“Careful,” Vorik said to remind his brother of her power, though he was sure Jhiton hadn’t forgotten Devron’s report.
The withering look Syla gave Vorik when she glanced back made the wordbetrayalcome to his mind again. But he had to protect his brother as surely as he wanted to protect her.
Jhiton pushed up the sleeve of Syla’s dress, then held her by the wrist and elbow, turning her arm so that a vein would be accessible.
Syla didn’t move, but Vorik sensed her summoning her power. He squeezed her arms and whispered, “Don’t,” but he couldn’t bring himself to tighten his grip enough that it would be painful. Not even for Jhiton.
It didn’t matter. Jhiton had power of his own and created a shield around himself that blocked the tendrils of magic that Syla tried to send into him. As Yavaron lifted the needle to Syla’s arm, Jhiton held Syla’s gaze. She summoned more power as she glanced at the needle, a surprising amount of power.
From the outside, it was hard for Vorik to sense exactly what was happening, but she seemed to draw from the dragon tattoo as well as her birthmark, the different types of magic mingling inside of her. Then she created a spear of energy that she thrust toward Jhiton.
His eyes widened in surprise at her power, but he didn’t release her arm. Though his jaw tightened from the effort, he managed to fend off her attack. Then he must have countered it, sending his magic into her, because she rocked back slightly, fear flashing in her eyes. She recovered, hardening her defenses, and masked her features, not letting him see her concern. His eyes closed to slits, but he didn’t seem to push his attack further, merely keeping his own defenses up.
When the sharp tip of the needle touched her skin, Syla tried to pull away physically and threw more magic at Jhiton. Vorik’s heart ached, and he wanted to release her, to let her run away, but with his entire tribe camped between here and the exit to the cave, there was nowhere for her to go. Someone who didn’t care for her would tackle her and hurt her. If she could even escape Jhiton. His grip hadn’t shifted, and he deflected her second spear of power. No, Jhiton wouldn’t let go. Even if Vorik did.
Syla snarled, straining from her effort, but she couldn’t keep the needle from sliding into her vein. Yavaron emptied the reservoir into her, then skittered back.
Jhiton released Syla’s arm and also stepped away. With nobody else touching her, Syla shifted her attention—herpower—to Vorik. To strike?
Again, he braced himself, though a trickle of doubt crept into him. He was strong, but did he have as much power as his brother? Agrevlari was a strong dragon, but he wasn’t Ozlemar’s match. Maybe…
Though she seemed on the verge of attacking him, Syla didn’t. She slumped, the magic within her growing still. She swallowed, and looking over her shoulder from behind, Vorik could see tears glisten within her eyes. It was not, he was certain, from the pain of the needle, and he closed his own eyes, regret filling his heart. He’d made a mistake. He shouldn’t have helped with this. He should simply have walked away from this war, from his brother and his people. Going into exile would have been better than this, than betraying someone who kept helping him—who always refrained from hurting him—even though they’d been destined from the beginning to be enemies.
“How long will it be before the drug takes effect?” Jhiton asked Yavaron.
Hehad no regrets. This was exactly what he wanted.
“It might have been up to an hour if she’d ingested the liquid,” Yavaron said, “but this will be faster. It might take only a few minutes before it acts upon her and lessens her inhibitions about answering questions.”
Jhiton nodded and looked at Vorik.Agrevlari told you about the Freeborn dragons?
Vorik didn’t want to answer his brother, didn’t even want to look at him, but this was about the safety of their people.Yes.
They’re here for her.It wasn’t a question.
Probably.
This was supposed to be our hidden camp and base of operations for the next few months.Jhiton glanced at Syla, buther chin was still to her chest. She’d blinked away the moisture in her eyes, but her cheek ticked, as if she was struggling with herself. No, she was struggling with the effects of the drug.
I shouldn’t have brought her here,Vorik said.
Another locale would have been safer.Jhiton misunderstood what Vorik had meant, that he shouldn’t have kidnapped her at all.But if you’d remained on Bogberry Island, her dragon would have eviscerated you.
That is true.
Jhiton stepped closer to Syla, drawing her gaze upward. “Where is the shielder on Bogberry Island?”
The muscle in Syla’s cheek ticked again. She shook her head.
“Have you moved the shielder on Castle Island?” Jhiton asked.
She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to answer, but managed to close it again without speaking.
“She’s losing her resolve,” Yavaron said. “Any moment now…”
Jhiton’s eyebrow twitched, and he glanced in the direction of the cave entrance again. Concerned about the Freeborn Faction dragons? Vorik thought Agrevlari and the others could keep them from finding this place, but a part of him wanted the dragons to arrive. Then maybe, Sylacouldescape. Before being the instrument of her people’s ultimate demise. How would she live with that?
“Where is the shielder on Bogberry Island?” Jhiton repeated.
