Page 95 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

Still upside down, I allowed my feet to drop onto his shoulders and squeeze his neck as the tip of his blade slit my skin from neck to chin. Blood trickled from the wound into my face, joining the blood from my nose, and I jerked my feet to the side, trying to break Eldrin’s neck.

He dropped his sword and allowed his body to spin with the move, then escaped my hold as I darted off and flipped upright.

Caelan appeared and stabbed Eldrin in the shoulder. Eldrin groaned as I touched my neck, the injury weakening my magic further. With the amount of magic I was using and the exertion, exhaustion was taking hold. The wound drained my energy and ability to channel my magic.

The ground shook, and rocks from the highest mountain peak tumbled down toward us, taking out two guards.

My stomach dropped just as the dragon roared even louder and took off flying.

I turned my head to see Lira on Nightbane’s back, racing toward us. Eiric flew right behind her.

The dragon is coming for you.Fear gripped me, but adrenaline pumped through me, burning off some of the weakness.I can’t cloak you anymore.

Caelan yanked his sword from Eldrin’s body. “Do we kill him now or make a show of it?” he asked, but I couldn’t focus on that. Not right now.

“Just—” I started, but a sickening grunt caused me to turn my head toward Eldrin.

He’d stabbed Caelan in one wing, and Caelan dropped to the stony ground.

“You will not win, Tavish.” Eldrin slammed into me again, and I fell backward, my wings failing to gain traction as Finnian and Lorne clashed blades with the warriors above me.

I hit the ground, straining my back and wing muscles, but I punched Eldrin in the face. Something crunched, but I didn’t take the time to evaluate as I kneed him between the legs, following Lira’s lead.

The ground shook and quaked from Eiric wielding her earth magic, but she’d used so much that I suspected her ability wouldn’t last. Still, it let me know that she was protecting Lira. I shoved Eldrin off me and saw the dragon fly over Lira and Eiric. Lira had gotten off the cù-sìth, and her gaze darted everywhere,no doubt searching for me as the dragon and Eiric stared into each other’s eyes.

Strange.

Five of the guards barreled toward Lira. I jumped to my feet and flapped my wings, ready to intervene, but something yanked on my foot.

“Eiric, Lira is being attacked!” I shouted, needing her to protect my most cherished treasure in the entire realm.

I flapped my wings, but something stabbed into my calf. I growled and kicked Eldrin, but I had to watch as Eiric tore her gaze from the dragon prince and leaped toward Lira.

This time, when Eldrin yanked, he dug his fingers into the wound, and my body crumbled. I spun around and placed the tip of my sword right above his chest.

“This is for attacking Lira and deceiving me,” I gritted, readying to drive the blade through his heart.

Tavish, help,Lira connected.

Large, scaly wings flapped over us as the dragon took to the sky. I looked up and saw my mate dangling from the dragon’s talons, her eyes wide and her blonde hair blowing wildly around her face.

The dragon prince was taking her.

Blighted abyss. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I needed to kill him here and now before she got too far away.

Underneath me, Eldrin’s legs moved sharply to the left, toppling me over. Eldrin then took the same position I had, with his sword tip at my heart.

I couldn’t seem to care at the moment, watching Lira grow smaller as the dragon flew away. My heart splintered with a pain I’d never thought I could feel.

If I didn’t break free, I could lose my mate forever—and that couldn’t happen. I gritted my teeth, readying to take care of Eldrin once and for all. He’d messed with the true king ofNightmare, Frost, and Darkness one too many times. It ended now.

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