Iwasn’t the only one who hesitated.Theworld around me seemed unwilling to form, as ifToriwasn’t ready to dream of me yet.Ifelt my body shift back into its fae form, but still, she would not come.
Outof the darkness came the metallic glow of stars solidifying into heavy metal chains that wrapped around me.Theircold steel slithered over my skin, tightening to an edge of pain.Ifought them, but it was far too late.Shebent my legs and bound my thighs to my calves, soIhad to sit balanced on my knees and toes.Myarms were locked behind my back, also chained together.Shewrapped my chest and torso untilIwas completely immobile.Aneternity stretched on, and then she stepped forward, her face lit only by the light of the stars.Shestood before me, that strong, defiant womanIknew so well, and in an instant, my control was gone again.
Ithad been smart for her to bind me.Isnarled and tried to free myself.Mycontrolled mind watched my actions as if from a distance, as my body became that feral animal again, desperate for her.Myhorns and wings sprouted, clamped under the chain’s tight embrace.Icouldn’t shift further.Myfire glowed in my heart, and howIwished to consume her in it.
Isaw her smirk at me. “Iknew you would be naughty again.”
Isnarled louder. “Youknow if you wanted me in chains,Princess, you only had to ask.”
“Yes, we may have to try this sometime later.”Shegave me a heated smirk, but then her face grew serious. “Weneed to talk,Abraxas.”
Iwas the last dragon in this world, a god by all measures, and those words struck fear into my heart.Shewas my heart, my soul.Ihad hurt her, maimed her.Iwould always be a part of her, but…Icouldn’t blame her if she wanted nothing to do with me ever again.Andshe was fae.Theywere such fickle creatures with no sense of loyalty or commitment.Shewas my mate, but what did it mean for a fae to be mated to a dragon?Shewas my everything.Wouldshe say the same for me?
Theweight and sadness cooled the fire in my heart to nothing more than embers.Thebeast receded, and the man returned.
“Mylove,whatIdid—”
Shepressed a finger to my lips. “Nowis not the time.Youcan grovel for me later.Ineed your help.Ineed to know how to save you,Abraxas.”
“Mylove, ifIknew that,Iwould have told you already.”
Shehuffed out an aggravated sound. “Alivefor over a thousand years, and you have no ideas?”
Ishook my head. “Iwas bound by the laws of fae magic in my body.Ineeded to trade for the power to transform, and there was only one method the earth would accept.”
“Yourlife force.”
Inodded. “Yes,Ineeded every last drop of it to change.Icould conduct again, but it only bought me enough time to reach this island.Assoon as we landed, the earth claimed its price.Mylife is gone,Tori; only my connection to you allows me to linger.”
“Thenhow doIrestore it?It’snot too late.Youare still here!”Shewas desperate, andIcouldn’t bear to see it.
“Littlebird,Iknew from the momentIfirst saw you that you would be my ruin.ThatIwould never survive this.Butdo not think that for one momentIhave regretted it.”
“No!”Sheyanked the chains that held me. “Iwill not accept this.Iwill not let you die.”Shegrabbed my face roughly and pulled me into a deep kiss, and she was nothing but delicious heat in this icy cold place.
Shepulled away, her face wet with tears. “Don’tyou dare stop fighting,Abraxas.”
“Foryou, my love,Iwould fight until there was nothing left of this world.Untilall had turned to ash and dust.Iwill not give up, not until the void claims me, but—”Ishook my head.Ifelt it creeping around me.Thatdeep, endless cold and darkness.
Shefelt it, too, and it clawed at me as if she would latch her very being to mine.Deathwaited for no one.
“Mylittle bird,I’ma creature of fire and flames, butI’venever seen anything burn as bright as you.Don’tlet anything dim that light.Remember,MorkaTempeli.Deathis the beginning.Ihave been blessed by the gods to have this time with you, but that time is up, my love.Iwill wait for you beyond the stars.”
Shefloated away from me, andIcould see her screaming my name, but there was no sound.Thedeep shadows of the void wrapped themselves around me.Iwas nothing, but a tiny golden light remained.Notyet.
Notyet, but soon.
Chapter 22
Tori
Iwoke up in a cold sweat.Iripped at the sheets on my bed, trying to crawl back to him.Panicset in, and my breath came in frantic spurts.Hecouldn’t be gone.
Iclawed at my chest as ifIcould rip out my own heart and give it to him.Andyes, deep down,Istill felt it.Ourbond was barely more than a spark, but it was still there.Hewasn’t gone.Notyet, butIwas running out of time.
Igrabbed the closest pillow and screamed into it.Iscreamed until my throat ached.Igot up from my bed and paced my room endlessly.ThinkTori!Think!Unsurprisingly, nothing came.Ipaced to the window overlooking theBayofDragons.Starsstill lingered above the rising sun, and the ocean’s mist swirled up violently in the harsh wind of an approaching storm.
Themist swirled in erratic eddies, and it brought me back toTenebraeForest.Theway the wind picked up after the death of theNalleand the magic that allowed us to commune with the forest.
