Page 35 of Daring the Drakarn Warrior Lord
The guards broke formation and gave chase.
And Lex and I had our way into the temple.
10
TERRA
The Temple corridorsswallowed us up.
Stone pressed close on both sides, carved smooth centuries ago but still holding the city’s heat like a living thing. My boots scraped against rock as Lexa and I pushed deeper into the passages, our breathing harsh in the confined space. Behind us, the sounds of Vega's distraction echoed and faded, replaced by the thunder of our own heartbeats.
I didn't let myself think about what was happening to her.
Couldn't.
The passage split ahead. Left or right, no obvious markers to indicate which led toward the sanctum. I chose left on instinct, trusting the upward slope to carry us closer to the Temple's heart.
Lexa followed without question, her knife already drawn. Blood ran down her forearm from a scratch she'd taken during our sprint past the Temple entrance. Not deep, but enough to leave a trail.
The corridor opened into a wider space, still narrow by Drakarn standards but enough for two people to stand side by side. Heat crystals embedded in the ceiling cast everything in dim light. The air tasted like smoke and old incense.
Movement ahead.
I threw up a hand, and Lexa froze. We pressed against the wall, making ourselves as small as possible. Footsteps approached, heavy and confident. Claws clicking on stone.
A green-scaled Drakarn warrior rounded the corner.
His wings were folded tight against his back to fit the space, and he carried a short blade that gleamed in the dim light. He saw us immediately.
His eyes widened. Then narrowed.
"Humans." He said it like a curse. "How did you get past the entrance?"
"We walked," I said.
His lip curled, showing fang. "Clever. It won't help you here."
He lunged.
The confined space worked against him. His wings scraped the walls as he tried to close the distance, slowing him just enough. I dropped low, blade coming up to meet his strike. Metal screamed against metal. The impact jarred up my arms, but I held firm, redirecting his momentum past me.
Lexa moved in from the side, her knife finding the gap between his scales at the back of his knee. Not deep enough to truly injure him, just enough to make him stumble.
He roared and spun, tail lashing. The appendage caught Lexa across the ribs and sent her crashing into the wall. She went down hard, breath exploding from her lungs.
I was already moving. I threw myself at his back, using his own height against him. My blade found the soft flesh of his wing and sliced through. Not a killing blow, but painful enough to make him forget about Lexa.
He twisted, trying to shake me off. I held on, wrapping my legs around his waist, one hand fisted in his hair. My other hand brought the blade up toward his throat.
"Yield," I hissed in his ear.
He bucked like a wild animal. My grip slipped. I went flying, hit the opposite wall, and tasted blood where I'd bitten my tongue.
Lexa was back on her feet. She threw herself at his legs, taking him down with sheer determination and no regard for her own safety. They fell together in a tangle of limbs and wings.
I scrambled up, ignoring the pain radiating through my shoulder where I'd hit stone. I crossed the distance in three strides and pressed my blade to the base of his skull.
"Back off," I repeated. "Or this gets worse."
