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“You want to shadow travel back to the academy?” His gaze met mine for the first time.
“Yes. For books about the Ebba myths. Lynx and Branok have been studying them, but maybe there’s something they missed.” My jaw hardened. “Those legends obviously aren’t myths.”
So much of our history had been hidden. Had Lysander wanted to obscure the reality of how Ebba worked so that he could hide the deal he had made with Ebba? So he could pretend he wasn’t the one who altered the magic in our kingdom forever? So he could say the Scourge just happened to sweep through our land?
“My father started this,” I said. “Along with yours.”
Talisyn’s face tightened at the mention of Teris. At the reminder, perhaps, that I’d exploded his father’s head into a thousand pieces.
“We’re going to fix it,” I added before he could respond. “We can undo the Scourge curse.”
And we might undo the dragon magic at the same time…Why was that so hard to tell my men? The priority had to be the kingdom’s wellbeing. We needed to stop the Scourge curse.
“Of course we are,” Talisyn said easily. “Whatever you need, Honor. But we’d better talk to Damyn.”
I nodded. “Come be my backup?”
Tal nodded and walked with me, although as we reached the doorway, he favored me with a smile that made my heart flip-flop, even if I currently felt destroyed that he didn’t remember me after all. “As if I’m any less scared of him than you are?”
“You wouldn’t have to be scared if you didn’t make such terrible choices,” Damyn said drily, making us both jump.
When Tal’s gaze met mine and he pulled a face, I couldn’t help but grin back.
“I need to go back to the academy,” I blurted out, as much as I didn’t want to discuss my deal with Ebba. I wouldn’t like what Damyn had to say. “I have to get some books. To study chaos.”
“And what have you been up to while we’ve been apart?” His gaze seemed to cut right through me. “You’ve been avoiding all of us for a reason, haven’t you?”
“I’m not avoiding you. I have work to do. None of you can join me in the Bone Kingdom, and I had to save Zehr.”
He gave me a long look that made me squirm inside, as if he knew I wasn’t telling him everything. “After we get the books, we should rejoin the others.”
Gods, I wanted so badly to have my men all together.
And my heart plummeted as I thought of a certain Scourge lord, lying in bed, alone in an undefended castle.
Who says I’m undefended?His voice was annoyed in my ear, as if I’d summoned him by thinking of him.
“We can’t,” I said. “The Scourge-asshole is dying from the curse, and I have to take care of him.”
Zehr’s amusement was a glimmer in the back of my mind. You keep insulting me because you are so very fond of me, Honor. You can’t hide it.
Damyn, to his credit, took that information in a heartbeat. “So let’s go there.”
“You won’t kill him in his sleep?” I asked.
Damyn frowned. “What do you think my word is worth, Honor?”
I raised my hands. “Fine. But I actually… I need a meal and some warmth and sleep. Why don’t we meet at the inn in the village about a mile north from here? And tomorrow I’ll take you to Zehr.”
Damyn gave me a long look.
I didn’t try to hide my shiver. It was too cold and drab and sad here without Arren. It had been a long few days. “I’m exhausted,” I said softly, and watched Damyn’s face change, shifting to concern. Every protective impulse he felt was written across those harsh but handsome features, and it made my heart swell, even if he wasn’t protective for the reasons I would’ve wished. “I need some rest, Damyn.”
“All right,” he said. “You get the books, we’ll study, we’ll rest, and then when you’re convinced I’m not going to slit the Scourge lord’s throat in his sleep, we’ll go to where you’ve hidden the monster.”
“It’s not that I doubt you,” I began.
“Mm, you just don’t want to leave me alone with him,” Damyn said. “It’s all right, Honor. Go.”
