Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
I held on to the pommel hard. “What about Ivory?”
She’s hurt.
My stomach dropped. Fear like I’d never known hit me so hard.
Storm glided low to the ground, finding the two dragons hovering just a hundred feet from the ground, locked in battle.
I spotted Ivory—gripped in Pyre’s talon. She was unconscious, judging by the way her legs bounced around.
The dragon attacked Pyre, scratching with his large talons and biting his neck. Pyre was at a disadvantage because he had to hold Ivory and protect her at the same time. If he jerked too much, he could easily snap her neck.
Storm barreled straight into the dragon just like he had with Regar—and made him tumble out of the sky.
I wanted him to drop me so I could go to Ivory, but I had to wait.
Storm maneuvered on top of him and clawed him as they both fell to the earth. Claws ripped through scales. Roars pierced the sky. I gripped the pommel as we hit the ground, Storm on top. He bit down on the dragon’s throat and ended it.
I slid off both dragons and hit the ground with a heavy thud. My knees buckled because of the momentum, and I lost my footing for just a second. I forced my body forward and ran as fast as I could. “Ivory!”
Pyre had opened his talons and gently laid Ivory on the ground.
I moved over her, seeing that she had, indeed, been knocked unconscious. She was still breathing, but I couldn’t see the source of her injury. When I turned her over, that was when I saw the deep slash right through her armor, the mark from a talon. It had made it past her defenses to her flesh underneath. “No…”
“Ivory!” The voice emerged from behind me, delirious.
I didn’t turn to look because I recognized his voice.
Ryker dropped to his knees beside me. “What’s wrong? What happened?” He didn’t need me to answer when he saw the wound in her side. “Shit…”
“Your dragons may have defeated mine, but your king will not defeat my blade.” His deep voice sounded from a distance away, a voice I’d never heard in my life.
I looked up and saw King Dunbar in the flesh. His armor was bright red like the color of blood, and his blade was embedded with fire-red jewels.
His dark eyes were visible through his helmet, and he spun his sword around his wrist—an invitation to play. “When Rutherford told me your intention to defeat Necrosis, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. Your armies are weary. Your cities burned. And if you’ve already defeated Necrosis, then you’ve prepared this world for my taking.”
I didn’t care about this battle anymore. All I cared about was my wife.
Ryker didn’t seem to care either. “If I don’t get her help, she’ll die.”
She needs a healer.
“Pyre, there should be a medic outside the Capital. Take both of them. Ryker, make sure she gets to the right person.” I cupped her face and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “Don’t die on me, baby.” I left them there, unsheathed my sword, and faced the king in red armor.
He spun his sword around his wrist again. “My condolences.” He grinned wide.
Storm emerged behind him, fire visible in this throat. I’ll burn him.
Destroy the fleet. I’ll take care of him.
Storm released a mighty roar before he took off.
King Dunbar approached me. “You’re honorable.”
“While Storm sinks your fleet to the bottom of the ocean, I’ll stab my sword clean through your armor. Just practical.” I sized him up based on the way he moved, what kind of footwork he had, his age, his muscularity. He seemed to be ten years older than me, give or take a couple years. I had youth on my side, but he had the experience.
“Not honorable at all, then.” He launched at me with a speed I didn’t anticipate. His sword slashed through the air, reflecting the fires from the buildings, giving a sharp glint whenever it moved.
I stopped his blade with mine and returned with several hits of my own, driving him back by sheer will. Now, I was used to opponents who were larger, nearly a foot taller than me, that had the strength of ten men.
King Dunbar was nothing.
He was forced to move farther back, putting all his energy into blocking my hits but unable to return any of his own. He became breathless, and the sweat on his forehead shone in the cracks through his helmet.
I kicked him back and watched him lose his footing and tumble to the ground. “You’re disappointing for a king.” At least this battle would be over quickly, so I could return to my wife—and hope that I still had a wife.
He pushed himself back to his feet and righted his sword.
“I’m not interested in ruling a land I can’t see. There’s only one thing that interests me. Give us your dragons—and I’ll accept your surrender.”