Page 25 of Distinctly Daray
Chander shuffled to the center and took Keegan’s hand as an overwhelming urge to giggle overtook the fallen knight.
“This isn’t the threesome I thought I’d be having,” Keegan said through his laughter.
“You’re not my type,” Chander guffawed.
A heavy sleepiness overtook the giddiness, and Keegan welcomed it as he concentrated fiercely on his past life and whoever had once called him family or friend. His mind went dark, then he opened his eyes. The edges of his vision were nearly the same pretty charcoal color as Phillip’s gaze. Ahead of Keegan was nothing but a grassy field and a blue-gray sky. There were no buildings and no people in sight.
“You two okay?” Chander asked.
Keegan glanced at the jean-clad sorcerer and gave a quick bob of his head. “Is it normal for the other side of the veil to be so empty?”
“It’s fine. Don’t panic. Let’s start walking. You doing good, Phillip?” Chander asked.
“I am well,” Phillip assured him. “I cannot feel my dragon. As much as he fights me, I find myself missing him.”
“He’s chilling back with your body,” Chander assured Phillip. “Is there a direction you want to go, Keegan?”
Nothing was tugging Keegan toward anything, so he chose a direction at random. It was incredible to know Keegan was on the side of the veil where his spirit had lingered until the Arch Lich had resurrected him. He focused on his past as he committed the tranquil scene of the endless field to memory so he would be able to share it with Victor later. Keegan walked alongside Chander and Phillip as the minutes ticked away.
The longer they journeyed, the more the concern grew on Chander’s noble face. Disappointment flowed through Keegan. It wasn’t the lost opportunity to learn something about himself or the knowledge that he wouldn’t soon have a beast—what frustrated him was failing Phillip.
“I’m sorry, Phillip,” Keegan offered. “This isn’t going to help your dragon.”
“You and Victor help my dragon,” Phillip said. “I refuse to accept your apology.”
“We can try again another day,” Chander commented. “We’ll keep drinking that damn tea and journeying here until you’re both ready to stop.”
“While answers would be nice, I think Keegan is perfect the way he is,” Phillip remarked. “Any future shadow walks will be up to Keegan.”
Overwhelmed by Phillip’s kindness, Keegan kept his thoughts to himself. The truth was Keegan had no desire torepeat the experience of dragging Phillip to the other side of the veil or taking up the valuable time of the Arch Lich. As far as Keegan was concerned, the journey didn’t need to be repeated. Something in his soul told him that no answers were waiting for him.
Chapter 10
“You will have to tell me if you change your mind about allowing Chander any peeks into the former lives of Keegan, Phillip, and Victor,” Life said.
Death turned to her sister with a puzzled expression. “Why would I change my mind? It serves no one to gain a memory of Phillip and Victor’s pain. They loved Keegan unconditionally and he them. His death was unnecessary, but it happened. It cannot be undone, and he was not a shifter. There is no beast pining for Phillip’s dragon or Victor’s cat.”
“I know,” Life replied. “Which is why I have manipulated Keegan’s thoughts to steer him far from another shadow walk.”
With a smile, Death shifted her feet on the dark chaise in her castle. “A splendid idea. The last thing any of them need to do is to keep venturing to theebirlloba, searching for answers they will never find.”
“Speaking of answers, we have learned precious little of Folly and her nefarious plans,” Mayhem remarked.
Since Death and the team of sleuths trying to unravel Folly’s plans and who might be aiding the goddess had added another to their team, Mayhem had barely left the castle. Rather than feeling irritated, Death found that it was lovely to have the company of Mayhem and the others. Not that Death wouldadmit that aloud without prompting—or perhaps ever, even if someone asked.
“It stands to reason that the plan was a long time in the making,” Justice commented sagely. “I expect Folly has made every effort possible to cover her tracks, which is why we have had no success learning anything.”
“Rather irritating to discover Folly is both evil and intelligent,” Death drawled.
“I have searched everywhere I can think of to find Chaos,” Mayhem remarked. “There is nothing of her things in any of her old haunts. Her essence is blocked. We must assume she is hiding because she’s part of Folly’s team.”
“We do not know that for certain,” Courage said.
“Still, we must tread carefully should we encounter her,” Eternity added. “Her very nature is to cause strife. She may not have intended to be outright evil, but she can be persuaded to make certain decisions without considering the consequences of her actions.”
“Folly may not have explained her desire to break so many rules or her end goals,” Mayhem insisted. “My twin would be ready and willing to jump in to cast spells. She has acted impulsively since the moment Mother created us. I was the one given enough patience to weigh my actions. Chaos never had that. She cannot understand my restraint. Yes, I like mayhem, but it does not belong in every situation. My magic is meant to liven things up, not destroy. No offense, Death.”
Death lifted a red brow. “I do not destroy. My purpose is to care for the dead.”
