Page 91 of Crown of Betrayal and Blood

“Let’s do it.” I hug Bastian. “I may be a dragoncaller, but I still have so much to learn about dragonriding. I’ve never flown in a storm, and from what I’ve gathered from Cailleach and Kaida, there’s some terrifying weather going on. You’re taking the reins on this one.”

“Deal. Layer your wings over mine. We’ll need to lessen our drag on Kaida as much as possible.” Bastian climbs up the dragon’s extended foreleg like a spider, and I’m right behind him.

Bastian and I jostle for space, but eventually, we settle with him in front and me pressed tight against his back before alerting Kaida that we’re ready.

Kaida shifts his weight, signaling his intent to Bastian.

My brother tightens his grip on the dragon’s scaly neck. “Let’s do this.”

With powerful strokes of their wings, Nailah and Kaida lift into the sky, steadily ascending toward the icy opening above.

The higher we go, the colder it becomes, each gust of wind a biting claw against exposed skin. I reach deep within, calling forth my fire magic, and cast a warm aura around Bastian and myself. It’s like I’m wrapping us in an invisible blanket, the heat radiating from my core to his, fighting back the chill.

Kaida grunts in warning as we near the opening. He tucks his wings and dives, his mighty claws scraping against the ice, finding purchase where none seems to exist. Nailah follows suit. Together, they haul us up and into the maw of the glacier.

While the ice still reflects light from the sun, shadows already darken the far end of the tunnel. It’s probably just my nerves talking, but I swear more light fades with every breath.

My arms clutch Bastian while I attempt to hold back a shiver that has nothing to do with the cold. I have no idea what awaits us on the other side of the mountain.

Ice crunches beneath Kaida’s weight, the sound sharp and loud in the confines of our frosty path. As we emerge from the icy tunnel, the world transforms into a blur of white. A relentless snowstorm greets us, its howling winds a stark contrast to the silent sanctuary we’ve left behind.

The cold bites at any exposed skin like a carnivorous beast, and our breaths form misty clouds. We both funnel more heat into our little bubble while I cling tighter to Bastian.

“Can’t see much in this mess!”

The wind swallows my shout.

Kaida growls beneath us, a deep vibration that resonates in my bones. He doesn’t like this grating cold—none of us do—but he pushes forward.

And we instantly fall like a rock.

Screams immediately assault my ears.

Not from us or the dragons. The wind here is a relentless chorus of shrieks as it blasts snow and ice around the high peaks of the mountains, battering against us with the fury of the unleashed elements.

Behind us, I feel Nailah’s smaller body catching up and I realize we’re not actually free.

Kaida is doing this on purpose to allow Nailah the chance to get under his belly, where she will be warm and safe before he opens his wings.

Once she’s situated, we take a steep dive down the mountain, heading north even as we lose altitude. Each muscle, each shift of weight, every slight tilt of the wing Kaida makes is mirrored by Nailah.

Even with our combined magic for warmth, it’s a struggle to keep the chill at bay. The ice we pass through melts only to freeze again when our bubble of heat passes on. I’m not sure if the crackling I hear is the ice melting, refreezing, and cracking, or if it’s my ears fighting to adjust to the sudden changes in altitude.

After a while of fighting the elements, I can tell that Bastian’s power is beginning to fade.

Despite the pain in my sinuses and constantly trying to get my ears to pop, I can’t shake the sensation of being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and just as I twist around to scan the skies, a dark shape bursts from the tempest.

Below us, a black dragon, scales glistening like oil on water, swoops around the side of the mountain.

“Dragonrider!” I hiss, my heart pounding against my ribs.

I’m so caught off guard and worried about warning the others, I forget to dampen my emotions.

The black dragon’s head whips up, and he stares directly at me. He opens his mouth to bugle out a challenge.

Kaida reacts immediately, veering to the side as a blast of dragonfire bellows up at us. With a flex of magic, I push it away. The flames melt the snow, but we’re getting closer.

Nailah gives no warning at all as she returns the blast of fire, aiming not for the dragon but the rider.

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