Victory and the Dragon Read online

  “There is some truth in what Noah is saying,” Peter said. Izzy resisted the urge to point out that she was the one who’d brought up the point about the redwoods being lightly guarded. Now wasn’t the time to fight over credit for a good idea. It was time to keep her fingers crossed that she would be chosen to go with Noah to the redwoods. She saw Peter glance at Knox, who was leaning back in his chair, pondering. Since the redwoods base belonged to Knox, he would be the one to make the final call on whether or not to go fight for it at this time. Falcon Cross had promised to help the dragons win back their home, but everyone had thought that a battle for the redwoods would have to wait until after the dragon ruby was recovered.

  Come on, Izzy pleaded silently with Knox. Send me to the redwoods with Noah. I’ve been through enough shit with Saul. Just give me this one small chance to do something other than come face to face with that monster again.

  “I can’t deny that I love the idea of winning back the Redwoods Base,” Knox said. “And what Noah and Izzy are saying does make a lot of sense.”

  Izzy silently thanked Knox for including her in the praise. At least the dragons knew how to give credit where credit was due. But Knox was still hesitating, and for several awful seconds, Izzy thought he was going to deny the request to fight for the redwoods. Her heart pounded in her chest as Knox began speaking again.

  “It’s just that we can’t spare a lot of soldiers right now, and we have no idea what the situation at the Redwoods Base actually looks like. We haven’t had any scouts look at the place for quite some time, since we’ve been so busy with everything else. We can speculate that the place would be easily taken, but no one really knows.”

  Knox gave Noah a pointed look, and Izzy got the feeling that the two men were practically capable of reading each other’s minds. Noah stuck his chin out defiantly at whatever message he saw in his leader’s eyes.

  “It’s worth a shot,” Noah said. “If I’m right, and the place is so sparsely guarded that I can take it back by myself, then we’d be idiots to ignore this chance. We can win our home back, and get our powerful artifacts back. I can’t think of any idea that has better potential to swing the war in our favor right now.”

  Izzy felt her heart drop a little when Noah talked about going by himself. The wizards abhorred solo missions, and always tried to work at least in pairs. But the dragons were different. They often preferred to work alone. Since this mission covered dragon territory, Knox might actually send Noah off on his own. Izzy frantically tried to think of something to say to convince Knox that she was needed on this mission as well, but, thankfully, Peter stepped in before she could.

  “My advice would be to send two scouts out together,” Peter said. “Noah can take a wizard along—perhaps Izzy would be willing to go since she also spoke up on behalf of the mission.”

  Izzy tried not to look too eager as she nodded her assent in Peter’s direction.

  “If Noah can indeed take the place back by himself, then all the better that he has the additional help of a wizard,” Peter continued. “And given the current instability in this war, I’d rather have at least two people out there who can report back. If one soldier is…indisposed somehow…at least there’s one more chance at us knowing what’s going on.”

  A shiver went down Izzy’s back at Peter’s words. His meaning was clear. He half-expected that a scouting expedition to the redwoods might end in someone’s death. He hoped that if he sent two soldiers, at least one of them would survive to report back.

  “I don’t need help,” Noah insisted. “An extra person will only slow me down.”

  Izzy didn’t look at Noah. She didn’t want to see whatever scowl might be on his face right now. She half-felt that she deserved whatever anger he was feeling. He didn’t know it, of course, but her motivation to go on the mission was from fear, not from noble intentions. Izzy suspected that Noah would react with disgust if she admitted her angst. To her relief, she saw Knox frowning at Noah.

  “I have no doubt you can do things on your own, buddy, but in this case I think taking a wizard with you is a good idea. You might find magical help useful, especially when it comes to opening the vaults. Bree cast some pretty strong protective spells over each vault. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone along who knows how to cancel the spells, just in case.”

  Izzy dared to look at Noah. She saw his angry scowl slowly relax into acceptance at Knox’s words, and he shrugged.

  “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if things go slower than you’d like.”

  Knox merely smiled. Then he turned to look at Izzy. “Izzy, if you’re willing to go with Noah, I think you’d make a great partner for him on this mission. Bree can brief you on the spells she cast, to be sure you know how to cancel them if necessary.”

  Izzy nodded enthusiastically, no longer able to completely hide her excitement. Not only was she going to go on a mission that did not involve direct contact with Saul, she was also going to get to spend one-on-one time with Bree. Bree was Knox’s lifemate, but, more importantly in Izzy’s mind, she was the wizard who had bravely defied the high wizard council to bring to everyone’s attention the importance of finding the dragon stones. Bree’s actions had united the wizards and dragon shifters, and she was hailed as a hero by wizards and shifters alike.

  “Well, that’s settled, then,” Peter said, impatience in his tone. Izzy knew the old wizard would be eager to move on to planning how to send the rest of the Falcon Cross army out to the army that was currently transporting the dragon stones. Noah picked up on Peter’s impatience and quickly smoothed over the rough moment.

  “Yes, all settled,” Noah said. “Izzy and I will work out the details of our scouting mission after this meeting.”

  Peter nodded, and then turned back to discussing plans for the Falcon Cross armies. Izzy had trouble paying attention, and barely heard as the old wizard discussed the best flight path to lead Saul away from Falcon Cross while still staying close enough that the army leaving Falcon Cross could quickly catch up with the army in the field. The most likely scenario was that Saul’s army would catch up with the dragon stone army in about four days. Izzy swallowed hard. That also meant that, if she and Noah were going to take back the Redwoods Base Camp in time for it to do any good, they would have to hurry. There wouldn’t be a lot of time for planning. No wonder Noah was so concerned about an extra person slowing him down.

  When the meeting adjourned, Izzy stayed in her seat next to Noah while the rest of the VIPs filtered out of the room. The red-alert sirens had stopped now, but the general feeling of unrest still hung heavy in the air. Izzy knew that, out in the many hallways and offices of military headquarters, hundreds of soldiers would already be preparing to take flight. The automatic response to a red-alert siren was to prepare to head straight to battle. Odds were good that the vast majority of the soldiers still in Falcon Cross would be flying out to join the dragon stone army this very night.

  Izzy looked expectantly over at Noah. She had a feeling that he already knew how he wanted to conduct this mission, so she would let him take the lead on planning. Unfortunately, she was a little too right about his knowing how he wanted to conduct the mission. He stood up, turning to face her with his arms crossed. He towered above her, and she couldn’t help but feel intimidated. He was already taller than the average man, and with her sitting down, he looked like a giant. An angry giant.

  “Listen,” he said, his voice low and tense. “This is how things are going to go. I’m in charge of this mission. You do what I say, and you do it right away. I don’t want you slowing things down on me. We have one shot at this, and if we blow it because of you, so help me god I will personally make sure you never work in this army again.”

  Izzy felt anger rising in her chest. She stood, too, and crossed her arms just like his. She still wasn’t nearly as tall as him, but at least she felt a little less beneath him.

  “Don’t you dare threaten me,” she said. “I’m a good soldier,
and, besides, I stood up for you. Everyone thought your idea was crazy, but I took your side in that meeting. You should be thanking me, not threatening me.”

  Noah snorted in laughter, then turned to walk toward the door. “Nice try, Izzy. I know you only stood up for me because you want any excuse not to go on the mission to Saul’s army. You’re not taking my side. You’re afraid, and you’re avoiding the things you’re scared of.”

  Izzy’s jaw dropped slightly. How did he know? Had she been that obvious? Had he seen the fear in her eyes? She’d tried so hard to hide it. Shame and guilt washed over her anew as Noah grabbed the door handle to exit the room.

  “Be ready to leave tomorrow at six a.m., sharp,” he said over his shoulder. And then, he turned, pausing before he left to scrutinize her up and down. He smiled as if he could read her mind, and could see the questions forming about how he had known her true motivations. Then he spoke four words that chilled her anew.

  “Dragons can smell fear.”

  Chapter Three

  Despite his annoyance at being forced to take along a partner, and his disdain for her timidity, Noah had to admit that, on the whole, Izzy was a capable soldier. She could keep up with him on a hike at least.

  They had agreed not to fly in to the Redwoods Base Camp directly—even though Noah could easily fly when in dragon form, and Izzy was as talented as any wizard at broomstick flying. With so much uncertainty surrounding the camp, it was better to land far out and come in slowly, on foot. That way they could take their time assessing what they were up against. But this slow approach meant a half day of hiking, and Noah wasn’t happy about the wasted time. With Saul’s army closing the gap between himself and the other dragon stones, there wasn’t much time to spare. Noah only wished he’d thought of invading the Redwoods Camp earlier. He might have convinced Knox to let him come here, even before the threat of Saul and the dragon ruby was imminent. Then Noah would have had more time to plan how he would overtake whatever enemy awaited him in the redwoods.

  But there was no use dwelling on alternate possibilities now. The reality of his situation remained unchanged, no matter how much he regretted not acting sooner. He was traipsing as fast as he dared through thick forest, trying to outpace Izzy and failing. He had wanted to prove to her that she couldn’t keep up, but she seemed just as determined to prove that she could. And, right now at least, she was doing a damn good job of matching his pace. This only served to annoy him even more. He’d wanted to come on this mission alone, like the good old days when the Redwood Dragons were always sent on solo missions to recover ancient artifacts. This war had resulted in far too much socializing, if you asked Noah.

  But no one had asked Noah, so he kept marching forward through the redwoods, gritting his teeth and glancing back every now and then with a grudging look to make sure Izzy was still keeping up. She always was.

  He tried to push her out of his mind and focus on enjoying the trees around him. The city of Falcon Cross was located in the middle of a beautiful forest, but it was still too much of a city for Noah’s liking. There were houses and cars and big government buildings—and people everywhere. So many people. Noah was glad for the space that surrounded him now. He and Izzy were likely the only humans out here for miles and miles. There was something intoxicating about being alone. Or, almost alone. Noah frowned, and tried not to let his anger at Izzy bubble to the surface too much. Focus on the trees, he told himself.

  And what magnificent trees they were. The trees near Falcon Cross were nice enough, but they had nothing on the redwoods. The ancient giants towered above him, their impossibly wide trunks taking up large footprints on the forest floor. The reddish brown bark smelled like home to him, and the green canopy of their leaves offered plentiful shade from the bright midday sun. Noah smiled, and took in a long, deep breath.

  He’d spent most of his life in these woods. He and the other Redwood Dragons had been rescued as young children, when the last great war orphaned them. They’d grown up together, as brothers. Noah could hardly wait for the day when they would return here together as brothers, to live in their cabins once again. His heart beat faster at the thought. Things had changed, sure. All of the dragons except him had found lifemates now. Life in the redwoods would be different. Busier. But that wouldn’t be all bad. Noah wouldn’t deny that there were several ways in which a woman’s touch would improve their little camp. He imagined little gardens behind each cabin, lovingly tended. His stomach rumbled at the thought of home-cooked food. A smile crossed his face as he wondered which of his clanmates would be the first to father a new baby dragon. Noah had no particular desire to settle down with a woman and have a family himself, but he liked the idea of having a bunch of nieces and nephews to spoil.

  Uncle Noah, he thought, trying out the title in his head as he walked. It sounded good. If this damn war would just hurry up and be over, they could all get down to the business of actually living. He missed good times with his clan brothers, hanging out around the barbeque and just shooting the breeze. Unconsciously, he quickened his step. The sooner he got to base camp and regained possession of it, the sooner he could help out the soldiers in the field. And the sooner Saul would be defeated. Noah would not allow himself to think about the possibility of losing this war to Saul. Defeat was simply not an option. They must win. They would win.

  “We should stop for lunch,” Izzy called out from behind him. Noah turned and scowled, annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.

  “We don’t have time to waste on lunch,” Noah said, even though he knew what he was saying was ridiculous. He was feeling belligerent, though, and would have argued with just about any suggestion that Izzy made at that point. Before Izzy could even reply, Noah’s stomach betrayed him by letting out a long, hungry growl. Izzy raised an eyebrow.

  “I think your stomach disagrees with you,” she said. “It’s half past two, and if we want to keep up this pace, it’s better that we eat. Stopping for fifteen minutes isn’t going to make much difference in the grand scheme of this hike, but whether or not we nourish ourselves matters.”

  Noah wanted to argue more, but his stomach growled loudly again. He was quite hungry.

  “Fine,” he said. “But only fifteen minutes.”

  Izzy looked like she might roll her eyes at him, but in the end she merely let out a small sigh before sitting down and removing her large hiking backpack. She began digging in its depths for her food stash, not deigning to look at Noah while she did. He huffed and sat down himself. Quickly, he pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that had become rather smashed, and a bottle of water. Izzy was still digging in her pack as he unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. The bread was slightly soggy, but it would do. At least he had quickly found his food, he thought, feeling superior. Izzy must not be as organized as the other wizards, if she hadn’t packed things well enough to find them right away.

  Noah took another bite and continued to watch Izzy as she began pulling a few packages out of her pack. He’d never really looked closely at her before, and her perfect curves, outlined by her snug-fitting military uniform, sent an unexpected rush of warm blood through his body—a rush that seemed to center right between his legs. He turned his head away, trying desperately to think of something else. The trees, that oddly shaped rock over there, the war…anything to get his mind off of Izzy’s body and stop the stiffening between his legs from giving him away. What the hell was wrong with him? He didn’t even want to be friends with Izzy. He just wanted to be alone on this mission. And he definitely didn’t want to be thinking about her in any sort of romantic or lustful way. All his clanmates had managed to get themselves tangled up in a relationship when they were out on missions, but not him. He wasn’t here to play games. He was here to win this war so life could get back to normal.

  “Are you really not going to talk to me for this whole mission?” Izzy asked.

  With a sigh, Noah turned to look at her. He was startled to realize that she had quite
an elaborate spread of food in front of her. She was holding what looked like a turkey and cheese sandwich on a baguette, and in front of her was a selection of nuts, cheeses, grapes, and berries. Forgetting to answer her question, he snorted with laughter.

  “What the hell is all this?” he asked. “Did you pack for a hike to a war zone, or for a five course picnic in the south of France?”

  Izzy glared. “For your information, the food I packed offers quite a bit more nourishment than that measly sandwich you have over there. Laugh all you want to, but these nuts and fruits will keep me going much better than a tiny bit of bread and jelly.”

  “Bread, jelly, and peanut butter,” Noah corrected. “I’m eating nuts, too, just in a different form.”

  Izzy rolled her eyes at him, and Noah winced a bit when he realized the gesture somewhat turned him on. He always had liked a bit of sass in his women. Not that he’d had much time for women over the years. His missions hadn’t usually left him any free hours for chasing after girls. Desperate for a way to smooth over the fresh rush of attraction he felt for Izzy, he decided to press the issue of her fear. He knew this would make her angry, but that was a good thing. It would keep her too distracted to notice that he couldn’t stop staring at her, and it would remind him that he didn’t want to be associated with a coward.

  “So, Izzy,” Noah said. “Why did you decide to become a soldier if you’re afraid of fighting? Seems like there are a lot of other honorable careers out there that would better suit you, if battle makes you so fearful.”

  Izzy didn’t look up from her food, but Noah could see her furrowing her eyebrows angrily. “I did have another career. I’m a doctor, remember? And besides, no one can say I haven’t been brave. I helped Myles and Harlow escape from one of Saul’s camps. And I’ve done my part to fight on many missions since then.”

  “But you only came on this mission because you’re afraid of meeting Saul. Don’t try to deny it,” Noah said. He knew he was poking the bear, and making her angry. But he couldn’t help himself. He was angry, too. He wasn’t happy about having Izzy along. She was a distraction, in more ways than one.