Page 33 of A Court of Darkness and Dragons

Ferrula stepped forward, her boots scraping across the stone floor, eyes locked on Inderia like a predator sizing up her kill.

“I appreciate you being so candid,” she said, her voice low and edged with steel. “It’ll make your execution move along much faster.”

Inderia chuckled, the sound soft but dripping with mockery. “Did you think I told you all that because I fear you, Ferrula?” She tilted her head, her smile twisting into something venomous. “No. I told you because neither of you will leave this cavern alive.”

Her hands rose slowly, almost lazily, and the air shifted. A low hum filled the space as a roiling dark cloud formed above her palms, shadows pulsing like a living thing.

I felt the pressure in the room change, the magic thick and suffocating. “How is she doing that?” I murmured.

Inderia’s eyes flickered bright, the unnatural red flashing like embers in a dying fire. “It’s simple, really. An apprentice can feed off her master… if they allow it. I made a blood oath with Severeth.”

Ferrula glanced at me, her grip tightening on her weapon. “Does that mean she has Severeth’s powers?”

My jaw tightened. “I have no idea.”

A crackling hiss filled the cavern. Lightning sparked between Inderia’s fingertips, jagged and erratic, dancing like hungry serpents ready to strike. The blue glow of the pool reflected off her face, making her look half-goddess, half-nightmare.

Then, with a flick of her wrists, she sent a searing bolt of lightning screaming across the chamber, straight at Ferrula.

The air burned with ozone; the flash blinding. It slammed into the stone where Ferrula had stood a heartbeat before, shattering rock, and sending a spray of molten sparks into the air.

Ferrula rolled across the stone floor as another bolt scorched past, the impact cracking the flagstones and filling the cavern with the stench of burned rock. She came up on one knee, blade in hand, eyes narrowed, but Inderia’s next strike was faster.

The lightning caught Ferrula in the shoulder with a severe snap.

I braced for her cry of pain… but it never came.

Instead, Ferrula straightened slowly, her sword lowering to her side. Her face was utterly blank, no rage, no focus, no recognition.

“Ferr?” My voice wavered. “You, okay?”

Inderia’s smile curved like a dagger. “It’s just a little trick Severeth shared with me. She’s my puppet now… but she’ll know she killed you before I have her slit her own throat.”

A cold knot twisted in my gut. “You⁠—”

But Ferrula was already moving toward me.

Her steps were stiff, her head tilting slightly as though her body didn’t quite belong to her anymore. The way she moved was wrong, calculated, slow, but radiating lethal intent.

I couldn’t fight her. Not without risking real damage.

Her blade came down in a heavy arc, and I caught it on the edge of my own, the impact sending a shock up my arms. I countered, sidestepped, and parried again. Each clash drained me, the weight of her blows jarring my bones.

She lacked her usual speed and precision, but her strength… her strength was untouched.

Another strike. Another. My defenses slowed with each one.

The edge of the chamber pressed against my back. My shoulders hit cold stone.

Ferrula stepped in, shadow falling over me, sword rising again.

And there was nowhere left to go.

My arms were shaking from the weight of the last blow, my back still pressed to the cold stone. I reached for Zander through our mental tether, my breath hitching.

I’m sorry.

But before his reply could reach me, Kaelith’s presence stormed in like a hurricane, fierce and absolute. Her magic slammed through the bond, and I felt it ripple outward, rattling the very air. Somewhere far above, I could feel the other dragons react, their roars reverberating in my chest.