I growled to let him know I heard him, then approached the fence line. Muttered conversation enveloped the area. No one pointed, but everyone looked to the same place.
This was the first time I’d presented myself in public with my missing leg. School didn’t count— this was being broadcasted live to thousands of people.
I couldn’t imagine what people were saying about a three-legged wolven attempting to win the King’s Contest. I was so embarrassed I wanted to skulk home with my tail between my legs.
Then Emma stirred on my back, and I no longer felt afraid. I felt brave. What did I have to be ashamed of? The most beautiful sorceress in Malovia was my chosen queen. We were the underdogs, certainly, but we had just as much a chance of winning as anyone else. Time to prove that I belonged on that throne.
We squared off against the other competitors on the opposite side of the jousting field. The dragon was green in color. Smoke furled out of his nostrils as he faced me. The sorceress riding him gave a challenging smirk as she lowered the lance.
I leapt forward into a charge. Emma’s legs tightened around my belly in an attempt to hold on. I could feel her movements as she raised the lance.
The dragon was several feet taller than I. The opposite sorceress had the advantage. We drew closer and closer, and the ground shook as the dragon charged past. I heard a loud crunching sound, then felt Emma careen backward with the rough force of the other rider’s lance as it smashed against her shield.
Dammit. We lost a point. Emma gasped in pain— I slowed my steps as we neared the end of the field.
“My arm,” Emma moaned. “Fuck, it hurts.”
“Are you all right?” I asked. Broken arms were common during jousts. I didn’t want Emma getting hurt.
“It’s just bruised,” she gasped as we rounded the corner. “That bitch packs a mean punch.”
“Give it right back to her.”I charged again, picking up speed. The dragon and I faced off. He had a glittering menace in his black eyes, flames flickering from his mouth as I drew near.
Emma was prepared this time. She had her lance aimed before the other sorceress decided on her target, and her body weight shifted forward as she rammed the lance into the shield of the other rider. It knocked the dragon sorceress sideways and nearly tossed her off her mount.
“Well done,onawilke!” I cheered. We rounded the corner for the last time. We were both tied up. This would determine who won.
The dragon and I catapulted at full speed. The crowd was roaring— the sound made my ears ring. Emma and the dragon sorceress lowered their lances at the same time and aimed. It would be close.
I heard the shattering of a lance as I ran past the dragon, and looked back. Emma had broken her lance as she rammed it against the opposite rider’s shield, but she hadn’t gotten hit herself. We’d won the joust.
But the dragon and his rider weren’t willing to give up yet. The sorceress turned around and shot a spell at Emma, knocking her off my back. She went rolling to the ground, and I jerked to a halt. The other Marked slid down her dragon’s back and began running at us with raised hands.
“Emma!” I shouted, but it was all I had time to say, because the earthquake beneath my paws told me a dragon was coming. I spun out of the way as a blast of flame ignited the ground where I’d just stood. The dragon roared and extended his jaws, but I jumped out of the way of his snapping fangs and instead ran to the wings, where I grabbed a good chunk in my teeth. I jerked my head to the side, ripping a hole in the dragon’s sensitive membranes. The shifter roared in pain.
He moved his tail overhead to crush me, but I let go of the wing and rolled out of the way. The tail came crashing down, and the spikes got stuck in the earth. As the dragon unsuccessfully tried to lift it from the earth, I jumped into the air and rammed him in the shoulder.
My blow was so powerful it sent the dragon crashing onto his side. He roared in frustration, emitting a barrel of fire from his insides as I jumped onto his sensitive stomach. I sank my claws in to get a good hold. Before the dragon knew what was going on, I put my fangs to his throat.
“Stay down, or I’ll kill you,” I warned. The dragon froze, and didn’t move again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Emma and the other sorceress waged war. The Marked opposite Emma sent illusion spell after illusion spell in the direction of my mate. Emma had to dive and roll in order to avoid being hit by the other sorceress’s complicated magic. Glittering purple balls of electricity rocketed at Emma from the hands of the other Marked, exploding once they hit the earth. Her teeth were bared in concentration. She knew if she didn’t win this, it was all over.
But Emma’s whole life had been about training to be on her toes, and she could maintain her balance and outmaneuver the other sorceress with ease. The other Marked’s eyes grew large when Emma got close. Emma unleashed her sword, then kicked the sorceress’s legs out from under her. Emma aimed the sword at the Marked’s heart, breathing intensely with a deadly look in her eyes.
Slowly, the other sorceress raised her hands in surrender, and the crowd went wild.
I got off the dragon, and changed back. Across the way, Lord Lucien was applauding loudly, a large smile on his face. It hit me that we’d managed to make it past the first round, and I smiled in relief.
“That was a good fight.” The dragon had changed back and was looking at me in approval. He extended a hand for me to shake, and I took it. “I’ve never had anyone beat me in a duel before.”
“My best friend is a dragon. I know their weak points,” I said with a shrug. “What’s your name again? I didn’t catch it during the ceremony.”
“Philip. My mate is Margot,” he replied. “I don’t have to ask who you are. Everyone knows. Though I’m not sure about your mate. I haven’t seen her around before.”
“Emma. She’s new here,” I said. “If you don’t know her, you will soon enough. She has a bit of a temper. I don’t think she’ll go down easy.”
Philip laughed. “I’d better go talk to my mate. She’s probably hopping mad right now, though she doesn’t want to show it.”
