He didn’t expect the tightening in Ian’s expression and the shadow that crossed his face.
“It’s a long story. Point is I’m on Harlow’s good side. For now.”
Sofia, sitting between them, reached out and placed a hand on Ian’s knees.
“You’re taking care of yourself?”
Ian gave a bitter laugh. “Never.”
Sofia was studying his face, eyes narrowed.
“The inn was destroyed.” His shoulders tightened.
Sofia’s face crumpled. “Isadora?”
“Dead.” The word was hard, dropping to the ground to shatter.
“Vato—Ian,” she said, voice soft, “I’m so sorry. Gods, I’m sorry.”
She moved, wrapping him in a tight hug. Fox could see his face, the mask he wore warping for the smallest moment before he pulled himself back together.
“It’s a war. I’ll mourn later.” He pushed her away, but hismovements were gentle, and he squeezed her shoulder before he placed her back on the ground where she had been sitting. “Don’t want to make your boyfriend jealous.”
“I’m not?—”
“We’re not?—”
They spoke as one.
He smiled, mask fully in place, and Fox saw the satisfaction on his face. Fox knew what he was doing. He let him. They all coped in their own way, and Fox couldn’t pretend he hadn’t shut away the emotions that he couldn’t deal with right now.
“My mother...?” Fox didn’t bother to finish the sentence.
Ian knew exactly what he wanted—what he needed. “She’s okay,” Ian said. “Harlow has done nothing to her, though she knows something is going on. If there is anything you want me to pass on, I can try to get a message to her. She’s staying in Harlow’s tent so he can watch her.”
Fox’s jaw clenched, teeth grinding together. He couldn’t speak. What was there to say? He was sure Harlow had already told her that he’d killed his father. How did one beg forgiveness for an unforgivable act?
“Just…tell her I’m not going to let her get hurt.”
Ian nodded. He turned to Sofia, speaking before she could ask. “Your father is being kept imprisoned, but he’s okay. As okay as he could be,” he admitted. “Harlow hasn’t touched him. He’s just holding him as a bargaining chip and—” he stopped, throat bobbing. “Harlow knows he’s all that’s stopping you from just slitting his throat or bringing the wrath of the dragons down on his head.”
Sofia’s face was tinged gray. “It’s my fault. I didn’t even know he was alive and now?—”
“No,” Ian said, voice hard. “It’s Harlow who brought him in. Harlow who is doing this. Do not let him convince you otherwise.”
She swallowed and nodded.
“I’m assuming you didn’t risk all of this for just updates?” Ian said, looking between them.
“We need to know how Harlow is controlling the dragons,” Fox said,seeing the way Sofia’s hand was still trembling against her leg. He wrapped his hands around hers, holding it steady. It wasn’t much, but it was all he could do.
Ian nodded. “It’s the bones. He’s using their bones to control them. I don’t know how it works, but it does.”
Sofia looked sick. “Their bones?”
Ian hesitated before responding. “When you tried to help his captive dragon escape?—”
“Eha,” Sofia said. “Her name is Eha.”
