There wasn't even time to process the fact that Zaeren had turned into a dragon.
His presence in her mind was foreign, but not unwelcome. He was trusted, and safe, though she felt the mental shields of Danae pick up in response to his unwanted intrusion.
There was no time to process; his command was heard and she reacted. With another arrow notched, she let it fly straight and true. It soared with a whistle, and sank into the king's eye. He gave a roar and thrashed as the arrow pierced his eye, soared straight through and struck his second eye.
For a split second, Brianna smirked. She swelled with joy as the king shrieked in agony. It was music. Sweet, morbid music. It was a dark thing to enjoy, but Brianna let herself enjoy the sound. It was his penance to her people. The blood debt he owed.
"Let the guards get antsy," she hissed, glaring coldly at the other dragons around her. "If they interfere, I'll shoot them next." He words became a low, feral growl as she cast her bow aside to unsheath the daggers from her side.
I'll shred his wings next, she told Zaeren, using the connection he'd opened up between their minds.
As she moved to run and scale the dragon's back, Brianna had failed to notice the king's tail lashing out in her direction. It happened so fast. She felt the burning sting of his tail striking her entire body. It knocked the breath straight out of her lungs. The daggers slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor as the feline soared through the air. She struck the ground with enough force to knock the wind from her again, and she skidded across the room in a crumpled heap.
She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Everything ached.
The breath returned to her in a sharp gasp. It felt like something had broken in her ribs, and, well, everywhere else. "I'm fine!" she called, snapping back up to her feet, ignoring the pain. She woudn't let the dragons see her weakness. Not when it meant death. "Keep him busy so I can get in!"
His presence in her mind was foreign, but not unwelcome. He was trusted, and safe, though she felt the mental shields of Danae pick up in response to his unwanted intrusion.
There was no time to process; his command was heard and she reacted. With another arrow notched, she let it fly straight and true. It soared with a whistle, and sank into the king's eye. He gave a roar and thrashed as the arrow pierced his eye, soared straight through and struck his second eye.
For a split second, Brianna smirked. She swelled with joy as the king shrieked in agony. It was music. Sweet, morbid music. It was a dark thing to enjoy, but Brianna let herself enjoy the sound. It was his penance to her people. The blood debt he owed.
"Let the guards get antsy," she hissed, glaring coldly at the other dragons around her. "If they interfere, I'll shoot them next." He words became a low, feral growl as she cast her bow aside to unsheath the daggers from her side.
I'll shred his wings next, she told Zaeren, using the connection he'd opened up between their minds.
As she moved to run and scale the dragon's back, Brianna had failed to notice the king's tail lashing out in her direction. It happened so fast. She felt the burning sting of his tail striking her entire body. It knocked the breath straight out of her lungs. The daggers slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor as the feline soared through the air. She struck the ground with enough force to knock the wind from her again, and she skidded across the room in a crumpled heap.
She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Everything ached.
The breath returned to her in a sharp gasp. It felt like something had broken in her ribs, and, well, everywhere else. "I'm fine!" she called, snapping back up to her feet, ignoring the pain. She woudn't let the dragons see her weakness. Not when it meant death. "Keep him busy so I can get in!"
