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A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you’ll love Shattered. Also check out my latest Sunday Blog here.

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Darlryan watched the Exile’s fortress cautiously from where he was concealed among a stand of trees nearby. He had tracked a surge of energy that could only be the key and arrived just in time to see Sera and Ophelia go in. He was considering what to do when he was interrupted.

“Get the hell out of my territory!”

He looked over his shoulder and spotted Alsia perched atop the slide in the playground, her wings of pale blue ice and deep blue eyes contrasting strongly with her dark skin. He turned fully and smiled at her.

“Alsia-ida, an unexpected pleasure!” He gave a bow as he shed his human form before adding in a steely tone. “Make me.”

“You really do have one hell of a nerve getting involved again after what happened last time!” A blizzard of razor sharp ice slivers and snow flew at him in spite of the warmth of the night. “I should kill you where you stand. You’ve still got a bit of credit from closing the cracks and saving the Talori from an even worse mess but you’ll lose it if you don’t leave Ophelia alone.”

“I’m not going to hurt her,” he said.

“You said that last time,” she snarled. “And look how that ended.”

Darlryan couldn’t help flinching at that. “That was a mess,” he said softly. “Layla wasn’t meant to die. I was aiming at that bitch Marateka. I must of clipped Layla when I buried my knife in her shoulder.” The old grief rose and nearly engulfed him but he fought it down. He could weep later once he was alone. “Somehow I didn’t know.” It was the truth but of course it just made her snarl again. He didn’t blame her; if he hadn’t known it was true he wouldn’t have believed it either.”

“You didn’t know?” She launched herself into a glide from the slide and landed in front of him as two razor sharp blades of ice appeared in her hands. This conversation was not going well. “You didn’t know you’d envenomed her? I knew you were stupid but I never imagined you’d try to claim the impossible.”

“I’m claiming it because it’s true,” he protested. “I don’t know why there was no venom bond but there wasn’t.” He leapt sideways as she feinted at him and summoned his own blade of shiny brown metal. He circled her warily. “But please just think about this – even if I did know, someone else is far more to blame than me. I absolutely did bury my knife in Marateka’s shoulder and she took a heavy venom load and must have got the antidote since she’s very much alive. So why didn’t Layla?”

Alsia’s eyes narrowed and she looked towards the tree that housed the exiles. “That’s actually a good question for once.”

“I know you think I’m a danger to Ophelia but Marateka is by far a worse one.” He held out a hand to her. “Help me out, Alsia. Together we can protect Ophelia and save the Lost Ones from being sent back to the prison. If we don’t work together I fear it will be worse than last time.”

He knew it was the wrong thing to say even before she snarled again but it was too late. All he could do now was brace himself.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” She lunged at him and unleashed a flurry of blows which disintegrated his blade and sliced both his cheeks.

He screamed and put his hands to cheeks. She hadn’t used her venom but she had done something. He could feel it – and somehow he knew that these cuts would leave permanent scars on his dragon form. Everyone would know she’d bested him in a fight. He unleashed a string of profanity at her but she didn’t even blink.

“Leave Ophelia alone, Darlryan,” she said. “Or next time I won’t be so kind.” She vanished in a swirl of ice. He looked towards the Exile fortress and realised he could no longer sense the key there. Ophelia had left.

—

A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you’ll love Shattered. Also check out my latest Sunday Blog here.

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