The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Ajax

Her lips were warm against his, even though her hands were nearly frozen where they cupped his face. He felt his face flush and his breath caught in his throat as her body melted against his.

Suddenly images started pouring into Ajax's head, flying too fast for him to make any sense of what he saw.

He saw Areanath, reclining in a chair, wine in hand. "It's not war he wants. It's genocide."

He was being led through the tunnels under the castle, the Dragon Door behind him, blood still dripping from its fangs.

Mothlenor was kneeling in front of him, so close he could almost feel his breath on his face. "It's no matter that the Amulets are gone. If I cannot simply create, then I must destroy, and rebuild from the ashes."

Then it was his own memories he was seeing. Conversations with Mothlenor, it seemed. Nevina dug through them quickly, searching. She stopped at the conversation in Mothlenor's private quarters, as Ajax eyed the items surrounding him.

There.

Her voice was in his head, but he almost didn't notice it, as he realized just what he was seeing. It looked like a misshapen hunk of gold, but it was so much more than that. And Mothlenor just kept it sitting on his desk, so sure no one would realize what it was...

And just as quickly, she pulled away from him. His lips were sore from their mouths being pressed so hard together for so long, and there was a lingering warmth in his extremities that felt foreign to him. But Nevina didn't bother to explain anything.

"You know where the dragon's egg is."

"Yes."

"You have to get it, and you have to get out of the castle. With Hasani and Silvana. You know the way to the Dragon Door?"

Ajax could see the twisting path in his mind. "Yes."

"And you know what must be done once you get there?"

A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. "Yes, I know."

Nevina sighed. "I'm not sure what happens to Hasani and Silvana, but they aren't with the boy in the future I saw. Only you." She touched his arm. "You need to make sure that you're there with him."

Ajax could feel the weight of Nevina's task sinking into him. "I... I understand."

"You have to go now, Ajax."

Ajax shook his head. "I want to stay with you a little longer."

Nevina's sad smile pierced him right through the heart. "You shouldn't. You have plans to make."

Ajax shook his head again. "Then I'll get the egg and come back for you. You can still leave this place, Nevina. You can come with me."

Nevina kissed him on the cheek, running her fingers through his hair. "That would be nice. But I don't think it will happen."

Ajax cupped her chin in his hand, his thumb caressing her cheek. "You are more beautiful than I could ever have imagined, Nevina."

Nevina's face reddened slightly in the dim light. He'd spent months holding onto the hope that he would be able to find her, to see her face once more. And when he finally did, she wanted him to leave.

Ajax ran his hands through her hair, his eyes never leaving hers. "I love you, you know that? I have always loved you, since the first time you stepped foot in the castle, when Nevara was still Matriarch, before all of this madness was even dreamed of."

Nevina smiled. "There's power in love, Ajax. Remember that. And you would have been a good infatuate. If things had happened differently..." She sighed. "You have to go now."

Ajax gave her one last kiss, wanting to feel her warmth again. Her lips burned against his, the feeling lingering even when he pulled away. He stood up, pulled the cloak down over his face, and he was gone.