Dustand mist still rose around its beating heart.AsIapproached, it cleared, andIsaw them.ToriandJunwrapped tight in each other’s arms, as if sleeping peacefully.
Ishook them both. “Tori,Jun, please wake up.”
Theystirred, their movements were mirrored as their eyes blinked and limbs stretched.Whenthey finally awoke, their gazes met, and twin smiles broke across their lips.Theystarted laughing.Itwas the laughter of children, unrestrained and pure.Theirarms wrapped around each other, and they kept laughing as their bodies started to glow a beautiful soft white.
Avlyncrested the walls of earth behind me and gave a tight smile. “Itold you she’d be alright.”
WemovedToriandJunback to camp, and they immediately passed out on a cot together.Idon’t know who fussed over them more, me,Pallas, orOryx.Buteventually we all agreed they were in excellent health and just needed some rest.
Thatdidn’t meanIwould leave them, however.Pallashad the same inclination.Weboth sat in the dark tent, pointedly not looking at each other as the twins rested peacefully, their breaths coming in slow, steady rolls.
Aneternity passed as the silence stretched betweenPallasandI.Itwas so still thatIcould practically hear the grass growing beneath us.
“So, what happened out there?” she finally asked.
“Idon’t know.”Thetruth spell had worn off with the destruction of theTorr, butIfound no reason to lie.
Shescrunched her face unattractively. “Theyrose into the sky on a beam of starlight.That’smagic that this worldhas never known.You’reher mate.Yourhearts and souls are linked.Youdon’t know what it is?”
“ItseemsImay not be the only one who can claim the honor of sharing her soul.”
Pallaslooked to where the twins still lay, arm in arm.
“Itis not the same,”Pallasinsisted flatly.Noroom for argument.Ididn’t intend to.Hereyes lingered onJun.
“Ihave no doubt of that.WhatToriandIshare is not the same as what she andJundo.Ifeel it may be something… older.”
Pallasflattened her lips until they disappeared, her mind wandering away.
“Yousaid that it was magic the world has never seen, but what if it is just magic the world has forgotten?”Iasked.
“WhenIsaw them,Ithought it was a star falling from the heavens.Whatis it the old legends say?Dragonswere made by the stars, who had grown lonely in their eternity.”Shepaused, and her eyes met mine without a hint of fear. “What’seven older than the gods?”
“Fenix,”Iwhispered.Aprayer, oneIhad not spoken sinceIwas a child.Thiswas sacred history; oneIhad been taught never to share.Mypeople were gone, and our secrets were nearly lost with them.Whatgood did our secrets do if they were dead, along with the rest?Pallasstill held my gaze.
“Thegods before the gods.Fenix, there is no translation.Whatis the word for the heart of the rising sun and the death of the day that is claimed by night?Theywere those who burned eternally.Whenan age came to a close, they would die only to rise again from the stardust and chaos of creation.”
“Isit possible thatToriandJun…?”
“Yourestimations are as good as mine, my lady.Ithink all we can know is that we do not know.Whateverthis is, it has never been seen before in all the history the dragons have ever known.”
“Somethingnew then,”Pallasmused, andInodded.Thesilence stretched between us again.
“Youlove him?”Hereyes sharpened immediately, andIraised an eyebrow at her. “Youwould hide the best part of yourself from me?”
Hereyes softened, and for the first time in our conversation, she looked away. “Yes,Ilove him.”
“Andyet you seek the affections of another.Iwill never understand the hearts of fae.”
Hereyes sharpened, and her claws came out. “Mylove forJunis not based on unmitigated desires for another’s body,Abraxas.Idon’t feel the need to keep him trapped within my clutches at all times.”
“Thenwhat is it based on?”
Hereyes were unfocused as she shuffled through memories and thoughts. “Mutualunderstanding and… tenderness.”
“Tenderness… from you?”
Shehit me with that ferocious glare thatIfound myself enjoying.Itwas comforting to see her fighting back.
