Urian couldn’t breathe or think as he ran through the darkness. Blinded by tears and pain, he wasn’t even sure where he was headed as he sought an escape from the death that constantly stalked his people.
He didn’t even know what had happened to his father. All he knew was that they’d brought him home a few minutes ago, barely alive. Everyone had been angry and screaming as they sought to stop his father from bleeding before he died of it.
So much blood …
He’d never seen his father weak before. Never seen him so pale and trembling. Even now, the image of Trates carrying his father through the door was seared into his mind.
How could the fierce and mighty Strykerius be unable to stand on his own?
And though he knew his parents didn’t love each other, his mother had taken his father’s bruised and bloodied hand and wept. That alone had told him how dire his father’s condition was.
When Urian tried to see him, Archie had shoved him out of the room. “No one wants you here, Uri! Go away!”
The doctor had concurred. “You’re underfoot, boy! Move!”
And so he’d run out the door, into the street. With no destination in mind, he’d just kept going. Now …
His lungs ached from the crisp chthonic air that kept them safe. The muscles of his legs protested his long sprint, while his grief choked him with a vicious grip that threatened his own life. Unable to deal with it all, he collapsed on the damp ground and gave vent to all his misery that screamed out in silent agony.
He couldn’t lose his father. Not like this.
I love you, Baba!
Suddenly, something shifted near him in the darkness.
Urian sat up on the dark ground with a gasp and a hiccup. “Wh-wh-who’s there?” he demanded, his authority undercut by his ragged tears.
Something warm brushed against his cheek so fast that he couldn’t see it. He could only feel it swipe at his tears, like a warm, dry lick. And it left in its wake a glass figure in his lap. One placed there so gently that he barely felt the drop against his linen chiton.
Confused and baffled, Urian picked it up to see an image of a small soldier, perfectly formed. It was amazing. So real and detailed that he half expected the man to move. The hoplite even had a spear and shield.
Sniffing back his tears, he drew a ragged breath and wiped his eyes.
Do you feel better now?
Urian glanced around at the soft, sweet voice he heard in his head. “Who are you?”
I’m the guardian of the Atramentian Falls. You’re not supposed to be here, you know. The goddess would punish us both if she knew you’d trespassed into her special sanctuary. I’m supposed to eat anyone who dares cross the dark borderlands.
Urian scowled at the worlds. Eat?
That piqued his curiosity immediately. “Are you one of the Charonte?” They had their own lands here in Kalosis where they didn’t normally interact with his race, unless Apollymi was angry and set them loose as punishment. And while he couldn’t quite remember which direction he’d run, he was rather certain he wouldn’t have been so stupid as to head toward their section.
Only Paris and Theo were that dumb and suicidal. Urian always took care to give the demons a wide berth.
Nay, I’m not a Charonte.
He arched a brow at that. Not a Charonte?
What else was there?
Clutching his gift, Urian pushed himself to his feet so that he could peer into the shadows where he’d seen the movement earlier. “Are you a god?”
A soft, gentle laugh sounded in his head. You shouldn’t come any closer. Else you’ll be afraid.
Of what? “Why? Are you a monster?”
Indeed. Hence why I eat children who come into my domain.
More curious than ever, Urian glanced down at the soldier in his hand. Strange that a monster would give him a present while he’d been upset. It seemed incongruous and thoughtful for such a beast. “You must be a lonely monster, then.”
Wiping his nose on the back of his hand, he drew another ragged breath. “Just that you don’t seem scary, is all.” Rather, she was nice.
He felt the air around him stir again.
I assure you, if you saw me you’d be quite terrified.
Urian snorted at the challenge. “Bet I wouldn’t. Show yourself.”
At first, he didn’t think she’d meet his dare. Not until the brush in front of him began to shake.
And not just a little.
A lot.
An awful, awful lot. The ground beneath his feet shook so much that he was unbalanced by it. Just how big was this monster?
Urian wasn’t sure what he’d expected, given her warnings. But it definitely wasn’t the large, silvery-gold orange dragon in front of him.
“You’re beautiful.” Those words were out before he could stop them. After all, it might not be the smartest thing to call a dragon beautiful given that they liked to be thought of as fierce. Yet he couldn’t help it. She was.
For that insult alone, she might eat him.
He swallowed hard as he waited for her anger to manifest.
Instead of being offended, she pulled back in surprise. Beautiful? You think me pretty?
“Well … yes. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?”
She shook her head. Are you not afraid of me?
“Not particularly. But that’s because my brother says that I don’t have enough sense to be afraid of anything.”
She laughed. What’s your name, pido?
“Urian. And yours?”
Sarraxyn.
It was as beautiful as she was, and it sent another hot wave over him. He moved closer and held his hand out toward her. “Nice to meet you, Sarraxyn.”
She reached out to brush against his skin.
Urian expected her scales to be cold and slimy. Yet they were surprisingly warm and soft. “You smell like lilies.”
You are a cheeky one, aren’t you?
“That’s what everyone tells me.”
Her black wings twitched as if she were silently laughing. You’d best be on your way, Urian.
Too bad he didn’t want to. He’d rather stay and talk to her. But he was smart enough to know better than to stay where he wasn’t wanted. “Very well, but thank you for my gift.”
You’re most welcome, Lord Urian, and have no fear. Your father won’t die tonight.
He gasped at her words. “What?”
She inclined her head to him. Part of what I guard is the goddess’s sacred tree of life. She already sent Xedrix here to fetch sap to save your father’s life. By the time you return, he should be much improved.
With a cry of relief, Urian launched himself at Sarraxyn and hugged her. “Thank you!” He gave her a tight, giant squeeze before he ran off to check on his father.
Only he didn’t go far. After a few steps, he came rushing back to her. “You’re not a monster, Sarraxyn. You’re beautiful!” With a quick kiss to her scaly cheek and a shout of happiness, he dodged away.
Sarraxyn watched in baffled awe as the Apollite ran off. Her jaw slack over his actions, she waited until he was out of sight to return to her human form. Still, the warmth of his hug and kiss clung to her skin.
No one had ever shown her such affection before. No one.
Few had ever been kind. Only a small handful of her brothers—Falcyn, Max, Illarion, Hadyn, and Gadryn.
In fact, it’d been her own brother, the bastard Malstrom, who’d sold her to the Atlantean war god, Misos, to serve here in his realm. The last thing she’d ever wanted was to be enslaved as an eternal guardian for the sacred Haxyn where she wasn’t allowed to see anyone or do anything other than rot in absolute loneliness.
She hated this dark, dank realm of eternal night. While dragons were supposed to be solitary, she wasn’t quite the same as others of her ilk. Most females weren’t. They were more social than the males of her species. And she more so than even the average female drakos.
To be enslaved here without family or friend made this more of a hell realm than it already was. Damn the Atlanteans for their cruelty.
The Charonte were the only visitors she ever had, and they came rarely. Maybe once every century.
Urian had been the first “human” she’d seen since …
She couldn’t remember. That was how long it’d been. And she couldn’t remember a more fair, handsome one.
Like her, he appeared young. Though she wasn’t really sure how Apollites aged. He could be older than dirt, for all she knew. Like some of the gods who appeared as children, even though they were thousands of years old.
It was why she preferred to live her days as a dragon. In that form, no one knew she was just a girl. Plus, as a dragon, she was a lot stronger, which was much safer for her as she was less likely to get eaten by something larger or meaner.
Her brother Veles had drilled that into her with iron spikes. Whatever you do, Xyn, remain a drakoma! They can’t harm you easily. Stay strong. Above all, stay alive!
’Course, Veles hated his human form. Just as he hated all humans.
And everyone else, too. Especially the gods who’d cursed them and their mothers.
Normally, Xyn agreed with her brother. She didn’t care for others herself. They were too quick to betray. Quicker still to strike the first blow, and she had no time for that.
But Urian had been a nice, brief distraction from her boredom and loneliness. Seldom did anyone or anything venture here. Not even a cockroach.
Sighing, she shifted back to her alternate body before the goddess happened to spy upon her and catch her away from her post. That would never do.
Apollymi was a terrible mistress. Demanding and fierce. Ever harsh whenever she felt someone was slacking. And in particular she seemed to hold a grudge against Xyn.
Yet this time, Xyn had something more to do than count the pebbles lining the ground around the base of her tree. She had a handsome, fair-haired boy to think about.
One with vivid blue eyes and a beautiful smile.