Page 145 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
“Don’t!”
Ben ignored Kieran as his dragon flew over Praskovya, and he launched himself at her. The woman shouted. Ben landed on her in an awkward mess of limbs, but we’d trained for this. He latched on like his life depended on it. The woman flailed and tried to bat him away, but I’d experienced Ben’s death grip. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Enmei and Aurelia dove toward Praskovya. Enmei swiped at her, stopping the dragon from attempting a barrel roll. Meanwhile, Ben tugged at the satchel. Blood dripped from his nose—a sign of his Gift working overtime. That’s right. His telekinesis. Thesatchel tugged against the woman’s body—both from Ben’s grip as well as his Gift.
This has to work. We have to end this.
But while the two dragons wrestled for control, I spotted the purple dragon creeping up from behind. Its mouth opened—
‘Kieran! Their backs!’I screamed through our bond.
Hesperos rammed into the king’s dragon, stopping him from firing on Praskovya.
Praskovyaroared.Time went still as a bloodcurdling scream filled the battle. Bile threatened to rise in my throat when I followed the source of the flames. Enmei was covered in the flames and on his back…
Gods, the image would haunt my mind. Aurelia was still screaming. Her hands flailed helplessly as she batted at her face, but there was no outrunning the flames.
Enmei bellowed. Fire kindled in his throat as he prepared to fire straight at the mess of dragons. He didn’t care that Kieran and Ben were rightthere.No. Oh gods, no.
“Gareth!” I shrieked. “You have to—”
“On it!” Gareth called. Eutimio was already hurtling toward Enmei. They slammed into each other, and Enmei’s flames missed its target.Thank the gods.
Kieran was right. We could pretend we controlled our dragons, but we didn’t. I glanced at Aurelia’s slumped form. If this kept up, everyone would die. “Gareth, I—”
“You have to get her!” Gareth yelled. Enmei bared its teeth at Eutimio. “I can’t get to her right now.”
The Mother help me.My heart pounded. All of Kieran’s predictions came true. Our dragons were turning on each other.‘Umara, please listen to me. Take me to Aurelia.’
I thanked the gods for Umara following my command. She flew atop Enmei where Aurelia was flung around like a ragdoll, moaning and clutching at her face. My stomach rolled. “The Child help me.” I unstrapped myself and jumped down.
Slam!I yelped as I collided against Enmei’s silver scales. He swerved to the side, and I barely managed to stay on. Inches above me, flames coated the air.Fuck.My heart hammered against my ribcage. I kept a tight grip as another collision nearly sent me flying.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My nails bled, but I refused to let go. We needed to end this. I glanced up from where I hugged Enmei’s lower back. Aurelia’s prone form lay against his neck, but she wasn’t passed out. No, I could hear her moaning from here. Gods, the pain she must be in. The fire had gotten her face and the left side of her body. Some of her uniform had melted into her skin.
“You have to stop this!” I bellowed at Enmei. “Please.” I wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. And Aurelia… if she wasn’t dead, this might just kill her. “It’s forher.She needs to be healed.”
But Enmei wouldn’t stop. Not when he was too wrapped up in his rage to think clearly. I took a deep breath, ignored my aching muscles, and yankedat Aurelia’s strap. When it came loose, I wrapped my arms around her waist and prayed to the gods. It took one slight shift from Enmei and then we went flying through the sky.
For a terrifying couple of seconds, I was sure I’d die. That we’d splatter against the ground. But then a cool shadow wrapped around me and cradled me in the air.
‘What the fuck, Selena? You said you wouldn’t get involved.’
I smiled.‘I knew you’d catch me.’Our relationship aside, Kieran was my captain. He wouldn’t let me get hurt. And more than that… as his fated mate, he’d prioritize my life.
The shadows took us away, and we reappeared on the grass several yards away from the absolute mess of a battle. Most of the villagers’ screams had died down. I didn’t want to think about what that meant.
‘DON’T do that again. I can’t—I don’t have any reserves left.’That’s what he said last time, but I wasn’t going to test him. Instead, I murmured a promise to be more careful.‘I can’t lose you, Selena. Don’t take any more risks.’
I ignored my muddied emotions and turned my attention to Aurelia. She looked awful. Burns covered the entire left side of her face and her neck. Not just that, but her entire left side. Her clothes had melted into her burnt skin.
Oh gods.
“Kill… me,” Aurelia moaned.
“No.” I wanted to take her hand, wanted to comforther. But I wasn’t sure if it’d cause her more pain, so I kept my trembling hands at my sides. “You’re not dying.”
