I recognize Graviter Rex even from this far away. He’s a powerful golden figure at the front. When I look at the others, I’m surprised to see that they appear to have riders. The Fae Queen Karasi spoke of human riders and the alliance between dragons and humans, so I assume these riders must be human, too.
Tamra’s outstretched hand has dropped to her side.
With a dismayed cry, she turns to Thaden. “We need to go!”
He moves fast, lifting his right hand into the air, his medallion instantly splitting into multiple ribbons again.
I tense and snatch up my hammer, preparing to defend myself, but the ribbons don’t appear sharp this time. His hands move through the air, both of them, the metal forming threads that he quickly weaves, using his left hand to nudge them this way or that, to form floating symbols, one after the other.
The golden light that was fading around him intensifies again, little flickers of it turning into streams. Then all of the streams pull toward his metal, somehow attracted to the changing shape of it.
It’s so bright that my own power merely adds to it, two golden energies merging together.
While Thaden works, Tamra looks to the sky, her fear palpable.
I may not trust Thaden, and I don’t understand why my sister would ask me to go with him, but her fear is warranted.
Graviter Rex has vowed to kill Thaden Kane.
I have no issues with Thaden being taken into custody, but I can’t allow my sister to be hurt in the process.
Graviter knows how much I care about her. He understands I need to keep her safe.
I move out in front of her and Thaden.
The dragons are still far enough away that I have time to plan.
Or so I thought.
A moment later, Graviter’s roar breaks across the distance, a roar so loud that it feels as if he could be standing right in front of me.
“Thaden Kane!” he cries. “You will pay for the death of my son!”
I freeze, shocked, when flames billow from Graviter’s mouth, a hot stream that scorches the air even from a mile away—a gap that’s closing fast.
It’s a warning shot.
He’s going to stop. I’m certain he is.
But then Graviter’s fire continues to stream across the sky, a deadly heat that billows across the plain, obscuring everything in its path.
I can’t imagine that he can sustain his fire for long, but to my shock, its heat only increases.
He’s coming straight for Thaden. But Tamra’s also in his path.
So am I.
“Graviter!”
He’s going to stop. Surely, he is. This dragon has seen my memories. He knows what must come to pass. He talked of my death, but this can’t be it. Not at his doing. I still have a chance to jump free of the flames, but a single glance back at Tamra, the way she stands resolutely at Thaden’s side, tells me she won’t leave him to save herself.
Surely, the future that Graviter saw doesn’t involve my sister’s death?
Please, not my sister’s death.
My voice becomes a scream. “Graviter Rex!Stop!”
Thaden’s voice sounds quietly behind me. “There is no beast more capable of mindless rage than a fire dragon.”
