Orrian watched from beyond the veil of reality, his form rippling through dimensions mortals couldn't perceive, and felt something he hadn't experienced in millennia.
Awe.
...
Eris walked away from Soren with purpose in every step, creating distance between herself and safety, between herself and the man whose kiss still burned on her lips hotter than any flame she'd ever conjured.
The demons circled her.
They sensed the power radiating from her skin like heat waves off sun-baked stone. It frightened them... anything with the dragon's mark should have sent them fleeing back to hell's depths. But they were bound, compelled by Vetra's summoning to attack, to kill, to fulfill the contract written in innocent blood.
So they came, talons scraping charred earth, fangs dripping sulfur, wings rustling like dead leaves.
Eris stopped walking.
She raised her hands, palms up toward the smoke-choked sky, and closed her eyes.
