A Prison of Worlds (The Chained Worlds Chronicles Book 1) by Daniel Ruth Page A

half growl.  It actually was the term of the
overall dragon race given to us by some extra planar natives whose name wasn't
important enough to be included in the racial memories.
    “So
he is not human or were,” she stated as if this actually explained something.  “What
is this race like?”
    “Oh,
typical supernatural race of shapechangers, magically inclined.  The rogue
members are prone to have followers that behave like this fellow.”
    “They
are not all evil?”
    “Generally
not, most people believe they are extinct,” I added.  It must be the scholar in
me or I would have just shut up.  It really could have been almost any dragon
breed, but the description of his minions matched what our ancestral knowledge
gave us more of a leg up on.  If it wasn't one of our kind then it was likely a
very old dragon that had time to branch out or a demon.  I shivered as I felt
phantom pains from the lines etched in my body.  Did I really want to get
involved in fighting an older dragon?  I had lost everything that was dear to
me the last time I had blindly played hero.
    “What
killed them?” she asked a bit too eagerly, obviously wanting a new weapon
against her enemy.  I could relate to that, however this was not my favorite
subject.
    “Rumors
say it was a plague.” I was pretty skeptical of this.  We are almost immune to
toxins, possessed an insane regeneration and had the hardiness of our entire
race.  If it was a plague, it would not have been a natural one.  Still it is
true that our numbers aren't what they once were.  I have never seen another
one of my particular breed since I was born.  That’s not saying much
considering my modest age.
    “Hmm,
useless,” she grunted.  Couldn't argue with that. “How does this change your
analysis?”
    I
hadn't realized I was analyzing anything, but if she was happy with me talking
shop I was okay with that.  “Well, it's harder to pin him down.  As a major
supernatural creature he will have larger energy reservoir than a mortal...”
    “Mortal?”
she asked sharply.  “He isn't mortal?”
    “I
suppose it depends on how you define it.  His kind grows old, but they never
weaken by age, they only grow more powerful.  Most grow bored with life after six
to ten thousand years and just go to sleep and fade away.”
    “That
sounds ominous.”
    “He
can't be that old if he's playing ‘take over the world’ games,” I offered. 
Older dragons become more introverted.  Wanting to rule the world is pretty
immature.  At least I was going grasp that hope with both hands.  “However,
that means that he could probably make use of the lesser nexus point as opposed
to requiring the big one.”
    “Do
you know where these are?”
    “Not
really,” I thought back to my travels through the city.  I had passed over a
few, but I had no doubts there were more.  “I know where three are, but I
haven't been in the city that long.  Are you sure he won't change his mind on
doing this in Arc?  There are plenty of nodes outside the city.”
    “My
informants were very sure.  For whatever reason he will enact his plans here.”
    “Do
you intend to stake out every spot in the city?” I offered, somewhat dubious.
    She
was silent a moment.  “No, I may be able to use the resources of the packs in
the city.”
    I
was a bit surprised.  “The packs are that organized?  I had kind of thought the
vampires had organized the entire legal thing where supernaturals got civil
rights and they got dragged along for the ride.”
    I
was rewarded by a somewhat sour look.  “Mostly true.  The packs are organized
on a smaller scale than vampires.  If I want help from the packs, I will have
to discuss it individually with each group.”
    “And
they will help you out of the goodness of their heart, because of what an
upstanding citizen you are,” I offered, with as much sincerity as I could
muster.  I was rewarded for my efforts by another glower.
    “No,”
she admitted