“I should have never trusted you.” My lip rises with disgust, turning to follow Koen and Kaine to the horses.
Skie scuffs at my violent outburst, wrapping her arms around Florian to help him towards the seats where the Royals will sit and watch us compete. Once again.
“Most of you have done this race before…” The Queen stands in front of her dark, charcoal chair, torches mounted on each side. “And you know how deadly this can be. The race takes you through the Realms, but also, the Desert of Death.”
Shit.The sand dragons.
“We have lost a few chosen due to the race, but this proves to us all how ready you are to face the darklings tomorrow. Show us what you are capable of, make us proud.” The Queen nods before she takes her seat. Skie sits next to her, crossing her leg as her gown sparkles like the night sky. Florian’s weak body shakes as he sits, and that sparks the rage inside me once more.
“I’m going to kill her,” I hiss, pulling my body over my fire horse.
“Not here. Not yet.” Death leans over. “You shall have your revenge soon.”
I don’t remove my intense glare at her, gripping my horse’s fire mane tighter. But I know Koen is beside me on his Iycekazie. I feel his eyes lingering on mine.
“I don’t want to hear it, Koen,” I breathe out, closing my eyes to focus on my breathing.
“Those Kings can overpower the Queen when it comes to the chosen.” Koen drops to a whisper as he leans over his horse towards me. “Please be careful when it comes to them, especially my father. If he remembers who you are, the woman who turned away from his son, the true Prince, he will come after you. They all will. The Royals wanted us dead for what we did.”
Ah, shit.
My head shakes. “I’ll burn them before any of them dare try to hurt us. They don’t know I have dragons inside my stones. They haven’t seen the destruction I can do. Only those in the Pyre have. They only think I am cursed with the ability to scorch people alive.”
Koen inhales deeply, pulling himself back on his ice horse.
The flag whips ahead, swaying back and forth as a glistening, silver light begins to sparkle at the edges of the gravel pathway.
“The Gods have chosen the path for you tonight. Follow the lights, and try not to die.” The Queen's lips twist into a sinister smirk as she beams a final glare my way.
If she thinks I am scared of her, she’s deranged.
A guard forces the silver flag down, acknowledging our race has now started.
And then, everything goes silent. Except for the sounds of hooves beating, pounding against the ground as we soar past the Royals.
Let the damn race begin.
Chapter 43
“The dragon scales are a reflection of the magic that is from the Sky Realm. The Realm known as Ekane, the closest Realm to the Gods, is filled with magic that no other Realm has. Once darkness fills the sky, the huntress marks will show in the night, revealing their weakness.” - Book of Azure
MY LIPS PART OPEN AS a gut-wrenching scream erupts from deep within me.
The Fireninze and I explode into the air with a swift jump, her powerful hooves pounding off the cliff's edge with a force that sends us soaring over the gap between the mountain cliffs. I feel as if we are flying through the air, suspended in a breathtaking moment before crashing down onto the other side, barely making it. Rocks bounce side to side against the cliff’s edges, echoing down until they slam into the water.
My chest slams against the back of her neck, almost knocking the air completely out of me.
Through her flames, I catch sight of the lights that guide us, shifting paths towards the mountains that lead us out of Eekatia. I know we are about to head into the Desert of Death.
Once this is over, if the Queen dares to speak to me again, I’ll grab her by the throat and watch her burn for what she put Florian through…yet again.
More than anything, I want to show the Royals that a woman can do exactly what a man can do. If not, more.
If not, better.
I despise them for thinking I am less than a damn man.
I am a damn Queen.
