Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 51

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

TATE

The ground continued to shake as the air charged. My nerves were firing rapidly, this energy was familiar. I pressed my palms to the earth. I could feel the dirt seeping under my fingernails, but more than that, there was a pulsing beneath my palm.

Wings beat. The sound was unmistakable. I smiled as the murky pond within became translucent. I could see horns, sharp teeth, fire .

An earth-shattering cry shook the entire ground, the domes, and my very being. Building remains toppled to the ground as the unmistakable roar of a dragon filled the night sky. Streams of fire lit up the otherwise dark sky as another dragon’s outcry dominated the entirety of the village. The seethings swarming the village only paused a moment before they began to charge each dome, almost in a panic.

The beat of wings got louder along with a dragon’s roar, fury filling the night sky. I could feel the heat a moment before I saw the flames. Fire rained down from above and coated the shield. The heat was intense even from within the shield—yet it did not break its protective barrier. I looked up to see the dragon flying overhead, lighting everything up. It breathed fire on the rubble, on the throngs of seethings now scrambling away, seeking shelter. A moment later its enormous body passed the village, releasing yet another bellow.

I could feel the internal tug in my soul following the dragon, its path, its trajectory. I sat there unable to move. It was the most magnificent thing I’d ever beheld. It was at least fifty feet tall and black as midnight. Its scales appeared impenetrable, and its tail was barbed with spikes. Nothing fiercer existed.

Power. Death. Vengeance.

It banked left and then turned around, approaching the settlement from the other direction. I could see its throat light up, glow black , moments before black-white flames poured from its mouth, engulfing the other end of the village, and swallowing the remaining seethings whole. The fire was an endless stream, decimating all in its path. Where the fire had been, charred earth now remained. The seethings ran from the fire, but it devoured them all leaving only ash behind.

The remaining giant seethings pounded on Vala’s shield, attempting to break in. But they would not.

Fire engulfed them and ended their shrieks. They were no more.

Only one seething remained, a small one on all fours. The dragon roared at it as the seething fled the burning buildings and charred ground. It made it to the perimeter of the village and the dragon watched it go, allowing it to escape.

With a roar, it slowly lowered itself into the heart of the village, perching its legs on the buildings’ rubble. They crumbled further under its weight, stones crashing to the ground releasing new clouds of ash.

It swung its tail around, curling it in on itself before raising its head into the night sky and releasing a roar that made my very bones shake.

It huffed and steam filled the air, even from inside my shield I could tell the external temperature had risen.

Vala stumbled out of her dome stabilizing Jared as they walked toward the dragon. What the hell? Had they lost their minds?

“About damn time!” Jared’s voice was severe even if his face looked relieved. Slack even.

“Yeah, you cut that pretty close,” Vala added. She looked worn and tired; her steps uneven as she wobbled from carrying Jared’s weight.

The dragon lowered its head and huffed at them, lightly this time, just a puff.The force from it still blew Vala’s braids around and nearly knocked Jared over—again.

The dragon’s horns jutted out from its head. Some were practically the entire length of my body. Smaller ones bulged out behind the bigger ones, covering the back of its head like a crown—a very primal, deadly crown. All were gold at the base and faded to black. Uncertainty claimed me. I rocked back on my butt and cradled my knees to my chest, grateful now more than ever for this dome of protection.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a badass, we get it.” Jared rolled his eyes, I think. It was hard to see from seventy feet away even with my increased eyesight, not to mention the smoke-filled air.

“What now?” Vala asked, gesturing in my direction.

The dragon swiveled its head toward me. Its face was suddenly mere feet from my shield. It was easily the same size as the dome, if not bigger.

I sunk back a bit. I’d never seen anything more intimidating. The scales on it weren’t just scales, they were intricately crafted armor, black with swirls of gold. It lowered its head further, huffing at the dome. Its back was ridged with spikes plating up along its spine. Its wings were tucked in as it kneeled on its front legs, barbed tail in the air, adjusting so it was as close to eye level as it could get.

I could see intelligence in the dragon’s eyes. Eyes that squinted at me, pure gold. It had a jagged scar that started at the top of its head near its horns and cut down through its eye to its jaw.

My fingers tingled, recalling the sensation of tracing that very scar pattern on a male not long ago. The dragon’s eyes hooded in a gesture I’ve seen more than once before tilting its head.

I see you.

Aether.

The shield around me dissipated as the air began to swirl, gently pulling at me. Willing me forward. The unmistakable scent of ash and salt surrounded me, filled my lungs and left its mark. This was the male I’d been scenting. The pull in my blood yanked me forward, my feet moved of their own accord.

I was mere feet in front of a head that could end me in one bite or puff of fire. My mind began to swim as energy pulsed through me and harmonized with that of the air. A song that I unwittingly knew the notes to. The thread within—one that was often hard to locate or manipulate—begged to be freed, to finally be seen. The murky pool inside me cleared. A female beast, sharp claws and horns of her own. She smiled.

Hello.

I lifted a hand and reached out toward the dragon’s snout. Aether lowered his head just enough that I could touch a small horn jutting out from under his jaw. I wrapped my hand around it, not even able to close my fingers due to its girth.

Magic roiled up within me, begging for release. The air began to spark, the charge was tangible.

There she is.

I threw back my head and screamed. Energy was pouring from me rapidly as I thrusted my chest forward allowing the power to pulse from me in a bright light. Lightheaded, I tilted toward the ground only to be caught by the air’s resistance until it laid me down, gently. The sky above was full of ash and smoke, but my view was solely that of a dragon. Aether.

My eyes were heavy, so very heavy. I closed them and savored the consuming scent of ash and salt.