The enormous rock beast swept through the air, flying with power and grace. The farther we got from land, the colder and stronger the wind blew. I shivered and drew my jacket tighter around me.
“There’s a storm forming!” Declan shouted over the wind. “To the right!”
I looked right, spotting enormous black clouds swirling high in the sky. They moved toward us unnaturally fast, lightning striking within their depths.
“It’s coming right for us!” Aeri shouted.
The wind grew stronger, nearly forcing me off the dragon’s back. I crouched low, gripping the rocky spikes for support. Thunder boomed as lightning cracked, so close and loud that my ears rang.
The rain hadn’t even reached us yet, which was eerie as hell considering that the lightning struck hard and fast, illuminating the sky with an eerie white glow.
My heart thundered as it neared us.
A huge bolt cracked right at the dragon, striking the very tip of the dragon’s wing, blasting off a few dozen shards of slate. The creature faltered, twisting in the air, and gravity pulled at me. I clung harder, squeezing my legs as I tried desperately not to fall.
8
The massive stone dragon shuddered and righted itself, beating its wings faster to outrun the storm.
It was impossible, though. The lightning struck harder and faster, chasing us across the sky. Fear surged in my chest. I sat upright, about to slice my finger and call upon my Dragon Blood to create some kind of magic to drive the lightning away.
“I’ve got this!” Tarron shouted. His magic flared bright, and I looked back, spotting him throw out his arm and send a massive gust of air toward the clouds.
It drove them back, but the lightning continued to strike. An enormous white bolt shot right for us. From behind Aeri, Declan’s magic flared, and he shot a dagger of golden lightning right at the bolt that was about to hit our dragon.
The Fallen Angel’s lightning was more powerful, and it drove the other away. The dragon swept low on the air, its rock wings flapping powerfully.
Declan and Tarron held off the storm as the dragon powered its way through, struggling against the gale. I clung tight to the beast’s back, using all of my strength to stay on as the creature dipped and dived.
Finally, the sky cleared and the lightning faded.
I sagged against the dragon’s back. “Thank fates.”
“That was close,” Tarron said.
“No kidding.” I leaned over the dragon’s side and looked down, spotting a few black and green islands in the middle of the navy sea. Icy wind whipped my hair back from my face, making my eyes water as I shivered. “I hope we’re close.”
A screech sounded from the distance, and I looked up. The fluffy white clouds that surrounded us had begun to spin.
“That’s not a storm,” Aeri shouted.
“It’s definitely not natural,” Tarron added.
The clouds spun faster and faster, coalescing to form glinting white ice monsters. They were twice as big as a human. Their bodies were angular, more like living icicles than people, and huge crystal wings extended off their backs.
They shot toward us, glittering in the sun like diamonds.
“There are at least six!” Tarron shouted. “With more forming!”
His magic flared, and he shot another massive gust of air at them. The creatures plowed right through it.
I took my bow and arrow from the ether, gripping the dragon’s back with my thighs. The creatures shrieked as they flew toward us.
Carefully, I drew back on the string and got a monster in my sight. It was only fifty feet away. I released, watching the arrow fly straight and true.
It slammed into the icy face of the monster, and the head shattered. Shards of ice flew as the creature pinwheeled through the air, plummeting toward the ground.
Tarron hurled a dagger at a monster who was nearly upon us, hitting him right in the head. The icy skull shattered.
Aeri and Tarron joined in, throwing their own weapons at the creatures. I drew another arrow from the ether and sighted it on one of the beasts. It was nearly to me when I released the string. When the head exploded, the ice shards shot toward me. One sliced my cheek, leaving blazing pain in its wake.
The cut burned like fire, and I slapped a hand to my cheek. There was something extra terrible about it. Poison.
“Don’t let the ice cut you!” I shouted.
The pain pounded through my body, unnaturally fierce. I sagged, my strength draining out of me. It took everything I had to stay upright on the dragon.
Tarron took out another creature with a well-placed blast, then reached forward and grabbed me. “Don’t let go!”
I clung to the spikes on the dragon’s back, but my vision was going dark.
Tarron’s other hand gripped my shoulder, and a blast of his healing energy surged into my cheek. I gasped, straightening as strength flowed through my muscles.
“Thanks.” My vision cleared just in time to see another ice monster form in the clouds and hurtle toward us.
I drew a dagger from the ether and threw it at the beast. It slammed into its chest, and the creature exploded.
The dragon dived low, zipping below the clouds. I looked up. No icy creatures followed us, thank fates.
“We’re nearly there!” Aeri shouted.
I leaned over and looked down, spotting a large island made of black slate interspersed with patches of green grass. Pools of deep blue water gleamed within the island, looking like the slate had been dug out and they’d filled with rainwater.
The dragon flew right for the beach, landing with a clatter on the rounded black pebbles.
I climbed off, my legs still shaky from the adrenaline, and turned to face him. “Thank you.”
My friends followed me off. Once they’d disembarked, he bowed his head, then launched himself in the air and returned to the sky.
“This place is amazing,” Aeri murmured.
I spun in a circle, taking in the stunning sight. Early morning sun shot across the gray waves, lighting the tips like diamonds. The island itself was a massive mountain of loose slate that spilled down toward the sea. Millions of pieces of angular black rock tumbled down the slopes. At the top, patches of green grass gleamed. Tiny purple flowers clung to wherever they could find a bit of dirt.
A sense of belonging tugged me upward, toward the top of the loose slate mountain.
“Do you feel that?” Aeri asked.
“Totally. We need to go upward.”
Together, we set off up the rocky slope. The rubble shifted underfoot, making it hard to climb. Partway up, the only walkable path became a series of steps, and I veered toward those.
“This is convenient.” There was a frown in Tarron’s voice as he spoke.
Too convenient.
As soon as he’d spoken, rain began to pour. I ducked my head and continued upward. Tarron tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned back. He handed me a rain slicker that he’d conjured.
“Thanks.” I put it on.
From behind, I heard Aeri and Declan thank him as well.
I bowed my head and trudged upward. When the stair in front of me disappeared, I nearly missed it, plunging into a deep ravine.
“Watch out!” Tarron grabbed me, yanking me back against his chest.
“That step was just there!” I looked up, spotting the rest of the stairs disappearing. A gaping crevasse was left in their wake.