Page 96 of The Dragon Queen

Wefailed.

EMBER

Itallhappenssofast.I'mchokingonbileandregretandtearsthatstingmythroat.

WecameheretotakeontheShadowKing,buteverysinglepartofithasgonewrong.Allaroundusiscarnage.

Ican'tfeelmymates.

Ashudderofpureiceslipsdownmyspine,butit'snotthenumbingkind.It'sthekindthathurts.

IdroptomykneesasEremboursendsanotherboltofpurplelightningarcingfromtheskyintothestone.Itspowerradiatesoutwardincracklesofdestructiveforce,hittingme,mymates,ourfriends.Theelectricdarknessflaysmeopen,andevenasI'mfalling,I'mtryingtofightback.

Myprotectionspellssputter,shieldingmefromtheveryworstoftheattack,butit'stoomuch.Everyattempttowardhimoffshattersbeneathhisonslaught.Shiverswrackme,andmynosedripsblackblood,andthisisit.

Iputahandtomystomach,silentlyapologizingtothetinysparkwithinme.Theunbornpieceofmymatesthatneverhadachancetobe.

Withmyotherhand,IclutchtheCrown,prayingtothegodsthatitspowercanreachintome.

Butanotherjetofpureblacksmokestrikesmedown.Icryoutatthewrackingspasmsofpain,thesoul-suckingpoweroftheShadowDragonmagicencompassingme.

ThiswaswhyIwassoafraidofwhoandwhatIam.IlookupatKingErembour,andallIseeissadistic,power-madcruelty.

Asobescapesme.Allaroundmeiscarnage.Ourfriendsfallfromthesky;they'reallbleedingandtorn.

Atthesightofmymates'limpbodies,shatteredontheground,Igagonbile.Thickropesofpurpleshadowstiethemdown;theycan'tmove.Wheretheirmagicshouldbearedead,black,shriveledshredsofconnection.

Ishudder,fearingtheworst.Buttheireyesareopen,theirchestsmoving,evenasblackwebsofshadowscreepoverthem.

They'realive.

Butatwhatcost?

Mystomachroiling,Iswallowagainsttheshatteredshardsofglassthataremythroat.

Erembourstoletheirveryessencefromthem.He'srippingitawayfromtheentiretyofthedragonworld,andhecan't.Iwon'tlethim.

Tearsrollingdownmyface,IsummoneverybitofpowerIhaveleft.Iturnitonthistyrant,thisbrute,thiscreatureofpurefuckingevil.

Until--atthelastsecond--Erembour'seyesgleamgold.

Withagasp,Ipullupshort,andithurts,cuttingoffthemagicthatwantstoflingitselffrommyfingertips.

Butthat'swhattheassholewants.

Asobofpurerageripsitselffrommylungs.

IbeggedJianyuandRafeandMalikandStormnottoattackfirst,butitwasbecauseIdidn'twanttostartthefightthatway.

NowIseethisallforwhatitis.

Erembour'sritualmayhavebegun,butit'sbarelyinitsinfancy.

Hestolemagicfrommymates'handsbecausetheyhurleditathim.

Mypowerremainsintact--amputatedasitmaybebymymates'fall.

ThegleaminKingErembour'seyesfades,hismouthflattening. "Clevergirl.Butnotcleverenough."

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