WINGS OF ASH AND DESIRE

o orient himself. His dragon instincts screamed to transform, but the confined space and chaos made it

rced through th

atching faint glimmers of the magic sparking around her. Despite himself, he reached

open, wide with

he snarled, tigh

angling so that he'd take the brunt of the impact. They slammed into the earth with a bone

ay sprawled beside him, coughing as she pushed herself up. Her staff ha

us both killed?" she sn

en retorted, wincing a

ed by water. The faint glow of Keryth's staff illuminated the space, reveali

emanded, his eyes sc

her fingers over one of the markings, her bro

r, his claws still e

s older than anything I've seen-older than the council, older than mag

ough to bury

ake whatever we're st

n. "You're stalling. If you

then whispered,

n of in hushed tones-a place where ancient powers slumbered, corrupted and untamed. It w

ere?" he accused,

er flaring. "Your reckless attack destabilized the ma

e stone as he advanced on her. "T

bled beneath their feet, and the markings

aled. "We need

il of shadowy energy burst forth, writhing like a living thing. It

en demanded, his voi

t's been trapped here for centuries, feeding off

inctively. He grabbed Keryth, dragging her out of its p

rting toward a narrow passa

with life, the shadows twisting and shifting as if watching their every mov

run this!" Dr

fork in the passage. She closed her eyes, murmuring a spell. Th

re you

teeth. Sweat beaded on her brow as the tendrils closed i

ding to fight. He clenched his fists, forcing

d more

tendril yet surged toward them, its dark

s body igniting as flames burst from his skin. The tendril colli

d his ground, his fire clashing wit

expanded, enveloping them in a protective barrier. The tendril

e knee, smoke rising f

to do that," Keryth sa

azing. "I'm not dying until I get answe

hook the cavern. From the shadows, a deep, guttural grow

ded as the ground q

ow?" he

s ashen. "Someth