Chapter 96 The End pt2
Zaries shakes his head as his mouth works. But no words come out.
The sword of betrayal Malachi is wielding is far more devastating that the length of metal pointed at his neck.
“You think you hated her, Zaries? You think you hated her more than I did? She killed my lover. She killed my baby inside her!” Malachi roars. He presses the tip of his blade to Zaries’ exposed skin. “You know who I hate more than Anara, brother? I hate you. I hate you for taking the woman of my dreams. I hate you because you would have claimed my son! I hate you because you lived and she died.”
Zaries has become a statue. Carved from pain and betrayal.
And Malachi is reveling in it. His lips curl up in the mockery of a smile. “I could never live with you as my king, and now? I’ll never have to!”
Zaries stares at Malachi as the sword pushes forward in slow motion.
It pricks his throat.
A bead of blood blooms.
I fight against the hands holding me, a primal shout erupting past my lips. The fire in my veins is an inferno.
Oberon hisses and leaps away. He backs away as my whole body seems to light on fire from the inside out.
I stalk toward Malachi, burning alive.
I will not let Zaries die. I’ll do anything to protect him! I’d die for him!
Except I’m too slow. Too much distance separates us.
The sword hits something hard and Malachi grins. His hand tightens on the hilt. His arm tenses. He draws back an inch, ready to deal the final blow.
Time stops ticking.
I feel my body ripping, shredding, becoming more, bigger.
Sylvain screams, Luna gallops away.
My viewpoint becomes higher and higher, my chest burning with anger and vengeance.
“Malachi!” Oberon roars.
But it’s too late. I open my mouth to scream at him, to kill him, and fire spews from my jaws instead.
Instinct takes over and I dive for him as his body begins to burn.
Zaries is knocked out of the way, his head hitting the hard ground with a thud. Malachi’s blade clatters to the ground.
Rage has instilled me with a power I could never imagine.
I descend on Malachi, my jaws opening, flames roaring from my mouth, and close my jaws upon him.
Blood floods my mouth, his body struggling against my tongue as I bite into him again and again, chewing and burning him alive. I let my teeth crush him, rip his flesh apart until he stops moving, and then…
I swallow Malachi whole.
He will never hurt anyone again.
With blood dripping from my mouth, I turn to Zaries and reach for him, but it’s a dragon's claw that reaches out, not my hand.
I scream, backing away from the dragon, but the claw comes with me.
And the scream isn’t a scream, but a roar that spews flames toward the sky.
I trip over huge wings and fall on my side, rolling over in a courtyard that’s too small for me to lie in comfortably.
“I…This is happening. I don’t believe this!” Sylvain chokes out.
My head swings over to her. I can see her better than ever. I can see the green aura of her powers radiating off her. I can see her heart beating in her chest, feel each draw of breath.
Beside her, Oberon looks at me in rage. He draws his sword and raises it high. He’s not the man I knew. Not anymore. His black aura swells around him, blocking him and Sylvain from my view.
“Back, dragon!” he screams. “Stay the fuck away from us!”
Dragon?
I slowly right myself, feeling a new weight behind me. I turn and register a massive black iridescent tail swing, destroying what’s left of the mess hall with a powerful swipe as I spin in place.
I scream again, in confusion, in pain. Once more, flames fill the air.
“What’s happening to me?” I cry, but another fountain of fire spews from my mouth.
“Malachi was right!” Oberon accuses. “You’re a traitor! You’re a dragon!”
I shake my head, disbelieving. Except the puddle of Malachi’s blood lies beneath me, reflecting the truth.
I stare at the reflection looking back at me. It’s not a young woman. It’s not even human. It’s a beast of fire and power. A dragon with the same scales as the one I wore around my neck.
Realization sets in.
I just killed Malachi. Ate him.
I look around the courtyard, seeing the terrified faces of the servants and guards as everyone takes up arms against me.
“Save the prince!” someone yells.
“No!” I roar. The ground shakes with each step, my claws pulling up cobblestones as I lunge for him. “Zaries is mine!” I cry, unleashing another burst of fire as I scoop up his unconscious body.
Everyone backs away, screaming.
They’re scared, terrified.
They’re scared of me…
Slowly, I cradle Zaries’ limp form in my front claw. I look toward Sylvain and Oberon one last time.
“Kill the dragon!” he roars.
Sylvain raises her hands, sending poison at me.
She’s attacking me.
Oberon’s attacking me.
Without thinking, my wings spread and slice down. Suddenly, I’m in the air. I’m flying, the fortress disappearing underneath me.
I rise higher and higher until I’m far above the clouds. So high up I can’t see the world beneath me.
I clutch Zaries to my chest, desperate to keep him warm.
All this time…
Everything I’ve gone through. The way the dragons spared me time and time again.
The way Ember took me instead of killing me.
The way she fought Tharros for me.
They could sense it, somehow they knew.
Anara Hellbane…
A dragon all along.
This is not the end. The saga continues...
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