The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 84

An irresistible force wrenched Bianca's head around, compelling her to meet Aiden's gaze. The fire that usually danced in his red, slitted pupils was gone, replaced by an unnerving stillness.

“Aow?” she whimpered, a small, confused sound.

“Aiden, there are two pieces of meat here!” she chirped, her voice clear and childish, her wide eyes shining with avarice. “Break this annoying shield and we can split them!”

This foolish dragon.

Aiden's claw tightened, and with a single, powerful motion, he yanked her off the barrier.

“Aow-ow!” Bianca cried out as her claws scrabbled at empty air. “Aiden, that's not fair! You want them all for yourself!”

Even with her head pinned, she squirmed in protest.

“Be quiet,” Aiden rumbled.

He swung his arm, flinging the foolish white dragon through the air. She tumbled end over end, crashing into another flowerbed and skidding for ten yards before coming to a stop.

Azure lowered her head, looking at the heap of white scales sprawled on the ground. Bianca met her blue eyes for a second, then turned her head away with an indignant huff.

Azure blinked slowly. What an imbecile.

She drew her attention away from the fool and continued her assessment of their surroundings. They appeared to be on a mountaintop. The estate was vast and opulent, far too grand for a common merchant. This had to be the demesne of a human noble.

And if this is a noble's estate,

she thought, then a human settlement is surely nearby. This could be trouble.The reputation of chromatic dragons on the main plane was not a favorable one. The Fifth Crown had decreed that they could not be enslaved, but it offered no protection from being hunted. To slay two wyrmlings would grant a human unimaginable wealth and the glorious title of Dragonslayer.

Azure's gaze drifted to the pouting fool in the flowers. If trouble does find us, she can be the vanguard.

With Bianca dealt with, Aiden lowered himself to the ground, his claws resting on the manicured lawn. Even lying down, his head towered over the shimmering blue shield. He leaned closer, pressing his snout against the barrier, and offered the small figures within a friendly smile—a gesture that, for a dragon, involved splitting his maw to reveal rows of dagger-like teeth.

“Hello, Contractor,” he said, his voice a youthful baritone in the Common Tongue.

Thea took a sharp step back.

But as Isolde saw the light of intelligence in those vast, reptilian eyes, the contract mark on her hand thrummed with a gentle warmth. A feeling of profound connection washed over her. There was no mistake. This was him.

She scrambled to her feet and tugged on Thea's sleeve.

Thea glanced down.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Thea,” Isolde whispered, her eyes shining, “he's my partner. Can you lower the shield, please?”

Thea's gaze flickered to the terrifying creature outside. “Are you certain he won't attack us?”

A small smile bloomed on Isolde's round face. “He won't. My partner is very gentle.”

Gentle? Thea thought, her mind recoiling from the word. The creature before them was a red dragon, the strongest and most notoriously volatile of the evil chromatics. Setting that aside, the mere sight of that massive, crimson-scaled head simply could not be reconciled with the concept of gentleness.

And yet… she looked at the trust in Isolde's eyes. This was a gamble. To keep the shield raised would be a grave insult to Isolde's partner. With a silent sigh, Thea chose to trust her friend.

She slowly lowered her hand. The great blue dome dissolved from the top down, vanishing into nothing.

Aiden's red pupils glinted. This human has courage. A fleeting, primal thought whispered through his mind. With one swipe of my claw, they would both be little more than future waste.

He dismissed it as quickly as it came. In truth, this human had done him a service. He owed her a debt.

“Aiden. just one piece, please?” a plaintive voice whined from the flowerbed.

The foolish dragon was at it again. Aiden raised his long, sinuous tail, aiming its tip directly at her.

“Or maybe just half a piece…” Bianca's voice trailed off. She tucked her head down and fell silent. She knew better than to argue with that tail. Its sting was a lesson she had learned well.

The little girl stepped forward, out from behind her guardian. Aiden studied his contractor properly for the first time.

She had hair the color of spun gold and cheeks that were full and round, giving her a cherubic, almost doll-like appearance. A fine black dress fell to her knees, revealing small legs wrapped in pristine white stockings. She was exquisite, like a little princess from a storybook.

Isolde looked up at the magnificent red dragon, the feeling of the contract bond now an undeniable certainty in her heart.

“Um… hello,” she said, two faint blush roses blooming on her cheeks. “I'm so happy to finally meet you, Partner.” She gave a small, formal bow. “I believe you already know my name. May I know yours?”

Aiden tried to recall her name, but the memory simply wasn't there. He noted her flushed face, her genuine excitement. It seemed she truly had been looking forward to this meeting. He found this small human rather pleasing to the eye. Yes, he decided, I shall keep her, for now.

His maw parted in that same terrifying smile. “Aiden,” he rumbled. “That is my name.”

Isolde's little blonde head nodded emphatically. “Mm-hm! I'll remember, Mr. Aiden.”

Mr. Aiden. Excellent. This little human understood respect. A look of satisfaction crept into his crimson eyes.

“Contractor, you have aided me,” he stated formally. “In exchange, I permit you to make one request of me.”

At these words, Thea's eyes widened. A promise from a dragon with such obviously potent bloodlines—one that had grown to this size in just over a year—was an asset whose value would grow exponentially with time. It was a priceless boon.

Isolde's large, round eyes blinked as she thought seriously. After a moment, she looked up. “But I don't have anything I want right now. Can I save this request, please, Mr. Aiden?”

Aiden considered the small creature before him and dipped his great head in a nod. “You may.” It was a reward for her, after all. If she wished to save it, so be it.

Thea's fingers gently rubbed the Ring of Valerius on her other hand, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. After more than a year, Isolde was no longer the naive child she once was. She had learned to secure an advantage.

Aiden lifted his gaze to the vast blue sky. This plane was Providence's territory. He was safe here. Now… what to do? His mind, now filled with the inherited memories of the Dragon's Heritage, began to churn.

First things first, find a church to freeload from.

He ran through the list of the Crowns. Sixth and Seventh are out; they don't have churches.

The Fifth is my kind, but offers no handouts.

The Fourth… too risky. I might get swindled.

The Third probably doesn't eat.

The First and Second… best not to bother them. The risk of getting beaten for my impertinence is too high.

That left one. The Eighth. According to the Heritage, he was having a hard time. In fact, he was the poorest of all the gods, practically reduced to street busking to feed his followers. Of the five Crowns with organized churches, his was by far the most pathetic.

Aiden's thoughts came to a halt.

Damn it all. Out of eight Crowns, there isn't a single one I can reliably get a free meal from.