“We don’t even know what kind of shifters they were,” Branok disagreed.
“No, because he became the Lord of the Scourge while he was still just a boy. Two hundred years ago, the ability to shift was as rare as the Scourge. He might never have been able to shift.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Although we could all live unusually long lives given our Fae heritage, most shifters lived shorter lifespans. We were lucky to get a hundred years, assuming that we didn’t die in the ceaseless war against the Scourge.
But the Lord of the Scourge had to be well over two hundred years old. What would Honor think about using the Lord’s family to track him down? That didn’t make it sound like we were definitely the good guys. And yet… people were suffering from the Scourge. The war needed to be won.
“I have one question, Father,” Jaik said.
“Go on.” Pend’s tone was a mixture of exasperation and amusement. “What is it that you want, Jaik, besides the throne and all my wealth and power?”
“I’m simply surprised that you would consider passing the throne on now, when you’ve made it clear how strong your distaste is for my relationship with Honor.”
Branok sighed under his breath; the sound wasn’t audible but I knew him so well I could see it in his body language. He wished Jaik wouldn’t bring up his obsession with Honor. Jaik kept worrying about her safety the way a child worries at a scab; it’s only going to hurt and make things messy, but he couldn’t stop.
Pend inclined his head. “I’ve tried to help you for your own good, my son, but I can’t make your decisions for you. I’ve been perhaps too overbearing in the past. It’s time for you to sleep with your own decisions and their consequences. I think you’ll realize the error of your ways when Honor inevitably betrays you.”
Jaik’s eyebrows rose but he managed to say nothing for a second until he had composed himself. “Thank you, Father. I think you may be surprised by the outcome. I appreciate the chance to make my own mistakes, if that is indeed what they are.”
“There’s no chance that a girl like that will ever truly be loyal to you. A prey shifter is always full of guile to make up for their weakness. They’ll manipulate a predator to protect them if they can.” Pend gazed at his son kindly, and he seemed to be speaking what he believed was the truth as he added, “That girl is lying to you about many things. I’ve been around for a long time, Jaik, and I can tell she has terrible secrets she’s keeping from you.”
King Pend was saying exactly what Branok and I had said many times, so why did it sound monstrous coming from his mouth?
“I’m quite certain that just like Lynx, Honor is truly the best of us,” Jaik said stiffly. He was never one to say warm and fuzzy things and they sounded odd on his tongue.
Lucien seemed just as gratified by the defense of Honor as he had when Branok defended me. It was an interesting reaction, one that I took note of. Maybe Lucien’s attachment to Honor was genuine. After the way he treated Alina, I’d thought that he wasn’t capable of genuinely caring about any woman.
“We will see,” Pend said. “I won’t hurt Honor.”
“Could I have your bond on the magic?” Jaik asked.
Pend’s expression could not have been colder. “Don’t push me, Jaik. Don’t question my word or my will to keep to it.”
“My apologies, Father. I overstepped.” Jaik was always so polite, so cool and controlled.
Pend dismissed us after that. I never liked the way he looked at me and it was a relief to escape the room. It seemed to be a relief for Jaik too.
“You kept your mouth shut for once,” I observed to Lucien.
“Are you all serious about this being a suicide mission?” Lucien asked, looking troubled.
“Oh yes, but you’ll soon find that’s our specialty.”
For some reason, the thought didn’t seem to cheer Lucien.
Chapter
Twenty
Honor
As we walked down the busy street full of vendors, selling nuts and candy and fruit, Talisyn seemed to know everyone. One of the vendors tossed him a bag full of candy, and Tal caught it with a grin and a wave.
“Want some?” Talisyn asked me, surprising me.
“Tal’s got quite the sweet tooth,” Lynx commented on my other side.
“I’m made of sweetness,” Tal said with a grin.
I half-expected it to be a trick as I reached for the bag, but Tal let me take it. I was bone exhausted and maybe the sugar would help me perk up.
Although I was healing, every day, I still couldn’t transform into a dragon. The brand had faded white, except for angry edges where it was irritated by the healing process. It should fade completely after a few more days of healing, but that still made me anxious when we were about to chase down the Lord of the Scourge. I didn’t want to be helpless. I wanted to be able to protect my men.
The six of us climbed the steps of the academy. Jaik immediately took off, no doubt to track down Honor. I should really get ahead of him, but Gods, being Honor was just as exhausting as being Lucien. Damyn could lie to him and cover for me.
“He’s lost his goddamn mind,” Branok observed. “I never thought I’d agree with Pend.”
Lynx was watching me closely, and it made me uncomfortable.
By the time we reached the top of the stairs, Jaik was crossing back from the yard. He looked unhappy; Damyn must’ve told him to shove off.
“Come train with me, Luce.” Talisyn turned to me to take his candy back. I was still panting slightly from keeping pace with them up all those stairs, and there was a gleam in his eye as if he were amused by my weakness. “It’s been too long since you and I have played in the training yard.”
“I don’t think I’m quite up for that.”
“Oh, was failing Honor, letting her get captured and tortured too tiring for you?” Jaik demanded, his eyes blazing.
I had a feeling that if I refused Talisyn, I’d end up facing Jaik, and Jaik really wanted to hurt me at the moment. “I guess I could do a little sparring for a while, if you really need me, Talisyn.”
“That’s what I thought,” Jaik said.
Talisyn and I went down to the training yard. The men always bared their chest and shoulders once sweat began to roll down their bodies. Some sense of feminine modesty always kept me from doing the same, even in Lucien’s form, although I had to admit it would feel good. Dragons ran hot, and we worked hard.
“Why do you always wear a shirt, Lucien?” Talisyn asked.
“Embarrassed by my puny muscles, of course. One day when I look as good as you do, Talisyn, I’ll wander around with a shirt off all the time, I can see why you do it.”
He smiled back at me. The two of us crossed swords again. When we locked up with one sword braced against another, he suddenly slipped his blade off mine, only to drive it up under my shirt.
His blade yanked my collar out so that the metal just barely nicked my skin, then he drew the blade toward himself, cutting easily through my clothing.