Page 134 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

Except Torno’s not on her back.

What is she doing?

Circling above, the magnificent creature unfurls her massive wings and swoops over the crowd.

A reverent hush settles over the spectators.

Steam blasts from the dragon’s nostrils, eyes menacing and barbed tail swishing as she looks right at me. Goose bumps pimple my flesh, and dread sinks like a lead weight to the pit of my stomach.

With a deafening roar, the dragon dives toward my unit. Terror clogs my throat and steals my breath. Zephyr paws the ground, huffing out a nervous snort. On either side of me, Olive, Nick, and Abel sit in stunned silence, trying to calm their restless alicorns.

What else can we do? Fleeing from an incensed dragon would mean instant death.

Soaring toward us, the dragon opens her mouth and flicks her forked tongue. Surely, the rogue dragon can’t be part of the trial.

Can she?

Shouts from the crowd filter into my consciousness, breaking through the ringing in my ears.

The dragon barrels closer to my unit, opening her massive jaws and revealing two rows of wicked teeth as tall as I am.

Nick leans down and pats Solara’s neck, but the dark bay alicorn refuses to settle. “What the fuck? This can’t be part of the trial.”

Test or not, the vengeance gleaming in the dragon’s eyes tells me her intentions are less than friendly.

As she soars closer, I freeze.

Flames erupt from her mouth as she lands twenty feet in front of us, and a blast of heat skims my left cheek.

“She’s going to kill us.”

Olive’s whispered warning is all I need to get my ass in gear.

“Split up!” I wheel Zephyr around as the rest of my unit takes off around me.

So much for not fleeing.

After a few paces, Zephyr unfurls his silvery wings, and in mere seconds, we’re in the air. Twisting around in the saddle, I check for our pursuer.

The dragon’s not far behind.

Dammit. Today wasn’t supposed to end this way.

I turn back around and urge my alicorn to fly faster. Not that he needs my encouragement. Zephyr’s powerful muscles coil and uncoil beneath me as his feathery wings beat the air into submission.

But he’s no match for a dragon.

Flames lick the air beside us, heating my skin. That’s twice the dragon’s missed me. There’s no way her aim is that inaccurate.

She’s toying with us, like a lioness hunting her prey.

Panic blooms in my chest. “Help me!”

“Use your magic.” A blur of chestnut and flapping wings whir by me as Abel passes me on Thorin. “I’ll distract her.”

Use my magic? What will fire do to an animal who canbreathefire?

Maybe nothing. I really don’t know, but I have to try.

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