Orynn trilled softly to himself in the doorway as his eyes assessed the carnage in Eromaug's room, taking special notice of the random body parts that lay strewn about haphazardly.
It was hard to believe that Lexi had finally succeeded in doing what countless beings before her had attempted and failed. Yet he couldn't help but be concerned at the price she was so obviously paying now and privately worried if it would be too great for her to bear.
Orynn's gaze wandered until it finally landed on a small knife that lay next to one of Eromaug's hands.
It had obviously been severed cleanly at the wrist with almost surgical precision and it instantly piqued his curiosity. He slowly made his way over to inspect the blade, careful not to make any sudden or rushed movements in order not to startle Lexi.
As he inched closer, he could practically smell the ancient energy of the Djinn radiating from the blade despite the copious amounts of blood that had already begun to congeal on its surface.
His fingers grasped the handle carefully as he snorted to himself softly.
The fact that the Djinn had actually stayed true to their word was no small feat as they were notorious for twisting their way out of deals that they had made when it came to fulfilling their end of the bargain. Perhaps they would become more amenable now that the Daemon that had enslaved them so many centuries ago was no longer among the living.
The smirk on Orynn's face froze as a furious roar echoed along the corridor outside of Eromaug's quarters and his head snapped to the doorway.
Allen and Greyson stiffened instantly, readying themselves as Orynn sprinted to their side, the three of them ready to throw themselves at whatever came through the doorway in front of them.
The enormous figure that burst through the archway with his enormous battle-axe raised high in the air and a bloodcurdling battle cry dying on his lips did not instill any fear in them though.
In fact, their shoulders sagged with relief at the bewilderment that registered on the face of Lord Brarthroroz as he frowned down at the three of them.
"Where is he." Brarthroroz snarled, lowering his axe only by a fraction as his eyes darted around the room restlessly.
"It's over already. He's dead." Greyson answered matter of factly, gesturing towards the room behind them.
"Impossible." Lord Brarthroroz snorted as he strode forward, "The only way to kill him would be to…"
The words caught in his throat and he froze at the sight of his bloodsoaked daughter, her vulnerable figure cradled tightly in the arms of a woman who's scent he recognized instantly.
"What…Lexi…" He stammered as his axe clattered to the floor and he hurried across to them, desperate to see if his instincts were right about the woman before him, or if this was some sort of cruel and depraved trick.
As he crouched at the side of the two women, his heart pounding in his chest in a way that he hadn't experienced for what felt like an eternity, a face that he thought he would never have the pleasure of looking upon again smiled back at him, just as beautiful as he remembered.
"It's been a long time you great useless brute," Ximena smiled softly, never letting go of Lexi for a second.
"Ximena?" Brarthroroz spluttered in shock, his hands reaching for her face as his fingers brushed against her skin and through the soft hair that he had thought about almost every night, "Is it really you?!"
He could feel the tears escaping from his eyes but he didn't care. There were so many things he needed to say, so many questions that he needed to know the answers to.
"I don't understand. I couldn't find you. I -"
"We can talk about this later, my love." Ximena interrupted as gently as she could, "First, we need to get Lexi out of here and you need to take care of Eromaug's…remains." she finished pointedly.
Brarthroroz frowned slightly as he lifted his eyes, allowing his gaze to truly take in the carnage before him as they wept the room and his face became suddenly serious.
"Did she…" He asked, leaving the question hanging in the air as his gaze flicked to his sobbing daughter and Ximena nodded solemnly.
"Yes. All that remains is for the pieces of his body to be sealed and hidden where they can never be made whole again."
"I understand. While I take care of this, are you able to get to safety now?"
Orynn chirruped quickly, stepping forward as he gestured to Lexi and then to her mates and the doorway.
Brarthroroz frowned, a warning growl forming in the back of his throat as he took in the dragon kin before him.
"He's a friend, love. He's made sure that Lexi and Aoife have made it this far alive and relatively uninjured."
"Aoife is still alive?" Brarthroroz hummed thoughtfully before extending his hand towards Orynn, "Then you have my thanks, dragonkin. I may not hold any love for your kind, but if my Eternal vouches for your character then I trust her judgment."
Orynn trilled happily as he gestured towards Lexi and Ximena again.
"I think the plan is to return to his mother with Lexi and Ximena." Allen said, stepping forward as the weight of Lord Brarthroroz's gaze fell on them both, "Aoife is already waiting there and if I've understood correctly, his mother will see us home safely."
Lord Brarthroroz's eyes flashed angrily as his eyes narrowed at Allen and Greyson.
"Then let us hope that she is more capable of protecting you all than you two were of keeping my daughter safe." He snarled, flashing his fangs in irritation.
"That's a little unfair," Ximena snapped from behind him, "If we're going to play that game shall I complain about how you failed to protect me when your brother's bitch came for me? Or the fact that you let me languish for so long in this goddess-forsaken place and failed to protect our daughter? Or perhaps we should talk about the utter failure on your part to train her adequately so that she was capable of controlling the souls that she carries, hmm?"
Lord Brarthroroz visibly balked at the furious glare Ximena was throwing his way and he shifted uncomfortably on the spot, unable to find the words to respond adequately.
"That's what I thought," Ximena sniffed imperiously before turning her attention back to Lexi, her voice softening almost instantly, "Come on my sweet, let me help you up. Your mates are here. Let's get you home, hmm?"