When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

AERYN'S POV

A pair of talons landed on my shoulders and wrapped under my armpits, lifting me from Serene's neck. My legs dangled as I latched onto the dragon's feet in fear it would let me go. The talons opened and released me as I clawed at its feet, nails scraping along the smooth scales as I was dropped from its clutches. My stomach flipped as I free fell through the air and my lungs burned as I screamed, wind whipping around me as it stole my breath.

Misty yelled my name, and I plunged a hand into my pocket, using the other to pinch my nose as I rubbed the surface. Yellow and green gas exploded around me as Rays flew out from the poisonous matter, ducking beneath me. I landed on his rigid back and grappled to stay on, stretching for the raised scales running along his spine. I managed to grab onto one of the spiked scales and drag my other hand to a second one as I hung off the side of his torso.

Serene's iridescent scales zoomed by as she dashed underneath us. My hands slipped, skin tearing on my fingertips as I lost my grip on the tough scales.

Another pair of claws dipped under my armpits and pulled me off the dragon. I withdrew the dagger from my thigh sheath and jabbed it at the dragon over my shoulder.

One claw jerked away from my arm and wrapped around my wrist, stopping my attack as my body swung sideways in the attacker's single-handed grip. I craned my neck to find a heated pair of emerald eyes sending their own daggers down at me.

"Stay on your dragon," Zoran snapped, amending, "or dragons."

He flew above Rays and Serene, and held me out in front of him with stiff arms as if he couldn't stand to be touching me. Catching up with Rays, he dropped me on the yellow dragon's neck, parting with, "You're dead without your dragons, so don't fall off them."

He streaked away in a blur of black wings as Rays and Serene met Misty and her purple dragon.

"We need to get to the scale," she said, eyeing Rays with raised brows.

"Do you have any idea where we should look first?" I wondered, sheathing the dagger.

Misty shrugged, scanning the mountain. "It's hidden somewhere on this mountain, so maybe we should try the mining tunnels in Haddington."

"Good idea," I said, guiding Rays toward the mountain as a flurry of snow started to fall.

Two dragons, one blue and one black, swooped in front of us and I halted Rays. The blue dragon sent a cloud of frost at Misty who ushered her dragon in a sharp dive as the blast flew over her, just missing her. The black one was the same size as Rays and leveled its gold eyes on us as its summoner shoved his fist in the air and opened his hand. A torrent of green liquid gushed from his palm as his dragon opened its mouth, boiling slime climbing up its tongue.

The dragon spit a glob of the scalding liquid, smacking Rays in the ribcage with it. He roared in agony and blew a jet of gas at the opponent, submerging them with the noxious vapor. The dragon and its summoner braced themselves as they inhaled the fumes, knocking them out. The dragon's wings paused, and the summoner fell back against the dragon as the two dropped ten feet to a narrow ledge, snow billowing around them from the impact.

"Frotak is out!" Reishell announced.

I sighed, relieved I wouldn't have to kill him to eliminate him. Frotak would just be unconscious for an hour or so, then he would be fine. I was grateful the competition was an aerial challenge that required us to be airborne and we'd be disqualified if we touched the ground at any point - death was not a requirement.

But it was an option.

I pulled on Rays' horns and Serene followed as I found Misty nearby. Her dragon sneered, snapping its fangs at the blue dragon just below them. I led Rays to them and forced him to pull up right alongside the frost breathing dragon and its summoner.