My heart stopped.
Rastaban didn’t hesitate. The dragon adjusted his footing, causing more of the castle wall to crumble. Then we were almost thrown back with the wind force of his wings as he took off after Eltanin.
“Stop!” I yelled, trying to command Rastaban, but it was too late; my dragon voice was weak and Rastaban shot too quickly out of range. My head whipped to Nyte. “You have to go!”
Rastaban was too big; his claws or jaw could kill Eltanin, which became the most imminent threat and fear.
Drystan was already running out, but Nyte hesitated, painfully conflicted.
“I’m fine. Please, don’t let him die.”
A muscle in his jaw worked. “You’re injured,” he assessed tightly. “Badly.”
His furious gaze surveyed around, and he growled, “Where the fuck did Fedora slither off to?”
“I can handle her if she comes back. Nyte—”
More roars shook the sky, and my desperation was immeasurable. Nyte tensed with a groan, balancing a hand against the ground. Eltanin was hurt. Nyte could feel it.
“He’ll kill him!” I said desperately.
Steps came rushing into the room, and we found Nadia racing toward us. “I’ll stay with her. Drystan is already in pursuit of your father on Athebyne.”
Nyte regarded me one last time, his eyes cleaved with misery as he cupped a hand to my cheek.
“Stay alive,” I whispered to him.
He nodded; then he was gone through the void.
45Nyte
When my body began falling rapidly through air, I thought I’d made a foolish error in attempting to mount Eltanin using the void. He was darting too fast through the night sky. But he saw me,felt me,and twisted to catch me in a fearless dive.
I was barely able to get a tight grip on the saddle horn and brace my legs on Eltanin before he roared at the tip of Rastaban’s claws tearing his chest. It wasn’t too deep, as he’d almost glided completely out of range, but his pain lanced through me. The brave younger dragon didn’t falter in his flight, and, now that I was with him, we were going to end this together.
The clouds were thick and rolling with the dark anger we expelled up here. We lost track of my father, but it gave us a moment to think and brace. I extended every sense I could through the sharp wind slicing past.
Eltanin sensed his father before I did mine, diving suddenly with a shrill cry, and I twisted a look up to find the horrifying sight of Rastaban, his jaw wide, revealing every razor tooth, diving after us. Twisting in the saddle, I barely got into position to throw out a shield against his breath. My teeth clenched tight, and a roar tore from me this time, straining with every dreg of strength I had against the mighty, shadowy power ramming into my shield made of similar essence. I was slipping…
The pressure eased, and when my magick cleared, I saw that a stroke of red was my saving grace. The sight of my brother on the back of Athebyne, who clawed and snapped at an equally vicious Rastaban, stilled my whole fucking world.
The two dragons fighting viciously in flight was a sight of pure carnage and terror.
Flipping back into riding position, I spoke to Eltanin. “We fight. Until the end we fight.” We shifted course, heading back toward the battling duo.
Eltanin heaved a breath of starry darkness, which slammed into Rastaban’shead. The giant black dragon emitted an ear-splitting roar, flailing in his attempt to maintain his strong flight.
Even against two dragons Rastaban was an undeniably powerful dragon. My father, much to my displeasure, remained on his back.
No matter. I wanted the last dregs of his life to be spilled by my hands.
Rastaban kept falling, and blood poured out of several wounds caused by teeth and claws. I watched until the dark clouds swallowed him.
I exchanged a wary look with Drystan. The silence vibrated.
My heart started to calm until, slipping past our notice, Rastaban surged up from beneath Drystan, and all I could do was watch with horror and complete helpless terror as his jaw clamped around the base of Athebyne’s throat.
The red dragon cried as it was dragged up while Drystan was thrown off her back.
