Epilogue
“How do you come to be here?” With the grace of a suspicious jaguar, Dojin rose from the stone precipice where he’d been meditating. His loose red linen shirt and pants were a carryover from his traditional Korean origins.
A blast of bitter cold wind knocked Dom away from the rock ledge. The threatening downward plummet off the mountainside was so far down that the clouds obscured it. Snow-covered mountains peeked through the haze of gray clouds far off on the horizon.
Dom met Dojin’s direct stare. “What do you remember of your training before you were assigned to be my prison guard?”
“You always did skip pleasantries. I deserve a so-glad-you’re-not-dead from you. You haven’t answered any of my calls. The Conclave demands you appear. I’ve been worried you were mortally injured.”
“I don’t answer to their demands anymore.”
“It’s all different over there. I swear.”
With a dismissive wave, Dom continued. “Can you remember anything before your training, or even of your training?”
His eyes flicked upward. “All business all the time.” He examined his hands. “I remember Marik telling me I’d graduated.”
“Before that. Do you remember your master?”
Dojin’s dark eyebrows squished together, barely creating a wrinkle on his forehead. He turned to stare out over the cloud abyss. There he remained for endless seconds.
Dom distracted himself by staring at Dojin’s long black hair, which he’d somehow woven into a complicated bun. He wondered if he could figure out how to do that.
Eventually, the other mage faced Dom again. “Nothing before that.”
“Nothing? The memory loss doesn’t concern you?”
He clasped his hands together. “I’m concerned you’re here because you know why I remember nothing. Did that demon do something to me?”
“Evie, love, would you mind if I borrowed the pendant you wear for a moment?”
Dojin jolted a step back and faltered.
Dom reached out to grab his shirt and stabilize him. “Let’s not lose you over the edge yet. Once you remember, you’re free to jump on your own.”
“How did I not see her?”
“That’s an excellent question. I, of course, obscured her presence, but you should’ve sensed her here.”
“I should’ve.” Dojin studied Evie in her puffy winter coat, furry hat, and high-heeled boots.
Dom would never get used to the fluttery feeling in his stomach when he watched her brim with confidence. Gods, she was spectacular.
“You’re here with him? Out in the open?” Dojin swallowed hard.
“Why should I hide the fact we’re together?
That’s public knowledge at this point. There are secrets that will remain between the two of us.
Isn’t that the way it is between any who declare love for each other?
” She grinned, her teeth a stark white contrast to the bright-red lipstick on her lips.
To Dom, she said, “You didn’t tell me he was so bloody handsome.
He’s beautiful, like a K-drama star.” She addressed Dojin.
“Have you been an actor on the side? Should I know you? I admit to watching my fair share of K-dramas.”
Dom crossed his arms.
Evie leaned in and kissed Dom. “I didn’t say I wanted to jump into bed with him. I’m just having a moment to appreciate an exquisite form. That’s all.”
Dojin’s cheeks flushed. “Aren’t you worried about the prophecy? Both of you?”
Evie giggled. “That? It’s already come to pass and look…” She held her arms out and spun around. “The world is still here.”
“Whaa…” Dojin put a hand over his chest. “You have…you two…”
“Be gentle, Evie. He can’t handle everything at once. Small bits.” Dom held out his open palm to her. “May I borrow it for a moment to help him remember? I wouldn’t want you without it for long.”
She removed the pendant from her neck. “It’s been a constant companion through difficult times.”
He gazed at the amulet before offering it to Dojin. “Hold this in your hands and think about your training. Think about Kaven.”
“Who’s that?” Dojin accepted the amulet. He blinked at Dom.
Dom rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Concentrate, for hell’s sake, on the amulet and try to remember.”
“Right…Kaven.” He closed his eyes for no more than a second before they popped open. “I don’t know why this is crucial, but I can’t do this with the two of you staring at me.” He turned away to sit cross-legged on the rock again facing away.
“What’s up with the amulet?” Evie whispered.
Dom covered his mouth and whispered back, “My brother gave it to me before I started training. Other than saving my younger self from execution, he never gave me anything else. Sure, Marik was a dick, but he was smart and talented. He would never have been stupid enough as to get killed by a demon, especially the one we eliminated.”
After several minutes, Evie snuggled in close to Dom, who threw his arms around her. “Can he hurry? I’m freezing.”
“You didn’t have to come, you know.”
“I wouldn’t miss this. Hey, who’s Kaven?”
He sent his thought into her head. “My father.”
Finally, Dojin stood. He turned but said nothing.
“Nothing?” Dom asked.
His gaze bounced to Evie and back to Dom. He raised the amulet by the chain and let it dangle. “Interesting piece, isn’t it?”
“How about if I hit him really hard in the head?” Evie offered. “You think it would help?”
“He’d probably throw you off the cliff. Then I’d have to go after you. Let’s not do that.”
“That would suck. I told you we should’ve brought Cora. She’s much better at sorting mind stuff than you.”
“Not true.”
Dojin laughed. The sound burst out of him and didn’t stop.
Evie whispered, “Is he okay?”
Dojin closed his hand around the amulet. “I never gave this to you. You stole it, you little bastard shit.” He compressed his lips as if suppressing more laughter.
“How did that demon do this to you?” Dom asked.
“Stupidity. Not a wild or impressive story. Dojin’s master sought power, which led him to summon that demon.
He murdered an entire town in Mongolia to generate enough power.
I was too late to stop him. Dojin had joined me, but he was weak.
Somehow, the demon drained this poor mage’s soul.
He tried to take mine, but I wouldn’t let go.
He managed to force my soul into this body.
” His fingers wove through the chain of the amulet.
“I think I’ll keep it now that you gave it back. ”
Evie stormed forward before Dom could catch her. “That’s mine now. If you don’t give it back, I’ll hurt you.”
“I could end you where you stand with no more than a finger snap.”
“You’re foolishly arrogant, just like him.
” She lifted a chin in Dom’s direction. “You don’t think he would destroy you before your fingers made contact with me?
Before that, I’d have already kicked you in the nuts and shoved your smug, dead ass off the cliff.
” She held out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Give. It. Back.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Are you sure you don’t want to give the other brother a try? I’m the rightful leader of the Conclave, the most powerful of all mages. I’ve got a body that’s K-drama worthy.”
Evie’s expression didn’t change, her palm still out, waiting. “I will count to three. One…two…”
He dropped the amulet into her hands.
She paced away muttering, “Apparently, it works with all children.”
“I like her.” Dojin smirked.
“I didn’t have to help you find your memories, you know. I did it out of a sense of fairness,” Dom said evenly. “She’ll kill you if you touch her.”
“We mages can’t be killed with a blade.”
“She knows how to rid the world of you, should she desire.” For once, Dom smiled. He strode to Evie and lifted her hand to his mouth to kiss it. “Do you feel the need to sample the other brother?”
She wove her arms around Dom’s neck and kissed him. “I don’t think I’ve had enough of this brother yet. That one will have to wait his turn.”
“Then he can wait for eternity.” Dom laughed.