“Only twenty miles out,” Finn said with satisfaction.
His expression turned dead serious the next second, and Rune knew the alpha had seen the same thing he had.
“What’s this?” Finn asked, pointing at another blip on the screen.
“That’s my question,” Rune said. “It’s too big to be a plane.”
Finn leaned fisted hands on the desktop, watching it closely. “It’s changing shape.”
Rune said nothing. He’d caught the same thing. It could be two things. “Either it’s a massive flock of birds—”
“Which should be settled for the summer,” Finn dismissed.
Exactly. “Or it’s a conflagration of dragons.” Headed on an intercept course for their people.
“Fuck,” Finn spat.
“They aren’t going to make it.”
“You’re right.” Finn jerked upright and grabbed the mic, pressing the button to speak to the mountain. “Gather in the war room. Now.”
Hall and Drake had already shown up. Based on their expressions, they’d heard everything. Jiǎ crossed his arms and waited as well.
While more and more of their people gathered, crowding into the room and out into the hallway, Finn’s eyes had changed to dragon. Rune had no doubt he was communicating with Levi, though the range would make even that telepathic link iffy.
“Can you hear him?” Rune asked under his breath.
Finn shook his head. “Not yet. Keep trying while I explain the situation.”
Rune nodded just as a small hand slipped into his. Hadyn had managed to push her way forward to his side. He squeezed, though neither of them smiled. Two days. That’s all they’d had together since he’d got out of the infirmary.
Losing her wasn’t an option tonight.
In usual Finn style, he explained in short sentences. “We have only one option I can see,” he said. “Abandon the mountain and add our numbers to the fight.”
“It’s the last thing anyone in the Alliance would expect,” Rune said. Dragons held on to their mountains, regardless of the expense of lives.
A murmur of agreement passed through the room.
“I’m not ordering this one,” Finn said. “You fly out of this mountain at your own peril. Our people have had time to get here, which means it’s possible the Imoogi team of enforcers have also had time to arrive and add to the Alliance’s numbers. Hardened fighters. Do not make this decision lightly.”
No one said a word, every face a study of rock-solid determination. Even the men who’d volunteered to help them take this mountain, those of them remaining at least.
In turn, Rune looked each directly in the eye, one at a time as a sign of respect and thanks.
“Right,” Finn said. “First I need three dragons to step up and take those who can’t shift away from this mountain.”
At his side, Hadyn sucked in a tiny gasp, and he glanced down to find her watching her parents. Chaghan was kissing Qara, touching her face. He lifted his head and Qara’s hand went up in the air. “My daughter is one of those,” she said. “I’ll take them.”
Finn looked to Chaghan, whose expression was grimly set. “I’ll be joining the fight,” he said, then offered a smile this side of bloodthirsty. “Can’t pass up a chance to fuck with Mathai. That bastard has had it coming for a while.”
Hadyn snorted what could have been a laugh of derision, and Rune got the distinct impression that whatever reason Chaghan and Qara had had for turning rogue, Mathai had had a hand in it.
He and Finn both nodded at the same time. Rune leaned closer. “I would go with you, love, but—”
“They need you to fight,” she said. Not filling in his sentence, more like an order.
Even with his busted-up legs, he was dangerous. They needed him. “If we’re ever going to be safe again—” he tried to explain, only to have her shush him.
“I know.”
Rune’s dragon did, too. He hated leaving Hadyn unprotected, especially after what fucking happened last time, but he had no choice. This was a fight Rune had known would eventually come his way since the day he’d left his team.
“We’ll go with Qara,” Delaney’s voice sounded from the back. Beside her, Cami, her expression unusually dire, nodded.
The fact that, beside him, Finn’s shoulders fell a hair’s breadth told Rune the alpha was relieved. Drake, too, though you’d never know it by the unchanging scowl on his face.
They’d trained their mates to fight and fight hard, Rune knew that much. But mates fighting together in the same skirmish was always a bad idea because both would be distracted by worry for the other. It upped the chances of one of them dying and taking not just that dragon, but both, out of the fight.
At least Hadyn would be in capable hands. As safe as he could make her out in the open. Staying here wasn’t an option, not unguarded. Plus, if they failed…if they fell…anyone left inside the mountain would be screwed.
“Right. Here’s how this is going to work,” Finn said.
With the click of a button, he pulled a topographical map of the area up on the largest screen. Then he divided their number up into groups and laid down a quick, hopefully effective, plan. Finally, he got them moving.
They didn’t have time for long goodbyes. Rune followed Hadyn over to Chaghan, who was kissing Qara again. “All my love, mate,” the old dragon whispered against her lips.
No words about not dying or seeing her soon. Dragons knew better.
Then Chaghan tugged Hadyn against him and held her tightly. “You are the light of our lives,” he murmured into her hair. “Our own ray of sunshine, and we are blessed.”
“Me, too,” Hadyn choked, burying her face in her dragon father’s chest.
With a last look at Qara, then a stiff nod in Rune’s direction, Chaghan turned and strode out of the room, taking with him the small group he would be leading into battle.
Qara glanced at Rune. “I’ll protect her with my life,” she said.
“I know you will. I’ve got eyes on Chaghan.”
She bit her lip because Qara wasn’t stupid. She was well aware of the way Finn had divided their groups up. Rune wouldn’t be anywhere near her mate, not at first, at least.
He was the bait this time.
“I’ll give you a moment,” she murmured. “When you’re ready,” she said to Hadyn, “I’ll be shifted and waiting with Delaney and Cami.” Both of whom were busy saying their own goodbyes.