Soryn looked away but he didn’t hide his smile in time. “There is still good in you. You love that beast.”
“Illusion was once my only friend. After I raised him from death, Rhadamanthus did not waste his time trying to punish me by taking him again.” Ashiyn shrugged it off with a scowl.
They walked to the edge of the castle walls to look over the sea toward the ruined fortress. Sihtaar had grown so massive they could see the dragon in the distance now.
“He will only continue to grow the more he consumes until he devours the entire world,” Soryn said with a grim look.
“I think we should feed him the rest of them.” Ashiyn looked at his monstrous armies milling at the edge of the land near his castle. The ones he had gathered after destroying their commanders were the only ones left. All others had been drawn to Sihtaar to be devoured. “Let him destroy all the darkness in this world. Then none will be left when we kill him.”
Soryn remained silent until Ashiyn looked at him inquiringly. Then he shifted in place. “Not all the darkness, Ashiyn. You do know a great deal of the world’s darkness now rests within you?”
Ashiyn crossed his arms. “That is why you are here. Because the light can’t destroy it. Only darkness as powerful as that creature can, the darkness within me.” He furrowed his brow at Soryn. “Is that why you are here, Soryn? You are close to me now so that you can strike me down to save the world in the end? You are the only being on this world that could destroy me, aren’t you? Rhadamanthus and Rurik were right about that.”
“Yes,” Soryn admitted without hesitation. “That is why I was chosen as the vessel for the celestials. The only way you will be undone is by someone you trust.”
“Then why tell me?” Ashiyn tilted his head. Once again Soryn mystified him. He couldn’t understand the man’s motivations.
Soryn watched him, his dark eyes full of emotion. Then he slowly turned away to look at the dragon again. “Because I have already decided I will fail in that mission. You are my friend. I owe you my life. I love you and cannot live without you. I cannot kill you to save this world any more than you can kill me to save it. The only hope I have is that I can appeal to the good in you and keep the darkness at bay once it is no longer needed.”
Ashiyn took a long, slow breath. “Sia was not wrong, Soryn. I killed Rurik to save you mostly because I was selfish and did not want him to take you from me. I am selfish now as I protect your life instead of sacrificing you to save the world.”
Soryn shrugged. “You are full of violence and hate. But often it is aimed in the right direction. Injustice angers you. I just have to convince you to direct your fury where it belongs.”
Ashiyn turned away and stormed over to look at his monstrous armies. When they turned to face him, he pointed to the dragon. “Go! Go and destroy the false god-thing that believes he has the right to this world. Do not fail me!”
The monsters screeched in fury at the command and surged from all around to charge toward their enemy.
“They will all fall,” Soryn whispered in shock. “You know this.”
“They are monsters. There is only room for one monster in this world now.” Ashiyn turned and stalked back to the castle. “Come. I am weakened without Sihtaar’s power. We must find another blade with power within it if I’m to destroy a demi-god. Rhadamanthus said Sihtaar was the last, but I do not believe him.”
“Perhaps this time you won’t take one from a crypt full of dead celestials?” Soryn said hopefully.
“That is why you are coming along,” Ashiyn agreed. He didn’t want another sarcastic dragon god in his head.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Ashiyn grumbled to himself as he shoved a spider’s web out of his way and ducked under it into the dark corridor. The glowing ball of light magic darted to a split in the corridor and hovered back and forth between entrances, waiting for Soryn’s command.
“Which way?” Soryn asked from behind Ashiyn, sounding weary.
Ashiyn glanced back at his friend. It had only been the tenth ruin they’d tromped through today, was Soryn fading on him so quickly? He scowled a bit. “Left.”
“How do you know?” Soryn asked, raising a brow.
“Just go left,” Ashiyn grumbled and started down the left corridor after the light. It was more of the same. Rough stone, darkness, and a damp mildew smell that made him want to sneeze.
“I hate to be the one to say it, but you’re wasting a lot of time, Ashiyn. If this sword isn’t usable, we should consider other options,” Soryn said, as they continued. He let out a sudden scream and fell against the wall, clutching his chest.
Ashiyn turned and considered the dinner plate-sized spider hanging in front of Soryn. He saw his reflection in its shiny black eyes. Then he slammed a fist into it, shattering the spider as though it were made of glass. The tarantula’s parts flew everywhere as if it had exploded. “Soryn? Gifted with all the powers the celestials, and an extremely powerful magus, you’re afraid of a tarantula? They’re very fragile, you know.” Ashiyn pulled his hand back and shook the spider ichor off his plate glove. Soryn continued to lean against the wall, eyes wide, staring at Ashiyn in disbelief. “You’re afraid of spiders? Good thing Sihtaar didn’t take that form.” Ashiyn grabbed Soryn’s arm and shoved him into a walk again. “There’s not just one,
