My eyes widen, catching sight of a woman in the top corner of the cliff where lava drips from the crust of the land. As if my whole body sensed her. Her hand weaves a blue flame and I know, it’s my sister.
She is going to use the flame. Koen cannot shift in front of the Royals.
My body straightens, watching the men fight. My fingers dig into my palms as the fire of my horse’s mane ignites, sparking embers up in the air and startling the Queen.
They have killed hundreds. But no matter how many they destroy, more come. Their bodies, dark as coal. Fire spreads along their spines and heads, and the lava that created them scorches through their veins.
“Koen!” Theon shouts as a darkling lunges forward, knocking Theon to the ground. He repeatedly jabs the dagger into its body, scorching, crimson-red lava spilling everywhere. “Help Koen!”
“I’m coming!” Kaine sprints, leaping over bodies of the dead darklings and tackling the one that tries to attack Theon.
They roll across the dark ground, kicking up rocks and dead sticks.
As I frantically search for Koen, I finally find him in the center, surrounded by a dozen darklings. My heart drops as my teeth grind by the sight that is unfolding in front of me. My body shifts, the urge to race down there despite what the Queen wants me to do increasing.
Which is to stay back. To watch. To let the men fight.
But I am watching. And If I continue to obey her, they will all die.
If I go down there and fight, I know the Queen will try and kill me. But she won’t succeed. Because I’d burn her to ash without hesitating this time.
I’ll burn all the Royals if I have to.
And damn it, that will start a war.
But I’d choose a war everyday if that means Koen lives.
“I’m going in.” My eyes burn with rage. “I can’t stay here and watch anymore.”
“You will not, and that is an order!” the Queen shrieks, eyes narrowing into slits at me. Her white horse, wings curled against its body, snorts steam.
“They are going to die if I do not intervene, and you know it!” I lean over, feeling my palms being to spark with fire. “Unless you want that! Are you trying to kill the chosen? Allow them to use their curses, and they could survive!”
She catches sight of the fire against my fingertips, straightening her back. “You follow my rules, Serene. As a chosen, you take orders from me. If you disobey them, I will have to send you to the caves and let the dragons have their way with you. For centuries, the chosen have fought without using their curse. They will be fine.”
I scuff, letting my tongue glide along my bottom lip. “That’s the best you got? Throwing me in a cave with dragons? Do it. I dare you.”
Dryden screams, a raven claw ripping at his chest by one of the fire darklings. His red blood slashes to the ground.
He isn’t going to survive.
Hyreo runs, climbing up the rocks to tackle a few that surround Death.
But as he jumps, a darkling grabs his ankle, yanking him to the ground.
They are all going to die.
Her brows lift, gripping the reins of her antsy horse. “You will stay!” Her veins bulge in her neck, cheeks reddening as the language of the flames flicker a golden hue. “That’s a damn order! Obey me, or die!”
My eyes drift away, noticing one of the darklings clawing at Koen’s back, blood gushing everywhere. A few are dead from his blade, but more keep coming. Another lunges towards him, gripping his shoulders as its fire scorches him. He lets out a gut-wrenching cry, and I lose it.
No one hurts my damn man.
The anger finally combusts as the flames in my hand ignite brighter, startling the Queen next to me. I hear the Kings’ grunt as they cover their eyes with their hands.
Fire burns at every inch of my body, and I shift towards Queen Antivianna. “Throw me in with the dragons for all I care. They won’t kill me. And neither will you.”
Her body shifts backwards, hearing the deep gasps of the Kings behind us. Whispers trickle in the air as the men watch me, and all I do is grin.
