Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
As the fights continued, Elias found himself the only individual in the reserved section.
Well, almost the only individual. Four warrior doves, four Draconian guards, four servants carrying trays of food and wine also stood with Elias in the roped-off area. Elias grabbed a goblet from one of the trays.
Beau, who stood outside the reserved area beside his betrothed, Duke Albert, threw Elias a look. He smiled.
Elias looked away and sipped his wine.
The herald blew her trumpet. “In the first semifinal, Princess Senta will battle against Duke Albert. Prepare yourselves.”
Soon the dragons flew and fought above the stands on the opposite side of the field, right beside the cliff face where more onlookers stood on top.
Elias’s eyes narrowed.
They’re very close to that cliff face. One wrong move could end in disaster. The cliff face could crumble, and rocks would land on the stand of civilians below. And the spectators on the cliff above could end up falling if the rock gave beneath them.
Princess Senta darted forward, trying to get past Duke Albert and move the battle out over the field. But Duke Albert swung his tail, keeping her back.
Is he trying to keep her between himself and the cliff face, directly above the spectators?
Throughout the fights, Elias had always noticed that the dragons avoided fighting above the stands. But Duke Albert seemed to want to keep Princess Senta there.
The princess glanced back at the cliff face and the people above. She dove forward. Duke Albert struck her in the face with his claws. She roared. Princess Senta didn’t seem to be fighting back, just trying to get past Duke Albert so she wouldn’t be endangering the civilians.
But Duke Albert clearly didn’t give a fuck. He lunged, struck, and swung any time she tried to get past him.
What an absolute prick!
She could not fly higher than the clifftop. That was a rule that resulted in an immediate disqualification. Elias didn’t know all the rules, but he knew that. Still, she kept refusing to fight in a way that might harm the civilians.
Duke Albert lunged towards her. She dodged, and his claws just grazed the cliff face. Elias’s heart leaped into his throat. Thankfully, the cliff didn’t crumble.
Shouldn’t that be a disqualification?
Princess Senta flew upwards. Duke Albert followed her. But at the last second, she somersaulted and dove below Duke Albert, out of his reach. She flew downwards towards the stands. At the least second, she pulled up.
She flew above the crowds towards the field. The people cheered as she glided over them. In a moment she’d no longer be above the onlookers and could properly fight this wanker.
Suddenly, Princess Senta catapulted upwards into the air, blown on the wind.
Elias frowned. Then he saw the cell of wind sorcerers, their hands lifted.
He thought they’d only stop her if she looked like she was about to land on or hit the crowds.
But she’d clearly been in control of herself as she flew.
And it had been Duke Albert who’d been a danger to the crowds anyway. Not her!
The herald blew her trumpet. The wind sorcerer’s interference meant an immediate disqualification to the dragon who’d caused it.
“Duke Albert is the winner!” the herald yelled.
This time the crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and boos. Not everyone felt satisfied by the outcome. Elias glanced at King Alaric Drachen. His lips pursed in a thin line. But he did not dispute the call.
Now shifted, Princess Senta sneered as she stalked off the field. Blood streamed down her face, dripping onto her robe. A healer dove ran after her, trying to get her to stop so she could tend to the wound.
But Princess Senta waved her off. “It’s just a scratch.” She lifted the sash from her robe to wipe at the blood. But she just ended up smearing it all over her skin.
Lady Juniper ran to her.
“That fucking dickhead! He played dirty! He attacked me above the stands. He knew I wouldn’t fight back, as I didn’t want to endanger the crowds.” She threw a look at Duke Albert, who had now landed and shifted. He raised his hands in victory as he walked across the field.
When he reached the side, Beau met him, clapping and cheering.
“That weaselly shit! If it had been a fair fight, I would have won! He knew he could only beat me if he played dirty!” Princess Senta shook her head, face twisted.
Lady Juniper took out a handkerchief and pressed it to Princess Senta’s bleeding wound.
“Luther or Gerard, whichever of them wins the next fight, better destroy that sneaky shit in the finals.” Princess Senta glared at Duke Albert.
Moments later, Gerard and Prince Luther, accompanied by Warden Onyx, approached the field. Gerard glanced at his sister, who still continue to glower at Duke Albert. He took a step towards her, but the herald blew her trumpet.
“In the second semifinal, Prince Gerard will face Prince Luther. Prepare yourselves,” the herald announced.
Gerard hesitated, then stripped. So did Prince Luther, who handed his robe and cane to Warden Onyx. Gerard gave his robe and eye patch to a servant. They both strode out onto the field.
“I’m going to bury you!” Prince Luther taunted, limping as he walked.
“You can try,” Gerard returned.
Elias glanced around at the reserved section, at the lonely cushions and seats provided for the partners of the competing dragons.
Fuck this!
He ducked beneath the rope. He strolled up to the servant carrying Gerard’s belongings.
“I’ll take those.” Elias held out his hands. He flashed a smile.
“Oh. Ah …” The servant glanced at Prince Gerard’s naked back as he walked away.
“It’s fine. I am his betrothed.” Then he winked. “If anyone gives you any trouble, just say the lightning prince threw a giant fit and demanded you relinquish the robe.”
The servant let out a nervous laugh. “All right, Your Highness.” He bowed and handed Elias the robe and eye patch.
Elias turned. Prince Luther and Gerard had already shifted and flew up into the air. They fought, clashing and roaring. Despite Prince Luther’s injury, it seemed a fair and even match.
But soon Gerard clearly dominated. He kept knocking, smacking, and attacking his brother with claws, horns, tails, and wings. Finally, he drove Prince Luther into the ground.
Then he stood over him. He lifted his head to the sky, opened his mouth, and breathed dragonfire.
Elias’s mouth fell open. Fuck. He truly is magnificent.
The two shifted and walked towards the edge of the field together.
“I demand a rematch!” Prince Luther yelled.
Gerard chuckled, a warm sound that tingled inside Elias. The corner of Gerard’s lips tugged up.
He’s smiling.
“Any day, little brother,” Gerard said. “I’m always happy to smash your arse into the earth and put you in your place.”
Then Gerard looked up. He saw Elias holding his robe. The smile on his lips died. So did any warmth in his eyes.
Elias took a deep breath and stepped forward. He smiled. “I hope you don’t mind that I took over for the servant.” He held out the robe.
Bits of blood and dirt stained Gerard’s dark skin. Elias inhaled the scent of musk, smoke, dirt, and sweat.
Flash and lightning! Elias wanted to strip off and roll around with this man in the field. He didn’t give a shit if all the crowds watched him being ravished by this dragon.
He wanted to feel the strength in those thick arms. He wanted to be thrown around and towered over. He wanted to be put where the dragon warrior wanted him and fucked, hard and rough, and messy. He wanted this dragon who’d just defeated so many, who’d shown how powerful he was, to claim Elias.
“Thank you,” Gerard said, voice low and deep as he took the robe.
Elias’s gaze fixed on those full lips. He wanted to climb Gerard’s solid body like a tree and shove his cock between them.
But he doesn’t like you. He doesn’t want you.
He cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.” He held out the eye patch.
Gerard took the eye patch and put it on.
“I hope your eye doesn’t hurt.” Elias knew it had been his duty to injure—well, actually kill—Prince Gerard. But he did not wish to think of the dragon still suffering because of it. At least it didn’t seem to affect his ability to fight.
“No. None of my wounds hurt anymore.”
“I’m glad. And you fought magnificently.” Elias paused. He lifted his chin. “I am proud that I will marry such a mighty dragon.”
Gerard’s brows furrowed. He looked at Elias then, as if studying him.
Does he not believe me?
Gerard took the sash and tied it around his waist. Then he glanced at Duke Albert, who along with Beau had moved closer to them.
“I still have one more battle to win today,” Gerard said.
Servants handed out goblets of wine and tankards of ale, perhaps giving the two finalists a chance to breathe before the finale.
Constant cheers, applause, and cries from the crowd filled the air. They’d all been drinking for hours. Several of the contestants who’d been knocked out from the tournament were drinking too. In fact, Duke Albert, who still had to compete, downed a tankard of ale. And then grabbed another.
Duke Albert looked at Elias. He grinned. He ran his gaze up and down Elias’s body, not trying to hide his perusal. He winked at Elias. Which, considering Beau stood beside him, was quite inappropriate. Elias looked away.
He heard Duke Albert sniff.
Gerard faced the field. Princess Senta had come up beside him.
“You have to beat our cousin to a bloody pulp,” she said. “He plays dirty. You have to win!”
Gerard nodded. “I will.”
Then Duke Albert spoke, “Someone as beautiful as Prince Elias should be with someone handsome. He shouldn’t be wasted on someone with a face like that.”
His voice was not drowned out by the crowd.
Prince Gerard tensed. Princess Senta’s head whipped around. She took a step towards Duke Albert.
But Gerard’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist. “Leave it,” he said, voice low and measured. “Just leave it.”
“I’d satisfy the lightning prince far more than a disfigured prince.” Duke Albert let out a bark of laughter.
Elias’s hands twitched. Suddenly he wished Voltaria and Draconia were still at war. He had a sudden urge to kill one more dragon.