Page 68 of Red Dragon’s Flame

Mikah and Zakerek were the only ones who went with Emon to earth. Devon wanted to go too, but they talked her out of it. Having her there in plain sight during the meeting was too dangerous—they really didn’t know the extent of the Allohims’ powers, and they didn’t want to goad them into doing something desperate that would start a war then and there, ruining the plan to get Mayah into their stronghold and get the male phoenix out.

Before the three of them left, Emon took Mikah aside. “You know I’m going to have to play evil tyrant at this meeting,” he said. “Can your dragon handle it?”

“He’s going to have to,” Mikah said grimly.

Emon hesitated before speaking again. He was rarely demonstrative, and showed his caring and affection in actions, not words.

But now he said, “You’re a good friend, Mikah, and you’ve done more to make this kingdom what it is than anyone, including me. Whatever it takes to save your mate and keep her healthy, we’ll do it. We won’t give up—not if it takes a hundred years. You have my word.”

Mikah couldn’t speak. He clasped Emon’s hand and pulled him into a bro hug.

Emon gave a half-smile. “Shit. Don’t make me get all mushy, or I won’t be able to pull off the evil.”

The three red dragons, shoulder to shoulder, ranged themselves behind Emon on the roof of the penthouse for their midnight meeting.

Emon consulted his military watch, counting down the minutes. When the time arrived, he gave the three red dragons a nod, and Changed into his dragon form.

Mikah, who’d flown with Emon many times, still caught his breath when he looked at him. The Darkwing Dragon, King of the lost Al-Maddeiri clan, black scales glistening in the starlight, threads of blue lightning dancing over his enormous body. Fierce, majestic, and commanding, with the combined magic of all his dead ancestors running through his veins, collected and passed on through a powerful magical ritual.

Even the Allohim would have to think twice before taking that on.

Emon let out a roar, shooting fire and lightning into the air in defiance of the rules against being seen by humans. And waited.

After a few moments, three Allohim appeared in the sky. It was hard to tell if they simply flew out of the darkness, or if they actually materialized. One minute they weren’t there, and the next they were.

They hovered overhead in a triangle formation. The one in front, at the point of the triangle, had some kind of badge that marked him as a leader. But not the leader—Mikah could feel it. They’d sent the second string—which was annoying, but also a good thing.

They were underestimating the dragons.

Emon made them wait a minute, and then morphed back into his human form. He was dressed entirely in black, stylized armor that looked like it was made of dragon scales, but left his head bare.

Lightning still flickered around him, caressing him, and his eyes glowed bright green.

Even in human form, he was absolutely fucking terrifying.

Emon spoke to the Allohim. “My invitation was to your leader, not his minions.”

The head Allohim replied, “Our leader does not bestir himself for one such as you.”

Emon narrowed his eyes. “He is a coward,” he said coolly. “You will go to him, where he hides in fear, and tell him this: He has attacked my people and those under my protection. It stops now.”

The head Allohim was insulted, as Emon intended. “It stops when we recover what is ours. If we choose.”

Emon folded his arms, and looked him up and down for a long moment. Finally he said, “Then cease fluttering around this building like evil butterflies and tell me what the hell you want.”

The Allohim gave him back arrogant stare for arrogant stare. “We want the phoenix, of course. You will return her to us, with her host, or face the consequences.”

Mikah clenched his fists—it was all he could do not to go dragon and flame the thing out of the sky.

his dragon roared inside his head.

A growl rattled in his throat.

Control yourself! Emon’s command hit his mind like the crack of a whip. Do you want to fuck up our plan?

Mikah’s dragon took it down a few decibels.

Out loud Emon said, “Why should I turn the phoenix over to you? Why should I not keep her power for myself?”