Page 48 of Midnight Kingdom

“You called me Baron.”

“I did.”

“My name,” I start.

“Is Baron,” he interrupts. “And that’s the first step of your training—becoming the man you know you are deep down. The man you’ve always been.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DRAGAN

The Veil

Noni pushes open the door to Pyre’s cottage and I drag Kolvar inside, depositing him flat on his back on the table. Aima bustles around the small space, obviously more familiar with Pyre’s home than I am. She twists open the lids of carefully labeled jars and begins mixing something in a bowl. Cambion pushes his way in and moves to aid his former lover in healing the satyr. Eilish appears in the archway and I’m overwhelmed with relief.

Without even realizing it, I take the steps separating us and sweep her into my arms. She winces and pulls away from me, glancing down at the wound on her chest. “You’re hurt,” I say.

“It’s already healing,” she whispers.

My brow furrows and I pull her aside to speak privately. “What happened while you were with Pyre?” I ask softly, care and concern lacing my words.

She seems surprised. “We walked through the forest for what I think was two days. At first, Pyre was able to walk on his own.” She shuffles on her heels and her eyes are wide blue pools as she stares up at me. She’s so small and little, I just want to wrap my arms around her and never let go. The feeling is sudden and overwhelming and it makes little sense to me.

“Go on,” I say gruffly.

She nods. “At the edge of the woodland territory, there’s a place called the Ashland. It’s a flat wasteland of stone that acts as a sort of a barrier between the obsidian mountain path and the forest, guarded by harpies.”

“And?”

She nods again. “I was attacked by the harpies while I tried to make it across.”

“How many harpies?”

“At least six. Pyre tried to help me, but he was getting weaker with every step.” She shakes her head and focuses on the wall across from her, worry contorting her features as she apparently remembers the specifics. She looks back up at me with a frown.

“They could sense my life force, Dragan.”

“How did you stop them from killing you?”

“When the harpy’s talon pierced my chest, it caused another flare of my power—white light that exploded and nearly burned everything.”

“I’ve never seen an angel or a succubus do that.”

She shrugs as though she has no answer for me. Then she continues. “After we made it to the other side of the Ashland, the harpies didn’t attack us. It was like they respect the borders of the territories unless there’s a threat against The Veil. Anyway, the mountain was full of restless spirits, but we managed to make it past them. It was so cold. I could barely move when we finally saw the spire in the distance.”

I listen as she continues her tale, watching the way her face lights up with every fascinating detail. She describes the Echoing Spire in a way that makes it sound beautiful, but I can’t imagine anything more lovely than her. And it’s then that I realize I need to stop fighting whatever this is between us. Thoradin’s advice rings through the back of my mind and gives me the strength and courage I need to make this decision, here and now.

I glance back at the others who are busily tending to Kolvar and am pleased to find none of them are focusing on us. I face Eilish again and take a deep breath.

“Dragan, is everything okay?” she asks.

“I need to tell you something,” I begin.

“Okay.”

“Noni took me to speak with Thoradin.”

“Thoradin?” she repeats, her eyebrows reaching for the ceiling. “But, he’s…”

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