Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 1

Faster.

I had to go faster.

Beating my wings, I raced forwards, streaking across the sky. From the corner of my eye, I could spot a red and gold drake swerving after me, trying to catch up. Flaring my nostrils, I folded my wings close against my flank, rapidly plunging down towards the ground.

Behind me, I could hear his snarl of frustration, even as he started to dive after me. Risking a glance towards him, I spotted the red and gold dragon rapidly closing in, screeching in triumph. He'd thought that he was about to catch up to me.

Narrowing my eyes, I snapped out my wings on either side of my flank, beating them rapidly as I started to ascend back into the air.

A low grumble echoed across the sky, undoubtedly belonging to the drake.

Chuckling in faint amusement, I soared higher and higher into the air. Wind brushed against my scales, its cool grasp almost relaxing as my momentum carried my further and further through the air.

Speeding up, I roared joyously, not caring that the red drake was still hurtling behind me, still somehow rapidly approaching. But I could not bring myself to wonder how he caught up, instead enjoying the wind that rushed past me, almost tickling my scales.

This was what it was like to be free! To soar through the sky absolutely carefree, not needing to worry about the Dragon King finding us, or the humans below trying to capture us. Even months later, I still found the fact it exhilarating, enjoying my newfound freedom to the best of my abilities.

To think that perhaps a year ago, we'd all been grovelling through desolate fields of dirt. All of us starved and scarred, wounded and exhausted, as we'd been forced to drag wagons of coal across the fields for the humans.

We'd been lucky to escape. Had it not been for Lord Raffael, we would still be slaves. Forced to keep hauling coal, and punished regularly. How many of us would have died, had we not been freed?

It was also strange to think that we didn't have to worry about the Dragon King now, because of Lord Raffael. Although I did not like the fact that he'd lied to lure us here, or the fact that the battle had cost us the deaths of several dragons, all of whom I'd been familiar with, there was no denying that his actions were why the Dragon King was dead. No longer a threat.

"Ha! Caught you!" Rutilus exclaimed, his voice jerking me out of my thoughts. He was still undoubtedly energetic and excited as he soared beside me, obviously pleased that he'd caught up.

"Took you long enough," I chuckled, staring down at the city beneath us. Majestic and glorious, its sand-coloured buildings reached into the air, glistening a warm orange as the sun started to rise above the horizon. Shadows lined its widespread streets, even as humans started to trickle out of the buildings.

Looking at it now, it was hard to believe that dragons had ever been forced to be treated like horses or whatever else the humans desired. There was no sign of their labour; any buildings they'd been forced to sleep in had quickly been changed or knocked down. If the queen could be believed, that was exactly what had been happening to other cities.

"Amaroth will be coming soon," Rutilus murmured, and I could have sworn that anger flashed across his now dark, gold eyes. No longer so excited, but more solemn. Unable to forget that the dragon whom had killed his mother would be coming back to retrieve us soon.

I bared my fangs, furious. "I'm not going anywhere with them!"

I didn't care if my mother had, or that any other imperial had gone off with another imperial to learn more. Kronx could teach us everything we needed to know! What was the point in going with the imperials? For all we knew, they could be trying to lure us away and force us to join their wing.

The Dragon King might not be around, but I would not put anything past those four imperials. Especially since they were the ones that had seemed closest to Argon, and most affected by his death.

At the very least, they'd want their own revenge.

"Agreed," Rutilus agreed, his eyes still shadowed. Releasing a long sigh, he pulled himself in front of me, leading us in the direction of our cave. The same cave we'd slept in before the battle - mostly due to the fact that we could not find any better ones despite having four months to search. 

Dragons wheeled across the sky. Some were undoubtedly on the hunt, whilst others appeared to be content on just flying on the breeze - as we had been only minutes ago.

My gaze raked across the mountains and forests, searching for Kronx. It did not take long to find him; his massive size he could be seen from afar. Nor did it help that he was perched atop the peak, his only working wing flared out beside him as though he was remembering what it was like to fly.

Sympathy stirred within me. Ever since his wing had been maimed in the battle, he'd been trying to hide his pain and longing. Had I not known any better, I would have thought that he was coping very well for a flight-less dragon.

And he was.

But numerous times, I'd caught him staring at us with his silver eyes clouded with longing and pain. And every time we brought him a deer to eat, the way he hesitated! It was as though he hated the fact that he was so utterly helpless. Hated having to rely on us for food.

"Kronx," I murmured softly, almost inaudibly, yet his head snapped towards me.

With a flick of his tail, he slowly inclined his head. Waiting for me to continue talking.

"We came across the queen earlier," I started, glancing towards Erakor. Even from afar, it spiralled into the air majestically. "She said that there were no more dragons at Ukurauis... And that there is a festival sort of thing in a few days she wants us to attend."

I did not try to keep the distaste out of my voice. The sheer amount of humans that would be there! And while they had not bothered us at all, I still couldn't bring myself to trust them. Especially since I knew that they'd kept dragons captive in their city before our arrival.

Kronx grunted.

"Apparently its so that they can more explicitly show their gratitude," Rutilus snorted, his voice full of both amusement and annoyance.

But the dark blue drake did not respond. Instead, his gaze was locked onto something in the distance. Curious, I followed his gaze, and froze.

"Speak of the devils," I grumbled, using one of the humans' sayings as I remembering my quick conversation with Rutilus only a matter of minutes ago. Baring my fangs in a snarl, I watched as the four imperials approached.

∞

1186 words

First chapter of the second book! So many more to come - although how many that will be, I know not.

Hope you enjoyed! Please do drop a vote and/or comment if you enjoyed!