Page 92 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

My stomach dropped. Something had to have happened to alert them to Tavish and the scouting group’s presence.

“I won’t tolerate my daughter being taken prisoner,” Father gritted out, and the ground underneath our feet began to shake.

I glanced up and saw Tavish freeze an arrow that had been heading for him. Finnian and Struan stood beside him, and my mate’s eyes met mine.

Deep roars came from behind us, and my parents’ faces blanched in terror. With the loud flapping of wings, I didn’t have to question what was going on.

Dragons in animal form had arrived.

Dad joined Father in making the ground shake, and I knew I had to do something.

Ten dragons flew over my head, with more following. I could only hope that the guards who’d been attacking the other two villages would gain the upper hand.

I couldn’t believe we’d been so foolish.

“Kill the Seelie king and queen,” King Ignathor commanded nonchalantly as the dragons continued past us.

The dragons opened their mouths, ready to cover my family in flames. My breath caught as the dragons opened fire, and I yanked at my water magic once again as Mother used her wind magic. Our two magics merged, and the soothing wind mixed with the refreshing pulse of water, forming a massive water tornado that whirled around them.

My body steadied as Father, Dad, and Mom used their own magic against the dragons. Dad and Father flung pieces of the volcanic mountain rocks at the dragons while Mom used her own fire magic. Eiric had dropped to her knees, her eyes focused between Pyralis and me.

“Take her inside the castle,” Queen Sintara shouted. “So we can end this foolish fight.”

I laughed, unable to stop myself. “Do you think they’re going to forget about me if they can’t see me? And you question why others view you as ignorant.” The last thing I would do was go inside with them. I had to get out of this situation.

The king yanked me around, scales covering his face and hands. Smoke curled from his nose. “It’s best if you don’t insult us, Princess. We could make your life very uncomfortable.”

“I won’t be living here,Your Majesty.” I kneed him in the stomach, but it felt as if I’d hit steel. My knee popped, followed by a sharp pain, and I gritted my teeth as agony rolled through me.

He smirked, his pupils turning into slits. “And you calledusignorant. You just kicked a partially shifted dragon. Our scales protect us.”

I wanted to smack the smirk off his face, but his scales were still there.

Lira, I’m coming,Tavish linked, his desperation and fear spiraling inside me.What did they do to you?

Of course he’d felt my pain, which would distract him even more.Focus on your own fight. I’ll be fine.

The blast you will, sprite. Which one harmed you?

I did it to myself.I didn’t need him sidetracking me either.

I was certain there was one place the king didn’t scale over, so I focused, wanting him to feel a portion of my pain. This time, I moved forward, pretending to be in agony, and then jerked up my injured leg, striking his balls with the top of my thigh. More pain radiated from my knee, but the king released me and hunched over. His body began to increase in size, shifting more fully.

Queen Sintara slapped my face. My ears rang, and my cheek throbbed, but I called my healing magic forward to help heal myknee and then pulled on my water magic. Water from the sea drenched the queen and the king.

The king sputtered, and his body grew larger. Queen Sintara huffed as her gown and hair matted to her skin.

I was preparing for whatever they’d do next when someone grabbed me around the waist and pulled me away from the king. When my skin didn’t buzz, I knew exactly who it wasn’t—Tavish. Instead, I found myself being carried by none other than Pyralis.

“Princess, this isn’t the way to handle things.” His amber eyes darkened as his own crimson scales began to appear on his skin.

“Take her inside and teach her some manners!” Queen Sintara heaved herself up from the spot where I’d been moments ago, beside the king, now in beast form. The crown hung on one of his spikes as if he’d placed it there on purpose. “We can’t lose her. Youknowthat.”

If it weren’t such a horrible situation, I’d laugh. Thankfully, my healing magic had already started working on my knee, which meant that I should be able to walk on it soon without draining myself too much. I wouldn’t be able to recharge as quickly here on dragon land though, so I had to be careful how much I used.

Pyralis glanced over his shoulder in the direction of my parents and Eiric. He sighed, faced forward once more, and headed to the double doors that led inside the castle.

I swallowed, knowing that I needed to get back to Tavish and my people.

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