Page 117 of The Dragon Queen

They are my mates, Glimmer shot back.I will defend them with my last breath.

Never your last breath, Darkspire assured her.

We got closer and closer, but so did the enemy dragons, their cries ringing out across the sky. Harsh, abrasive, it felt like it cut into me just like the pain within. My eyes ached as I stared at those two groups of dragons, willing Brom to turn around and respond to the threat, yet when I was forced to blink, I saw something else for a second.

Close, dark, warm, I was nestled down in the sands, surrounded by those I had given my heart to, their humming song helping transport me out of my body and away from the pain?—

Only to snap back into reality.

Darkspire’s wings swept through the winds, the sound like the rumble of thunder as he gained altitude rapidly. He didn’t bother roaring, declaring anything, because he was a silent killer. He hunted these misguided idiots like a wolf did a pack of deer, fuelled by strength, by instincts born from Dragon Home.

And he was about to teach these tame dragons a lesson.

He appeared in their path, wings outstretched like warning flags, his hiss of breath already causing the air to sizzle. The enemy dragons instantly slowed their pace, backwinging, despite their riders’ complaints, because they knew.

Attack what is mine and I will have your riders’ skin melting from their flesh, he told them.I will burn their eyes from their sockets, have them drowning on their own blood before they take another breath.Stand down if you wish to live another day.

I watched a fight take place, but it was with the riders and their beasts, not with my dragons. The riders swore, tried to push them on, but the hereditary fear burned into their minds by dragons like Aisenbran had them resisting.

They lost, though.

The madness of men. These riders had to know what they were doing. They couldn’t ride beside Draven this long without knowing what ‘Spire was capable of, and yet they urged their dragons on.

Their bondmates.

The desperation they must’ve felt to push their dragons on was astounding. I clung to the saddle horn and leaned down low, speaking directly to Darkspire.

Don’t burn them with acid.

I would probably regret this, but right now I couldn’t bear any more pain as another wave smashed into me.

“Pippin!”

Draven held me close as Darkspire let out a frustrated roar, then lunged forward. His massive claws raked through the air and through one dragon’s wing. It had tried to dodge out of the way, but the big green dragon’s reach was so much further than the others. The dragon’s scream felt like it cut all the way through me as it fell like a stone. His other wing worked twice as hard to try to keep himaloft, but I watched him go down, down, down, forced to wrench my eyes up when another dragon roared its challenge.

They thought to attack Darkspire at the same time, thinking that the remaining two could improve their chances if they worked together. I flinched back, as if it was my face they were lunging at, but there was no need. Darkspire spun around, Glimmer’s wings working as he lashed the two of them with his tail.

They went flying back, their riders staying in the saddle through sheer will alone. I caught a glimpse of bared teeth, maddened eyes, and then they were rallying.

But so was my wing.

You saved some for us?Wraith’s voice was like black silk running through my mind.That’s unlike you, Darkspire.

I won’t.

Cloudy roared his disgust, then sucked in a breath, sending a gout of flame shooting towards one rider. He screamed, batting at his tunic, his pants, and his dragon forced to wheel away and fly off if there was to be any chance of his rider surviving, leaving just one enemy dragon.

“Come on, lad!” the rider shouted. “Come on!”

Why would they do this?Glimmer asked me.He has no hope of winning.Wraith sucked in a breath, the air crackling with lightning, Obsidian doing the same.They cannot win this fight.

It appeared she sought the answer herself. My consciousness left my body and speared into the enemy rider’s.

This is the only way, Hurricane,he told his dragon.If we win, we get to claim some land for ourselves. If we lose…

The man visualised it clearly, his trial before the Royal Riders. The judgement had already been made if the presence of a noose hanging from the gallows was anything to go by. He faced down the crowd proudly, knowing he’d fought for what he believed in. He’d rather die than go back to that life, of pretending he didn’t care, that he didn’t need a connection to more than just his comrades. He’d die free and?—

GO!

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