Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Long horns curve back from the beast’s head, following the line of its neck. It has no appendages, only razor-sharp spikes that frame the horns and continue in a deadly trail down the sides and center of its gold and green scaled body.
It’s massive, two and a half times Mikael’s height and four times as long. Each side of its split tail is larger than my leg.
Steam wafts from the creature’s nostrils as it flicks its forked tail back and forth, assessing us like we’re dinner.
What is with this place? There were only supposed to be ice dragons on this island. No wonder no one comes here. Or has ever returned to talk about it. First that massive fish, and now this giant snake-lizard looking like it wants to be a dragon?
It’s as terrifying a creature as it is beautiful. Its gold scales intersect the green in a zigzag pattern along its sides.
It hisses, slithering closer, before rising to reveal a cream belly. I slide Mikael’s blades from his back, keeping one and pressing the other into his hand. They’re the only two weapons we have besides his dagger.
Sensing the motion, the beast opens its mouth wider, rows of jagged teeth on display.
Almost too late, I realize what it’s doing.
With a deep inhale and the constriction of its throat, orange-red embers come to life in its mouth.
“Fire mouth!” I shout, seconds before it releases a blast of fire. I leap to the left as Mikael bolts to the right, just as a horizontal column of flames and heat divides us.
An angry string of curses escapes when I land on my bad leg and collapse.
The acrid smell of burning hair lingers after barely avoiding its attack.
The singed ends of my previously braided hair fall down my back.
I spin it around and loop it up in a bun as securely as I can while trying to rise on my good leg.
I don’t have time to worry about how much it hurts to use my other leg when the beast is already between us.
It moves quicker than I expect for its size, coiling into itself and raising its head, looking between us. Its long tongue juts out, scenting the air like a snake.
“Are you okay?” Mikael looks at me, concern etched into his features, from the other side of the cavern.
“I’ve been injured in battle before,” I say, even though my leg is throbbing, pain lancing throughout every fiber of my being. The beast can tell I’m the easy mark. It’s going to come after me first, and we both know it. Although, I’m not sure if it’s going to close the distance or spit fire again.
I twirl the sword in my hand and hold a defensive stance.
It doesn’t take long before the beast lashes out, jaws open in an attempt to devour.
I lunge to the side, tucking into a roll before jumping back up using the strength of my uninjured leg. Faltering, I let out another curse as the beast strikes again in quick succession, snapping its mouth toward my head. I fall back onto my ass, but quickly scramble back up.
“Bryn!” Mikael yells, sprinting forward. He arcs his sword down, aiming to slice the beast between its scales, but the beast twists, and instead the steel bounces off its scales.
The momentum rattles Mikael, causing him to stagger back from the impact, almost slipping on the loose stones.
“Ah! Come on, you ugly bastard!” I roughly shout, frustration lacing my words.
I am so tired of this. All I wanted to do was rest, but no, I can’t even get that. I direct my anger and ire at taking this thing down.
I advance, swinging the sword in my hand, but it retreats too quickly and I slice only air.
The beast hisses and lurches back, uncoiling itself, whipping its tail at Mikael before he can land a blow to its side.
I jolt forward and stab out my sword, trying to impale it, but the blade clangs loudly against its scales. I limp backwards a step, sucking in a breath as pain flares.
Okay.
I might as well be a distraction for Mikael to land a killing blow. I’m not at full strength, and I’ll only end up dead if I don’t take caution.
I’ve taken down trolls before, but this creature is more agile. It also breathes fire.
It’s so cold on the island that I wouldn’t have believed it if someone told me of this beast’s existence. Too bad this creature isn’t nice enough to share its warmth to dry our clothing.
I’m still damp and cold. And in pain.
All of which further raises my irritation at this entire situation.
I edge closer to Mikael, but every time I make progress, the beast flicks out its tail in my direction, keeping us separated.
All around me are small rocks, many sharp and jagged. I can use those as projectiles, try to open up a weak point in the creature’s scales.
I retreat and call on my magic. “Give me coverage!”
Mikael advances, trying to lure the beast away from me, but it roars and spits out fire. He barely dodges it, narrowly avoiding the orange and red blast of liquid death.
The beast turns back in my direction. He lunges forward again and again in quick succession, swinging his sword each time, but his speed does nothing for him against the armored body of the beast.
It only aggravates it more.
“Whatever you’re doing, hurry!” Mikael yells through panting breaths before lunging forward again.
“I’m working on it!” I yell back.
I’m not sure how much magic I have available before I weaken or drain my supply. I haven’t been using it like before, and the curse has curbed what I normally could pull from. Our magic is as connected to our souls as our lives are.
I’ll push myself to my limits, and then some, because I refuse to let this beast win.
I craft an orb of light and let it hover above me as I open my hand, palm facing the sharpest rocks surrounding me. I twist my wrist and imitate gripping them in my fist.
The rocks vibrate against the ground as I channel my magic and seize control over them. They rise, mirroring the movement of my arm, and float in the air. I rotate the pieces until every sharp edge is pointed in the direction of the beast.
Breathing out slowly, I focus on a spot at the base of its neck. I have no idea where its heart is, but if we can slice its throat, it won’t be able to breathe.
Pulling my arm back, I quickly release the rocks, sending a stream of them toward the beast, striking the same spot over and over in rapid succession until some of its scales dislodge from the repeated impact.
“Ready yourself!” I shout at Mikael over the wailing screech that echoes through the chamber. “I’m going to stun it with the light. Use that chance to strike the weak spot.”
Every being I know is sensitive to a flash of brightness.
Mikael nods.
At the same time I send the orb of light directly into the creature’s face, Mikael releases his dagger.
The metal glints as the blade flies, tip over end, until it buries itself in the now-exposed flesh.
Energy spent, I drop to my knees and watch as Mikael launches off some nearby rocks, landing on the beast seconds after the dagger met its mark. He winks before wrapping his arms around its neck and uses the scales as anchor points.
That is so hot.
If I wasn’t already wet, that could do it.
Mikael did that like it was a routine training exercise.
The beast lurches back and releases a horrific cry, thrashing back and forth, trying to throw Mikael off to no avail.
The cavern turns deathly quiet when it stops thrashing. Lowering its head, it glowers at me, eyes sparking.
Everything happens so fast.
Mikael climbs up its head, moving in a blur.
A horizontal column of fire roars in my direction.
Mikael sinks his sword into its eye.
I roll, but searing heat slams into my back, heavy and merciless, ripping the air from my lungs in a violent scream. It’s gone in an instant, ceasing with the beast’s death. I was able to avoid a full engulfment, but it still hit my backside.
My leather vest shrinks and curls inward from the heat, crushing me as I convulse and drop into a fetal position.
Stars burst across my vision as the burning spreads beneath the leather—the smoldering fur pressing my undershirt against my skin.
Agony builds, ripping through me as if my muscles are being flayed away from the bone.
I claw at the buckles, trying to escape this torture as my vest dries, splitting and cracking. But my right hand is blistered and useless. The acrid scent of seared flesh fills my nose, and with stomach-churning certainty, I know it’s coming from me.
“Mikael!” I sob, tears falling freely as I call his name and squeeze my eyes closed. I’m not even sure if my words are audible.
“I’m here.” His voice is a sweet nectar, easing something inside me even though the pain doesn’t subside.
My vision is blurred when I look at him. Nausea rolls through me, and I squeeze them shut again, tears escaping from the corners. I motion with my good hand to my clothing.
“Get it off… Burning… Me…” I push out through gritted teeth, barely able to breathe under the shrunken vest.
Mikael’s hands grip my elbows, and he sits me up. I cry out as my nerves fire, and the pain settles in even more. I start sobbing, barely able to stay conscious.
“Hang on, Bryn. Hold this position for me.” Mikael’s voice is strained, like he’s speaking through pain of his own.
I try to open my eyes again to assess him for any injuries, but my energy is fully spent, and my lids are too heavy.
Even the feather-light touch of his fingers against my shoulder to steady me is anguish as the clothing chafes against my skin.
Mikael gingerly slices through the front of my fur-lined vest. The moment the leather parts, my chest expands, lungs greedily gulping down air. I can’t see what he’s doing, but I feel every cut he makes. I suck in a breath through my teeth when he removes the vest from my body.
“Some of your shirt is stuck to your skin. Shoulders, back, and parts of your arms. If you want to salvage your shirt, I need to heal you while you’re wearing it. We don’t have extra supplies, and we’ll need the layers for the rest of the trip.”
“Do what you have to.” Tears fall again because I know what has to happen. I still don’t want to agree. But I have to.
“That’s not good enough,” Mikael says. “I can do my best to remove it without making it worse. That’s the other option.”
I don’t answer. Just sway in response to the tinges of pain. A finger lifts my chin, and my eyes flutter open.
“Do I have your permission?” he asks.
Blackness presses in on all sides of my vision. My head dips forward as my mind slips toward the sweet bliss of nothingness.
When I pass out and he notices I’m not healing, he’ll do it anyway. He made sure I knew I’m not allowed to die. After all, that was the whole point of him coming back.
So why even try debating with myself? I won’t survive without his help.
At least he asked.
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation.
Mikael’s exhale of relief is audible as he guides my head a few inches forward, to his wrist. “Here.”
A sickly-sweet tang spreads across my lips, spilling into my mouth.
I gag on the first swallow but put it out of my mind and keep taking big gulps. Whether it’s from the magic in his blood or desperation, the more I take, the better it tastes and the easier it is to stomach.
A cool rush of relief sweeps through every muscle and limb.
He pulls his wrist away from my lips. “If you need more, I’ll give it to you, but I think that is enough.”
Mikael’s strong hands slide beneath my body, and suddenly I’m weightless.
“At least we know what we’re having for dinner and breakfast,” Mikael says as he carries me.
“Gladly… eat…” is all I can manage.
My head lolls back, and I finally give in to the darkness reaching out to claim me.