#winged scott

Here's another sneak peek for hype :)

“Scott.” Gem reached across the table and caught his hand, forcing his fingers to stillness. “We have to tell the others. Xornoth’s been unleashed, and the dragon’s dead. If he can come after you like that—in your own empire? On Aeor’s land? Who knows what he could do to the rest of us.”

“He’s not going to go after anyone else,” Scott said, pretending not to feel the sick knowledge that it was a lie. “He’s after me. If I tell the others, it will drag them into it—”

“We’re already dragged into it.” Gem sat back, shaking her head. “This is bigger than some feud between brothers, Scott.”

“Scott! Watch—“

Scott dodged again, but he wasn’t quite quick enough and Xornoth’s outstretched arms and claw-tipped hands slammed into his lower back. For a stomach-churning instant, they tumbled through the air, a tangle of wings and limbs, in a dizzying spin towards the side of the mountain. Scott tensed, bracing for impact.

Claws latched around the base of one wing and jerked upward. Scott yelped as the motion yanked at the muscles of his wing and shoulder. He twisted around, using his arms and legs to kick and balance against the jerking motions of Xornoth dragging him higher. Below them, the snow-topped mountains faded into the gloom.