“Why not? And if it can be taken away, why can’twetake it away?” Eloise gripped her hand. “Everything we’ve seen these last few years—the dragon magic is only the start. The world is ready for change. Shifter numbers are on the rise, but how? And then there’s these total freaks that Daddy dug up. And whatever Nikolaidis is. You’ve looked into his eyes, haven’t you? I mean, I’ve seen you. Whatever is in there isn’t natural. But when we find the Devourer of Souls—all that power? It can beours.”
You mean yours,Francine thought, searching her old friend’s face. “This—god—could gain the ability to turn invisible, like the dragons?”
“To turnintoa dragon, too. According to the ancient whatevers Daddy stuck his nose into, anyway. And the freaks.” She made a face.
“Freaks?”
Eloise leaned closer. “They’re, like, eagle shifters, but that first god? Did something to them. So now they’re stuck part in their bird form, and part human, with feathers like knives that can cut throughanything.They’re basically not even human anymore. Daddy dug them up somewhere in the Middle East, I don’t know.”
Francine wet her lips. “Literally … dug them up?”
“Yeah, they were in some sort of Sleeping Beauty deal? But they’re sure awake now.”
“Elly—when you warned me about taking my own ship…”
“Well, if you dig up basically a whole football team of airborne missiles, you’re going to use them, right? Daddy doesn’t want to risk the wrong people finding his god. He—ugh.It’s like he actually believes itisa god.”
“It isn’t?” Her mind was whirling. Eloise had just called these ancient shifters gods, and now she was acting like that was ridiculous?
Eloise shrugged. “It’s an ancient shifter with the ability to steal any other shifter’s magic. If you’re some old-timey peasant, what’s the difference, right? But Daddy…” She made a face again. “He doesn’t see it that way. Hebelieves.”
“And what do you believe?”
Francine stared deep into her friend’s eyes.
For a moment, she thought she smelled smoke. And the heat in Eloise’s gaze was a wildfire. Not a lioness, hunting unseen in sun-bleached grass, but a blaze that killed without deliberation and without mercy.
“Like I said,” Eloise purred. “Something’s changing. Something the world lost long ago is coming back. And while everyone else is busy chasing stories about dragons…”
Francine’s stomach sank. “There never was an auction, was there?”
“Duh.” She tilted her head slightly. “It’s a good thing you’re already tied up with your decorative bodyguard, Frankie. And it’s averygood thing that you’re my friend. And I trust you.” She squeezed Francine’s hand so hard the bones ground together.
“I trust you too,” Francine whispered.
Eloise’s eyes gleamed. “I’m going to find my mate,” she said, each word singed with the heat of victory. “The Devourer of Souls. The surviving half of the divine shifter dyad. He’ll bemine.”
19
Julian
His dragon was restless. It wanted to be out there, wherever Francine was. Keeping her safe.
This is the best way to keep her safe,he reminded it.She needs allies. And although she doesn’t want to accept it, I’m almost certain Eloise Fairchild is the most dangerous person on this ship. That’s the sort of protection she needs.
Not mine.
Because all too soon, he wouldn’t be in a position to protect anyone.
He clenched his fists. No. That wasn’t right. He would protecteveryone, from a horror they had no way of defeating.
For a few years, at least.
His heart thudded hollowly. A few years. He hadn’t thought of that. Destroying the Soul-Eater now would keep him from escaping, but … he would come back. Healwayscame back.
And there would be nothing and no one left who knew what he was, let alone how to stop him. No shadow dragons wardinghis prison. And no kraken guarding the ice, if his suspicions were correct.
Perhaps he should write this down.
