Fire and Ice [NEEDS EDITING]

Chapter 20

Frost's PoV
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I walked down the long hallway imprinted with golden talon prints and veins of gold running down the walls. 'Apparently Scarlet's one for frivolity,' I thought, disgusted. Frivolity isn't something IceWings are used to; out on the tundra we get the job done. Go out, find the target, eliminate the target in the most efficient way possible, return. It's not that hard. But this...ugh. I shake my head, upset.

I stop at the end of the long hallway where four burly, grumpy looking--no wait, all SkyWings look grumpy--SkyWing guards are posted. Their heads lean forwards to peer at me, and they have done little to conceal their sneers. "Halt, IceWing. Only approved dragons can get an audience with the Queen, and you seem to be an unexpected visitor. We will take you back to your cell," they order in a monotone. I laugh harshly, giving them a grim toothy grin. "Unexpected visitor? Cell?" I growl at them. "I am no mere IceWing. You will let me pass unless you wish to die a horribly cold, painful death. I can assure you it won't be quick and you will die in agony." The guards pause, uncertain, shooting glances at each other.

Suddenly a SkyWing comes dashing up the hall towards us. I whip around, hissing, but then I remembered that I was in the SkyWing palace. Wait...he looks familiar. Three moons, what's going--oh. He's the commander I met a few weeks ago. He stares at me for a moment before giving me a curt nod. "It's alright. She's with me," he states. "Of course, Commander Falcon," the guards said and drew back. I peer curiously at Falcon, but all he says is, "Save your words for the Queen, IceWing." I snap my slightly open jaw shut, surprised. He gives me a satisfied...glare, I guess. It certainly wasn't all that friendly.

I turn to face the arch with golden veins and precious gems inlaid within. I take a shuddering breath before stepping forwards. No turning back now. I just hope I can manage not to rip off Scarlet's head as soon as I see her.

•••••••••••••••••••

I step in through the arch and almost stop, but Falcon pushes me forwards with the butt of a spear, none too gently. I would turn to snap at him, or maybe accidentally hit his face with my tail, except for the fact that my eyes are trained on Scarlet, the barbaric psychopathic murderer. She's lounging on her throne, wearing gold chain mail and adorned with a ridiculous amount of jewelry. 'Eww,' I think. 'What dragon in their right mind would ever wear that much...shiny, dangly junk?' However, I quickly remembered that Scarlet wasn't in her right mind-not that she had a mind anyways-so only she would waste gold on creating chain mail just for her. I'm disgusted.

She doesn't even glance at me as I walk in, trying to keep my emotions in check. She's too busy examining her oh so important talons. I let out a low growl, and an ear turns in my direction, but her golden eyes don't stray from her claws. "I know you're there, IceWing. But you'll have to wait a bit longer," she drawls lazily. My breath hitches in my chest as I struggle to restrain my anger. Is she unaware of who she is talking to?!

I take a step forwards, my rigid claws clicking slightly on the cold stone. Suddenly, Scarlet's head whips around to glare at me. "Not. One. Step. Further. Otherwise, you may find yourself--" she trails off, eyes widening slightly as she stares. What a very unqueenly thing to do. "Done gawking?" I ask, and that seems to snap her out of her stupor. She turns to one of the guards, whispering, then turns back to face me. Her usual sneer is back on her snout, and I have the urge to claw it of. But I manage to hold myself back.

She lifts a jewel-encrusted eyebrow at me, now unimpressed. "Aren't you going to bow?" she questions. I  narrow my eyes at her, trying to keep a smirk off my face. Bow? Dream on, Scarlet. You wish. "I do not bow to you, SkyWing," I snarl. She says nothing, but her eyes hold all that won't come out of her mouth. She turns away with a shrug. "Your choice," she sighs dramatically. I snort and roll my eyes at her. "Take her, you know where we keep special cases," I hear her order. Special cases? What? Me? 'You don't know just how "special" I am, Scarlet.' My conscience tells me to fling myself at the Queen, but I manage not to.  Barely.

But I'm distracted from my sinister planning when the guards converge on me, their spears leveled at my weak spots and looking entirely too happy about it. I hiss at the guards, tail lashing, trying to keep them at bay but to no avail. The last thing I hear before I sink into darkness is, "I do hope you'll be thrilling tomorrow. Don't disappoint me, IceWing. I suppose you'll be dead anyways, so it won't matter, but still..."

A/N: I'm really sorry for not updating lately! But I decided to make this chapter longer just for you guys-my wonderful readers. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope you'll check out my other books (which I also need to update) too. Love you and hang in there! I'll try to update soon! ❤️❤️