The fight changes instantly. Both Raven and Allister become more aggressive, their strikes carrying real intent now. The sound of their swords clashing rings like thunderclaps echoing within the stonewalls. Sparks fly occasionally as steel meets steel, and they growl at each other with sounds more dragon than human.
Raven blocks a strike and comes in fast, her talons extending with wet, sliding sounds. She slices across Allister’s arm, drawing a line of crimson that immediately drips. Raven rips off her mask and roars at him, her wings spreading wide and casting shadows across the ring. Black scales race up her throat like living armor, and I can see the bone plates shifting in her face as she stares at him with those burning sapphire eyes.
“Get in there!” Thauglor shoves me forward, and I stumble into the ring, my heart hammering against my ribs.
I step between Allister and Raven, holding my hands up, feeling the heat radiating from her skin. “You won. You drew first blood.” I keep my hands raised as I try to get her to focus on me, my silver eyes meeting her sapphire ones. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the other instructors trying to clear the area without drawing attention to themselves. Behind Raven, I catch a glimpse of Belladonna shifted into her dragonic displacer beast form, muscles coiled and ready to knock Raven out if I fail.
“Do you want to go flying? Maybe go visit Titan?” I’m trying anything at this point, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my throat.
“Want to go collect seashells?” Mina asks, her voice cutting through the tension like a lifeline.
That gets Raven to look at her. Her eyes flicker human for a moment—her human side fighting to resurface.
“We can all go if you like?” I offer something—anything—to get her out of this murderous rage. I’ve never seen quiet little Raven this angry, this lost to her dragon.
The blue flashes in her eyes again, brighter this time, and her talons slowly retract with soft clicking sounds. The sword falls from her hand, hitting the sand with a muffled thud. She drops to her kneesand wraps herself in her wings, the black membranes creating a cocoon of shadow.
I look over my shoulder at Thauglor. He steps forward and kneels beside his daughter, his massive frame protective and gentle. Whatever he whispers to her gets her to open her wings, only to slide them over his shoulders and under his. He encloses her in his wings, and I hear them rumbling together—a deep, thrumming sound that speaks of comfort and family.
“She’s such a daddy’s girl, it’s not funny,” Mina says with a smile that doesn’t quite hide her concern. “Good call offering to do her favorite things.”
Mina looks over at Allister as Callan and Klauth bandage him up, the white cloth already staining red. “Is he going to be alright?” Part of me really doesn’t care—he’s an asshole who had this coming. But a small part does—he’s still Raven’s brother.
“Physically, yes. Ego-wise, no. He won’t try that shit again.” Mina’s smirk holds a predatory edge. “Dragon versus dragon, I’m honestly not sure who would win. His scales aren’t even close to what his sisters are.”
I tilt my head, looking at Thauglor and Raven snuggled together in their wings, the sight making something warm and protective unfurl in my chest.
“I’ve already thought about changing the line of succession, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Mina says loud enough for Klauth to hear. “Allister has taken some of the worst traits from the red and green dragons. Greed, viciousness, and selfishness are not qualities of a good ruler.” Klauth nods and lowers his head in acknowledgment, his disappointment palpable.
I walk over and collect Raven’s sword, the metal still warm from her grip. A laugh escapes my lips as I examine the blade. “They’re very similar to mine. Maybe a bit heavier.” I reach over my shoulder anddraw one of my swords, the familiar weight comforting in my hand. I hold it next to Raven’s, comparing them in the fading light.
Her hilt is shorter for her smaller hands, the leather wrapped precisely to fit her grip. The pommel is heavier than mine, but it balances out the longer blade. Her blade is about an eighth of an inch narrower than mine but an inch longer—perfectly crafted for her fighting style.
Mina draws her blade, the steel singing as it clears the sheath. It’s between what mine and Raven’s blades are—a middle ground of power and precision. “She liked aspects from both of our swords, so she had one made of her own.”
I study the three blades, seeing what she took from both to create her perfect weapon. Her small hand rests over mine, warm and soft, and I jolt, shocked she snuck up on me without making a sound.
“Sorry...” She takes her blade back from me, her fingers brushing mine with electric contact. “Dad’s taking me flying. I need to work on better control with my breath weapon.” Raven steps close, her scent of sea salt and jasmine filling my lungs. She presses her cheek against mine and purrs softly, the vibration traveling through both our bodies. The sound makes my scales shimmer involuntarily before she backs away. “Thank you for...” She laughs and gestures toward the ring, unable to finish the sentence.
She slides the blade back into its sheath with practiced ease. Then, she and Thauglor launch up into the sky, their powerful legs propelling them from the ground. The wind from their wings stirs dust and loose stones. Once they reach sufficient height, their black dragons explode into existence—a transformation that never fails to steal my breath.
It’s now that I see Raven is already a third of Thauglor’s size, her dragon form magnificent and terrifying. “Holy... She’s huge...” I breathe, looking at Mina and then Klauth.
“She’s growing at an alarming rate,” Klauth says, his voice heavy with implication as he watches the two dragons spiral higher.
“Raven spends a lot of her time as her dragon when no one is looking,” Mina tells me, and I take the hint. I need to shift more often so my drake grows to match hers.
“To deny the beast suppresses its power,” Klauth says, and Allister rolls his eyes. We rarely see Allister’s dragon, mostly because he has the softest scales out of all the hatchlings—a source of shame he tries to hide behind arrogance.
“I’m gonna go. I have things to do.” I say goodbye to everyone and walk out of Shadowcarve, my boots echoing in the stone corridors. While Raven is out with her father, I have a beach to walk and treasures to find. Seashells and sea glass don’t collect themselves, and my mate deserves the best gifts I can find.
Chapter 10
Raven
It’s beena week since I damn near lost my shit in the ring. I’ve done everything possible to avoid Corvis, taking different paths through the corridors and eating meals at odd hours. My dragon got away from me, and I never wanted him to see me like that—scales rippling up my throat, talons extending, the primal rage that burned behind my eyes. Princesses are supposed to be composed and quiet, everything I’m not. The song “Free Fallin’“ from that vampire band with the guy named Thomas keeps ringing in my head, the melody haunting, and melancholy.
I take Titan out for a ride today, his massive hooves striking the cobblestones with rhythmic precision. He and I both know the reins are for show—leather strips that serve no real purpose between us. We’ve developed our own system of communication. A gentle touch of my hand against his neck, a whispered request, and he responds as if we share the same mind. He is the largest pitch-black warhorse on the continent, his coat gleaming like polished obsidian in the afternoon sun. Everyone knows who he is. People stop mid-conversation and stare when we walk past them, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear.
