Amparo Ortiz - Dragonblood Ring

DRAGONBLOOD RING

A MPARO O RTIZ

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: http://us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

TO RENIS

Little brothers dont have rights, but you can have this book in your name

A world without Blazewrath is nothing to fear. We knew how to entertain ourselves long before the sport was created! Besides, dragons arent disappearing. They never will, mate. A world without dragons That would be our true nightmare.

Excerpt from interview with Russell Turner, former president of the International Blazewrath Federation, in The Weekly Scorcher

Lana

S AVING THE WORLD FROM A DRAGON SUPREMACIST SHOULD totally have better benefits.

I can handle the bodyguards. My former Blazewrath teammates and I have a humble total of fifteentwo per dragon steed and a lone ranger for me. I can even handle how serious they are. Hours before our Transport from Dubai, Dagathe youngest Sol de Noche dragontried to play hide-and-seek with the two disapproving suits assigned to her. They also declined her belly rub request. The International Bureau of Magical Matters is officially immune to cuteness.

Our safe house is fine, too. There are worse things in life than living in a four-story manor hidden in Cayeymy hometown here in Puerto Rico. Were secluded in the evergreen Sierra de Cayey, almost two thousand feet above sea level. If I stand on the houses rooftop, I can see a decent chunk of La Cordillera Central, a mountain range that cuts right through the middle of the island from east to west. Its a wondrous collection of treetops and winding rivers. More than a dozen municipalities are part of La Cordillera Central. Even though I havent visited them, I have a feeling the mountains look best in Cayey, but I might be biased.

The weathers not so great, though. Today is August 17summery turning point in the rollercoaster ride thats been my 2017 so farand its pouring rain. Weve had occasional lightning, too. I blame hurricane season. Local weather reports have about fourteen to nineteen tropical storms lined up for us, with at least five potentially turning into hurricanes. Bless the invisible shield surrounding our house. Were spoiled with dry clothes, cool air, and no frizz.

But we cant freaking go anywhere.

I get it, okay? Dragon Knights are still searching for us. Those terrorists are desperate to free the Sire, that silver-scaled scumbag we trapped inside the Dark Island, which can only be accessed via the Sol de Noches magic. These restrictions are meant to protect us.

How am I supposed to stay put when Im finally in Puerto Rico again after twelve years?

How can I reconnect with my roots if theyre still out of reach?

The house I grew up inthe house where I found the reason I was bornis a few miles south of this mountain. My requests for escorted visits have fallen on deaf ears. I cant race down the pothole-ridden roads that lead to dragon caves I daydreamed about as a child. Theres no chance to see the islands many wonders. I cant eat my weight in lechn, bacalatos, or pinchos at a restaurant. And I cant visit the beach. Im in Puerto Rico and I cant. Visit. The beach.

The families are arriving in thirty minutes, says Agent Vogel. Prepare accordingly.

My personal bodyguard saunters onto the wooden porch, where Ive been sulking alone on a rocking chair for the past three hours. Agent Vogela sixty-year-old German lady with a fauxhawklooks out of place in her white linen Chanel suit. Its the only thing she ever wears. Shes clutching her Silver wand in both hands, which are covered with black leather gloves.

At least shes brought me great news. Tonight, my friends and former Blazewrath teammates will be reunited with their families. Im going to meet the people who supported their Blazewrath dreams.

The people who can also help me get out of this house.

If more of us corner our bodyguards, theyll be pressured into contacting Director Sandhar, or even his right-hand woman, Agent Sienna Horowitz. I scan my phone for any new texts from her. My screen flashes my own words with a bunch of Read subtitles. Its been like that ever since I left Dubai. Sure, they must be busy, especially if theyre catching Dragon Knights posing as bureau agents. But radio silence pushes my mind into drawing maps with dead ends and question marks. Are they okay? If so, why hasnt Agent Horowitz replied?

Director Sandhar hasnt even told the press were in Puerto Rico. We could be cloaked in Invisibility Charms like this house. We wouldnt leave at the same time. Maybe its best for the dragons to stay, but we can totally go without causing a scene. I just need to feel like Im back.

Above all, visiting my childhood home is the closure I need. Going back to where Papi taught me about my favorite sportmy purposeis the last goodbye. Without it, I might successfully start a new life post-Blazewrath, but a piece of the puzzle will still be missing.

Did you hear me? Agent Vogel asks.

The sheer willpower it takes not to scream empties me of energy. How do I prepare? Is there a blood sacrifice I havent heard about? I say through gritted teeth.

Agent Vogel is as excited as a dead squirrel. Not tonight.

Wait. Did you just make a joke? I check her pulse. Vitals are suspiciously good.

She lazily takes her arm away. Do not touch me.

What about your head? Have you hit it with anything lately?

No.

You could have a concussion.

Silence.

Normally, Id crack a smile at my trolling. But this well-dressed lady is acting more like my jailer than an ally. I dont know anything about Agent Vogel. What qualifies her to lead this special babysitting mission? Is she some badass bureau agent whos racked up tons of arrests like Horowitz? I doubt shes ever been forced to hide on a mountain because Dragon Knights were trying to hurt her countrys dragons. She cant possibly understand how I feel. From the way shes motioning to the living room, I dont think she cares.

Do you miss Germany? I tempt fate with a personal question. It might soften her up a bit. Maybe she also wishes she could go home.

Agent Vogel furrows her brow. Thats irrelevant to my request.

Hmm, her guard is up. Must be a yes.

What do you miss the most? I press on.

None of that concerns our current pressing matters.

Do you have family there? Friends? Maybe even a whole life you had to leave behind?

Her unblinking stare hardens into ice. You mustnt keep your friends waiting.

I dont care if shes pissed. Ive been pissed for the past four days. And its only going to get worse if she doesnt cooperate. Because if you ask me, Id say I miss all of it. Id pounce at the chance to go back to the place that made me who I am. I shrug. Wouldnt you?

For the first time since Ive met her, Agent Vogel frowns. I blink three times in case Im imagining things. Nopeshes still frowning. And shes gazing out to the sloping hills below.