Adrenaline surged through the Prince.
Dorian's heart was beating so fast he didn't realize he was kissing his Second until he felt the sweep of Corbin's tongue against his. His chest caved with the confirmation of the heated exchange. And as he pulled back, he clenched a hand around Corbin's face. "We keep fighting," he affirmed.
His gaze caught Reverie's then, and Dorian snatched her up beneath her bottom with one arm before she could speak.
If he was going to die, he would make her remember him too.
His lips pressed to hers, and his heart dropped. She tasted of vanilla spice and pine, and for a brief moment, he forgot about the trial. Her legs wrapped around his waist, hands securing on his cheeks. He nearly limped at the clench of her around him and the desperation of her kiss matching his.
Fuck, he hadn't thought this through.
He forced himself from her, and her feet hit the ground again. She grabbed his hand when he went to turn and pulled him back.
"Show me my King.”
The words sent a chill down his spine. The world vibrated in his gaze. He allowed the form that had been sitting on edge to trickle up his body.
The Fire Prince stepped back into the stadium.
Flames did not settle on his skin.No. He let the black streaks snake their way from his hands up his arms, from his now black eyes to his cheeks, and down his neck. Meeting across his chest and back. One flame on his hand, and his shirt turned to ash.
The crowd quieted, and the Ghost of Fire turned toward him.
Dorian let the whip dangle in his hand. His arm jerked, and a navy flame moved from the inside of his wrist to wrap around the leather. The great flaming cat moved, its roar echoing around the stadium. But Dorian didn't flinch. He wound the whip with a flick of his wrist.
"Here, kitty, kitty," he said as he crouched and set his feet.
Knowing the Ghost of Fire wouldn't like being called 'kitty' any more than Katla liked being called such a name.
The beast lunged. Dorian wound up, but he knew the beast would move in smoke. In a split, the beast disappeared. He anticipated it, and when he struck the whip to the air, he turned to his left.
An excruciating cry sounded. Navy and amber flames crashed together. The crack of it shook the ground. Dorian dodged back out of the swing of its claws. He set his feet as it shook its great mane: fire and flicks of amber ash flittering in the air. Fangs bared, the beast dipped its head, claws imprinting in the mud.
Dorian counted and watched the tail.
One flick left. One twitch right.
Claws retracting.
Shoulders setting.
Two.
Dorian slashed the whip at the beast. The end caught its shoulder with another crack. The beast roared out. Dorian pulled the leather back in and wound up. He didn't give it time to recover. He slashed up and over, hitting it twice and backing it into the wall.
With each clash of their fire, the stadium trembled. The ground broke. Smoke settled behind the imprints of both their feet.
A visible shudder passed over the beast, and it whipped its head when Dorian paused. Ash landed on Dorian's cheek, but he wiped it off with the back of his hand. It crouched, claws digging, apparently having had enough of Dorian's taunts.
It launched into the air. He didn't know where it would disappear to. Black smoke appeared in its wake. Dorian whipped the air above him.
Claws caught his stomach and ripped his skin all the way to his ribs.
Dorian screamed.
His eyes closed, his body nearly limping to his knees. Until he felt the tug on the whip.
He'd caught its front leg.
