Screams echo all around me. My mind and body are still, and my senses are sharp.
I turn my head to the side and our gazes meet. The Ezkai wears a determined look on his face. He’s not here to play. He’s here to win. I look away. I don’t want to indulge. It might cost me my life.
Somewhere in the distance, the sky rumbles. A moment later, three more serpentlike creatures with different shades of metallic scales appear in the sky. When their screeches pierce the air, a shiver runs down my back. It’s terrifying and thrilling all at the same time.
“Oh shit,” I murmur under my breath when they reach the clearing.
Three dragons circle the sky above our heads, their powerful bodies weaving elegantly through the air. I doubt they feel the harsh wind threatening to topple them over. It’s a breathtaking view. Something I never even dreamed of witnessing.
Before they make a landing, I force my feet to move forward. I can find cover behind a huge rock nearby. It won’t save me for long, but at least my chances of survival will be higher if I’m to face these creatures head-on. Not yet, anyway.
My feet slips on a wet rock and I tumble down on one of my knees. I hiss when sharp pain shoots through my knee and thigh. A wave of nausea rises inside me, but I swallow it down. Just as I am about to scramble to my feet, a strong wave of hot air hitsmy back, pushing me forward. I lose balance and fall forward, rolling down the sharp, slippery rocks.
That’s for taking the cover.
I’m still on my stomach when I hear wings flapping next to me and a chilling roar envelops the air around me. I lift my head just as a black-as-coal dragon lands in front of me, mere feet away. It’s regal, and powerful. Time stops.
Our gazes lock.
The intensity of the creature’s golden eyes freezes me in place. It’s like I can’t make my muscles function. The dragon’s gaze is fiery, and it resonates with the hot fire burning deep within me. The creature cocks its head to the side, sniffing the air between us.
The sounds of fighting and screams of pain that ring around us dull.
A low growl rises from deep within the creature’s chest, but I don’t feel threatened. At least, not as much as I should be. Its eyes narrow and the dragon lowers its square head to the ground.
Slowly, I push myself to my knees. The dragon observes me without attacking. I’m so confused. It allows me to rise to my feet without making a move. Maybe some dragons are honorable fighters?
Before I can find out, a blade glitters at the edge of my vision and lands mere inches away from the dragon’s snout. I glance in the direction of where the dagger came from.
Daegel watches us with his lips pressed in a tight line.Stay alive, Phoenix.
I turn back to the black dragon in front of me. Its gaze is hot as coal, no more kindness left there. It raises its big head to the sky and spews a gulp of hot, white flame with a loud roar. The heat from the flame hits me like a wall of bricks. A sweat breaks over my brow, my cheeks flaming hot.
Without wasting any more time, I whirl on my heel and run. If I put enough distance between me and the dragon, I can shoot it with my arrow. Vera was right.
But Daegel told me to never turn my back on a dragon.
I curse myself as I run through the sharp, wet rocks, trying not to slip and fall. I’m so careless, marveling at these creatures. I need to be thinking about ways to win against them without killing them.
A growl behind my back sends a chill down it. I don’t turn away, nor do I stop. Wings flap in the air behind me, but I reach a large boulder and duck behind it. My breathing is labored as I press my back to the rock wall and try to center myself.
Next to my knee is a small ledge. A little bit higher there are three more ledges. I can use them to climb on top of the boulder to get into a better position to use my bow and slay the dragon. With one more inhale and exhale, I push myself off the wall and climb the boulder.
The side of the boulder is not as slippery as the rock under my feet, so I manage to reach the top easily. The last ledge is quite far from the top, though, so I have to push myself up and over the edge. My muscles are screaming, but I ignore the burning and the pain in my knee and pull myself up the damn boulder.
A roar echoes very close to me.
I look up.
The black dragon circles above my head and strikes.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
PHOENIX
It’s too soon for me to die.
With a scream, I push myself to all fours and roll farther onto the flat boulder, right before the dragon sinks its claws into me. It lands on the hard rock instead with a heavydunkand roars.
