Page 59 of The Missing Sentinel
“Can you move comfortably yet, love?” Ducarius asked.
In response to his question, Drexley rolled toward him and laid his head on Ducarius’s chest. Ducarius kissed his head and wrapped his arms around him.
“I am so sorry about Adney,” Ducarius said aloud as he cuddled his mate.
“I knew the end was close, but…still, I am not ready. I can hardly believe he is gone.”
“Nothing was going to make it any easier to lose him. If it is any comfort, remember that at least now he is no longer in pain, and on the other side of the veil, his magic has been returned to him. He cannot resurrect anyone, but every other spell is now at his fingertips.”
“He is with his son again. That is what he wanted,” Drexley replied, his voice trembling with his tears. “If any of his body survived, I fear we may never find it. Can we light a pyre for him anyway?”
“Of course we can. Whatever you want.”
“I did not get to say goodbye. I thought…well, I thought there was time yet.”
“He knows your heart, Drexley. You bravely wear it on your sleeve. Adney crossed knowing he was loved. It is likely he passed in his sleep and did not suffer in his last moments.”
“I held his hand, but he may have already lost the ability to feel it.”
“Do not torture yourself, love,” Ducarius begged as he smoothed down Drexley’s tousled locks. “You did your best and aided him however he asked. The first thing you did was rush to his side. There is nothing more you could have done.”
“I watched his soul rise out of him, but there remains a part of me in disbelief that he is truly gone. How can that be possible? We were thrown from his realm, and I can no longer feel the thrum of magic.”
“That is a good thing,” Ducarius assured Drexley. “We are here on the planet I left and that Adney once called home. We will have a bit of rest and collect our thoughts, then we can teleport home.”
Drexley squeezed Ducarius’s arm. “I can feel your excitement and longing. Leaving behind the past will not be easy, but it pleases me that you will soon be reunited with your family.”
“I know the future scares you, but you will be okay, I vow it. And you may count on me to be at your side whenever you need me.”
“I love you,” Drexley said, his voice breaking on the words. “I am so grateful for your comfort. I miss him. I miss him already.”
Ducarius caressed Drexley’s nape and pressed his lips to his hair again. “If I could have one magical ability, it would be to ease your pain.”
Drexley lifted his head and smiled at Ducarius through his tears. His brown eyes were shattered, and it broke Ducarius’s heart. “I would argue that you already possess that power.”
Lifting his hand, Ducarius used his thumb to caress Drexley’s cheek. It was dewy thanks to his weeping. “I am grateful you think so. Let’s rest for a few minutes, get home, then find somewhere quiet to have a private funeral pyre for Adney.”
With a nod, Drexley snuggled into Ducarius’s chest, and they lay there lost in their own thoughts. Ducarius tempered his excitement at being reunited with his family and introducing his wonderful mate to them to focus on Drexley’s emotions. Grief dominated. But there were hints of fear. That did not surprise Ducarius. The future was scary and unknown.
Ducarius had to remain mindful of Drexley’s fright and be a strong shoulder for him to lean on. Especially since Ducarius knew what Drexley did not—as the hours away from Adney’srealm sped by, the other sentinel’s memory would return. And Drexley would have to deal with whatever damage Adney had wrought. Ducarius refused to give in to his anger with Drexley cuddled close. But he was pissed, and he had a feeling his rage would grow as the past caught up with Drexley.
Chapter 26
Long before Drexley was ready, Ducarius helped him to his feet. Drexley clung to Ducarius as the Skeleton Lord surveyed the surrounding area. The light was poor. There were some far-off structures in the distance, and the moon illuminating the ground, but there was little else to aid them.
“I hate to leave you, but I have no choice,” Ducarius complained, kissing Drexley’s cheek. “Since I dropped it the day I fell into your realm, my cellphone is Fate only knows where and useless to us. Although I am eager to be with my family, D’Vaire is probably my best option. I can get a teleportation stone to bring you back with me.”
Drexley recalled that D’Vaire had a sanctuary, but he knew little else thanks to his insistence on avoiding the future. Now, he had no choice, and he was terrified. To Ducarius’s credit, he was flooding Drexley with endless waves of calm. But peace was not something Drexley could find in his heart. It was too broken.
“I will be fine while you are gone,” Drexley assured Ducarius with confidence he lacked.
“You do not feel strong right now, but I assure you that you are, Drexley. I promise.”
With a nod, Drexley forced himself to step away from the man he loved. “Go.”
Ducarius scowled, but he did not argue. A cloak appeared in Ducarius’s hand, and he shrugged it on so swiftly his movements blurred. He dragged Drexley close, kissed him hard, and vanished.
Left alone, Drexley hugged himself. He was not ready for life beyond Adney’s realm. And his mind felt strange. It was subtle, and he could not pinpoint the cause, but he assumed it was the adjustment from leaving a magical realm to standing on a planet. There was no thrum of energy permeating Drexley.
