Page 172 of The Forbidden Dragon King
He growls.
Then he appears to be reconsidering his tactics. This time, when he attacks me, he’s as silent as possible.
I pretend to be confused, turning my head this way and that, while sniffing the air.
Caligo sweeps out my legs, and I let him. I land heavily, grunting. He stomps heavily onto my broken rib, and I know that it’s not an accident.
I hiss in agony, as he keeps his boot on my chest like I’m a conquered trophy.
He grinds his heel into my ribs. “Stay down, fae.”
I pant, sweating in pain.
I avoid looking at Freya.
Does she realize that I threw the fight?
I’m her protector. I’m suffering this for her. I’mdyingfor her and my people.
Does she guess? Or think that I’m not worthy to be her Alpha?
Caligo grinds the heel of his boot down into my broken ribs. “Messalla, your turn next. Every dragon cadet will fight the fallen king. No one here will forget that the fae were once our enemy, one that we have conquered as we will conquer the fucking Bloods.”
I grit my teeth.
One beating down. A dozen to go.
I’ve lived my life with pain, however, it’s carved into my skin. What’s a drop of torment in an ocean of agony?
Caligo lifts his boot from my chest. “Up. Fae have to be good for something. Once, I used Unseelie prisoners for target practice. I should have thought to use them as punching bags during training sessions. Don’t break him totally, Messalla. The first trial is happening tomorrow, and he must at least be able to walk. Still, the weakest of you won’t survive the trial. Probably the silver dragon who came here believing that service in the academy would enhance your position at court like a pretty, gleaming medal. But the fae can at least die on his feet like a warrior.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Dorms, Shadow Military Academy
Freya
I grimace,as my muscles ache. I didn’t know that someone could be put through the number of laps and push-ups as I and the rest of the cadets suffered through and still live.
Fuck the raven starving Ignatius for making it look easy.
I stagger down the bleak stone corridor that leads to the dorm room. Waves of exhaustion hit me. Moonlight streams through the barred windows.
If Daire hadn’t been beaten bloody by the vicious sparring session with every othercadet apart from me before the day even began, then I know that he would have made it look equally as easy as Ignatius did.
As it was, he gritted his teeth and grimly focused as much energy on hiding how much it was hurting him from me, as he did on keeping up with the dragons.
Thump, whack, thud, thump…
I shake my head, trying to get out the terrible echo.
Fight after fight.
Why was Daire throwing the fights? I saw how he easily took down the three guards. I bet that in a true battle, he could take down legions.
I barely managed to puff and pant my way over the assault course, gripping my side through painful stitches.
Feeling Daire’s pride in me through the bond is what kept me going.
