“There’s one more thing,” he says sadly.
“What could be more than this?”
“She knows about the dragon, Eloise.”
I shake my head. “Phantom was invisible. She can’t know for sure.”
“She knows. She saw the scorch marks Phantom left when he incinerated Xerxes. Only a few creatures could carry a cart into the sky like that, and of those creatures, only one breathes fire. I don’t think she saw Phantom’s fallen body. She seemed surprised when she discovered what remained of Xerxes. But she knows.”
“Phantom fell?” I try to remember, but all I can draw up is a memory of having a sore leg.
“Nevina had no business being in those woods tonight.If this had been about a crime or simply transporting the children, her silver coats could have done that. But the queen was there, and she’d placed a tracker in the crate.” He shakes his head. “Possibly it was in the children’s food. Zander and Zarissa said the soldiers tried to get them to eat, but they refused. The bowl of porridge was still in the crate.”
“But why would she do that? Why would she be there herself, unless…” I feel sick.
“I believe she was using the children as bait. We were meant to find Victus, and we were meant to try to rescue the children. She was counting on it.”
“But she didn’t count on Phantom.”
He shakes his head. “She didn’t count on Phantom. I don’t think she knew what she was shooting at when she released that arrow, but she knows now.” His expression turns grave. “She has doubled the bounty on our heads.”
“Fuck.”
He nods slowly, his lips pressed into a flat line. “I don’t know how far Catarina’s prophecy spread, but shades and elves have been fighting over that dragon for centuries. The magical properties of dragon scales and…dragon flesh…are well-known. If you controlling the dragon isn’t enough to send the king and queen into a frenzy, the moment Nevina or Brahm learns that the witches foresaw a son of Malek bringing peace to Tenebris with a dragon by his side, they will come at us with everything they have.”
“How could they have heard Aurora’s prophecy? It’s not like the witches have an open relationship with New Stygarde.”
“You have to remember that, until our return, Caterinabelieved me to be dead and that Brahm was the son and Nevina was the dragon referred to in the prophecy. I have no idea to whom she relayed that interpretation, if anyone, but we can’t rule out the possibility that someone else knows. Word travels quickly in Tenebris.”
I look over my shoulder at the children. “I’m not sorry we risked everything to rescue them. In fact, I’m thankful for it. It’s a good reminder why we’re doing this.”
He growls. “It was a trap, Eloise. It won’t be the last one.”
“I know.” Our eyes meet and hold. “I’m not sorry.”
He curls his lip and releases a beleaguered sigh. “We did learn one thing tonight that we didn’t know before.”
“What’s that?”
“Phantom is a major asset, but they are also your greatest vulnerability. I don’t think Nevina saw anything to suspect that, when she shot Phantom, it hurt you. But keeping that connection a secret is imperative. And keeping Phantom safe is as well.”
I swallow hard. Phantom and I are linked. If something happens to them, it happens to me. It makes sense, but it also raises questions. Phantom is embodied by the souls of my ancestors. They can’t be killed, only sent back to the Darklands. But if someone were able to do that, would the abrupt loss of the bond temporarily suspend my powers until I found another host? Cause me to pass out? Kill me? I don’t know. If it’s true, it increases the risk of using Phantom on the front lines of this war, regardless of the power they have as a fire-breathing dragon.
“Understood,” I say solemnly.
He pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head.
“So, we stay here tonight and continue to Aendor in the morning?”
Damien draws back and rubs his chin. “Warbill is right. There is only one place we’re going to find enough skilled fighters to attack New Stygarde.”
“The Rivertoads.”
He nods. “As much as I hate the idea, I think we need to catch up to the caravan, disguised as before, and find out their numbers and their price.” He scowls down at me, his diamond eyes turning hard.
“You don’t like this plan. You don’t trust them at all, do you?”
He reaches up to brush his fingers through my hair. “When Brahm was at his worst, only the Rivertoads would serve him. He’d spend days drunk, following their caravan and blowing the kingdom’s money.”
