Chapter 100

FELIX

The battlefield was ablaze.

Rogue dragons from Charles’ army were happily torching the soldiers, not even caring which side they were fighting for. One of the trees in the nearby forest had caught fire, and from just beyond the woods, I could see smoke billowing from the direction of Barlow.

As much as I wanted to stay and help my people, to airlift my men out of the flames, the best thing I could do for my army right now was to put an end to it. And the only way to do that was to find my brother.

My heart sank as I thought about Albert and Anton, locked sword-to-sword. I knew in my heart that my friend would never recover from this day–either he would die at the hands of Anton, or he would slay his own little brother. Either way, he would be destroyed.

My other generals were surely facing the same conundrum. When all of this was said and done, there would be deep scars amongst the Dragon Knights that would take generations to heal.

I saw the flap of batlike wings from beyond the fray. The silvery-grey scales of the dragon shimmered even through the thick smoke. I would have known those wings anywhere–I knew them just as well as I knew Ignatius’s own red hide.

Hades and Charles.

Ignatius could sense them too. He screeched at the sky, and it took barely any urging on my part to get us flying over to where my brother was hovering.

Charles grinned as we approached. I did not bother attempting to sneak up on him–I knew that he was expecting us.

“Glad you were able to join us, brother,” Charles called out, carrying his voice above the sounds of battle and the flapping of dragons’ wings.

“Charles, you must stop this madness!” I shouted above the wind. “This must end!”

Charles merely chuckled and maneuvered Hades so that we were flying side-by-side. “There are people counting on me to see this through, Felix.”

I stared at him. “Like who? The kingdom of Abernathy? They’re just using you to achieve their own selfish means, Charles! It’s not too late! We can put a stop to this, together!”

Charles snarled, and Hades strained at the reins. “I will not stop this just to play second fiddle to you again, Felix.”

I looked at him, and for the first time, it was like I was seeing a stranger. My younger brother was gone, and this monster had taken his place.

As much as it pained me, I knew what I had to do.

I angled Ignatius so that we were now perpendicular to Hades and Charles. In a single, smooth movement, we lunged for our brothers.

Hades might have been fierce, but Ignatius was quick. All it took was a slightly extended claw for my dragon to take a swipe at Charles’, drawing blood.

Charles roared in fury and flew skyward, clearly planning for a diving attack. Ignatius and I both looked upward, unsure of where the next move would be coming from.

Just as Charles and Hades appeared from behind a cloud, I was struck by an odd sensation.

My chest suddenly seized with a panic that was not mine, and I had the odd sensation of being pinned in place. I froze, craning my neck towards the ground to see where she was. Mila. She was in trouble, and I had to find her.

I ignored Charles’ next attack and dove for the forest, desperate to find my wife.

I could hear Charles shouting something into the wind behind me, but I did not care. I searched the treeline for Mila, hoping against hope that she was safely tucked against a tree somewhere and had just been startled by a deer.

The fear in my veins grew stronger as I flew closer to Barlow. There was no doubt that Mila was somehow in the village, helping the civilians escape.

Ignatius skidded to the ground, tearing up the grass as he landed. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see two figures running for the treeline. Mila? I could only hope.

Hades and Charles landed a few hundred yards away from us. Charles looked over at the destruction of Barlow and smiled to himself.

I did not want to give him a moment’s more satisfaction. I charged at my brother, sword extended.

Charles saw me coming and drew his weapon, as well, but a moment too late–I drove my sword into the side of his armor, gashing a wound there. He cried out, ducking awkwardly out of the way to avoid further injury.

“You want to kill your own brother?” Charles yelled. “And you dare call me a villain!”

“I do not want to kill you, Charles!” I hollered back. Charles lunged at me in response.

We had learned sword fighting together. The Royal Guard had taught us both. I had grown up learning his attacks and counterattacks and how best to defend myself. But nothing could have prepared me for facing off against him in a life or death scenario.

From behind me, Ignatius roared. I could not tell if he was concerned for his rider or sending Hades a warning to stay away.

I ducked under one of Charles’ parries and knocked him off his feet. I moved towards him, bracing myself for the final blow, when he slashed his sword at my ankles, taking me down to the ground as well.

My head hit the ground with a sickening thud, and pain screeched its way down my spine. I forced myself to roll onto my elbows, lifting me slightly, and tried to ignore the pain.

Charles was scrambling to his feet. Both of our swords had been thrown from our hands, and now both lay on the ground near me.

We noticed them at the same time.

I reached out, easily grabbing both blades and holding them high as I pushed myself to standing. Charles kept running at me, like he had some sort of death wish.

I held the blades out and braced for impact. I was stunned when I felt something massive move behind me, and Hades reached out a claw to knock me over once again.

I fell to my knees, and Charles kept running. I did not have enough time to sort myself out before he tackled me, holding a long, sharp knife to my throat.

“This is the end, Felix,” Charles hissed into my ear. “Any last words for your baby brother?”

Perhaps death would be a welcome friend. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

But instead of seeing darkness, I saw a familiar face.

I thought of Mila. The way her long hair was always perfectly mussed in the morning. The way her eyes lit up whenever she tasted a new dish. The way she smiled when she looked at me.

I loved her more than anything else on the planet. I loved her more than my crown and kingdom, even.

I had no other choice. I needed to get back to her. I had to. I had to fight back.

From somewhere deep within me, power exploded.