Page 25 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
“Do you think it will be enough to make a difference?” Aidan asked.
“We couldn’t get into specifics over the phone for obvious reasons, but Colonel Melvin alluded to them bringing some of their high-impact firepower, which will definitely help. Help on the ground will also be huge because we don’t have nearly enough to cover our front line, and their troops are well-trained with a lot of experience.”
He was relieved to hear that because she was right. The number of Kandoran humans they faced was almost double that ofdragons. They’d be less difficult to kill, but they could overwhelm them with sheer numbers.
Aidan lifted a brow. “What about the Straegud?”
“They’ve confirmed they’ll come.” Bailey’s lips twitched. “Right now, they’re in discussions with the coalition about possibly traveling together. The best route would be the same one I took getting here. That means going through the neutral territory where there’s no dragon leadership to negotiate, but if there are hundreds of NAC military vehicles with hundreds ofshifters flying above them, I doubt anyone or anything will be tempted to attack.”
He nodded, certain she was right. “I’ll speak with the Bogaran about giving them safe passage. Can you get an estimate of when they’ll travel through their territory?”
“That’s no problem. I’m due to talk to them again in a couple of days and can find out then,” she said.
Aidan glanced toward the window, noting they’d been in the meeting for nearly two hours. It was time none of them had, even if it was necessary. “Each of you has my gratitude for your hard work. I will look forward to hearing more progress from you in three days. You are dismissed.”
Everyone filed out of the room, with only Bailey remaining. Once the door closed, she wrapped her arms around him. “You’re doing great.”
“Thank you,” he said, pulling his mate even closer.
With each day that passed, his confidence in his new position grew, but the weight of his duties continued to wear him down. No pendragon had ever organized such a large army—including using their traditional enemies—to face an even greater one. Aidan recognized that even his best efforts might not be enough. Weeks from now, it could all fall apart, and they’d be dead or turned to the other side. It was his greatest fear.
She pulled back to rest a hand on his face. “We are going to survive this, and it will be because of you. Donotdoubt yourself.”
“How am I fortunate enough to have you as a mate?” he asked with a smile. It only took one look at the slayer to make all his fears and doubts melt away. She had such power over him.
Her brown eyes twinkled. “I believe it started with saving me from a dragon that first day when I had no idea what I was or what to do with my abilities. We were meant to be.”
Aidan didn’t dare argue with that.
“How much time do we have before you must leave for Norman?”
She glanced at the door. “I told Freya to give me thirty minutes after the meeting.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What were you planning to do with so much time?”
Bailey ran her hands down his chest. “Last night was amazing, but I was thinking we’ve yet to test the sturdiness of your desk. Think it could hold us?”
“If not.” He pulled her close and growled. “I’ll have another built later.”
“You’re such a good strategist.”
Chapter 7
Bailey
Freya and I stepped inside Javier’s Bar and Grill. It had been called something else before the dragon apocalypse, but the sorcerer had renamed it after he took over downtown Norman. He kept his office upstairs, where I usually met him for important discussions.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I found him sitting at a table with an array of food spread across the wooden surface. The whole place had a sort of Cheers TV show vibe, except it was empty of patrons aside from the three of us. I was surprised by that. Normally, the restaurant filled up with a considerable crowd around dinner time. Javier would invite select people to dine at a special table with him, showing favor to his most loyal servants. I’d heard there was a lot of competition to be in that group.
“It’s awfully quiet in here,” I said, heading in his direction.
The sorcerer was of Hispanic origin with medium-brown skin and appeared in his mid-thirties. His black hair was slicked back as usual, and he was dressed in business casual, with a dark blue button-up shirt and black slacks. He always looked clean and sharp.
After each of us lifted our tops to show untainted torsos, Javier gestured for us to sit across from him. “I knew you’d be coming and thought we could have a nice meal since we must multi-task these days with so many duties to perform.”
He wasn’t wrong. My stomach rumbled, reminding me we’d left shortly before the midday meal at the fortress. The meeting in Aidan’s office had run long, and so had my private encounter with the pendragon afterward. My body still hummed from that, though I tried to tamp it down.
“If you insist, but…” I began, glancing at Freya.
