Ken's fingers tightened around the tendril of shadow, his body swaying as he clung to the black dragon's claw.
The massive creature soared through the sky with an effortless grace, the wind whipping around him in a fierce torrent.
His eyes traced the spiny ridges of the dragon's powerful legs, the cold, alien scales shimmering in the dim light.
The Grand Magus was still perched on its back, a barely perceptible silhouette against the vast expanse of the sky.
But even in the face of this monstrosity, it was the woman he knew he had to focus on.
He took a slow, steadying breath. The tendril of shadow was still connected to the dragon's claw, but he had no illusions about his situation.
The danger wasn't just the dragon; it was the woman, the Dragon Tamer herself.
A Grand Magus of such caliber was a force to be reckoned with. But he had to act fast, he couldn't afford hesitation.