But the sorcerer’s fingers jabbed in his direction. Lightning bolted towards him. It struck the right side of Gerard’s face.
Agony exploded through his skull. White light consumed his vision. The sky and earth disappeared completely. Gerard bellowed. His body flailed and jerked, the lightning wrenching control of Gerard’s own body from him once more.
He smashed against something hard and jagged. A broken cry escaped him. The cliff face beat and tore his already wounded scales. Rock crumbled and gave with the force of the impact.
Blinded now, he beat his wings as best he could, trying to get away. But he couldn’t see, and he could barely fly. He tensed as he flapped, waiting for another lightning strike. For more scorching pain.
None came.
He crashed into the trees and earth. They battered his damaged body. He lay on the ground. He tried to rise. Tried to move. But he couldn’t.
He lay, body twitching as the lightning faded from his system. He closed his unseeing eyes, still trying to comprehend how a single lightning sorcerer could take down the dragon warrior prince.
And before unconsciousness took him, he thought of the falling rocks from the crumbling cliff face he had smashed into. They must have crushed and buried the lightning sorcerer. Otherwise, why would they have stopped attacking?
At least I killed him too.
Chapter
Two
Two years later
Gerard landed in the courtyard of the White Monastery, tucking his wings against his body. A second later, Senta set down beside him.
Gerard closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on an image of himself as human. The shift took him. His neck pulled in. Limbs contorted. Dragon scales became soft skin. His tail retracted and disappeared completely.
He took a deep breath, taking a second to settle into his human form.
Two servants strode forward, handing him and Senta the clothing they had worn before they’d shifted and gone out for their usual pre-dawn flight. The two silently and quickly dressed. Lastly, Gerard put his black eye patch over his right eye.
They turned and strode into the upper part of the White Monastery.
“I needed that.” Senta rolled her shoulders. “After last night, I had some tension to work out.”
“Me too,” Gerard said.
They walked along the corridor, passing servants and monks.
“I still can’t believe how Luther behaved last night,” Senta said.
Gerard exhaled. “I wish I could say I was surprised. But he has never taken duty seriously.”
“You’re right. But what a way to act when your betrothal is announced!” Senta’s lip curled. “It’s one thing to be displeased about who you are going to marry, it’s another thing entirely to get publicly and very obviously drunk and then stumble around! He disgraced our family! He disgraced Draconia!”
“Warden Flint didn’t seem happy with his betrothed either,” Gerard pointed out. “But at least he knew how to act about it. He just glowered with disapproval at Luther?—”
“Which we also did last night,” Senta interjected.
Gerard nodded. “And neither we nor Warden Onyx caused a scene.”
She sighed. “I know he is our brother. But fire and fucking flames! He needs to learn how to behave! I’ll act better when my betrothal is announced.”
“Even if you hate them?” Gerard asked, even though he already knew the answer.
“Of course! And don’t pretend you won’t conduct yourself properly as well.” She shook her head. “What was Luther thinking?”
Gerard didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. He and his sister, whether from their joint training or from their shared blood, tended to agree on most things. They believed in duty and doing what was best for Draconia, even if that meant shoving aside their own wishes.
