The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 136

Azure watched Aiden from the periphery of her vision, her voice low. "This goblin tribe is established entirely underground. What is your plan of attack?"

"Simple. We charge in and slaughter them all."

Aiden’s long, sinuous red tail slapped down, pinning the white dragon’s head firmly against the earth before she could interject.

Beneath the red scales, Aiden felt the cool temperature of his clutch-mate. Bianca blinked her crystalline white eyes, staring up at the red snout pressing her down. Her expression screamed indignation. This is unfair! We agreed to vote on decisions! Why is the great Bianca being silenced?

There was a rustle of leaves as Aiden shoved her head deeper into the shrubbery. He ignored her muffled protests and focused on the goblin defenses ahead.

One, two, three... twenty.

"Twenty guards," Aiden muttered. "Remember our first hunt?"

His voice was young, yet it carried a natural, chilling indifference.

Azure’s eyes narrowed as she considered the implication. Smoke and fire. It was an effective tactic for subterranean vermin. However...

"How can you be certain they haven't dug a secondary escape route?" she asked.

Aiden paused. Right. Goblins were nothing if not cunning; a backdoor was a statistical certainty. He turned his massive crimson head toward his blue sister. As expected of the intellectual of the clutch, her mind was sharp.

"You make a valid point," Aiden conceded. "Among the three of us, you are the fastest flyer. Take to the sky and scout the perimeter for other tunnel exits."

Azure stared at him. She didn't speak, but her expression was flat, unimpressed, and entirely unmoving.

Aiden tilted his head to the left. Ah, resistance. I see. Standard procedure it is.

"Very well. Let us put it to a vote."

Swish.

The red tail dragged the white dragon out of the bushes by her neck. Bianca, now free, tilted her round head, her bright eyes filled with confusion. Huh?

Aiden glanced at the clueless white dragon, then shot a look at Azure. Two against one.

Azure scoffed. She cast one last disdainful glance at the red tyrant and the white fool, then turned without a word and slithered silently into the forest to begin her reconnaissance.

Aiden watched her blue form disappear into the shadows before turning his attention back to Bianca. Her eyes were wide, innocent, and completely vacuous.

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Rustle.

Both red and white heads sank back into the cover of the dense thicket. They couldn't move until Azure returned with the intelligence.

In the meantime...

The two dragons lay flat, the heavy foliage providing perfect camouflage. The silver band on Aiden’s claw pulsed with a faint, dull crimson light. A massive grey wolf, nearly seven feet in length, thudded onto the forest floor.

Good thing I kept one in reserve, Aiden thought. Otherwise, we’d be waiting on empty stomachs.

He felt a sudden chill against his scales. Bianca was nuzzling against his neck.

"Aiden... Aiden..." Her voice was a low whine. "Can I have some? Just a huge bite?"

Aiden looked at her round, oversized head. He lifted a red claw and patted her gently. "Go ahead."

Bianca’s eyes lit up. She unhinged her jaw and clamped down on the wolf's torso.

A cool, tactile sensation fed back through Aiden's claw as he kept his hand on her head. It was comfortable. For all her stupidity, Bianca had her merits. Unlike his insufferable blue sister, who wouldn't let him within five feet of her, Bianca was affectionate.

After a few moments of petting, Aiden glanced down. His gaze hardened.

A third of the wolf was already gone.

Damn it!

Aiden withdrew his claw and lunged, tearing a massive chunk of ribs and flesh from the carcass. He swallowed it whole, skipping the chewing entirely. Seeing Aiden join the fray, Bianca abandoned all table manners, tearing and gulping down meat as fast as she could.

In seconds, the majestic wolf was reduced to a pile of steaming entrails.

Aiden licked the blood from his chops with a long, scarlet tongue. It was just an appetizer. He lowered his head back to the dirt.

Now, they waited.

Bianca, her snout stained crimson, shimmied up to Aiden’s neck again.

"Aiden... is there more?"

Aiden shifted his gaze to the side, eyeing the white dragon.

"No."

The answer was curt. The light in Bianca’s eyes dimmed visibly, a picture of utter dejection. Hearing that the supply was exhausted, she turned back to the pile of refuse. She pawed through the guts, picked out the heart and lungs, and swallowed them. She ignored the intestines.

Satisfied for the moment, she padded over to Aiden and flopped her body directly onto his broad back.

Warmth radiated from his red scales, seeping into her belly. Her heavy eyelids began to droop. Aiden was like a living furnace. So comfortable...

Time passed.

Suddenly, a sound came from the brush ahead.

Aiden, who had been resting his chin on his claws, snapped to attention, his gaze locking onto the source of the noise. His tail coiled, poised to strike.

A blue head emerged from the greenery. Seeing it was Azure, the tension left Aiden’s tail, and it settled back to the ground.

"Report," Aiden commanded.

Azure ignored his tone, her eyes drifting from his tail to his arrogant face. "I found an exit. It is guarded by elite goblins, same as the front."

Aiden considered this. So they do have a bolt-hole. Crafty little runts.

"Just the one?"

"I swept the entire perimeter. Only one."

Azure’s long, whip-like tail lashed out, striking the white lump snoozing on Aiden’s back.

Smack!

The sharp sound startled Bianca. Her heavy eyelids flew open, revealing pure, bewildered innocence.

"Who da—"

Before she could finish the thought, Azure’s tail coiled around Bianca’s muzzle, clamping it shut.

Aiden glared over his shoulder. "Quiet."

The white dragon nodded frantically. Aiden signaled Azure to release her. Bianca blinked her shimmering eyes, staying silent and obedient.

Aiden turned back to his blue sister. "Lead the way."

Azure nodded and turned, taking point. Aiden pushed himself up and followed, Bianca still clinging tightly to his back like a oversized burr. He didn't bother shaking her off yet.

They moved through the forest for several minutes until the trees began to thin. Azure spread her wings and launched herself into the air.

Aiden stopped and shook his entire body violently.

Thump.

Bianca hit the ground. Aiden glanced down at her.

"Keep up."

With a powerful thrust of his wings, Aiden left the earth, soaring upward to catch the blue streak cutting through the sky.