Page 26 of Sapphire Seas

His body continued to fall even as the current carried his head in a different direction. I tucked my claws beneath me, still clutching the axe as I used my tail to propel myself higher. The water still churned. Spotting Caspian, I swam toward him and the dragon still attempting to attack my mate, despite missing an arm. I separated the other one while Caspian took the head with a curved blade made of water that reminded me of a cutlass.

The whole battle felt like these dragons had been sent more to test us than to do us harm, like our enemies were throwing the weakest ones among their ranks at us first in an effort to slow us down and learn what we were capable of.

They’re strategizing. Quint declared.

And culling their weak, I added.

Yes, I got that impression too, Mattias said.

I don’t think that will be the last attack, Caro said.

Neither do I. Quint replied.

It felt as if my attacker’s goal was to separate me from the rest of you, I said.

That’s how I felt too. Caspian replied.

We need to swim before they ambush us again, Mattias declared, darting through the sea with us on his heels.

The further north we swam, the stronger my connection to Torin grew. I could hear him in my mind, trying to communicate with Quint, until my dragon used the family connection, allowing them to communicate.

Wait, family connection?

Are we related.

Yes.

We’re coming for you.

You need to hurry. They may finally possess a dragon with the ability to withstand the poison I carry in my blood. If so, I will not escape this icy prison alive.

The news and the worry carried through our link gave us a renewed sense of urgency. We were close enough now for Quint to lead us to the frozen block of ice in the middle of a sea of icebergs, densely packed together. It creaked, shuddering when we approached, a rough, grinding sound, like something had smashed into it.

Kes, follow Quint topside, Mattias ordered. Guard our position from the air.

No sooner had we broken through the surface than we realized we’d been doing far more than guarding. The battle truly had begun, way out here in this cold, desolate place. Three dragons stood poised to fend off our attempts to free Torin. All standing on a slab of ice I soon turned to my advantage.

Spikes burst through the feet of two of the dragons while the other scoffed and blew his icy breath at me. The two pinned by the spikes bellowed as scales flew from the puncture wounds. Their outrage shook the iceberg and left me worried about my mates and Caro working below it.

Focus.

The warning came from Mattias and just in time to remind me to fucking pay attention as I faced my match in the ice dragon who squared off with me.

I just hoped I was up to the challenge.

Chapter Nine

Caspian

Goddess, please let my wounds be healed enough to survive this.

And this wasn’t even the battle the protectors knew was on the horizon, but at least we didn’t go into this blindly. We knew we wouldn’t walk right in then merrily fly off into the sunset with Torin.

Ugh, what are these human movies doing to me?

Focus, Caspian! Mattias harsh command startled me as I narrowly missed my assailant’s claws. And that’s when I saw it, barely visible. Had it not moved, it’s likely I wouldn’t have seen it.

Mattias, look at their left wings.