Page 22 of The Last Syphon

It was a tough thing to accept.

The soul-link pulsed. Solace washed over her. It was warm and light. A comforting feeling that instantly made her feel a little better. It was quickly followed by pure strength, as if Fraener was lending her his strength, his power, his nerves of steel.

Dragons didn’t feel fear; they invoked it, and he would not allow her to feel such an emotion.

She sat up straighter, her spine stiffening with resolve.

Inara was going to do whatever she needed to do to keep everyone safe.

Far off in the distance, she glimpsed something in the sky. It was so far away that it just looked like a black dot on the horizon, but something about it put her on high alert and made apprehension tighten her chest.

Why?

Inara wished she could see what it was. Why it was causing this feeling⁠—

Heat flared from her eyes, and then it was like she was flying, zooming forward at unimaginable speed. She knew she wasn’t really moving because she could still feel her hands clutching the spikes on Fraener’s back, could still feel his body beneath her. But she could see the realm rushing by her as she rocketed forward, going so fast she could barely make out what was what.

That small, black dot that was once far out into the distance rushed up quickly, and then Inara came to a sudden, grinding halt.

It wasn’t a dot at all.

No.

It was a dragon.

A big, scary motherfucking dragon that she was now staring right into the eyes of from thousands of miles away.

How?

How the fuck how?

It had a terrifying aura, with a mixture of blue and black scales. She only got a glimpse, just enough to get a sense of its destructive power before she was snapped back to herself. A wave of dizziness washed over her. Inara rubbed her temple, unsure of exactly what had just happened.

What in the realm was that?

Felix’s frightened voice echoed up to her. “Inara.” Her gaze flicked down to him. “What just happened?”

She shouldn’t have been able to hear him. He was on the ground, and she was so high up it shouldn’t have been possible, and yet, she’d heard him, as clear as if he were standing right next to her.

“What do you mean?” she yelled down to him, continuing to rub her temples. Her head pounded something fierce. Inara was afraid she was going to pass out.

“Your eyes,” he uttered, terror skating over his features. “They turned black and gold. Like your dragon’s.”

“They…did?” She sought out Venerable Cias. A grave expression crossed the old man’s face. His words from the day prior shot through her mind.

The Chosen shall inherit all the powers of its Guardian so that both may live a long and fruitful life at each other’s side. They will be free from the harsh elements of nature and time itself and bound to protect the kingdom and its people for all eternity.

Had she just tapped into Fraener’s formidable sight to see what her human eyes could not? As awesome as that sounded, it was a little unsettling. What other strange abilities would she get from her soul-link with him?

Inara didn’t have long to contemplate it because that terrifying dragon she’d glimpsed was quickly approaching—faster than she had expected.

“Oh, Fates.” Zave swallowed thickly. “That’s—that’s⁠—”

“The Crowned Prince’s dragon,” Venerable Cias finished, voice rough.

Dread filled Inara’s entire body. The dragon was huge. Mountainous. Almost as big as Fraener. Possibly even bigger. It had a long, stocky, elongated body, with a barbed tail and two sharp horns protruding from its head, resembling a devil in dragon form. Recognition flared inside her mind. She’d seen that dragon before. She was sure of it. But where?

Then it hit her.