The moment the dragon lunged forward, the world seemed to slow. Kael's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, the cold metal pressing against his palm as he braced for the inevitable. The air hummed with energy as the ground trembled beneath the weight of the beast, its massive claws scraping across the forest floor.
Elyra's heart hammered in her chest, the sound of the dragons' growls reverberating through her bones. She could barely catch her breath, her instincts screaming at her to move, to run, to escape. But she couldn't—Kael was right in front of her, and the momentary sense of safety he provided felt fragile at best.
Alena's eyes locked with Kael's, her lips curling into a cruel, mocking smile. "You'll regret defying us, traitor," she spat. The words were filled with venom, but there was something darker in her gaze—a twisted satisfaction in knowing that Kael's past was coming to claim him.
The dragon's massive wings flapped, sending gusts of wind that knocked the trees to their sides, their leaves rustling in a chaotic frenzy. The beast's tail lashed out, slicing through the air like a whip. But Kael was already moving, his body a blur as he dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. His blade flashed in the firelight, slicing through the air toward the dragon's flank.
The dragon hissed, a vicious sound that echoed through the night, its scales glistening like obsidian as it twisted its massive body to avoid Kael's strike. The fire in its eyes burned hotter, fiercer. It was no ordinary dragon. This creature had been bred for war, for destruction. It was a weapon, and it knew its purpose.
Kael was quick, but he was alone against not one but two dragons. The weight of his situation began to sink in, the cold reality of his battle against the Outlaws pressing down on him with every passing second. He couldn't protect Elyra and fight at the same time. His mind raced as he took another step back, his sword still at the ready, eyes darting between the dragons.
The other rider, the masked man, slid off his dragon with a fluid motion, his dark armor blending into the shadows as he approached, his hand resting on the hilt of a blade that gleamed wickedly in the moonlight. His eyes were hidden beneath the mask, but the energy around him felt suffocating—like a predator closing in on its prey.
"I warned you, Kael," the masked rider's voice was cold, like ice scraping against metal. "You can't run forever. You can't escape what you've done."
Kael's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "I'm not running. I'm fighting," he snarled, his voice sharp with defiance. "And I'll keep fighting until I draw my last breath."
Elyra, frozen behind him, watched the scene unfold with wide eyes. Her pulse pounded in her ears as her breath came in quick, shallow gasps. She had never imagined this—never dreamed she would be caught in the middle of a fight with dragons, let alone with people who seemed to know Kael so well. But as the tension thickened, one thing became painfully clear to her: Kael wasn't just fighting for his life. He was fighting to protect something much more important—her.
The masked rider's lips twisted into a wicked smile. "You think you're the hero, Kael? You think you can save everyone? You're just as much a part of this as I am. You always were."
Kael's expression hardened, a dark shadow crossing his face. "You don't know anything about me," he growled, his grip on the sword tightening as the dragon rider took another step toward him.
"I know enough," the masked rider said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Enough to know that you're the one who's been causing all this chaos. The forest, the dragons… it's all your fault."
The words hung heavy in the air, and Elyra's stomach dropped. What was he talking about? What did he mean by "it's all your fault?"
Kael's gaze flicked toward her, his expression softening for the briefest moment, as if a wave of regret had washed over him. He didn't say anything, but in that look, Elyra saw the weight of his past. She saw the burden he carried, the guilt that clung to him like a shadow, and she understood something crucial—something that changed everything.
"He's lying, Elyra," Kael said, his voice strained. "None of this is my fault. I've been trying to stop it. I've been trying to make things right."
Before Elyra could respond, the dragon with Alena roared again, a sound so deafening that it sent a jolt of panic through her chest. The beast snapped its jaws, narrowly missing Kael, its breath hot with the scent of sulfur. The air shimmered with the heat as it charged again, its talons raking the earth.
Kael dove to the side, rolling out of the way as the dragon's claws tore into the ground where he had been standing only seconds before. He was fast, but the dragon was faster.
The masked rider stepped forward, his hand now raised to command his dragon. "Kill him," he ordered, his voice cold and final.
The dragon snarled, its eyes blazing with fury as it lunged toward Kael with terrifying speed. Elyra's heart stopped for a moment as she saw Kael struggling to regain his footing. The moment seemed to stretch, the distance between Kael and the dragon growing smaller by the second.
"Kael!" Elyra shouted, her voice raw with fear.
It was too late. The dragon's jaws were closing in on him, and in that split second, Elyra felt the earth beneath her tremble as she leapt forward, not thinking, only reacting. She reached for her dagger, her fingers trembling as she gripped the hilt.
"Get back!" Kael shouted, his voice filled with panic.
But Elyra couldn't stop herself. She couldn't let them take him—she couldn't lose him.
She ran toward the dragon, her feet pounding against the earth as she launched herself forward, the dagger raised high. In that moment, everything became a blur. Her mind raced, her body moving on instinct, fueled by desperation and fear. She wasn't sure what she expected to do—she wasn't a warrior, not like Kael—but she had to try. She had to do something.
The dragon's jaws snapped shut just as Elyra lunged forward, and the impact sent her sprawling to the ground with a gasp. The beast had missed her by inches, but the force of its movement had sent her flying, her head spinning as the world around her blurred.
"Elyra!" Kael's voice was frantic, but Elyra barely heard it over the ringing in her ears. Her vision swam as she struggled to regain her footing, her body sore from the impact. She looked up, and to her horror, she saw the dragon turning back toward her, its eyes wild with rage.
But then, in the distance, the sound of a new roar—different from the dragons'—cut through the air.
A figure appeared in the shadows, cloaked and tall, moving swiftly toward them. Kael's eyes snapped to the newcomer, and Elyra, gasping for breath, could barely comprehend what was happening. The forest itself seemed to be stirring—alive, watching, waiting.
The newcomer's blade gleamed in the moonlight as they sliced through the air, striking with deadly precision.
And for the first time since the battle had started, Kael allowed himself to breathe.