Erik is poised to drive his claws once more into Graviter’s neck, this time right at the base of his skull, but the dragon wrenches around so suddenly that Erik is knocked in the same direction as me, somersaulting to control his fall.
I hit the ground, rolling to my feet.
That’s when I feel the fire.
Flames burst across the air behind me, as hot as forge-fire, blasting my surroundings with amber light and a heat that could melt the skin from my bones.
I’m one second ahead of Erik—one moment where I’ve regained my balance and my muscles can coil faster than his.
I throw myself into him as hard as I can, wrapping my arms around him and calling on all of my strength to propel us out of the flames.
Heat rages across me in a widening blast that follows our movement across the air, but then we’re bursting beyond its edge.
The ground rushes up at us and I prepare to get my legs under me when I sense Erik’s sharp breath against my cheek.
He gives a cry of warning. “Asha!”
Graviter’s paw swipes through the blaze behind us, the speed with which he followed us filling me with fear.
His paw knocks into us, throwing us down into the ground.
Erik bounces against the hard stone that was, only minutes ago, covered in snow. I hit it side-on, my shoulder crunching and pain bursting through my head as I, too, bounce against the stone.
My vision flashes to darkness.
Then brightness again as I regain consciousness with Erik’s name on my lips.
A weight presses down on my chest and Graviter’s shadow looms over me. “Asha Silverspun. You look nothing like your silver-haired ancestors.”
I can’t reply. Can hardly breathe. His paw rests on me with a strength I’m powerless to fight against. The tips of his talons prick my sides. All it will take is a flex of his muscles and he will impale me where I lie.
At the edge of my vision, burning leaves waft through the air. I can’t see or hear Milena. I don’t know what’s happened to her.
But I finally see Erik where he lies nearly ten paces away. He’s facing away from me, his clothing charred, water sliding around him. I don’t think he could have tumbled that far on his own and I’m filled with fear that in the seconds I was blacked out, Graviter has hurt him.
I will him to move.Wake up.Get up, Erik.
Graviter follows my focus to Erik, then moves his other leg and blocks Erik from my view.
I can’t stop the rage and fear rushing through my mind, the barriers I’ve placed around the dark medallion breaking down.
Gasping for air, I force sound from my mouth. “If you want me dead, get on with it!”
Graviter lowers his face to mine, new heat wafting from his mouth. “First, you will tell me where to find Malak’s son.”
As he speaks, he eases up the pressure on my torso.
Dragging air into my chest, I stare up at him, a cold hatred building within me. “I don’t know where he is. I’ve never met him.”
“Liar!” Graviter roars, sending heat billowing around me, scorching my skin.
I scream back at him. “Why the fuck do you think I know where he is?”
“Because youreekof him.” Graviter’s nostrils flare and his lips twist.
“I… What?”
The weight on me lifts a little more as Graviter’s paw moves down my body, the tip of his talon stopping at my hip and deftly slicing my pocket open.
