Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Lemi must have shifted the moment he heard her roar, but now he’s back and doing what he always does, which is to be a distraction and save me from certain doom. Though he could easily take down a person or large animal, he is no match for a dragon of this size, so he’ll get the dragon’s attention off me enough to let me escape before he shifts to keep from being caught.
But the moment that Lemi shifts in front of the dragon, she has her sights on him.
She raises a clawed foot and brings it down on Lemi just as I scream at him to shift and get away, my cry breaking in the air.
But it’s too late.
Lemi lets out a howl that shatters my heart, she pins him under her claws. Blood starts to seep out from under his motionless body, and I choke back a gasp, staring at the sight, willing it to be untrue. Willing time to start ticking backward. Willing all of this to be some awful dream.
But I’ve seen loved ones die in front of me before.
And they weren’t dreams either.
A rattling sound comes out of my throat and I’m choking on fear and pain, the agony of a heart being pierced, and I have to force myself to look away. I don’t want to look away; I feel I’m betraying Lemi if I stop staring at his unmoving body.
Oh fuck.
No. Please don’t let this be happening.
But I must. I bring my attention back to the dragon’s face and I don’t dare move, I don’t dare breathe, even though tears are running down my cheeks.
Lemi, Lemi, please not Lemi.
No matter how much I want to run over there, no matter how much I want to scream, to cry, I know if I don’t try to stay still, I’ll end up dead as well.
The dragon spears me with her gaze, her head coming closer and closer, until her nose is at the sole of my boots. She lets out a snuff.
I’ve never seen a dragon this close before. I’m not sure anyone has and lived to tell the tale. I’m shredded by the pain of losing Lemi and yet I’m so utterly enthralled by this creature, even though I know I’m about to die. It’s like I’m trying to suck in every last detail of life that I can.
I don’t really believe in any gods or goddesses, but if I had to it would be the one my father believed in. That god was fair and just and merciful. So I pray to him in vain, to let this be quick and let me be reunited with Lemi and my parents soon.
The dragon inhales, her nostrils flaring to the size of dinner plates, then blows her hot herbaceous breath on my body. Ever so slowly she runs her nose over my boots, over my calves, up my thighs, pausing and sniffing as she goes, her eyes pinned on me the entire time.
I’m practically squirming as I try to hold it together, try to keep myself from screaming, from running. My lungs are tight, my breath coming sharp and shallow, hot tears spilling from the sides of my eyes and to the ground. I lie as still as possible, locked in her gaze as she brings her mouth over my stomach, her scaled lips pressing against my belly.
Terror, terror, terror.
I feel the hard poke of ancient teeth against my armor, and then she continues to smell me, up, up, to my chest, to my chin.
Oh god.
Then she stops on a sharp inhale.
I stare at her wide-eyed.
Predator and prey.
This is it.
This is the end of everything.
I should close my eyes. I shouldn’t watch my demise as it happens.
But I don’t.
I suck in the last drops of life.
I had so believed in a better tomorrow.
But that tomorrow ends today.
I watch as her head tilts ever so slightly and her pupils contract into dark slivers before expanding into black holes that swallow all the silver pigment. It’s like staring into a void. Then she pauses and her head tilts ever so slightly, enough to make me frown right back at her.
I swear she’s looking at me like…like…
An arrow comes from nowhere and slams into her neck, piercing her thick hide with ease.
The elderdrage lets out a deafening bellow that blows out my eardrums, raising her giant head in surprise, her attention on her assailant.
My attention follows. I turn my head to see the stranger standing nearby, a bow at their side. They’re cloaked and I can’t see their eyes but they are standing still, their focus on the dragon. They should be running, for no arrow could ever do any significant damage to a dragon unless it went straight through their eye, but the person doesn’t move at all.