And he almost hated himself for thinking it.
He met three more on his way to Reverie and Corbin. Each one, he left with an injury. But the fourth… the fourth made the mistake of going low, and Dorian sliced his head clean off. Blood splattered across his face and onto the sand. The body rolled atop one of the injured men, who screamed in response.
Dorian’s bloodlust surfaced with a chill over his skin, and he breathed in the smell of the battle. Iron. Sweat. Salt. It was a whirlwind on all sides, and it spoke to the creature inside him. The hungry possession. The need for his muscles to burn. To reveal itself and take what it wanted.
Maybe he’d get her a few Blackhands to replace these Dreamers and Belwarks he wanted to kill.
A Belwark ran his way. Dorian didn’t move. The soldier’s sword raised high over his head, ready to swing down.
Dorian’s flamed hand grabbed the man’s neck, and his eyes rolled up just in time to see him disintegrate to ash.
The three guards running at him didn’t stop. He whirled his sword in his hand, letting that fire run down the blade, and he moved in a whoosh of navy. Knocking and pushing back with each of them. These soldiers knew what they were doing. They took turns coming at him. Again and again.
Someone jumped over one’s head, and their sword slit across the man’s throat.
Dorian turned in time to see Reverie straighten, her back pressing against his.
“Lady Fyre,” he said, sword pointed at the opponent before him.
“My King,” she replied, and the salutation nearly brought him to his knees. “Shall we?” she taunted.
He glanced over his shoulder down at her, noting the elevated brow she looked up at him with, and he laughed. “After you.”
Reverie lunged. Flames poured down Dorian’s sword again. He struck at his own opponent. High, then low, dodging blows and dancing back. Once, he and Reverie pushed off each other, the surge of that push making Dorian restless. He moved in time as the soldier’s blade swiped at his chest, and the tick across his skin made him sneer wickedly.
Fire flashed wild on his flesh, and Dorian took advantage of the surprise on the guard’s face. He slammed his sword through the man’s head.
The hilt hit the man’s skull as Dorian stilled and blood spilled onto Dorian’s hands. But as he pulled his blade out and turned, he watched Reverie cut her own opponent’s throat.
Chest heaving, she pushed her bangs back. Her entire aura was full of a confidence he craved. She whirled her knife once in her hand and turned to face him. Scarlet stained her freckled cheeks. Her eyes slid over his entire body, lingering on his hands and his abs, before their gazes locked on one another. His mouth dried at the sight of her leer. Having only just claimed her the day before, he was insatiable for her, and the blood splatters over her sweating body wasn’t helping his lust.
“Something you’d like to say, Prince?” she teased.
“I could fuck you right here on these corpses, woman,” he said, eyes flashing black.
Her lips twitched at the corner. “Keep flashing that form, and I might let you.”
He started to say something back, but the sight of Lex deciding to join the fight from the shack caught the corner of his eye, and he released Reverie ’s gaze to grin at the scene.
“Fucking Second Sun,” he said fondly.
All attention diverted to the Lex. She’d barely made it onto the field, and already Dreamers and Belwarks were leaving their current opponents to take her on. Dorian met a few guards and struck them down, but he couldn’t keep himself from watching her.
A look of wild delight plastered itself on Lex's face as they surrounded her.
The noise of her sadistic laughter radiated in the soft ocean breeze, and she whirled her sword in her hand.
Moments like this were what Lex lived for.
An eagle screeched over Dorian’s head and not his sister’s eagle. Shadows fluttered over the sun. Something pinched his foot. He looked down, only to find small crabs rising from beneath the sand. Soldiers began to jump and shake as the creatures crawled up their bodies.
Another raptor bird call pierced the sky. His gaze finally rolled up, and he grinned at the sight of the familiar birds of prey that would answer his sister’s call.
“Dorian, the water—“ Reverie called to him.
He glanced to his right, and Dorian’s body swelled with pride and admiration.
Helaughed.
