Cara did not miss the shift in air behind her.
Dragons did not move quietly.
But they could move deliberately.
She stepped back from the cavern mouth.
Turned.
Lyris was crossing the floor.
Not toward the throne.
Toward her.
The space between them narrowed quickly.
Too quickly.
Cara adjusted her path—
And Lyris' foot slid just slightly across stone.
Subtle.
Intentional.
Cara caught it too late.
Her ankle clipped scale.
Balance faltered.
She hit one knee against the rock.
Not hard enough to injure.
Hard enough to echo.
A few heads lifted.
Then lowered again.
No one interfered.
Lyris did not look down.
"Careless," she said.
Flat.
Not loud.
Cara pushed herself upright slowly.
Her knee stung.
She did not glare.
Did not snap.
She met Lyris' gaze evenly.
"I'll walk more carefully."
That answer irritated Lyris more than anger would have.
She had wanted flinch.
Embarrassment.
Submission.
She got none.
Drakon shifted from across the cavern.
"Enough," he said quietly.
Lyris didn't turn.
"She tripped."
"You placed your foot."
Silence.
"I am testing balance."
Drakon's voice hardened slightly.
"You are testing patience."
Lyris' wings flexed.
"She weakens the nest."
"She endured fire last night."
That made Lyris' head snap toward him.
"What?"
Drakon did not elaborate.
"She stands when pressed."
"And yet she falls on stone."
"She rose."
The words landed heavier than accusation.
Cara stood fully now.
Brushing dust from her palms.
She didn't look at Vyrisa.
YOU ARE READING
Ashes Embraced
FantasyA Dark Sapphic Romantasy A century ago, the Red Dragon Queen burned Frairdale to the ground. Now she rules from the cliffs above the lake-untouched, unchallenged, and unrepentant. When Cara steps into dragon territory, she expects death. Instead, sh...
