Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 22

"Argentum!" Someone prodded me awake, disturbing me from my slumber.

Blinking my eyes drowsily, I was confronted with Reida crouching in front of me, her red eyes glistening with something akin to worry. Even her tail lashed in an agitated manner; something had distressed her.

What could have roused such a reaction from her? Suddenly uneasy, I glanced wearily across the small cave I had chosen for myself, trying to peer out into the main cavern.

There were more dragons than there had been yesterday; some were peering out of the caves that lined the cavern walls, or resting on ledges - or even lazily circling the cave. A few of them had even darted down towards the large dark green dragon that stood poised by the cavern's main entrance.

No humans could be seen, so why was the copper dragoness so worried?

"It's him," she spat, her baring her fangs in a soundless snarl.

"Who?" I blinked slowly, turning my attention towards the dragons within the main cavern. Staggering to all fours, I carefully prowled towards the opening of my small cave, allowing myself a better view at the dragons.

My gaze landed on the dark green drake once more - and froze.

How had I not recognised him straight away?

His scales, although covered in grime, was still that same bottled green colour. And his searing yellow eyes were just as intense as they had been the last time I'd seen him. There was no mistaking who he was; he was the dragon who had all to eagerly searched the continent, trying to capture Rutilus and I.

"Thanatos," I growled his name quietly, shrinking back into the cave slightly. Of course he was here. One of the few dragons that the humans trusted was bound to live in the so called city of dragons.

But... if he was here, than was Master here as well? Last time I had seen the dark green drake, Master had been with him.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I flinched as the dark green dragon's head whipped towards me, and his eyes narrowed. Gone was the blood lust that had gleamed so brightly in his eyes that last time I'd seen him, instead replaced by a cold, scathing stare."You."

A tense silence fell over the cavern - no dragon dared to so much as breathe. But they were staring at me, their gazes scrutinising and disapproving.

I shuddered. Never had so many dragons stared at me in such a way; as though they -

"Argentum!" Finally, one of the dragons broke the strained silence. From the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a maroon dragoness gliding towards me. "Your awake! You must be hungry. Come with me."

An opportunity to not only leave the cave and escape the dragons' attention, but an opportunity to eat food. Perhaps not fresh, but food was food - and I hadn't eaten for an entire day. I dipped her head, accepting her offer - then hesitated. "What about Reida?"

"She's had food already," Keda barely so much as glanced at the copper dragoness, before wheeling down towards the main entrance to the cave, sweeping past Thanatos easily.

I quickly trailed behind her, trying to ignore the dark green drake that stood in front of the main entrance. Quickening my pace, I rushed past him, eager to escape his searing stare.

A few long moments passed as I raced through the tunnel and burst into the wide, cloud-covered sky.

"This way," the maroon dragoness urged with a flick of her long tail. Her gaze rested on me for a split second, before she twisted around and steered towards Azarin.

Trailing after her, I peered across the city uneasily. How such a city could exist; with most buildings big enough for a dragon to walk through, with towers that could touch the clouds, inhabited by so many dragons... it should have been impossible. And yet, the city thrived.

Within minutes, I spotted the courtyard that we'd landed in yesterday. It was mostly empty, aside from a few humans walking through it - or standing still as though waiting for something.

Abruptly, Keda dived down towards the courtyard, landing close to its centre. Confused, I slowly followed behind her. What were we doing here? I'd thought we were getting food - and for as far as I could tell, there was none in that courtyard!

"Don't worry, you'll be getting your food soon," the maroon dragoness reassured me, as though sensing my confusion. "But first -"

"I've been waiting for you," a familiar human voice interrupted Keda.

Whipping my neck, I glared at the human - and tensed. Lord Carlos waltzed towards us, although his blue eyes were firmly lodged on me. His brow was furrowed in a scowl, lips pursed even as he brushed a strand of his golden locks away from his face.

A soft growl escaped me. What was he doing here? Why had he been waiting for us?

"Now, now," the lord tutted, shaking his head slowly. "Is that how you should greet your rider?"

Your rider.

The words echoed through my mind. Talons grinding into the stone pavement, I stared at him in shock. Rider, even has Lord Raffael was the rider of Isaella.

"I have no rider!" I snarled, lashing my tail furiously. A hint of smoke coiled from my gaping jaws, and I could feel heat build up in the back of my throat. Were it not for the punishment I'd be bound to face, I would have expelled fire upon the lord.

Much to my satisfaction, the human flinched from my sudden outburst, before quickly recovering. With longs strides, he closed the distance between us so that he now stood directly beside my shoulder.

"Again, not quite how a dragon should treat their rider," amusement laced his voice as he stared at me. "That is something that we can work on."

"The queen assigned you to him," Keda explained quietly, purposefully evading my gaze. "For as long as you are here, he will be your master."

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1006 words

Sorry for the long wait! However, the holidays are rapidly approaching, and I should be able to pump out a lot more chapters during that time!

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