Page 123 of Court of Secrets and Flames

The others are too caught up in their own battles for survival to notice the prince facing off with certain doom.

“Sterling! No!”

My heart stutters.

Beside me, Agnar gestures to the nameless soldier. “Go to the prince! I’ll stay here.”

The dragons’ roars of challenge thunder across the heavens, a symphony of fury for their imperiled dragoncaller. This bond with all of them, fresh yet solid, becomes my lifeline as I reach out with my mind, imploring their aid.

But my love is too far away. Dragonfire would kill him slower than the drachen and in more pain.

A scream shatters the moment’s fragile hope.

Before I can react, Jasper sprints toward Sterling with his sword held high.

The king charges out of his ring of guards, slamming his shoulder into his brother and knocking Sterling aside. Jasper slashes through the darkness, his blade sinking into the drachen as if piercing water. His weapon swishes right through the phantomlike creature.

And is utterly ineffective.

Jasper doesn’t stand a chance.

In one swift, brutal motion, the creature strikes. Blood, deep and dark, spurts from Jasper’s throat, painting the ground with royal blood before he’s yanked down.

“Jasper!” Sterling falls to his knees beside his brother.

The king’s selfless act buys me enough time to get closer. I cannot miss from this distance, even while running.

Heat courses through my veins—a searing tide of anger and magic unfurling from the core of my being.

I clench my fists, and with a surge of will, I thrust a lance of fire at the drachen.

The creature vanishes like smoke in a gale.

One minute, there. The next, gone.

With my heart pumping and my boots pounding, I sprint toward Sterling.

Finally, I reach them.

Sterling holds the king, pressing a gentle hand to his brother’s lips. “Stop talking, Jas. You’ll be okay. We’ll get the healer and…”

“Marry…Lark.” Blood bubbles between the king’s lips and the wound in his throat as he uses his last words to give his brother one last order.

The king draws one final labored, gurgling breath. And then he’s gone.

Sterling’s grief-stricken wail pierces the turmoil and claws at my heart. He cradles Jasper’s limp form, his face twisted in agony.

The drachen can’t take another life. I won’t let them.

Not today.

“Dragons, hear me! Burn these shadow creatures from our home!” Along with my words, I channel my resolve into them, projecting my all-consuming desire to protect our home and loved ones.

Their roars boom through the air, a cacophony of fury and power.

Ryu, the largest male, meets my gaze, and an understanding passes between us.

“Everyone, get down, now!” I throw myself over Sterling as Bastian collapses over Leesa. The soldiers and remaining guards follow suit while the dragons draw breath. Agnar tries to cover me, but I push him aside.

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