Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 18

Cold chains scraped across my scales as the human on my back directed me to the mass of dragons already flying. The human's grip on them was firm, but not hard. He hadn't yet yanked my head in a certain direction, but rather, used the chains to gently point me in the right direction.

Either way, he still had complete control over me. He still used the tail-fin-ring to help steer me – and he could still very easily tighten his grips on the chains.

I could only be glad that he hadn't already.

"That's right, just up there," the human murmured encouragingly. "Right beside the copper dragon."

Beside Reida.

My heart skipped a beat, and I relaxed slightly. To fly beside Reida, a dragon whom I knew, would be somewhat reassuring. A long flight surrounded by humans and dragons with a human on my back would never be comfortable - but perhaps it would not be quite so bad if the copper dragoness and I could remain together.

Yet my newfound excitement quickly dissipated as my gaze landed on the dragon in the lead. She was a large yellow dragoness, with familiar red eyes that glittered coldly at me.

I'd seen her before, but where? Perhaps she was a dragon I'd seen when we'd battled the imperial wing and Kronx had killed the Dragon King. Or when...

Realisation struck me abruptly, and I faltered.

The human on my back tugged at the chains, murmuring to me softly, most likely trying to reassure me, or find out what had caused me to react so. But I did not care; I barely listened to his words.

Instead, my gaze was focused on Verask – the bright yellow dragoness. She'd been the leader of the wing we had encountered on the other continent, when we'd been trying to escape the Dragon King and the humans. And she'd despised Rutilus and I, refusing to have anything with us.

Kronx had barely managed to persuade her to let us stay there for a few months, and even then, she had remained hostile towards us.

Suddenly tense, I watched her warily.

"Argentum," she rasped my name, but not unkindly. A greeting. Tilting her head, she examined me, her eyes dark with an emotion that I did not recognise. "I heard that the Dragon King is dead."

"Yes," I answered, warily watching the larger, yellow dragon. It was not hard to remember the hatred that had glittered in her dark red eyes, and the way she'd countlessly snapped at me.

"Good," she stated simply, shifting her gaze away from me.

My gaze lingered on her for a few more moments. Even with the Dragon King dead, I had expected her to act more harshly towards me. Was there a reason she hadn't? Was she just as unhappy as me to be controlled by the humans, and hoped that I could help her escape? 

Escape. 

The word echoed in my mind almost taunting me, as I gazed at the other dragons. There were so many! Even with Reida's help - and possibly Verask's, there was no way that the three of us could stand so much as a chance against them. 

"Quite a catch, isn't she?" A human voice grunted, his voice cutting through my thoughts. Narrowing my eyes, I swivelled my head towards the human whom was perched on Verask's back – for it was he who had commented.

To my horror, I realised I also recognised him. The smug expression on his face, the piercing blue eyes, and cold demeanour... Even the expensive black robes that he wore, that was lightly decorated with gold.

He was none other than Lord Carlos.

"Yes, milord," the human on my back hurriedly agreed. "Do you think the Queen will be pleased?"

The lord's smirk faded, instead replaced by a dark scowl. Shadowed blue eyes stared at the human on my back coldly, and even his voice was frosty. "Gideon, was it?"

My chains jerked against my neck as the human on my back stiffened, his fingers clenching. His only reply was a rapid nod on his name - confirming that the lord had guessed his name correctly. 

"Well, Gideon," Lord Carlos squinted at the man on my back, his head inclined ever so slightly. "I'll have you know that that dragon is not for the Queen. That dragon will be mine. You wait and see."

I stiffened. Did that mean that the lord would be my new Master? A low growl escaped my throat, as I glared at Lord Carlos. From the hatred that glittered in his eyes, and the smug smirk that was spread across my face, I doubted that he would be any better than my previous master. 

Perhaps worse. 

Barking a command, Lord Carlos tugged Verask's chains harshly, and immediately, the yellow dragoness lunged forwards. Within a matter of moments, Gideon tugged at my own chains, urging me to follow them. I did not try to resist. 

Over the thundering wingbeats, I heard humans shouting at each other, and even dragons murmuring quietly. 

Cautiously, I glanced at the humans. Last time I'd flown with humans, before I'd escaped, dragons were punished for making so much as a sound. Yet now, they did not seem to mind that the dragons were now conversing with each other. 

"You heard where we're going?" I asked Reida quietly, warily watching the humans. 

The copper dragoness dipped her head, and somehow, her shadowed red eyes darkened further."Azarin. The Dragon City," she growled, her talons clenched. "A city full of dragons - more than any other city has ever had."

Fear stirred in my stomach. Hundreds - no, thousands of dragons resided inside a human city. All of them under control, either unable to escape, or did not want to escape. I did not know which was worse. 

"If we are to escape, it will have to be on the way there," I breathed quietly, making sure that only she heard my voice. If any other dragon heard -

"How?" the copper dragoness demanded, but her eyes had remained dark - not even a glimpse of hope. A single lash of her tail conveyed her frustration at the situation; knowing that it would be next to impossible to escape. 

My shoulders sagged as I admitted, "I don't know."

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1046 words

Hopefully, there should be a chapter out tomorrow, if all goes well! :D

Hope you enjoyed! Please do drop a vote and/or comment if you enjoyed! Admittedly, its not my best chapter, and it really does feel like a filler chapter. Not to worry! There will be more action soon - very soon!