Page 2 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

My chest constricted to the point where it felt as if I couldn’t even breathe. All I could focus on was getting Lira back.

Finnian sighed. “I know she’s yours. I’m not arguing that fact. I’ll make the plan then. I’ll distract him while you free her from his grasp.”

“Fine.” I curled my free hand into a fist, ready to do whatever it took to save her from him.

We were closing in on them, and Lira’s eyes met mine, her fear pushing me harder.

I raised my right hand, preparing to cut off his talons to free her as Finnian pushed forward, his wings moving so fast they blurred.

I tugged at the darkness magic that sat heavy in my chest. If I could blanket the dragon in horrible illusions, it would allow both Finnian and me to get closer. However, each time that I yanked, the inky magic flared faintly and fizzled out.

I’d drained myself by arriving here and using my magic to reinforce that I was the true leader and rightful heir to the Unseelie throne. If only I could go back in time and not be so flamboyant.

Prince Pyralis’s wings stiffened, and he turned his head, focusing his amber eyes right on me. Smoke trickled from his nostrils as he called his flames.

“Finnian,” I warned, but before I could say more, red-hot flames shot toward us.

Finnian lifted his free hand and shot frost from his palm.

The flames cut through the frost as if he hadn’t done anything at all.

I gripped Finnian’s ankle, dragging him down with me out of the flame’s path.

“Blighted abyss!” he grunted but shifted his wings to fly down quickly, keeping pace with me.

The flames followed us, the ashbreath turning so he could chase us with his fire.

Tavish,Lira connected, her terror choking me and adding to my own.

The two of us barreled toward the ocean, and I took a deep breath a half second before I dove under the surface. The water heated as the flames hit it, causing my body to warm even more than it did in the Seelie land. I stalled my wings and kicked my arms and feet to move quicker under the water.

Once we outpaced the flames, I swam in that direction and flew out directly under the beast. Luckily, the ashbreath must have expected us to give up and was already facing Tìr na Dràgon, the dragon kingdom.

I shot upward, trying not to make a noise as Finnian soared out in front of the dragon prince.

A lump formed in my throat. Finnian had said he’d serve as a distraction, which meant that I couldn’t take my time. I had to hurry before he got killed.

As quickly as possible, I flew upward, seeing the belly of the dragon extend as he readied to engulf Finnian in flames once again.

I reached toward his talons, coming within touching distance of Lira, whose eyes widened.

Everything will be okay. Trust me,I linked, wanting to reassure her despite my own racing pulse.

Be quick,Lira replied.Please. I don’t want any of you to get hurt.

Flames were expelled, and I lifted my sword.Be still. Don’t move.Then I swung, the movement making aswooshing noise.

Lira gasped and jerked back as my sword hit the end of one of Pyralis’s talons, cutting in about an inch. Red blood squirted from it, hitting me in the face as the ashbreath’s fire quit for a moment and he turned his attention toward us. I readied to swing again.

He spun around, and I grabbed Lira’s leg, anchoring me to her.

The strangest thing happened.

The buzzing of our fated-mate connection didn’t spring to life between us.

That had never occurred before, even when I’d been chained and held prisoner by the Seelie. Something had to be extremely wrong, and before I realized what I was doing, I let go.

The dragon prince twisted and hit me with his tail, propelling me back in the direction of the ruined land. I tried to open my wings, but the pressure of the wind crashed into them, causing a bone-deep ache.

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