Page 52 of Echoes of Fire

Rath spat at Zarvash’s feet, the hiss of saliva evaporating on contact. “You are a coward and the Forge Temple’s lackey. Meet me in the ring and repay this insult.Now.”

EIGHTEEN

RATH

The arena’s stench clung to me—sulfur, blood, and the acrid tang of molten rock. My scales still smoldered, the faint glow of heat lines flickering across my arms as I stormed through the training grounds’ arched entrance. Orla limped beside me, her human frame trembling with exhaustion, her purple-streaked hair singed and matted with wyrm blood.

She was alive.

That was all that mattered. But the fire in her eyes told me she wasn’t done fighting.

“You’re insane,” she said, her voice hoarse but sharp enough to cut through the haze of my rage. “We just survived that nightmare, and your first thought is to pick another fight?”

I didn’t stop walking. This ended today. I would not wait another moment. “Krazath is Zarvash’s underling. He wouldn’t act without orders. Zarvash orchestrated your kidnapping on behalf of the temple. He put you in that pit. He doesn’t get to walk away unscathed.”

“And what if you lose?” she shot back, grabbing my arm with a strength that surprised me. Her fingers were small, fragileagainst my scales, but her grip was iron. “What happens to me then? Tous?”

I turned, my tail lashing behind me, and met her glare. Her face was streaked with soot and blood, her lower lip split and swollen. But her eyes—those damned human eyes—burned with defiance. She wasn’t afraid of me, even now. Even after everything.

Good.

“I won’t lose,” I growled, the words rumbling deep in my chest. “Not to him. Not ever.”

She scoffed, releasing my arm and crossing hers over her chest. “You’re not invincible, Rath. You’re bleeding, exhausted, and?—”

“And I’ll tear him apart,” I interrupted, my voice rising enough to echo off the cavern walls. The training grounds were empty for now, the usual clatter of weapons and shouts of sparring warriors absent. The crowd would migrate from the challenge grounds soon enough, their need for blood never sated. Even the air felt heavier, charged with anticipation for what was coming. “He threatened you. He put you in danger. That’s not something I can let slide.”

Orla opened her mouth to argue, but a sharp hiss of pain cut her off. She clutched her side, her face paling as she doubled over. My anger faltered, replaced by a surge of guilt. I’d been so focused on survival and ending this that I hadn’t fully registered the extent of her injuries.

“Selene!” I barked, my voice carrying through the cavern to the group trailing us. The human medic appeared almost instantly, her medkit slung over one shoulder and her dark hair pulled into a tight braid. She moved with the efficiency of someone used to chaos, her sharp eyes scanning Orla’s wounds.

“Sit,” Selene ordered, gesturing to a nearby bench. Orla hesitated, her gaze flicking to me, but Selene wasn’t having it. “Now. Unless you want to lose your damned foot.”

Orla sat, wincing as Selene began cleaning the burns on her arms and legs. The medic’s hands were steady, her movements precise, but Orla’s jaw clenched with every touch. She didn’t complain, though.

“I need to do this,” I said, my voice softer now but no less adamant. “It won’t stop until he feels true consequences.”

Orla looked up at me, her eyes narrowing. “Killing him is quite the consequence. Isn’t that just going to piss the Forge Temple off more?” She winced as Selene hit a particularly sensitive spot. “I’m not trying to stop you. I’m trying to make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

“I’m not going to kill him,” I said, tail lashing. “I want to. He kidnapped you. He threw you into that pit. But there are rules to this. If I don’t challenge him, he’ll think he can get away with it. They all will.”

She held my gaze for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Okay. But I’m not leaving. If you’re going to fight him, I’m going to watch.”

“You need medical attention,” I argued, gesturing to Selene, who was now applying a salve to Orla’s burns.

“And I’m getting it,” Orla snapped. “But I’m not missing this. Not after what he did.”

Selene glanced between us, her lips pressed into a thin line. “She’s stubborn,” she said, her tone dry. “But she’s right. She’s stable enough to stay. Watchingonly.” Selene jabbed a finger at my mate. Then she turned to me. “You should really have a healer take a look at you before you add to your own injury list.”

I growled low in my throat, torn between my need to protect Orla and my desire to make Zarvash pay. In the end, it was the fire in her eyes that decided it. She wasn’t just my mate—she wasmy equal. And if she wanted to stand by me, I wouldn’t deny her that.

“You can watch,” I said, my voice rough. “But I want you sitting next to Selene.”

Orla smiled, though it was strained by pain. “Deal. Now go kick his ass.”

Her words sparked something in me—a fierce pride that burned hotter than any flame. I turned toward the training ground’s center, where Zarvash was already waiting, his bronze scales gleaming under the faint glow of the heat crystals. His copper-highlighted tail flicked lazily, his expression one of cool amusement.

“Flame Heart,” he called, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ready to bleed?”

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