She dove and Marrak’s neck vents flared, sucking in air and igniting his throat in an instant. The rain hissed as the red jet left his jaws. She cloaked a barrier around herself and banked hard, twisting on agile wings to evade the flames. Zipping past his head, she banked again. This time, shifting to full dragonform. With his back to her, she sent a wave of cold blasting through the air around her.

Marrak aimed again, but the cloud of super-chilled air was already above him. The rain pelted him in frozen needles. His scales hissed as they hit, but took little damage. However, as they struck his wet hide, they melded into a thick layer of solid ice that cooled his skin and weighed him down. He groaned and tried to inhale, but his throat vents clacked under the ice.

With his heat sealed, Petra and Cassius leapt across him, pinning him down.

“Now!” They roared.

Syra dove and grappled his head. She charged a hand and clawed against the current for the dimmest shard. This time the current washed over her hand like jets of water, but then her claw tapped the shard. A jolt ripped through her body and made her scales buzz.

Shit. If I can’t touch it then…

Steam wafted across her face and glanced down to see the ice thinning.

“Did you get them?” called Petra, straining with a hind leg.

“Almost!”

If I can’t grab the shard, then I’ll just take everything.

Her barrier faded as she diverted all power to one claw. It sparked under the current and glowed white-hot. She steeled herself and dug it into his hide.

Marrak screeched and flailed, but the weight of two dragons and an iceberg held him fast.

I’m sorry, she cringed as blood flowed with icemelt as her claw sliced through both skin and stoney scale. Just a little more. She was just the fourth shard when the sound of wheels approached from behind.

“Set! Ready!” The commands called from the rebels’ side.

Syra spared a glance to see a squad positioning a mobile dragonlance just behind their front line.

Shit! How’d they get one of those?

“Aim!” The arrowpoint turned to the twins—to Cassius.

No! No no no—

Click!

The trigger fell and the arrow flew as quickly as Syra’s hand. Angry cries rang out as the arrow sparked against the barrier.

But Marrak only chuckled. Steam hissed from his throat as the ice shattered from his vents, and he shook his head free of both ice and wyrmling.

Syra tumbled but flipped herself to her feet to see the twins still holding firm.

Thank goodness, the ice is still—

And then the air whistled. Filling his chest, Marrak clamped his vents shut. Light peeked through the expanded scales and he aimed his snout at the twins.

“Move!” Syra called.

Petra and Cassius sprung away as the flames washed over Marraks body, vaporizing the rest of the ice.

“Now what?” Cassius asked Syra.

All three kept their eyes on Marrak as he heaved himself to his feet.

“I almost got the shards that time. One more shot should do it.”

“Alright, but you back us up,” said Petra, stretching. “He’s even stronger than he looks.”

“But he’s also slower in the air.” Syra thought back to the Ignis patrolling the Gaping Maw—how they glided with wide turns. “Ignis hunt over open field and sea. They’re not built for agile forest prey. Meaning—”

“Meaning The Hunt is on afterall.” Petra’s eyes narrowed into an almost giddy grin. “Then let’s show him who truly rules the skies.”

“Right.” She casted a glance at Hydrius Tower, I just hope you’re ready.

Marrak’s roar sent his army charging and he leapt into the air towards the city.

“Let’s go!” Petra led their chase after him, “We’ll take the flanks, you take the top. Ice him down, then aim for his head again.”

“Got it.” Syra swooped upward, keeping all three in sight.

Petra and Cassius closed in at his sides. Seeing them in his periphery, he fired quick shots but they kept just out of range and dodged easily.

With Marrak distracted, Syra pulled ahead and chilled the air once again. This time she dove at his head, bringing the curtain of frozen rain behind her.

Marrak flinched and she landed hard on his crown. Ice shot from her hands and plastered his back. His wings stiffened and drooped as they, too, froze over. Marrak heated himself, but Syra continued her icy barrage and they dropped.

“Now!” called Syra.

The twins swooped in. They latched onto his back, tucking their wings and bringing their full weight down on him. Syra scrambled and clawed at his head as the field approached from below.

Damn it, Syra cursed as she scrambled to reopen the wound that was already healing. Green filled her vision and she begrudgingly released his head, flaring her wings before they crashed and skidded across the field.

“Cassius! Petra!” She landed next to the steaming heap.

“We’re alright,” said Cassius. “We’ve done this before. Kind of.”

Both twins crouched atop the fallen Marrak as if they had downed a giant skyray.

But Petra startled and slammed a heavy hand onto his neck,“Quick! He’s waking up.”

Syra reached for his head, but his eyes flashed open and a red dome shot out around him.

Shit.

It crashed right into her and sent all three flying back. Syra righted herself just in time to see the ice shatter as he rose back up.

Great, now what?

As he shook the ice away, battle cries called her attention to the adjacent forests. On either side of them, both rebel flanks charged in on them.

Oh, come on! Right now?

Her wide eyes only spurred Marrak on, and he stalked towards her with a steaming grin.

It was a faint bugle that called all eyes upward. Above, a flock of wings glinted below the clouds.

They’re here!

With another call, the flock split and dove at both flanks. Confusion sounded from their ranks as the wave of Kiithran washed over them, catching them up and carrying them up over the forest away from the battlefield. Some fought back, but the swords clinked against the bronze scaled armor fastened to their legs and undersides. All screamed. And all were eventually dropped into the middle of the river.

Marrak hissed and thrashed his heavy tail, readying himself to spring. And then it fell.

Crashing over Marrak, the wide web of metal pinned him down as its embedded morakii sent him into a shaking fit.

“Stay back!” A familiar voice called out as a Kiithran landed beside Syra. “It’ll arc if you get too close.”

“Razilah! You actually came.” Syra beamed down at the armored Lahirem.

“Of course we did—thanks to you.” She puffed her chestplate. “Now, what should we do with him?” She leered at Marrak but he just snarled at the squad of Kiithran around him.

“You can burn along with them, then.” Marrak inhaled deep and clamped his vents shut. His skin blazed white-hot, but when no flame came the Kiithran relaxed.

“It’s alright,” Razilah reassured Syra. “It’s woven with steel and arrun fiber—magic won’t work.”

But Syra shook her head as the net’s metal strands glowed red and stretched against his body, “That’s the problem—he won’t need magic.”

Razilah’s mane bristled as the net melted and snapped, “Bashta.”

Marrak roared as his restraints fell away and he took back to the air. This time scarring the ground with a jet of flame that sent the Kiithran scattering.

“What now?” Razilah asked from under Syra’s barrier.

“We have to get those shards from his head. But I doubt our tricks will work again. Plus, the Inner Ring is right ahead.”

That’s when she saw the shimmering wall. Just outside the ring, another barrier wall had been erected.

“I have an idea,” Syra said. “But I’ll need you to take care of the ground troops—keep the rebels away and take the fallen to the infirmary.”

“Understood.” Razilah slipped from the barrier and led her squad to join the nearest flock.

“Cassius! Petra!” Syra called the twins to her as she lifted off. “I need you to take him head-on.”

“What?” Cassius gasped.

“I’ll be right behind you, just like in Dorrak. I just need to get close enough to his head.”

“But he’ll hit you dead-on if you’re too close,” said Petra. “You can’t take the heat like we can. And even then—”

“Did you forget how hard I am to hit?” Syra teased. “Plus, I can shield myself if need be. Now go!”

“But—”

“Go!”

Petra huffed a groan, “Fine, bossy. Just be fucking careful.”

As the twins sped off to pass Marrak, Syra zipped past them all towards the Inner Ring’s barrier. She sharpened her eyes and locked them on the outermost amplifier.

Sorry, but I’m going to need that.

The watchtower guards lost their aim as the bronze dart swooped down to snatch up the rune-covered artifact in tight claws. Pinching its aperture shut, she charged it until it buzzed angrily in her hands.

Now, here we go.

Flying up behind twins, she gathered rain around the amplifier, freezing it solid.

“Now!”

They u-turned and flew straight at Marrak. As expected, Marrak greeted them with a blast of fire. But to his surprise, no barrier came. As the twins veered away from the flames, Syra appeared behind them with arm reared back. She stared the flames down, then hurled the ice ball into the inferno. She dove away as it disappeared into the flames. And then there it was.

Boom!

The explosion rocked the air and Marrak fell limp from the cloud of sparking smoke. Down he went, streaking through the air until he crashed just outside the city walls.

The siblings circled from a safe distance, eyes strained for any movement.

“Did that do it?” Petra asked Cassius.

“I don’t know. But his scales are glowing anymore. That’s a good sign.”

Syra steeled herself, “We have to go for it. This might be our last chance.”

But as she neared him, Cassius saw the nearest dragonlance take aim.

“Watch out!”

Cassius dove and Marrak’s hand glowed.

Syra barely caught the glint of the red outline before Cassius was flung in front of the charging arrow.

Cassius’ roar shook the air and bloodscent stung Syra’s nose. She veered out of range but remained transfixed on Cassius’ form hovering in the air with an arrow lodged in his thigh. Her breath caught and her skin went cold.

No.

The glow around him faded and he fell as Marrak lowered his hand.

“Cassius!” Petra screamed and dove for him.

“No wait!” Syra called.

But Cassius hit the ground with a heavy thud and Petra flailed in the air, struggling against the red hold that drew her down into Marrak’s grasp.

“Let her go!” Syra cried and bolted at him. But her dive only brought her colliding into his barrier and she crashed down next to Cassius.

“You really are crazy, you know that?” Petra hissed as Marrak held her against the ground with a hand on her throat. “No wonder your clan banished you. No one would want someone like—”

Petra’s voice caught as he pressed his weight onto her neck.

“Marrak stop!” Syra cried from outside the barrier, but she could only watch.

Petra squirmed against his hold and snarled up at him, but her eyes were frantic.

He lowered his head to hiss in her ear, “That’s enough, Petra.”

His hand heaved downward and her throat cracked. And a scream that would fill a forest now came in burbles and hoarse rasping.

“Petra!” Syra raked glowing claws against the barrier, but it merely shifted around like sand.

Marrak now turned his fiery gaze on her and tossed Petra next to Cassius.

Syra draped herself over the twins. Petra was still breathing, but it was shallow and labored. Cassius, however, was losing consciousness as the poison veined up his leg.

Shit. I can’t heal him alone. But Petra, she ran her hands over her throat, sensing what she could. It’s almost completely crushed. She can barely breathe, let alone sing. Warmth pulsed from her hands as she willed the tissue to expand and heal. If I can just—

“Is this what you wanted?” Marrak rumbled, startling her as he stalked closer. “Because this is what you chose.”

“I did not choose this,” she growled, feeling the spark rage in her chest.

“Oh, but you did—you chose to fight.” His vents flared open, “And these are the consequences.”

He towered over her, and the glow in his chest froze her in place.

He wouldn’t actually kill me, would he? Valen…he couldn’t…

“Just stop, this isn't you!”

Marrak paused to smirk down at the pleading wyrmling.

“It’s the shards! They’re making you— ”

“Oh, my dear little Bug,” he chuckled, the shards seeming to smile with him, “I am him. I am all of him. No mask. No box.” His eyes bored into her, “No hindrances.”

His throat swelled and Syra threw up a barrier just as flames erupted from his jaws. They crashed down, spilling over the golden dome. But Marrak didn’t let up. The shards shimmered and his red flames flickered with green and purple sparks that chipped away at the barrier.

“Damn it.” Syra strained under its heat and force, and the barrier cracked.

But then she felt a tickle on her back leg.

“Run,” Cassius whimpered with a weak tug. “Leave, now.”

“Nope. Not happening.” She gave him a small grin, “Not again.”

More cracks splinted over them and Syra’s groans grew into a pained roar as heat built up inside her.

“Syra, enough. You have to g—”

“No! I just have to think. I have to—”

A light tap tickled her other foot, and she glanced back to see Petra’s outstretched hand.

“Sing,” Petra croaked, her own voice scarcely above a whisper.

“It’s like firebreathing…”

Syra recalled their singing lessons and turned back to Marrak. Through the ebbing flames, she saw him rear back for another breath—another blow. But her barrier wavered in complaint.

This is the last one. One last stand. One last shot.

She took aim at the stone flickering on his head. The faded one. The one her mother gave her.

“A sleeping fire still burns.”

In that case, I might as well go out burning.

She let the dome fizzle out, and channeled all heat and power to her chest, holding it there while it churned and boiled.

Just a little more.

A whimper escaped her throat and she tasted metal. Her scales buzzed and a high-pitched whine filled her head.

“Sing.”

Marrak’s throat flared, and she opened hers. But this time, it wasn’t a scream, but a shrill tone like a crying violin. A sharp heat surged up her throat like steam. And as she clenched the top of her throat, she felt it. She heard it. The tingle and—

Click.