Iflung myself onto the dragon’s snout, and immediately, he tried to whip me off, quivering, but the magic still held him.
“KingAmaros, listen!”Atthe use of his fae name, he stopped fighting. “Abraxas, your son, is my mate.Weare here to help you.”
Thedragon below me inhaled so forcefully that my clothes were suctioned to his face.Hestopped trying to fight and instead tilted his head so thatIslowly slid to the ground, my hands still on his scales.
Howcan this be?
“Ihave heard that fate has quite a wicked sense of humor.”Hebore into me with those huge ochre eyes.Theburning orange faded to a soft brown asMalechshrunk, and his scales were replaced by pale skin.Myhands now rested on the sternface of the fae manIhad only seen in portraits.Hislong, dark hair gently blew in the wind.
“Showme again.”
Isnapped my fingers, and a spark of viridian flame hovered over them.KingAmarossnatched it out of my control and into his palm, staring intensely into the fire as if it would reveal some great truth.
“Myson…”Hegazed a moment longer before snuffing the flame out. “Allfae do is lie.”
“Itis no lie.”Junstepped up beside me. “Wearen’t just fae.”
Amaros’ gaze drifted between us.Junopened his mouth, and a sound likeIhad never heard emerged.Itwasn’t a song, and it wasn’t speech, but the cry of a creature from beyond our world.Webegan to glow from our toes to the top of our heads, where our hair floated on a phantom wind.
Amaros’ eyes went wide. “No, it seems you are not just fae.”
AtJun’scry, the sky above us split.Thecracks widened to reveal more darkness, but not true darkness.Amoonless night with the great celestial riverMaiakflowing overhead as the stars moved across the sky.
Amarosgazed upward as the stars swirled overhead, but his eyes fell back to me.
“Youhave accepted the bond with my son?”
Ipulled aside the collar of my armor so he could see the bite mark thatAbraxasleft on me.Thescar was still a fresh pink.
Atthat, he gave me a wicked smirk thatIknew all too well. “Thenyou have given me the greatest giftIcould have ever hoped for in this frozen place.”Atthat, he moved faster thanIcould see, and he had his arms wrapped around me.Fora moment,Istruggled, trying to get out of his arms.Thearms of a father, arms that could only inflict pain.
Iwas small again, andIenvisioned a hand striking me so hardIthought my teeth would shatter.Thepainnever came.Instead, the arms were warm and gentle, rubbing soft circles on my back.Thatgentle touch broke me in a way that nothing before ever had.Iwas still that little girl, craving a father’s love and gentleness, andIbroke down.Isank into the embrace, and tears rolled down my cheeks.
IfAmaroswas surprised by my reaction, he didn’t show it.Heonly held me tighter, letting me linger in a feeling thatIhad never had before.
Oncemy tears had stopped, he gently held me and whispered in my ear, “Thankyou.Pleasetell my son…Ah,Ihave lingered here for centuries, and nowIhave no time.Thereis too much to say.TellhimIam sorry.Iam sorry for everything, andIlove him.”Heheld me back, and darkness fell over us. “Tellhim his mother gave him the dragon name,Astaroth, in the hopes he would find love in a world of violence.”
“Iwill,”Ipromised, nodding.Hegave me one more soft look. “Shewould have been honored to know you.”
Malechstepped away, andJuntook his place at my side.Thedragon grew again, his scales nearly black in the depths of night.Adeep red glow appeared over his heart, and he let out one last sky-shattering roar as he dissolved into embers and floated to the sky.
Moretears flowed down my cheeks asIfollowed those drops of light upward.Iwish you could have seen him, my love.
Junwiped away my tears and pressed our foreheads together as the stars above us dimmed.Asthe darkness grew, our hearts glowed white until it all burned away.
Theroom was dark.Nored glow remained.
“Youdid it,”Pallasmurmured softly with disbelief.
“Trynot to sound so surprised,”Junchuckled.
“Itjust dissolved and floated away into the air.”Avlyn’svoice was barely above a whisper. “Doesthat mean we are done?”
Myknees cracked asIlifted myself to standing, extending my hand to pullJunup.Thenthe entire room shook so violently that he tumbled into me, causing us to slam back to the floor.
Pallascrashed intoAvlynin much the same way whileKaleosandRauladrew their swords against the unknown foe.
Theroom had glowed a deep, menacing red before, but now light dead and void of color emerged from glyphs along every wall.Itwasn’t pure white light, but something that leeched our faces into horrible, desaturated shadows of themselves, even asIwas blinded by the brightness.
