His chest still ached. There was a sort of phantom pain scraping against his ribs long after his lungs had grown back from where the Alchemist’s knife had raked against them. Cvareh rubbed his chest again and thought of how many of his own he had condemned to harvesting. Cvareh had never lost an organ before and, now that he had, he was having a hard time seeing it as anything more than a deeply barbaric process.
For now, the ends still justified the means. But he wondered if the Alchemists in all their madness and wisdom couldn’t think of a way to grow organs in their tubes, or harvest from the dead. Something, anything, to prevent Dragons from enduring what he just had.
Suffocation. Death without death. Repeating again and again until his tissues had grown and mended enough to hold air again.
He said nothing of his pain. He was the rightful Xin’Oji, the man who would win the war for them all and become Dono, and he had made the choice willingly. Furthermore, Arianna had to endure much the same—at least half of what he had gone through, as she didn’t have to regrow—and she had yet to speak a word of discomfort.
It was moments like this one, when he looked at her readying her weapons, not more than one day from undergoing a major operation, that he was ensnared in awe at what she was—something more than he could ever aspire to be. Something different from anyone he’d ever met. And none of it had anything to do with the fact that she was now a true Perfect Chimera.
It was a fundamental construct of her nature, of her, that made her an unstoppable enigma. It was the same thing that allowed her to take organs and make them her own, like her hands, or ears, or now his lungs—motley parts that seemed so naturally incorporated into her body, like they’d yearned to be there all along. It was that nature which gave her the wisdom of Dragons four times her age, and kept her going with a profound, insatiable drive.
Cvareh wondered if it was something that could ever be lost. Or if she would forever pursue her ends with the march of a soldier to battle until Lord Xin finally came for her immortal soul.
It was something he wanted to embody as well, something he needed to possess to be worthy of her.
“When will you be back for more?” he asked, picking up the golden tube that would be used not to transport reagents, but flowers.
“I don’t know just yet,” Arianna said without looking at him. “As I mentioned, the Rivets were growing competent at making the boxes when I left. It’s been a few days since then, but there may still be just a few ready for the flowers.
“It may not be me, however, who comes back up.” That thought hadn’t occurred to Cvareh until the moment she said it. “If all goes according to plan, I won’t be the only Perfect Chimera in the world. Whoever comes, I’ll have them use that river passage through the island to hide the glider trail.”
“Will you come back?”
Her motions stopped. She must have heard his heart more than his words, the quiet panic that came at the thought of her leaving him and not returning.
“I’m sure you’ll need me to fight at some point.” Arianna sheathed her dagger behind her back. “The Perfect Chimera will take some time to train.”
“I need you for more than that.” He stood over her, looking down. If she could hear that nervousness in his soul at the idea of her trying to vanish from his life again, then she could also hear the truth of his words.
“Are all Dragons this insatiable?”
“Only the ones in love.”
Arianna huffed in amusement, shook her head, and stood. She collected her things and carefully loaded the tubes in her bag. But none of it was a gesture of her own feelings toward him, and Cvareh was keenly aware that she had never told him if she reciprocated his affections to the same degree.
“I should be leaving.”
He knew it was true. They’d kept each other for three days from the world. Cain had been covering for him, but Cvareh knew it was time to return to the Xin Manor. It was time to assume responsibility for his destiny.
“Whisper to me whenever you come. I will escape the manor to see you.”
There was a moment’s hesitation when Cvareh rightfully feared she was about to refuse him. But Arianna merely said, “Very well.”
“When you return, I will be Oji,” he swore. “And I will free them.”
Arianna’s expression looked as surprised as he felt in that moment. Cvareh had never said anything so bold, never uttered the slightest treason. Furthermore, it was faster than he’d first promised, originally saying he’d keep that vow when he was Dono.
But it felt right.
Right enough for him to know that he had to act on it before the day was done, before he risked losing his resolve.
“You will kill Finnyr?”
“I must.” He knew her, and he knew where her mind was.
“I’ll consider the lungs a trade for the kill that should be mine.” Arianna gave him a stern look, as if warning him not to argue. He wouldn’t have anyway. And he would have given her whatever she asked without a trade.
“I will end him,” Cvareh vowed.
“Make it terrible. If you let me down in this, I will never forgive you.”
Cvareh had never felt more motivated.
The feeling stayed with him the entire ride home. Cvareh knew he would be seen approaching the manor, and word would get back to Finnyr. He made a direct approach for Cain’s balcony. It was smaller than his own, and Cvareh ended up making the short leap from his bird as it perched on the ledge before swooping back to the sky.
“The prodigal son returns.” Cain opened the doors leading out to the balcony.
“I need you to do something.” Cvareh wasted no time. The idea of challenging Finnyr, of assuming the role of Oji, of putting his house knowingly in harm’s way by outright starting war against House Rok, was already planting uneasiness in his stomach. If he didn’t do this now and seal it in blood, he risked losing his nerve.
“What is it?”
“I need you to find Fae, and keep her from Finnyr and me.” Cvareh somehow managed to keep his voice level despite the fear and apprehension that wanted to seep out with every word.
“Cvareh, does this mean—”
“I’m going to challenge him, Cain.” Cvareh clasped the shoulder of the man who had been like a brother to him. “I am going to take back House Xin from Rok. But I wish to do it by the laws of the gods. Even if Rok fights with shadows and deceit, I will challenge my brother in a forum befitting the title he claims to hold.”
“Then I will distract Fae. I will challenge her if I must.” The conviction was unsurprising, but also unwelcome.
“That is the one thing I must ask you not to do. I need you alive, Cain. I need you as my right hand, as my Ryu, should all this come to pass.”
He wasn’t prepared for the mix of surprise and emotion that crossed his friend’s face. But what did Cain think would happen? There was no other choice, as far as Cvareh was concerned, and he wouldn’t have chosen another under other less dire circumstances.
“I will do as my Oji commands.”
Coletta