear anything,” a hoarse voice told her.
That didn’t stop her. Emergency! Danger at home! Come save me!
Silence answered her pleas for help. Skye’s heart sank. Whatever was around her head muted her connection with her Ardon and Oldrik.
Rough hands grabbed her shoulders and legs. She tried to kick and fight them off, but they easily overcame her. Her head banged on what she guessed was the wooden bottom of the wagon as they threw her inside. A scratchy blanket landed on her bare arms and legs before something crashed into place above her.
Skye scooted to her left and ran into the wooden side. Repeating her efforts to the right, she bumped into a warm shape that didn’t react to her closeness. Instantly, she froze in place. Her mind raced, trying to figure out who that was. Could it be Tierney? Whoever it was didn’t react. Was he unconscious?
The wagon started with a lurch. Hoping the men were focused on getting away, she sat up. Her face bashed into a barrier. Jarred, she rebounded to the hard boards below her, banging the back of her head that time. Skye realized she’d forgotten whatever had slammed into her. The laughter from above her told Skye her effort to get away had not gone unnoticed.
Thinking furiously, she tried to come up with something as the wagon bounced along the road. It was moving quickly. Not too much that it would attract attention but fast enough that they would move out of sight of the mansion soon.
Daddies! I need you!
No one answered her. Skye tried to lift her hands to her head to remove the material from her head. She couldn’t reach the hood. Each time she moved her arms, her knees bashed into the barrier above her. Skye guessed they had connected her hands and feet. She tried to give herself more room to move by bending her legs. Skye winced as they banged it into bars that stretched above her. There was no way she could reach the shielding hood.
Gathering her energy, Skye screamed. A hard thud landed on the barrier over her, rattling the wagon.
“Shut up! If you make any more noise, I’ll end you and the other guy now.”
The harsh anger in the man’s voice told Skye he wasn’t bluffing. She forced herself to relax to conserve energy. They’d have to take the hood off at some point. She could talk to her mates then.
The heavy raindrops soaked into the blanket as the storm raged around them. Soon, it lay plastered over her. Skye shivered under its chilly weight. Unsure how much time had passed, she could only hope her mates had returned to the mansion and discovered the two of them missing.
Please. They had to find her soon. She didn’t know what the men’s intentions were but suspected the worst. Picturing her dragons in her mind, Skye tried to distract herself with sketching them in her imagination. Anything to keep from panicking.
An image of a door took shape in her mind. One lock remained closed. It guarded the closest connection with her Daddies. Could she remember how to find it? Pushing away her fright, Skye walked through the steps she remembered. Twice she ended up in a dark corner of her brain. One more time. I can do this.