I took a step forward, my pulse leaping.
The Crownwatch dragon dove first, a precise, razor-angled descent, claws outstretched and lightning trailing in its wake. The Clubtail rose to meet it, tail arcing with a deadly snap that barely missed the other dragon’s wing.
The clash wasn’t full combat. Not yet. But it teetered on the edge.
Their riders shouted over the wind, trying to regain control, but the dragons ignored them. Blue met green, claw to claw, scale to scale. They locked for a heartbeat before peeling apart, spiraling through the clouds like warring gods.
Zander cursed beside me, his gaze locked on the sky. “If they start drawing blood, the others will join.”
And he was right. Dragons across the Ascension Grounds shifted, muscles coiling in preparation, sensing the rising aggression like sparks catching dry grass.
Kaelith’s voice licked through my mind, low and tense.This is how wars begin. Not with a battle cry… but with dragons who forget their brethren are not the enemy.
We had to stop this—before one wrong move turned suspicion into war.
Jax and Ferrula landed hard, their dragons skidding to stillness with low, warning growls. Ferrula jumped out of the saddle before her boots hit the ground.
“What’s going on?” she asked, brushing windblown hair from her freckled face.
I opened my mouth to answer, but the words never came.
Perin stormed toward her, fury warping every line of his face. “You traitor?—”
He shoved Ferrula hard.
She stumbled back, caught off guard, and Jax surged forward.
“Touch her again and I’ll?—”
The rest of Iron Fang moved like a pack, surrounding Perin, but Thrall Squad closed ranks just as fast. Cordelle stepped between Riven and an Iron Fang brute, Naia’s power already sparking at her fingertips.
Tension snapped.
Someone shouted, but no one listened. There was a violent shuffle of boots, bodies, and blades. I saw elbows fly, fists collide. Ferrula ducked under a punch and clipped an Iron Fang cadet with a solid jab to the ribs.
And then?—
Steel sang.
A sword flashed from its sheath, slicing downward with precision.
Jax gasped and stumbled back, blood blooming down the side of his ribs.
“Jax!” I cried, rushing forward?—
But I wasn’t the only one.
Koddos roared.
The massive blue Palisade wheeled with thunder in his chest, barreling toward the man who had dared harm his rider. The Iron Fang dragon—a brown Swordtail—met him mid-air, claws hooking, teeth gnashing.
Their wings collided, slamming like battering rams as they clawed and bit at each other. Dust exploded around them, chunks of earth ripped up by their fury. Koddos’ armored head rammed the Swordtail’s flank, knocking the other dragon into a tower wall.
Kaelith’s rage rose beside them, but she didn’t move. Not yet.
And then?—
A roar split the sky.
