Allies (Kaylid Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  It felt odd to look outside and not have a weapon in her hand. They were heading quickly out of the city and into the dense suburbs of DC. This is where they had run across the most action and her hand itched to hold a weapon. Everyone in the vehicle fell silent and she wondered if they were feeling the same disquiet.

  The Elentrin slaves liked to kick in doors and go through houses. They'd found enough tech to prove they could track Kaylid, but they couldn't get it to work for them. Probably the nanobots had a special wavelength or radiation or something. Wefor had suggested it but McKenna's body didn't have any senses that would let her know. But since the commander module could ID Kaylid and have the symbol bounce up in her vision, it only made sense the Elentrin had the same ability.

  So many people dead. So many people captured. She'd made a habit of learning not to think and some days she greatly missed the burn and softening whiskey once brought her. Not that she'd had whiskey lately.

  ~Toni?~

  ~Yes?~ A tilted amusement in the tone made McKenna wonder what was going on. Either way she'd find out shortly. And she'd get to hug Charley and Nam. That alone made going back to the house worth it.

  ~You have any alcohol? We've all earned more than a bit of distance.~

  ~Oh yes, please.~ ~Yes, anything.~ The comments from the rest all tripped over each other and she didn't even bother trying to unravel who had said what.

  ~Yes. I'll have stuff waiting.~ McKenna didn't ask, just smiled, knowing whiskey would be in her future.

  ~Tell the bots to cut it back. We don't want to get drunk, but we all desperately need to take the edge off.~ The image of Caroline sagging to the ground filled her mind.

  [Understood. New commands will be incorporated by the time you arrive at the house.]

  McKenna felt the relief even as the stranger in the vehicle tilted his head looking at her. "The voice of your AI is most discomfiting."

  His words fell like bricks in the car as all the Kaylid looked at her and she saw Lawson's frown in the rearview mirror.

  "Yeah. But you get used to it. It’s part of her, part of us now." McKenna lifted her head in challenge, but rather than meeting the challenge he nodded his head to her.

  "I understand. Insult was not intended."

  She expected something else, but instead he turned his head looking out the window with every indication of being fascinated by what he saw.

  Half a dozen times she started to say something then stopped. A scritching sound caught her attention and she glanced into the back where Cass had apparently found a notebook and a broken pencil. From the odd end and the bits of wood and graphite on the floor McKenna figured she sharpened it with a claw.

  "Desperate or something?" her tone teasing.

  "Yes," Cass said, glancing up at her, flashing a smile. "So many questions and thoughts, I don't want to risk forgetting any."

  The sheer Cassness of the comment made McKenna laugh and for the last few minutes of the ride, everything seemed normal; even the being sitting next to her in the car. The car slowed and pulled into a familiar driveway. Before it had even stopped, McKenna was out of the car and moving up the driveway. The door burst open and a streak of blond hair, pale skin, and boundless energy slammed into her.

  Joy swelled within her as she held him tight. "Missed you, kiddo."

  Charley just nodded burying his head in her fur. Annoyance swept through her that she couldn't feel him against her skin, and she called her human form forth. Her fur melted away and she felt her bones shift back into her normal form just as a dark-haired missile hit her on the other side.

  A smile splitting her face, she kept Charley close to her but grabbed Nam and picked her up. "Damn, I missed you two." Nam wrapped her arms around McKenna's neck and hugged her back just as tightly.

  The wave of love and joy washed through her from the two kids and something in her relaxed. She held Nam close, but finally lifted her head to look around. Toni stood at the door, in her human shape, her body tense, but a smile on her face. On the other side of the threshold peeked two dark heads, but they stayed inside.

  Behind her McKenna could hear the others getting out of the car, but her attention was snagged by the burn marks on the house and blood on the driveway. Her heart rate spiked as she whirled around looking. The house, the entire area, showed signs of recent battles. She recognized the signs well enough by now.

  "You were attacked? Why didn't you say anything?" Her voice too loud on the overly quiet street. Anymore, people didn't even play radios and TV loud enough to be heard. Closed caption had become very poplar.

  "Because you couldn't do anything, and it would have only stressed you out. I handled it. We're fine." Toni glanced around the area, eyes sharp. "Though we shouldn't stay out here much longer. People are noticing."

  McKenna followed her gaze and saw curtains and mini blinds twitch. She also saw holes in screens big enough to allow rifles to slip through. All the cars were placed in garages and the place hummed with wariness.

  Our new reality. But food is getting tight. It has to change, or we will break down.

  The bleak thought forced her into action.

  "Yes. Everyone inside now. Perc, JD, bring the weapons. Lawson, get the car in the garage. It should fit, barely, but it should fit. Kids, back in the house now." Toni turned and moved into the house even as McKenna turned to see Perc encouraging the Drakyn to get out of the car. He moved slowly as if off-balance from the ride. The kids had darted in as soon as McKenna spoke.

  Everyone moved as if the atmosphere had sunk in and no one wanted to be standing in the open. They entered the living room with only kids and the sound of Carina and Toni talking in the kitchen. McKenna sank onto the couch and the kids immediately swarmed her, intent on not letting her go. Missing them had hurt so much and she wouldn't exchange that pain for anything in the world.

  The Drakyn stood in the middle of the room, inspecting the place with interest. McKenna watched him, but he just looked, not touching anything.

  McKenna raised her voice. "Toni, you have my cellphone?"

  "Yeah. Carina, could you give it to her?" Carina came out of the kitchen, the phone in her hand, gave it to McKenna, then headed back in. The smells coming out of the kitchen made her stomach rumble. They'd eaten but nothing like real cooked food. Mostly it'd been MREs, cold canned food, or instant soups.

  She shook her head and pulled her attention away from food and the Drakyn. Instead she focused on the phone. It took a minute to power up, but once up she texted Burby.

  *How long till you get here?*

  His response came back almost at once.

  *Another ten. Bringing five people, two are security. Chris is one of those. Have food and questions.*

  She laughed softly at that, but at least he warned her. Then she blanched. She'd never told Chris about Caroline. Oh, that would suck.

  Chapter 4 - Shifted Perceptions

  With the lockdown of many cities, food is getting scarce in some areas. Truckers, both shifter and normal, are being offered bonuses to make food deliveries. Most farms are in rural areas and are relatively unaffected by the invasion. They are making sure food is still being delivered to most canneries and are prioritizing fresh food deliveries. At this point all people with CDLs have been federally granted the right to carry weapons across state lines if they hold a concealed carry permit in any state. ~ TNN Invasion News

  "Our other guests will be here in another ten. There will be five people, including Christopher." Cass and JD closed their eyes for a minute but nodded. Perc looked at her and there was warmth and understanding in his eyes. "We probably need to get some more chairs in here and make the space wider."

  Perc and JD nodded, moving couches and grabbing chairs while Cass went into the kitchen. McKenna looked at the kids. "Okay kiddos, time to head up to your room. We don't know what’s going to happen yet."

  "But I want to see the dragon," Nam said, her voice soft and eyes wide. "I don't see a dragon here."
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br />   Jessi had a mutinous look on her face and even Charley widened his eyes to look at her. Only Jamie didn't look interested.

  Oh right. He doesn't believe in dragons.

  McKenna had to fight back a smile as she thought about it for a minute and shrugged. While the dragon shifting now or later didn't affect anything, maybe walking in and seeing a huge humanoid dragon would get more across faster. Burby and his people weren't bad, but shock had a value all its own.

  The Drakyn was watching her, though he had maintained a decent distance from the kids. Only smart as Perc and JD were usually nearby, their claws still very prominent.

  Huh, wonder why Toni's been hiding in the kitchen.

  Still watching the Drakyn watching her, she pinged Toni. Trying hard to keep it tight and private. If it was private from the others maybe it would be private from this stranger.

  ~Hey. You okay? Any reason you're hiding in the kitchen?~

  She felt the pause in her mind and turned to gaze towards the kitchen even as she tightened her hold on the kids. They tensed in reaction and she felt their awareness sharpen, but she kept part of her attention on the Drakyn, the rest on Toni.

  ~I missed you guys. And I'm fighting the temptation to pull all of you into my arms and never let you go again. It hurt not having you here.~ Her thoughts had truth and a bit of embarrassment.

  ~Good, 'cause we felt the same way. I thought our not being here would keep you safer. Apparently I was wrong.~

  ~Kenna, no one is safe right now. But I took care of them. Left the bodies in the street and sent a text for a body pickup. Which is the strangest thing ever to say.~

  McKenna wanted to follow up on that but could feel everyone looking at her. ~Why don't you and Carina come out and meet the dragon.~

  There was an odd pause and for a minute McKenna thought she sensed a whiff of fear run through the other woman, but it was gone before she could decide what it was.

  ~Sure. Want a cider?~

  ~Yes, please.~ The desire for that was high. Turning back she noted Perc and JD had set up a wide ring of chairs. Amazing how quiet it was when the people involved could just pick up the furniture and move it.

  "I know you changed to make it easier on us to get here. But it will help if the people coming, the people who have power to make decisions, can see your more alien form. And, well, you do look like a dragon in that form."

  "Dragons don't exist," Jamie muttered. It was quiet enough McKenna pretended not to hear it, though from the glare Jessi and Nam gave him they weren't so nice.

  "Ah. There is no reason why I can not do that," he said. As he spoke his voice reverberated in the room like music. McKenna couldn't figure out how he got his vocal cords to do that. As he spoke, Toni stepped into the living room, two beers and three ciders in her hands.

  McKenna smiled at her, took the cider, but quickly moved her attention back to the being. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Toni hand the drinks to the others, then move to watch the stranger. Something about her behavior kept pulling McKenna's attention away, but she couldn't focus on it right now.

  He took a deep breath and started to change.

  It's a bit different from ours. Smoother and as if he decides what happens.

  Her musings were interrupted by the Drakyn speaking again, even though his eyes were closed. "Do you wish wings on this form?"

  "Yes!" A chorus of young voices rang out before McKenna could even start to respond. She glanced down to see all the kids had their gazes locked on him, rapt fascination on their faces. Even Jamie.

  A corner of his mouth tilted up. "Then wings it shall be. They remind me of my siblings' nestlings when they were still limited to one form."

  The comment came across as an offhand remark, but the idea that he had brothers and sisters, that his people had families, made her relax just a little.

  As he changed, his hands went to the robe, loosening it as from the back of his body, wings slowly formed and flexed as they emerged. The red scales all but glowed in the muted light through the windows and McKenna could hear the lack of breathing as everyone watched the man turn into a humanoid dragon.

  "I saw, but I didn't believe. It is you." Toni's voice was barely a whisper, but McKenna and the dragon turned to look at her. Her eyes were wide, and her face had paled a bit as she stared at the Drakyn, her breathing rapid.

  "Toni? Are you okay?" McKenna asked, starting to rise, even with the kids all but engulfing her.

  The dragon fastened his eyes on her, those weird swirling colors and Toni sucked in a sharp breath. He seemed to do the same, frozen into a statue of power and grace looking at her.

  "I, no, yes, sorry, just." The words came out in a stumbling halt. Cass and JD both moved towards her, but before they could reach her the sound of a vehicle pulling into the drive grabbed their attention.

  "You deal with that, I'll be in the kitchen." Toni blurted and McKenna watched in astonishment as Toni fled. Toni Diaz who never backed down from anything, fled. The dragon turned to watch her go.

  She wanted to follow her, but already she could hear people getting out of their cars and letting them stay outside wouldn't be acceptable. Standing with Nam still in her arms, the little girl was channeling a spider monkey, refusing to let go.

  JD and Perc were glaring at the Drakyn even as Cass followed Toni into the kitchen, but McKenna couldn't even talk to her mind-to-mind. She didn't want to take her attention away from what was about to happen.

  She walked to the door and glanced through the window to see the stressed faces approaching her. With a resigned sigh, she pulled open the door. Five people stood there, Christopher and Doug she recognized. A new man in his late fifties in a uniform, Marines maybe, another agent, and a woman in tactical cargo pants, a tank top, with a loose cardigan over it. All of them had weapons on them and looked like they knew how to use them.

  Is that a good sign or bad that everyone comes armed and you care more about their ability to use the weapon than anything else?

  "Come on in." She stepped aside, letting them all come inside. They moved in quickly but almost all of them slammed to a halt as they set eyes on the Drakyn.

  "Stars and Stripes. She wasn't kidding." The new military guy said, his hand twitching a bit.

  McKenna got the door shut and pushed past them. Kneeling she set Nam down, even though the little girl didn't want to let go. "Time to go, kids. Go play. We'll let you know if anything happens. This is going to boring adult arguing."

  "Huh. Dragons." Jamie muttered and headed towards the dragon, his hand outstretched as if to touch the wings. Nam followed a half-step behind him.

  "I don't think so." She gently grabbed both of them and shooed them out of the room.

  Jessi pouted and looked like she would protest but Charley and Jamie grabbed her and dragged her away. Nam followed with a long last look at the Drakyn. McKenna turned around to see everyone still standing there, staring at their visitor, and her temper snapped.

  "Gods, get in here, take a seat. He's here to help and standing and staring at him like he's a circus freak isn't helping anyone." Her voice had a sharp edge and she saw JD cast her a sideways glance. McKenna ignored him. She wanted normalcy and knew it would never happen again.

  Doug Burby cleared his throat and moved over to one of kitchen chairs while the agent stayed near the door. Chris stood behind the chair the military guy took, watching everything. The woman, she looked like she had Hispanic in her background mixed with something that gave her grey eyes. She didn't fit, but McKenna couldn't find it in herself to care.

  "Welcome everyone. May I introduce our guest?" She turned to the visitor and froze. With a sigh she rubbed her temples. "And I don't know his name because I'm not getting enough sleep, enough food, and the damn AI won't let me get drunk even if we had the alcohol. So there it is." With a frustrated jerk of her hands she sank back into the couch and considered going after the kids. That sounded much better than dealing with all of this.

 
The woman grinned at her, a flash of coffee-stained teeth, then fastened her eyes on the huge being. The variation of red, yellow, with just a hint of purple in his scales shone in the light through the windows.

  His eyebrows moved in a gesture that made McKenna think it was a sign of amusement. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Toni watching from the kitchen, an odd look on her face. Cass hung back, giving her emotional support, while Carina looked at everything, but the dragon kept the majority of McKenna's attention.

  The Drakyn looked at her and nodded. "It is expected. You have brought me into your nest, though I still need to be introduced to all your nest members. Disorientation is understandable." He looked around at all of them and performed an odd half bow, half nod. Either way it came across as elegant and refined.

  "I am Rarz Goldwing Liryline. I am here as both a warrior and ambassador of the Drakyn. I come both to offer assistance and beg assistance in the battle against the Elentrin. They have declared themselves blood enemies against me and mine, and while we are not blame-free, we have never killed theirs wholesale. As one of the warriors I beg for you to help us and allow us to help you in this fight before you too are destroyed by their hate."

  McKenna looked at him, stunned.

  That's it? Nothing great or glorious? No "We have magical powers and I'll destroy you if you don't help?" No, "This is what I can offer, how can you help me?" Dang. I think I'm expecting too much from aliens.

  She blinked at him, knowing she looked like an idiot. To her relief, Burby spoke up before she could make an even bigger fool of herself.

  "And how can you help us? Do you have weapons we can use against the Elentrin?" His eyes sharp as the Marine leaned forward, watching.

  Rarz, he pronounced it raw-erz, shrugged. "We do not have many weapons in our culture. The Elentrin are the only enemy we have. We have spent countless years trying to hide from them or make peace."

  "How has that worked for you?" The Marine asked, his voice dry.

  Rarz bowed a bit, his wings spreading. "As you can see, I am here. Begging assistance."