Dragon Blood 3: Surety (15 page)

Amber stared at the photos Chait handed her. It was over a week since she’d seen her grandparents, nearly two weeks, and tomorrow was the last day of school before they broke up for the September holidays. “Are these them? The ones who made the mages?”

Chait nodded.

“Does Ronan know who they are?”

Kade came into the kitchen. “What have you got?”

She held the photos out.

Kade stopped at the second photo. “An Elder?” He looked over to Amber. “It’s an Elder that’s making mages and using details of the tests to hunt us?”

“I don’t know.” She turned to Chait. “Is it?”

“Ronan said he’d be here soon.” Chait disappeared into the Void.

“I hate it when you lot do that.” For a moment she started at the spot where Chait had been before she turned her attention to Kade. “What does it mean if it’s an Elder?”

“There are only twenty-five Elders. Beneath them are the Council, then the Assembly, then the Representatives. Elders are the most powerful dragons in all the worlds and the ones who uphold the law more than any other dragon. They are the law and must always be above it.”

“Yet he’s breaking the law.” Amber gestured towards the photo Kade still held. “What does that mean for us?”

“That we need to have proof that’s completely inarguable. No one would believe this of an Elder. And each Elder has so many allies that a battle against them is almost guaranteed to be won by them.”

“So basically we’re screwed.”

Ronan stepped out of the Void. “Not even close.”

“Then what?” Amber demanded.

“We prove he has not only bent the law, but twisted it out of recognition and not a single one of his allies will stand beside him. Once he’s taken care of, there’ll be fighting between the Councillors over who moves up and then there’ll be a position available on the Council. We don’t let anyone know it’s an elder until we’re completely ready and have inarguable proof. Before then we need to move up the taking of my lands. I don’t want someone on the Assembly thinking the position we create is theirs.

“Impossible.”

“Don’t tell me impossible. You have school holidays starting tomorrow. We can start the day after.”

“Why?” Amber asked.

“He wants the Council position,” Kade said. “Which Gold Dragon are you backing for the position?”

Ronan smiled. “There will be hell to pay if I don’t get it.”

Amber shivered at the predatory smile, a flash of gold momentarily appearing in Ronan’s eyes. She had a feeling the only dragon he had in mind for the position was himself. “What about the other Dragon Mage and the Elder making them?”

“We can’t take them out until I have my lands. I’m not risking things moving too fast for me to get that Council position.”

“We aren’t ready to attack. It’s too soon to be able to win.”

“You will be ready. No excuses. My house Saturday morning. All of you. It’s time to go over the final plans.” Ronan held Amber’s gaze a moment longer before he vanished into the Void.

Amber reached for Kade, holding his hand tight. “Can we do it?”

“I hope so.”

She shivered again. They were so not ready for this. None of them. The castle’s occupants would know what to expect. They had no new battle tactics with which to surprise them like they had at Temolae Keep. “We’re screwed.”

“So that’s it? You’re giving up?”

Amber thought of Cooper, covering his face with his hands. Then she thought of her brother, Crystal, her mother, even her grandparents. The images of people that she had claimed filled her mind. She reached out a hand and ran it down Kade’s cheek, along his neck, stopping at his heart. It beat strongly beneath her palm. “No. We’ll get him his lands.” She didn’t have a choice.

“We need to let Flinn know.”

“Crystal is going to be mad. Her seventeenth birthday is during the September holidays and she was expecting to have a ball to celebrate.”

“That’s only a week away. Impossible.”

Amber grinned. “As impossible as taking Ronan’s lands these holidays?”

Kade laughed. “I guess we’re having a ball.”

Amber joined him, noticing a slight touch of hysteria to the sound of her laugh. “There’s no way I’m telling Mum. She’ll try and ground me again. We’re going to our castle to celebrate Crystal’s birthday. Right?”

“Okay.”

Amber took a deep breath, trying not to think about what was coming. “This is crazy,” she muttered.

“Crazy? Aren’t you the one who jumps off my back in mid air?”

“That’s different.” She eyed his smile, thinking it looked a little bit too much like Ronan’s predatory one. “You’re looking forward to this, aren’t you?”

“I’m a dragon. We live for battle and stealing our neighbour’s land.”

“Just great.” She pulled away from him. “I’m going to ring Crystal. And Jay.”

When they arrived at Ronan’s house, he led them straight to Charles and Helen’s room. Extra timber chairs had been set around the table, which was covered in numerous piles of paper. Amber looked away from the glare her grandfather sent her. Not the best way to start the first day of the school holidays, but she guessed they weren’t about to get any better. She sat down at the table, Kade beside her, and looked around at those assembled. Ronan had two of his sons behind him, Hound and Tory, while Rian stood behind her. Flinn and Crystal were seated, his warriors behind him. Jasper was also at the table and Maira and Brann were seated, much to Flinn’s annoyance.

“I only have two people in the castle. I’d planned to have more, but time doesn’t allow it,” Ronan said.

“Going to war half prepared will get everyone killed,” Charles said. “Not that I care about the rest of you. Die if you want. But you’re not endangering me and Helen.”

“Circumstances have changed. It was necessary to move our plans forward,” Ronan said.

Amber could just imagine how little her grandparents would appreciate helping Ronan get his own Council position. Flinn had been argumentative enough. At least until Kade had pointed out that it wasn’t guaranteed. Ronan still had to fight for it and win it for whichever Gold he was sponsoring.

“What circumstances?” Helen asked.

“Future changes in dragon alliances. We need to attack now before those alliances finish changing,” Ronan said.

“Are they strengthening their position?” Charles asked.

“Forget the politics for the moment. Focus on strategy. We’ll attack at night,” Ronan said.

Amber nearly groaned when Charles argued against that plan. Minutes passed as the table erupted into arguments, finally agreeing, reluctantly by some, to attack at night. It was going to be a long day. She eyed the door, wishing she could leave.

“My people will create two separate diversions. One will light a fire-”

Charles interrupted Ronan. “That’s too obvious. The first thing they’ll think of is attackers.”

Amber felt like throttling her grandfather when his words caused another argument to start. Both Ronan and Charles ended up on their feet, shouting at each other over the table before the argument was finished. The decision was reached that one would light a fire in the stables, chasing out the horses, while the other spy set dynamite at the rear wall to make the enemy think they’d be entering through it.

“We’ll send a small force towards the back while a larger one attacks from the front and a handful flies in from the side to track down the leaders,” Ronan said.

“Where do you think you’re going to put us? It better not be in the suicide group attacking the rear,” Charles said.

“You’ll go where I put you,” Ronan roared, rising to his feet again.

Charles leapt to his feet too. “If you think you can get us killed in this battle-”

Amber jumped to her feet. “Stop it! Both of you. We’ve got no chance of winning if we continue to fight amongst ourselves. Save it for the enemy.”

“Don’t you talk to me like that, girl.” Charles glared at her.

“Well, if you can stop acting like little kids we won’t all end up in-” Her mouth dropped open. “Oh.”

“What?” Ronan asked.

Her lips slowly curved into a smile. “A grave.”

“Can’t see how that can cheer you up,” Charles growled. “Unless it was him.” He nodded towards Ronan.

Amber met Ronan’s eyes. “The crypt.”

Ronan grinned.

This time his predatory smile didn’t make fear race through her veins. It made her think that they actually had a chance of surviving. “Do they ever have guards in there?”

Ronan shook his head. “What’s the point? It’s locked. But I can bring warriors in there and we can use some dynamite to blow it open.”

“No. Too dangerous. How is it locked?”

“By a key that used to be kept in the library. In the bottom drawer of the desk.” Ronan pulled the map towards himself. “Here. This room on the second floor.”

“Doesn’t mean it’ll still be there,” Charles said.

“One of the mages could fly in and get it,” Maira said.

“Not my mage,” Flinn growled.

“I’ll do it,” Amber said quickly before another argument could start.

“You don’t have to,” Kade said.

Who else was she going to let do it? Jay? Crystal? No way. “My plan. I’ll do it.”

“It’ll have to be done at once,” Ronan said.

Amber met his eyes. “Everything?”

“If you can’t get the key in time I’ll be blowing the door open. Obviously I won’t be using as much as I would for the outside wall,” Ronan said.

Her stomach lurched. It still sounded too dangerous. “Once I get the key, how do I get it to you?”

Ronan continued to meet her eyes. “Call for me and I’ll find you.”

She wasn’t certain if that was a threat or a promise. She nodded, hoping it was a promise. “Then we can attack from inside.”

“We’ll have the advantage,” Ronan said.

“We’re going with the group attacking from inside,” Charles ordered.

“So are we,” Flinn stated.

Amber held her breath, expecting more arguments. Instead, Ronan nodded. Her eyes travelled around the table, staring intently at everyone there. Apart from Flinn and his warriors she’d be devastated if something happened to one of them. Possibly not her grandfather, but she wasn’t certain. Her eyes were drawn to Ronan. She’d even be devastated if something happened to him. And that thought scared the hell out of her more than her fear of losing any of her family or friends. She didn’t know what Ronan was, but somehow or other, he’d become one of hers.

Plans and suggestions continued to be thrown around the table, there were more arguments and Amber’s gaze kept being drawn back to Ronan, the sense of horror not leaving her. When talking was done, and everyone started to leave, Ronan cornered her in the hallway.

“I need to talk to you.”

Amber shot a look to Kade who waited for her, nearly everyone else gone other than Rian. She’d wanted to spend time with Crystal, but they’d all be at their castle tomorrow. Not that they’d probably have much time to chat with everything that still needed to be done.

“Now, Amber.”

She knew that tone. It wasn’t one to be argued with. “Kade, take Rian to Temolae Keep and come back for me.”

“No need. I’ll take her to your house when I’m finished talking to her,” Ronan said.

“Okay.” She was surprised that none of her worry leaked into the tone of her voice.

“Are you sure?”
Kade asked Amber.

“Yes. He still needs me. I’ll be fine.”
She tried to sound reassuring, but wasn’t certain if she managed to convey that feeling.

Kade nodded, reaching for Rian before he disappeared into the Void.

“This way.” Ronan led her to a water garden he’d recently installed in his rooftop garden, indicating an outdoor timber chair she could sit on before sitting on one himself. “What’s going on?”

Amber sat down. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“What are you planning?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me, Amber. I saw those looks you kept sending me. What are you planning?”

She jumped to her feet, started to pace, stopped, faced Ronan then looked away again. There was no way she could get out of telling him what she was thinking. Although he probably wouldn’t believe her. “You’re crazy.”

“I know what I saw.”

She shook her head. “No. You’re psychotic. A killer. Can’t be trusted. I don’t want you to be one of mine.” The last was a wail.

Ronan rose to his feet, standing directly in front of her. “What exactly are you saying?”

“The battle.” She thought of her feelings when she’d looked around the table and feared that she might lose one of them.

“You’re not backing out are you?”

“I don’t want to lose anyone in it.” She hesitated. “Not even you.”

“Don’t tell me this is the part where you confess your undying love for me.” His tone dripped sarcasm.

“No. Most of the time I hate you. And there’s a few times I’ve even wanted to murder you, but the moment passes pretty quickly.” She thought of everything that had happened to him. Like his uncle killing his family and trying to kill him. At times she even pitied him, but there was no way she’d ever tell him that.

“Is this a warning?”

She frowned. “A warning?”

“That you will kill me.”

She laughed. How was she making such a mess of this? “No. I’m trying to tell you you’re one of mine. I will protect you as fiercely as I’d protect Rian.”

“Why?”

She smiled ruefully. “Because I’m an idiot.”

He grabbed her chin, tilting her head up. “I think you might actually be serious.”

She jerked her head out of his hand. “That doesn’t mean I’ll let you hurt any of my people. You are at the bottom of the list of the ones I’d protect.” She pointed a finger at him in warning.

“Why are you telling me this? What’s your agenda?”

Amber sighed heavily. “Stop being such a dragon and complicating things. This is human.”

“Humans are irrational.”

“I know.” A wry grin formed.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

She laughed, this time amused. “Of course it doesn’t. It has nothing at all to do with sense. It’s to do with being human.”

“Would you avenge me if someone killed me?”

Amber shook her head. “I don’t think so. That’s a dragon emotion. No, this is about protecting and not letting someone kill you in the first place.”

“I don’t need anyone to protect me.”

“Don’t you?”

Ronan scowled. “I don’t trust you, if that’s what you’re angling for.”

“No. You shouldn’t trust me because I will put everyone else before you. Kade, Crystal, Jay, even Rian. But you are one of mine.”

Ronan stared at her, his expression clearing, his predatory smile appearing. “You don’t like it.”

“No.”

“I’ll take you home.”

She stepped back before he could take her arm. “What are you thinking? Why are you smiling?”

“I don’t like that I’m stuck protecting you. It’s only fair that you should be stuck with the same feelings.”

She was still laughing when Ronan deposited her on Kade’s doorstep and vanished back into the Void.