The Hidden Kingdom (Wings of Fire, #3)

by Tui T. Sutherland

When the war has lasted twenty years . . . the dragonets will come. When the land is soaked in blood and tears . . . the dragonets will come. Find the SeaWing egg of deepest blue. Wings of night shall come to you. The largest egg in mountain high will give to you the wings of sky. For wings of earth, search through the mud for an egg the color of dragon blood. And hidden alone from the rival queens, the SandWing egg awaits unseen. Of three queens who blister and blaze and burn, two shall die and one shall learn if she bows to a fate that is stronger and higher, she’ll have the power of wings of fire. Five eggs to hatch on brightest night, five dragons born to end the fight. Darkness will rise to bring the light. The dragonets are coming. . . .

The five dragonets were fighting. Again.

Kestrel, Dune, and Webs should have been able to keep a handle on five dragonets, especially when they were conveniently trapped in a secret cave. Instead the five had escaped, then possibly killed Queen Scarlet of the SkyWings, thrown the Sky Kingdom into upheaval, turned Queen Coral against her allies, wrecked the SeaWing palace, and disappeared once more into the wilds of Pyrrhia.

It had been raining for five days. Glory officially hated it.

Glory glanced at Starflight, the black NightWing who was the smartest dragonet she knew — and probably still would be even if she knew more than four dragons.

It was easy for the others. There was no question about their destiny. But Glory . . . if she was meant to help save the world, then why hadn’t the prophecy called for a RainWing? And if she wasn’t necessary for this big grand destiny, then what was the point of her life at all?

Destiny would have to sort itself out.

Not even family could be trusted when it came to the prophecy. Everyone had their own plans for how this war should end.

And then I’ll belong somewhere. The RainWings won’t care that I’m not in some prophecy.

She had to squash every big emotion before it splashed all over her.

Maybe parent dragons were always disappointing . . . especially when you’d spent years dreaming about what they might be like.

But I didn’t love it, Glory told herself fiercely. It was just new and different. A new, different way to be a prisoner and have my life chosen for me. I’m more than a lump of treasure.

We are beautiful.

Nobody had missed her. She had no family wondering what had happened to her. Nobody had cared that she was gone.

And what good was a family who’d never been there for you — who’d never known or cared you were alive, and lost, and in danger?

“Isn’t that hilarious?” Starflight asked Glory. She gave him an amused look. “I’ve always figured torturing our sleeping friends would be funny.”

At least there were a couple of dragons who cared if she existed.

“Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” “We’ll try to contain ourselves,” said Glory.

“Not all RainWings are the same. You’d be different no matter where you grew up.”

Sunny jumped up to hug Clay’s neck as soon as she saw him.

“Because most dragons are naturally unfriendly,” she said. “Biting and fighting is what we’re built for.”

“My name is Deathbringer.”

“I nearly clobbered you with my tail,” Tsunami said in a severe voice. “And I nearly bit your snout when you were snoring last night,” Glory said. “So I guess we’re both models of self-restraint.

“Glory,” Clay said in a sort of amiably threatening voice. “You take him, or we’re all coming with you.” Glory could tell by the looks on their faces that this was true. Stupid heroic we’re-a-team idiots.

That was creepy, that he knew her name. Even if she kind of liked the sound of him saying it.

“All of us?” Glory said. “You’re here to kill all of us?” “No,” he said, still smiling. “Just a couple of you.” “Well, that makes me feel better,” she said. “Stop looking so pleased with yourself.” She poked his neck and he tried — and failed — to look serious.

He paused with his wings spread and gave Glory a cheeky grin. “So when can I see you again?” “Get out of here,” Glory said,

It wasn’t often that Tsunami and Glory agreed about something. Glory couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a conversation this long without arguing. It wasn’t that she disliked Tsunami — she didn’t even really mind her bossiness. But she did feel like someone needed to talk back whenever Tsunami started acting like the boss of everyone, just to make sure Tsunami’s head didn’t get too big for the rest of her.

“Speaking of which, are you the mind-reading kind of NightWing?” She narrowed her eyes at Deathbringer. “What am I thinking right now?” “That I’m much too charming, clever, and good-looking to kill?” he guessed.

He grinned at her again. He really needed to quit doing that. It was very distracting.

“Hello, Glory,” said Deathbringer.

there was no one more trustworthy than Clay.

“Queen Magnificent, I challenge you for the throne of the RainWings.”

“No, I need to be queen now,” said Glory.

“Because if you won’t rescue those RainWings, I will, whatever it takes. Even if it means taking the throne from you.”

Sunny was watching Webs. As usual, Starflight was watching Sunny.

We’re dragons, not caterpillars. We can do things differently if we choose to.”

“Glory has some issues with the word ‘lazy,’ ” Sunny announced. “Our guardians used to call her that all the time, so she feels like she needs to prove something by showing she doesn’t need to sleep.”

“Sleeping when you need to is not lazy,”

Sleeping is as important as breathing. You wouldn’t skip that because there’s no time for it.” “Or food,” Clay agreed. “You can’t skip sleeping or food.”

“This is unfair,” Tsunami grumbled. “If you win —” “You’ll have to call me ‘Your Majesty,’ ” Glory said, grinning. “I know. Won’t that be hilarious?” “Arrrgh, and your face will look like that all the time,” Tsunami said. “It’s going to be so hard not to bite you.” “But if you do, my guards will throw you in my dungeons,” Glory said with an imperious wave of her talons. “RainWings don’t have dungeons,” Kinkajou pointed out. “There’s a surprise. Well, I’ll make one just for Tsunami,” Glory said.

Winning the throne with help won’t make you any less of a queen.

She did trust the other dragonets, a little, in different ways. She trusted Sunny to at least try to do whatever was brave and right, even if she was too small to do it effectively. Starflight had neither courage nor fighting skills, but if Glory ever needed to figure out something, she’d trust Starflight’s brain in a second. That’s why she wanted to talk to him about Scarlet before anyone else. She could trust Tsunami to fight tooth and claw — really in almost any situation, including several where it would be quite inappropriate — and, of course, there was Clay, who would do anything to save his friends.

All I can ask is that you try your best — and I know I don’t even have to ask, because you’re the kind of dragon who always does.”

“Behold! Your new queen! Queen Glory of the RainWings!”

Glory, the queen who chose her own destiny, saved her subjects, and turned her tribe into the greatest dragons in all of Pyrrhia.

“Who needs a prophecy to tell you how to make an awesome destiny?”