Page 74 of Song of the Dragon Rider
We paused and took a moment to catch our breath, the sound of molten rock bubbling in the background a steady reminder of the dangerous ground we fought upon. Sweat and blood mixed on my brow to drip into my eyes with a sharp sting.
The emperor lunged anew, his eyes alight with a warrior’s fire. This fight was far from over. Each warrior tested the limits of their endurance, will, and the bonds that tied us as family yet pitted us as foes.
His colossal form pitched dark shadows onto the rough-hewn walls that loomed and flickered menacingly. I met each assault with equal vigor, my claws scraping against his scales and throwing sparks that mingled with the sulfurous air. Mirrors of rage and determination, our attacks reflected each other’s intensity. I dodged a tail whip that cracked like a lash through the air and retaliated with a swipe that grazed the emperor’s shoulder, ripping a shallow mark into his tough hide.
His furious growl vibrated through the cavern and his eyes narrowed into slits of molten gold. With a powerful heave, he placed both clawed hands against my chest and pushed me backward. I stumbled and nearly lost my footing on the uneven ground but quickly regained my balance, knowing one careless move could end me. I shook my head and charged, and our bodies collided with a force that sent tremors rippling through the ground. We grappled fiercely, each seeking a weak spot to press our advantage.
The struggle was a testament to our evenly matched strength and skill, infuriating as it was that neither of us could gain the upper hand for more than a fleeting second. We broke apart, panting, our bodies slick with sweat and the lava pools adding an unbearable weight to our limbs.
The emperor stood tall, his chest heaving, his gaze locked on mine. I mirrored his posture and felt the burn of exertion in every muscle. We warily circled one another, the tension between us crackling like the molten rock that surrounded us.
“Damien,” he growled, steadying himself, “you have grown strong. But strength alone does not rule an empire.”
“And fear does not keep it!” I retorted, standing my ground.
“Your Majesty,” Malachar interrupted. The seer stood beside Uncle Bai, watching silently but unable to interfere with our fight. “There’s no need to rid the third prince of his dragon bones.”
“Oh?” The emperor raised a brow. “And why is that?”
“Because you’ve already taken away his strength. Without it, he’s powerless,” Malachar declared with a shrug.
I frowned and met my uncle’s gaze, unsure what the hell they were talking about. Was he talking about my Heart Scale? The loss of it made me vulnerable, killable, but it didn’t give me strength.
“What do you mean?” Uncle Bai glanced between my father and the seer. Then his eyes widened and he gasped. “You can’t possibly mean—”
The emperor smirked as he looked up at the opening of the volcano to see dawn creeping into my abode. “Her betrothal gifts should be arriving any moment,” he sneered.
Betrothal gifts?
He couldn’t possibly mean…
“Who is she?” I stepped forward, ready to continue our fight as my anger rose to impossible levels. “Who?!” I shouted so loud the echoing volcano’s foundations shook.
The emperor chuckled. “Who else? A bride for the crown prince, of course.” He dusted the dirt from his clothing. “So Elaria believes there’s a Dragon Rider in the realm bearing a twin flame mark? So be it. But it won’t beyouwho is her equal.”
I tightened my fists at my sides, clenching them hard enough that my nails bit into my palms and drew blood. My heart thundered, pounding so loudly it almost drowned out the crackles of simmering lava around us. He meant to marry Cat to my brother. “You can't decide who her twin flame is!” I spat, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.
The emperor's ominous laugh echoed through the cavern, mixing with the rumbling from the depths of the volcano. “Oh, but I can, Damien. And I have. The tales have been spun, and the prophecies were aligned by your own actions. You made it too easy!” he crowed.
Uncle Bai stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. “Valenor, this isn't the way. You cannot force destiny. His Heart Scale and dragon bones—”
“Are merely tools,” the emperor interrupted, his eyes gleaming with arctic fire. “ToolsIcontrol. And as for destiny,” he turned his fathomless gaze back to me, “it ismineto command.”
The air was charged with choking tension that made it hard to drag breaths into my lungs. Every beat of my heart was a drum of war against the tyranny before me.
When the emperor took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet cracked with the force of his power. “Consider this a warning, Damien. Step out of line again, and it won't just beyourbones at risk, buteverythingyou hold dear.”
I gritted my teeth as my anger boiled like the molten rock surrounding us. “I will not stand by and let you dictate my fate—orhers.” The silence that followed my defiant words was deafening, charged with the looming threat of the emperor's displeasure.
Perhaps it was foolish of me, but I’d promised Cat could return to her world. If she married Thorne, she would be trapped here forever with no way out. I stared at Malachar. He knew Cat’s secret. Why was he pushing for this? From what I overheard of his conversation with Cat, he’d already told her how to return to her world.
My father stood under the light streaming into the volcanic chamber, his silhouette imposing against the early sun’s fiery glow. His next words were cold and calculated, laden with a venom that was both chilling and revealing. “Damien, you'vealways been so sure of your place in this world, haven't you?” His voice was smooth, almost mocking. “But what if I told you that everything you believe is built on a foundation of sand?”
“Valenor, stop!” Uncle Bai shouted. He stepped forward, but Malachar intercepted him. “Enough!”
I stiffened. My instincts screamed that this was more than just another of his mind games. “What are you implying?” I demanded, my voice echoing off the lava filled walls.
He turned slowly, his face a mask of contempt. “I'm merely suggesting that your claim to any throne through me might be... misplaced.”
