‘Though I suppose it’s not so much speaking as communicating,’ he explains. ‘We have a shared line of thought which enables us to converse telepathically.’
I think I might topple over.
‘I have the same connection with Scout,’ Fox continues, trying not to laugh. ‘With all creatures, really. My grandfather was Terrathian, but my grandmother came from Serolia. She was a Mage with the ability to communicate with animals.’
‘You can … speak … to animals,’ I say weakly.
‘Again, it’s not really, technically,speaking, but essentially …’ He shrugs. ‘Yes.’
Recognition sparks. ‘The wolf …’
‘He begged me to help him. I couldn’t just leave him in that cage.’
Any more and I fear my heart may give out, but I can’t help asking, ‘So … so you can communicate with any animal? All animals?’
‘Yes and no. Some, like beetles for example, are far less interesting to engage with than, say, a mountain lion. I’ve learned to tune out the thoughts of less complex animals. Otherwise things would get pretty overwhelming.’
I swallow. ‘And Cedar and Scout, you can hear what they’re thinking?’
Fox nods.
‘Can you hear them now?’
Another nod.
‘What’re they saying?’
He glances at them, then back at me. ‘Honestly, they both think I’m a selfish prick for not telling you all of this sooner.’
I choke on a laugh, which quickly turns into a sob. My legs buckle and I sink to the ground, overcome.
Fox kneels in front of me. ‘I’ve always known I was different,’ he says softly. ‘My sister too. It’s why I never fully accepted that Freya succumbed to the sweating sickness. Such an infection couldn’t have killed a Demari. But it … it seems our uncle knew what we were. Or at least suspected. I believe Balen would’ve attempted to recruit us both if Freya’s death hadn’t been prophesied to unlock the full destructive potential of my power. Besides, she was far too gentle to be of use to him.’ His voice is bitter, brittle. ‘So he killed her. I created the Rift, but he created a villain – one he could hide behind.’
My chest aches.
‘And me?’ I whisper. ‘Does he know that I’m Demari too?’
‘I expect he’s known since the day you were born. But if the storm wasn’t indication enough, he decided to try a different experiment. D’you remember, at your Name Day ball, when he asked you to … perform?’
I cover my mouth with my hands. ‘He raised his broken glass to me as Grandmother dragged me away. He wassmiling.’
‘He knew he was right about you,’ Fox says gently, prising my hands away from my face. ‘He was planning oncollectingyou, just as he intended to collect me – to swell the ranks of his Demari army and use it to take the Imperial crown.’
‘If only you knew what he has in store for you,’ I whisper. ‘That’s what your grandfather said to me before the Binding Ceremony. He was foretelling the future.’
‘He was foretellingafuture,’ Fox corrects. ‘The future is an ever-changing tide. The slightest decision can cause it to take a new course.’
But I’m no longer listening. I wrench my hands from his grip, stagger to my feet and begin stuffing things into his satchel, still reeling. ‘We can’t afford to waste any more time. We have to go to the Lagoon,now.’
‘And you’re still convinced that’s where you sent the missing Eye?’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Well, what if it’s some place even more … meaningful?’
‘More meaningful than my future home?’ I say, a note of irritation creeping into my voice. ‘In any case, that’s where Flint’s headed. Perhaps he’s already there.’
‘But –’
