Prologue

The boy flinches at the raging heat. His gaze lands on his little sister. His airway constricts. She is crying out for their parents.

Everywhere is red and orange. People are screaming and shouting. The village is in complete chaos.

"Alyssia!" Nathan yells out. The girl turns to her brother. "Brother! I can't find Mommy or Daddy!" He grabs his sister's arm.

"We have to go." She resists. "No! Mommy and Daddy!" His eyes dart around the fire-lit village. He grabs her arm, pulling her with him. In big strides, he makes his way along the tree lines. They soon reach a small clearing. The treetops are so high up they form a thick veil around it.

A middle-aged man with deep navy blue eyes and wholly black hair awaits them at the far end of the clearing. The boy keeps his pace up as he makes his way across. A woman stands beside the man. She has emerald green eyes. Her shoulder-length hair is a beautiful, bright red. Worry is etched onto her face. When her eyes land on them both, she rushes forward, embracing them in a tight hug, checking with rough and calloused hands for any harm. The little girl stares up at her mother.

The woman sighs at the sight of no serious injuries. Nathan holds onto his sister a little tighter. With all the loud noises around them, the panic and fear, the older boy speaks. "Mom, what is happening? Who are they?" His eyes focus on her. "These are the Ashborn—They are here to hunt the dragons." His sister's gasp is drowned in all the terror-filled screams.

"Felicity." The man rasps in a low voice. The woman turns with pleading eyes, the emerald catching in the dawn's light. The boy's burgundy hair falls into his forest green eyes. He pulls the girl into his chest.

"Mom, we have to go. They can't get to the Valley." His voice is rushed. The woman turns back to her children. "I know, my fierce arrow." Footsteps sound loudly on the mud and duff they run among. The steps are quick. Hurried.

Shouting erupts behind them. The boy turns his head back. Picking up the pace, their parents' footsteps quicken along with his. "They are by the clearing." Felicity glances back at the clearing at those words. "Zayn..." The word is a tickle of breath among heavy pants. The man mutters words, inaudible for the two children. "Go."

The family comes to an abrupt halt. The girl stumbles into her older brother. "No." Her eyes are wide. "No. Zayn, I won't leave your side." Her voice is thin—thin from all the running. "Felicity, we don't have time for this. Take the kids and go." Shaking her head, the children watch her. The boy's eyes dart back and forth between their parents. "Mom..." Worry seeps into his voice. "No," she breathes out quietly. "Bloody five dragons above," Zayn mutters under his breath. "Go. I won't repeat myself again." Sharpness edges the words. Several seconds pass in silence, their eyes on each other. Alyssia slips out of her brother's grip and hugs her dad. Zayn breaks his wife's stare. He kneels to his child's level and hugs her tightly. The boy hesitates but copies his sister. He hugs his dad tightly. Caught in the moment, they do not hear it, do not see it coming.

An arrow, swift and delicate, soars toward them. The arrow's tip finds flesh and pierces through the back of Felicity's right thigh. The boy turns his head to look at his mother. Felicity feels the gaze of her son fall upon her. She turns her head, locking eyes with him for a short second before she glances at her injured leg. The boy follows his mother's dropping gaze. His face contorts into horror. He stumbles away from his father, not sure what to do. "An a-arrow..." Zayn's eyes slide to Felicity at those words. Panic sets in. "Mommy...?" Alyssia peeks from behind her father. Nathan snaps out of his trance and grabs Alyssia's arm, pulling her into his chest. He buries her face into his clothes, hiding her view. The smell of blood rises into the air.

Zayn crouches in front of his wife. His touch is precise but gentle. He rips a piece of long, deep green fabric from his tunic. His navy eyes soften, his gaze fixed on his wife. "Felicity, stay still. I will remove the arrow now." Another arrow flies past. She snaps out of her frozen state and looks away from the arrow to Zayn. After a shared nod, Zayn's focus returns to the arrow. The pain is sharp and hot. Now in two pieces, the arrow lies still, coated in shimmering scarlet red. Around the thigh is now a green strap of tunic, slowing the bleeding.

A pained expression crosses Felicity's face as she shifts her weight. "Can you walk?" Her leg pains from the sudden movement. She stands straight. "Yes."

Feet hit the ground, hurried. They weave through the forest. Nathan picks up the girl. The world passes by in a blur. Zayn pauses at a cave entrance. He urges the kids in, then his wife. An arrow whizzes past and grazes him. He glances back. Zayn's eyes narrow. "You knew all along." Nathan only hears a deep voice, the words drowning out in the cave's echo. A shadow looms over his father. Alyssia buries her face in Nathan's chest. Without hesitation, the figure strikes. Their father, drawing his sword, parries the attack. The girl tightens her grip on her brother's shirt. The mother watches hesitantly. She reaches into her boot, palming a small dagger. It all happens so quickly. He slips. The dance breaks. The figure takes its chance.

A clunk is all he registers. Then the thud. Blood pools under the deep green tunic. He freezes. His eyes dart. Blood. Everywhere. Nathan's breathing picks up. The figure stands tall at the entrance, shadows still in their favor. His body goes rigid. The girl looks up at her brother. He pulls her closer. "Keep your eyes shut..." Nathan mumbles to her.

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