Eona - Alison Goodman [158]
Ido looked up as another grinding moan resonated through the wood. “It is already too late.”
“Can we do something to stop it?”
“It is why I am here.”
“I thought we weren’t strong enough to do anything.”
“We’re not if I have to fend off ten dragons as well as work the elements.”
“But you don’t.” A deep plunge rocked us. I grabbed the edge of the storage unit above. “The dragons only come for me. You could go in alone.”
Ido rose and sat on the end of the bunk. “Eona, I am not strong enough to control the cyclone by myself. It usually takes all the beasts and Dragoneyes to redirect such force.”
“So can we or can’t we do something?”
“I have had an idea.” He rubbed his mouth. “It is one that has unknown risks for both of us.”
“What is it?”
“Bypass the ten dragons by compelling me.” His eyes held mine. “But let me take that power and use it to get us out of the cyclone.”
“You mean the compulsion I used when I made you call Dillon?” I flushed, remembering the way his pleasure had curled back upon me.
“That holds the most power between us.”
Although I still wore my tunic and trousers, I pulled up the blanket. It would be a big risk; every time I used those pathways was a chance for Ido to find a way to block them.
“Will that work?” I asked.
“Possibly.” He watched me. “But are you willing to do it without Kygo’s knowledge?”
“Why should we keep it from him?”
“Did you tell him about your new way of controlling me?”
I looked away from his keen scrutiny. “No.”
“Well, someone has. Perhaps your islander guard? He certainly felt the difference when you first used it.”
I shifted uneasily. “What makes you think Ryko told him?”
Ido lifted his hands to his tunic collar, and in one smooth movement pulled the garment over his head.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, pressing myself back against the bunk head.
He threw the tunic onto the bed. The yellow lamplight highlighted the dark purple bruising across his ribs. “I would say Kygo is aware of your new way of controlling me.” His voice was dry. “He will forbid you from doing this, and place his faith in Tozay. Will you obey him like a good little girl? Or will you be the Ascendant Dragoneye and take control of your own power?”
I stared at the damage on Ido’s body. “He did that?”
“Yuso, on his Majesty’s behalf.”
I shook my head. “No, that was Yuso, on his own behalf. Kygo would have done it himself.” I ignored the Dragoneye’s snort of disbelief. “If we do this, Ido, we do it with Kygo’s knowledge. Tozay has asked me to place all of my power at Kygo’s command—beyond the Covenant—and I have said yes.”
“You’ve done what?” Ido stared at me, aghast. “You haven’t told him about the black folio, have you?”
I lifted my chin. “Not yet.”
He leaned across and gripped my forearm. “Not ever, girl.”
I tried to wrench away, but he did not let go.
“Do I have to paint you a picture?” he said. “If Kygo gets the black folio, he will bind me first—that is without question—but it won’t stop there. You are the Mirror Dragoneye. Your power will always be greater than anything he takes from me, and that will make you a threat. Perhaps not at first, but something will sour between you—maybe you’ll not agree about a war, maybe he’ll start seeing enemies where there used to be allies, or maybe he will just tire of you as a woman. But he will bind you, too.” Ido released me. “In the end, power is always used to gain more power. That is the nature of the beast.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I understand men, and I understand power, Eona.” The ship pitched sharply. I grabbed the edge of the bed as he steadied himself with a hand against the wall. “He has already seen his opportunity and asked you to break the Covenant again. Even after he swore on the beach it was not his plan.”
“Tozay asked me. Not Kygo.”
“They are the same, Eona. Can’t you see they are manipulating you?” He reached up and cupped my chin. “Poor Eona. His Majesty will press for more and more—through Tozay, or whoever else he uses—until he realizes he has created something that threatens his own power.