Page 140 of Courting the Dragon Prince

Ignoring the pain ricocheting through his body, Luther spun, rotating his whole body mid-air.

Onyx hurtled towards the ground. His dark eyes fixed on Luther. They widened with terror.

Luther flapped his wings. He darted towards Onyx, desperate to reach him before he hit the earth.

I will not let you die. I will not.

Something pummelled into Luther’s wing, knocking him askew. More pain shot through him. Rocks and boulders whizzed past them.

But Luther ignored them all as he righted himself and raced towards Onyx, who continued to hurtle towards his death.

Luther gained on him.

Almost. Almost.

Onyx reached out his arms in front of him. His hands clutched at the air, at nothingness, as he tried to stop himself from falling.

Almost there!

Luther pulled up. He reached out with and stretched his functioning talon. He clasped, wrapping his claws around Onyx’s body, stopping him from splattering into the dirt.

Onyx’s relieved cry filled the air. His hands and arms gripped Luther’s talon. But Onyx didn’t need to hold on tight. He had no need to worry. Luther would not release Onyx from his taloned grip.

Flapping his wings, Luther looked down at Onyx. Onyx’s feet dangled a foot from the ground.

“Blood and boulders!” Onyx let out a relieved laugh. “Thank fuck you caught me!”

Luther smiled.

Onyx is all right. I caught him in time.

A rock flew past Luther’s face. Luther turned. He spotted the three attackers still in the cave entrance, arms outstretched as they channelled.

“Come on!” Onyx shouted. “Fly us over there. Let’s finish this.”

Luther roared. He flapped his wings, angling them towards the cave entrance. Jagged rocks and boulders hurtled towards them. Speeding now, Luther dodged the projectiles.

And beneath him, within his taloned claw, Onyx hurtled boulders right back at their enemies.

Their eyes widened in terror as Luther and Onyx approached.

The soldiers dashed backwards into the shelter of the cave. Warden Flint glanced at his soldiers as they fled. With a yell of frustration, Warden Flint followed them.

No! They couldn’t get away.

Then the cave entrance trembled. With a clatter and groan, the entrance collapsed. Luther glanced down to see Onyx with his arms outstretched.

Onyx had buried them.

But Luther remembered Onyx’s trick of stopping the rocks from crushing the two of them. Luther would not allow Warden Flint to do the same.

Luther opened his mouth. He spewed forth dragonfire and flames on the collapsed cave. Then he circled, round and round, breathing more and more fire. He kept circling. He kept breathing fire. The stones glowed red. They cracked with heat. And still, Luther continued.

Even if Warden Flint survived the cave-in, he wouldn’t survive being roasted alive.

Buried and dead.

Luther and Onyx had survived. They’d vanquished their enemies. Together, they’d won.