Contents
Chapter 39
Overview
After Viktor’s catastrophic fall, Kage and Viktor battle brutally. Regan pretends to submit to Viktor to save Kage, then infects Viktor by mixing her wolf blood with his. The corruption begins to consume Viktor’s arm, but he retaliates by slashing Regan’s throat, leaving Kage grieving over her collapsing body.
Summary
Viktor crashes into the meadow, half-shed of his dragon form but still armored in crimson scale and mangled wings. Kage, in wolf form, attacks first, exploiting Viktor’s injuries to tear into vulnerable seams of scale. Viktor rallies, slamming Kage into a boulder and raking him open, while Regan, injured, scrambles to reach Kage.
To protect Kage, Regan begs Viktor to spare him and feigns renewed loyalty, even playing on Viktor’s greed by calling Kage the last Avari and a priceless source of power. She presents herself as a penitent consort, inviting Viktor to reclaim her and degrade Kage as captive witness, baiting Viktor’s vanity and cruelty.
When Viktor lowers his guard to raise her, Regan acts: she bites his wrist and smears her own bleeding wolf-marked blood into his wound. Wolf blood meets dragon blood, and black-veined corruption races up Viktor’s arm toward his heart, blistering flesh and exposing bone.
Viktor lashes back with his good hand and slashes Regan’s throat. As Regan collapses, Kage shifts and shields her, fury and grief in his eyes, while Viktor reels from the spreading corruption Regan unleashed.
Who Appears
- ReganWounded but resolute; deceives Viktor and corrupts him by mixing her wolf blood with his, then is slashed across the throat.
- KageShifts into a massive silver wolf to fight Viktor; is badly wounded; rages and grieves as Regan falls.
- ViktorHalf-dragon, injured; battles Kage; duped by Regan’s feigned submission; corrupted by her blood; retaliates by cutting Regan’s throat.