Page 101 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

“Peace doesn’t work for dragons. It’s conquer or die.” The queen lifted a hand. “But remember, we gave you a chance.” To the other dragons, she said, “Grab the princess and hold her captive. If she tries to help her fated mate, kill her.” White scales covered her face, though she remained in nonbeast form. “Maybe next time you won’t waste it.” She dropped herhand, and the dragon holding Tavish opened its mouth, smoke billowing out.

The black-scaled dragon, Zyndara, reached for me as I yanked on my water magic, letting it rage through my body. It was time for the dragon king and queen to die.

34

LIRA

Knowing that I had to act fast, especially with the threat to Eiric, I lifted both hands and pushed water into the faces of Zyndara and the dragon who held my mate captive, aiming for their nose and mouth. Both dragons jerked back, and Tavish managed to use the momentum to break free from his captor’s grasp.

“He shouldn’t be able to move like that!” the violet dragon shouted as if that would change anything.

The remaining three dragons closed in on Eiric.

I had to reach her. She was in the most danger.

One of the dragons roared, and I prepared to splash the three in the face when King Ignathor’s large arms circled around me and shoved me to the rocky ground.

Sprite!Tavish linked.

My injured knee flared and bits of stone cut into my knees, palms, elbows, and face. The king’s weight covered me, making it hurt to even breathe, and my lungs screamed for oxygen.

I gritted my teeth and tried to roll him off me, but I wasn’t able to budge him an inch. Instead, all I managed to do was expend more energy and deplete what little oxygen I had left.

My head spun, and I realized that if I didn’t get free soon, I’d black out. Maybe that was the king’s plan. My instinct was to call out to Tavish for help, but I swallowed the words, knowing he was engaged in his own battle.

Just as I felt myself fading, King Ignathor’s weight lifted from me.

I raised my head and dragged in a deep breath, then saw Sorcha standing with her back to me just as Zyndara charged at the Seelie guard.

Finnian flew over the dragon’s head, ice shooting from his hands and onto the dragon. Sorcha flew up, swinging her blade at the dragon’s neck. At the last second, Zyndara flipped around and slammed her tail into Sorcha’s side, sending the guard flying several feet away and leaving me wide open to attack.

I tried to climb to my feet, but my knee gave out, and I dropped back onto the rocky ground. Pain jolted through me again, stealing my breath.

Turning my head, I saw Pyralis fighting two of the dragon guards and protecting Eiric, causing some of my worry about her well-being to dissipate.

Flapping my wings, I rose so I didn’t need to stand, and I found Tavish fighting King Ignathor while Mom, Dad, and Lorne fought Tavish’s captor and the emerald-green dragon.

I tapped into my water magic to help aid the fight but realized that both of my magics were depleted. Blazing abyss. I had to find a way to help without my innate weapons.

Looking around, I realized there was one thing I could use for defense.

Rocks.

I grabbed a huge round rock and glanced up to choose my target.

A small, strong hand clutched one of my wings and yanked me backward. I landed against a tree trunk, which knocked thewind out of me. My lungs couldn’t work, but I held on to the rock as my only line of defense.

Queen Sintara stepped in front of me, wearing a deep scowl. “It didn’t have to be this complicated, Lira. All you had to do was marry my son.” She gripped my arm, not acknowledging the rock I had in my hand, and jerked me up. I stumbled, and agony shot through my knee again. I went down, the rock rolling a few feet in front of me.

Lira, I’m coming,Tavish linked, fear for me taking hold.

I swallowed a whimper, but not soon enough. The corners of the queen’s lips tipped upward. The fighting continued around us, and then the queen jerked on me once more. My eyes burned with unshed tears.Focus on your battle. Both Ardanos and I need you to live.

“My knee. I think it’s broken,” I wheezed. “I can’t walk.”

Huffing, the queen bent down to lift me, and I realized thatthiswas my chance. Gritting my teeth, I rolled forward, startling the queen, and managed to grab the rock. The queen bent toward my other side then clutched my left wrist. With all the strength I had left, I lifted the huge rock with my right hand and smashed it into her head, knocking off her crown.

I heard a sickeningcrack, and her hand released my wrist.

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