𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𓆩⟡𓆪 𝕏𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟

「 ✦ 0.28 ✦ 」

"You can't interfere!" Tynan shouts at Xaden, but I don't dare look away from my opponent long enough to see how Xaden reacts. I can't face him now, I can already feel his anxiety deep in my bones. He knows the cut on my neck is bad and I'm going to bleed out if I don't wrap this up soon and get back to safety. I think Tynan barely missed my veins, so I have time, but not much.

"No, but I can narrate," Xaden retorts.

I chanced a quick glance. Yeah, Sgaeyl looks pissed. Her head undulates in a serpentine motion--a clear sign of agitation--and those narrowed golden eyes of hers focused on Tynan, who is now trying to circle me like we're on the mat, but I won't let him get between me and the little golden dragon.

"You're going to bleed out, Whitlock," Tynan hisses, his face pale and sweaty.

"I'm fully prepared to die on this field, asshole. Are you?" I raised my dagger just to prove that I was ready to end this match, even with the blood flowing down my neck. I dropped my gaze to his side, where I cut him. "I guess we're both going to die out here, your cut is worse than mine. You will die if you don't get to a healer soon."

Rage contorts his features, and he moves to strike. I raise my dagger, beckoning him to get closer so I can kill him. I know if I tried to throw my dagger, it wouldn't hit him. The pain in my neck and stomach is unbearable and I can't concentrate.

At least I got some good strikes in, before Tynan killed me for good.

Just as Tynan reaches up to two-hand his sword, preparing for a killing blow, I catch a glimpse of movement to my right. It's Xaden. And rules be damned, like I knew he would do, he steps forward as though he intends to stop Tynan from killing me.

I barely have a moment to register surprise that Xaden would actually risk his job to save me, when a gust of wind slams into my back, and I stumble forward slightly, but keep my balance.

Tynan's mouth hangs open and he staggers backward, his head tilting so far back it's nearly perpendicular to his torso. Shade envelops us both as he continues to back away.

I suck in a deep breath, before chancing a look over my shoulder to see why Tynan's retreating.

My heart clenches at the sight behind me.

Standing with the golden one tucked under an enormous, scarred black wing is the biggest dragon I've ever seen in my life--the unbonded black dragon Professor Kaori showed us in class. I don't even come close to reaching its ankle.

A growl resonates through its chest, vibrating the ground around me as it lowers its gigantic head, baring dripping teeth. He's lethal... and beautiful.

I know I should feel fear at the sight of him, but I feel myself being enveloped with so much safety. He made me feel safe. I start to visibly relax, knowing I don't have to fight anymore, letting the pain take over.

"Step aside, Spotted One," a deep, gruff, definitely a male voice orders.

I blink. Wait. What? Did he just speak to me?

"Yes. You. Move." There's zero room for argument in his tone, and I step to the side instantly, having to step over Oren's unconscious body as Tynan breaks into a screaming run, fleeing for the trees. As if that will help.