"Admittedly.” Liam glanced at me. "But if it's true? Sever the dragon's head, and the rest of it falls.”
Toying with my braid, I paced the hearth. After nuzzling me, the double-winged dragons had changed their song and taken off. Steady humming had heightened into quick beats, like a war drum preceding a column of soldiers. The monsters had vanished into the shadows, leaving Galasvar empty and dead.
If Ferris' theory was right, the leaders of the black tide had seen me as kin. I bent my face away, lest the others glimpse my panic. Watching the dancing flames in the hearth, I steadied my breath and expression.
"You might be onto something," I said. "The other monsters arrived with the dragons, and left with them, too."
"Scádes are intelligent, from what I understand. It's worth a try," Reese said. "But we've dawdled enough. If you insist on following us, do it quickly." He touched Ferris' arm and strode away.
The prince blinked, as though remembering something. Skidding around the table, he chased after the Paragon.
Rolling my aching shoulder, I joined Liam by the hearth, breathing in the warmth of the fire one last time.
"Shall we, sister?" He asked.
"Liam," I said, looking up. "Can you help me with something?"
"No promises.”
"What's your catalyst?"
Liam's expression darkened. He paused before answering. "Why?"
"I need to find mine, only . . . I can’t.”
"Mm." Liam brushed past me and beckoned for me to follow. He pushed out the inn door and stopped on the porch.
"My sister . . . " Liam leaned on the porch railing. "Is a patchwork of masks. She wears whichever will impress her current audience the most.”
"That's not true." I folded my arms. "I don't care about impressingyou.”
"Yes, you do," Liam countered. "We haven't spoken frankly since I was a child—you have too much pride.”
"Nonsense. Older siblings simply can't show weakness around their baby brothers, that's all.” I pouted. "And you don't talk about yourself either.”
"Wrong again, sister. I'm notnearlyas vain as you.”
"Fine.” I folded my arms. "What's your catalyst, then?"
Liam's mouth warbled, like he couldn't decide whether to smirk or frown. Finally, he pointed up. "Stars.”
"Wha—" I followed his gaze. "Stars?"
Stars glittered in the black sky, ornaments beside the great twin moons.
"Yes," Liam said shortly. "Explaining further won't help you find yours. But . . . ” He tilted his head, eyes sweeping over me.
Stars?I glanced between the sky and my brother again.
Liam had never mentioned wanting to study the stars. Aside from telling me what time it was, he never brought them up. I felt like a terrible sister for not knowing something so critical about him.
"That uniform," Liam finally said. "Do you like it?”
"Do I like it?" I echoed. Spreading my arms, I looked down at my mother's gorgeous armor. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever had the privilege of wearing. I only wish . . . "
I deserved to wear it.
"That's what I thought.” Liam reached out and adjusted my circlet. "Nobody ever sees your room, but there's never anything out of place. Honestly, I always thought you made it unnecessarily gaudy.”
