3. Tori

The hard scales of his side pressed into my face. The edges and peaks of the scales left divots in my skin as they embossed me while I slept. My hand traced them over and over, a distraction from the truth that Abraxas still slept. I had fallen asleep listening to his heartbeat, the only sign he was still alive. ButI could feel it getting weaker, my heart along with it.

Avlynand I hadn't spoken since our encounter with the Seer. The silence weighed heavy as Avlyn just sat down next to the spring on our return, mimicking Pallas' earlier position. I found her asleep next to Jun, pinkies wrapped together, her chin tucked into his shoulder.

Howmany times had he and I lain like that, hidden in the forest, watching the stars pass over us? Tears rose in my eyes, and I turned away. I didn't know their relationship, but Pallas had shown me she cared for my brother. I should have been happy that he had someone there for him, even though I knew it should have been me.

Ilet those tears fall as I pressed myself into Abraxas. It was like trying to cuddle a boulder, but I had fallen asleep all the same. NowI was awake, and I couldn't bear it. Those familiar dark tendrils crept into my mind, and I longed to be nothing. IfI was nothing, I wouldn't worry about Jun. I wouldn't worry about what we would find beyond this cave. I wouldn't worry about how I was the one who had to save Abraxas, and I had absolutely no idea how.

Islammed my fist into Abraxas' side. My knuckles split open, the pain scorching up my arm. But it wasn't enough. The worry remained.

"I know nothing, Abraxas. You, Avlyn, and that damn Seer didn't tell me anything. How am I supposed to help you?" I slammed my fist into him again. It changed nothing. That great wallowing pit of despair opened in my stomach, and I was ready to jump right in.

Butthen I heard shuffling behind me and a masculine moan. I launched away from the beast and was at Jun's side in two strides. Pallas had awoken as well, and her eyes were full of worry. Jun moaned again, and I saw his eyes flutter.

"Jun…" My voice came out a hoarse rasp. "Jun, wake up."

Hiseyes opened, but they were unfocused. They darted around wildly as he tried to focus on my face.

"Pallas?" That substantial weight gripped my chest, and I struggled to breathe like someone had clamped a pillow over my face.

"I'm here, Jun." She pushed herself in front of me. "We are together." Perhaps the Tori of yesterday would have struck her, shoved her away from my brother. But he had asked for her, not me. She was his comfort, and that great wallowing pit inside me only seemed to grow wider.

Shehelped him sit up, and I did all I could to keep my tears contained when Jun looked at me.

"Tori? Is that really you?" He sat up, his eyes shining, and all I could see was the little boy I always needed to protect. "How did you—?" He started coughing so roughly that he doubled over again. I ran to the pool and cupped my hands together. Water filled them, and I carefully carried it back to him.

Thewater still contained that ethereal blue glow as I held it to his lips, and he gulped it down.

"He needs more," Pallas slung the command while her gaze pierced me. At that, a bit of the old Tori surfaced. I could feel my skin prickling with indignation, but she was right, so I fetched more.

AfterJun drank it all, his coughing subsided, and his eyes seemed more focused. "What happened?" he asked. Pallas and I exchanged another set of slightly less hostile glances. But before we could answer, his hand came up to his neck and rested where the collar had been.

"Is it over?" He looked at Pallas, not me. His eyes were still unfocused.

"Yes." She held his face in both her hands, and then he collapsed into her, sobbing. She held him tight, her arms stroking his back as he continued to cry. "It's alright, you're alright."

Ihadn't known it was possible to feel emptier, but I did. AsJun continued to sob, I walked to the edge of the pool and just stared at the glowing light of it, willing my mind to be as mercifully blank.

"Caught some dinner." I jumped nearly a foot in the air as Avlyn appeared beside me. I hadn't even noticed them leave. They held up three small rodents by their tails. I raised an eyebrow at them.

"Oh, too good for squirrels now, Princess? Don't worry, I'll eat your share." As if on cue, my stomach let out a loud growl. I would not be passing up my share.

"Quite the hodgepodge of creatures living in this place. I thought it might be best to give you and your brother some space." They glanced over to where Pallas and Jun were whispering to each other and frowned. "Not quite the reunion you expected?"

Isaid nothing, but I knew Avlyn could read everything on my face and in my swollen eyes.

Theylocked their arm around my shoulders gently. "Come on, help me make a fire."

Igathered sticks and kindling from nearby, but everything was damp and wouldn't light. "We could use some help over here," Avlyn shouted over their shoulder to where the dragon slept. Nothing. They shrugged and went back to trying to light the fire with their flint.

Isaw Pallas lead Jun over to the edge of the pool. He knelt and cupped more water in his hands to drink. Pallas did the same.

Myeyes stung again, and I turned away. I pushed my fingers into the grass and earth below me. I might have been useless to Jun for too long, but I could do something.

Iallowed my breathing to settle, even though errant sobs still attempted to sneak through. However, the wild magic of this place was itching to be unleashed, so I didn"t require any additional focus. I reached just below the surface of the earth and felt the warm sensation of energy. I closed my eyes and remembered the feeling of my skin sizzling under Abraxas' flames, the heat and ash that burned away all that stood before it. I reached along that invisible golden thread that tied me to Abraxas, and in my mind, I saw it turn emerald green. I quickly opened my eyes and focused on the kindling, and one tiny green flame erupted.

"Oi! Warning next time," Avlyn yelled, then bent over and blew on the rising smoke, trying to get the spark to catch. After a few more breaths, the green shifted to orange, and a tinder caught in the kindling. I helped set more branches on top when they signaled, and soon, we had a stable fire going. Avlyn set to work skinning the squirrels with their dagger.

"So, it seems you aren"t completely useless." Pallas crouched down near the fire, but she kept her eyes fixed on mine. Fuck her.

"I doubt you mentioned this, but I was the one who got that collar off of Jun." My voice shook, and I dug my nails deeper into the dirt to stop myself from lashing out at her. "And you didn't get him out of there. We did."

"Only because I took you to him. What would you have done if I hadn't? Just leave him behind again?"

Ijumped up, and she did the same.

"You don't know me, Pallas. I would have never left Jun! Never!"

"Oh, really? BeforeHadeon collared him, he kept saying you would come for him. Kept saying you wouldn't let anything separate you. I wanted to believe you would; that he had someone out there who loved him enough to do that. But you never came." I froze. She had me cornered. "ThenI find you had been too busy fucking yourself into a queenship to rescue the brother who needed you."

"Fuck you. Like you're one to talk. How long have you been with Hadeon now, centuries? What was it again? ‘Tied to him for all eternity?' Give me a fucking break."

"You think I had a choice?" Pallas whispered it like a curse.

"I don't see a collar around your neck." I reveled in the way her jaw clenched at that.

"Ladies, why don't we all just calm down?" Avlyn had their hands up, calling for a truce. We both rounded on them so fast that they took a step back. "Gods, commander of an army at war, and I'm in more danger trapped with you two." They sat back down, focusing on cooking again.

Itook a breath. Then another. Finally, I asked, "How did you know about the necklace?"

Pallaspaused, some of that hatred leaving her face. But it quickly returned. "How did you light that fire just now?"

Weboth sat there, unwilling to yield, until I saw Jun fall next to the edge of the pool.

"Jun!" Pallas and I screamed in unison. We both darted over to him, but I was faster. I wrapped him up in my arms, and he moaned weakly. I ran my hand over his forehead, and he felt clammy.

"He's still weak. He needs time to recover," Pallas said as she placed her hands on his chest.

"Some food would likely help." I held her stare until finally she gave in and turned back to the campfire.

"Jun, I don't know how, but we are going to get through this, alright?" I whispered it in his ear.

Hemumbled, "Tori, if we keep sneaking out, Father will catch us. I don't want you to get in trouble." He was confused, and I just held him tighter.

"You're the one in trouble now, Jun. ButI'm here like I should have always been." I laid a soft kiss on his forehead, and his sweat mixed with my tears, leaving a salty taste in my mouth. Pallas returned with the small, cooked body of one squirrel on a stick. She pulled a small piece of meat off and blew on it.

Ipropped Jun up against my chest, and Pallas gently placed the food in his mouth. I was worried he wouldn't eat it, but his hunger won out, and he chewed it rapidly and opened his mouth again. Pallas continued to tear off small pieces and cool them before giving them to him. We sat like that for quite a while in silence.

Perusual, I was the first one to break it. "Thank you, Pallas." She had been reaching out to Jun, and I saw her hand falter. "Thank you for taking care of him when I couldn't." It was clear she cared for him, and as much as it pained me, I owed her a great deal.

Pallasflattened her lips but nodded to me. We fed Jun the rest of the meat in silence.