What happened to my sister? What made her become this cruel beast?
It wasn’t as though my own hands were clean. I was a warrior and had killed many in my time.
But Saena wasn’t some nameless, evil person. This was no random kill.
This was Saena-bug, the same sister that I had tucked into bed at night after our father died. She was the sister who had escaped the remnants of our burning village with me. We were the only surviving members of our people.
And now it all came to this. How could I do this? How could I kill her? Moreover, how couldshedo this to me? Was there a way to appeal to her?
No,the dragon insisted.Not anymore. She’s gone.
Roaring, I shook my head back and forth as fire lit up the sky.I refuse to believe that.
From the ground below, I felt Aileana’s concern. She watched, gathering green ribbons in her palms. I didn’t want to attack. Not yet. Maybe there was still a chance I could convince her to stop.
I had to try.
My wings beat and my heart pounded as I drew nearer. I attempted to get her to meet my eye. If we couldn’t talk face to face, perhaps our dragons could come to an agreement.
This is a bad idea,my dragon warned.It won’t end well.
Shaking my head, I forced the beast’s negativity away. There was no time for this.
I was so high that the trees below looked like mere sticks. A brisk wind blew past me, and I banked. Every beat of my wings brought me closer to the sister I had mourned for decades.
Bellowing, I tried to catch Saena’s attention.
Her ice-blue eyes met mine, and a flicker of life flashed through them. There was still a part of her in there, I was certain of it. She needed my help. Everyone said draken were irredeemable, that once a dragon shifter gave into their beast, there was no turning back, but I refused to believe that.
She was my little sister. How could I give up on her?
I flapped my wings, flying steadily as Saena drew near. I mewled, trying to get her to talk to me.
She… shook her head. A dangerous, deadly, violent smile danced on her face, and she bared her sharp canines at me. Lifting her talons, she somersaulted in the air before blowing a gust of red-hot fire in my direction. I shot out of the way, barely escaping the flames, but she turned and followed me.
Roaring, I tried to get her to stop and talk to me.
In reply, she extended her talons and shot towards me once more. Violence filled her eyes. Still, I did not move. How could she be doing this? Part of me thought she would end this. She’d turn around and pull away. Maybe this was all a joke.
I waited too long.
A sharp talon ripped into my side, tearing through scales and skin. Pain shot through me like a hot lance, and I bellowed. On the ground, Aileana cried out.
Instinct took over. It didn’t matter that the other dragon was my sister. It didn’t matter that she was the only other living being of our kind.
Saena was trying to kill me.
Claws clashed, teeth snapped, and fire rained from our maws. Saena’s blue dragon was the only thing I could see. The only thing I could think about. We fought, becoming nothing but limbs and fangs and talons, until both of us were bloody and bruised. She slammed into me, stealing my breath as we tumbled. Again and again, she came at me.
The Winged Soldiers did not advance, hovering like a black cloud. My sister was far stronger than I ever thought she would be. The last time we had flown together, she wasn’t nearly this strong.
It’s the draken, the dragon within me remarked.We cannot win like this.
As if in confirmation, Saena drew back her head androared. Her wings flapped, and she flew backward, sending a current of cold air toward me. The blue dragon drew a deep breath, readying a massive burst of fire, and alarm ran through me.
Shit.
I had to get out of here before she sent those flames in my direction. Keeping my bloody wings tight against my body, I spiraled to the ground. A roar of wind blew past me. Everything heated up.