Page 63 of Eternal Thorns

“Give or take a few decades,” Rowan shrugged. “Someone had to watch his back while he figured out this whole guardian business. Though I must say, in all that time, I've never seen him glow quite like this.”

“This level of connection makes us incredibly vulnerable. The shadow entity grows stronger with every moment we spend together.” Thorne admitted.

“But?” Silas prompted gently.

“But I can't bring myself to care.” The truth cost him nothing to admit, not when Silas looked at him the he was looking at him. “Let me show you something more advanced. If we're going toface this darkness together, you need to know how to properly defend yourself.”

Thorne moved behind Silas, chest pressed against his back as he guided his arms. “The key is channeling power through your core, like this.” His hands slid down Silas's sides, adjusting his stance. The simple touch sent sparks of magic dancing between them.

That dual awareness made his own concentration waver dangerously. Every shared breath, every small adjustment of position, carried dangerous intimacy.

“Focus on building layers, each shield should reinforce the others, creating depth of protection rather than just strength.”

Silas nodded, but his pulse jumped beneath Thorne's fingers where they rested at his wrists. Silas’ magical signature reached for him unconsciously, already harmonizing with his own in ways that made proper instruction increasingly difficult.

“Now for the complicated part.” Thorne turned Silas to face him, maintaining their close proximity. “This next form requires channeling magic together. It's traditionally used by guardians working in pairs, creating defenses that respond to both partners' needs.”

The moment their eyes met, Thorne knew they were in trouble. Professional distance crumbled completely as Silas's hands settled on his waist, magic swirling around them in steadily brightening spirals. Without conscious thought, Thorne found himself cradling Silas's face, thumb tracing the sharp line of his cheekbone.

Their combined power surged dangerously, responding to this moment of pure connection. Silver-gold light pulsed between them in impossible patterns.

The shadow entity's presence slammed into their magical bubble like arctic wind, attempting to corrupt their shared power. They stumbled apart quickly, both breathing hard. Butthe damage was already done - darkness gathered at the grove's edges, feeding greedily on the intensity of their connection.

“Fuck,” Thorne muttered, running a hand through his silver-white hair. “That wasn't supposed to happen.”

“Which part?” Silas asked. His slight smile suggested he knew exactly which part Thorne meant.

A surge of ancient power interrupted them as Oak Queen materialized from the nearest tree, her bark-skin form radiating urgency. Thorne had never seen the dryad queen leave her grove without formal invitation. Her presence here, uninvited and clearly distressed, sent cold dread through his chest.

“Guardian,” she said, dispensing with traditional greetings. “We have an emergency.” Her usually deep, steady voice cracked like splitting wood. “The shadow entity, it's changing. Not just gaining strength anymore - it's beginning to manifest physically throughout the forest. Taking shapes from memories, from fears, from both your minds.”

Cold dread settled in Thorne's stomach. “Show me.”

Rowan led them to the grove's edge where the damage was already visible. Plants withered and died before their eyes, magic turned sour and wrong in the soil. A young deer lay dead nearby, its body twisted by corruption that had nothing to do with natural decay.

“It started in small patches,” Rowan explained grimly. “Areas where the shadows seemed darker, where magic felt off. But it's spreading faster now, becoming more solid. The border guardians report seeing figures that shouldn't exist - lost travelers who never lived, versions of you from centuries ago, even manifestations of old grief given form.”

“This isn't just magical interference. It's like reality itself is being poisoned.” Thorne said.

“Yes.” Rowan's armor clinked as he shifted uneasily. “And it's getting worse. The dryads report their trees are beginning tosicken. Stone spirits find their crystals clouding with darkness. Even the eldest oaks show signs of corruption in their deepest roots.”

“It's feeding on us,” he said quietly.

Silas stood, moving closer until their hands brushed.

The simple touch sent another surge of power through the grove, making the shadow entity's darkness press harder against their defenses.

“The corruption spreads faster near places where you've worked magic together,” The Oak Queen observed. “But it also seems unable to fully manifest in those same locations. It's like your combined power both feeds and repels it.”

Thorne studied the patterns of decay, noting how they flowed around areas where his and Silas's magic had merged most strongly. “It wants to corrupt our connection because it can't quite touch it.”

“So we don't hide from this. We find a way to make our connection stronger than its corruption.” Silas said.

A sprite burstthrough the trees, its freckles pulsing with alarm. “Guardian! The border patrol reports shadow manifestations near Thornhaven Manor!”

Thorne's heart stuttered. Of course the entity would target there, where human and forest magic had begun intertwining again.

“Go,” Rowan said firmly. “We'll handle containment here.”

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