A towering, manly demon with rippling muscles dusted in ash and old blood. His obsidian horns curled upward like blades, and a long reptilian tail whipped behind him in surprise.
His long, peach-colored hair caught the wind like an advertisement for expensive shampoo, and his violet eyes widened with aching, unrestrained hope. He wore only a thin white cloth tied precariously around his waist—barely managing to hide his pride and joy.
"Lucrezia... my sweet moonflower... is that you? Have the stars returned you to me?" Mathias cried, falling to his knees with the force of someone who probably did that a lot.
Caspian blinked back more tears—partly from guilt, partly from the chili—and turned slowly, just as Seravine had instructed.
"Yes… it is I…" he whispered, voice high and trembling, "I have returned… because I… forgot the keys to the gate…"
Mathias gasped again. "You still remember the gate?!"
