Hespun toward me, andJunand his eyes widened.Reflectedin the darkness of his scales was our burning, white light.Iwatched in awe as our light spread above our heads, unfurling like a great feathered tail.Itwasn’t dragonfire, but a light that burned like the sun, and as great wings surrounded us,Ifelt more and more of the earth’s power weaving through my heart and intoJun.
Deathgave a tight grin.So, it was you.Ialmost didn’t recognize you.
BeforeIcould question this, the floor beneathJunandIgave out.Isnagged him in my arms tight, and the light merged our hearts together.Asboiling magma rose and the ceiling came down, our great white wings surrounded us.Weshot through the earth and into the sky above as everything around us came crumbling down.
Chapter 54
Abraxas
Ihadn’t taken my eyes off theTorrsinceToriand her brother had entered it that morning.Itwas nearly nightfall.
“Abraxas, come, have something to eat.”Avlynlaid their hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Youcan’t glare through solid stone.”
Icould try.Isharply pulled my shoulder from their grasp, andIheard them release a long sigh.Nothingmattered to me right now, not food, drink, or air.Noneof it mattered until she was back safe in my arms.Ireached down our bond and it felt warped, no doubt by the strange curse of this land.Butit was still connected.Itried to see into her mind, but it was clouded to me, as it had been all day.
Thenthe bond tugged painfully, andIwas met with only one feeling.Fear.Myclaws extended, andIfelt my horns rip from my temples.IheardAvlyngasp behind me at the sudden change.Mymate was in trouble.Thebeast inside me cowered from that place ofDeath, but the part of me that was fae didn’t care.Sheneeded me, and that was all that mattered.
Iwanted to shift, but our bond was too distorted.Icouldn’t pull the powerIneeded.Nomatter, nothing would keep me from her.Imoved to rush towards the cliffs when strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Abraxas, no!Youcan’t go in there.”
“Releaseme now,Commander, if you wish to keep your arms.”
“Stubbornasshole!Geta grip on yourself.She’sgoing to be alright.”
Iflung my arms wide, andAvlynflew back off me.Ispun on them, my fangs extended, andIsaw a flash of fear in their eyes, but it was overruled by defiance.
“IsaidIwould always protect you, even if it’s from your dumbass self.”Theydrew their sword. “Don’tmake me hurt you.”Ifelt my lips twitch when the ground beneath shook with a terrible tremor.
Westumbled, and both of us turned to theTorr.
“Whatwas—?”Avlyn’swords were cut off as another massive tremor shook us so violently,Ifell to my knees.Icould hear a commotion from the camp, but none of it mattered.
Tori!Tori… what is going on?!Itried to scream at her through our bond, but there was nothing.Ireached further and was blinded by white light hot enough to scorch even me.Itraced up the bond, andIcovered my eyes as if it would do any good.
Thena crack louder than anythingIhad ever heard before sounded from the cliffs, and theTorrbegan to crumble.Fissureafter fissure burst through the rock, and a massive landslide cascaded towards us, carrying debris and dust with it.Ina matter of moments, the entire cliffside was obliterated.
“Tori!”Itried to rise to standing, but the ground continued to fight me.Myeyes widened in fear as more and more of theTorrsunk down into the earth.
“Abraxas, get back!”Avlyn’sshouts were barelydiscernible over the sounds of destruction.Asmore cliff disappeared,Ifelt the heat of molten rock rising out of the earth.Agiant wave rose up from the ground, flowing out of any remaining caves and openings.
Anythingthat remained of theTorrcollapsed into that pool of magma.Nothingwas left.
“Tori!”Itwas a bestial roar, her name lost in it.Iclamped my hands over my heart until my claws drew blood.Thatwhite light still burned inside my heart, andIfelt the palms of my hand singe.
Thena cry rent the evening sky.Itwas a sound so otherworldly thatIcouldn’t place it.Acombination of a death throws, and a newborn’s cry mixed with the screech of a giant bird of prey.
Thepool of lava erupted, two great plumes spreading to either side as a meteor brighter than anythingIhave ever seen burst forth from the center.Likea newborn star, it shone and rose into the sky.
Ishielded my eyes with my fingers but couldn’t look away as it rose higher and higher, slowing down.
Thelight shrank as it rose, until it finally came to a halt.Itlost its momentum, and its path shifted as the star fell, straight down to the earth in front of us.
IgrabbedAvlynand leaped down the nearby rise as it crashed, sending shrapnel and dust in all directions.
Avlynhuddled under my arm, but as the dust settled, they raised their head to look at the crater. “WhattheHuldu-loving fuck was that?”
Ididn’t wait.Iscrambled over the edge of the rise.Thestar had scarred the earth, leaving a long trail in its wake.Theearth there was burning and glowed, butIwas a beast of flames and never feared to burn.
