Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

K yle’s dragon rights himself then darts out of the way of the dragon’s flames.

The dragons swoop at him. He opens his enormous jaws and lets out a deafening roar, then he takes to the sky. They follow him, swooping and slashing at him with their sharp claws.

He soars above them and blasts them with his flames, disorientating them for long enough that they crash into one another and drop from the sky. I race down the sand dune toward them as they smash into the ground, but two of them scramble onto all fours and manage to fly away.

The third one is badly injured and ends up shifting back into his male form. Kyle shifts back also and charges toward the male, grabbing him by his throat and slamming him into the sand.

“Who sent you?” Kyle demands, his red eyes blazing as he leans over the male.

This is the third attack in the last few days, and something tells me that Drakon is behind them all. I have so many questions, and I hope Kyle can get this male to talk. I finally reach Kyle’s side, but he gestures for me to stay back.

Kyle tightens his grip on the male’s throat, who I am almost certain is from the dragon guard. The male chokes and coughs a few times, and Kyle loosens his grip enough for him to speak.

“I’m not telling you shit!” the male spits out.

Kyle glances at me, and the male grabs a handful of sand and throws it in his face. Kyle immediately lets go of him and backs up, blinking furiously to clear the sand from his eyes, and the male takes a swing at him and clips his jaw.

“Kyle!” I call out through the chaos.

He attempts to grab the male, but he manages to get away, shifting into his dragon and flying off.

I hurry to Kyle’s side. “Are you okay?”

He blinks rapidly, trying to get the sand out of his eyes. “I can’t see.”

It takes him a moment, but he’s eventually able to keep his eyes open.

“Someone wants me dead,” he says, staring after the dragon, who is almost out of sight now.

I rub his back. “I know. I bet Drakon’s behind this. He so badly wants Atlas to win these trials.”

“Come on. We need to get back.” He kisses me briefly, puts distance between us, and shifts into his dragon.

It comforts me knowing he’s getting a handle on controlling his dragon now while we’re still trapped here in Pyrrhus with the third trial to go.

Kyle flies me back to the training grounds, and when we arrive, there’s no one around. It’s dark now, and everyone probably assumes we’re dead. Unless those dragons got back to Drakon by now, telling him that we’re alive.

I’m curious to see who managed to survive the Keres Forest.

We walk into the building and out the back, where there’s a large communal dining room. Seated at two tables are Brogan and Lethina, Atlas and Rhea, another pair we don’t know, Drakon, Baz, and several other dragons. They’re having a drink together, and they all look up as we walk in, the room going deathly quiet.

I pay special attention to Drakon’s reaction, but surprisingly, he appears shocked to see us.

Lethina leaps out of her seat, hurries over to me, and pulls me in for a hug like she always does. “Thank the gods, you’re alive!”

I shift my focus to Atlas, and he tenses his jaw. He’s pissed. He leans back in his chair and folds his arms. I won’t forget that he and Rhea attacked us in that forest, probably thinking they had left us for dead. Our powers weren’t supposed to work, yet somehow I managed to use fire powers I didn’t even know I had.

“I’m glad to see you’re okay, too,” I whisper to Lethina.

Drakon stands. “Well, what a surprise. We all thought you two hadn’t made it. It looks as though we have four pairs going through to the third and final day of the Dragon Trials.”

I glance at Kyle, whose focus is locked on Atlas. He strides around the table and punches him in the face. Atlas falls back onto the floor, and Kyle continues to hit him. Atlas raises his hands to fight back, but the anger consuming Kyle takes over as he lays into him.

Drakon’s guards attempt to pull him back, and it takes three of them to finally get him off Atlas. Atlas clambers to his feet and swipes the back of his hand under his bleeding nose, smearing blood across his face.

“Fuck you!” Kyle says, his eyes wild.

Atlas smirks, walks up to Kyle, and whispers something in his ear. Kyle stills, his focus immediately shifting to me as his complexion pales. The guards then drag him out of the room.

Atlas watches me, a smug look plastered across his face. Rhea narrows her eyes at me and folds her arms, just as pissed off to see we’ve survived the night by the looks of it.

I give Lethina an apologetic smile and hurry out of the room after Kyle. The guards have him down near the stairs, and they shove him up against the stone wall.

He raises his hands. “Okay, okay, I get it.”

Baz points a finger at him. “Enough, Kyle. We don’t need this shit. You knew the rules of these trials. There are none. You cannot blame any other shifter for what happens during them.”

Kyle balls his fists, and I know he’s working hard not to hit Baz.

“I didn’t want to be involved in these stupid trials. Neither did Zarla. We don’t want to rule Pyrrhus.”

Baz smirks. “I wouldn’t worry about that. You won’t be.”

He and the other guards leave Kyle and me alone in the corridor.

“What in the gods does that mean? And what did Atlas say to you before?” I ask, keeping my distance, as I can tell he needs a bit of space right now.

His eyes find mine, fear swirling in their blue depths, but only for a brief moment before he hides it.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” he says and walks past me back toward the dining room.

I reach out to stop him. “What is it? Why won’t you tell me?”

He strokes his fingers over my cheek and across my bottom lip, then pins me up against the wall, his body pressed firmly against mine. He links his fingers through mine at my side and kisses me. I arch into him, consuming his touch like it’s my favourite thing in all the Kingdoms. Because it is. I drink him in, devouring his kiss like it’s our last.

He pulls back, gently nipping my bottom lip. “Come on. Let’s go and eat something. You must be starving.”

I don’t move.

He cups my cheek. “What worries you, my mate?”

I fold my arms across my chest and shake my head. “I don’t understand these trials. How can they try to kill us and just get away with it, like it never happened? And we have to sleep in the next room from them. Eat with them. It’s madness.”

“It’s just how the trials are. There’s nothing we can do but get through them.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I will protect you. Always.”

“I love you,” I tell him.

“I love you, too,” he says, taking my hand and leading me back to the dining room.

We spend the evening having an awkward celebratory dinner with the other pairs, and although almost everyone is smiling and pretending to have a good time, I know they’re all terrified for the next trial.

Atlas glares at Kyle all evening, and anxiety gnaws away inside me. I know he’s going to target us again.

I wish I could talk to one of the shifters about my fire powers, even Lethina, but deep down, I feel I need to keep it to myself.

Sleep is almost impossible tonight. My entire body is on high alert, and I half expect someone to barge in here and attack us during the night. I don’t know for certain if Drakon is behind the attacks, but it makes the most sense.

He wants his son to rule, and he will go to any length to make that happen.

I toss and turn all night, visualising what we may be in for in this third and final trial. But there is no knowing. Drakon is going to explain it to us in the morning. I had hoped we would be given a few days to recover and mentally prepare for the next trial, but Drakon said the final trial is being held tomorrow.

The following morning, Kyle curls his hand around mine as we make our way down to the training grounds. The stands are filling up with crowds of dragon shifters, and Lethina and Brogan are here already, seated at a wooden table near the side, overlooking the training grounds.

“Good morning,” she says, beaming at me as I take a seat next to her.

I let out a yawn, curious about how she manages to stay so positive during all of this, but I do admire that about her. Her pale-blue eyes search mine, and it’s hard to imagine that some of us are going to die today. That this may be the last time we get to talk. The others aren’t here yet, which seems odd.

“Hey. You ready for today?” I ask.

She blows out a long breath and glances at Brogan. “Yes and no.”

Fear seeps into her eyes, and she leans in closer to whisper in my ear, “I don’t trust Atlas or Rhea. Watch your back today, okay?”

I give her a tight smile, and the other pair and Atlas and Rhea all walk into the training grounds and take a seat at one of the wooden tables.

Drakon steps forward to address us, and the crowd quiets down. “Welcome to the third and final Dragon Trial. Today will be a test of not only physical endurance but mental endurance as well. As most of you know, Drizzards are dangerous creatures living on the outskirts of the Keres Forest and the Crimson Volcano. The task is simple. Capture and ride a Drizzard back to the training grounds.”

Gasps sound throughout the crowd, and even Rhea pales a little. What on earth is a Drizzard?

Drakon continues. “As always, there are no rules in the trials. You have one hour before I sound the horn to begin.”

I open my mouth to ask Lethina what a Drizzard is, but she beats me to it.

“Drizzards are extremely territorial creatures. Do not get too close to their home or nest, least of all their young. I’ve seen one once before, and I will never forget it.”

Kyle leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Where did you see it?”

“Near the Keres Forest, between there and the Crimson Volcano,” she explains. “You have to be firm with them and stand your ground, or you’ll be eaten. And whatever you do, do not get in the path of its fire. It’s not like a dragon’s flames. It’s different, and it will kill you, shifter or not.”

Lethina’s words frighten me deep into my core. How in the gods am I going to survive this creature, let alone ride it?

Kyle leans in to whisper in my ear, “Come for a walk with me?”

I nod and slip out of the wooden seat, and he curls his hand around mine and leads me around the back of the building. Once we’re out of sight from everyone else, he pins me up against the back wall and kisses me.

His kiss is passionate and demanding, as if it’s our last kiss ever. But I don’t have time to question it, so I melt into his touch, tasting him, savouring this precious moment.

He kisses down my neck, nipping at my skin before he bites down hard, marking me as his mate. I groan in response. Gods above, I need more. He licks at the sensitive skin, and I shudder beneath his touch as pleasure ignites in my core. I want him, right here, right now, knowing it may be our last chance.

Sensing my desires, he kneels, yanks my leathers down, and pulls my thighs apart, devouring my slick folds. He licks and flicks his tongue over my clit before sucking on it, and I buck against him, burying my hands in his hair as my breathing increases. I need him. Now.

He slips a finger inside me, and the pleasure just about tips me over the edge. I moan as he slides his finger in and out, slowly at first and then faster while he continues to suck on my clit.

“Kyle…please…” I whisper breathlessly.

He stands, gripping my hips and turning me around. I brace my hands against the building as he presses his hard length against my wetness, sliding it up and down my slick folds, teasing me. Then, without warning, he thrusts himself inside me.

I let out a moan as he fills me up. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him, sliding as deep as he can and holding me there.

A powerful orgasm crashes into me, and I tighten around his hard length.

He growls low in my ear. “Fuck, you are so wet and so tight for me, my mate.”

His words send a shiver across my skin, and then he licks my neck and presses on my back, forcing me to bend over as he pulls out and then thrusts himself deeper. He moves hard and fast, pumping his hips until I’m on the brink of exploding again. Waves of pleasure roll through me as I orgasm a second time.

He pulls out and gets down on his knees, lapping his tongue over my sensitive folds, tasting my juices. “Fuck, you taste good…”

He presses the tip of his hard length against me, and I push my hips back, allowing him to sink deep inside once more. He pounds into me, harder and faster, until I’m so close to another orgasm.

After reaching around, he rubs my clit then slips his fingers into my mouth, forcing me to taste myself. I suck his fingers as the pleasure builds to such an intense high that I feel myself tighten around him again, and we both release together in perfect sync.

I relax against him, and he gently pumps himself inside me a few more times before he pulls out.

“Here, let me clean you up,” he whispers in my ear, then pulls a napkin from his pocket and gently cleans me up.

Once he’s done, he pulls my leathers up and kisses my cheek.

“You are so beautiful, my mate. I won’t let anything happen to you today. I will protect you always. No matter what happens, please listen to me, okay?”

I frown up at him, confused. “Of course I will.”

There’s something in the way he said those words that worries me, as if there’s something he’s not telling me.

Before I have a chance to ask, he grabs my hand and leads me back around to the training grounds. I catch Atlas watching us, but I look away. I don’t trust that male, and I am going to be vigilant during this trial, knowing what he’s capable of. I’m not going to give him another opportunity to strike.

I sink down next to Lethina at the wooden table.

“You have fifteen minutes,” Drakon calls out.

Glancing across at the other pair, I try to imagine what they’re like. I don’t know them, but I think their names are Safron and Slade. It’s almost an unspoken word here, but I’m sure we’ve all had to kill in these trials. Hell, I’ve had to kill plenty of times outside of the trials, but there’s something different about taking a life in a situation such as this, competing for something you don’t even want.

Safron’s deep-red hair blows in the breeze, grazing her lower back as it moves. She turns her head and looks at me, and I’m almost certain she was the one Atlas was fucking at the party that night. Her expression is neutral, but I can tell she’s hiding her emotions well.

Rhea glares at her every now and then, and I feel for her. Having to sit there with the female her mate has been fucking can’t be an easy thing to do.

Does Slade even know about it? I can imagine this trial getting awfully messy if those four come across one another out there. Slade’s bald head glistens under the morning sun, his tan complexion matching everyone else’s who lives here in Pyrrhus. He briefly glances at Kyle, and I don’t like the way he looks at him.

Kyle and I seem to be a threat to the others, and it makes me anxious. I don’t want to be targeted.

The heat of the morning sun is already hot enough to cause beads of sweat to form on my forehead, and I look forward to leaving this Kingdom and going back to Gallerria, where the climate is easy and fresh.

Kyle gives my thigh a squeeze, and I lean my head against his shoulder. The other pairs prepare to leave, so I slip out from the wooden table to do the same.

There must be hundreds of shifters in the crowd watching us, and it does nothing to help the nerves swirling around inside me.

We’re all dressed in leathers, but we have no weapons. I know our powers probably won’t work again, either, although for some reason, mine did the last time. Or at least, my fire powers did, if they’re not a fluke.

The others spread out, preparing to shift, and Kyle moves away from me, giving himself the space to do the same.

I take in a deep breath. This is it.

The horn sounds, and the other pairs shift into their dragons. I leap up onto Kyle’s back, getting much faster at the process now. He soars high above the training grounds and heads toward the Keres Forest and Crimson. Atlas and Rhea are out front, but Kyle’s dragon is faster, and he swoops his powerful wings hard, giving us the lead.

I keep an eye on the others, thankful that everyone seems too focused on the task at hand to be worried about one another just yet. It doesn’t take long to reach the specific area between Keres and Crimson. Crimson sits proudly, visible from a distance as a prominent part of the landscape, with Keres not far from it to the right. Sand dunes and immense rock formations take up the space between the two where we’re supposed to find one of these Drizzards.

The other pairs disperse from one another, Atlas and Rhea heading closer to Crimson, Safron and Slade closer to Keres, and Lethina and Brogan have already disappeared somewhere below. I cling to Kyle’s back as he glides down to the forest.

“Keres? Again?” I say, unsure why Kyle wants to start there when Lethina said that she spotted one between Keres and Crimson.

He can’t reply in dragon form, so I have to wait until we touch down and I climb off his back so he can shift back. The forest is alive with creatures, their various sounds echoing in the distance.

“I don’t want to put us in a compromising position too close to the others. I have a strategy,” he says, crossing the forest floor toward me.

“At least we know you can actually shift in the forest, after all.”

He scans the trees surrounding us. “Yeah, it’s good to know. Be careful, okay? We know the dangers of the forest. Let’s head toward Crimson and see if we bump into a Drizzard along the way.”

I follow Kyle through the forest, and it’s a relief knowing we’re close to the boundary where we can easily escape if need be.

“Not sure I want to just bump into one,” I say.

Kyle laughs and then abruptly stops walking, causing me to smack into the back of him.

“Hey,” I protest, but then a low growl cuts through the air, and I’m met with a pair of bright-yellow eyes.

I freeze, my entire body trembling as I stare at the creature.

It isn’t much bigger than a Zelon, standing tall on its two back legs. It’s covered in brightly coloured feathers with a long, sharp beak. I don’t know what this creature is, but I know it isn’t a Drizzard.

It takes a step toward us, moving its head in strange, sudden jolts. My heart races as we both back away slowly.

Tears sting my eyes, and when I glance across at Kyle, his focus is locked on the bird, or whatever the heck this thing is.

It leans its long neck down and lets out an ear-piercing shriek, baring its sharp teeth at us.

Kyle grabs my arm and screams, “Run!”