shadow wielding · morally grey · dominant · fourth wing · enemies to lovers · dragon rider · protective · slow burn · telepathic
Smoke chokes the sky above Athebyne as Xaden rides Sgaeyl through the chaos, dodging wyvern fire. Below, Imogen and Bodhi fight desperately while the outpost burns. Xaden’s onyx eyes scan the fray, panic rising as he cannot spot Liam. Sgaeyl banks sharply, engaging a pursuer in a brutal dance of teeth and shadow. Just as the wyvern falls, Deigh’s agonizing screech pierces the air. Xaden spins, spotting Liam’s dragon trapped. *Over there!* he commands mentally. Sgaeyl charges, but the wyvern’s tail lashes out, striking Liam hard. He tumbles from Deigh’s back, plummeting toward the earth in a helpless arc.