Page 3 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

Bahar

Hundreds of shipswaited in the distance, all of them poised to attack Drakous. Winged dragons made of magic flapped idly over them, the creatures seemingly tethered to the unmoving ships.

They hadn’t struck yet, but I could see the display for what it was. This was a show of power. Meant to intimidate and overwhelm. It wouldn’t work. The Fae King’s ego was already getting the best of him. He’d waited to attack until I returned. He wanted a battle. He wanted to say he defeated me.

I flapped my wings harder, the fear for my kingdom dissolving as I moved closer to land. The sun glinted off the scales of my army. Let the fae see us. Let them see whatfive hundred dragons looked like as we blotted out the newly returned sun. Let them feel fear.

Instead of banking toward land, I aimed for the waiting hoards. The wingbeats behind me didn’t hesitate as they followed my lead. Words weren’t necessary. The second I unleashed my fire, they broke into attack positions and we charged.

The strange magic dragons launched toward us, breathing their unnatural flames, their aim awkward and inconsistent. They were easy enough to avoid, so I rolled to my side, focusing on the ships below us.

Archers filled the sky with a cascade of arrows, some clattering against my tough scales before they fell to the sea. I swooped down, releasing fire at the attacking ships.

Men screamed, leaping from the boats into the sea. More scales glinted in the water, and the survivors screamed as they were pulled under. For the first time, I started to think that maybe it wasn’t so bad that Ceto’s child was my ally. Having her for a sister-in-law might be beneficial.

The dragons around me attacked the ships with the same fervor, using flames and claws to send the sailors to watery graves. Some of my dragons went after the magical creatures, exploding them into a burst of dust as their fire engulfed them.

The Fae King had tried once before to take my city, but he couldn’t win. This wasn’t going to be any different.

I made another pass over a row of boats, launching a blast of fire as I flew over them. The sailors screamed.Some tried to put out the flames while others took their chances in the water. Ceto’s monsters were getting a feast. After this battle, I would be sure to burn offerings for her. I might even do like Athos and commission a temple. Having her as an ally rather than a concern in the sea could make Drakous even more powerful.

Flames tore through the air and I twisted, my wings just missing the unnatural fire. Heart pounding, I turned, facing down the abomination that had released the gruesome fire. These dragons were deadly, but they were false creations. An insult to all dragons.

The sun dimmed as hundreds of dragons coming from the city flew toward the battle. More of the magical dragons flooded the sky, quickly outnumbering my own warriors.

The massive creatures had a wingspan twice as large as mine. They moved forward as a unit, creating a shadow over the sea as they charged. Below, I heard the cheers of the sailors, who’d apparently been expecting this.

A wall of fire exploded from the creatures and I watched in horror as dragons fell to the sea. My people. My warriors.

These creatures might be made from magic, but their fire was still as deadly as mine.

A glint of gold caught my eye, and I noticed my brother heading straight toward our new challengers. Fuck.

Kabir was charging with his unit, the dragons dodging the bursts of fire as they got closer to the monsters. These were not the same as the magical dragons we’d foughtbefore. I could feel the heat of their flames, the wind coming from their wingbeats. And there was something else, something that sent a shiver right down my spine. Whatever it was, these new monsters were not going down easy. The first ones we encountered were weak, but they seemed to have improved the magic on these new additions.

I joined the ranks, flying with my warriors, all of us falling into the battle formations we’d practiced so many times. Claws glinting, fire at the ready, we rushed toward the hoard of massive creatures.

One by one, we released our fire, orange flames merging with the fire of our enemy. Dodging and twisting, I flew into the waiting masses, tearing my claws through their flesh, releasing fire where I thought they might be more vulnerable.

My dragons followed, completing attack patterns of their own. We fought with claws and teeth and flame. One of the massive creatures lunged for me, its jaws just missing my neck. I slashed along its face, drawing dark green blood.

It screamed, but didn’t hesitate as it snapped at me again. When I avoided it, the creature attacked with claws, tearing through my scales as if it were human flesh.

I growled, then released a fireball into its face. The dragon shook it off. No turning to dust, no sign that I’d injured it at all.

These things weren’t going down. Not a single one fell to the water. Not a single one had turned away.

A roar tore through the air, the sound making my whole body tense. I hurtled a burst of flame at my attacker, then launched upward, breaking free of the throng. Below, I saw the masses surrounding the gold dragon. The attacking hoard closing in on my brother. I dove, with a roar of my own, drawing as many of the beasts to me as I could.

Just as I arrived, Kabir fell. My heart felt like it was torn from my chest and I let out a bellow I didn’t recognize as I plummeted after him. His dragon form was breaking and twisting as he neared the water, forcing him into shifting. I flapped harder, managing to swing below him, his weak human form landing on my back with a thud.

Two dragons flanked me, moving close, and I knew they were there to catch Kabir if he fell from my back. I didn’t feel any movement. He didn’t grab onto my scales.

With a roar of grief I bypassed the battle, wincing as arrows pierced my sensitive wings. As soon as I reached the shore, I slid my brother from my back. One of the dragons who’d followed me shifted quickly and raced to the fallen prince. It was Zarthan, our best healer. I didn’t even know he’d joined the fight. He shouldn’t be here. He was too valuable to risk.

My blood ran ice cold.

If the healers had joined the fight, the city had already fallen.

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