Page 104 of House of the Iron Reaper

“Deyanara!” I scream.

Please, please, please.

Three long gashes run across her neck but instead of bleeding red, blinding light pours out instead. I gape up at her. Deyanara’s eyes swivel over to me.

“Get to safety,” she rumbles and turns back to Aythora.

She was made of golden scales before she Ascended. Now she is a sea of grey, lightning glowing between the seams, as though she is a storm cloud manifest. Her wings sweep open silently, the edges softened, and sparks crackle between them. The air grows humid around her and water sprays from her wings as she moves. Only her eyes remain the same—gold light piercing the grey.

I run to the tunnel, skidding to a halt next to my mother.

“What’s happening?” she screeches. “Is Deyanara okay?!”

“She’s…”

I peek out to look and see Deyanara grabbing Aythora by one of her black horns. Aythora hits out at her but Deyanara takes it as if a child had struck her. With a crack that even makes me wince, Deyanara snaps Aythora’s horn in half. Aythora’s scream doesn’t sound like it can get any louder until Deyanara lunges forward and plunges it into the side of her neck. Lava explodes from the wound.

“Fine,” I finish with a thick swallow. “She’s fine.”

And then I look up and my mouth drops.

“What?” my mother says sharply, looking up with me. “What is it?”

“We should find something to hold onto,” I say hoarsely.

Chapter 60

Ronan

“That’s what happens when dragons Ascend?!” I exclaim, gesturing with my head at the now normal sky. I’m still in absolute shock. Of all the dragon things I’ve learnt, this is by far the most insane. “A giant fucking hand comes out the sky? You consider that to be normal, do you?”

“Never mind that.” Cahir waves me off with a frown. He squints up at Dragon’s Vale. “Look up there.”

I follow his gaze to where several dark clouds are quickly gathering over the arena. I cock my head.

“A storm?” I ask. It does look odd to see anything but a clear sky over Coalsburgh.

“A very fast growing storm.” Cahir furrows his brow. “Deyanara’s Ascended powers are taking root.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I use my back leg to scratch at my ear. “Now she can finally go toe-to-toe with that crazy arsehole, no?”

Cahir gives me a wide-eyed look that isn’t reassuring.

“She will be able to do a lot more than that.”

We both turn back to look at the clouds, which have somehow tripled in size. A wind picks up, kicking up mini sand tornadoes on the path. Cahir grabs my shoulder.

“We need to move, now.”

Chapter 61

Deyanara

Lightning crackles beneath my scales. Despite being larger than I have ever been, I have never felt so light. My wings sweep like clouds around me and I feel as though I have the wind at my back, urging me forward, making me faster. Aythora stands across from me on the other side of the arena, and a familiar thrill chases up the ridge of my spine.

Equals.

I plant my feet and Aythora’s voice runs through my mind.