Chapter 14: The Bloodied Sky

The moment their eyes locked, Faye knew this fight wouldn't be over quickly.

The rogue leader—a heavily armored rider with a jagged scar running down his cheek—grinned at her like a wolf scenting blood. His dragon, a hulking crimson beast with spikes lining its spine, flared its wings and let out a ground-shaking roar.

Faye barely had time to react before they lunged.

Talis twisted midair, dodging the incoming strike as the rogue leader's fire-coated spear barely missed Faye's shoulder. The heat seared her cheek, the edge of her hair smoking from the close call.

He was fast. Too fast.

Faye gritted her teeth. She had underestimated him.

The rogue leader let out a laugh, spinning his spear before pointing it directly at her. "I expected the last Frostborn to be more impressive."

Faye wiped the blood from her cheek, her grip tightening on her weapons. Her tattoos pulsed faintly, reacting to her rising fury.

"You'll get your wish soon enough."

The sky was a battlefield of fire, ice, and lightning.

Riven and Kael fought in tandem, Voidfang slipping through the shadows while Onyx shattered the enemy's formations with bursts of raw power.

Lyra was a storm of reckless destruction, Emberfang locking jaws with an enemy dragon midair before sending them spiraling toward the ruins below.

But Faye had no time to focus on them.

The rogue leader was relentless.

His dragon exhaled a burst of molten flame, and Talis barely managed to shield her with his wings before rolling to the side. Faye's stomach lurched as they plummeted—then with a powerful flap, Talis surged back into the fight.

She countered with a wave of freezing mist, aiming for the rogue leader's wings.

He twisted his spear, deflecting the cold with a barrier of crackling flames.

Faye's pulse quickened.

He wasn't just skilled—he was trained.

He lunged at her again, and this time, she wasn't fast enough.

The spear pierced her side.

White-hot pain exploded through her ribs as the force nearly knocked her off Talis's saddle. She barely held on, her vision blurring.

The rogue leader leaned in close, his grin widening. "Not so untouchable now, are you?"

Faye gritted her teeth against the pain. Her blood dripped onto Talis's scales, steaming in the cold air.

She inhaled sharply, forcing her mind to sharpen. Pain was nothing. Pain was fuel.

Her fingers curled. Shadowflame erupted around her hand.

The rogue leader's smirk faltered.

Faye struck.

The impact sent shockwaves through the sky.

Shadowflame met fire, ice met steel. The rogue leader was skilled, but he wasn't ready for Faye's raw fury.

She twisted her blade, sending a surge of magic through his spear, shattering the enchanted metal.

For the first time, his eyes widened in shock.

Faye didn't hesitate. She drove her dagger into his shoulder, twisted, and kicked him off his dragon.

He plummeted.

But his dragon—enraged and desperate—lashed out.

A massive clawed tail slammed into Talis's side.

Faye barely had time to scream before she was thrown from the saddle.

The wind howled as she fell.

Pain flared through her ribs, her arms, her legs—everything burned as the ruins below rushed up to meet her.

The last thing she saw was Kael diving after her, his expression unreadable.

Then—darkness.