“Just realize you destroyed our family, not me.”
“You are insane!” My hands wield my scarlet-red flames, violently flickering fire in a raging storm to push it towards her.
The fire slams into the wall beside her as she lets out an amused, snarky snicker from her lips. “You are a little weak now, aren’t you? Do you even remember what power of the Deskyiara bloodline you were gifted with? Or only the one you have been cursed with for living?”
“I’m going to kill you!” I hiss, feeling the stones against me pulse, vibrating as the dragons wield out and soar around me. The thunder and lightning blow, striking a violent storm outside, as well as inside, the cave. But she’s right, I can’t remember everything. Most of my life is still a blur.
Her eyes widen. “You wielded them!”
“You’re damn right I did.”
Kill her.
I call out to the dragons, their elemental forms slicing through the sky with breathtaking speed. Each one darts and weaves, leaving trails of fire, water, and ice in the air, but she vanisheswithin seconds. Dark shadows coil and ripple around the walls, consuming the light until everything is shrouded by a wicked darkness. Leaving only the glow of my dragons that swivel in the air. But the fire darkling is still here, its flames growing with each breath it takes. I glance over my shoulder, hearing the deep growling breathing of the dragon.The breathing of Koen.Beneath his scales, a molten river of lava pulses, casting a warm, crimson hue that dances across the darkness of the crystals that once pulsed with life.
I’ve seen this red, flickering hue in his eyes before, and now I wonder if this was why.
“Time to take those stones from your dead body.” The fire darkling wickedly cracks out a laugh. “This time, those oracles won’t be able to save you. And Koen will be the one to kill you.”
A deep, terrifying rumble bellows from Koen’s throat, like the roar of a thunderstorm trapped within his chest that is ready to explode. The sharp, piercing sound of glass breaking echoes around us, and my eyes widen in horror as I realize that the crystals along the cavern walls are beginning to shatter. Their fractured surfaces reflect shards of the fiery light.
A dragon should not be here. A fire darkling should not be here.
Damn it, only the descendants of the Gods should be here. This place was a gift, chosen for those who have the Royal bloodline coursing through them. But with Koen in this transformation, it could ruin this sacred ground.
Destroy the fire darkling.
I call out to my dragons and for a split moment, I close my eyes and focus my mind to connect with them. The ice dragon zips toward the fire darkling with blinding speed, its icy breath freezing the darkling's left side for a fleeting moment, causing it to fall to its knees with a resounding thud. The fire on its body flickers, regaining strength before it lets out a sinister growl.
“You think you are tough now with those dragons?” Its charred fingertips claw at the ground. “You’ll never be stronger than your sister.”
Water, now.
I wield the water dragon, watching as it doesn’t hesitate, leaving a trail of mist. It dives into the fire darkling, attacking where its heart must pulse, if it has one. It merges inside of it, steam singeing as it grunts, grabbing its shoulder.
Water droplets fall from its scorching body, hot steam evaporating in the air as it trickles down. I know it hurts it, and I watch steadily as it flinches while the water seeps inside it.
But as I watch in satisfaction, a blaze erupts from beside me, a searing heat wave so intense that it sends my hair whipping against my face. I clench my eyes shut for a brief moment, Koen’s breath leaving me momentarily vulnerable. In that instant, the fire darkling seizes the opportunity and lunges toward me, its form a blur of shadow and flame, knocking me off my feet.
My back slams against the ground, gravel and jagged rocks digging into my skin as I let out a loud grunt, the impact forcing a moan of agony from my lips.
“Queen Tileatha is right, you are weak.” The fire darkling wickedly snickers.
I rise on my elbows, blowing the strands of my hair out of my face to meet its crimson eyes. “I’m just getting started.”
Koen’s enormous mouth looms above me, filled with sharp, jagged teeth that glint threateningly in the dim light. Saliva drips from his gaped jaw, glistening as it slowly falls. I quickly roll to the side as he goes to snap, heavily breathing while I avoid becoming his next snack.
“Koen, snap out of it!” I scream out to him. “It’s me!”
“He can’t hear you.” The fire darkling cackles, its voice sending shivers down my spine. “She is controlling him with the blue flame.”
The flame. The one she held in her hands.
“How does a flame control him!” I dodge Koen’s spiked tail, which misses me but slams against the side of the cave. The crystals and rocks tremble by the impact; the cave will not hold if this continues.
“Your love killed him, don’t you remember!” Its voice drops to a deep, raspy growl. The flames ignite on its back as it deliberately takes a step towards me.
My heart throbs, grabbing my chest as I feel the strong beat of my heart…of his heart. The life that once pulsed inside of him, now pulses inside of me. “I never asked him to do that!”
