Page 97 of Eluvonia
Declan turns back, his wings beating harder against the wind.You don’t think your father is colluding with the Arcanis Order, do you?he asks, his tone sharp.
“What’s the Arcanis Order?” I ask, peering behind us again. The figures are gaining ground—or air, rather. My stomach churns.
Kaida’s growl deepens, a note of frustration underlying it while Declan answers.A group of scientists—if you can call them that. Mad, dangerous.
A chill races down my spine. “So you think they experimented on the Dragons?” I ask, the question hanging heavy between us.
Yes, Declan says, his voice grim.
The cliffs drop away into open sky and water, but there’s no time to admire the view. I glance back. “Heads up,” I call. “They’re on your tails.”
Kaida growls, a sound that vibrates through my legs.We’llhave to fight,he says. Declan exhales a plume of steam, the air around him shimmering with heat.
I grip Kaida tighter with my thighs, summoning a set of thorn arrows in my free hand. The magic hums against my palm, and I knock an arrow onto the bowstring, readying myself. Kaida banks sharply, turning to face the incoming Dragons.Ready?he asks, his voice a low rumble.
I snort, a sardonic smile tugging at my lips. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s hope the odds are in our favor, or we’re screwed.”
Declan roars, the sound echoing across the cliffs. His golden eyes blaze, and suddenly the last rays of sunlight seem to concentrate, bending and sharpening into a focused beam of light. It pierces the oncoming Dragons, cutting through their ranks like a blade. Screams and roars rise up as several fall into the ocean below, some engulfed in flames.
I whip my head toward Declan, wide-eyed. “What the hell was that?” I demand.
Declan’s massive head turns to me, his golden scales catching the light.Pretty sure I mentioned I was blessed by the Light Ymiral,he says, a note of pride in his voice.
I blink, trying to remember.Did he?I think, shaking my head. “Well, that was badass.”
Declan lets out a low chuckle, but his gaze slides to the horizon, where the sun is almost gone.Unfortunately, I can’t do it again.
I twist toward Kaida. “What about you? Do your shadow thing!”
Kaida is silent for a moment, and I feel his hesitation.I can’t.He finally says, his voice clipped.
I frown. “Why not?”
A string. For now, we fight, he says, punctuating his words with a roar as he surges forward.
The first wave of Dragons collides with us, their snarls and roars deafening, filling the air with a thunderous rage. Red scales glint in the dimming sunlight as the fiery-eyed beasts dive toward us, their wings cutting through the sky like daggers. I release an arrow, watching as it sinks deep into the shoulder of one of the hybrid creatures. The beast screeches in agony, its twisted form spiraling away, but another, larger and fiercer, takes its place.
Kaida twists and spins in the air, his onyx wings beating powerfully, claws raking across an enemy’s side. Dark green scales are torn away as his grip sinks into the creature’s flesh. Its blood sprays out, mingling with the crimson streaks from the surrounding Dragons.
Declan is a blur of motion, a streak of gold as he unleashes torrents of fire. The golden flames devour everything in their path, turning the air thick with smoke. His roar of fury mixes with the crackling heat, sending a wave of heat and ash that churns the sky.
I keep firing, my bow an extension of my will. The thorn arrows sink deep into Dragon scales and flesh, the sickeningthunkof impact ringing in my ears. My arms ache from the constant strain, sweat stinging my eyes. One of the hybrid creatures lunges, Its eyes are wild, its claws elongated and jagged. Kaida jerks upward, narrowly avoiding its deadly swipe, and I take the opening, loosing an arrow straight into its chest.
The hybrid staggers midair, its roars filled with a mixture of rage and pain, but it doesn’t fall. Blood, thick and dark, pours from the wound, staining the air with its iron scent. Thecreature crashes against Kaida’s side, claws scraping against his scales, but he’s faster, twisting to throw the beast off, his teeth flashing as he snaps at it in retaliation.
The fight rages on, an endless storm of violence. The sky darkens with each passing moment, the once-bright blue of day giving way to the inky black of night, thick with burning flesh and the metallic tang of blood, clinging to everything. The Dragons’ roars blend with the crashing waves below, creating a symphony of chaos. My chest tightens with the pressure of it all, but I force myself to focus.
Hold on!Kaida’s voice cuts through the madness, low and fierce.
Before I can react, he dives, plummeting toward the ocean. The sudden drop steals the breath from my lungs, and for a split second, everything is a blur. The ocean rushes up to meet us, dark and unforgiving, but Kaida pulls up at the last second, skimming just above the surface. Water erupts around us, spraying in all directions.
I glance back to see the pursuing Dragons falter. Their formations break, unsure, confused. The once-unstoppable force stumbles in the face of Kaida’s calculated move.
Declan’s voice rings out, a laugh full of dark amusement.Smart move!But Kaida doesn’t respond, his focus unwavering as he climbs again, wings beating furiously. The cliffs fade into the distance, swallowed by the night, and the remaining Dragons hesitate. Their roars echo briefly before they retreat, fading into the darkness, leaving nothing but the sound of the ocean and the beating of our wings.
My body sags with relief, exhaustion pulling at every muscle, but I don’t loosen my grip on Kaida. “That… was insane,” I rasp, my voice hoarse from the shouting, the battle, the sheer adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
Kaida lets out a low rumble, a sound that might’ve been a chuckle if not for the underlying edge of warning.It’s not over yet.
