Dorian Wraith's Arc

Chapter 22 of 27

Dorian crossed the room in three strides. Beak leaned against the doorframe with blood on his mouth and one wing hanging low. Dorian caught him by the shoulder before he slid to the boards. "Are you still with me?," Dorian asked. Beak looked up, saw his face, and smiled. He lifted a hand and touched Dorian's cheek. A small flash of yellow light passed between them. Dorian felt the seal inside him break open like ice under a boot. His magic came back into his chest in one long pull. He stepped past Beak into the yard. The guard still had his boot on Evander's shoulder and the spear raised. Dorian threw out his hand. A white line of lightning cut from his palm and struck the guard in the chest. The man flew back across the grass and did not get up. "No one touches him," Dorian said. He walked to Evander and helped him sit up. "He is the man I love. Anyone who forgets that goes down." Evander held onto his arm and did not let go. More soldiers came around the side of the cottage with shields up. Dorian counted eight, then more behind them at the tree line. He looked over his shoulder. Beak had pushed off the doorframe and stepped out into the sun, pink hair bright, wings opening wide in bands of yellow and blue and pink. "Together," Beak said. Dorian nodded. He raised both hands and pulled wind up from the ground. Beak raised his hands with him and fed green light into the current. The two magics twisted around each other and climbed. A tornado opened above the yard and dropped into the line of soldiers. It lifted them off their feet, shields, spears, and all, and carried them out over the trees. The funnel thinned. It broke apart. The yard went quiet except for the sunflowers by the blue door shaking on their stalks. Dorian dropped his hands. His knees held. He turned to Evander, who was already on his feet. Dorian took his face in both hands and kissed him. Evander kissed him back and pulled him close by the open front of his robe. They stayed that way while Beak sat down on the cottage step and let his wings rest. "I remember you," Dorian said against Evander’s mouth. "Everything. Thanks to you, beak and Callie." Evander laughed once, rough. "I couldn’t let you go," he said. "My father is still out there. He knows where we are now." Dorian looked past him at the empty tree line and knew the man was right.