The Chronicles of Kale: Dawn of Retribution (Book 2) by Aya Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

concealed by the constant movement of sand. During daylight, having any form of a breeze was a luxury. But once night fell upon them, the wind seemed to never cease. The mild gusts sent sand swirling in every direction. Kale wrapped his arms around his knees, too concerned about Neelan’s well-being to take one of the blankets from where she slept.
    After countless minutes of chattering teeth and shivering limbs, an idea dawned upon Kale.
    What in Pan’s name am I doing? This human flesh must be corrupting my rational thoughts. I am a fire dragon . He closed his eyes and concentrated. Kale could feel it—the warming sensation that began in his chest, and slowly spread throughout his body. The soothing heat was incredible and coursed throughout every inch of him.
    As Kale was finally settling comfortably into the sand, his jaw grew tight and eyes widened until the lids couldn’t tuck themselves into his sockets any further. The same feeling within his fingertips had returned—this time stronger, and more uncomfortable. He gritted his bared teeth, struggling to remain silent so as not to wake the others. His body thrashed back and he raised his bent fingers toward the sky.
    What is this?! Go away—please, go away! Though his lips did not move, within his mind, he screamed.
    The ivory, bone-like claws split through the flesh of each fingertip on his hands. His nails peeled back until five sizable talons had overtaken what were once human fingers. Kale opened his mouth, yet all sound remained choked back within his dry throat. His eyes shot from one hand to the other in panic.
    Maybe this isn’t real—maybe it’s a dream. This can’t be happening . . . He violently shook his head as if to forcibly wake from a terrible nightmare.
    Kale exhaled, allowing all of the air within his lungs to escape. He slowly brought his fingers down in an attempt to close his palms into a fist. The sharp claws pressed into the tender flesh of his palm.
    No .
    He didn’t know what to do—who to turn to. Kale’s rational thoughts told him to wake Thomas immediately; to seek help from the one person who might be able to logically solve what had become of his hands. Yet, his heart kept him from moving. After all Thomas had been through, he couldn’t wake the old man, or his friends from slumber. He knew that the moment they laid eyes upon this new transformation, there would be panic, alarm, and desperation to seek help. Kale slung his arms to the side, allowing his mutated hands to drop upon the sand. Kale let his forehead hit hard against his tucked knees as he pondered the predicament. He feared that unless he could return his hands to normal by sunrise, the search for dragon eggs would come to a halt. It was an unacceptable option in his mind. Kale knew he had to figure a way to press forward with his quest—despite being an abomination—a monster.
    Zasha!
    A thought dawned upon him. She too was a dragon and might know what was happening to his body.
    I need the pendant. Maybe she will sense my distress. Anything is worth a try at this point .
    Kale frantically scraped at his pant pocket, but to no avail. His large claws did nothing more than tear at the cloth.
    Curses! This can’t be happening now—I’m so close. I’ve come so far . . .
    “Kale.” A voice murmured.
    Kale’s head shot upright, alarmed by the deep voice.
    “Who is there?” Kale whispered out into the darkness.
    “You have braved the desert, young Firehart; now is the time to open your eyes.”
    Kale squinted into the darkness. Nothing could be seen in their immediate surroundings, and the sound—though loud—did not wake Kale’s companions. He couldn’t distinguish if the voice was truly there, or merely within his head. After walking for a prolonged distance in the heat, and with little sleep, it wasn’t too farfetched of a thought.
    “Move.”
    The amplified whisper startled Kale to his feet. His long claws hung heavily at each side, nearly grazing