Two worlds collide, each with its own unique grace.
Iplaced my hand over his heart, the magic flowing beneath my palms, and his slate-colored eyes popped open.Forthe first time since we had been taken fromNiata, they were clear, andIcould really see him.Ifelt the magic of his voice entwining with the magic of the earth, and tears leaked from my eyes as we finished the song together.
And as the stars entwine in a cosmic dance,
Both worlds find a common thread, a second chance.
Two souls, once apart, now dare to intertwine,
In the tapestry of fate, their destinies align.
Ourlast note rang out into the cave, echoing off the walls.Thesilence left behind was almost deafening.Butslowly, the cave came alive again, and the sound of water trickling and the rustling of leaves resumed.ButIbarely noticed asIwatchedJun.Heslowly sat up, running his hands through his hair.
Heturned to me. “Tori?You’rehere?”
“Yes,Jun.I’mhere.”Hereached out his hand and gripped my face like he didn’t believe it was true.Tearswelledin his eyes.Heleaned in, his forehead pressed against mine.Ireached out to embrace him but saw his body flinch.Ithought ofPallas, how she had only touched their pinkies together.Islowly reached out to his hand and looped our smallest fingers together. “I’mhere,Jun, andIwon’t ever let you go again.”
Fora moment, he just breathed, and then he started laughing.Ahysterical laugh that would normally have me worried, but instead, my own crazed laugh bubbled up in my throat.Whatan image we must have painted.Puremanic laughter huddled in the grass at the edge of a magic lake.ButIdidn’t care.Hewas here, and he was awake.Wekept laughing, andIdidn’t let go.
AfterJunandIhad laughed until we couldn’t make any more sound,Pallasreappeared.
“Pallas, you are safe, too?”Junhad tried to stand to embrace her, but his legs wobbled, andIcaught him under his arm.Pallasknelt but did not touch him.Shesaid nothing, just heldJun’sgaze gently with her eyes.Isaw the shimmer of tears, but she quickly blinked them away.
“Jun…”Shedidn’t complete her thought.
“It’salright,Pallas,Iknow.I’mglad you are here.”Evennow, my stomach churned with jealousy at their closeness, butIdid my best to control that.Juncould have found people to befriend, maybe even more.GodsknewIhad.Iturned back toAbraxas, his form unchanged.Jun, whether it had been truly him or just my memory of him, had helped me find the strength to be withAbraxas.TheleastIcould do was not be openly hostile toPallas.Well, at leastIcould try.
Chapter 5
Tori
“S
o, this is him?”Jungently reached out and stroked the scales onAbraxas’ side.
“Yes, turns out theDragonKingis actually a dragon.”Iplaced my hand next to his.
“That’snot whatImean, and you know it.”Mybrother shot me a scowl, andIcouldn’t help but laugh.Howoften hadIgiven that same look toAbraxas?Hell, to everyone?Thelaughter died quickly.
“Howcould you know about us,Jun?Youhad that collar long before we… well… before we were anything.”Iwas unable to imagine what being controlled in such a way would have been like, soIdidn’t want to push and make him relive it so soon.
AsIfeared, the dark circles under his eyes seemed to grow, and his face grew pale, but he linked his finger to mine, and it was steady.
“Thecollar… it made everything like a dream.WhenIobeyedHadeon, it was like being drunk on ambrosia, out of control, but nothing hurt.ButwhenIdisobeyed… there was nothing but pain.”
Iremembered the throne room and the small look of defiance in his eyes.Whathad that cost him?Hesqueezed my finger tighter.
“Andyou fought back.Youdisobeyed.”
Hisfree hand went to his neck, rubbing where the collar had been. “Notas much asIwanted.Iwas never as strong as you were,Tori.Inthat strange reality, sometimesIeven convinced myselfIcould hear your voice telling me to fight back.Butit hurt too much, and eventually,Ijust stopped.”
Isqueezed his finger back. “YouknowIwas only strong becauseIhad you,Jun.Noone could have fought off an enchantment like that.I’lltell you what we had to do to get it off you another time.”Igave him a small smile, hoping to lighten his mood, but it didn’t work.Hisface grew even more grim.
“Hewanted to do the same to you.Iheard him.Heeven had the collar made…Pallastold me, but she promised she wouldn’t let that happen.”
Helooked over his shoulder at the woman, who was dozing by the fire that still flickered from our dinner.Abit of his smile returned.
“Isshe a...”Itdidn’t feel right to say “lover,”even thoughIvery much wanted to know.Buthis skin grew even paler as his forehead became sweaty.Myheart stopped.Ihadn’t let myself think about howHadeonhad calledJunhis lover, not that anyone controlled like he was could ever be that.Thethought filled me with so much rage thatIcould feel it shaking the earth beneath my feet.Thatwasn’t fair toJun.Hewas the one who had suffered, and my outrage didn’t help him.
