Page 114 of Daman

The city of Cluj-Napoca stood in the far distance, the lights polluting the air. We were far enough away that I doubted anyone could see me, but I didn’t want to risk a lone hiker or someone along the outskirts of the city spotting me.

Weather manipulation was another of my abilities. The fog already surrounding the forest helped me. It was easier than creating it from nothing but still took focus—and magical energy. I lifted the fog higher in the air, creating a much larger barrier that concealed me inside of it. I couldn’t see the stars anymore, so I knew I’d been successful.

All power came with a price, and some of my strength waned.

“You okay, Commander?” Daman rubbed my neck again.

“Yes.” My voice was several octaves deeper in this form. “That consumed much of my mana.”

“Do you need to land?”

“Not yet.”

Our comrades were more than likely locked into combat now and needed all the help they could get. I shot toward another line of shades and froze them with an icy breath, then sent a strong blast of wind to shatter them. I felt myself weakening but refused to surrender to it. I had more in me.

Another dragon joined me in the air. Pale blue scales with white horns and wings dark like the deep sea.

“What are you doing, Lev?” I growled.

“Helping you. Duh.” He breathed ice on the demonic army. “You can thank me later.”

“You seem to forget your place, soldier.” But I didn’t say it with the level of authority I probably should have.

“Punish me after we win this battle.” Lev dipped lower and released another wave of ice. It crashed into the shades scurrying through the trees, freezing them solid.

“How are the others doing?” Daman asked him.

“Kicking demon ass,” Lev answered. “These fuckers are easier to see because of the ice, so our guys are holding their own. Those wolves are badass. They—”

An arrow lodged into Lev’s chest, and a deep cry roared from him as he plummeted toward the ground below, his wings smacking the trees on his way down.

“Lev!”

Gods, no.

“Watch out!” Daman yanked on the left side of my neck, and I quickly steered that way. An arrow whizzed by, inches from my head. To pierce a dragon’s scales so easily, the arrow had to be enhanced with magic.

Another came toward me, and I dodged it.

“Fuck this.” The pressure of him lifted as he spread his wings and leapt off my back.

“Daman!” Panic seized me. My best friend had fallen, and I didn’t know if he was even still alive. I couldn’t bear Daman leaving me too. “Stop.”

Black wings with hints of green protruded from the back of his coat, the magic thread allowing them to pass through the material without ripping it. He gripped his falx sword and struck like lightning, cutting through an arrow that had been hurling toward his chest.

“I’m going to kill the archer,” Daman said. “Go help Lev.”

“Goddammit, you’re not going alone!” The words burst from me as a growl. “You don’t know how many are down there. You could be swarmed in seconds.”

The fierce blaze in his eyes softened. “Thank you for choosing me, War. Marrying you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Even if I couldn’t see it at first.”

My wings faltered a bit as the air froze in my lungs. “Don’t you dare say goodbye to me,kotya.”

Daman glided forward and rested his head on my snout. “I love you.”

And then he flew away from me.

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