Page 40 of The Missing Sentinel
“How many sentinels are in your family?”
“There are seven of us. Or six and a half depending on how you count Phillip. He is part dragon shifter, so he is technically a hybrid.”
“I do not believe my mind can comprehend a sentinel that is part dragon,” Drexley muttered, his brain refusing to even contemplate the idea. “How many necromancers are in your household?”
“One. Or half of one, depending on how you count Chand.”
“What does that mean?”
“Brace yourself. Chand is a hybrid. He is half necromancer and half demonic imp.”
“The more I learn, the less I understand,” Drexley said, resting his head on Ducarius’s shoulder.
Ducarius rubbed his back through his thick robes. “I know, but I cannot be anything less than honest. You deserve the truth.”
“But can I handle it?”
The ground trembled beneath Drexley’s feet, and he wondered what piece of the realm would slip away next. Ducarius cursed and pushed Drexley away.
“Run,” Ducarius ordered in a shout.
A shadow fell across Drexley’s vision, and his mouth dropped open as large chunks of the castle tumbled from the top of the structure. He yanked his robe up so he would not trip on the material as he raced away to avoid being hit with the massive debris. In his boots and uniform pants, Ducarius was able to move far quicker and was several steps ahead of Drexley as they turned the corner toward the front door of the castle.
Behind them was the sound of rocks crashing together, and Drexley dearly hoped the entire castle would not fall around their ears. The ground continued to shake, which added to Drexley’s difficulty in finding his footing, but he supposed some part of his brain recalled how to move agilely thanks to his centuries of training, since he managed to remain upright.
Ducarius yanked one of the doors open and urged Drexley inside.
“I must check on Adney,” Drexley insisted.
“Go. I will head upstairs to see the damage.”
With a nod, Drexley rushed to the library. There he found Adney under a blanket with his eyes squeezed shut.
“How do you fare?” Drexley asked as he reached the necromancer’s side.
“My beautiful home. It rocked so violently. Is it too falling apart like my realm?”
“Yes, Ducarius and I were outside and saw some of it crumble. He is on his way to discover the extent of the damage.”
“Were you training with him?” Adney demanded with a fierce scowl.
“No, I was taking a walk. I do not own a weapon. How could I train with Ducarius? You know I have no interest in such things. Why would you ask me that?”
“Because I fear you are infatuated with him.”
“He is my mate, Adney. Let us not argue about it now. We have far greater concerns.”
“I grow weary of feeling my magic wither away. While I worry that you will return to your barbaric ways, I am eager to cross the veil. It has been ages since I last saw my son. It will be so good to see his face again. Five hundred years have passed, and I can no longer recall the sound of his voice.”
Drexley hated Adney’s pain, but he was far from ready to say goodbye. Still, that was Drexley’s issue, and he refused to lay that burden on Adney. Before Drexley could find any words of comfort to offer Adney, Ducarius stalked into the library, and his expression was grave.
“Half of the top floor is gone, and a section of the floor below went with it,” Ducarius stated.
“My blasted bedchamber,” Adney muttered. “Very well, I will take a guest room. At least it will be easier to retire if I must take fewer stairs at nightfall.”
“This situation is growing increasingly dangerous,” Ducarius said. “First it was the land crumbling away, but now it is the castle too. If you had been in your bedchamber, I doubt you would have survived the fall, Adney. Most of your belongings are likely in broken tatters.”
“Little do you know I have trunks of clothing throughout the damn castle. It is my home after all,” Adney responded crossly. “I know there is danger. It is inevitable. My magic is fading, and that holds this realm together. What would you have me do?”
