Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

K yle and I take off running through the forest, my heart pounding as the terrifying giant bird-like creature chases after us. Its claws thump against the ground, and I don’t want to look back, my adrenaline forcing me to run faster, knowing it’s closer than I hope it to be. Its screeches pierce through my ears, deep into my head, and I use my hands to block them out as I run. I attempt to call forth my powers, but they don’t work.

Panic floods my veins as I will my burning legs to move harder, faster. The forest suddenly grows deathly quiet, the only sounds coming from my laboured breath. I stop running and look around. I’m alone. Kyle’s gone, and so is the giant bird. We must’ve gotten separated during the chase.

“Kyle?” I call out, scanning the surrounding forest, but I’m met with nothing but the gentle whispers of the wind as it blows through, picking up leaves that dance around my feet.

Unease settles into the pit of my stomach. I don’t like this. Something feels really off. I walk back in the direction I came from, knowing Crimson is that way. But once I’m a few minutes into the bushes, I question myself. Is this the right way? Or was it back there? I pause and close my eyes as I take in a deep breath.

You’ve got this, Zarla. Just keep moving .

I listen to my inner voice and head in the direction that feels right. It’s not long before I spot the top of Crimson through the tree canopy. I let out a sigh of relief and continue toward it, knowing I’ll reach the edge of the forest soon enough. Maybe Kyle has the same idea and is planning to meet me there as well, knowing that’s where I’ll go.

Strange, animalistic sounds fill the air, and small green birds flutter around me before landing in the trees above, camouflaging into their surroundings so well, it’s as if they disappear entirely. There’s something peaceful about it that helps to alleviate the concern gnawing away inside me. I catch movement in my peripheral as vines snake out of the forest floor. I know all too well what they can do, and I dodge them with each careful step.

I need to get out of this forest and find Kyle.

Another thirty minutes or so pass by, and I start to question the direction I’m headed when voices drift through the forest. I halt, pressing myself up against the nearest tree. The rough bark scratches my palms as I listen. I’m almost certain it’s Brogan and Lethina, but I wait a moment longer just to be sure they’re alone. Although Lethina and I get along and I’m sure I can trust her, these trials have proven that you really can’t trust anyone.

We’re all just trying to make it through, to survive what is thrown our way. I step out from behind the tree and move closer to see if I can spot them through the trees.

Brogan comes into view at the bottom of the raised bank I’m on, but as soon as I see Atlas, I duck back down. I’m crouched behind a fallen tree, and I peek over the top of it to see what’s happening down there.

They’re arguing. No surprises there. I scan the surrounding area for Lethina and spot her and Rhea nearby. I want to go down there, but something inside is telling me to stay put. Gods above, I wish Kyle were here. Where did he get to?

Atlas grabs Brogan’s head and twists it, the snap audible even from this far as he breaks his neck instantly. Lethina screams, and I throw my hand across my mouth and gasp, crouching lower.

Shit. Lethina is in serious trouble. I can’t just leave her alone down there. They’ll kill her, too.

Rhea’s laugh echoes up to me as I peek over the fallen tree. Lethina is hysterical and attempts to run to Brogan, but Rhea grabs her by the throat.

“He’s dead, Lethina. What do you plan to do? Hmm?”

I know it’s not the smartest thing to do, but I can’t just sit here and allow this. I step out from behind the log and move through the bushes and down the bank. It takes a moment before they notice me.

Atlas glances up first, and Rhea follows his gaze. Lethina’s frightened eyes meet mine as she struggles against Rhea’s grasp.

“Let her go!” I demand.

Atlas doesn’t say a word and just stares at me, an almost amused expression plastered across his face.

Rhea laughs. “Or what?”

My focus shifts between her and Atlas. I don’t like the distance between them. It puts me in a compromising position. Atlas could catch me off guard and attack when I’m focused on Lethina, and I don’t miss his footing as he carefully steps closer to me.

“Zarla, just go!” Lethina begs.

I glance over at Brogan’s lifeless body, and his gaze seems to be locked on mine. My heart aches for Lethina.

“You cruel bastard,” I say, glaring at Atlas.

He throws his arms in the air. “These are the Dragon Trials, Zarla, in case you had forgotten. There are no rules, and only one pair can survive. It was never going to be them.”

Lethina’s sobs steal my focus, and I glance over at her. Rhea still has a firm grip on her throat, but it’s almost as if Lethina has given up already. She has lost her mate and her will to live along with him. I can see it in her gaze.

Tears well in my eyes, and I angrily swipe them away. “Couldn’t you have just found your Drizzard and ridden it back to the training grounds without killing anyone else? Who else have you killed?”

Rhea laughs. “You think you’re so above us, don’t you? Want to know who else we’ve killed? Everyone. It’s just us four now, and I can tell you one thing. There’s going to be only two very soon. I must say, I enjoyed killing that whore Safron the most. She screamed and begged me not to, just as you both will, too.”

I rear back slightly, disgusted by this female. “I can’t believe I ever felt sorry for you. I’m only going to say this once more. Let. Her. Go.”

She smirks at me and purposefully tightens her grip on Lethina’s throat. Lethina coughs, her complexion growing redder with each passing second.

My mind reels as I think about what to do. I’m about to launch for Rhea when out of nowhere Atlas punches me in the side of my face. I drop to the ground.

An instant headache pounds through my head, and I roll to my side.

“Where’s Kyle now, huh?” Atlas taunts from above.

I glance up at the male, but I do not fear him. He is a disgusting excuse for a male, one definitely not fit to rule. What in the gods does Drakon see in him?

I attempt to scramble to my feet, but he kicks me in my side. I feel a distinct crack as my rib breaks at the impact, and I bite down on my bottom lip, refusing to show him just how much that hurt.

A thud sounds to my right, and I look over at Lethina’s lifeless body lying not far from me.

“No!” I cry out, and Atlas leans down and punches me again.

“Go and find a Drizzard while I take care of her,” he tells Rhea.

I reach up and press my hand against my face where he hit me. The skin is already swelling.

Rhea hesitates, glancing at me once before she lets out a huff and storms away, leaving me alone with Atlas.

He crouches down at my side and strokes my head. “You know, I can easily kill Rhea, and the two of us could rule. I’ve told you before, she isn’t capable of ruling a Kingdom like I know you are. We could be powerful. Unstoppable.”

“No. I have a mate. I would never rule by your side.”

He smirks and licks his bottom lip. “No, you don’t. Kyle’s dead or he would be here. And I think you know it deep down.”

I narrow my gaze at him as my chest burns.

A screech in the distance is distraction enough, and it steals Atlas’s attention, giving me a moment to escape. I leap to my feet, finding some unknown strength I didn’t know I had, and I sprint through the forest toward what I assume to be a Drizzard.

Atlas bounds after me, his heavy footfalls pounding into the forest floor behind me. The forest thins out ahead, telling me I’m nearing the edge of this awful place. If I’m right, this is going to spit me out near the rock formations between Keres and Crimson.

“Get back here!” Atlas calls out, as if I’m going to decide to stop and go along with his sadistic plan.

No, instead I run even faster, pushing my muscles to their limit. I glance back to assess how far back he is, and in that moment, I don’t see where I’m going. Looking ahead, I come to a skidding halt as an enormous red dragon-like creature stands before me on its two back legs. Razor-sharp black thorns cover its back, and a strange skin-like frill surrounds its head. It looks like a giant lizard but with wings.

I can barely move at this point, frozen in place. Atlas comes barrelling out of the forest and freezes next to me. I slowly glance across at him as tears sting my eyes.

And then I recall Lethina’s words, telling me not to get in the path of its flames. Just as the thought enters my mind, it lets out a deafening screech and opens its wide jaws.

I know what’s coming and manage to dive out of the way just in time as it blasts a powerful stream of blue fire at us. As I scramble onto all fours, I shift my focus to Rhea’s lifeless body off to the side. She’s covered in deep gashes, lying in a pool of her own blood. I look over at Atlas, whose focus is locked on the Drizzard.

“Get back into the forest. I’ll protect you!” he calls out to me.

Like hell I’m listening to that arrogant, untrustworthy asshole. I get to my feet and stand my ground, just as Lethina told me, and I allow strength to radiate through me, eradicating every ounce of fear.

As soon as I let go of the fear, the strangest sensation passes through my body and mind. It’s as if the Drizzard wants me to approach it.

Atlas is yelling at me, but I ignore him, my focus locked on the Drizzard before me. It lowers its front paws to the ground, the force of the movement shaking it beneath my feet. I can feel the Drizzard in my mind, like we’re connected somehow. Closing my eyes, I give in to the sensation, deepening the connection, and when I snap my eyes open again, flames engulf my entire body.

The Drizzard snorts, lowering its head, and I move closer to it, despite the warnings Atlas shouts at me from somewhere behind. I am not afraid. I do not fear this magnificent creature, and I somehow know it won’t harm me.

I run my blazing hand along the side of its face, its bumpy scales rough beneath my touch, and it nudges against me.

“You are magnificent…” I whisper to the Drizzard.

Its red eyes gaze into mine, and there’s an unspoken invitation. I know it’s allowing me to climb up onto its back. I grab hold of the closest spike and haul myself up. Once I’m secure, my flames extinguish, and it bounds across the rocks and takes to the sky, swooping its immense wings as it lifts us higher.

Atlas has his fists balled at his sides, and I know he’s pissed that I found and rode the Drizzard before him. He shifts into his dragon and flies after us.

I hold on to the Drizzard’s spikes as Atlas heads right for us. He opens his immense jaws and blasts his fire at us, and the Drizzard darts off to the side out of the way of his flames.

What in the gods is he doing? He can’t fight the Drizzard. If he gets in the way of the Drizzard’s flames, he’s as good as dead, from what Lethina said. But still, he continues to attack.

The Drizzard nose dives, pops up right in front of Atlas, and blasts its flames at him.

He tries to evade the powerful flames by tilting to the side, but the flames catch the tip of his wing. He roars, drops from the sky, and slams into the sand dunes below.

Although we are high above the dunes, I can see Atlas is okay. He shifts back into his male and watches as the Drizzard and I fly away.

I have to find Kyle, and it worries me I didn’t bump into him outside Keres.

If he went the wrong way, he could still be deep in Keres. I mentally guide the Drizzard to fly lower back toward Keres, and he somehow understands and does what I want.

Glancing out across the rock formations below, I look for Kyle or any sign of him, but I don’t see him. The Drizzard carries on, flying just above the forest canopy, but even this close, it’s difficult to accurately see anything below.

Kyle could literally be anywhere, deep within Keres, and we could have flown over him and completely missed him.

“Kyle!” I call out, but I know my attempts are futile.

If he were down there, I doubt he’d hear me. The sounds of the forest would mask my voice, I’m certain, if it were even able to penetrate the thick tree canopy below.

And then it occurs to me—maybe he made it out of Keres, couldn’t find a Drizzard or me, and decided to head back to the training grounds anyway. Maybe he’s back there, looking for me.

I guide the Drizzard toward the training grounds, amazed how it’s able to understand me. It’s like we have some mental connection, a connection I don’t understand. How can this be possible? It almost feels as though this Drizzard was meant for me. That I was destined to find him and connect to him, just like my Zelon, Keva.

The trip back to the training grounds is a drawn-out process, no doubt due to my endless concern for Kyle’s wellbeing. What if he is back in Keres and he’s hurt? What if Atlas did something to him?

My mind reels with endless possibilities, and it’s almost too much to bear. The training grounds come into view below, and dragon shifters still fill the stands.

Drakon stands in the centre with Baz at his side, and they point up at me as I approach. The crowd cheers as my Drizzard circles the training grounds above, and Drakon and Baz quickly move out of the way, allowing the Drizzard the space to land. Its immense paws hit the sand below, and it takes a moment for it to settle down enough to allow me to climb off its back.

Drakon and Baz keep their distance while I run my hand along the side of my Drizzard’s face.

“Thank you,” I say.

The Drizzard grunts, blowing smoke from its nostrils, and I almost hear a you’re welcome in my mind before it bounds across the training grounds and lifts off into the sky.

Drakon and Baz move to my side, but I don’t take my eyes off the Drizzard until it’s out of sight.

“I don’t know how you did it, but I am impressed,” Drakon says.

I glance at him. “It was easy.”

The annoyance in his gaze is victory enough. He wanted Atlas and Rhea to win, and they didn’t.

“I don’t see Kyle,” he comments.

I glance down at my feet and then gaze out at the crowd as I attempt to mask the deep concern I feel for Kyle, who clearly hasn’t arrived back yet. “We were separated. I’m sure he won’t be far off.”

“And my son?”

I lock my gaze on his. “He is alive, as far as I know.”

Relief floods his eyes, but he still tries to hide it. He seems to think showing any kindness or compassion is a weakness. I suppose it’s a common trait amongst all the Kings I have known.

“Good. He should be arriving back shortly, then, I would imagine.” His expression is strained, as if he doesn’t believe me and won’t until he sees Atlas for himself.

The crowd begins to cheer once more, and we all look up as Atlas’s dragon glides down and lands on the training grounds. He shifts back to his male form and strides toward us, his gaze locked on mine.

“Well, well, well…are we the only two survivors, then?” he asks with a smugness to his voice.

Drakon wraps his arms around his son and slaps him on the back. “Congratulations, son.”

I frown, confused about what’s happening here. Why is Atlas being congratulated when he didn’t even win?

Sensing my confusion, Drakon smiles at me. “It takes a pair to win the Dragon Trials, and I never said it had to be an original competing pair.”

The realisation sets in at what’s happening, and I bite my bottom lip in an attempt to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

Drakon moves closer. “Don’t look so surprised, Zarla. You won, as did my son. You two are going to rule this Kingdom.”

I back away from them all, my head spinning. “No, that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to rule! I don’t want to be here!”

Atlas takes a step toward me, and I almost growl at him in warning.

He raises his hands. “What’s so wrong with this? I told you Rhea wasn’t cut out to rule, and now she’s gone. Kyle is, too. It’s just us.”

I continue to back away, shaking my head as my heart races a million miles an hour. “No. Where’s Kyle? What have you done to him?”

Drakon places his hand on Atlas’s shoulder. “I’ll deal with this. You go and celebrate your victory.”

“What victory?” I demand. “I won, and I refuse to rule this Kingdom! Where is Kyle? We will leave, and Atlas can rule with someone else.”

Atlas smirks at me, and he and Baz head over to be greeted and congratulated by the crowd.

Drakon folds his arms across his chest. “I understand this may be a shock. And I will give Kyle the benefit of the doubt until sundown. If he is not back here by then, he will be assumed dead, and you and Atlas will rule Pyrrhus. Together.”