29
The Ties That Bind
Eloise
All the way back to Aendor, Damien is silent. After performing the spell, I smudged the wagon as promised, while Jaqual retrieved his commander, Maximus, and assigned him to go with us to make plans for a coordinated attack. I suppose it’s natural that there’s some tension. After the energy we expended participating in the spell, I think nothing of it, chalking it up to extreme fatigue.
Until we reach the training grounds safely and introduce Max to Percy, who promises to give him a tour of the facilities and bring him up to speed with our plans. Damien grabs my arm and excuses us from evening exercises, citing my overuse of magic as justification. When I try to protest, he whispers, “We need to speak, alone.”
I follow him to our apartment, where the bed beckons me. “You’re right. I’m exhausted.”
“You bound me,” he says, the words coming out like a hiss.
I cast a confused glance at him. “What?”
“You bound me. Just like the Gowdies.” He thrusts out both arms, showing me the tattoos.
Slowly, I register what he’s referring to. “No, Damien. This is nothing like the Gowdies. I told you my spell would make it so that you and Jaqual must follow the terms of our agreement. We made an unbreakable vow tonight. The Gowdies enslaved you. I simply marked you with your promise. The mark will fade once you fulfill your side of the agreement.”
“Oh? Because these sigils look a hell of a lot like the one the Gowdies burned into my chest.”
“I don’t understand why you’re upset,” I say. “You agreed to this. You wanted this. This agreement is our only option and our only chance to take back Stygarde.”
The edges of his form flake away into shadow. His eyes turn diamond clear and hard as ice. “You sure as hell did not explain to me that this agreement would mark me with two binding sigils.”
“I didn’t know,” I say honestly. “I asked Phantom for a spell to get the job done. I didn’t ask about the…specifics.”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t have agreed to be bound like this.” He holds out his arms. “You’re the key. Break the bonds.”
My mouth pops open. “No!”
“You can’t do it?”
In fact, I can. But breaking his bond would also break Jaqual’s. “We need their help.”
His breath is coming in huffs, and he turns his headaway when I approach and lay my hand on his chest. His heart is pounding so fast I’m worried it will explode.
“Come lie down,” I urge him.
He shakes his head.
“Why?” I ask. “I think you’re having a panic attack.”
“I prefer to exercise my free will, little dragon, or does my wearing your sigil take that away too?”
I draw my hand back as if he’s burned me, and then I get it. “You’reafraidto be bound again. The Gowdies enslaved you with a sigil, then Valeska enslaved you with sunlight, and now you think I’ve done the same. But this isn’t abindingspell—it’s a vow, Damien. It will disappear forever as soon as the election is over. You’re still free. You simply have to keep your promise.”
His eyes narrow, and he shows me the sigils again. “Where is my sigil, Eloise? Neither you nor Jaqual carries my mark, yet I carry both of yours.”
Fuck. This part, I was hoping not to have to broach with him so soon. “You are a shade. You don’t have magic, so you don’t have your own sigil. Jaqual is part witch, and so am I. The bargain is only enforceable through me.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that Jaqual must comply, or he dies. I must comply, or I die. If you don’t comply…”
“You die,” he says.
I nod. “If I die and you live, then my sigil will fade, but Jaqual’s will not…until you hold the election. However, his magic isn’t strong enough to enforce the agreement. If you defy him, his sigil will remain, but he will have no power over you.”
