“What can I say? I’m an idiot. I’d blame it on the fact that I come from a long line of them, but my mom and dad would kick my ass for the insult. So I’ll blame Stryker for raising me among them. Anyone have a clue who and what these assholes are?”
“It’s the dungeon, enchanted to ensure their victims will live no matter what’s done to them. Once they’re finished with the torture, they take the lifeless body and add it to the catacombs. But the by-product of that cruelty and magick is that the dungeon absorbs the tortured soul and holds on to it forever. It makes the soul a part of it. After a time,l’âme en peinebonds with the others that are trapped here until they become one single entity.”
“Okay.” Falcyn glanced around at the forming warriors. “So they’re ghosts?”
He shook his head. “No. The nature and strength of the residual magick combines with the souls. Instead of making individual ghosts, they become one single beast. Lombrey de la Mort.”
Oh, just awesome.And here Urian had thought that Apollymi had the lion’s share of fun toys. No, leave it to the fey bitch queen to have something known as theDeath Shadow.
Falcyn stared at him. “Are you telling me that we’re facing Shadow’s evil twin?”
Brandor laughed. “His prince underling, actually. If Shadow were here, he could control Lombrey and force him into retreat. Or at least order him to stand down.”
Why did those words make him sick to his stomach?
“Without him?” Urian asked.
Glancing around at the numerous warriors the darkness was spawning, Brandor sighed. “We’re screwed. Lombrey’s a nasty bastard. Filled with the screams and righteous agony of a million innocent victims. They say it’s driven him mad and so he attacks everyone who comes into his domain. Indiscriminately.”
Medea scowled. “Then how does Shadow quell him?”
“Hell if I know. For that matter, no one knows for sure. Only that he goes without fear into wherever it is that Lombrey lives and emerges victorious.”
Falcyn growled in frustration. “Well, that’s … fucking useless.”
Urian sighed heavily. They had to find some way to awaken Xyn. Get Maddor free without killing him. Awaken the other dragons.
And stop Lombrey from attacking them.
Or killing them.
Urian felt sick to his stomach.
We’re doomed.
Falcyn coughed, “Um, guys, I have an idea that I’m pretty sure you’re gonna hate.”
Hours later, Maddorstepped back in uncertainty. “I-I don’t understand.”
“It’s true, Maddor. At least I think you’re Maddor.” Provided the Crom was still in Maddor’s dragon body and the gods hadn’t screwed with them again.
’Cause that was how their luck was running. Ever the rubric of “solve one problem and create another.”
“Falcyn sent me here to watch over you. I’m the one who goaded Medea into going to Falcyn, hoping he’d be able to get to you and help you out of here. I didn’t count on his overreaction that would result in her death. Guess I should have.”
Urian’s breath caught in his throat as he heard that unexpected, sweet lilting voice that he’d thought was lost to his dreams.
Xyn.
He wanted to run to her. To hold her and kiss those lips. But this, right now, was between her and her brothers, so he stayed out of it.
Pale and standing on unsteady feet, she had one arm braced against the wall nearest her.
“Xyn? Is it really you?”
She gave Falcyn a wan smile. “Greetings, brother.”
His own limbs shaking, he crossed the room to gather her into his arms. “How?”
