Page 107 of The Dragon Queen

TheSorceress'sblacktendrilsdissolveintonothingness,andsheflicksherhandtocreateashieldofmagicalenergyaroundherself,butit'stoolate.MariutzaandDelaynierainblackhellfiredownonher,andshescreamsbeforedisappearinginacloudofashandrubble.

Freed,mymatesthrowthemselvesbackintothebattleagainsttheirparents,whileIturnmyattentiontotheShadowKinghimself.He'sthrowingshadowboltsineverydirection,comingapartattheseamsashebleedsblackmagicintotheveryair.

Righteousrageeclipsesmyvision.

He'stornapartourworld.Turnedusallagainsteachother.Parentsarebattlingtheirchildren,whiledragonsofeverynationjoinwiththeKingofShadowstodestroytheirownkind.

Iwon'tstandforit.

Apresencefillsme--oneIdon'tentirelyunderstandbutwhichfuelsme,infusingmewithapowerthatcracklesinwavesthroughmyverybeing.Thishashappenedbefore,butthestrengththistimeisunlikeanythingI'veeverfelt.Mywingsglowwithpurplelight,theiridescenceshininginamother-of-pearlrainbowthat'sblinding.Blackshadowspourinbillowingcloudsfrommymaw.

"Isaid,youhavenopowerhere."

Iroarthewords,boomingthemintothemindsofeverydragonandintotheheartoftheShadowKing.

"Ihaveallthepowerintheworld,child,"hegrowls. "AndI'llhavemore--anymomentnow."

You.

Have.

No.

Power.

Anotherworldlyforcepossessesme,theCrownofCindersignitingfromwithin.Blackflamesenvelopme,andIturnthefireonthisbetrayer.He'shurlinghisownblastsofshadowsinmydirection,buttheybounceoffmyscales.

Lettingthepowerflowthroughme,Isetmyflamesonhisflesh,andtheskyaboveopensup.Agalaxyofstarscirclesoverourheads,theDragonMoonapproachingitsapexinaglowinginfernoofdragonfireandmagic.

Energypoursintomefrommymates,andinoneburst,IteartheShadowKing'smaskaway.

Anunearthlyscreamrendstheair.Ashadowofadragonrisesfromhisputridflesh,writhinginagony.

Thekingsandqueenoftheremainingdragonworldtrytopresstheiradvantage,butanotherwaveofmagiceruptsfromthecrown.Theyfreezeinplace.

AndweallwatchastheShadowKing'sdragonistornfromhisbody.

"No,"hegasps,histalonsclosingaroundnothingashesinkstohisknees.Therottingfleshofhisfacedecaysbeforeoureyes,sloughingoffintoapoolofdarkoozeathisfeet,andthenhe'sjustshiveringbonesandmalice. "No--"

LightningstrikeshimfromaboveasStorm'sdragoncirclesintheair.Jianyubeatshisgreatwings,andjaggedcolumnsofstonerisefromtheearthtoclosearoundhislegs.AsRaferoars,what'sleftoftheShadowKingburstsintoflame,onlytobedrownedbyawallofwaterasMalik'sdragonalightsontherockbelowmine.

Hugeplumesofpurpleandblacksmokeeruptfromhisbrokenhusk,formingtheshapeofadragon.Itroars,cracklingwithdarkwavesofelectricity,buttheCrownisoverflowingwithapowermorepureandbrilliantthantheShadowKingcouldeverhopetoconjure.Thebracer,ringandnecklaceburnwithinmyscales,andtogether,theirmagiccombineswiththatoftheCrown.

Ipullonthebondsthatconnectmetomymates,andtherushofpowersetsmeablaze.Thefreedomofair,thesolidityofstone,theheatoffireandtheinexorable,patientpowerofthesea.

Theyallpourintome.

Erembour'sdragonofshadowslungesatus,mawopen.

Andwithasinglebreath,Iblowitaway.

Shockwavespulsethroughtheskyandreverberateacrosstheland,hisscreamrendingtheair.Hisdragonjerksandtwists.Thehowlssplitmyears,andtherottingblacknesshurtsmyeyes.ButIdon'trelent.Iunleashafinalburstofmagic,andthelightofmybirthrightandmybondwithmymatesencompasseshim,surroundinghim.TheenormousformoftheShadowKing'sdragonwithers,nothingmorethanrageandsmoke.

Asitcollapses,dissipatingintonothingness,themortalbodyhekeptanimatedforsolongshudders.

Itfallstothegroundinapuddleofblackfabric.

Apileofhollow,brokenbones.

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