12. Tori

The stars in the sky swirled around me, and I found myself back in the cave we left behind. Abraxas was his fae self, sitting by the edge of the glowing spring.

"Why do I never see you as your true self? You always appear as a fae to me?" I sat down beside him, leaning my head against his shoulder. Immediately, his hand ran up my spine and through my hair. He gripped me gently, pulling me close enough to place a chaste kiss on the top of my head.

"I wouldn't want to scare you, Tori."

Ilaughed at that and leaned into him when I felt the scrape of claws against my scalp. I jerked away to see that wicked smile on his face and long onyx talons that extended from his fingertips. That mischievous gleam twinkled in his eyes as the claws slowly faded back into his hands.

"You keep surprising me, Abraxas. What's next? Do you have a tail hidden away?"

"Of course I do. It's impossible to maintain your balance flying without one."

Flying. Of course, he had flown free above the clouds, amongst the stars that had birthed his people. Memories of his younger self rose to greet me, the ones I'd seen so long ago. His arms outstretched, running towards the edge of a cliff, nothing but the unadulterated joy of freedom rushing through his veins.

"What is it like to fly?" I asked him.

Helaced his now claw-free fingers through my own. "Nothing compares. Leaving everything behind and riding the wind, it's like nothing holds you back." I saw the awe on his face fade away. "It was the worst part of being trapped in this fae body. The sky had been taken away from me."

Iplaced my hand on his chest, letting it rest just over his heart. "Can you show me?"

Hedidn't respond but placed his hand over mine. I felt the weak thrum of his heart, and the golden light of our bond leaked from his chest, surrounding our hands. Much like it had all those nights ago, I felt our minds connect. Before, the bond needed to beat the connection into us, but now it was soft and warm, inviting me into his memories.

Onceagain, I was a young Abraxas, standing on the cliffs above Xyr. I looked to my father, KingAmaros. Long dark brown hair whipped around a face that was all harsh angles and stern eyes. But as he raised his hand to point out over the cliffs and to the sea of the Bay of Dragons, that same mischievous smirk I loved so much cracked the severe expression, revealing shining white teeth. Excitement fluttered in my heart, and I turned and dashed out towards the edge of the cliff, running at full speed.

Theedge came closer and closer, but I did not slow. I placed my foot at the very edge before I launched myself over. The earth fell away, and my stomach rose into my throat. But then a great surge of magic, hot and unrestricted, flooded through my body, and I changed. My fingers grew long, the nails stretching and thickening into onyx talons. My skin fell away to reveal obsidian scales that directed the wind around my body perfectly. My back was shot through with pain, but I hardly noticed, knowing the reward it would bring. Great wings sprung out from beneath my scales, and I opened them wide to catch the air and stop my descent. My entire form grew larger, but it didn't feel strange. If anything, it made me realize how unnatural and compressed my fae form felt.

WhenI wore it for extended periods, the ache of that restraint just became a part of living—a dull ache that one could almost ignore, like the page that has bent so many times it falls into compliance. But when it was released, and I could be whole again, it always surprised me how truly light I could feel.

Soaringover the bay and out into the Sea of Spirits. I kept to the mist as best I could. I didn't want to scare any fisherman out for an evening haul. But the further out I flew, the more my caution gave way to exuberance. I read the wind, riding its currents while curling my magic through it, shaping it to my needs. I could feel the vortexes created as they passed over waves and rocks, warning me of their presence long before I could see them. ButI always liked to see how close I could get before turning away at the last second.

WhenI first learned to fly, I crashed into more rocks than I could count. But after mastering my body and the wind, I could have a little fun. AsI darted between the labyrinth of islands, I tucked my wings in and dove at breakneck speed down towards the water's surface, using the flair of my tail to push into a spin. Only when I felt the spray of the saltwater on my scales did I spread my wings wide, pulling up at the last moment. I repeated this over and over until the muscles in my back ached.

Adisturbance in the air told me I wasn't alone anymore, and I saw my father's form fly overhead. His great, deep maroon scales gleamed in the ochre light of the fading sun, his eyes an almost perfect match for the glowing orb that was sinking beneath the ocean's waves. He flashed his golden teeth at me and then, with a might that I only hoped to possess when I was finally full-grown, pumped his great wings and rose into the air beyond my sight. Despite my fatigue, I followed suit, muscles straining in protest as I used my entire body to surge upward until we were both above the clouds.

Thesun finally dipped below the sea, and the purple of the horizon faded into the inky black of night as the stars came out to greet us.

Thememory faded from my mind, but I was left with Abraxas' joyful feeling in his heart—something so pure and innocent—the joy that can only be felt by the young, before the weight of the world, has crushed that beautiful and precious innocence from them.

Ididn't have the words to describe how I felt after seeing that. I was grateful that he had shared it with me, profoundly happy that he had those memories, and miserable that all of that had been ripped away from him. I squeezed myself into his body, taking him into a deep embrace, hoping that he would understand. He wrapped his arms around me, and I felt he did.

"So, you were trapped in this body? How?"

Thatsly but sad smile returned to his face. "A prison of my own making, in a way. When my father was killed, he was the last great conduit. In my dragon form, I was too. ButI was in fae form when he died. Transforming from dragon to fae is the hardest thing I ever had to learn and takes a great deal of magic. In fae form, I can no more conduct magic than any other." He gave a soft chuckle. "Well, any other fae that isn't you." I thought of the feeling of magic in his memory. It was so raw and undiluted, a great mountain waterfall that made everything I had felt thus far feel like nothing more than a small forest creek. A deep part of me was jealous that he had lived when power flowed unrestrained like that.

"When he died, the last true well of magic on this earth died with him. I had to make a choice. Use the magic of his death to change myself one last time or stay and protect my people and deal with the aftermath of the attack on Xyr. I still wonder if it was the right choice…" He trailed off, his gaze hard and distant.

Isqueezed his fingers between my own. "You chose hope. You could have changed, and what would you have done? FoughtHadeon, tried for revenge to whatever end? Instead, you stayed with the people who needed you. You rebuilt Xyr."

"You exalt me. I'm not sure that's what I was thinking, but it was the path I took." He paused again. "But it meant that I couldn't transform. I knew that if I did, well, I assumed I wouldn't survive long. My life force would be… is… tapped out."

Hefinally turned to look at me. "Our bond has let me hang on to life longer than I expected."

Thisasshole. "Who were you to make that choice, to kill yourself for some heroic gesture? We could have still fought our way out… somehow…" I knew it wasn't true. We had been surrounded, but I couldn't stand that I'd failed him so completely. I couldn't stand how much failure I'd caused in such a short time. Tears leaked from my eyes at my own self-pity, and Abraxas gently wiped them away.

"It wasn't your fault, Tori."

"Don't lie to me, Abraxas. I failed to find Hadeon's weakness. I failed to undo his power. And from the sound of it, I also caused your whole plan to crumble with my impatience. It is all my fault. And now…" He held me to his chest again as the tears flowed freely now, sobs breaking up my speech. "NowI've almost lost you."

"The blame is mine, Tori. Avlyn was right. OnceI had you, I became reckless like a child. I was so happy in a way I thought I would never be again. I wasn't thinking clearly. I wanted everything with you, to experience everything I waited a millennium for. I should have held off on everything, but I could never deny you."

"If we waited, I would have lost Jun."

Heplaced another soft kiss on my temple. "How is he now?"

"He's like a stranger. He's alive, and I can be grateful for that, but I feel like I don't know him or what he needs. My brother, my twin, and I don't know him."

"Give it time, little bird. KnowingHadeon…" He didn't have to say anything. I had seen the dark shadows around Jun's heart, so similar to the ones that had kept my magic away from Abraxas. Death's hand had Jun in its clutches as well.

Ilet the threads of magic twirl around my fingers. I wished I could burn it away, all of it. The shadows around Jun's heart, the shadows holding Abraxas prisoner. I was so fucking tired of feeling helpless. I focused on that, and the magic between my fingers shifted from that soft blue to vivid green and burned hot.

Abraxaschuckled, "Not bad, Princess." He snatched the flames right out of my hand, letting them dance between his fingers. "It's real dragonfire, too. I don't think any fae has ever achieved that."

"How can you tell?"

"Telling you that would be like trying to explain how we know to breathe. It's just something I know." He let the flames jump up out of his hand, and they disappeared. "I wish I could have taught you more, told you about everything. IfI had told you about my father's heart, maybe things would have been different."

Iraised an eyebrow at him.

Hesighed again. "That is Hadeon's great treasure. Somehow, he has taken control of my father's heart. That is what allows Hadeon to still wield magic."

"He's using your father's heart? A dragon's heart… so, he's using it to pull magic from the earth, like some sort of corrupted conduit."

Ithought about what the old Seer had said in the cave about this revelation, my own powers as a conduit, and the feeling of pure magic in his memory. Something, an idea, perhaps a solution, danced in my mind, just beyond my grasp. I could almost see the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, but something was still missing.

"Show me, Abraxas. Show me your true form. I don't understand this dream we are in, but let's use it to our advantage."

Tomy surprise, he pulled away. SomethingI hadn't seen often flashed across his face. Fear. "I don't want to hurt you, Tori."

"I have never been afraid of you."

"You don't know what you are asking. I had to work for centuries to learn to control my actions. Locked in a fae body, it was easier, but dragons aren't civilized. They are the embodiment of nature. Nature is vicious, brutal, and deadly. And you are my mate; who knows what I would do to you unleashed?"

Ipressed my hand into his chest, hard. "We are in a dream; how could you hurt me here? What's a better place to find out what you would do?"

Thatdeep fire flashed in his eyes, and before I could react, I was on my back, his hands holding my wrists down. "Is that what you want, little bird? To see me become nothing but rage and lust, to tear into your soft skin with my claws, my fangs? To devour you completely?"

Hesank his teeth into the flesh of my neck, and I felt a sharp prick as he broke the skin. A hiss escaped me. He pulled back, the red of my blood coating his lips and his teeth. They had elongated into sharp fangs.

"I'm yours, Abraxas. I'm your mate, so show me what that means. I want to see you lose the control you have been holding onto so tightly." The fire in his eyes grew brighter at my words, and I knew I almost had him.

"You would have me undone without a semblance of my humanity?" His breath on my skin was hot… burning. His irises had lost their green, only that molten gold remained, his pupils elongated into slits. He pressed himself between my legs, and the heat of him traveled straight into the depths of my belly, my heat rising to meet it.

"Completely."

Hiscontrol snapped. Our lips slammed together, and I felt a sharp pain as my tongue was sliced open on the tip of one of his fangs. But he pulled me in deeper, and I reveled in the taste of him that merged with the hot, metallic taste of my blood.

Iscratched my nails down the flesh of his back. A moment later, I felt the hot sting of his talons tracing over my hips as he pressed harder against me. Whatever clothing I had been wearing was shredded under his ministrations. We released our kiss, and he drew his lips down my neck and across my chest. His tongue darted out over my aching skin, and I was so lost in the sensation of it that I didn't notice the unique change for a long moment. WhenI looked down to watch him lavish the peaked flesh of my nipple, I saw it was forked. He ran each part around the hard bud, trapping it, before pulling it into his mouth and teasing me with his fangs again.

Myback arched as I tried to get closer to him, needing even more of the harsh sensation that danced on the edge of pleasure and pain. He was careful, as he ever was, to keep me on the side of pleasure.

"You're holding back, Abraxas."

Hechuckled against my skin; the vibration was tantalizing. "Be careful what you wish for, Princess." I couldn't help the scream that escaped me as his teeth broke the skin of my breast. I never wanted it to end.

"I said I would devour you, Tori, and I have every intention of showing you how a god claims his mate."

Andthen he was transformed. Great black horns emerged from underneath his silver hair. His eyes burned even brighter, and the white of the sclera was replaced with deep black. His pale skin was pulled back on his temples and hands to reveal the obsidian scales beneath. I was entranced, but he refused to let himself change completely, hovering on his own edge between humanity and beast. He traced that strong, elongated tongue down my stomach, spreading my thighs with those clawed hands. I fell open for him immediately.

Histongue traced up and down through me before pushing deep inside. I bucked my hips involuntarily. "Oh fuck, Abraxas." Words were lost to me as I felt it twist, creating a sensation unlike anything I'd felt before. Without thinking, I grabbed onto his horns and pulled him deeper into me.

"You always were such a needy thing," he chuckled, licking my arousal off his lips; it coated almost the entire bottom half of his face. "Play nice with these," he gestured to his horns.

Imoaned as he dove back between my thighs. I squirmed to get closer as he fucked me with his tongue. Each thrust was relentless and a tease as he stopped his momentum to circle my clit. It was a deep, unbearable pressure; each pass brought me closer to that perfect ecstasy. I was so close now that I barely felt his claws sink into the flesh of my hips.

"Abraxas, I'm going to…" He thrust into me with abandon, hitting every single sensitive part of my swollen cunt. I caressed his horns gently this time, and heard him moan against my flesh. The sound and vibrations sent me over the edge. As the limitless golden light of release danced before my eyes, he lapped up every last drop of my arousal like I was the most delicious thing in the world.

Mylegs were shaking as I came down from my orgasm, but he didn't give me a moment of reprieve before he rose up on his knees and grabbed my legs, pulling me around him.

Hewas a vision straight from the hells. His pale, smooth skin gave way to dark scales; his arms and legs were almost completely covered. A second, smaller set of horns hugged his temples, and his wild silver hair matched the glow of his eyes. His talons sank deeper into the flesh of my ass as he pulled me onto his hard length. My core still spasmed with the last aftershocks of his tongue.

Ashe sank deep, we groaned in ecstasy. I squeezed my eyes shut, overcome by the sensation.

"Don't you close your eyes now, Tori." His claws wrapped around my neck and jaw. "You wanted to see your mate. Well, here I am." Wind ruffled my hair, and an audible whoosh had my eyes snapping open. His leathery black wings were spread wide behind him, blocking out almost all the light. The only illumination was the deep glow of his eyes and the tendrils of emerald fire spreading beneath the skin of his chest.

Isaw the god he truly was, beyond anything a mere fae like me was designed to comprehend. He pulled me to him, again and again, each thrust growing harder, untamed as his moans transformed into something between a deep growl and a purr that shook the very earth beneath me. His body grew larger than what should have been possible. Still lodged deep inside my cunt, his cock swelled, stretching me beyond anything I had experienced before.

"Abraxas, Abraxas…" I couldn't think of anything to say other than his name as another orgasm tore through my body, making me completely limp and defenseless. I looked at him for a moment of tenderness but found nothing. The man I knew was gone; only the beast remained.

"Abraxas, wait…"

Hedid not. He was ravenous. His long tongue tugged over my skin, capturing the blood that still dripped from my hips and breast. That emerald fire leaked from his mouth, and his cock pounded into me. My skin became sweaty as the air grew unbearably hot. His claws sunk into my skin without caution as his tongue raked my body, capturing my blood, my sweat, my tears.

Avoice, deep and ancient, rumbled from inside of him. You're mine.I tried to call out to him one last time, but my throat was scorched as emerald fire consumed me.