Page 108 of Dragon Blood

Zadora met Astred’s hard eyes and compressed lips.

“I will move my cousin to safety,” Kai said, finally breaking his silence.

Zadora nodded.

It would do.

They backed away from one another.

Zadora ran, shifted and took flight, glancing back only once to see the male hybrid keeping his promise. He gently scooped Zayli into his large dragon claw, following Astred into the air.

Child of my living daughter. Grandson.

Zadora’s wings beat hard and fast.

Behind her, Astred sounded the call for retreat, followed by the call to seek deep cover.

Zadora ignored the growl as the enemy combatants continued their savagery.

‘You did this! You destroyed us!’Princess Astred Arakkil’s furious words slammed into her conscience. Heir to the throne, future oracle to the Great Mother.‘You played straight into the Consortium’s hands with your underhanded guidance.’

I did.

Astred’s calls continued, growing fainter with distance.

The need to atone, to protect, to ensure Aeleftheria’s survival filled Zadora, coming into alignment with the stone’s power. It had never corrupted her. It had simply magnified all that she already was. The loss of her link to the Great Mother, her destiny to rule Aeleftheria broken, had altered her focus.

She’d tossed the bones of fate a few too many times and finally lost.

The masted ships, carrying enemy reinforcements, deadly non dragons to overrun and take control of the land for the Consortium, were close. Too close.

Which would hold the third seal?

If you can hear anything of my prayers, Great Mother, please bless my sacrifice.

Timing.

She swooped in, assessing, narrowly dodging an ejected harpoon aimed for her heart, while a fire ball spell struck her flank from another ship. If it weren’t for the boost of the stone, the spell might have caused more damage than it did.

She twisted, rising into the atmosphere.

In the distance, an iron ship waited.

It wouldn’t risk losing power or navigation by approaching the magnetic barrier protecting Aeleftherian territory.

That one. That is the one that holds the head of this army.

She grunted as another well aimed spell struck her side.

Higher.

Then, she tucked her wings, limbs held tight and arced into a downward trajectory, twisting her body, gaining speed and force.

Zadora angled herself, drew a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Headfirst, she pierced the deck next to the middle mast, shattering the wooden ship, sending it careening into the next as she exploded through a bottom deck.

Pain streaked through her from the impact, jagged beams slicing under her scales as she went.

The stone’s power dulled the pain even as her blood clouded the ocean.

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