I can’t understand it. Then I catch sight of a tall pale-skinned figure at the edge of the arena and blink in confusion. Jah’ruud is standing right there, wearing his human disguise. But if he’s there…
But there’s no time to question it. I need to land at least ten blows to gain a victory. I jump to my feet, imagining grabbing Aurelion by the back of his neck and hanging on while I rain blows across his face. The second I picture it, my vision blacks, I’m flung through the air, and I pop out right above the dragon prince. I’m so surprised, I almost miss my opportunity to grab him. I literally fall out of the air and onto his back. Quickly, I grab hold of him, wrap my legs around his body, and do my very best to cut off his air with my arm around his throat.
I squeeze tight, and he lets out a choked sound of surprise. I haven’t gambled on his talons coming into play, though. He reaches up and scratches at my arm. All I can do is grit my teeth and bear it.
I pull on my hand with my free arm and lean close. “Yield,” I hiss into his ear.
Aurelion lets out another enraged roar. He throws me off and I go tumbling into the sand, but now that I have at least a few more hits, I have a chance. Glancing at the sand glass, I dive out of the way when he charges me. I need to land more blows.
I duck under a swipe and somehow appear right in front of him, unable to account for the movement. No time to question it, I sink my fist into his belly and smile at the wheezing cough he lets out as he doubles over. I add my knee and roll out of the way when he reaches for me.
“You filthy cheat!” Smoke pours from his nostrils. His movements are even faster.
Somehow I keep out of his way.
“I’m not cheating!”
“Yes you are!”
Ignoring him, I dive through his legs and jump onto his back once more. I almost have my grip locked around his neck when a sharp stinging pain sears through my arm.
I shout.
The sting of Aurelion’s teeth leaving my arm is almost as bad as them piercing my flesh. I scream in agony and drop to the ground. There are shouts from outside the arena. A feminine scream.
I drop to the ground, shaking uncontrollably.
Aurelion spits into the sand. “Fool. You have had what you deserve.”
I roll away, holding my arm close to my chest. It throbs with pain, and I’m scared to look at it.
“What are you doing! I said no injuries!” Yalina drops into the sand beside me, and I have a moment to wonder at the solha kneeling in the dirt over me before she pushes Aurelion roughly. “You bit him!”
“He took me by surprise. My instincts kicked in. He should not have attacked from behind, and he should not have cheated.”
I groan. “What are you talking about?”
He scoffs. “Playing at being intimidated by me, all the time hiding the fact that you’re shadowborn. You let me handicap myself for no reason.”
Shadowborn? I frown. My vision is blurry, and I can’t think straight.
Jah’ruud said something about me too. I try to sit and look for him, but for some reason I can’t tell the sky from the ground. I blink, but my vision won’t clear.
Aurelion growls. “Do not blame me if he dies from the venom. If he was human it would have killed him instantly.”
“I’m fine,” I grumble, but I still can’t sit or move at all.
The next thing I know I’m being lifted in strong arms. Jah’ruud’s voice is gruff. “I will carry him.”
Yalina sounds worried. “I’ll have the healer sent to his rooms. Hurry, but do not jostle him.”
“I’m fine,” I try to say, but my words are slurred. My arm aches.
Aurelion growls. “He deserves no better.”
I can’t respond. Jah’ruud carries me out of the hot sun and into the cool of the building, but it hardly makes any difference. I’m burning. Jah’ruud bends over me. “Dragon venom is deadly even for one of your kind.”
“OK, you really need to do some explaining—”
