Page 34 of Eluvonia
Shura nods once, disgust shining in her eyes.
Kaida groans, his tone laced with sarcastic amusement. “How touching.”
I catch the faintest flicker of a grin on his lips, but my attention slides back to Shura. There’s something about her—tall, imposing, radiating an aura of effortless power. The way she moves in sync with Kaida, the ease with which she dispatches her enemies, like killing is second nature, stirs my curiosity.
“Is she your… lover?” I ask, the question escaping before I can think better of it.
Shura freezes, her face twisting into an expression of pure, venomous disgust. Her eyes narrow like daggers, and her lips curl into a sneer. “He’s my brother!” she spits, her voice dripping with revulsion. “Dragons may be different than you Fae, but incest? Really? You think we’re that sick?”
I flinch at the venom in her voice, my stomach twisting in discomfort.
“Brother?” I echo, my mind struggling to process the revelation.
“Half,” Kaida mutters with a faint scowl. He sighs, clearly uninterested in the exchange. “Enough. Shura, get back to the main guard and hold the line. I need to find Dec.”
Shura winks at him before vanishing into the chaos.
Kaida exhales sharply, brushing past me. I move to follow, but before I can take a step, a Fae bursts from behind a burning tent, sword raised high. My breath catches, my heart slamming against my ribs as he swings his blade down toward us.
Kaida groans, stepping forward with an air of exasperation. “This is getting ridiculous.”
Before the Fae’s sword can reach us, he crumples to the ground, a fresh wound slashed across his throat.
I barely have time to process what just happened before Declan steps into view, grinning like this is all some grand adventure. His sword drips with blood, his stance casual as if he hadn’t just ended a life.
“There you are! Been looking everywhere for you two.”
He wipes his blade on the dead Fae’s tunic, utterly unfazed by the inferno swallowing the world around us.
“Good timing,” Kaida says, his voice clipped. “We need to rally the guard and push them to the edge of the camp. I’m ending this.”
Kaida cracks his knuckles, his body radiating restless energy, his shadows whipping at his feet. Declan opens his mouth to reply but freezes, his eyes widening in alarm.
“Kaida, look out!” he shouts, but it’s already too late.
A massive Dragon bursts through the burning tents, bellowing in pain, thrashing wildly. At least ten Fae cling to its back, stabbing at its scales in desperation. The Dragon’s roar rips through the air, its tail smashing through tents and sendingboth rebels and guards flying.
But we’re not fast enough.
The Dragon’s tail lashes toward us, and the impact throws us over the cliff edge before I can even react. I’m falling through the air, the ocean rushing up to meet me.
Amid the chaos, I glimpse Kaida beside me, his wings snapping open with a powerful whoosh. Shadows twist around him, pulling at the air as he reaches for me. His expression is fierce, desperate. But just as his hand is inches from mine, a rebel Fae claws onto his back, a wild snarl escaping his lips.
“Shit!” I scream, helpless as I plummet, spinning in the air.
I twist, searching for something to hold on to, but all I see is sky and the churning ocean below. My pulse races as Kaida fights the Fae mid-air, his wings straining to keep him steady, shadows pulling at the Fae’s limbs in an attempt to dislodge him.
Declan’s fighting just above us, wings flaring as he fends off another Fae with brutal strikes. But it’s Kaida’s battle that grips my attention. He’s trading punches, using his elbows and knees, shadows biting and clawing at the rebel who’s latched on to him.
The ocean’s getting closer. Panic surges in my chest as I look at Kaida, locking eyes for a split second—fear, pain, and something else, something sharp, in his gaze.
The rebel Fae on his back pulls a dagger, and before I can even yell, the blade sinks into Kaida’s wing, slicing through the membrane. Kaida roars, agony flashing across his face, but with one last surge of strength, he kicks the Fae off, sending him plummeting toward the rocks below.
But it’s too late. His wing is ruined, blood trailing behindhim as he folds his wings, angling for the fall.
The ocean’s too close now. The cold spray hits my skin, and my stomach churns.
I look up, catching Kaida’s gaze one last time. His eyes flicker with determination as he reaches out a hand towards me. “So you don’t get lost!” he shouts, his voice strained from the wind.
