Onyx's golden wings split the sky.
The wind roared over them, carving icy streams across Nova's face. Rex was pressed behind her, his chest to her back, one arm coiled around her waist, the other steadying them both as Onyx banked hard over the ridgeline. No words passed between them. No directions. They didn't need them.
Onyx was reading her and Rex's minds. Rex and her were in sync.
And the three of them moved like a single body—one winged beast streaking through the burning sky.
Below, the world burned.
Nova's sharp gaze swept across the battlefield. The camp's perimeter was barely holding. Flames tore through the supply rows, and smoke curled in black ribbons toward the mountains.
Then—she saw them.
"South and north," she said aloud, voice wind-stripped but focused.
From the southern hills, a formation of dark mages approached—hooded, shrouded, their arms raised. The earth itself seemed to shiver beneath their approach, shadows spilling around their boots like living fog. Behind them: beasts. Misshapen wolves. Flesh-warped predators stitched together by blood magic.
From the northern flank, shifters advanced—lean, fast, organized in brutal formations. Their eyes glowed red. Teeth already bared.
They were closing in. Two jaws of the same beast. Ready to snap shut around the camp.
Onyx roared.
And then he dove.
Nova leaned forward, folding herself close to his neck, her fingers gripping the subtle ridges of his spine. Rex braced behind her, legs tight around the dragon's flanks. Wind screamed around them as they plummeted—faster than the mages could react.
Then—fire.
Onyx opened his mouth and unleashed a wall of golden flame that scorched the southern line. The wave tore through trees and bodies alike, lighting up the ridge in a storm of heat and light. The mages shrieked as their protections failed, warding circles crumbling like paper under a storm.
A path of blackened earth opened where the southern flank had once stood.
But Nova had already seen the next threat.
Overhead, a volley of obsidian-tipped arrows screamed upward—wrapped in red sigils, crackling with corrupted power. They were aimed not at the army, but directly at Onyx.
Nova's eyes went silver.
A radiant sphere of magic burst into place around them—pure light, shimmering and alive. The arrows hit it and disintegrated mid-air, collapsing into dust.
Rex didn't even flinch.
"Bridge," Rex shouted, pointing. "North side. If they cross, the camp's surrounded."
Another dragon cut through the clouds, flying parallel to them with calculated precision. Without hesitation, Rex leapt, landing effortlessly atop its neck in a fluid motion that made it look easy.
Nova's eyes snapped to the left, locking onto him.
He gave her a lopsided grin, windswept and smug. "What?" he called over the roar of the wind. "You didn't think I'd let you hog all the glory, did you?"
She almost rolled her eyes. Almost.
He winked. "You don't need me, Nova. You were born to fly. But I'll be right here… in case you decide to do something epically stupid."
Nova smirked, silver light rippling faintly under her skin. "Define stupid."
Rex laughed—low and honest. "Gods help me, I like you more every time you open your mouth."
Below them, the wide stone bridge at the northern ravine stretched like a spine between cliffs. Across it stood hundreds of mages, cloaked in enemy armor—waiting. Watching.
They hadn't crossed yet. But if they did… the camp would be pincered, caught between two flanks.
Nova didn't hesitate. Not for a breath.
"Get me close," she said. But she didn't need to say it. Onyx had already turned and knew.
He dove, wind howling, wings slicing the sky. Then—before he even leveled out—Nova leapt.
A streak of silver light, she landed on the bridge without breaking stride, cloak snapping behind her like war banners.
The moment her boots hit stone, everything changed.
The enemy army charged.
Hundreds —snarling, shifting mid-sprint, claws gleaming in the light—came racing across the bridge.
Nova stood her ground, silver eyes narrowing.
She had become the bait.
And she planned to snap the trap shut.