Page 177 (1/2)

But Dorian said, "My father’s name" His voice did not waver "You took it"

He hadn’t realized that he wanted it Needed it, so badly

A pathetic, spineless man, Erawan seethed As you are--

"Tell h his screa No

"Give it back"

Yrene looked to hiic paused--just for a heartbeat

Erawan leapt, his power erupting

Dorian blasted it back, and lunged for the de For Damaris

Erawan’s shriek threatened to crack the castle stones as Dorian shoved the blade deeper Twisted it Sent their power funneling down through it

"Tellto his other hand,Dorian barely heard it

Erawan only laughed again, choking as their power seared him

"Does it matter?" Yrene asked softly

Yes He didn’t knohy, but it did

His father had been wiped from the Afterworld, froiven back to hirant the ain Dorian and Yrene shoved it back

Now It had to be now

"Tell me his name," Dorian snarled

Erawan smiled up at him No

"Dorian," Yrene warned Sweat slid down her face She couldn’t hold hier And to risk her--

Dorian sent their power rippling down the blade Dalowed

"Tell me--"

It is your own

Erawan’s eyes widened as the words came out of him

As Damaris drew it from him But Dorian did not marvel at the sword’s power

His father’s na as the words flowed froue under Damaris’s power I wiped it away from existence Yet he only remembered it once Only once The first time he beheld you

Tears slid down Dorian’s face at that unbearable truth

Perhaps his father had unknowingly hidden his naainst Erawan And had named his son for that defiance, a secret hting

Dorian His father’s na turned ragged Now--it had to be now

Even with the Valg king before hi in Dorian’s chest eased Healed over

So Dorian said to Erawan, his tears burning away beneath the warht down your keep" He s you down as well"

Then he nodded to Yrene

Erawan’s eyes flared like hot coals And Yrene unleashed their power once ic, joining with Yrene’s, weaving into that world-ly bright So bright that Elide and Lysandra shielded their eyes Even Dorian shut his

But Yrene saw it then What lay at Erawan’s core

The twisted, hateful creature inside Old and seething, pale as death Pale, froht

Had never seen her light, which now scalded hison the ground of whatever this place was inside him

Pathetic, Yrene sie and hate