Page 51 of The Dragon Queen
“Rooooaaaaaaarrrr!” A scream filled the night, and then the talons widened so I would fall.
I was immediately in free fall, my sword still in my grip because it was the only thing I had to hold on to. “Inferno!” I didn’t know how close I was to the ground because the sky was as dark as the city below, because my view spun over and over as I somersaulted continuously through the air.
I’M HERE, CALISTA.His red scales appeared, and then his talons snatched me in midair.
The sword almost slipped through my fingers, but I gave it a tight clench to keep it in place. Once I was cocooned in the safety of his talons, I sheathed it once more, still feeling my body jerk from side to side as Inferno hurtled through the air.
I saw a rain of fire through the opening in his talons, felt the heat because it came so close.
What’s happening?
HE’S CHASING ME.
Get above him and drop me. I’ll kill the rider.
I CAN’T.
Why?
BECAUSE THIS RIDER IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS. SO IS HIS DRAGON.
Go back to the main fight. Have another dragon help you?—
LET ME FOCUS. HE’S FAST AND STRONG.
As are you, Inferno.I said nothing else so he could focus, but I knew the battle took a bad turn when I was flung around in the encasing of his talons. I smacked my head again and felt my body fly from one side to the opposite. My head pounded from getting smacked around so much and my stomach was a mess, about to come up my throat, but the adrenaline kept everything in place.
WE’RE ABOUT TO CRASH.
My adrenaline peaked with the warning. It sounded like the battle was lost. Then I felt my body smack the hardest against his talons, like I’d fallen a hundred feet in just a second. I felt us roll and topple across the ground, heard the sounds of both dragons roaring, felt the heat of fire that passed nearby.What’s happening? Let me out!
“Roooaaaaaaarrrrr!”
I heard Inferno’s roar, but it wasn’t the mighty call of a powerful dragon. It was a painful scream. I could see through the cracks of his talons, see the scales of another dragon as he climbed on top of Inferno.Let me out! Let me help you!
NO.
Inferno!
I CAN’T.
Inferno—
He screamed into the night.
I saw the dragon rip flesh and scales. Saw the blood splash into the sky.Inferno, please let me go.
He screamed again, the enormous dragon pinning him to the ground and ripping him into pieces.I CAN’T…His voice was weak even in my mind, his life already slipping away.BECAUSE YOU’LL DIE.
Chapter 10
Talon
I aimed my sword at his chest and met his block. But I was quick to move for another hit, spinning my sword, dodging his attack, and coming down hard on his arm. The dragon scales of his armor protected him from injury, but I struck him so hard I made a serious dent.
Jairo tried to come for me from behind and stick his sword in my back, but I spun around and punched him so hard in the face, he immediately faltered back and lost his balance. I grabbed hold of his arm and flung him to the ground, hearing a scream of pain as his arm broke upon impact with the ground. His brother was there to take his place, his eyes wild with both terror and anger. He struck me with his sword, but I danced out of the way before I blocked Barron’s attack and kicked him back. Without turning to attack Kael, I slammed my elbows into his face and heard him scream when his nose broke.
I came at Barron again and blocked his sword and then blocked it again, pushing him back on the defense while he struggled to block my attacks. The only reason this fight continued was because he’d selfishly taken Constantine’s power for himself. Itmade him a worthy opponent for me and made it possible for Khazmuda to continue to fight him in the skies. In terms of size, Khazmuda was no match for the behemoth Constantine.