A tail whips in the air inches away from me, pearly-white spikes along the scales beam brightly against the darkness, the iridescent scales lightened likethe snow back in the Ice Nation.
Florian.
He came after me.
He came.
Fire ripples throughout the air, heating up the sky as ash falls down over us. Thunder claps loudly, shaking the dragon as it clenches tighter around my petite waist, almost snapping my bones for good this time.
In soars the other dragon, dark scales that camouflage into the clouds, but with the sight of the crimson-red lava coursing through the scales… I know it’sKoen.
The view of Theon and Kaine riding along the back of Koen makes my lips part to breathe out a trembling laugh. Theon’s arms are stretched wide above his head while he cheers out to the Gods, as if he is riding a damn roller coaster. Kaine clenches on to Koen’s scales for dear life, but that’s when I notice the rest of the chosen who have survived, sitting behind the two of them, eyes fiercely locked on to me.
They are ready to fight.
They all came for me.
Florian’s enormous mouth widens underneath the dragon of the Darkland’s neck, biting against the air as Tilly weaves the dragon away from him. The dragon twists in the air, rolling around as the world around me blurs into lines of color.
My head sways back and forth, slamming against the scales of the dragon repeatedly before it takes a fierceful dive straight towards the ground.
The cracks of lava come into view, bubbling at the surface before popping into the air. My nose is almost inches away from the heat of the lava that can kill me.
But that’s when galloping sounds of hooves begin to vibrate through my ears. The crackling sounds of fire mixing in with the gusting sounds of the dragon's wings beating against the ground.
Fire embers spark through my sluggish eyes, brightening the darkness that is on the brink of consumption. With a burst of flames, my fire horse violently sprints across the blackened ground towards me. Its mane dances in the air as it leaps relentlessly over cracks, spilling smoldering lava. The scorching air ripples around us, blending with the crackling sounds of fire and dragon wings.
My fingers stretch outward, inches away from her face but the dragon lunges upward, taking me further away from her.
“We are all coming!”I hear her call out to me, steadily chasing the dragon that takes me over the mountain cliff where the battle took place.
The bones are still singeing in the air with smoke, the remembrance of the darklings clawing at Koen’s back makes me rip away my gaze.
But even though my horse sprints after me, once we make it over the mountain filled with lava and charred logs, her fire is no longer in sight.
I am alone.
THE CLAW RIPS OUT OF my flesh, releasing me from its grasp as my body slams against the ash-filled ground. My body rolls, beating against rocks and broken branches until my side thrusts against a boulder that is covered with dried lava.
The lava here will kill a Deskyiara. And now, they all know this. The Royals. Tileatha.
Koen’s darkness inside him could kill me. His insides pulsing with the only magic that can kill a Deskyiara for good.
My weakness is now their greatest weapon against me.
My eyes flutter as I notice the ground moving.
Hundreds of small insects with horns, pulsing with a crimson-red hue, scurry away as my body beats against the ground. I can hear their high pitch hissing and buzzing while their tiny legs dance across the onyx dirt.
If Theon was here, he would have died. They all resemble the shape of a spider.
But how I wish he was here.
I wish they all would find me.
I need them.
A strong gust of wind beats against me, holding me against the ground until the sounds of wood crunching under claws break away at the ringing in my ear. I can hear the dragon’s wings, cracking as it stretches wide before tucking them against its enormous, arrow-filled body.
