“But that does not have to occur,” Elias said, voice softer now. “Tell us where the attack is taking place. Then we will tell everyone that your children had nothing to do with all this. They will not be branded traitors. Nothing bad will happen to them if you tell us what we want to know.”
After that, the queen consort spilled everything. And she revealed where the key to Gerard’s shackles were. Thankfully they were on Empress Emmeline.
They removed the shackles from around Gerard’s wrists. Then Gerard untied the rope binding Elias. They used the shackles on Adelina, locking her to a post outside the tower. Elias was all smiles and gentle, comforting words for Adelina now that she’d told them everything.
They took a few moments to tend to any wounds that needed it. Within minutes, Gerard had shifted and they’d put a harness on him, which had been by the front entrance.
With a shaky breath, Elias climbed on his back. “Now. Let’s go save your father!”
Gerard stretched his wings. He flapped, and they rose into the air. Gerard just hoped they were not too late.
And as they approached the location where the attack was meant to occur, they saw a large green dragon, his father, flying from the direction of the White Monastery.
Gerard’s muscles unclenched.
“We’re in time!” Elias cried out, patting Gerard.
Lightning flashed from the forest below, striking the king. King Alaric bellowed as the lightning raced across his scales. He spiralled through the sky, flapping his wings wildly before finally seeming to right himself.
But a second later, an orange dragon burst from the trees below, flying straight at the dragon king.
Albert! That fucking traitor.
Gerard roared, beating his wings as fast as he could.
Albert and the king clutched and tumbled through the air, claws cutting at one another. But the lightning strike had clearly injured his father, and he took more damage than he gave. Albert’s teeth sank into King Alaric’s shoulder. Blood spurted. The king cried out.
“You need to get them apart!” Elias screamed. “I can’t target Albert when they are locked together. I’d end up shocking them both.”
Gerard flapped, drawing nearer and nearer. He stretched his claws as he approached. He raked them up Albert’s back before snapping them shut around the edge of one of his wings. His claws tore the membrane.
Albert cried out. Gerard flew upwards, tugging at Albert, trying to pull him away from the king. Albert released his hold on King Alaric, and Gerard released his grip.
Albert spiralled mid-air, turning to face Gerard and Elias. His eyes gleamed. He opened his jaw wide. Fire sparked in the back of his throat.
Elias’s weight shifted in the harness. The air crackled. Elias shot lightning, and it struck Albert’s face.
Albert’s neck and head snapped back. His body convulsed. His mouth opened, but no sound emerged.
And for a split second, Gerard remembered what it felt like to be struck by lightning. He remembered the searing pain. He remembered the loss of control and sight. He remembered the certainty that he would die.
But this time, the lightning archmage was not his enemy. This time Elias rode on Gerard’s back, protecting Gerard instead of trying to kill him. Now they fought as one. The lightning prince and the dragon warrior, soaring through the air, fighting their enemy together.
The lightning stopped flashing along Albert’s body. He twisted and turned, trying to right himself and regain control.
Gerard flew towards Albert, opening his jaw wide. Dragonfire boiled in his belly, ready to spew forth and consume.
Then suddenly lightning darted towards Gerard, and Elias from below in the trees. Gerard swerved, trying to dodge the attack. But he knew it was too late. Gerard tensed, anticipating the agony.
But at the last second, the lightning veered off violently and flew up into the sky. Then it circled and came back down, towards them. Once again, Gerard tensed, preparing for the hit.
However, the lightning came straight towards Elias, who with a flick of his brilliant fingers, directed the lightning straight at Albert.
It hit Albert in the back. His wings went rigid. He bellowed and crashed into the trees below.
Gerard turned towards his father, who spewed dragonfireon the lightning sorcerers who’d attacked Elias and Gerard.
He is all right. My father is fine.
