Chapter 6: The Fall of Kings (Part 3)
Flames roared around her.
The golden-eyed rider's magic burned hot—searing the air itself.
Faye's instincts screamed—MOVE.
She twisted midair, barely avoiding the full brunt of the flames, but the heat still licked at her skin, singing the edges of her cloak.
The bastard wasn't done.
He surged toward her—one arm outstretched, flames twisting around his fingers like living serpents.
Faye had no footing, no solid ground—but that had never stopped her before.
She forced her body to turn, spinning with the fall instead of fighting it.
Shadowflame surged to her fingertips—and she lashed out.
The golden-eyed rider barely had time to block.
Dark fire clashed against his flames, the two elements warring in the open sky.
For a split second, they were suspended in chaos.
A moment of raw power—two forces colliding.
Then—
A deafening roar.
Talis.
Her Frost Dragon dived from above, his massive wings beating against the wind.
The golden-eyed rider barely had time to react—
Talis swept past them, his tail slamming into the enemy's chest with bone-crushing force.
The impact sent the rider spinning through the air.
Faye didn't hesitate.
She reached—
And Talis caught her.
His body was ice and wind, solid and unwavering.
She latched onto his back, muscles burning as she pulled herself into the saddle.
Talis wheeled around, searching.
The golden-eyed rider was still falling—but his dragon was diving to catch him.
Not if she had anything to say about it.
Hunter's Strike
"Talis—now!"
Her dragon moved as one with her command.
They plunged after him, wings folded tight, a blur of white and silver cutting through the storm.
The golden-eyed rider's dragon stretched its claws—almost there.
Faye lifted her hand—ice and shadow coiling together.
She let go.
A blast of Shadowflame and frost exploded through the air.
The dark fire struck first—smothering the dragon's outstretched claws, burning through the webbing of its wings.
The frost followed—freezing the beast mid-motion.
A single second.
That was all she needed.
The golden-eyed rider's dragon missed him.
The enemy plummeted, eyes wide with the realization.
Talis roared, victorious.
Faye watched the rider fall toward the war-torn ground below.
She should have felt satisfaction.
Instead—
A shadow of doubt crept in.
Something about this was too easy.
Then—
The golden-eyed rider vanished.
Not into the storm—but into the shadows themselves.
Faye's heart pounded.
No.
No, that wasn't possible.
"Did you see that?" she whispered.
Talis rumbled beneath her, uneasy.
A feeling slithered through her gut.
She knew this battle was far from over.