Twenty-Five
A second dragon arrives carrying Elizabeth and Lumethon, along with four gargoyles, one each for Darius, Kobe and Ana, plus a riderless gargoyle. Ana dashes through the trees, leaps over the rocks, and flings herself at Chase. “You’re alive, you’re alive, you’re alive,” she whispers as she hugs him tightly.
“Of course I’m alive,” he says as he embraces her. “It takes a lot to finish me off.” He meets my gaze over the top of her head. I look away as I try not to think of how close to death he was when I found him. How much longer would he have lasted without access to his magic?
Chase’s reunion with the rest of his teammates is more contained but no less heartfelt. “You braved the gargoyle cave for me?” he says as he clasps Darius’s hand. “Thanks, man. I’m impressed.”
“Yeah,
