Page 24 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
The Dragon was relaxed. Entertained. As if he were simply watching a show.
Next to him, the queen barely looked interested.
And then there was Clay.
Standing behind his father, tension radiated from his frame. His grey eyes locked onto mine.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t breathe. Just watched me with eerie, unshaken certainty.
Like he already knew how this would end and he had complete confidence in me.
His hand lifted—slow, deliberate—and he made a fist in the air before he dragged a finger across his throat. Then he pointed directly at me.
I swallowed hard.
No
He couldn’t mean—
Surely he didn’t expect me to—
Could I even do that?
The Hydraxan launched toward me.
I blasted a surge of magic through my feet, propelling myself backward, soaring across the shoreline. I hit the ground hard, rolling violently, biting my lip as pain splintered through me.
Then, I stood.
This was a bad idea.
The beast charged.
This was a very bad idea.
I clenched my fists, reaching with my power—extending it, feeling for something deeper.
The connection snapped into place.
A bolt of raw awareness struck through me—absolute and terrifying.
I could feel the Hydraxan’s heart.
I could feel its lungs expanding.
I could feel its hunger for me.
Its rage.
Its immortality.
“Thea!” Rankor screamed, panic sharp in his voice.
The beast was so close now. If this didn’t work, I was dead.
I pushed, willing my magic to be stronger.
It leaped into the air.
