Page 1 of Wrath Of Suns And Shadows (The Osparia #2)

Chapter One

Emelyn

A s I clutched Emeris’s sinewy scales, my fingers ached from the unrelenting grip as we ascended sharply into the obsidian skies.

Her powerful wings cut through the chill of the night.

I dared a glance backward and saw nothing but the faint glow of flames and swirl of clouds, streaked with the sinister scar of black smoke still clawing its way skyward.

The chaos below had erupted without warning, Kade’s malice seeking to swallow all in its path. Emeris leveled her flight, and we coasted on an invisible current, the world beneath us fading into the darkness in the distance.

Above us, countless stars flickered like the last embers of the dying fire from the battle. And the moon—so achingly close in the void—cast a pale luminescence that almost seemed to reach out toward us as we flew on.

For a moment, I allowed myself to be ensnared by the stillness.

The serenade of the wind and the beat of Emeris’s wings lulled my fraught nerves.

But serenity wasn’t a luxury I could afford, not while uncertainty gnawed at my heart.

Their faces flashed within my mind’s eye—my companions, my friends—each one wore their uncertainty, their fear, in their expressions.

My chest tightened, breath catching on a silent plea. Please let them be safe. I couldn’t handle losing someone else.

Emeris’s mighty wings sliced through the cold air with precise and powerful beats, propelling us ever onward.

Beneath us, the world was a patchwork of shadows, the sea an inky mess pierced by the silver threads reflecting the moon’s glow from the waters of Draynua.

My thoughts chased each other like the wind that buffeted against us—wild, relentless, and tinged with worry for all those left behind.

Especially Crow.

“We should be on Magni by sunrise. Draken is expecting us.” Shay’s voice cut through the rush of air, her words carrying a weight of certainty that anchored me back to the present.

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes finding mine.

“They’ll be okay. We got everyone out in time thanks to Crow’s warning. ”

“I hope he’s okay,” I murmured, and she nodded. Emeris seemed to sense my distress, as she let out a low, comforting rumble akin to a mother soothing her child.

“I’m sure he is. He knows what he’s doing,” Shay reassured me, but it didn’t shake the clawing feeling in my chest. Emeris slowed her pace now, letting her wings relax instead of flapping wildly to escape.

She glided gently through the sky and the ride became smoother, but nothing quelled the dread coursing through my veins.

As the skies softened, the sun peaked over the horizon. Magni Island came into view, its silhouette emerging from the twilight, cradling the sun in its lush embrace.

My eyelids drooped, weighted by the exhaustion that had seeped into my bones, and I fought against the pull of sleep that tempted me with its sweet oblivion.

“Almost there.” Shay’s voice sliced through my sleepy fog.

A feeble nod was all I could muster, my head lolling against Emeris as the dragon’s steady rhythm beneath me became a lullaby for my weary soul.

The sky bled in warm hues, heralding the new day, yet my mind lingered on the threat we’d left behind, the lives hanging in the balance.

In the midst of my half-conscious state, a sharp jolt of fear pierced my heart.

My eyes snapped open, suddenly wide and alert.

The calmness that had lulled me now felt like a vice around my chest—tight, constricting, suffocating.

A primal terror clawed at my insides, urging me to flee, to fight, to survive.

With a trembling hand, I reached for the familiar leather grip of my battle axe.

The weapon came free with a hiss, its polished edge catching the first light of dawn, reflecting my own wild gaze back at me.

“Eme?” Shay’s concerned voice barely registered over the pounding of my heart, the roar of blood in my ears.

“Something's wrong,” I gasped out between ragged breaths, scanning the skies, searching for the unseen danger that had triggered such instinctive fear. The island loomed closer now, its beauty marred by the terror that gripped me.

“Easy, Eme. It’s only the barrier of the island,” she explained as the feeling slowly started to ebb. I relaxed against Emeris as she dropped down to land.

I exhaled slowly, letting the tension seep out with each breath. Below us, Emeris’s shadow stretched across the sands as she descended gracefully, beating her wings to soften our landing. Trusting in their rhythm, I loosened my grip on the axe and sheathed it back on my hip.

With a final, powerful downstroke, Emeris landed on the beach, sending fine grains of sand dancing into the air. I slid off her back, my legs wobbly after the long flight, but I managed to land on my feet, bending my knees to absorb the impact.

Shay alighted beside me, her movements practiced and sure.

The white sand of the beach was bright and beautiful against the early morning sky.

The trees were green as if winter had never touched this place.

It was warm and muggy with the smell of salt on the wind.

It was like a small piece of paradise, untouched by the darkness of Osparia today.

“This way,” Shay said as she and Emeris took the lead. The forests were so overgrown here, there was hardly a path to walk on. Emeris’s enormous body took down most of the overgrowth as I followed behind her.

“Where are we going?” I asked, and a voice I didn’t recognize answered back.

“To Draken, he guards the library.” My eyes grew wide with surprise. Did the dragon just speak to me? Shay's face broke into a warm, affectionate smile as she reached up to stroke the dragon's neck.

“It’s good to hear your voice again,” she said, her touch gentle against the rough scales.

I remembered Shay mentioning the dragons could talk here, but to experience it was still rattling.

A distant roar cleaved the stillness, pulling my gaze upward.

Dragons of all different shapes and colors were soaring just above the canopy of trees.

It was magical, as if coming here were entering into a whole new world.

They were hues of emerald, sapphire, and ruby, some with wingspans that could eclipse the sun, others sleek and swift, darting through the air like living arrows.

Their cries were a harmony of power and freedom, and for a moment, I envied their dominion of the skies.

“They’re going out for breakfast.” Emeris hissed, her massive jaws parting just enough to reveal the lethal elegance of her razor-sharp teeth.

Shay stepped closer to her dragon’s towering form, her expression softening with affection. "Would you like to go with them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emeris responded with a slow nod, her great head bowing as if acknowledging the bond between them.

They shared an intimate moment, pressing their foreheads together.

I watched in awe as a plume of smoke curled from Emeris’s nostrils, wafting around them like a perfume.

It smelled faintly of roses, the scent mingling with the salty tang of the ocean breeze.

Shay’s smile was a sunbeam, bright and warm, as she pulled away from the dragon.

With a final nuzzle against Shay’s cheek, Emeris turned her body toward the trees.

Her wings unfurled with a sound like sails catching wind, powerful muscles launching her into the sky with effortless grace.

I could tell Emeris and Shay had an unbreakable bond. It was truly a beautiful sight.

“How did you find this place?” I found myself asking Shay, the curiosity gnawing at me as much as the need for distraction from the worry clawing at my chest.

“Years ago, when I lived on the Espien Islands, my people would hunt the dragons, but when it was my turn, instead of killing her, I befriended her. I started dragon riding and keeping it a secret from everyone, even Baron.” She paused as we ducked under some low-hanging branches.

“After a while, Emeris and I had a bond like no other. I feel as connected to her as I do Baron. Eventually, Ember invaded our shores, and I couldn’t keep secrets anymore.

I thought my people would shut me out, but instead we became one with the dragons and Emeris trusted me enough to show me this place.

We fought together, lost together, learned together.

” She trailed off, her eyes dazed as if lost in the memory.

“That’s beautiful,” I said, and she nodded as we continued our trek through the woods.

A large structure came into view. It almost looked like a giant bush.

The building was lost to the foliage. Vines had taken over the stone.

I assumed it was the library, and I wondered how we would even get in.

I didn’t see another soul in sight. Where was Draken?

Then, without warning, daylight dimmed and a colossal shadow plunged over us.

I froze, my eyes darting to the source—an astonishing dragon of gold.

Its scales glistened like molten sunlight.

Emeris, who seemed vast when we rode her, was dwarfed by this creature’s size.

The dragon’s piercing azure gaze swept over us, eyes so pale blue they bordered on translucent.

My heart hammered in my chest. I wasn’t sure if he was going to help or attack us.

With a deafening screech that resonated through the air, the golden dragon reared back its head, and for a heartbeat, the world held its breath.

I was sure he could squash us with a single clawed hand.

Long, terrifying moments passed before he finally spoke, his voice deep and raspy from age and smoke.