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Rain!

Rimi rocked back as if struck as Keres’s voice boomed inside her brain. Still in human form, she wrapped her arms around herself. He was back!

Daddy! Are you okay?

That had to be Keres, Skye chimed in.

Silence followed. Rimi shook her head when the mates with her pummeled her with questions. She tried to listen for Keres to answer. When no further messages came in, she asked, Slate?

Busy.

Seething with frustration at not knowing what was going on, Rimi gathered Aurora, Ciel, and Lalani whisper close. She quickly clued them in as she waited.

Slate, you have to tell me what’s happening.

Smart move, Mate, to have our son roast me alive . Keres’s grim humor made her want to cheer, but who knew if someone was listening. She controlled herself with sheer willpower. Keres! I’m so glad you’re okay!

Okay is a big stretch. At least my mind is starting to work. Come to me, Snowflake. Bring the others here. When he lapsed into silence, she updated her small group before shifting quickly. Rimi messaged Skye as Aurora, Lalani, and Ciel climbed up on her shoulders.

Rimi moved as quickly as she could. Several times, she had to drop to the ground. The mates moved quickly each time to hide behind her camouflaging. Thank goodness they were used to mounting and sliding down a dragon’s scales.

Finally, they reached Keres and Slate. The smaller dragon still attacked the dust. He currently treated Keres’s rear legs. Rimi was relieved to see he carefully stayed away from the dust scattered by the black dragon’s impact.

The mates slid off her back, and Rimi darted forward. Keres growled, Stop! The black dragon heaved his bulk upward and staggered forward to drop to the ground where no dust had scattered. Slate shifted and continued to attack the powder as Rimi rushed to his side.

He shook his head, keeping his scales away when she tried to rub her snout against his. It’s not all gone, Snowflake. Can you be brave for me?

Of course.

I need you to take the remains of the barrel and fly into the clouds. Scatter the substance through the clouds. Concentrate it heavily on the areas over the dragons.

Why?

Silver Iodide will make it rain. Planes used to seed it into clouds for farmers who needed rain.

Does it work immediately? Rimi asked.

It will likely take hours.

Likely? Does that mean it could take longer than that?

Keres nodded his head. It might not even work.

They said they’d wait for a response for a day or two, she reported .

You’ve been to the main camp?

Yes, I was able to sneak close enough to hear. There’s an old man. They call him the chemist. I think he’s the one who created the dust. He hates dragons. He wants them smote down, she shared.

Of course, he does. There are always dragon haters.

There’s also a guy named Evan. His men are providing the muscle. He’s only in this for all the dragons’ treasure.

Keres low growl made her smile. He was recovering more all the time. She continued to distract him. There’s no love lost between Evan and the chemist. My guess is they’d get rid of him as fast as possible if they could get the formula for the powder. The chemist won’t give it up.

Then, he’s our target, Keres declared.

Tell me what I need to do.

This is dangerous, Snowflake. Even disguised, they’re going to see you.

You need to stay high in the clouds and dodge when they shoot dust at you.

You need a spotter to tell you how to avoid the plumes, but there’s no one who can go with you.

Slate’s still to wonky. He’d be dosed again in a flash. And he’d distract you.

I won’t take another mate. They’re too important.

Agreed. They aren’t trained to hold on for dear life, either. Damn it! I wish I could shake this off. I don’t think I can even take off. Keres tried to haul himself to his feet and knocked Slate onto his back.

The gray dragon couldn’t stop his flame in time, and a jet of brilliant red and yellow fire erupted into the sky. A distant shout told Rimi and Keres that the bad guys had spotted it.

You have to go now, Rimi. Concentrate on the clouds slightly upwind from the main camp. Grab the barrel and go!

Rimi galloped to the cracked container and scooped it up, placing one talon against the gaping opening.

She paused for a quick second to enable her talent and cloaked her massive form.

The barrel should disappear from view as well.

Unfortunately, once the AgI scattered from it, the mixture would no longer be disguised.

Throwing herself into the air, she divided her attention between the men scrambling below her and the clouds.

Before rising over the clouds, she marked the line where the dragons had dropped as they tried to give Keres time to enact their plan to destroy the supplies with rain.

Starting with the section she judged would drift over her mate, Rimi lifted the talon away from the barrel to allow the mixture to fall into the clouds.

If he could recover first, Keres would know what to do to help her.

She had moved on to seed sections over the others when a gray shape flew past her, moving erratically. Slate! Get out of here.

Her son didn’t answer.

Vowing to ground him for years, Rimi forced herself to focus. A plume of colorful dust almost reached her. They were targeting wildly hoping to hit something.

Watch out, Slate!

Were the clouds darkening? Surely she was imagining it. Rimi kept making passes across the clouds until the barrel was empty. Please let that work!

Slate, I’m out. Let’s get out of here.

Rwahr!

Slate’s outraged roar sent cold chills down her back. She looked back to see the remains of a column of powder dropping back to the earth, close to her son. They’d hit him.

Slate spiraled downward, heading directly toward the main camp. She had to save him. Dropping the barrel, she saw it reappear once out of her hands.

“There are two. One must be invisible,” a loud male voice screamed .

“Don’t panic. Shoot a barrage of powder around the area. We’ll hit it,” another voice ordered. Evan.

Rimi swooped under Slate’s tumbling dragon and groaned at the impact. He was heavier than she was. Flapping her wings desperately, Rimi fought to carry his body away from the camp and slow down his descent.

Rimi! What are you doing? Get out of there. Slate’s too big. Keres’s voice sounded panicked.

Ignoring him, Rimi begged Slate, Wake up! You’ve got to help me!

The young dragon’s mind spiraled as if he were caught in a hurricane. Rimi was on her own. She couldn’t fight gravity with his dead weight on her back. The ground loomed underneath her. Rolling out from under Slate, Rimi held her breath as her son tumbled unhurt to the grass.

Rimi breathed a sigh of relief as she whirled to face the approaching threat. The chemist stood a hundred feet from her, and Evan’s men struggled to yank a tube free from the earth to target her. She froze, hoping her cloaking ability would save her.

A rumble of thunder made the chemist glance up before he refocused on her. “Dragon, I see you. Your talent doesn’t hide you from me.”

Was he lying? Rimi wasn’t going to fall for a trick. She kept her gaze locked on the dangerous man ahead of her. A rain drop landed on her right wing.

The chemist lifted his chin and inhaled through his nose.

He could scent her?

“Ah, a female. Of course.”

More drops tumbled from the sky, wetting the ground around him. Out of the corner of her eye, Rimi saw the men attempting to protect the bags of dust. The sprinkles multiplied until the water ran off her scales.

“You might as well drop your camouflage, dragon. I can detect you now,” the chemist told her, stalking directly toward her.

Spooked, Rimi’s heart beat even faster until she was sure everyone could hear it. Still, she stood locked in place. If she moved, he would see her blur out Slate’s form collapsed behind her.

Keres’s voice filled her mind. Hold on, Rimi. The rain is working. The horde is rallying.

Rimi stiffened her back, bolstered by her mate’s words. Gaze locked on the threat, she stood still. The man stopped a mere foot before her. Could he hear her heart racing? The chemist reached out a hand toward her snout. Automatically, she blasted him with fire breath.

The flames bent around him. Not a hair on his head sizzled. Surprise snapped her mouth closed, extinguishing the flare of heat.

Have you figured it out yet, crystal dragon?

The evil contained in that voice whispering inside her head made Rimi cringe away. She dropped her shield, and the men gasped as she appeared.

What are you? Rimi asked.

Get out of there, Rimi! Keres ordered.

She shook off his demand. Leaving her son unprotected would never happen. A clump of mud dropped to land by her talons as lightning flashed through the sky. The true color of her scales revealed itself as the rain rinsed off the muck she’d disguised herself in.

You’re beautiful, crystal dragon. Of course, I couldn’t find a female when I needed one.

You’re a dragon?

Was a dragon. A pitiful creature driven crazy without a mate. Vengeance made me stronger .

A dark shimmer appeared around him, vivid even in the gloom of the thunderstorm.

Rimi took a step back when he reappeared in front of her.

A twisted figure of a dragon. She swallowed hard as she recognized the agony that had created the monster in front of her.

His beast oozed with open wounds and rope-like scars.

Only a few cracked scales remained attached to his withered hide.

Rimi had no idea what color they had been.

I’m so sor…

I do not need your sympathy. Thanks to experimentation on this form, I created the substance that will end dragons. Sacrificing the beast that destroyed my mind was painful, but so worthwhile. Now, I am the master of all who shunned me.