Page 144 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Kgosi widened his jaw and a split-second later, a plume of flame so bright and thick it seemed like liquid, poured from his throat and straight for our enemy.

Unable to hold my seat, I was flung to the limits of the straps, thanking God for the thick, impenetrable leather, as it caught my weight and held me to him while Kgosi twisted like a cat.

And then, as if the world had slowed, a plume of flame erupted from the dragon—a spear from his lips that grew, blooming like a flower from a stalk. The heat shimmered the air and sizzled my brows as Kgosi screamed and twisted once more, then dove… and we plummeted towards earth.

47. The Struggle

~ BREN ~

Akhane had been struggling for hours. Ever since that moment when we’d flown over the Vosgaarde border and something within both of us screamed. A jolt of pain and fear that felt like someone trying to pull my heart from my chest—and Akhane shrieked. She’d almost fallen out of the sky. Neither of us breathed right for minutes afterwards. But even when she climbed back to a normal flying height, she panted with pain. And it didn’t ease. I was desperately worried about her, but knew we were nearly home and I prayed we’d just make it that far and could get to the healers…

Yet, the moment her feet hit the ground in the launch hollow, I knew something was wrong.

Akhane stumbled, pitching forward with a scream and almost tumbled—a death sentence for me if she’d somersaulted, because her massive weight would have rolled right over me.

But she fought, shrieking, to keep herself upright, scrambling for purchase as we plowed across the bottom of the launch hollow and towards the opposing, uphill side—drawing shouts from Furyknights, whistles from dragons piercing the night around us.

I would have fallen more than once, but I’d twisted my arms into the neckstraps to keep me tighter against her back, knowing this would be a difficult landing.

Then, with a final groan and an earth-shuddering thud, Akhane staggered to a halt on the uphill slope of the launch hollow, her head down and wings trailing like blankets from her sides.

‘Get down, Bren. Now,’ she whispered in my head.

Near weeping with worry for her, I hurriedly untangled and unclipped, sliding down the dismount strap until I hit the earth near her feet and tumbled backwards myself on the uneven ground.

I was still righting myself, still swaying to my feet, when Akhane groaned again and collapsed.

I rushed to her, crying in earnest now. “Akhane! No! Akhane!”

I threw myself at her neck, slumped over her, very real tears squeezing out from under my eyelids. ‘Akhane—please. Tell me this is an act. Tell me—’

‘I cannot stand, Bren. I am… I am spent. I am hollow. My heart is hollow.’

I lifted my head to stare at her in horror, but that was the same moment several Furyknights reached us, shouting for their dragons to come help Akhane, pulling me from her neck, dragging me clear—obviously concerned she’d roll over on top of me, and crush me.

I screamed at them to let me go—not to separate me from her. I begged Akhane to lift her head and look at me. I struggled and fought, but I had no energy left.

At some point I found myself pressed into Ronen’s chest as he held me tightly, issued quiet orders to those nearby, and squeezed the back of my head.

“Bren… Bren, listen to me. I need to know what’s happened. Are you hurt? What happened to Akhane? How bad is it? Where is the Commander?”

And then, barely acting, because my heart felt shredded and my body trembled with weariness, I lifted my head, met his eyes, and didn’t even have to lie.

“Ruin… and Carnage… in Fyrehold… it was a trap. It was a fucking trap. I need… Oh, God!” I collapsed into his chest, face in my hands, sobbing.

Stern, solemn voices murmured and barked around me. I heard Akhane groan more than once—and felt the earth vibrate as other dragons rushed to join her.

There were hurried, hushed orders issued, and at some point, Ronen swept me up and carried me to the top of the launch hollow and sat me on the ground, among the roots of one of the big trees, letting me rest my back against its rough bark.

His expression was stern, but I saw the light of fear in his eyes.

“Bren… Bren, I need you to tell me what—”

“Bring Terra,” I breathed, wincing like it hurt to speak. “I need Terra.”

“She’s already on her way. And I’ve called Tato and Nila to help Akhane.”

“Help her!” I sobbed. “Help her. Losing our mates… Ronen… it’s…”