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The monstrosity took a step toward her. Petrified, Rimi retreated two steps without thinking.

She fought her fear to remain in place, hoping Slate would rally as the rain washed off his scales.

Forcing words to form in her mind, she tried to buy time.

I didn’t wound you. I don’t believe anyone in this horde acted against you.

All hordes are the same. They would have destroyed the black dragon here if he hadn’t found you.

You’ve watched this horde?

Yes. I observe many dragon units. When the black dragon was shunned as I was, I took revenge for both of us.

Keres wouldn’t ask for this. He would never hurt the others.

The mangled dragon shook his head, managing to look disappointed in her. You are delusional. Ask the others. He’s already acted against them—scared their mates and endangered others. In fact, he will join me in my quest when you are gone.

That won’t happen, Rimi contradicted him, never more sure of anything in her life.

He will when his love dies before his eyes. I will show you soon .

Keres, stay away! Rimi sent a frantic message to her mate before straightening her shoulders to present a powerful presence.

Turning her attention back, she said, Perhaps a mate could save you still.

Even you, an elusive female dragon, couldn’t save me now. Now, we have delayed long enough. As much as I enjoy sharing my brilliance with you, it is time for you to die.

A thump landed beside her. Keres. She didn’t glance at him. Rimi couldn’t take her eyes off the twisted dragon before her. A slightly smaller dragon moved into position on her other side.

Slate! No! Flee!

That eye roll again registered in her mind, almost making her laugh with the ridiculousness of his answer. Her son’s bravery bolstered hers.

Hooray! The whole family is here. I can use two foot soldiers instead of one.

“Chemist! The powder is dissolving into the ground!” Evan interrupted.

I do not need more powder to defeat you. It has already weakened you. The black will protect his mate, leaving himself vulnerable. The gray is too young to be consequential. Once the crystal is gone, neither will have someone to fight for.

Rimi tilted her head. She heard something behind the dark words that should have terrified her. Wings.

“Dragons!” a man bellowed.

“What do we do? The tubes are filled with water,” another yelled.

A blast of fire seared a path through the middle of the camp, setting anything flammable ablaze. Men scattered in every direction. Evan ran to the hideous, twisted dragon.

“What will work in the rain?” he demanded .

Power!

“He said power, if you missed that.” Skye’s voice called from above them as Ardon swooped over.

“Fuck that,” Evan cursed. He ran into the now torrential storm. Most of his men followed. The few who remained threw handfuls of the disintegrating powder at the dragons and quickly learned how flambeed jubilee cherries felt when the poison melted harmlessly into the earth.

Rimi didn’t flinch at the sound of their screams. Those men had harmed her family and friends. She blocked their payback from her mind.

With that problem handled, the dragons landed in a ring around those facing off against each other. Their mates slid from their shoulders and fled backward as the dragons stalked forward.

The encircled dragon twisted as if it was being pulled apart by an internal struggle. Clear black eyes met Rimi’s. The dragon had overpowered his human side. The tortured beast roared into the air. Tears gathered in Rimi’s eyes, recognizing his request to be destroyed.

Tell us your dragon name. She did not wish for him to die as the chemist.

Atropos.

Keres and Slate moved in front of Rimi, forcing her back. She stayed focused on the dragon whose human side had tortured and abused him. She didn’t want him to die without knowing someone recognized his innocence in all the wickedness and malevolence of the chemist.

The black light in the dragon’s eyes blinked out. The chemist faced them, once again in control of the beast. This is not how my story ends. I am the creature destined to end all dragons.

Atropos, Rimi whispered and repeated the dragon’s name over and over. Voices joined her. The other mates also chanted his name, paying homage to what the noble creature had once been.

Keres opened his mouth to blast flames at the chemist. Drake followed, and the others joined in one by one.

The evil figure in the center made one last attempt to ward off his fate, ripping open his chest to pull out a bloody bag of powder.

Before he could use it, Slate set it ablaze with a narrow blast of fire.

The colored smoke rose with the heated air from the combustion up into the sky where the pelting rain doused the chemicals.

When only ash remained of the threatening figure, Rimi fell silent, with the others following her lead. One by one the dragons pulled back their fiery breath in the reverse order they’d joined the execution—Slate first with Keres extinguishing his flame last.

The rain continued to fall, washing all traces of the creature and the evil substance into the earth.

The horde stood there, quietly mourning the suffering of Atropos.

When the sound of the raindrops increased in Rimi’s mind to a tormenting level, she shifted back to human form and threw her arms around Keres and Slate.

“It’s over?” she asked through her tears.

Yes, Snowflake. Let’s go home.

She nodded and lifted her face to allow the rain to wash away her sorrow. “Please.”