“No.Shecomes with me.”
Why?
“Weare stronger together.”
Thewind picked up again, andIswore that it sounded like the forest was laughing at me.
Alright, brother.
Anew set of lights rose from the ground, golden in color, leading away from the camp.
* * *
ToriandImade our way slowly down the path.Wehad sentOryxback to camp to help the others leave.Shewas curiously quiet butIknew the storm was about to break.
“Theforest seemed to like you.”
“Maybethey just wanted to talk to someone closer in age.”
Shelet out a soft hum, worrying her lip in the wayIloved.
“Whatare theGreatConduits?”
“Whatwe know as theGreatBeastswere once known as theGreatConduits.Faeused magic in an exchange with the earth.Butthe conduits channeled the earth’s power.Throughthem there was no exchange, but a partnership in the transfer of energy.Thatis why theDragonKingdomprospered for so long.Dragonswere the greatest conduits.”
“Butnow they are all gone.”
“Yes.”Sheturned to me, andIcould barely make out her features in the soft, golden light. “That’swhy magic is gone, because there is nothing left to channel it.”
“It’sjust my theory, butIbelieve so.”
“ButtheGreatProphecy?Itcalled to eliminate the dragons to save magic.Itdoesn’t make any sense.”
“Propheciesare tricky things.Idon’t think we are meant to understand them completely, so to take such drastic action because of one, it has had dire consequences.”Inthe darkness of the forest, it was as ifIcould release my shame.Atear slipped from my eye, andIthought she wouldn’t see it.Butshe carefully brought her lips to my cheek, and kissed it away.
“Someof the dragons, they were your friends?”
“Yes.”
“Hewas your friend?”Ididn’t need to ask who she referred to.
“Yes.”
“Youlied to me,Abraxas.”Howcould she see right through me, even in the pitch black? “Yousaid you hadn’t been alone, but that’s not true.You’vefelt alone for a very long time.”
“Morethan you know, little bird.ButIdon’t feel alone, not anymore.”Evenin the darkness, her smile shone like the sun.
“NeitherdoI.”Shekissed me then, her lips caring but heated as she slipped her tongue into my mouth.Islid my hands down over her ass and she let out a moan that made me want to do nothing more than lay her down right here and fuck her into the dirt.Butthe lights that illuminated our trail flashed in obvious annoyance.Welaughed and made our way down the path.
“Later,MyKing.”
“Can’tcome soon enough.”
Chapter55
Tori
Theruins of theEternalCitygreeted us slowly.Atfirst, it was just large blocks covered in moss and swallowed up by the roots of nearby trees.Butthose blocks slowly changed into columns, and those columns to fragments of walls, each only moments away from crumbling into dust.Thegolden sprites still lit our path but spread out into the ruins of that once great fortress, their guidance now complete.
