Finding the Wolf(The Dragon's Hoard #1) by Mell Eight Page A

wide, toothy grin that showed just how eager he was for revenge against the magi who had so cruelly enslaved his werewolves. "We'll be there."
    Nyle grinned back. "I will mention your good will to the Eldest. Perhaps you should consider what sort of favor to ask for your willing cooperation," he added with a wink.
    "It would be nice not to be scared a dragon is going to come to the Wilds to end my species," Reese mused. "Anyway, make yourselves at home. I was just heading out to get dinner from one of the girls who makes a vat of communal meals every day. You want some?"
    They passed the rest of the evening pleasantly. Nyle didn't think any of them wanted to bring up the harsh topics from before dinner so the conversation stayed light. Nyle and Leon were set up on a spare mattress near the fire where Nyle immediately curled up when it was time for sleep.
    "You're tired?" Leon asked softly.
    Nyle nodded. "Flying with a passenger is more taxing than I thought. I am not old enough to remember the time when humans frequently had the privilege. Plus, we didn't get much sleep last night at the castle either. I think it's time to sleep."
    Leon murmured his agreement as he slid his body around Nyle's curled one.
    "Hoards," Reese sniffed at their sleeping positions as he headed to his own bed in the loft.
    "Pretties," Nyle corrected sleepily. "They're very important."
    *~*~*
    The Eldest removed himself to his hoard room to contemplate everything Nyle had learned from the wolves. Nyle and Leon left the meeting cave to head back to Nyle's home.
    Toel, who was considerably faster because he did not have a human-sized Leon walking with him, was waiting at the entrance to Nyle's caves. Gail peeked her head over Toel's shoulder and grinned. Ten more adult dragons were gathered into the passageway behind her.
    "We want to talk about what needs to happen to fix this," Gail chirped. "And we decided that your caves would also be the best place to meet, since you know more about what's going on than we do."
    Nyle sighed. His hatch-mother probably wanted to mess up his pile of rubies again.
    "Fine," Nyle said. "But you are all not going to fit at that size, elders. I kindly request that you find a more economical size before entering my caves."
    Nyle shifted down to human size and led Leon into his caves by the hand.
    "They will be a few minutes," Nyle said with a small chuckle. "Most of the elders have never bothered to learn how to access their smaller shape."
    "That's enough time for you to find cushions for everyone to sit on," Leon said with a grin at Nyle's discomfort.
    "Fine," Nyle grumbled, knowing Leon was right. Just because he didn't want other dragons touching his things didn't mean he couldn't be courteous.
    Gail and Toel were the first through the doors, just behind Nyle. They helped locate cushions, Gail a bit too gleefully as she knocked over Nyle's collection of jade figurines during her search.
    Leon pulled Nyle into a hug when he winced. "After this is over, you and I will go through everything in your hoard and make it shine again."
    Nyle sighed and nuzzled Leon's shoulder. "I will make you glow," he agreed.
    One by one the elders trickled into Nyle's cave and took a seat on a cushion. Once everyone was there, Toel turned to Nyle.
    "Tell us everything thou hast learned," Toel said.
    Nyle nodded politely to his elders from the cushion he was sharing with Leon and began speaking. He kept what had been happening to the base facts, only adding in his view and the Eldest's opinions when it was warranted.
    The dragons sat in contemplation for a few moments before An'mameil, a brown dragon whose color was denoted by the chocolate colored hair in his current human shape, sat forward.
    "We need legitimacy," Meil said.
    "We're dragons! We have legitimacy just by being what we are," An'dadean, a grass green dragon, yelled.
    "Of course," Meil continued. "What we need is human legitimacy. The king has gone mad, but he is still their leader.