The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 130

A ten-foot black bear ambled through the forest, followed by three fuzzy cubs. Unlike the little ones, who tumbled and played, the mother bear's eyes were wide and wary. She understood the dangers of this forest.

But she had clearly overlooked the threat from above.

CRACK!

Branches splintered as a draconic form dove from the canopy. Before the great bear could react, a blue shape slammed onto its back. Sharp talons instantly pierced its thick neck.

Azure’s jaws opened, unleashing a torrent of lightning. The three cubs immediately met their mother's fate.

Her jaws snapped shut. A blue talon plunged into the bear's massive head, rooting around for a moment before pulling free. A single, marble-sized yellow magic crystal was clutched in it, looking insignificant. She snapped it up, swallowing the low-grade magic crystal in one gulp.

Her long, winding tail swept the three small bodies closer. She opened her maw and swallowed one whole.

Blood burst from the seams of her jaws. Her pupils dilated slightly. The taste of a whelp was... excellent. She ate all three, one after another, before lowering her head to continue feeding on the mother.

After about ten minutes, she lifted her blood-soaked snout. Full. That was enough. Overeating wasn't good; it led to lethargy. A crimson tongue flicked out from her jaws, licked once, and then stopped.

No. Don't clean it. This will be useful later.

Her blue wings spread and, with a powerful beat, she launched back into the sky through the hole she'd made.

Arriving at the lair, she hovered, angling her head to look at the ground below. Her gaze focused. Down on the path, a gnoll was limping along, carrying a bundle of... branches?

What is he doing?

She continued to watch. The gnoll carried the bundle to a patch of tilled earth. He took one of the branches, pointed it at the ground, and a stream of water flowed out.

Watering? These plants... this had to be Aiden's doing. Her gaze fixed on the gnoll's useless left arm, hanging limp at his side. His arm is ruined, too? It seems a left arm will be part of the graft.

With a flap of her wings, she flew into the lair, landing softly on all fours and folding her wings. She settled down, her head facing the two sleeping dragons. Her eyes rested on the white form pinned beneath the red one. Her maw quirked.

The next second, her jaws parted, and she let out a tiny, perfectly aimed jolt of electricity. It zapped the red-scaled back.

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She immediately dropped her own head to the floor and shut her heavy eyelids.

Alright. Back to simulating the engraving.

Red eyes snapped open.

His back was tingling. He turned his head toward the blue form lying nearby. Strange. Was I dreaming?

Yeah, must have been. That wretched sister doesn't have the guts to use her breath on me. She wouldn't dare.

A cool, damp sensation spread from beneath his belly.

What the hell?

He pushed himself up, craning his neck down. His gaze fell on the white form. She was lying on the ground, her claws curled around a pile of gold, her head buried in it... and drooling.

You... Not only are you sleeping, you're defiling my little darlings with your drool!

His eyes narrowed. He glanced at his wretched sister. Her slender blue snout was smeared with fresh, wet blood.

So, she just got back from a hunt. She's awake.

He turned his head back to the foolish sister, still fast asleep. A grin split his maw. Excellent. No more holding back.

He raised a red talon and brought it down hard on the white dragon's head.

"AOW-!"

Hearing the familiar shriek, the blue snout nearby twitched almost imperceptibly.

"AOW! Aiden, why'd you hit me again!" Her white eyes were full of anger.

Aiden's gaze hardened. He raised his talon and pointed at the gold beneath her.

Bianca's head followed his claw. Glittering little darlings! So many little darlings-rawr!

Her head dove toward the pile, eager to take a deep sniff of their wonderful, metallic smell. Just as she was about to inhale the glorious scent, a strong red claw clamped down on her head. The claw forced her head up until her white eyes met his red ones.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Aiden-rawr! I was helping you count the gold-rawr!"

Aiden gave her a long, unimpressed stare. "Hmph.

"His gaze shifted to the drool-covered little darlings. He looked back at her glittering, innocent white eyes and... damn it, he couldn't bring himself to hit her again. He brandished his claw menacingly.

"If you don't take every one of these coins and wash them clean right now, I will beat you."

Staring at the massive talon, Bianca's head recoiled, and she blinked her glittering eyes. Ever since the incident with the Wood Elftribe, her subconscious knew better than to fight Aiden. They just weren't in the same league.

"Okay-rawr!" "No problem-rawr!"

Tsk. Fine, I'll let it slide this time... just 'cause she's kinda cute. He raised his head, his gaze shifting to the large cauldron near the lair's exit. He pointed a claw. "Use that cauldron. Get them clean."

"Okay-rawr!" Her sweet, child-like voice was immediate and cheerful.

She pushed herself up onto her hind legs and waddled to the cauldron, her white tail swinging happily behind her.

Aiden's eyes narrowed. Why is that foolish sister so happy?

Stupid Aiden-rawr! When no dragon is looking, all the little darlings will be mine-rawr! I'll dig a little hole and hide a few! Hehe-rawr! Stupid Aiden will never find them! The great white dragon Bianca is just that smart-rawr!

She reached the cauldron, hauled it back to the coin pile, and began scooping the drool-soaked little darlings into the pot.

Watching his foolish sister working so diligently, Aiden padded toward the mouth of the lair. He shot a sidelong glance at the blue form on the floor.

Goes hunting and doesn't even bother to bring a scrap back for her elder brother. She's the worst.

He spread his wings and launched from the lair.

Hearing the rush of wind, Bianca, who was busy scooping coins, lifted her head. Her glittering white eyes watched the red figure fly away.

Aiden's gone! Does that mean I can pack a little more-rawr? Then I can hide more, too!

Her white claw reached out and grabbed another handful of clean coins.

Jingle!

The sound of them hitting the pot was crisp and sweet. Her white eyes narrowed in concentration. She waited until the red speck vanished completely, then bent down, heaved the heavy cauldron up, and waddled toward the lair's exit.