Now armed with renewed determination to bring down as many enemies as he possibly could, Orryn devoted the remaining days before what they'd all marked as D-Day to training with even greater intensity.
The children, meanwhile, had finally been convinced to prepare for their own mission after Riley started including them in specialized drills and exercises. That alone made them far more cooperative. Being trained separately and entrusted with their own responsibilities convinced the two dragonlings that Riley truly meant it when he said guarding the Hales wasn't simply a way to send them somewhere safe.
Naturally, that also meant Kael suddenly found himself responsible for training even more people while somehow fitting additional sessions into an already packed schedule.
Not that the Dragon Lord could really complain.
His own mate had looked him in the eye, wrapped both arms around his waist, and told him that doing so would give him peace of mind.
