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We’d arrived at dawn. Now a gray twilight blanketed us. We had fought through the day and into the night.
I knew my power would return to me. Even now, I could feel it replenishing. But if my power was a sea, then I had dried it down to a mere pond. I could access it, but there was no guarantee it would be enough to beat my brother who had arrived far more recently and was fighting fresh.
Still, I knew how to do one thing. I could bluff.
“How does it feel to know you’ll never be our father’s favorite, Daegen?” I demanded. “You must be pretty low down in the ranks if he sent you here to fight a mortal battle, after all. Fetching me like some glorified courier—is that all you’re used for?”
Daegen flushed red. “You know nothing of the honors that have been bestowed upon me, Sister. Why, next to Lorion, I am the greatest weapon our father has.”
“Lorion?” I grabbed onto the name. I had heard it once before, in the true dreaming I’d had of my mother. “So you’re next to Lorion, not above him? He surpasses you? How fascinating.”
“We are both commanders in our father’s army,” Daegen insisted, glaring at me from behind his brilliant blue eyes.
“How does it feel to be a second-best weapon?” I shot back. “No, not just second-best. More like third or even fourth or fifth best. Because I’m willing to bet our father loves his precious grail above you or Lorion. And what about the spear? I’ve heard it’s his favorite weapon.”
“The spear...” Daegen began. Then his eyes narrowed. He laughed.
I cringed, knowing what was coming.
“The grail and the spear and the sword,” he said slowly. “And just where is the sword, Sister? Have you lost it?”
“I put it somewhere safe,” I lied. “Very close by.”
“You lie badly,” Daegen said. “You’ve lost it. Do you even have the grail? If not, our father will be very displeased.”
“Why do I care if he’s displeased? I care nothing for his pleasure.”
Daegen hissed. “Ignorant girl. If you care nothing for his pleasure, you should at least fear his wrath.”
“And perhaps you should fear me. Have you ever thought of that?” I demanded, standing up straighter and lifting my chin. “You have no idea what I’m truly capable of.”
“That might have been true at one time. But now?” Daegen laughed. “You have no idea who you even are. I doubt your powers are anything to brag about. And without the sword? You’re nothing.”
I swallowed my pride, realizing he might be right. Daegen wasn’t Fenyx. He wasn’t a man pretending to be fae. He was truly fae, and I had no idea how much latent power he had left.
Could Draven and I make a run for it?
I pushed my senses out, seeking Nightclaw and Sunstrike. But I could not touch them. Perhaps they were too far off. Or perhaps they were simply exhausted and resting. I could not expect help from that quarter. They had already done enough.
From behind me, I heard Draven murmur, “You’ll have to draw from me. Take what you can. Take everything.”
I nodded ever so slightly, but had no plans to do as he said unless I had absolutely no other choice. Every moment we lingered, stuck here with my brother, Draven was losing blood. What would happen if I drained him dry before we could get him to a healer?
“You hesitate, Sister. You make no move to strike me. Shall I tell you why?” Daegen taunted. “It is because you are weak. Because you are a liar. Because you are not worthy of our father’s praise.”
My eyes flashed. “So why do I have it then? Why does he want me back? Why does he love me? Why does he care for me above all of his other children? Above you?”
Daegen’s gleeful look dissipated. “I shall never truly know the answer to that.”
“Now that is a lie,” I said victoriously. “You do know.”
“You’ve forgotten so much. It’s truly entertaining,” he said with a forced smile.
Daringly, I took a step towards him. “So enlighten me. Who knows, perhaps you won’t even have to force me to go home. Perhaps I’ll come willingly.”
My brother opened his mouth, and I took another step forward, this time almost eagerly. There were secrets here. Right on the tip of Daegen’s awful tongue. Perhaps today I’d finally get to hear them.
The haunting cry of an owl pierced the air, drawing my attention skyward.
