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Agreed.

“Did you happen to see someone called Avera?” Griff asked.

The Voxspira female? Yes. She was present when the other blooded betrayed us and placed the collars on my brethren. She is the reason I evaded being captured. She at least knows her place.

Relief filled him knowing she lived. “So she’s at the volcano?”

Yes. Or she was last time I saw her. I spied from the ash cloud to see if my kin could free themselves.

Instead, they were like statues, frozen in place, witnesses as the guardians, who should have been our servants, drugged the Voxspira woman and married her to the one who calls himself emperor.

As if such a worm as he deserves that lofty title.

“She’s married?” Griff felt his heart sink.

The worm said something to the effect of breeding her for blooded offspring.

The news hit him hard. They might have only shared one kiss, and yet Griff had come to care for Avera, her passion, her courage, the way she retained a naivety about people and the world.

While wedding her hadn’t crossed his mind, the fact she’d been claimed by another filled him with sadness.

Not that he planned to let her stay married.

She’d probably thank him for making her a widow.

“We have to save her.”

We? Argent chuckled. We don’t have to do anything.

“You heard your friend. She was coerced.”

And?

“And she needs our help.”

You may do so. I, however, am not about to tangle with those who have found a way to enslave my kind. The nerve. They wouldn’t have dared if we could bite them in two, a disgruntled Argent replied.

“You can’t harm them, but I can,” Griff offered.

The pair of beasts eyed each other as if in silent communication.

You would aid us? the small dragon asked.

“Yes. Get me close enough and I will remove the emperor’s head from his shoulders and then do the same to his witches.”

You only promise this so you can save the Voxspira female, hissed Argent.

“Yes, but my ulterior motive helps you.”

Not me. I am not the one in need of rescuing. Argent tossed his massive head.

“Yet.”

As if I would let myself be collared, he scoffed.

“It would be done by force. Most likely by the three dragons they do have captive. Are you saying you could prevail against that many if they attacked?”

I am the mightiest. The biggest. The strongest. As if those hatchlings could think to overcome me.

“But you said it yourself, they’ll get bigger, and fast. Then what?”

The human has a point, stated the smaller dragon. If we ignore the problem now, it could be detrimental later. Not to mention, the temerity of those blooded, treating us as their slaves. Planning to use us for their own gain.

Argent said nothing for a moment. When he did, it emerged slowly. You raise interesting points. However, I fail to see how one puny male can prevail.

Does your blooded not have allies he can conscript?

Those who obey him would be decimated before they got close.

They are not blooded and would have no protection against our flame.

Argent sounded pensive. However, this one doesn’t need to fear our breath.

His heritage protects him, meaning he would only have to vanquish those of his kind. How many would he face?

Currently, those responsible for this travesty are ensconced in the shrine by the volcano, but there is an army waiting beyond Crunchy Treat Canyon which, by the way, is full of gundalaba.

More than I’ve ever scented. They flourished during our absence.

With such readily available bounty, our brethren won’t have to go far to fill their bellies and grow.

Mmm. Snacks. Argent practically smacked his dragon lips.

Griff didn’t know if he meant the gundalaba—whatever those were—or the army.

We could provide distraction while your blooded enters the tower to dispatch those who trespass against us, the smaller dragon suggested.

“How many are we talking about?” Griff asked.

Assuming the Voxspira female doesn’t turn against you, three guardians and the so-called emperor. The small dragon vocally sneered.

Four against one. He’d faced worse odds and the emperor barely counted given the man was in his seventies or eighties. He didn’t put stock in the rumors claiming he’d regained his youth and vitality. A man that age could take all the potions he wanted, no one could reverse time.

“Are these guardians trained soldiers?”

I did not see them wield any blades, but they do have some magical skill.

Not ideal. Witches could cause serious damage.

“How long would it take to get there?”

If we were to take flight now, we would arrive while the land is still dark, offering the element of surprise.

His brows raised. “That fast?”

It would be faster if Daerva’s wings weren’t still stunted, Argent noted.

I’ve only been hatched for three days. The small dragon cocked its head. How long since you were re-hatched? You appear well-fed.

Decades. I was first. Said with pride.

And you didn’t hunt down those who betrayed us? The small dragon sniffed.

Says the one who fled. Besides, what use would finding them have been? We cannot kill the blooded.

But he can. The small dragon eyed him. I accept your offer to slay our enemies.

“I don’t suppose we could bring a few of my crew to help?”

Do I look like a pack horse? Argent grumbled.

“Just trying to offer you the best chance to win.”

Are you saying the tales of your crew are false? They claim you are a mighty warrior.

“I am. But even I know my limits and I believe in stacking the odds in my favor.”

You may select two. I can’t carry more than three at once, Argent conceded.

I can take one so long as they are not overly large like you.

With that agreement, Argent returned Griff to the ship so that he could quickly explain the situation and see who—if anyone—wanted to join his mission.

He had more volunteers than expected.

He stuck to those he knew and trusted best, meaning Argent carried Griff in one clawed dragon paw, Kreed in another, and Monty—whooping with excitement—ended up wrapped in a tail.

As for Daerva, she gripped Simhi who thankfully couldn’t hear how the dragon grumbled about carrying food rather than eating it.

The strangest sight to see. The most unlikely group of rescuers.

Avera’s only hope.