And then what?I thought, suddenly miffed.She’ll say, “Oh, my mistake. Thanks for your effort, Rorik!”
I snorted at the idea. Sheba never thanked me for anything. If I returned empty-handed, would she even believe I tried my best to fulfill her demands?
I groaned out loud. My mind was a mess. Nothing made sense anymore…
My ears pricked at a sudden strange noise. It was a flapping sound, like the snap of a bat’s wing but a hundred times louder. I raised my head to follow the source, then stopped dead.
I glimpsed the edge of a massive leathery wing right before it disappeared into the canopy.
My stomach turned inside out. My heart pounded so hard I felt sick.
There was no mistaking it. The image was burned into my memory like a hot brand.
Dragon.
There was a dragon right in front of me.
My mind whited out. Each hair on my pelt stood ramrod-straight. Every second of grueling battle training sparked to life, lighting a fire in my blood. Consumed by tunnel vision, I raced forward. My muscles felt taut, poised to strike.
Sheba was right,I realized, dread and vengeance stewing in my stomach.Dragons are here on this island. My coming here wasn’t a mistake.
But that meant I had to kill one after all.
My throat tightened, but I ignored it. This was what I trained for; this was my purpose.
If I couldn’t do this, then what good was I? Did I have any value at all?
Focus. You are a warrior.
I smothered my doubts and ran ahead.
The dragon’s yellow scales stood out, bright and unnatural against the dark green foliage. My heart pounded as I approached it. The long-necked reptile didn’t seem to notice me; it tamped the ground with huge curved talons as if searching for something. Its massive wings folded against its spiny back, so it was in no rush to fly away. This was my chance.
Show no fear. Show no mercy.
As I pounded into the clearing where the dragon stood, it still didn’t look up at me. Anger sizzled in my veins. Was I so insignificant to a dragon that I wasn’t worth sparing a glance? I was no weakling. I was a powerful polar bear, the strongest land carnivore in the world. I wouldn’t sit back and accept this insult to my pride.
My vision narrowed to a single point—the dragon’s vulnerable, exposed neck; right where its jaw met its spine.
The moment I was in range, I leapt and sank my fangs between its scales.
The dragon shrieked. The vile creature’s grace vanished as it flailed. My size weighed it down, and my ambush took it off guard; it thrashed like a fish out of water, gasping for air just as desperately. I bit deeper so I wouldn’t be thrown off.
I have it.
My heart thumped like thunder.
I can do this.
Coppery blood spilled onto my tongue.
Just a bit more.
My body lurched as the dragon fell forward, collapsing like a lame horse. I braced myself as I swung through the air. The dragon roared, the sound mangled by my fangs choking it. Then, through the vitriolic hiss, a hoarse sound came out that resembled human speech.
“Get off me!”
My heart stilled. Did I recognize that voice? How?
