Oh fuck.
Picking up the pace, I hurtle towards my friends. Grey is moving his hands in the air rapidly, no doubt already summoning a portal.
Behind me, the silver dragon continues screeching in agony.
I need to release it.
This is draining too much magic. I’ve barely slept in the past two days and I spent twelve hours being tortured by Orion.
That’s exactly why you need this little boost, my treacherous mind replies.
While still sprinting towards my friends, I clench my jaw and brace myself to cut off the magic.
Terror crashes through me at the thought.
If I release it now, I will be hit twice as hard by the awful emotions that rush in afterwards. And I need to function. I can’t do that if I’m drowning in a black ocean of grief and regret.
I just need a little more. Just a little more so that I will be able to get through the aftereffects. I will cut it off soon. Just?—
The dragon’s heart gives out.
Grief and regret crash over me like an avalanche as my magic abruptly disconnects. The force of it is so strong that I stumble and almost fall. Sucking in a panicked breath, I straighten as I continue sprinting across the ground while also trying to piece myself back together. Exhaustion clings to my every bone.
Goddess damn it, I shouldn’t have done that. I should have cut off my magic sooner. Using that much, on a target as massive as a dragon, drained almost all that remained of my already dwindled energy. I won’t be able to create an emotion from nothing again. Not until I’ve rested a little. For now, I need to limit myself to emotions that are already there.
“Are you insane?” Orion is screaming at Draven when I skid to a halt next to him. “Malachi’s balls, we all need to get out of here.”
“No,” Draven snaps back. “I need to stay and try to kill Kander.”
My heart jerks, and I whip my head towards him. “What?”
“His memory magic is too fucking dangerous. If it hits either one of us, it’s over. But if I can kill him, it will at least buy us time to win this war before Azaroth can choose a new person to inherit that magic.”
While Isera reaches us and slams to a halt as well, Orion stabs a hand towards the two massive silver dragons who are quickly closing the distance to us and protests, “The Icehearts are here!”
“I know,” Draven growls back. “But it’s just them and one more scout. Kander is practically undefended, and he’s not a warrior to begin with. He’s a fucking scholar. If I can get himalone, I will be able to kill him.” His gaze is insistent as he looks from face to face. “This might be our only shot. I have to take it.”
I hate it. I absolutely despise this plan. But he’s right. So I jerk my chin down in a nod.
“We’ll keep the other dragons focused on us,” I declare. “Go kill him.”
Gratitude flits across his face, and he nods back. “If it gets too dangerous, open a portal and leave without me.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I snarl back at him.
He shifts his gaze to Orion.
“Understood,” the Unseelie King replies.
Draven dips his chin in thanks. “I also need your help to get past.”
“I know.”
“No, we’re not leaving—” I begin protesting, but Draven is already sprinting away. “Don’t you fucking dare?—”
Smoke explodes across the ground as he shifts into a dragon. A moment later, he launches into the sky, his massive black wings beating the air hard and making booms echo across the ash-covered landscape.
I grind my teeth. “We’re not leaving him behind.”
