Chapter 30

Aidan

Owen Field suffered fire damage when dragons first arrived on Earth over six years ago, but it hadn’t been destroyed. All the lower-level stadium seats and some of the upper levels remained. The town council had it cleaned and repaired for large gatherings.

Today, it was being used for a pre-war speech.

It wasn’t something dragons did in any elaborate form, but the humans had requested they assemble. They said it would help unite the various fighting factions on their side. While some couldn’t attend if their fighting positions were more than a few hours traveling distance, everyone else had spared some time after lunch to attend the gathering. He was surprised by how many showed up to sit in the stands or perch at the top for those in dragon form. Thankfully, their feet ran on the cooler side and wouldn’t melt the surfaces below them.

Aidan, Bailey, and other members from their inner circle arrived twenty minutes early. He’d been getting an account of the attendees in the run-up to the speech time. Over one thousand shifters were seated in the stands on the western side, including most of those fighting for the Taugud, Craegud, and Straegud. The Faegud couldn’t make it since the flight back would be too long before the battle began. The coalition commander had sent a reconnaissance aircraft shortly before dawn this morning. They confirmed the enemy waited directly behind their shield wall, resting for the day.

Almost three thousand humans sat in the eastern section of the stadium opposite the football field from the shifters. They were a cluster of local fighters and support personnel from the Norman, Moore, and Oklahoma City area, as well as the much larger group of soldiers from the New American Coalition.

Several pure dragon toriqan had sent leaders and dozens of their warriors in a rare show of solidarity for the event. The Shadowan, Bogaran, and refugees from the Thamaran had the most significant representation since they wouldn’t have to travel far. They took up positions wherever they could find them at the tops of the stands.

Aside from Bailey, who sat with Aidan, nearly three dozen slayers sat in the section to the south, and about twenty sorcerers took the stands to the north. Most of them were either from Javier’s group or Aidan’s fortress, but there were solo individuals like Danae and Verena, along with a few from other territories who voluntarily showed up for the war. Even the elderly Xanath managed to make it, currently stooped in his seat with a cane in hand. Only the thirty-three coalition sorcerers stayed with their people in the other section of seats.

A stage sat in the middle of the football field. Bailey explained earlier that the strange equipment he saw included a microphone, speakers, and many wires. Colonel Melvin had just stepped up there a few minutes ago, speaking with another human. It was too far away from Aidan to make out what they said.

“How are we going to hear anything the commander says?” he asked

Bailey’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “They’ll turn on the microphones, and that will boost his voice so it’s loud enough for everyone to hear him. You’ll see.”

He was most curious to see how that would work. “Wouldn’t it be easier to use magic?”

“Maybe, but this is just as effective and doesn’t use up magical power,” she said.

Of course, she had a point. He continued to struggle with the idea of human technology when he’d always relied upon other means. Perhaps with time, it would make better sense to him.

A couple more minutes passed. It had to be a little past one in the afternoon, and there was much to do in the next few hours. He hoped this speech was inspiring enough to be worth their trouble. Everywhere he looked, people were getting restless, and some of the dragons had taken to cleaning their claws or wings. They wouldn’t wait much longer.

Colonel Melvin pulled the microphone from the stand, holding it close to his mouth as he walked the stage and gazed toward them. “Can everyone hear me?”

Aidan’s eyes rounded in amazement, as did many others near him. The commander’s voice had boomed louder than he’d thought possible. Everyone shouted their affirmative, and a few dragons let out a short roar. A shifter from the Straegud stood in their beast form next to the stage. He began translating the coalition commander’s speech for those who weren’t fluent in English, speaking telepathically to all their kind within a few miles. Aidan could hear those words as well.

“All of you who made it here this afternoon have my sincere gratitude. We have much to do before this war begins, but marking this occasion is important. Only a few short months ago, none of us would have believed we could sit together like this in peaceful coexistence.” He paused and gestured toward Aidan and Bailey. “You have those two to thank for that.”

Murmurs of agreement rose around them as Aidan nodded at him, and Bailey’s knuckles turned white where they gripped the edge of her seat. Her urge to kill dragons was rising again, but in a handful of hours, she could release that need to her heart’s content. He rubbed her back to calm her, and she forced a small smile. It amazed him how she no longer reacted to his presence as a dragon. Instead, he could calm her, but they had no idea what had changed.

“Many of us have been fighting each other for years. Among the sorcerers and dragons, that battle has raged for even longer. Having said that, it was difficult for humans to set aside our differences as well. We have lost countless lives since the dimensions merged, and many of us continue to struggle, but we should take pride in what we’ve accomplished here today. Every leader from among our varied races understands that if we want to survive, we must unite against a far greater enemy. One that wants to destroy everyone here—mind, body, and soul.”

“Boo!” some people shouted. A few dragons huffed steam or growled.

The commander paced the stage, looking at each section in the stands as he spoke. “Even among humans, we have had our differences in the past. I went through the rosters and found we have representatives from many faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many others, including one who practices Zoroastrianism. Our fighters can trace their lineage to all the inhabited continents and come from every race. It’s a gift that in this hour of need, so many have volunteered to put their lives on the line for a greater good.”

Cheers and shouts rose from the coalition section at hearing this. Aidan hadn’t heard of most of those religions, and he doubted any dragons cared, but it clearly meant something to the humans. Bailey had spoken of wars fought over the millennia because of various disagreements among their kind.

Colonel Melvin gestured toward the green dragons rimming the stadium. “When the slayer, many of you know as Bailey Monzac, suggested we needed to bring in as many dragon clans as possible for an alliance, I thought she’d lost her mind. How could we possibly work with our enemies? Never mind that someone like her would even consider the idea of it, though, in my defense, I had no idea at the time dragon blood coursed through her son. She’d already proven differences could be overcome.”

Aidan put an arm around his mate, whose cheeks were turning red. “Couldn’t he have left me out of this?”

“You deserve the credit,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “He’s right to do it.”

“When she made the suggestion, she had already bridged our relationship with the Straegud, having greater foresight than me, and through them, we gained two of the East Coast pure dragon clans who were willing to join the alliance. It still impresses me that two hundred and forty of the Jarkan arrived a few days ago, and shortly after that, one hundred and eighty of the Tarogan arrived. Neither of these clans reside near the front lines, but they understood the importance of what we’re doing, and they answered the call. You have our gratitude,” he said, saluting a group of dragons perched on top of the eastern section.

Aidan was impressed Colonel Melvin knew where they were located. He recognized who they were since every toriq who arrived had to swear a blood oath to him, and he designated the land where they could reside until the war began. Perhaps the coalition leader’s shifter translator had helped him.

After they dipped their heads, the commander continued, “I want to thank the Straegud and Craegud for traveling such a great distance for this fight as well. A handful of years ago, I wouldn’t have considered an alliance—even with dragons who could take human form—but I understand now how foolish I’d been not to give them a chance. Our relationship with the Straegud has been transformative, especially for trade and security. We couldn’t ask for better allies.”

Syrus, who sat a few rows down, raised his fist in acknowledgment.

“And then there are the slayers.” The colonel turned to that section. “As we all know, they are genetically programmed to attack any dragons they see. The ones here today volunteered to learn control so they could participate in this war. They are a great advantage, but only if they focus on the enemy and not our allies. Most of our slayer force couldn’t do it, but everyone here trained relentlessly so they could. I appreciate the iron willpower it must take to set aside one’s instincts, and I’m certain the dragons present here today do as well.”

A few of the shifters laughed.

Bailey let out a strangled sigh. “He has no idea.”

The coalition slayers had hunted soon before they arrived, so they hadn’t quite reached their limit yet. They wouldn’t feel the strain as much as the local ones. Rayna had already headed to her position near the Oklahoma-Texas border and likely fought the urge to attack Galadon, but Conrad sat in the stands with the other slayers.

He appeared as stiff as Bailey, but at least he wasn’t seated in the middle of dragons. It would have been easier for her if she hadsat with her kind. She and Aidan agreed, though, that it would send a stronger message of unity if she stayed by his side.

“And finally, we have the sorcerers,” the commander said, gesturing at the smallest group in the stadium who sat closest to the field.

Javier dipped his chin, and Verena gave him a broad smile, but the rest didn’t move.

“If not for them, we wouldn’t have the shield protecting our territories, nor the spelled weapons that will give us a great tactical advantage. Our soldiers are especially grateful for the many contributions they’ve made to them. While there are certainly evil ones—those controlling the Kandoran as a prime example—the sorcerers operating with us have worked hard to ensure we have a chance at victory.”

Cheers from the human section went up, but not from anywhere else.

Bailey rose to her feet and began clapping, startling everyone around them. Aidan looked up at her in confusion since she hadn’t shown any enthusiasm until now. What was she doing? And what possessed her to draw attention to herself when she usually hated it?

“We all know this war would already be lost without the sorcerers,” she shouted, loud enough that most of the shifters and nearby pure dragons could have heard her. “They built the shield, fortified our weapons, made fireproof potions for our human fighters, and will continue to provide all types of support, including healers and range fighters we’ll desperately need to win this war.”

Bailey paused and drew a breath.

A Straegud shifter with magical powers moved closer to her, letting her know he would boost her voice. Aidan was surprisedbutdidn’t stop the male as he lifted his hands and released a spell that blanketed the slayer’s throat and chest in soft light.

“It will only last for a few minutes,” he murmured.

She shivered before speaking again. “Everyone sitting in these stands, along with those who’ve already moved to the front line, deserves credit. Let’s not shortchange a single person who has volunteered to be here. If we hope to make this alliance successful, we can’t let our biases continue to rule us. Starting today, we are one force. We are united in the belief that we all deserve to live and everyone on this side of the line matters.”

She had a point. Aidan stood and began clapping his hands while looking across the stadium. Others followed, and before long, everyone was cheering. It felt good and right. The sorcerers had been the backbone of this operation and would continue to make a huge difference. Aidan was ashamed his mate had to remind him of that.

After a few minutes, everyone settled back into their seats, and silence returned.

“Well said, Bailey,” Colonel Melvin shouted, his gaze falling on her momentarily with gratitude. “There’s a saying we used before dragons arrived, ‘united we stand, divided we fall,’ and I think it applies now more than ever.”

Aidan studied his mate, noting her shaking hands. Bailey could face a dozen dragons without showing a hint of fear, but he understood the courage it took to speak before an audience of thousands. She’d been doing it for the greater good, and he was proud of her.

He put an arm around her shoulders. “I think I love you even more now.”

“It had to be said.” She leaned against his shoulder, uncaring of the people watching. “I’m tired of everyone focusing on our differences instead of our similarities. The world would be dull if we all looked and acted the same.”

“Agreed,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

She looked up at him. “Maybe after this war, I’ll ask Javier if he can design a potion that curbs a slayer's urges, so we only kill when necessary. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that with the right motivation and magic, there are no limits.”

“That’s an excellent idea, though I’ll always want you regardless.”

His mate never ceased to amaze him.

“In conclusion,” Colonel Melvin continued to speak, “let’s not only fight beside each other but for each other. Let’s prove that with support and solidarity with our neighbors, EVIL WILL NOT TRIUMPH!”

He lifted his fist in the air, and everyone in human form followed. The dragons roared and flared their wings. Aidan’s enhanced senses were bombarded with the energy around him. No matter the race or faction, everyone felt the same motivation and unity. It was time to get moving and face the Kandoran as one.

***

Sunset crept close upon them. After leaving the stadium, they’d stopped to eat an early dinner and gather their weaponry before flying across the border. The shield wall had tingled against their skin as they crossed, but it didn’t hurt them. Aidan could only make out the slightest shimmer when they reached it.

He’d dropped Bailey off at the front, where the slayers stood as the vanguard up and down the front line. Though he had complete faith in her skills, it was still difficult to leave her there without wrapping her in an embrace that lasted until the enemy appeared on the horizon. She’d paired with her former partner from the coalition, Brody. Aidan had ensured the young man knew he better watch her back and keep her safe.

He hated that he couldn’t be the one to do that, but he needed to lead the dragons in the air. It was a consolation that every slayer would have a partner. They’d work together to finish the Kandoran who survived their falls and kill as many of the infected humans who came from the West as possible. The ground troops would surge forward to help as well once the shifters were in the air.

Far up in the sky, he spotted a gray plane. It was flying far higher than any dragon could reach so they could spy on the enemies’ progress. Even the Kandoran sorcerers’ magic couldn’t seem to reach that altitude to stop them. If Allison’s prediction proved correct, the war would begin in the next ten minutes.

All the shifters were in a line that ran from the Taugud border's northern point in Oklahoma City to the southern end at the Red River. His toriq could only provide three hundred and seventy-five warriors for the front since they had the smallest population, with the rest remaining behind to defend the fortress or rotate forward as needed. Aidan was grateful there were another seven hundred and twenty-five from the Straegud and Craegud combined to fill the ranks. He and the other pendragons agreed to keep their shifters together since they had the same coloring, making it less confusing during the battles, but they each took a different section to defend.

The Faegud to the south in Texas would be supplemented by the pure dragon toriqan from the Ghastanan, Takaran, Bogaran, Jarkan, Dagowan, and Zagoran, who’d provided volunteers to fight with them. Their total warriors came to over two thousand, not counting those they left to defend their Jakhals in case the shield fell. About fifteen hundred humans in that area also volunteered to fight.

To the north, from central Oklahoma City to midway into Kansas, was another fighting force. The Shadowan and Vataran, whose territories lay along that line, comprised the primary army. Warriors from the Pradowan, Nazaran, and Gorkan, along with the Tarogan from the east and refugee volunteers from the Thamaran, added to their dragon ranks for a total of almost two thousand. Approximately eight hundred humans had banded together to fight with them between northern Oklahoma and portions of Kansas.

Technically, his stretch of the line had the fewest dragons defending it, but the Taugud border had considerably more human fighters, sorcerers, and modern weaponry to make up the difference. The coalition was providing some artillery and air support to the northern and southern ends of the line, though.

The black armor he wore chafed him. It wasn’t something shifters had ever used before, but they were severely outnumbered even with their considerable planning and combined resources. Every advantage, no matter how small, made a difference.

They’d taken some of the considerable zaphiriam ore mined during Nanoq’s reign and used it to make armor for their necks and chests where dragons were most vulnerable. There wasn’t time to design anything that could go across their entire bodies and fit around their wings, but at least the two pieces they had would give them some much-needed protection to their vital areas.

The armor had just been finished the day before, and only the lead warriors received it. He might not have considered the idea, but the Straegud had brought theirs, which they’d developed after the Kandoran threat began.

After learning about the armor, Bailey tested it. Her weapons couldn’t penetrate the metal no matter how hard she struck, so he ordered as many sets as possible to be made. He even spared several hours of his time to assist in the production. Thankfully, the Craegud had brought a handful of shifters with the second flame that were able to help, and the Straegud had half a dozen in their ranks. The East Coast toriq also wanted to armor as many of their warriors as possible. The one thing Nanoq did well during his leadership was store vast quantities of the necessary ore. Perhaps he’d had good intentions before the dark infection overtook him, but they’d never know for certain.

“Hostiles incoming!” Colonel Melvin yelled.

A line of human soldiers stood ahead of the shifters. Aidan craned his neck to see past them to the horizon, where the sun had disappeared, leaving a hint of orange and red streaks in its wake. He had to strain his eyes, but he could make out small shapes in the distance that appeared no bigger than ants. They would get much larger soon.

The commander began shouting orders into his handheld radio. Aidan thought he heard something like “weapons free.” He recalled the early weeks after the dimensions began colliding and how the humans had attacked his fortress and the surrounding area with missiles and rockets. They’d rarely struck dragons, but Bailey assured him the coalition had improved their weaponry and tactics, so they usually hit and killed their targets now.

A wide formation of planes that they called A-10s shot through the sky above him. They didn’t fly nearly as high as the larger aircraft he’d seen a short time ago, but they maintained enough altitude to avoid the dragons in the distance. The Kandoran were likely no more than five hundred feet above the ground.

Across the horizon, rumbles and pops sounded.

Aidan caught small flashes of light and faint screams and roars he barely discerned with his enhanced hearing. They were dropping bombs past the ten-mile line, which was too far to witness the full effects. The line of dragons did appear to break in several areas where the planes must have targeted them. The aircraft broke off to head to the north and south.

He braced himself as shouts sounded behind him.

Everyone, remember to remain calm and keep your heads down. It’s going to get loud, he said telepathically to all the shifters within range. Other leaders along the line would do the same, as they had reviewed during their training.

The artillery stationed farther back near the shield began cracking the air as they sent rounds toward the incoming Kandoran. Those soared close over their heads, and it was all Aidan could do to maintain his composure. He reminded himself it would only last a few minutes before the next stage of their plan.