Read Online Valentine (The Dragon Kings Book 3) by Kimberly Loth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Loth
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do. But I didn’t know about you until last year. Your father is a complex dragon and pretty secretive. I was surprised as hell when he finally told me why he was banished.”
“Do you think he’ll tell me?”
“Of course. Believe it or not, you’d be here right now even if you weren’t king. This actually makes it more complicated because I can’t just let you stay with him for longer than a few hours. After I take you to him, I need to go help Aspen search for Rowan. Then tonight, we need to start preparing for the war.”
Val ran his hand through his hair. “I still don’t quite get the war thing. I mean Theo told me turning black was a fulfillment of the three kings prophecy, but to be honest, I don’t even know what the prophecy says. Sure I’ve heard the story, but it’s been told in several different ways by different people.”
Sid sighed. “Yeah, that’s part of the problem. We are trying to locate the original source of the prophecy, but so far we haven’t had much luck. The original is written down in Everett’s cave. Before he died he gave me what he remembered.”
“Did he tell you where to find his cave?” Val had heard of the old dragon that had been around since the dragon wars. He didn’t know Everett had passed on.
“No. He died before he got the chance. I have dragons searching for his cave though. It’s got to be here in Yellowstone somewhere.”
“So exactly what does the prophecy say?” This was important. It held his fate.
“Three kings will rise from the land, the sea, and fire. Together they will battle the snow witch. The war will be one the world never forgets. Species against species. Brother against brother. Who will win, no one knows. If it be the witch, she will enslave all of humanity. If it be the kings, only one survives.”
Val rubbed his hand across his face and sighed. “I’ve never heard that version.”
“Yeah, I know. It wasn’t quite how I remembered it either.”
“Does it mean that all species will fight in the war, including humans?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to say. I really need to read it for myself. I’m most concerned that only one of us will survive. Also, there’s no telling how long this war will last. It could be centuries. We need to prepare for that possibility. We don’t know when the war will actually start.”
“Do we know who the snow witch is?”
“No. The only one who made sense died.”
“Do you have any training, any ideas on how to handle this? I know you are new to the throne.”
“Ha! I wish. No. I’m going to consult with a few of the older dragons. Your father, for one. We have warriors trained in the royal dragons, but none of them have seen war. Until we know what we are up against, I can’t make a plan of attack. But even as we speak, I’ve got ambassadors making nice with all the dragon races. Your presence still isn’t known, so most don’t know that the prophecy is being fulfilled. Once it becomes public, dragons will start taking sides.”
Val would have to process all of this eventually, but right now his mind was stuck on one thought. “Why would you consult with my father?”
Sid gave him a small smile. “Because your father knows how to fight.”
Runa poked her head up. “Aspen is back.” She took off from the table, and Val heard a crash. Aspen yelled out.
“Watch where you’re going.” She walked into the kitchen rubbing her chest. “She flew right into me.”
Theo followed, carrying a dazed looking Runa. Aspen gave Val a cheeky grin.
“You got under her skin.”
“What do you mean?”
“She said she doesn’t want to see you again.”
Val’s chest tightened. That wasn’t the reaction he was looking for. “Why?”
“Because it was ‘too real.’ Her words, not mine. But I think I dangled enough mystery under her nose that she’ll come to dinner. Theo really shouldn’t be here. Or should I call you Teddy?” She looked at Theo with her eyes dancing.
Theo rubbed at
“Do you think he’ll tell me?”
“Of course. Believe it or not, you’d be here right now even if you weren’t king. This actually makes it more complicated because I can’t just let you stay with him for longer than a few hours. After I take you to him, I need to go help Aspen search for Rowan. Then tonight, we need to start preparing for the war.”
Val ran his hand through his hair. “I still don’t quite get the war thing. I mean Theo told me turning black was a fulfillment of the three kings prophecy, but to be honest, I don’t even know what the prophecy says. Sure I’ve heard the story, but it’s been told in several different ways by different people.”
Sid sighed. “Yeah, that’s part of the problem. We are trying to locate the original source of the prophecy, but so far we haven’t had much luck. The original is written down in Everett’s cave. Before he died he gave me what he remembered.”
“Did he tell you where to find his cave?” Val had heard of the old dragon that had been around since the dragon wars. He didn’t know Everett had passed on.
“No. He died before he got the chance. I have dragons searching for his cave though. It’s got to be here in Yellowstone somewhere.”
“So exactly what does the prophecy say?” This was important. It held his fate.
“Three kings will rise from the land, the sea, and fire. Together they will battle the snow witch. The war will be one the world never forgets. Species against species. Brother against brother. Who will win, no one knows. If it be the witch, she will enslave all of humanity. If it be the kings, only one survives.”
Val rubbed his hand across his face and sighed. “I’ve never heard that version.”
“Yeah, I know. It wasn’t quite how I remembered it either.”
“Does it mean that all species will fight in the war, including humans?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to say. I really need to read it for myself. I’m most concerned that only one of us will survive. Also, there’s no telling how long this war will last. It could be centuries. We need to prepare for that possibility. We don’t know when the war will actually start.”
“Do we know who the snow witch is?”
“No. The only one who made sense died.”
“Do you have any training, any ideas on how to handle this? I know you are new to the throne.”
“Ha! I wish. No. I’m going to consult with a few of the older dragons. Your father, for one. We have warriors trained in the royal dragons, but none of them have seen war. Until we know what we are up against, I can’t make a plan of attack. But even as we speak, I’ve got ambassadors making nice with all the dragon races. Your presence still isn’t known, so most don’t know that the prophecy is being fulfilled. Once it becomes public, dragons will start taking sides.”
Val would have to process all of this eventually, but right now his mind was stuck on one thought. “Why would you consult with my father?”
Sid gave him a small smile. “Because your father knows how to fight.”
Runa poked her head up. “Aspen is back.” She took off from the table, and Val heard a crash. Aspen yelled out.
“Watch where you’re going.” She walked into the kitchen rubbing her chest. “She flew right into me.”
Theo followed, carrying a dazed looking Runa. Aspen gave Val a cheeky grin.
“You got under her skin.”
“What do you mean?”
“She said she doesn’t want to see you again.”
Val’s chest tightened. That wasn’t the reaction he was looking for. “Why?”
“Because it was ‘too real.’ Her words, not mine. But I think I dangled enough mystery under her nose that she’ll come to dinner. Theo really shouldn’t be here. Or should I call you Teddy?” She looked at Theo with her eyes dancing.
Theo rubbed at
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