Page 2 of The Last Syphon

“So I can be the first one to die? No, thank you.” He shoved her lightly with his shoulder. “You do it.”

“No. You,” Inara insisted, shoving back.

“You’re the Shielder.”

A growl of frustration bubbled up inside her. The little fucker had a point, as much as it pained her to admit. Inara knew she should be the one to do it. She had the ability to protect herself, after all, unlike him.

Just in case a dragon was waiting to light her head on fire, she called forth a shield to protect her face with nothing but a thought and peeked over the boulder.

Two dragons hovered at the cavern’s entrance. Now that she wasn’t running for her fucking life, she was able to get a proper look and assess them.

They were baby dragons. Still the size of a double carriage, with the ability to burn her to death without even trying, but nevertheless, they were only hatchlings.

One had beautiful, mesmerising blue scales, and the other a deep, forestry green. Four powerful legs. Wings that spanned the width of Inara’s whole body. Talons sharp enough to cut through steel and bone. They were dangerous at this size, but in a few years, they would be deadly.

Unbeatable, as all Guardians were.

“What are they doing?” Felix asked in a hushed voice.

“They’re just…standing there,” she replied, equally quiet.

Confused, he asked, “Why aren’t they coming in?”

“I don’t know.” Inara studied their stance, their movements, the little whimpering and whining sounds that rumbled out of their mouths. “It’s like they’re…scared to come in.”

“Why would they be scared⁠—”

A huff of hot air blew Inara’s dark hair over her shoulder to land on her chest. It was followed by a deep, frightening, menacing growl, coming from directly behind them.

Felix emitted a small sound at the back of his throat that sounded an awful lot like a squeak.

Inara froze, her bones turning stiff as rocks. Her eyes dashed down to Felix, the same look of utter horror on his face etched onto her own.

Whatever stood behind her wasn’t good. She was too terrified to turn around, unsure what awaited in the shadows. But she had no choice.

Slowly, carefully, Inara glanced over her shoulder and sucked in a harsh breath.

The face of the biggest, most terrifying dragon she had ever seen was right in front of her, so close that the tip of its nose almost touched her entire fucking face.

“Do. Not. Run,” Inara whispered out of the corner of her mouth. She barely moved her lips, fearful one simple act could anger the beast.

Intelligent, predatory gold-and-black eyes moved from Felix to Inara. Held. The creature studied her, watching her every move. Shivers shot down her spine, followed closely by ice-cold fear—a fear that paralysed her.

Dark red scales encompassed its entire body. Horns the size of oxen ran along its powerful jaw and up the sides of its face. Spikes protruded down its long neck and back. It was at least the size of one of the palaces in Arelia.

Who the Fates was she kidding? The beast was bigger.

It was as beautiful as it was monstrous. An ancient power vibrated from the creature so much so that it smothered the air around her, making it difficult to draw breath.

The dragon analysed her closely, its gaze scrutinising, assessing.

Inara didn’t dare move a muscle. Perhaps, if I just stay still, it will see we are not a threat and go away. Leave us be. Let us walk out the same way we came in.

What a foolish thought.

Her throat was dry. Sweat dripped down her spine. She was staring death directly in the face, right in the eyes, and it was staring back, ready to burn them to a fucking crisp.

Those intelligent eyes narrowed, and then it raised its head, its long neck going up and up and up. Thirty feet. Forty feet. Fifty feet. How big is this thing?! It just kept going and going. Inara’s eyes widened as she tracked it soaring upwards, her head tilting back to keep it in her line of sight.