Page 41 of Stone Sentinels

The Veil

The blaring roar that rattles the cottage draws me to the broken window. I see the dragon that Pyre mentioned, and it’s so much more incredible than he let on. Wings like that could blow an entire village to the ground. No wonder the texts in the library speak of these giants with great respect and awe instead of impassive footnotes like some of the other creatures. Dragons are royal creatures of majestic blood, entities and gods in their own right. To look upon one is considered a great privilege... well, if you're not on the menu.

“Yes!” I shout with pure joy as the dragon sets those Unseelie assholes on fire. My companions are smart enough to actually get the fuck out of the way. Harpies and spirits still fight against the living while Cambion, Theren, and more soldiers retreat to the forest. I know they’re headed to the portal, like a bunch of spineless fucks. I would have stayed and faced the dragon, hands tied or not. Kolvar must be thinking the same way, because he lets out a whoop of excitement, charging head-on toward the great beast.

I’ve all but conquered the Unseelie in the cottage, but a few stragglers take cover to recoup their strength. “Your king has abandoned you,” I grumble. “If you don’t die here, then the Guardian of The Veil will have you. And if that happens, you’ll wish you’d died by my blade.” They make no move to come out. I turn back to the window, but a strange sound pierces my ears just as I’m struck by a burst of magic.

Then everything goes black.

“I wish I could remember them, Dragan,” she whispers in the quiet of the night. Eilish snuggles against my chest, curling into me as though she’s a cat basking in the morning sun. “Not just my mother and sister, but everyone I’ve forgotten. Whether they’re alive or not, they deserve to be remembered.”

“Some of us pray to forget, Eilish. Some things are best left in the past.”

“You can’t think that way,” she argues. “Not when all the answers to our trials are trapped in my memory.” She lifts her head and brushes her lips on mine. I draw comfort from her touch, and it pains me that this will never be enough. Eilish will always need more, more than what I can give her. Am I strong enough to watch her love another man? Take another man inside her, yes I’m strong enough. I’ve already witnessed as much between her and Baron. But, am I strong enough to share her love? Am I strong enough to let her love me?

“I wish I’d known you before Lamia.”

“So do I.”

“But I’m glad you see the man I really am now.” Her hand trails down my abdomen and I feel the blood in my body rush to my straining erection. I bite my lip and lean down to capture her mouth again. I wish we could stay like this forever...

“Wake up, Mr. Dragan!” Noni squeals.

My eyes fly open to see the little house brownie standing over me, shooting bolts into Unseelie soldiers who pour through the doors and windows of the cottage. I pull her close and cover her with my body as an elf with a hammer attempts to flatten her. Noni squirms in my hands, but I stand, tucking her against me as I run up the stairs and through the door of the sleeping quarters.

My head aches like a son of a bitch.

Flumph lifts his head and blinks at me. I see fire crawling up the side of the cottage and I set Noni on the bed beside him before running over and barricading the entrance with the wardrobe. When I look back over, Noni’s using her power to heal Flumph, but then she falls to the mattress. The sprite lets out a shrill sound and pushes Noni’s tunic up a little. My eyes widen when I see the wound on her belly.

“Whats we gonna do, Shadow King?”

“She saved my life…”

“Mine too, so snaps outta it or I fuckin’ kill you.”

Flumph hovers beside his friend. I owe Noni my life. She fearlessly defended my unconscious body as the cottage was invaded by soldiers. She could have died, and yet she tried her best to save us both. I scoop her up and Flumph sits on my shoulder. I run to the window at the far side of the room and bash my gauntlet into the glass, causing it to break.

“We have to get Morrigan out of the cellar,” I say.

“She ain’t there no more,” Flumph responds.

I turn to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, she ain’t there. I don’t know how she did it, but she gone.”

I don’t know what to make of that, but I also don’t have time to worry about it now.

I swing my leg over the windowsill and climb down to safety before the Unseelie are the wiser. We dash for the tree line, dodging flames and spirits, heading for the lake. A siren lifts her head from the water and sends a wave toward us to extinguish the fire that licks at my boots. Noni peeks up at me.

“It be the Midnight Queen that do this.”

“Did what, Noni?” I ask, with interest.

“She cast a spell to make Mr. Dragan go to sleep and Noni try to help. There too many mean elves and Noni get hurt.”

“Shhh. Don’t try to talk,” I say even as anger burns me to know it was Morrigan who knocked me unconscious and left me for dead. “Thank you, Noni. You saved us.” Noni shuts her eyes to rest and I prod gently around her wound. I wish I had healing powers like Cambion, Pyre, and Eilish, but I don’t.

My skills are best used in battle, where I can maim and kill without need of healing. I set Noni down in the sands beside the lake. “Please. Help her.”

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