Page 5 of Celestial Shadows

Brutal slaps fill the air. My wings open, spanning the length of the war room as I brace my boot against the table and sink deeper inside my woman. Eilish screams and I feel the rush of her climax. With a rapturous growl, I follow her into oblivion. My softening cock slips free from her clenching channel andEilish cleans us with a few muttered spells. She tucks me back into my trousers and kisses me before I leave her.

***

DRAGAN

Mortal Ruins

I enter the courtyard as the sun disappears behind the tall structures in the distance. Myerdoth and Zir stand at the center, neither of them speaking a word to one another as I approach.

“Thank you for seeing us, Zir,” I say in greeting. “We know you’re working on things of great importance, but we may require your assistance. The language used in the Grimoire is one we’ve never encountered.”

The very short artificer crosses her arms and follows us beyond the walls. We venture past the decrepit buildings and onto a patch of sand that lays along the coast. Waves crash against the shore as rays of silver moonlight reflect on the waters.

Myerdoth gathers the stones needed to create more of our kind. Zir suggests we start with a dozen or so. I’m eager to grow our numbers, but I agree. The artificer measures the distance between each stone and I use my power to carve the symbols required by the spell. Myerdoth carves the features and characteristics of each gargoyle, making them unique in their own right. I remove the pouch from my belt and hand the artificer the ingredients for the ritual.

Myerdoth stands beside me and Zir hands me the words to the spell. Myerdoth channels his power into me as I read the spell aloud. Zir continues to draw markings in the sand, scientific symbols that beautifully meld with the magic runes. My power builds, flowing into the spell until the stone begins to glow.

Hassari runs through the amber grasslands between the mores and the palace. She places her hand on the stone and whispers for the ancient guardians to rise, to protect her from the soldiers. Blue light spills across the land, searching for her as the coven fights against the invaders. Tears flow from Hassari’s eyes. She turns to face her enemies. Black riders with flocks of Obuqui birds approach. There is nowhere to run. Her sisters have fallen…

The clouds part, washing her face in brilliant luminescence. A smile forms on her face as she stares up at the moon. Magic flows through her.

Hassari slams to her knees and presses her hands to the sodden earth. She calls to the stone, to the rock, willing it to rise. The ground trembles and bulges beneath her palms. A hand claws its way out of the mud. Lightning streaks across the sky as a being of great strength climbs to its feet. Wings, proud and erect, seem to span the length of the field.

The world shall tremble with fear, for a new race is born.

My eyes open and I find myself on the ground. Myerdoth stands over me, a worried expression pinching his features. He helps me stand.

Zir shakes her head and points to the stone figures. No life reflects in their eyes.

We’ve failed.

The hope I had once dared to feel defeats me.

“Leave them,” Myerdoth says. “Perhaps their existence will help others remember our race long after you and I have left this world, my friend.”

***

EILISH

Mortal Ruins

I stand in front of Theren’s bedchamber door in a torn tunic that hangs loosely from my corset. The door opens and Cambion’s eyes devour me from head to toe. I need his light. But now is not the time.

Cambion’s arms brace against the door jamb. He leans down to brush a kiss against my lips. I wrap my arms around him and he drags me into the room. He walks me over to the side of the bed. Theren’s bare chest catches me by surprise. The roguish smirk on his face is breathtakingly handsome. I hate that I must be the one to take that smile away. “Elioth has risen,” I say. “That means he may come after you both.”

Theren’s gaze drops.

He unfolds his legs from the bed and stands. I force myself to look away as he pulls his shirt on. Cambion’s presence is soothing. It helps stave off my hunger, because he fulfills me in a different way. Just the touch of his hand brings me peace and instills light within my spirit. Theren walks over to his mirror.

“Elioth is powerful. His time in the Chasm will have only made him stronger.” He reaches inside the enchanted glass. His eyes become as dark as the mirror’s surface.

“What do you see, brother?” Cambion asks.

Theren jumps back with a grimace. “Elioth is in Oronrel. If the Cockatrice is a follower of Abedon, then Elioth will have the Unseelie army in the palm of his hands.”

“Should we be worried about an attack?” I ask.

Theren seems unsure. “I was able to do serious damage to The Veil with my army and I was fighting against Morrigan’s spell, all the while. Elioth is acting of his own free will in service to Abedon. Imagine what he will be capable of…”

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