Dragon's Fate: Heir of Dragons, #4

By Sean Fletcher

The Hunt has returned. The time of dragon-kin is over.

 

After failing to stop St. George and the Hunt, Kaylee and her few remaining friends are forced to flee, desperate to find somewhere—anywhere—safe.

 

Slayer attacks come without warning. Innocent people are dying. The only hope to defeat the Hunt and put an end to the destruction lies in an incredibly ancient, incredibly dangerous, magic. A magic Kaylee possesses.

 

A magic she can't control.

 

But time is running out. Either Kaylee learns to harness this new, powerful magic, or it will be the end for her and everyone she loves.

 

Friends and enemies collide and incredible secrets are revealed in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Heir of Dragons series!

 

Dragon's Fate is the final book in the complete YA fantasy Heir of Dragons series. If you like snarky, fast-paced fantasies full of dragon shifters, twisting mysteries, and a slow-burn romance, this series is for you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sean Fletcher
• Release date: Aug 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223718178

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THE WARNING

A Message to all members of the United States Convocation. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. This text is sent by Magi-Erase and will disintegrate upon completion of reading.

Friends,

These are dire times.

I regret to inform you that Philleus Johns, Head of Committee for the United States Convocation, is dead. As one of the Head members of the Council of Convocation I, Alastair Dumas, have been temporarily elected in his place. To those in hiding and those who are wondering what is going on, there is no easy way to say it:

The Hunt has returned.

It is in moments like these that we, all members of the magical community and Convocation, not just dragon-kin, Merlins, and Protectors, must band together. We must set aside our differences and petty in-fighting and unite as one to face this grave threat affecting us all. The Hunt is here. Its influence and power are spreading.

Do not return to the NYC Convocation. The Slayers’ presence is strong in the city and it is never certain when the Hunt may come back here. Do not collect in large numbers, as this is known to draw the Hunt to you.

Despite the circumstances, our Merlins are working tirelessly to make sure normal humans remain unaware of our presence. You must do your part in this too.

Do not reveal yourself to humans. Do not use excessive magic.

Do not face the Hunt.

Keep silent. Keep hidden. I assure you we are working to resolve this, and we will resolve this. We’ve defeated the Hunt once before, and we will find a way to do it again.

I repeat, do not face the Hunt. This would only be suicide.

Luck and magic be with you all, and until we meet again,

Alastair Dumas, President of Scarsdale, New York Chap Head of Committee, United States Convocation

CHAPTER ONE

The stupid cat was going to get her killed.

It was one of those pure breeds. A Maine Coon or tortoiseshell or Russian Blue. Something like that. What kind it was didn’t matter to Kaylee. What mattered was that it was staring right at her hiding spot, growling, while Slayers prowled through the house.

I said you can’t come in! a man shouted. That was the father, Jared. He was the one who’d decided to let Kaylee and the others park Randy’s van in the barn behind the house to spend the night. It was a kindness few people associated with the Convocation had shown them since the Hunt had risen a month ago. Few families dared risk their lives like that; not with the Hunt, and not with the Slayers now bold enough to terrorize in broad daylight.

Kaylee hoped that same kindness wasn’t about to get Jared’s family murdered.

There was a sharp cry of pain. The sound of the front door slamming all the way open and heavy bootsteps pounding inside. Multiple bootsteps. Kaylee counted three sets.

She shifted one of her ears to a dragon’s to hear better but there was no need to. A second later, the morning sunlight pouring through the kitchen window was blocked by an immense shadow. A man’s shadow. Kaylee watched it turn to survey his surroundings, trying to keep her breathing light and steady. The cat continued staring right at her.

Look away…look away you stupid feline before I—

Anybody else? A Slayer called from the kitchen.

The shadow continued turning. It paused when it saw the cat. The man took a step closer to the closet, so close Kaylee could smell his sweat and the reek of cigarettes wafting off him. She tensed, prepared to attack.

Scram, the man growled, shoving the cat away. It hissed at them both and scampered under the couch.

Clear in here! the man said.

There was a sob, another short cry of pain, then Jared and his wife were tossed onto the couch. Jared’s lip was busted, his cheek already forming a blotchy bruise around the edges. Red-faced, his wife clutched his arm.

Y-you can’t d-do this! We don’t have a-anything you w-want!

Y-yes y-you do! The nearest Slayer, a beefy woman with short, bleached hair, mocked.

The other two Slayers had joined her, closing Jared and his wife in on either side. Kaylee shifted from her crouch and peered through the sliver of the closet door. Two men, one woman, all malicious-looking. Weapons—maces, crossbows, magicked gauntlets—hung off their waists and were tightly strapped to their backs. Standard Slayer-issue armored vests were draped over black combat uniforms.

We have nothing of value, Jared repeated. Take whatever it is you’re here for and—

The female Slayer smacked him across the jaw. Jared’s wife screamed. There was a brief struggle and, when it ended, all three Slayers were pointing crossbows at the couple. The woman walked closer, keeping the crossbow trained on Jared’s forehead.

Do you want to die? she said softly.

Kaylee shifted her hands to claws. Her elemental storm magic pounded beneath her skin, ready to fight.

The dragon’s magic deep inside her begged to be unleashed.

With great effort, Kaylee ignored them both.

She was alone here, having come inside early to use the bathroom. Edwin, Maddox, and Randy were in the van, probably still asleep. She could take three Slayers, but with innocents around there was bound to be collateral damage. She needed to wait for an opening…

But the Slayers would kill the family if she did nothing.

Jared wiped a fresh trickle of blood from his chin, glaring at his captors. The woman smirked.

We know you’re with the Convocation. Midwest chapter, right?

Jared froze, blood running down his fingers. The woman grinned wider. So you see, we’re not here for your things. We need information.

Names, meetin’ places, one of the men added.

The location of Kaylee Richards, the other man finished.

Kaylee’s breath caught. Her? When had she become a hot commodity?

When you almost defeated the Hunt with your crazy dragon fusion powers, idiot, a voice inside her said.

Okay, that made sense. But even though she and the others had been off the radar for the last month, traveling from small town to small town and trying to stay out of trouble, she figured she’d have noticed if the Slayers had suddenly put a giant target on her back.

You don’t need to notice. It’s common sense. Idiot. With powerful dragon’s magic inside her, the dragon fusion, she was the Hunt’s one and only threat, the person who could end St. George and his destruction of all dragon-kin for good.

That meant the Slayers wanted her especially dead.

I have no idea where Kaylee Richards is, Jared said, almost looking sorry for the Slayers, like they were poor, stupid fools. Yes, we’re part of the Convocation, but we’re not dragon-kin.

Or Merlins or Protectors, his wife hurriedly added.

One of the men swiftly brought up an arm, making Jared and his wife cower. The woman smirked.

Yeah, clearly not Protectors. If you were, you’d be even more pathetic than they normally are.

Tough words, coming from a group who finally had the guts to crawl back into the light, Jared spat. Finally feeling cocky now that the Hunt’s loose?

Wait, the woman held back her companion when he raised his crossbow. She leered at Jared.

"Now that you ask, we are feeling cocky. The Hunt will do what should have been done a long time ago: eradicate the dragon-kin and anyone who stands with them. In fact… She crouched, making the couple pull back. She gestured with the crossbow like she was brandishing a pen rather than a weapon that could take their life, In fact, we could request he make a little stop here, if you’d like to meet him."

If it was possible, the couple’s faces grew paler.

We don’t know anything, Jared’s wife repeated.

The woman held her gaze for a long time, then stood. Bring down the last guest.

No! Jared’s wife sprang up as one of the men disappeared upstairs. No, leave her alone!

A child screamed. Furniture crashed. There was the thump of a body hitting the stairs and the man came tumbling back down in a shower of glass and wood before slamming into a china cabinet near the dining room.

A girl no more than eight came flying over the stair railing. Her hands were shifted to dragon claws and ice magic curled around her body. With another scream, she launched herself at the other man.

Kaylee tried to cry out a warning but before she could the other man easily side-stepped the girl’s attack and caught her by the throat, jerking her to a stop.

"Claire!" her parents screamed, jumping up. The woman leveled a crossbow at them.

I wouldn’t.

Claire continued struggling against the Slayers’ grip, biting at his gloved fingers. He sneered. His magicked gauntlet glowed and Claire howled in pain before going limp. Her scales and claws retracted, the ice that had begun to coat the floor melting to puddles.

There, that’s better, the woman said.

Claire’s parents watched in horror as their daughter was lowered to the ground and deposited as a crumpled heap at the woman’s feet.

Check that idiot. The woman nodded to the Slayer on the stairs while she crouched next to a stunned Claire, still keeping her crossbow aimed at her parents.

Offspring, the woman said, her voice pure venom. An abomination. Tell me, Jared, would you like to see what happens to abominations?

You—

Jared lunged forward but the woman clubbed him to the ground with the butt of her crossbow. Jared tried to raise his head but the heel of her boot came down hard, cracking it against the floor.

Stay conscious, Jared. I want you to watch very closely. This’ll be a good lesson for you.

The woman snapped her fingers. A shadow pooled at the floor beside Claire, thicker and darker than the ones around it. Yellow eyes glowed from the darkness within.

Kaylee’s blood ran cold.

I’ve got a friend for you, Claire, the woman said. Do you know what this is?

Claire’s head lolled, her body barely staying upright.

It’s a Samarian shadow dancer, the woman explained. And it’s very hungry.

The woman flicked two fingers up and a snout covered in bristly black fur and filled with serrated teeth rose from the lip of shadows. Its slitted eyes fixed on Claire.

Feed, the woman commanded.

Kaylee attacked.

Forget not having backup. Forget potential collateral damage. Forget the danger.

It wasn’t like things could get any worse.

Her first bolt of lightning caught the shadow dancer in the chest, sending it screaming back into its pool of darkness. Kaylee called more of her magic to her. The temperature in the room plummeted. Thunder boomed from inside, the air thick and charged with static.

Kaylee scooped up Claire and kicked the woman, her magically enhanced strength sending her flying into the kitchen. She spun, ducking just in time to avoid a mace to the head from one of the men.

Get out of here! Kaylee yelled, shoving Claire in Jared’s arms and pushing him toward the door. Out the— She ducked again. —back!

She raised a claw and caught the man’s arm in it, twisting it to the side.

Not this time, bud—

A jolt of magic shot down his gauntlet and launched her across the room into the TV. The back of her head throbbed where she’d smashed it against the wall, probably hard enough to leave a dent. She groaned as she picked herself up. Idiot. You literally just saw him do that. Should have known that was coming.

The man leapt at her. Kaylee threw herself aside as his mace cratered the spot she’d just been. Sparks and chunks of plastic flew every direction.

Die, beast! the man growled, pulling back his arm for another swing.

Oh! How original! Kaylee bobbed beneath his next strike. Like I haven’t heard that a billion times before. You Slayers should really get it copyrighted.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kaylee saw the back door slam shut as Jared and his family slipped out.

They were safe.

Now she could really let loose.

Kaylee’s head nearly hit the floor as she bent backwards to dodge the Slayer’s next attack, her muscles protesting being used this strenuously this early in the morning. She snapped herself up again, cutting the space between her and the Slayer in half, grabbing him by the straps of his armor before he could react.

Hey! Hands off—

Kaylee’s shoulders flexed. The muscles in her upper back strained and shifted to make room for the pair of magically conjured dragon wings she knew were sprouting there. The Slayer gaped, temporarily stunned. Though Kaylee knew the wings weren’t actual physical wings but simply magical projections, they looked real enough from the right angle.

And they worked real enough.

Still gripping the Slayer, Kaylee pumped her wings twice. The pair launched across the room, Kaylee slamming the man into the dining room table and across it, burying his upper body in a display cabinet full of glassware and dining sets. Plates shattered as they hit the floor. Glass tinkled. The man groaned, head lolling. A large bowl had clipped his skull and broke skin, sending blood trickling down his temples.

Kaylee quickly checked his pulse. Still alive, at least. Which was more than any of them deserved.

She heaved him to the floor. Two down. That left only—

Kaylee didn’t notice the pool of darkness in the corner above her until it was too late. The shadow dancer pounced, forcing her to spin away.

Not fast enough.

Razor sharp teeth sliced right through her sleeve. Kaylee gritted her teeth, feeling the warm blood dribble through her fingers as she gripped her arm. What she wouldn’t give for her normal fighting gear right about now…

She rolled again as the shadow dancer skimmed past, slipping into the next pool of darkness beneath the couch.

And so it ends here, the woman said. She stood in the kitchen doorway, triumph in her eyes. Kaylee Richards, the elusive dragon-kin even St. George has trouble getting rid of. This must be our lucky day.

Kaylee stood, keeping the woman and the nearest shadows in her line of sight. I guess luck’s one thing you can call it.

I knew it was you as soon as you summoned that thunderstorm. The Hunt will be pleased to find out you’re dead.

Kaylee took a step back. Movement swirled to her right, but she kept her eyes trained on the woman. Aw…Lesuvius won’t be pleased? That’s too bad. I was positive dying would bring a smile to his face.

The woman sneered. "Lesuvius may have led us once, but he’s finished. Our true master has returned, and he wouldn’t dare let a beast lead the Slayers any longer."

Another step. The back door was just five feet behind her. Any second and she could make a break for it. Guess it sucked finding out Lesuvius was a dragon-kin, huh? So, wait, if you had a dragon-kin leading you then does that make us the good guys, or the bad guys—

"Kill!" the woman snarled.

The shadow dancer pounced just as the woman threw a knife at Kaylee’s head. Kaylee whipped her hand up, summoning a wall of wind and ice that knocked the blade out of the air. She was spinning toward the shadow dancer before she’d finished, but she could already tell she wouldn’t make it in time. The shadow dancer’s teeth were heading right for her throat. She was too slow, too late, too—

There was a scream and a whimper. Kaylee blinked to find the shadow dancer’s toothed mouth mere inches from her face. An orange collar of magic had been looped around its neck and tightened, stopping it short.

Maddox! Edwin yelled.

Maddox burst in behind him. In an instant, he’d evaluated the situation like the Protector he was before plunging his spear into the shadow dancer’s side. It screamed, writhing in agony as Edwin used his magic to hurl it across the room and into the demolished TV. The shadow dancer gave one final, pained screech before trailing a slick of blood as it melted back into the shadow.

No! The woman’s eyes flickered between the three of them, clearly knowing she was outmatched. She backed up toward the front door. The Hunt will find you, Kaylee Richards! Every Slayer within a hundred miles will be on you in hours!

Then she was out the door. Kaylee started to run after her when she heard the dull thud of a fist hitting face, then a body hitting grass.

Randy appeared in the doorway, dragging the unconscious woman behind him. He stepped inside and dropped her unceremoniously at the foot of the stairs before surveying the damaged living room and Kaylee’s bleeding arm.

Mornin’, Kaylee said.

It’s too early to be doing this, Randy grouched. Where’s the coffee?

CHAPTER TWO

Kaylee took another bite of eggs, practically feeling the bags under her eyes recede back into her skin. She hadn’t had a meal this good in…she couldn’t remember how long. Gas station burritos and a cramped van with zero space to cook in did not make for a healthy diet. It was almost getting to the point where she had dreams about hunting vegetables.

Randy had refused Jared’s food, instead opting for black coffee. He stood at attention near the kitchen window, careful eyes flickering left to right down the road in case any more Slayers decided to show up to look for their friends.

Unlikely, he’d grunted when Kaylee had asked him if they would. They might be getting bolder, but they’re still not the smartest bunch. These were just some thugs looking to cause trouble, not a Slayer-sanctioned mission they’ll be checking in on.

That made Kaylee feel a little better, at least. She still thought they needed to get moving soon. They’d already caused Jared’s family enough pain.

Jared himself sat across from her at the kitchen table, his hands clenched together, knuckles white. Maddox continued shoveling eggs into his mouth, his muscular build needing more nourishment than any of them. He paused a couple times to brush his black hair out of his eyes and give Kaylee a curious glance, then a smile.

Can’t even go to the bathroom without Slayers on you, can you?

What can I say, I’m a popular girl.

Randy grunted. Too popular. You said this time they were looking for you specifically?

Jared picked his head up. His eyes were bloodshot. The swelling in his face had calmed down since Edwin had brought him an ice pack to press to it, but it was still an ugly sight: discolored and split skin, teeth stained with semi-dried blood from where he’d bit his tongue. They wanted to know where Kaylee Richards was. I had…I had no idea that’s who you were.

We wanted to keep it that way, Randy said. We’re kind of on the run, if you didn’t notice.

But we appreciate you letting us stay here, Maddox added. He grimaced after a quick glance around the destroyed house. And…we’re really sorry about the damage.

We’re leaving soon anyway, Randy said. To stay will just put you in more danger.

Kaylee took her and Maddox’s plates to the sink. Just as soon as Edwin’s—

As if summoned, there were footsteps on the stairs and Edwin joined them. He tucked the tiny spell book he always kept close by into his back pocket and snatched a couple pieces of toast from the plate on the table. A few seconds later, both pieces were devoured.

Hungry much? Kaylee said, eyes wide.

Starving, Edwin said. Healing magic isn’t my forte. Always takes a lot out of me.

Jared had stood the moment Edwin had entered. Is Claire…is she all right? Will she make it?

Edwin swallowed his last bite and took a swig of water. She’s going to be just fine. Slayers used a stunning spell. A little stronger than usual but after some rest she’ll be back to tearing up Slayers’ faces in no time.

She’s quite the fighter, Kaylee said, impressed.

Jared’s grin was strained. She’d just started her training at the local Convocation before they…you know.

Disbanded, Randy said. Convocations all over the country are breaking apart. They think it’ll make it harder for the Hunt and Slayers to find them.

Will it? Jared said.

Randy shrugged. Maybe. Maybe not. Certainly isn’t helping us any. Leaves us with fewer allies and fewer options. Also gonna make it a lot harder to get these guys locked up where they can’t hurt anybody.

He nodded to the center of the living room where the three still-unconscious Slayers sat tied back to back. Their weapons had been tossed in the garage. Edwin, before he’d gone up to take care of Claire, had done a final sweep of the living room and declared the shadow dancer gone.

I stuck him pretty good, Maddox had said around a mouthful of eggs. Figured it wouldn’t want to stay around.

But now that meant Kaylee and the others couldn’t stay around either. It had already been risky taking refuge with a vulnerable family; every second they lingered put Jared and his wife and child in more danger. It wasn’t as if Kaylee and the others hadn’t run into trouble since striking out from NYC and driving aimlessly around. With the Hunt about, Slayers were crawling out of whatever holes they’d been curled up in these last few years. More than once, Kaylee and the others had been forced to intervene to put a stop to some kind of Slayer violence or another.

That wasn’t the big issue. The issue was that their group had never been the primary cause of a Slayer attacking innocents before. She’d never been the primary cause of it before. Not that she knew of, anyway.

But now St. George was after her specifically. And that meant their days of running around, trying to figure out a way to take down the Hunt were ticking down to zero. That meant they couldn’t rely on anyone else or risk putting more lives in danger.

Kaylee looked up from the glass of orange juice she’d been staring at to find Maddox eying her. I know what you’re thinking, he said, low enough that Randy and Jared couldn’t hear it over their discussion.

You do?

Maddox smirked. Jade wasn’t the only one who could read you—

He stopped, as if his throat had suddenly seized. He gulped down the rest of his water before trying to speak again. We made a mistake. We shouldn’t have stopped here, but that’s not your fault. You saved them.

We’re running out of time, Maddox. We don’t even know where we’re going.

Alastair will figure something out. And you’ve been working with Randy on the dragon fusion. Once you have that mastered… He punched his fist into his open hand. "Kersplat goes the Hunt."

Except that she’d been working on controlling the ancient magic and hadn’t made any progress at all. No, that wasn’t completely true. Now she didn’t completely lose control of her body and mind when she called on the ancient dragon’s power.

That was…good, right?

Earth to Kaylee. Randy rapped on the table. He nudged his head to the back door when she looked up at him. We need to go. Daylight’s burning.

He gave Jared a firm handshake. Get your family out of here. Go somewhere safe. The Hunt’s been spotted moving through the Midwest but it tends to stay around the east coast while it’s growing in power.

Where can we go? Jared said, his shoulders sagging. If what you said about the Convocations disbanding is true…

Randy thought for a moment, then grabbed a pen and pad of paper off the island. He scribbled down a few lines. I can’t guarantee anything, not anymore, but here’s the address for a Convocation safe house. It might be full right now since a lot of people are evacuating, but it’s worth checking out. They can at least give you the address to another if they don’t have room.

Jared nodded mutely, gripping the tiny piece of paper as if his life depended on it. Which, Kaylee thought, eying the Slayers in the other room, it very well might.

We leave in ten, Randy said, stepping out of the kitchen. A second later, the back door slammed shut.

"See you