Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 31

The six dragons followed silently as I led them through the cave, all of them warily watching the other dragons that were sprawled across ledges. Even Rutilus was tense, his gold eyes darker than usual.

Weaving through the piles of gold, I led them to the cavern I had shared with Reida. "Keep your voices down," I warned them as I landed, my own voice a soft murmur.

The dark green drake narrowed his eyes, a low growl rumbling in his throat. Defiantly, he raised his head, and hissed, "why? Are we not allowed to make noise?"

"Not right now. Not if you want to escape," I interrupted, giving him a hard glare.

He blinked. For a split second, I could have sworn that excitement glittered in his dark green eyes, but had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Another blink, and he was holding my gaze, staring at me almost suspiciously - but did not protest any further.

Without saying so much as another word, I hastened as far back through the cavern as I could go. The other dragons settled in around me, but I ignored them - instead peering outside the cavern anxiously. If any other dragons were too close...

None were. All were a fair distance away. I breathed out slowly, my gaze remaining on the outside cave for a few moments longer. The consequences were too high to not be cautious. If the queen learned of my plans...

I shook my head, receiving odd glances from the other dragons. The queen wouldn't find out. We'd be careful, and we would escape together - with Reida. We'd just have to keep our voices down, and make sure no other dragon came too close.

"You have a plan?" Rutilus broke the silence. His head was tilted, and his wide gold eyes met mine curiously.

I didn't answer him, instead meeting his gaze firmly. "How's the rest of the wing? None others have been captured? How were you captured?" I blurted the questions, needing to know that my wing was safe.

"They're safe," he revealed, tucking his wings against his flank. "None of have been captured - that I know of. Kronx has even agreed to let them attack the city on the new moon in three months time! That's why I got captured. So I could tell you our plan!"

My wing had a plan; they were coming. Relief swept through me; my wing would help rescue us!

But... the wing, as large as it was, was still far too small to take on Azarin. Defeat would be inevitable; even with the help of other wings. Maybe we'd stand a slight chance if we could somehow persuade other dragons in the city to help but - three months. How many dragons would we be able to persuade in such a tight time frame? Would we find any?

Three months wasn't long enough. They'd all be defeated, captured. Forced to live in the city, among many humans - and under the Queen's command.

"Three months? It can't be longer?" I tentatively asked, but knowing that even just telling the wing to wait would be impossible. Lowering my voice, I added, "the dragons here... Most of them are loyal to Azarin. They wouldn't even dream of turning on it."

"Wouldn't they?" A throaty voice interrupted. Snappy my gaze towards the direction of the voice, my heart dropped. Standing on the edge of my cavern, wings flared and head raised arrogantly, was none other than Thanatos.

Folding his wings, he slowly stalked towards us, his head still raised. His blazing yellow eyes remained locked on me, ignoring the other dragons. For now.

How much had he heard? Heart hammering in my throat, I edged back, talons digging into the soil. Surely enough to have all of us punished!

A low, rumbling snarl reverberated through the cavern. Rutilus lowered onto his haunches, his tail sweeping back and forth as he prowled towards the dark green drake, his fangs bared in a snarl.

But Thanatos continued to ignore the imperial drake. "How can you be so sure? Just because they all answer to the Queen's beck and call? Has it not occurred to you that some are scared of what might happen if they didn't?"

"What do you want?" Rutilus growled with a lash of his tail. Behind him, the other five dragons stirred uneasily, a few even uttering quiet growls.

As though finally noticing that they were there, the dark green drake blinked. With an irritated snort, he halted, although his yellow gaze continued to glare at me.

For a few long moments, no one spoke. Even the dragons behind Rutilus had stiffened, not completely sure what to do.

"Don't tell the humans," I begged, flinching at the way my voice rasped. "Please."

The word caught in my throat. It was all I could do to remain still, to try and appear calmer than I was. Pretend that my heart wasn't racing, that my stomach churning at the mere thought of the queen's punishments. The punishments that the dark green drake would bring upon us if he so much as told a human.

Thanatos scoffed, his yellow eyes boring into mine for a split second longer before he slowly prowled away. Flaring his dark green wings, he leapt into the air - and was gone.

But my heart continued racing. If he told the queen, or even any other human... No. There was no way he'd remain silent. He was Thanatos; a dragon all too eager to turn on his own kind. He'd go straight to the humans.

There was nothing we could do to stop him.

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936 words

Shorter chapter than usual, sorry! Nonetheless, I hope you all enjoyed it! Please do drop a vote and/or leave a comment if you did. :)

Next chapter will be out next Monday.

Thank you!