Wind snapped at Kai’s onyx skin. Below, his forces retreated with Drakmar in pursuit.

  He met the Dragon’s gaze as they hovered in the sky. He’d captured its attention but underestimated its knowledge.

  Not good. Surprise was off the table.

  His jaw clenched. “You keep breathing fire at me! I’ll take my chances.”

  It chuckled. “That? Just a little tough negotiation.” Its wings lifted in a shrug.

  “Those gloves will awaken my true fury. You won’t survive.”

  Its anger was an act?

  Of course. The dragon saw him as easy prey, trying to scare him into submission.

  More reasonable than he’d thought. A sly bully instead of a raging wildcard. He could work with that.

  “You recognise these gloves?”

  “They belonged to the man who raised me.” It released a wistful sigh. “The threads of fate favour me. I never expected to see them again.”

  Kai narrowed his eyes. Time to skip the farce and get to the real negotiation. “What do you want?”

  The dragon bared its fangs in a predatory smile. “You’re in a worrisome position, aren’t you? I could destroy your forces with little effort. Don’t assume those Demons will be safe in their shadows. Wouldn’t take long for me to catch up to them…” It let the threat hang.

  The dragon wasn’t worried about Kai’s distraction. It knew it could annihilate his forces before they reached the village. Would the village church even stop a dragon? The priest said it protected against abominations. He never mentioned dragons.

  Kai grimaced.

  The dragon offered a slow nod. “Yes, your situation is dire. But I am as generous as I am fearsome. I will allow you to leave with your forces intact. Thank the heavens for my benevolence!”

  “And what’s the price of your generous mercy?”

  “Freedom,” it said. “For dragonkind.”

  The desire for freedom resonated. Kai had his own cage to escape. But what did this have to do with him? He gestured at the flying beast. “You look free enough to me.”

  It shook its head. “How ignorant. Deathspawn should know better. Death God gave us a second chance—with strings attached. As his spawn, you can contact and petition him to loosen them.”

  “If we’re all his children, can’t you do that?”

  “Fool. He may have granted us new life as Demons, but you are a pure fragment of his soul. He favours you.”

  A fragment of Death God’s soul? Whatever that meant, even if it was true, his Father didn’t answer prayers or grant favours. The selfish bastard let him die—planned for it, even. If that was favour, his future looked bleak. Kai couldn’t help the dragon, but he could squeeze information out of this. Dragon weaknesses were worth cataloguing.

  “I see. What restrictions do you need removed?”

  “All of them!”

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  He concealed his frustration. That reply gave him nothing. “Death God’s generosity isn’t as great as yours. What freedoms matter most, if you had to choose?”

  “The freedom to raid like our ancestors. To take what we want and build a bountiful hoard. What are dragons without our culture? Death God saved us only to make us pathetic bankers!”

  The dragon blew a pillar of fire upward. “Can we even call ourselves dragons? Would the ancient ones recognise us now? Our blood burns for the thrill of the chase!”

  Kai nodded like he understood its complaints. What he actually understood was that dragons were sky pirates who loved plunder. Letting creatures like this rampage across the Darklands would be chaotic. Death God had directed their greed onto a more productive path—or at least one better suited to his plans.

  Maybe he could use this against the other Houses.

  “Which Noble House do you work for?”

  “Noble Houses? You mean humans?” It snorted. “I’m between contracts, but I wouldn’t bother with those infants. We serve rulers of the eight realms connected to the Darkgates. Humans haven’t even raised any Sovereigns. They’re fleas biting giants, but their territory’s nice for naps.”

  The dragon dropped bombshells like they were common knowledge. Were humans that far behind?

  Eight realms connected to the Darkgates? That changed everything. While the humans fought amongst themselves, other species fought for his birthright.

  Who were they? What happened to their realms? Why hadn’t they wiped out the humans?

  Sovereign must be the stage after Saint, though there could be stages in between—information past Saint was rare and unreliable. Nobody had ascended beyond Saint. Rumours claimed the Supreme Minister had broken through, but that could be propaganda.

  Kai’s mind raced. He burned to dive deeper, to get answers, but he didn’t act on it. Straying too far from the dragon’s plight would make it suspicious. Better to ask Old Haggar and Kharon than risk the negotiation. The information wouldn’t help him now anyway.

  The more important question: why hadn’t anyone hired this dragon? If its desire for ruthless theft came from struggling to find work and build a hoard…they could make a deal.

  “The other dragons wanna return to the old ways too?”

  “What does that matter?”

  Kai shrugged. “It’d be easier to convince Death God if you’ve got support from the others…”

  The dragon grunted. “Doesn’t everyone want the freedom to act as they wish?”

  Information about dragons was scarce, but the legends painted them as greedy bastards who loved money more than their mothers. What was ‘freedom’ worth against more profit?

  “Banking pays less than raiding?”

  “Not exactly…the profits are larger, the hoards more plentiful. But the excitement, the rush, the prestige—gone! My kin yearn for the old ways in their hearts.”

  ‘In their hearts.’ Meaning they weren’t on board. The others enjoyed the fruits of Death God’s gifts, but this dragon wanted to change everything. Which raised the question…

  “You’re between contracts…why?”

  Giant eyes glanced at his gloves. “Dragons get contracts through recommendations. Finding someone to vouch for me has been…difficult.”

  Ah. A human raised this dragon, thinking it a nice gesture. Instead, it condemned the beast to live as an outcast from both species. It couldn’t get work, so it didn’t have a bountiful hoard to show off. Among such money-hungry creatures, a poor dragon was probably trash in the eyes of its kin.

  Breaking Death God’s restrictions would boost its reputation and let it grow its wealth. It’d become a ‘true dragon’ from the old tales, robbing cities blind, spreading chaos.

  Kai couldn’t remove the restrictions, but he could give the dragon what it actually wanted.

  He nodded slowly. “How unfortunate. Do you have a name?”

  Names built rapport and lowered guards. Perfect prep for persuasion. Might not work against a dragon, but worth trying.

  “What does that matter? You know enough. Call Death God!”

  “But how will the other dragons know who freed them?”

  Its brows furrowed. “It’s Carl.”

  Strange name for a dragon. Did the guy who raised him even try?

  “Carl.” Kai spread his palms. “It pains me to admit you’re overestimating my sway over Death God. But you’ve underestimated my ability to get you what you really want.”

  “Insect! You presume too much. Cease your prattle and call your master. My patience thins.”

  “Wealth. Status. I can make you the richest dragon in the Darklands.”

  Carl scoffed. “A weakling like you?”

  “I’m Death God’s chosen heir. I’ll get you more Darkshards than you know what to do with.”

  The dragon’s eyes glinted with greed. “How?”

  Got him.

  “I’ll soon control a mine on Earth, these lands, and the cave below us. I’ll cut you in if we can come to an agreement.”

  “If what you say is true, I’ll spare you and your forces.”

  Kai shook his head. “Extortion creates enemies, not partners. Do you want me plotting against you? Wouldn’t you prefer an ally and stable income?”

  Carl chuckled. “Have you forgotten your position? Why don’t I destroy your allies and show you how helpless you are?” His jaw parted, fire swirling in his throat.

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