54. Abraxas

Ihadn't taken my eyes off the Torr since Tori and her brother had entered it that morning. It was nearly nightfall.

"Abraxas, come, have something to eat." Avlyn laid their hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You can't glare through solid stone."

Icould try. I sharply pulled my shoulder from their grasp, and I heard them release a long sigh. Nothing mattered to me right now, not food, drink, or air. None of it mattered until she was back safe in my arms. I reached down our bond and it felt warped, no doubt by the strange curse of this land. But it was still connected. I tried to see into her mind, but it was clouded to me, as it had been all day.

Thenthe bond tugged painfully, and I was met with only one feeling. Fear. My claws extended, and I felt my horns rip from my temples. I heard Avlyn gasp behind me at the sudden change. My mate was in trouble. The beast inside me cowered from that place of Death, but the part of me that was fae didn't care. She needed me, and that was all that mattered.

Iwanted to shift, but our bond was too distorted. I couldn't pull the power I needed. No matter, nothing would keep me from her. I moved to rush towards the cliffs when strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

"Abraxas, no! You can't go in there."

"Release me now, Commander, if you wish to keep your arms."

"Stubborn asshole! Get a grip on yourself. She's going to be alright."

Iflung my arms wide, and Avlyn flew back off me. I spun on them, my fangs extended, and I saw a flash of fear in their eyes, but it was overruled by defiance.

"I said I would always protect you, even if it's from your dumbass self." They drew their sword. "Don't make me hurt you." I felt my lips twitch when the ground beneath shook with a terrible tremor.

Westumbled, and both of us turned to the Torr.

"What was—?" Avlyn's words were cut off as another massive tremor shook us so violently, I fell to my knees. I could hear a commotion from the camp, but none of it mattered.

Tori! Tori… what is going on?!I tried to scream at her through our bond, but there was nothing. I reached further and was blinded by white light hot enough to scorch even me. It raced up the bond, and I covered my eyes as if it would do any good.

Thena crack louder than anything I had ever heard before sounded from the cliffs, and the Torr began to crumble. Fissure after fissure burst through the rock, and a massive landslide cascaded towards us, carrying debris and dust with it. In a matter of moments, the entire cliffside was obliterated.

"Tori!"I tried to rise to standing, but the ground continued to fight me. My eyes widened in fear as more and more of the Torr sunk down into the earth.

"Abraxas, get back!" Avlyn's shouts were barely discernible over the sounds of destruction. As more cliff disappeared, I felt the heat of molten rock rising out of the earth. A giant wave rose up from the ground, flowing out of any remaining caves and openings.

Anythingthat remained of the Torr collapsed into that pool of magma. Nothing was left.

"Tori!" It was a bestial roar, her name lost in it. I clamped my hands over my heart until my claws drew blood. That white light still burned inside my heart, and I felt the palms of my hand singe.

Thena cry rent the evening sky. It was a sound so otherworldly that I couldn't place it. A combination 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 anything I have ever seen burst forth from the center. Like a 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. It lost its momentum, and its path shifted as the star fell, straight down to the earth in front of us.

Igrabbed Avlyn and 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. "What the Huldu-loving fuck was that?"

Ididn't wait. I scrambled over the edge of the rise. The star had scarred the earth, leaving a long trail in its wake. The earth there was burning and glowed, but I was a beast of flames and never feared to burn.

Dustand mist still rose around its beating heart. AsI approached, it cleared, and I saw them. Tori and Jun wrapped 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. When they finally awoke, their gazes met, and twin smiles broke across their lips. They started laughing. It was the laughter of children, unrestrained and pure. Their arms 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. "I told you she'd be alright."

We movedTori and Jun back to camp, and they immediately passed out on a cot together. I don't know who fussed over them more, me, Pallas, or Oryx. But eventually we all agreed they were in excellent health and just needed some rest.

Thatdidn't mean I would leave them, however. Pallas had the same inclination. We both 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 between Pallas and I. It was so still that I could practically hear the grass growing beneath us.

"So, what happened out there?" she finally asked.

"I don't know." The truth spell had worn off with the destruction of the Torr, but I found no reason to lie.

Shescrunched her face unattractively. "They rose into the sky on a beam of starlight. That's magic that this world has never known. You're her mate. Your hearts and souls are linked. You don't know what it is?"

"It seems I may not be the only one who can claim the honor of sharing her soul."

Pallaslooked to where the twins still lay, arm in arm.

"It is not the same," Pallas insisted flatly. No room for argument. I didn't intend to. Her eyes lingered on Jun.

"I have no doubt of that. WhatTori and I share is not the same as what she and Jun do. I feel it may be something… older."

Pallasflattened her lips until they disappeared, her mind wandering away.

"You said that it was magic the world has never seen, but what if it is just magic the world has forgotten?" I asked.

"WhenI saw them, I thought it was a star falling from the heavens. What is it the old legends say? Dragons were made by the stars, who had grown lonely in their eternity." She paused, and her eyes met mine without a hint of fear. "What's even older than the gods?"

"Fenix," I whispered. A prayer, one I had not spoken since I was a child. This was sacred history; one I had been taught never to share. My people were gone, and our secrets were nearly lost with them. What good did our secrets do if they were dead, along with the rest? Pallas still held my gaze.

"The gods before the gods. Fenix, there is no translation. What is the word for the heart of the rising sun and the death of the day that is claimed by night? They were those who burned eternally. When an age came to a close, they would die only to rise again from the stardust and chaos of creation."

"Is it possible that Tori and Jun…?"

"Your estimations are as good as mine, my lady. I think all we can know is that we do not know. Whatever this is, it has never been seen before in all the history the dragons have ever known."

"Something new then," Pallas mused, and I nodded. The silence stretched between us again.

"You love him?" Her eyes sharpened immediately, and I raised an eyebrow at her. "You would hide the best part of yourself from me?"

Hereyes softened, and for the first time in our conversation, she looked away. "Yes, I love him."

"And yet you seek the affections of another. I will never understand the hearts of fae."

Hereyes sharpened, and her claws came out. "My love for Jun is not based on unmitigated desires for another's body, Abraxas. I don't feel the need to keep him trapped within my clutches at all times."

"Then what is it based on?"

Hereyes were unfocused as she shuffled through memories and thoughts. "Mutual understanding and… tenderness."

"Tenderness… from you?"

Shehit me with that ferocious glare that I found myself enjoying. It was comforting to see her fighting back.

"And what of Avlyn?"

Thecorner of her mouth twitched up. "Perhaps that is closer to unmitigated desires."

Ihuffed a laugh, surprised. The flap of the tent opened like it had been pushed by a ghostly hand, but no one entered. I heard the rustle of feet and Pallas and I peered around the cot.

"Spinner?" She rolled onto her knees next to the ever-growing spider. "Hey, I'm sorry about the shoe. It won't happen again, ok?"

Hegave a pleased chirp before turning his attention to me and hissing.

"I missed you as well, spider."

Hehuffed at me before heading over to the cot, trying to settle himself between the twins like a massive dog. The twins grumbled and woke.

Pallasand I rose, staring down at them. Tori's eyes opened first, and she rolled over, before freezing when she looked up at us.

"Oh gods, what happened?"

"What happened? What happened?!" Pallas was vibrating. "You sank the entire Torr into the earth and shot out of it like a comet. That's what happened!"

"Pallas, too loud," Jun moaned, covering his ears. She ducked down and fussed over him again while Tori sat up. She placed an idle pat on Spinner's head before looking at me. I grabbed her hand and gave it a soft kiss. "And how are you feeling, my WorldBreaker?"

Shegave me a smile that was all teeth. "Ready to take on the GreatHero."