Page 25 of The Immortal Covenant

Sarilian’s smile dampened. “But that will leaveyoumore vulnerable.”

“Precisely.” Malorg set off in the direction of the border. They were already close, having traveled as far as they could from Twilight to lessen the odds that they’d cross paths with otherInfernals. “I have centuries of experience on you. Better for me to be the one at increased risk.”

Sarilian nodded, though Malorg could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the decision. He followed in silence for a time before chuckling quietly to himself out of nowhere.

Malorg eyed him askance. “What?”

Sarilian shook his head, an amused smirk playing over his lips. “Nothing. Just thinking over what you said about yourcenturiesof experience…old man.”

Malorg tried to pin the laughing Celestial with a glare, but his heart wasn’t in it. For better or worse, he was beginning to suspect that organ already belonged to the Celestial in question.

Sarilian kept up a stream of easy chatter as they travelled, seeming determined to draw Malorg out of his shell. When Malorg offered to duskwalk them across the border, he declined, taking Malorg’s hand instead and insisting that he’d rather go slow to enjoy their stroll. The soft smile he’d given Malorg had threatened to make his heart bound right out of his chest.

The rolling silver plains of the Dawnlands proved precisely as boring as Malorg remembered…minus the company, of course. Just like in the forest, having Sarilian with him made even the tedious task of tracking stray voidspawn across the barren expanse more enjoyable.

Despite his weakened duskflame, Malorg insisted on taking the lead, much to Sarilian’s chagrin. Anything he could do to keep Sarilian safe.

Though the Dawnlands’ perpetual glow left no easy way to track the passage of time, several hours must have elapsed before Sarilian let out a loud groan, stretching his back.

“Merciful Light, how many voidspawn does that make for today?”

“Thirty-five,” Malorg replied, trying not to let his exhaustion show.

Sarilian scrunched his brow. “That’s it? Feels like more.”

“That’s it—unless you count that voidspawn with too many tentacles as multiple.”

Sarilian snorted a laugh. “Which one? Theyallhave too many tentacles!”

A faint smile flickered over Malorg’s face. “Fair enough.” Glancing around at the near-identical landscape stretching in every direction, he asked, “Do you want a lift somewhere?”

“Nah, I’m good. The nearest dawnbeam waypoint isn’t far from here, and I don’t want to risk another Celestial spotting us if you duskwalk too close.”

Malorg scratched at the back of his neck. An anxious buzzing filled his gut. “Right. Well, I guess this is where we part ways, then.”

“I guess so.”

Sarilian gave him a fond smile. Before Malorg could settle on what to do next, Sarilian was pressed against him, stealing his breath with an intoxicating kiss.

“Thanks for the date,” Sarilian murmured. He trailed more kisses along the sharp line of Malorg’s jaw. “I look forward to the next one.”

Malorg struggled to maintain his stoic composure as they parted. “As do I. The usual time and place?”

Sarilian nodded. “Sounds good. Perhaps we can continue experimenting with our magics.”

“Perhaps,” Malorg agreed reluctantly.

It wasn’t that he saw no possible applications for their efforts—he’d been mulling over what Sarilian had said about a protective infusion all day. But if the last disastrous Accords had taught him anything, it was the danger of false hope.

Sarilian must’ve sensed his hesitation. “I know you think defeating the Void is an impossible dream, butnothingisimpossible so long as we don’t give up. Together, we’ll find a way to fulfill the Covenant once and for all—you’ll see.”

Malorg wished he could believe him. Still, despite his doubts, he didn’t want to once again be the reason Sarilian’s joy faded. Let the Celestial cling to his naivety as long as he could. And who knew? Maybe someday, he’d prove Malorg wrong.

But even after they’d said their goodbyes, Sarilian’s whisperedUntil we meet againechoing in his ears and their parting kiss lingering on his lips, Malorg couldn’t shake his rising sense of foreboding or the terrible premonition that, like everything else tainted by the Covenant, their newfound happiness was destined to end in nothing but pain and regret.

ten

Sarilian

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