Page 114 of Wild Flame

Chapter Forty-One

Amir’s blue-gray dragon growled menacingly, showing off his fangs that were each bigger than my forearm. I backed up a step.

Yesh and Selasi moved in front of me.

Virath’s thick tail swiped forward. I cried out as both of them were sent crashing into the stone building behind us. Both guards dropped to the ground. Unmoving.

My heart lurched in fear. I wanted to go to them, praying to all the Nine gods that they weren’t dead, but Amir had emerged from the Conclave Hall, and I was now stuck between him and a dragon.

“It’s not worth it, Leida,” Amir taunted, sword held casually at his side.

I spun to partially face him, still keeping Virath in my line of sight.

Movement caught my eye behind Amir. To my horror, I watched as Malik, Helene, Taj, Harun Salim, and the other five territory leaders stepped outside the hall—movements stiff, eyes red and blank—and came to stand in a row behind Amir.

“Your only choice now is which of us you would like to do the honors.” Amir’s smile was a thing of pure evil in the flickering firelight around us, and I wondered at how I had ever thought him handsome.

It broke something inside me to see Malik and my sister like this—cold and lifeless. And Taj and Harun being controlled by this monster.

Amir took a step towards me.

I looked towards Virath. I was no match against a dragon. Maybe I could—

Virath’s massive head whipped around and he snarled.

Then Leif materialized out of nowhere, dropping from the sky a dozen feet away and rolling to his feet.

A second later, I realized he must have leapt from his dragon’s back when Wormoth barreled into Virath with a bellowed roar. I gaped in shock as the two dragons went crashing over the lawns and paths, demolishing several torches and stone fountains in the process.

“Leida!” Leif cried in warning.

In my distraction—and my surprise that Leif was somehow here—I had forgotten about Amir. I moved on instinct, twisting away from the strike I knew had to be coming. Not far enough, though. His blade grazed my side, and I hissed at the stinging pain. Amir swung again, but I slid back, and his sword struck the stone at our feet just as Leif reached us. His long broadsword instantly clashing with Amir’s blade.

Breathing hard, I glanced down to see blood darkening my gown just below my ribs. Pressing my hand against it, I looked on as the two riders fought. It didn’t take long to realize they were very evenly matched. Leif was lethal, but so was Amir. There was not a trace of the drunken degenerate prince I was used to seeing. He really had been cultivating a persona this whole time. And we had all believed it.

I suddenly felt a little lightheaded and had to shake my head to clear it. Vaguely, I wondered if the wound on my side was actually worse than I thought.

A cry from Leif drew my attention back to the fight. Amir had cut a vicious slice across Leif’s thigh and shoved him back a step.

“Kill her!” Amir suddenly snarled towards the immobile line of dragon riders behind him. “Kill the queen!”

My blood went cold as ten blank stares suddenly locked on me. As one, they all began walking towards me.

Assassin help me.

They didn’t run as they drew their weapons—Malik a long dagger and the others their swords—moving toward me at a steady, unwavering pace.

Pulling myself to my feet, I wondered if they were susceptible to all suggestion. I yelled for them to stop, but none of them did. They just kept coming. It was like they didn’t even hear me. They must only follow Amir’s orders somehow.

“Leida, run!” Leif shouted.

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I turned and ran. I may be able to hold my own against one dragon rider for a time, but not ten, and especially not when I was injured, and all I had was a sword I could hardly lift. As I dashed down the path to the dais, clutching my side as I went, the thundering roars of the two dragons battling not far off reverberated through the space. I prayed Wormoth could hold his own against the larger dragon.

When I finally reached the other structure, I was out of breath, and my side ached. Thinking to put it between me and my pursuers, I darted around one corner at the base of the stairs that led to the archway, and nearly collided with a dozen Talonar, Brunara at the front. Their eyes were wide as they took in the two dragons, Leif and Amir, and me running towards them.

“My queen, what’s happening?” she demanded. “We came as fast as we could when we heard the commotion.”

I fought to catch my breath. Brunara took in my wounded side and her eyes widened.

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