Chapter 25: The Bracelet
>>Aelin
The basilisk lunged toward me, its sharp claws extended and teeth bared. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my body was frozen in place. All I could do was raise my arm in a futile attempt to shield myself.
I braced for the impact, but it never came.
Instead, the creature let out a strangled hiss, its body twisting mid-air before slamming onto the ground with a heavy thud. My eyes widened in shock as I looked at it, writhing on the cobblestones. A deep, clean slash ran diagonally across its body, blood seeping from the wound.
What just happened?
My gaze darted around the garden, searching for an explanation. That’s when my eyes landed on Draegon. He was still standing where I’d last seen him, his purple eyes glowing faintly in the fading light. He hadn’t moved a single step, his hands loose at his sides.
I stared at him, my chest heaving with shallow breaths.
Did he...?
Before I could make sense of it, the basilisk dragged itself upright, its injured body trembling with rage. It let out a furious snarl, its eyes narrowing as it locked onto me again.
"Watch out!"
I turned at the sound of Ariston’s voice, just in time to see him rushing toward me, his sword already drawn. The basilisk leapt, but before it could reach me, Ariston’s blade arced through the air in a precise, fluid motion.