Nothing cuts through dragon scales like dragon scales.
Chimera sits up on his haunches and lets out a howl of fury. The cut isn’t deep enough to kill the old bastard, but I’m sure it hurts like hell. Chimera’s bulk twists around to face me. He stomps through the remains of the infirmary wall and onto the courtyard, the venom sack on one neck puffing out as he moves.
Right neck. That means acid venom.
I dodge for cover behind a cluster of trees that line the cobblestone yard. A blast of yellow acid hits the trunks, melting them into the ground.
That was Chimera’s volley. It’ll take him time to work up another venom shot.
Now, it’s my turn.
Rising to my feet, I summon bolt after bolt of lightning. Some slam straight into Chimera, shocking him and giving me time to close in. Once I’m near enough, I leap toward his throat, loop my legs around his neck, and spin until gravity has me hanging upside down. After that, I go to town on his neck. Using my scale-covered hand and tail, I punch into the venom sack, rapid-fire style.
Chimera lets out another big roar. The bare trees shimmy from the force of his cry. I cling to his throat as Chimera tosses his injured head from side to side. For a while, I keep my grip. Soon, the movement tears me free. I fall onto my back with a thud. Chimera’s wounded head hangs at an odd angle, unable to focus or speak.
Good. His second head is unconscious. One down. One to go.
Chimera’s final head focuses on me. This is the one that spews green paralytic. Opening its jaws wide, the mouth releases a stream of venom straight toward my face.
Nice try, asshole.
I roll out of the venom’s strike zone. With a low hiss, the liquid slams into the ground beside me. I leap upright, jump onto Chimera’s back, and race along his spine scales.
Paralytic head, here I come.
I speed up the thick neck. My tail arches over my shoulder, ready to spear its arrowhead end straight through Chimera’s last functioning skull.
That’s the moment Chimera decides to take flight.
The dragon’s huge black wings spread wide, beating in a regular rhythm. I’m tossed onto my ass. Leaning forward, I grip the larger scales with my hands, while my tail plunges through the skin for a better hold. Chimera spirals up and up in a corkscrew motion. Clouds whiz by us. The air turns cold. My vision starts to blur with dizziness.
Chimera pauses mid-flight to change direction. For a second, I feel weightless. After that, Chimera swoops down toward the ground. He keeps flying in a corkscrew motion, only faster this time.
I get dizzy as fuck and lose my grip.
For a while, I tumble through the air. My heart hammers away in my chest. Somehow I’m able to twist onto my side, which is the best way to hit the ground when you fall.
It still sucks when I slam into the earth, though. There’s a bone-crunching crack, too. I try to get back on my feet. Every part of me screams with the effort. It’s all I can do to look up and see Chimera dive-bombing toward me. The jaws of his last conscious head are wide open, ready to spew paralytic at me.
My mind runs through options and implications. At this speed—and with my injuries—I won’t be able to run away. I can’t cower, either. It’s not in me. I glare at Chimera as he swoops closer. My eyes flare demon-red with rage.
Chimera opens his mouth; the venom sack on his neck flexes as he prepares to douse me with paralytic. I keep my gaze locked with his.
Somehow, somewhere, I’ll get you for this. Maybe as a damned ghost.
The paralytic spews from his jaws, ready to engulf me.
But it doesn’t.
Instead, the venom freezes into a hard lump and tumbles onto the ground. Chimera does the same. His skin prickles over with frost. He loses control of his wings and crash lands not far from me. His last head rises up, ready to spit more venom. Before he can, the frost along the length of his neck thickens.
Chimera becomes frozen solid.
I grin from ear to ear. Freezing dragons means someone’s nearby.
Lianna.
Sure enough, a blue haze forms. The mist solidifies into Lianna’s lovely body. Moving as quickly as I can—which isn’t too fast—I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. Makes my rib cage scream with pain, but I don’t care.
She’s my heart and she’s come back.
Lianna
Maxon’s heavy arms wrap around me, making me feel warm and safe. I nuzzle into his neck and instantly relax. His voice is a sweet growl in my ear.
“How are you holding up, beautiful?” He leans back and I almost fall over. My legs are still jelly after so much time under the paralytic.
“You can’t stand up straight,” Maxon wraps his arms around me once more, only more tightly this time. “So I guess that’s my answer.”
“Chimera put too much paralytic in my system; I’m having a hard time cleaning it out.” I slide my arms around his waist. “How about you?”
“Got a little banged up back there. Chimera decided to take me for a ride and drop me.”
“I guess he did some damage to us both.”
“I’d be in worse shape without your flash freeze.” Maxon leans back and fixes me with his mismatched eyes. “Thanks for saving my ass.”
“Well, I am partial to your ass.”
He chuckles. “Good.”
My gaze shifts to Chimera and my skin glows with rage. “He made me stare at Fisk’s body. Sat it right in my line of vision.”
“I’m so sorry, Lianna.”
When I speak again, my voice comes out low and deadly. “I want to kill him. Now.”
“That’s not an option, beautiful.”
“Why not? Don’t you want to kill him?”
“Fuck yeah. Look, he hurt you and it’s taking everything I have not to rip his last two heads off. But I made a promise to Tempest. The Furor are fighting the Air Valta for us right now. In return, they want Chimera. Alive.”
An idea forms in my mind. Chimera has two heads. That’s one more than anyone really needs.
“Alive eh?” I ask.
Maxon shoots me a sly grin. “Yeah. Tempest wants Chimera to serve trial for crimes against his people.” He taps his chin dramatically. “But it’s probably a lot easier to try someone who can’t spit paralytic venom in your face.”
“Good point,” I say.
With a snap of my fingers, I send a fissure through the ice in Chimera’s body. From across the courtyard, a long crack forms in one of the dragon’s necks. For a moment, his paralytic head wobbles, then it falls to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Nicely done,” says Maxon. “Only one head left. Now, we need to get you out of here. Can you mist away?”
“Zephyr’s probably dead, so I should be able to manage it.”
“Probably dead?”
“I might have drugged him with some of Chimera’s paralytic and then stabbed him in the stomach.”
Maxon lets out a low whistle. “Have I told you you’re perfect?”
“Yes. But don’t stop.”
“Good. If Zephyr’s down, then it’s definitely time you left.”
“No, it’s time we left. With Zephyr out, I may be able to open a gateway for both of us.”
Maxon eyes me carefully. “Nah, you should go alone. I can’t leave until I’m sure Zephyr’s history.”
“In that case, I’ll check on Zephyr with you. Last time, I had to leave before I was sure he was dead. But if Zephyr’s still alive, then I want to help kill him.”
“You’re not killing anything. You can hardly stand on your own.”
I roll my eyes. “And you’re half dead from fighting Chimera.”
Maxon purses his lips, considering. “You’re not leaving without me, are you?”
“Not a chance.”
“Well, then.” He gives me one of his crooked smiles. “How do we leave together?”
“I’ll need some help. Let me show you.”
Turning away from Maxon, I raise my ri
ght arm. A small waterfall of bright blue liquid materializes before us. Within seconds, an image forms in the shimmering water. It’s a view into the Hall of Fountains. Once again, Esau appears.
“Lianna! You’re here!”
His happiness is so contagious that I smile. “What are you doing there?”
“I’m waiting for you. Dad said I could. Everyone told me that you’d come back with Fisk, not show up in the Hall of Fountains, but I said they were wrong. You’d want to talk our way.”
Maxon hides a smile. “Looks like you’ve a boyfriend there, Li.”
“She’s not my girlfriend!” says Esau. “That’s gross. Are you ready to become the monarkki, Lianna? Do you want me to get all the Valta? They’ll come if I ask them. General Fisk explained everything.” Esau lowers his voice. “Dad said Fisk acted like a deuce-bag to hit on you when you were so young. The guy’s like three hundred.”
I can’t believe my ears. “Deuce-bag?”
“I think that’s what he said. Anyway, are you ready to get crowned?”
“Not quite, Esau. I do need you to summon the Valta, though. Bring them to the Hall of Fountains as quickly as you can.”
“All right,” says Esau. He races away screaming. “Hey everybody!”
In no time, the Valta fill the massive space. None of them ask me about Fisk, and I’m not going to volunteer the information. That’s something best said in person.
Esau’s father steps forward. I remember him from his long droopy tentacle moustache. “I’m Johtaja. What do you require of us?”
For a moment, it’s all I can do to soak in his words. What do you require of us? I’m not crowned, and yet Johtaja is treating me as his monarkki. A sunny sense of pride spreads through my chest. Trouble is, it’s quickly overwhelmed by a cold wave of fear.
Zephyr could show up any second.
“Johtaja, I need your strength, and that of all the Valta. Remember when I gave my power to your child, back when I first visited the Water Palace?”
“I was so disrespectful then, Your Eminence—”
“That’s not important now. All that matters is the connection that took place. I need to find that again, but this time, it needs to be with all of you. I’m trapped in Zephyr’s realm without enough power to leave. If you can connect your elemental energy to mine, I may be able to turn this fountain into a gateway for escape.”
Johtaja nods briskly. “As you command, Your Eminence.” He leans his head back and lets out a long set of calls that remind me of whale song. Within seconds, the Valta are hovering in the air, their bodies aligned into a diamond formation.
“On my mark,” commands Johtaja. “We send our energy to Lianna.” He bows his head and raises his right hand. The other Valta do the same. “Now!”
All of a sudden, elemental strength pours into my body, overwhelming my mind. I feel frozen in place. At last, a voice breaks through my inner haze.
“Are you all right, Lianna?”
It’s Maxon.
My voice quakes when I reply. “I think so.”
“Focus, Lianna.” Maxon links his fingers with mine. “You can do this.”
I stare into his mismatched eyes and my spine stiffens with resolve.
This will happen. I’ll get us out of here.
Keeping my gaze on the waterfall, I reach toward it with my left hand. Fresh power flows to me from the Valta. My body fills to bursting with energy and light. Blue luminescence cascades into my fingertips, turning my skin even brighter. Excitement churns through me.
We’re really making this work.
Suddenly, the waterfall starts to disappear. Instead, a gateway opens directly into the Hall of Fountains. I lean forward, stopping right before my fingertips pass through what was once cascading liquid. Now, I feel nothing there.
I push further.
My hand touches the warm air of the Hall of Fountains. The scent of seawater rises to greet me.
We’re so close.
More Valta appear below. Additional power flows through me. I tighten my hold on Maxon’s hand.
“You ready?” I ask.
“Whenever you are.”
Acting in unison, we both stare down into the open gateway. Maxon and I share a nod. Moving as one, we crouch down and prepare to jump.
The waterfall vanishes.
“Oh no,” I whisper. “The gateway closed.”
We’re out of time.
Lifting my gaze, I see Zephyr standing across the courtyard. The light on his gray skin pulses with rage. His Kristalli crown becomes blindingly bright. My skin prickles with fear.
“On second thought,” I say slowly. “I think we may get to kill Zephyr anyway.”
Maxon cracks his neck from side to side. “Good.”
Zephyr glares at Chimera’s frozen form. The monarkki’s mouth twists with disgust. “Fool! I never should have trusted you with such a simple task.” Turning away from Chimera, Zephyr raises his arms. “Air Valta, to me!”
Tendrils of smoke instantly appear on either side of Zephyr. Two Air Valta take shape. Both are young with battered armor and lines of exhaustion on their faces.
Only two Valta come to Zephyr’s call? Clearly, the Furor are having fun. That’s good for our side.
Zephyr lets out a howl of rage. “More weakness! Where are the rest of your kindred?”
My mouth falls open with shock. If this were my Valta army, I’d leave the rival monarkki and thrax warrior alone so I could go help my own people. The enraged look in Zephyr’s eyes says he couldn’t care less about the Air Valta. Instead, he rounds on Maxon and me. “Attack!”
The two Air Valta speed toward us. Fortunately, there’s plenty of water nearby, thanks to the broken cistern from Maxon’s battle with Chimera. I summon liquid whirligigs—pinwheels of water with the bite of a circular saw blade. With a shout, I launch them at each of the Valta. The impact sends them careening into the forest, their Roman armor sliced open.
Meanwhile, Zephyr turns to the shattered remains of the infirmary building. He creates towering cyclones of wind. The broken floorboards and bits of wall are quickly engulfed in the storm. The debris spins at mind-blowing speeds as it whizzes in our direction. Once the projectiles cross the open courtyard, Maxon zaps them with lightning. The hunks of wood explode in fire. White ash cascades over the courtyard. The nearby forest erupts in flame.
Suddenly, a pair of cyclones slams into me. I glance at Zephyr. That wasn’t his handiwork; the Air Valta are back. My body’s tossed against a burning tree trunk. Flames singe my spine and bite into my watery body. I try to move, but the Air Valta flank my sides. They’ve created ropes of fast moving air that bind me in place as tightly as steel.
Through the smoke, ash, and flame, I stare up into the skies, hoping for the Furor will appear. They don’t.
Instead, the Air Valta tighten the bindings around me, making the fire burn more deeply into my body. None of the life-giving water from the broken cistern can reach me through the blaze. My waning powers are sapped, and all my abilities go into simply regenerating my flesh. My watery skin peels and reforms, becoming papery and dry. Pain like I never could have imagined rushes through me.
A heavy sense of doom drives into my soul, as harsh as the charred tree branches that dig into my body. The truth becomes crystal clear through the miasma of agony. The Air Valta are formidable enemies. The Furor are still occupied fighting them. No one is coming to save us.
I search for Maxon. In between the thick gusts of smoke, I see him grappling with Zephyr in the center of the courtyard. Maxon distracts Zephyr with pinpoint lightning strikes as he drives punch after punch into the monarkki’s gut. Even as I bite back pain, I can’t help but marvel at the speed and accuracy of Maxon’s attack. He’s a tough warrior. Maybe we’ll get out of this yet.
Zephyr curls forward, tumbling onto his knees. Despite the hurt, I feel a jolt of elation. Maxon has Zephyr down. Now, the Air Valta will have to choose between fighting Maxon and holding me captive
. They can’t do both. Soon, we’ll be free.
Only we’re not.
Zephyr raises his head, leaps to his feet, and slams his skull onto Maxon’s. The Kristalli of Air breaks apart. Half of it falls onto the courtyard’s cobblestones; the other half attaches itself to Maxon’s chest. My world freezes as I watch Maxon claw at the stone, his face writhing in agony.
Oh, no.
It’s just like back in the cave, when I tried to heal Maxon. He somehow took in my elemental abilities. Now, the Kristalli of Air is digging into his rib cage. There’s no doubt in my mind. It will kill him.
Maxon’s expression hardens with resolve. He calls down more lightning. This time, Zephyr wasn’t expecting a counter-strike. Maxon catches him unaware. The bright bolts slam into Zephyr’s solid form, sending him tumbling to the ground.
My body stills with anticipation. Finally, Zephyr’s knocked out.
Unfortunately, so is Maxon.
Maxon lies unmoving on the courtyard stones. Anger, pain, and terror churn through me.
Not Maxon. Anyone but Maxon.
I roar with rage. Maxon will not die while I stand by and watch. Closing my eyes, I tap into some last reserve of elemental energy. A final burst of power charges my limbs. I tear through the bindings that hold me in place. Quick as a heartbeat, I cast two great icicles, one for each of the Valta. They don’t see the attack coming, so they’re unprepared. That means they’re in solid form, not smoke.
Much easier to kill.
I skewer both Valta through the chest. My icicle blades meet heavy resistance as they slice through the guard’s flesh. The pair of Valta crumple over, dead.
Gritting my teeth through the pain, I limp away from the burning forest, making a path toward the courtyard and Maxon. As I step along, fiery splinters spike into my bare feet. I don’t care. Zephyr lies on his side, injured but still dangerous. It doesn’t enter into my mind to worry. All I can see is Maxon’s immobile form. Blood pools around him. Half of the Kristalli of Air burrows into his chest. I hobble toward him as fast as I can go, tears of rage and fear streaming down my ash-covered face.
Maxon Page 22
